Surface cleaning device with triggerless fluid distribution mechanism

• US 10,813,520 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2019
• Issued: 10/27/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Diana, Patrick, Rukavina, Douglas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horton, Andrew A
• Application Number:
  US16/521,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20190343359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0004 Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners floor-scrubbing machines taking-up dirty liquid by suction A47L11/30
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0023 Recovery tanks for cleaning machines A47L11/4013
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to a triggerless extractor surface cleaning device for cleaning a surface in which a cleaning solution is distributed to the surface and extracted using suction along with dirt and/or debris on the surface in a continuous operation as the extractor moves along the surface. The extractor further comprises an encoder positioned adjacent a wheel of the extractor for detecting a rotational direction and speed of the wheel to generate a signal. Based on receiving the signal, a controller controls operation of a valve to situationally distribute the cleaning solution to the surface depending on a forward rotation of the wheel and independent of user actuation of a trigger positioned on a handle used to propel the extractor along the surface. Distribution of the cleaning solution can be further optimized based on the detected rotational speed of the wheel.

Claims

1. An extractor comprising:

a base movable along a surface to be cleaned;

an upright portion pivotally coupled to a portion of the base, wherein the upright portion includes a supply tank and a handle configured to be gripped by a user to move the base along the surface to be cleaned;

a liquid distribution system including a distributor in fluid communication with the supply tank configured to deliver solution to the surface in a distributing mode and to not deliver the solution to the surface in a non-distributing mode;

an encoder operable to generate an encoder signal as a first signal based on user-initiated movement of the base along the surface in a forward direction and as a second signal based on user-initiated movement of the base along the surface in a rearward direction; and

a controller operatively connected to the encoder and the liquid distribution system, the controller being configured to operate the liquid distribution system in the distributing mode during movement of the base based on the first signal during operation of the extractor and in the non-distributing mode during movement of the base based on the second signal during operation of the extractor, wherein the controller changes from the distributing mode to the non-distributing mode based on the encoder signal and independent of user interaction with the extractor other than the user-initiated movement,

wherein the encoder signal is indicative of direction of movement of the base and speed of movement of the base.

2. The extractor of claim 1, the handle further comprising a grip portion without a trigger or other user interface connected to the liquid distribution system.

3. The extractor of claim 1, the base further comprising at least one wheel, wherein the first signal is based on a forward rotation of the at least one wheel, and wherein the second signal is based on a reverse rotation of the at least one wheel.

4. The extractor of claim 1 further comprising a valve assembly in fluid communication with the supply tank and the distributor and operatively connected to the controller for selectively delivering the solution to the distributor.

5. The extractor of claim 1, the controller further being configured to:

initiate distribution of the solution when the first signal indicates movement of the base in the forward direction; and

interrupt the distribution of the solution when the second signal indicates movement of the base in the rearward direction.

6. The extractor of claim 1, wherein continued distribution of the solution to the surface is based on continued generation of the first signal during operation of the extractor.

7. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the encoder signal includes output from two sensors, wherein the controller is configured to determine the first signal and the second signal based on which sensor output the controller receives first.

8. The extractor of claim 1, the base further comprising a rotatable brush operatively connected to a brush motor, wherein the controller controls the brush motor based on the encoder signal during operation of the extractor.

9. The extractor of claim 8, wherein the controller increases a speed of rotation of the rotatable brush based on the first signal during operation of the extractor.

10. The extractor of claim 1, further comprising a liquid recovery system including a suction nozzle and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, the suction source including a suction motor configured to generate an airflow through the suction nozzle, wherein the controller controls the airflow through the suction nozzle by controlling the suction motor based on the encoder signal during operation of the extractor.

11. The extractor of claim 10, wherein the controller increases the airflow through the suction nozzle based on the second signal during operation of the extractor.

12. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to initiate distribution of the solution when the controller determines that a predetermined distance of movement occurs within a predetermined amount of time.

13. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to stop distribution of the solution when the controller does not receive the first signal for a predetermined amount of time.

14. An extractor comprising:

a base movable along a surface to be cleaned;

an upright portion pivotally coupled to a portion of the base, wherein the upright portion includes a supply tank and a handle configured to be gripped by a user to move the base along the surface to be cleaned;

a liquid distribution system including a distributor in fluid communication with the supply tank to deliver solution to the surface;

an encoder operable to generate a signal based on user-initiated movement of the base along the surface; and

a controller operatively connected to the encoder and the liquid distribution system, the controller being configured to operate in a distributing mode during movement of the base and in a non-distributing mode during movement of the base based on the signal during operation of the extractor, wherein the controller changes from the distributing mode to the non-distributing mode independent of user interaction with the extractor other than the user-initiated movement,

wherein the signal is indicative of one or more attributes selected from a group consisting of movement in a forward direction, movement in a reverse direction, and speed of movement.

15. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the handle comprises a grip portion without a user interface connected to the liquid distribution system.

16. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the controller is operable to initiate distribution of the solution when the signal indicates user-initiated forward movement.

17. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the controller is operable to interrupt distribution of the solution to the surface when the signal indicates user-initiated reverse movement.

18. The extractor of claim 14 further comprising a valve assembly in fluid communication with the supply tank for selectively delivering the solution.

19. The extractor of claim 14, the base further comprising at least one wheel, wherein distribution of the solution is based on continued generation of the signal by a forward rotation of the at least one wheel.

20. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the signal includes output from two sensors, wherein the controller is configured to determine a direction of motion based on which sensor output the controller receives first.

21. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the controller controls a brush motor based on the signal during operation of the extractor.

22. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the controller controls a suction motor based on the signal during operation of the extractor.

23. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to initiate distribution of the solution when the controller determines that a predetermined distance of movement occurs within a predetermined amount of time.

24. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to stop distribution of the solution when the controller does not receive the signal for a predetermined amount of time.