Chemical dispensing method for a hard surface cleaner

• US 20040187895A1
• Filed: 01/05/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: McHugh, Daniel J., Field, Bruce F., Pouliot, Joseph L., Krueger, Joseph K., Joynt, Daniel L.
• Application Number:
  US10/751,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20040187895A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/26
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/305 the tools being disc brushes
• 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 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• 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: B01F 23/291 for obtaining foams or aerosols

Abstract

In a method for use in a hard floor surface cleaner, a supply of cleaning agent and a flow control device are provided. The flow control device is coupled to the supply of cleaning agent. Next, a flow of cleaning agent is provided that travels from the supply of cleaning agent through the flow control device. Finally, the flow of cleaning agent is restricted to less than approximately 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute using the flow control device.

Claims

1. A method for use in a hard surface cleaner comprising steps of:

a) providing a supply of cleaning agent;

b) providing a flow control device coupled to the supply of cleaning agent;

c) providing a flow of cleaning agent traveling from the supply of cleaning agent through the flow control device; and

d) restricting the flow of cleaning agent to less than approximately 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute using the flow control device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step a) includes storing the cleaning agent in a collapsible container.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the collapsible container is a collapsible bag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow of cleaning agent is restricted to less than approximately 5.0 cubic centimeters per minute in the restricting step d).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step c) includes driving the flow of cleaning agent using a pump.

6. The method of claim 5 including providing a control signal to the pump to control the driving of the flow of cleaning agent.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the restricting step d) includes directing the flow of cleaning agent through a labyrinthine fluid flow path of the flow control device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the restricting step d) includes directing the flow of cleaning agent through an orifice plate.

9. The method of claim 1 including respectively generating relatively high and low pressures at an inlet and an outlet of the flow control device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent is in a concentrated form.

11. The method of claim 1 including a step of mixing the flow of cleaning agent with a flow of primary cleaning liquid component to form a flow of cleaning liquid.

12. The method of claim 11 including aerating the flow of cleaning liquid to form a flow of foam-like aerated cleaning liquid.

13. The method of claim 12 including dispensing the flow of foam-like aerated cleaning liquid to a hard surface.

14. A mobile hard floor surface cleaner configured to perform the method of claim 1.

15. The method of claim 1 including:

e) providing a second supply of cleaning agent;

f) providing a second flow control device coupled to the second supply of cleaning agent;

g) providing a second flow of cleaning agent traveling from the second supply of cleaning agent through the second flow control device; and

h) restricting the second flow of cleaning agent to less than approximately 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute using the second flow control device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing step e) includes storing the second supply of cleaning agent in a collapsible container.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the collapsible container is a collapsible bag.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the restricting step h) restricts the second flow of cleaning agent to less than approximately 5.0 cubic centimeters per minute.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing step g) includes driving the second flow of cleaning agent using a pump.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the restricting step h) includes directing the second flow of cleaning agent through a labyrinthine fluid flow path of the second flow control device.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the restricting step h) includes directing the second flow of cleaning agent through an orifice plate of the second flow control device.

22. The method of claim 15 including respectively generating relatively high and low pressures at an inlet and an outlet of the second flow control device.

23. The method of claim 15 including a step of mixing the second flow of cleaning agent with a flow of primary cleaning liquid component to form a flow of cleaning liquid.

24. The method of claim 23 including aerating the flow of cleaning liquid to form a flow of foam-like aerated cleaning liquid.

25. The method of claim 24 including dispensing the flow of foam-like aerated cleaning liquid to a hard surface.

26. A mobile hard floor surface cleaner configured to perform the method of claim 15.

27. A method for use in a hard surface cleaner comprising steps of:

a) providing a first supply of cleaning agent;

b) providing a second supply of cleaning agent;

c) controlling flows of the first and second supplies of cleaning agent; and

d) selectively mixing the first and second flows of cleaning agent with a flow of primary cleaning liquid component to form a cleaning liquid.

28. The method of claim 27 including storing the first or second supply of cleaning agent in a collapsible container in the providing step a) or b).

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the collapsible container is a collapsible bag.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the controlling step includes:

providing a flow control device fluidically coupled to the first or second supply of cleaning agent; and

restricting the flow of the first or second supply of cleaning agent using the flow control device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the restricting step includes directing the flow of the first or second supply of cleaning agent through a labyrinthine fluid flow path of the flow control device.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the restricting step includes directing the flow of the first or second supply of cleaning agent through an orifice plate.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the restricting step includes respectively generating relatively high and low pressures at an inlet and an outlet of the flow control device.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the controlling step c) includes restricting the flows of the first and second supplies of cleaning agent to less than approximately 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the controlling step c) includes restricting the flows of the first and second supplies of cleaning agent to less than approximately 5.0 cubic centimeters per minute.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the controlling step c) includes:

providing first and second flow control devices respectively fluidically coupled to the first and second supplies of cleaning agents; and

controlling the flows of the first and second supplies of cleaning agent using the first and second flow control devices.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling step c) includes directing the flows of the first and second supplies of cleaning agent through a labyrinthine fluid flow path of the first and second flow control devices.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the controlling step c) includes directing the flows of the first and second supplies of cleaning agent through an orifice plate.

39. The method of claim 36, including respectively generating relatively high and low pressures at an inlet and an outlet of each of the first and second flow control devices.

40. The method of claim 27 including e) aerating the flow of cleaning liquid to form a flow of foam-like aerated cleaning liquid.

41. The method of claim 40 including dispensing the flow of foam-like aerated cleaning liquid to a hard surface.

42. A mobile hard floor surface cleaner configured to perform the method of claim 27.