TANK TRAY FOR AN EXTRACTOR CLEANING MACHINE

• US 20120066858A1
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2010
• 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: Krondorfer, Harald, Salo, Robert A., Macleod, Euan, Quinn, Patrick, Bantum, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/322
• 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 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4077 Skirts or splash guards
• 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 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 7/0019 Details of the casing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0452 Multi-user MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0626 Channel coefficients, e.g. channel state information [CSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0632 Channel quality parameters, e.g. channel quality indicator [CQI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0654 at the receiver, e.g. antenna verification at mobile station
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0663 using vector or matrix manipulations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2025/03802 Signalling on the reverse channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0202 Channel estimation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03343 Arrangements at the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4975 Correlative coding using Tomlinson precoding, Harashima precoding, Trellis precoding or GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT

Abstract

An extractor cleaning machine including a base or foot movable along a surface to be cleaned and a handle pivotally coupled to the foot for movement between an upright position and a reclined position. The handle includes a tank tray having an inlet and a drain. A channel communicates with the drain and extends away from the tank tray. A distributor communicates with the inlet and is operable to distribute cleaning fluid to the surface. A supply tank is removably coupled to the handle and has an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet when the supply tank is coupled to the handle. The supply tank is at least partially supported by the tank tray and the tank tray is configured to collect fluid spilt from the supply tank and to divert the fluid away from the tank tray by way of the channel.

Claims

1. An extractor cleaning machine comprising:

a base movable along a surface to be cleaned;

a handle pivotally coupled to the base for movement between an upright position and a reclined position, the handle including a tank tray having an inlet, the handle further including a channel communicating with and extending away from the tank tray;

a distributor communicating with the inlet, the distributor operable to distribute cleaning fluid to the surface; and

a supply tank removably coupled to the handle and having an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet when the supply tank is coupled to the handle, the supply tank at least partially supported by the tank tray, the tank tray configured to collect fluid spilt from the supply tank and to divert the fluid away from the tank tray by way of the channel.

2. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein a drain is located adjacent a rear of the tank tray and communicates with the channel.

3. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 2, wherein when the handle is moved from the upright position to the reclined position, fluid collected in the tank tray moves toward the drain.

4. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a groove communicating with the channel, the groove extending generally downwardly and diverging away from the handle.

5. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the tank tray further includes an inner wall surrounding the inlet.

6. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 5, wherein the inner wall is continuous and substantially divides the tank tray into a first volume outside of the inner wall and communicating with the channel, and a second volume inside of the inner wall and communicating with the inlet, and wherein the inner wall substantially inhibits fluid collected within the first volume from reaching the second volume.

7. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 5, wherein the inner wall defines notches along an upper edge of the inner wall that allow fluid to flow over the inner wall.

8. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the distributor is positioned directly below and in close proximity to the inlet.

10. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the wall of the tank tray defines a drain, and wherein the channel extends from the drain.

11. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 10, wherein the drain is located adjacent a rear of the tank tray.

12. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 11, wherein when the handle is moved from the upright position to the reclined position, fluid collected in the tank tray moves toward the drain.

9. An extractor cleaning machine comprising:

a base movable along a surface to be cleaned, the base including a distribution nozzle and a suction nozzle;

a handle coupled to the base to facilitate movement of the base along the surface, the handle pivotally coupled the base such that the handle pivots with respect to the base from an upright position to a reclined position, the handle including a tank tray and the tank tray having a tray base and a wall that extends upwardly from the tray base around a perimeter of the tray base, the tank tray also including an inlet;

a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, the suction source operable to draw fluid and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle;

a recovery tank coupled to at least one of the base and the handle, the recovery tank in fluid communication with the suction source to receive and store the fluid and dirt drawn through the suction nozzle;

a distributor in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle and with the inlet, the distributor operable to distribute cleaning fluid to the surface through the distribution nozzle; and

a supply tank removably coupled to the handle and the distributor, the supply tank supported by the tank tray and configured to receive and store the cleaning fluid, the supply tank including an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet for supplying the cleaning fluid to the distributor;

wherein the handle includes a channel extending from the tank tray to direct fluid collected on the tank tray away from the supply tank and the recovery tank.

13. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 9, wherein the handle includes a groove communicating with the channel, the groove extending generally downwardly and diverging away from the handle.

14. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 9, wherein the tank tray further includes an inner wall extending upwardly from the tray base and spaced from the wall, the inner wall surrounding the inlet.

15. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 14, wherein the inner wall substantially divides the tank tray into a first volume defined between the inner wall and the wall and communicating with the drain, and a second volume defined by the inner wall and communicating with the inlet, and wherein the inner wall substantially inhibits fluid collected within the first volume from reaching the second volume.

16. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 14, wherein the inner wall defines notches that allow fluid to flow over the inner wall.

17. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 16, wherein the wall of the tank tray defines a drain, wherein the channel extends from the drain, and wherein the notches are positioned higher than the drain.

18. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 9, wherein the distributor is positioned directly below and in close proximity to the inlet.

19. An extractor cleaning machine comprising:

a base movable along a surface to be cleaned, the base including a distribution nozzle and a suction nozzle;

a handle coupled to the base to facilitate movement of the base along the surface, the handle extending from the rear of the base and including a tank tray, the tank tray defining a volume;

a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle;

a recovery tank coupled to at least one of the base and the handle, the recovery tank in fluid communication with the suction source;

a distributor in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle, the distributor operable to distribute cleaning fluid to the surface by way of the distribution nozzle; and

a supply tank removably coupled to the handle and at least partially supported by the tank tray, at least a portion of the supply tank being received by the volume, the supply tank in fluid communication with the distributor for supplying the cleaning fluid to the distributor; and

a channel communicating with and extending away from the volume for directing fluid away from the tank tray.

20. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 19, wherein the tank tray includes a wall formed at a perimeter of the tank tray, wherein the wall defines a drain, and wherein the channel extends from the drain in the wall toward a rear portion of the handle.

21. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 20, wherein the tank tray further includes an inlet providing fluid communication between the supply tank and the distributor, and an inner wall surrounding the inlet.

22. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 21, wherein the inner wall substantially divides the tank tray into a first volume between the wall and the inner wall, the first volume communicating with the channel, and a second volume inside the inner wall and communicating with the inlet.

23. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 21, wherein the inner wall defines notches that allow fluid to flow over the inner wall.

24. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 23, wherein the notches are positioned higher than the drain.

25. The extractor cleaning machine of claim 19, wherein the handle includes a groove communicating with the channel, the groove extending generally downwardly and diverging away from the handle.