Multi-functional cleaning machine

• US 20010000576A1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Published: 05/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kaivac Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kaivac Inc.
• Inventors: Robinson, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,431,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/169C
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• 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 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• 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 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4019 Fill level sensors; Security means to prevent overflow, e.g. float valves
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4027 Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• 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 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/0229 Suction chambers for aspirating the sprayed liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0321 using pressurised, pulsating or purging fluid E04F17/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/304 using fluid under pressure

Abstract

A particular multi-functional cleaning machine, in accordance with the principles of the invention, includes a water-tank and a liquid delivery line extending from the water tank to a high-pressure spray gun. The liquid delivery line has an inner end, a pump, and an outer end, with the inner end connected to the water tank, and the outer end connected to the high-pressure spray gun. The machine also has a cleaning-liquid draw line which is connected to the liquid delivery line using a cleaning-liquid injector. Because the machine has a separate cleaning-liquid draw line, an operator is able to choose from among any of a number of different cleaning liquids stowed in containers on the machine, and to draw a particular liquid through the draw line, into the liquid delivery line, where it may be combined with water from the water tank and subsequently sprayed onto a surface to be cleaned. The machine also incorporates a vac tank, a vacuum connected to the vac tank, and a vac-hose assembly, thereby enabling a user to vacuum spent cleaning solution and soil into the vac tank. Other aspects of the invention include a grout cleaning tool, a plunger gun, a liquid transport device, and a method of cleaning a soiled surface.

Claims

1. A multi-functional cleaning machine, comprising:

a water tank;

a liquid delivery line having an inner end, a pump, and an outer end, the inner end connected to the water tank;

a cleaning-liquid draw line connected to the liquid delivery line;

a vac tank; and

a vacuum connected to the vac tank.

4. The machine of

claim 1

further including a liquid return line connecting the pump to the water tank.

5. The machine of

claim 4

wherein the liquid return line includes an unloader.

6. The machine of

claim 4

wherein the liquid return line is directly connected to the pump.

7. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the cleaning-liquid draw line is releasably connectable to a cleaning liquid container.

8. The machine of

claim 7

wherein the cleaning-liquid draw line includes a quick disconnect member and a corresponding quick disconnect member.

9. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the cleaning-liquid draw line includes a chemical proportioning element.

10. The machine of

claim 9

wherein the element is removable.

11. The machine of

claim 1

further including a spray gun connectable to the outer end of the liquid delivery line.

12. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the spray gun has a low-pressure spray mode and a high-pressure spray mode.

13. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the vac tank includes a vac intake port.

14. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the vac tank includes a stand pipe having an upper opening.

15. The machine of

claim 14

wherein the vac tank includes a float closure capable of closing the upper opening.

16. The machine of

claim 14

wherein the vacuum includes a suction intake, and the stand pipe is connected to the suction intake.

17. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the vac tank includes a reinforcing member.

18. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the vacuum includes an exhaust outlet, the machine further including a muffler connectable to the exhaust outlet.

19. The machine of

claim 1

, wherein the vac tank includes a vac intake port, the machine further including a wet-vac floor vacuuming assembly connectable to the vac intake port.

20. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the vacuum includes an exhaust outlet, the machine further including a blow-dry assembly connectable to the exhaust outlet.

21. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the vac tank includes a dirty-water outlet.

22. The machine of

claim 21

further including a dump hose connected to the outlet.

23. The machine of

claim 22

wherein the machine has a front wall including an elongated, recessed cavity, the dump hose positioned substantially within the cavity when the dump hose is in a stowed position.

24. The machine of

claim 21

wherein the vac tank has a bottom wall, with the bottom wall and the dirty-water outlet being sufficiently high enough above the ground that, when the vac tank contains dirty water, substantially all of the dirty water may be drained through the outlet into a toilet of standard height.

25. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the vac tank includes an access port.

26. The machine of

claim 25

further including a dry-vac canister mountable on the access port.

27. The machine of

claim 26

further including a dry-vac tool assembly connectable to the dry-vac canister.

28. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the water tank has a top wall, the top wall including a recessed well sized to receive a cleaning liquid container.

29. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the water tank has a top wall, the top wall including a fill port and a spillway extending from the fill port toward the back of the water tank.

30. The machine of

claim 1

wherein the water tank has a front wall and the vac tank has a back wall oriented toward the water tank front wall, the water tank front wall and the vac tank rear wall each having a longitudinal recess, thereby creating a passageway outside the water tank and vac tank, the passageway containing the cleaning-liquid draw line and electrical wiring.

31. The machine of

claim 1

further including a cleaning-tool stowing assembly, the stowing assembly comprising a strap having a first end and a second end, the first end secured to the machine, the second end releasably securable to the machine, thereby enabling a user to position a cleaning tool between a wall of the machine and the strap, and releasably secure the second end to a wall of the machine.

32. The machine of

claim 31

wherein the first end is secured to a wall of the machine, and the second end is releasably securable to an adjacent wall of the machine.

33. The machine of

claim 32

wherein the wall and the adjacent wall have an interior angle, the interior angle being about 90 degrees or less.

34. The machine of

claim 1

further including an upper wrap projection and a corresponding lower wrap projection.

35. The machine of

claim 1

further including a grout cleaning tool connectable to the water tank and the vac tank, the grout cleaning tool comprising:

a housing having a front, a back, a top surface, a left side, and a right side, the top surface including a liquid delivery opening and a soil uptake opening; and

a flexible wall having a front portion depending from the front and a back portion depending from the back, thereby forming a blast chamber between the front and back portions.

36. The machine of

claim 1

further including a carpet extractor tool connectable to the water tank and the vac tank.

37. The machine of

claim 1

further including a plunger gun connectable to the water tank, the plunger gun comprising:

a high-pressure spray gun including an elongated barrel; and

a plunger bulb connected to the barrel, the plunger bulb releasably sealable about a conduit opening of a conduit, thereby enabling water under an elevated pressure to be controllably delivered into the conduit.

2. The machine of claim I further including a cleaning liquid injector connecting the cleaning-liquid draw line to the liquid delivery line.

3. The machine of

claim 2

wherein the cleaning-liquid draw line is connected to the liquid delivery line between the pump and the outer end.

38. A grout cleaning tool for use with a high-pressure liquid supply and a vacuum supply, comprising:

a housing having a front, a back, a top surface, a left side, and a right side, the top surface including a liquid delivery opening and a soil uptake opening; and

a flexible wall having a front portion depending from the front and a back portion depending from the back, thereby forming a blast chamber between the front and back portions.

39. The tool of

claim 38

wherein the wall further includes a left portion depending from the left side, and a right portion depending from the right side.

40. The tool of

claim 39

wherein the wall is continuous.

41. The tool of

claim 39

wherein each of the housing left and right sides has an end, at least one of the left and right wall portions extending laterally outward beyond the left or right housing end, respectively, thereby creating an air intake into the blast chamber.

42. The tool of

claim 38

wherein the wall includes an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a base surface having an outer edge, the outer edge having serrations which extend upward along the exterior surface of the wall.

43. The tool of

claim 38

wherein the liquid delivery opening includes a blast chamber orifice having a diameter of about 0.05 inch or less.

44. A plunger gun for use with a high-pressure liquid supply, comprising:

a high-pressure spray gun including an elongated barrel;

a plunger bulb connected to the barrel, the plunger bulb releasably sealable about a conduit opening of a conduit, thereby enabling a liquid under an elevated pressure to be controllably delivered into the conduit.

45. A liquid transport device, comprising:

a liquid conduit having a first end with a liquid-receiving opening and a second end with a liquid-dispensing opening, the liquid conduit further having a conduit-reinforcing member; and

a faucet fastener connected to the liquid conduit.

46. The device of

claim 45

wherein the liquid conduit includes a length of hose.

47. The device of

claim 46

wherein the hose includes rubber.

48. The device of

claim 47

wherein the rubber is natural rubber.

49. The device of

claim 45

wherein the liquid conduit includes an outer liquid conduit, the outer liquid conduit having a passageway for conveying liquid, the conduit-reinforcing member being positioned in the passageway.

50. The device of

claim 49

wherein the conduit-reinforcing member has a rigidity which is greater than the rigidity of the outer liquid conduit.

51. The device of

claim 49

wherein the conduit-reinforcing member is biased against the outer liquid conduit.

52. The device of

claim 49

wherein the conduit-reinforcing member is fastened to the outer liquid conduit with a fastener.

53. The device of

claim 49

wherein the conduit-reinforcing member is adjacent the second end.

54. The device of

claim 45

wherein the faucet fastener includes a Velcro®

strap.

55. The device of

claim 54

wherein the Velcro®

strap is adjacent the first end.

56. A method of cleaning a soiled surface, comprising the steps of:

providing a multi-functional cleaning machine, comprising;

a water tank containing water;

a liquid delivery line having an inner end, a pump, a cleaning liquid injector, and an outer end, the inner end connected to the water tank;

a spray gun connected to the outer end and having a liquid passageway and a liquid outlet;

a cleaning-liquid container;

a cleaning-liquid draw line connected to the cleaning liquid container and to the cleaning liquid injector;

a vac tank;

a vacuum connected to the vac tank; and

a vac hose connected to the vac tank;

aiming the liquid outlet of the spray gun at the soiled surface;

opening the liquid passageway of the spray gun, thereby spraying water and cleaning liquid onto the soiled surface, the cleaning liquid being drawn from the cleaning-liquid container, through the cleaning-liquid draw line, into and through the cleaning-liquid injector, and through the liquid delivery line and spray gun;

adjusting the pressure of the water passing from the water tank through the liquid delivery line and spray gun;

opening the liquid passageway of the spray gun, thereby spraying rinsing water onto the soiled surface; and

vacuuming water, cleaning liquid, and soil from the soiled surface, through the vac hose and into the vac tank.