Hand held turbine powered extractor nozzle

• US 5,867,864 A
• Filed: 05/02/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Daniel R., Barker, Douglas C., Gerber, Douglas E., Keebler, A. Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US08/850,611
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 15/321, 15/322, 15/385, 15/387
• US Class Current: 15/387
• 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 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0416 driven by fluid pressure, e.g. by means of an air turbine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0433 Toothed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0472 Discs

Abstract

A compact, hand held carpet and upholstery extractor nozzle is provided having a pair of air turbine powered vertical axis rotary scrub brushes located adjacent the extractor nozzle. The turbine has at least one ambient air inlet and an outlet that communicates with a suction tube extending from the extractor nozzle. A compact gear reduction operatively connects the air turbine to the scrub brushes. A turbine outlet baffle is preferably provided that extends from an upstream edge of the turbine outlet, into the suction tube and over and beyond the turbine outlet to direct air, liquid and debris flowing through the suction tube over and beyond the turbine outlet opening. A downstream end of the baffle is open and suction openings pass through the baffle, for providing fluid communication between the suction tube and the turbine outlet opening. A raised floor is preferably located in the suction tube upstream of the baffle that directs the flow of air, liquid and debris in the suction tube substantially past the suction openings. A shoulder is preferably provided on each side of the baffle that extends generally longitudinally in the suction tube below the suction openings. The upstream ends of these shoulders curve upward until the shoulders are substantially flush with raised floor. With this construction, any drops of liquid adhering to the raised floor and traveling toward the baffle, will adhere to the shoulders and be directed below the suction openings.

Claims

1. A compact hand held extractor nozzle with at least one powered scrub brush comprising:

a cleaning fluid applicator;

a suction tube having a suction extractor nozzle mounted on one end thereof;

at least one vertical axis rotary scrub brush adjacent to the nozzle;

an air powered turbine located between the scrub brush and the tube, the turbine having at least one turbine inlet communicating with ambient atmosphere and a turbine outlet communicating with the suction tube; and

a gear train drivingly connecting the turbine with the brush.

2. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the turbine comprises:

a generally disc-shaped turbine housing having a first end wall adjacent and generally parallel to the suction tube, a second end wall parallel to and spaced from the first end wall, and a peripheral wall joining the first and second end walls enclosing a generally disc-shaped turbine chamber; and

a generally disc-shaped turbine rotor rotatably mounted in the turbine chamber.

3. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 2, wherein said at least one turbine inlet is located in the peripheral wall;

and

the turbine outlet is centrally located in the first end wall and fluidly communicates an eye of the turbine with the suction tube.

4. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the turbine rotor is fixed on an axle that is rotatably mounted in the second end wall.

5. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 4, wherein a first end of the axle extends through and beyond the second end wall;

and

helical gear teeth are provided on the first end of the axle, thereby defining a helical gear shaft that drivingly engages the gear train.

6. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 5, wherein the gear train comprises an idler gear having a first driven helical gear portion having a first diameter and an integrally formed reduced diameter gear portion having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter;

and

a spur gear engages and is driven by the reduced diameter portion of the idler gear, and the brush is operatively connected to and is driven by the spur gear.

7. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 1, comprising at least two vertical axis rotary scrub brushes.

8. A compact hand held extractor nozzle with at least one powered scrub brush comprising:

a cleaning fluid applicator;

a suction tube having a suction extractor nozzle mounted on one end thereof;

at least one rotary scrub brush adjacent to the nozzle;

an air powered turbine located between the scrub brush and the tube, the turbine having at least one turbine inlet communicating with ambient atmosphere and a turbine outlet communicating with the suction tube;

a gear train drivingly connecting the turbine with the brush;

a generally disc-shaped turbine housing having a first end wall adjacent and generally parallel to the suction tube, a second end wall parallel to and spaced from the first end wall, and a peripheral wall joining the first and second end walls enclosing a generally disc-shaped turbine chamber, the at least one turbine inlet being located in the peripheral wall and the turbine outlet being located centrally in the first end wall;

a generally disc-shaped turbine rotor rotatably mounted in the turbine chamber on an axle rotatably mounted in the second end wall, a first end of the axle extending through and beyond the second end wall; and

wherein helical gear teeth are provided on the first end of the axle, thereby defining a helical gear shaft that drivingly engages the gear train, the helical teeth on the gear shaft are twisted about the gear shaft such that, under load, the engagement of the gear shaft with the gear train creates a generally axial force on the axle in a direction away from the turbine outlet.

9. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 8, wherein the gear train comprises an idler gear having a first driven helical portion having a first diameter and an integrally formed reduced diameter portion having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter;

and

a spur gear engages and is driven by the reduced diameter portion of the idler gear, and the brush is operatively connected to and is driven by the spur gear.

10. A compact hand held extractor nozzle with at least one powered scrub brush comprising:

a cleaning fluid applicator;

a suction tube having a suction extractor nozzle mounted on one end thereof;

at least one rotary scrub brush adjacent to the nozzle;

an air powered turbine located between the scrub brush and the tube, the turbine having at least one turbine inlet communicating with ambient atmosphere and a turbine outlet communicating with the suction tube;

the brush being drivingly connected to the turbine;

wherein the turbine comprises a generally disc-shaped turbine housing having a first end wall adjacent and generally parallel to the suction tube, a second end wall parallel to and spaced from the first end wall, and a peripheral wall joining the first and second end walls enclosing a generally disc-shaped turbine chamber and a generally disc-shaped turbine rotor rotatably mounted in the turbine chamber on an axle that is rotatably mounted in the second end wall; and

wherein a sleeve bearing is mounted in the second end wall and the axle is rotatably mounted in the bearing, wherein a surface of the rotor facing the second end wall has a centrally located recess and the bearing is mounted in a raised portion of the second end wall that extends into the recess, such that the bearing is at least partially received in said recess.

11. A compact hand held extractor nozzle with at least one powered scrub brush comprising:

a cleaning fluid applicator;

a suction tube having a suction extractor nozzle mounted on one end thereof;

at least one rotary scrub brush adjacent to the nozzle;

an air powered turbine located between the scrub brush and the tube, the turbine having at least one turbine inlet communicating with ambient atmosphere and a turbine outlet communicating with the suction tube;

the brush being drivingly connected to the turbine; and

wherein the turbine further comprises an outlet baffle for directing air, liquid and other debris traveling through the suction tube over and beyond the turbine outlet to substantially prevent the liquid and debris from entering the turbine outlet and fouling the turbine.

12. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 11, wherein the turbine baffle comprises a first portion that extends from an upstream edge of the turbine outlet into the suction tube and a second portion that extends down stream from the first portion over and beyond the turbine outlet, a downstream end of the baffle being open for providing fluid communication between the suction tube and the turbine outlet.

13. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 12, further comprising suction openings passing through opposing sides of the baffle for providing further fluid communication between the suction tube and the turbine outlet.

14. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 13, further comprising a raised floor in the suction tube upstream of the baffle, the raised floor being positioned and arranged to direct air, liquid and debris traveling through the suction tube past the suction openings in the sides of the baffle.

15. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 14, wherein the raised floor is located in a plane that runs generally longitudinally in the suction tube and that is located on a side of the suction openings remote from the turbine;

shoulders are formed in opposing sides of the baffle, the shoulders are located between the suction openings and an inner surface of the suction tube and extend generally longitudinally in the suction tube, portions of the shoulders upstream of the suction openings curve toward the raised floor such that the upstream ends of the shoulders are substantially flush with an inner surface of the raised floor, whereby drops of liquid traveling on the raised floor toward the baffle adhere to the shoulders and are directed around and beyond the suction openings in the baffle.

16. A hand held power extractor nozzle for above floor cleaning comprising:

a cleaning liquid applicator for applying cleaning liquid to a surface being cleaned;

a suction extractor nozzle having a nozzle inlet for removing soiled cleaning liquid from a surface being cleaned and a nozzle outlet;

a suction tube extending from the nozzle outlet;

an agitator for scrubbing a surface to be cleaned; and

an air powered turbine for driving the agitator, the turbine being located adjacent to the suction nozzle and between the agitator and the suction tube and the agitator being located intermediate the turbine and a surface to be cleaned, the turbine having at least one turbine inlet in fluid communication with ambient air and at least one turbine outlet communicating with an opening in the suction tube, whereby suction in the suction tube draws ambient air through the turbine for driving the agitator, while simultaneously drawing air through the suction nozzle for removing soiled cleaning liquid from a surface to be cleaned.

17. An extractor nozzle according to claim 16, wherein the turbine comprises a substantially disc-shaped turbine housing arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the suction tube and a substantially disc-shaped turbine rotor rotatably mounted in the turbine housing.

18. An extractor nozzle according to claim 17, further comprising a gear train operatively connecting the turbine rotor to the agitator.

19. An extractor nozzle according to claim 18, further comprising a first end wall of the turbine housing located on a side of the turbine rotor remote from the suction tube, between the turbine rotor and the gear reduction, and a bearing mounted in the first end wall;

wherein the turbine rotor is fixed on an axle that is rotatably mounted in the bearing and that extends through and beyond the first end wall, a portion of the axle extending beyond the first end wall has helical gear teeth provided thereon that engage and drive the gear train, the helical gear teeth being twisted about the axle such that under load the helical gear teeth apply a generally axial load on the axle in a direction away from the turbine outlet.

20. An extractor nozzle according to claim 19, wherein the turbine rotor has a centrally located recess in a surface of the rotor facing the first end wall of the turbine housing, the first end wall has a central raised portion that extends into the recess, and the bearing is mounted in the central raised portion such that the bearing is at least partially received in the recess in the rotor.

21. A hand held power extractor nozzle for above floor cleaning comprising:

a cleaning liquid applicator for applying cleaning liquid to a surface to be cleaned;

a suction extractor nozzle having a nozzle inlet for removing soiled cleaning liquid from a surface to be cleaned and a nozzle outlet;

a suction tube extending from the nozzle outlet;

an agitator for scrubbing a surface to be cleaned; and

an air powered turbine for driving the agitator, the turbine being located adjacent to the suction nozzle and between the agitator and the suction tube, the turbine having at least one turbine inlet in fluid communication with ambient air and at least one turbine outlet in fluid communication with an opening in the suction tube, whereby suction in the suction tube draws ambient air through the turbine for driving the agitator, while simultaneously drawing air through the extractor nozzle for removing soiled cleaning liquid from a surface to be cleaned;

the turbine comprises a generally disc-shaped turbine housing arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the suction tube and a generally disc-shaped turbine rotor rotatably mounted in the turbine housing; and

the agitator comprises at least two vertical axis rotary scrub brushes.

22. An extractor nozzle according to claim 21, further comprising a gear train operatively connecting the turbine rotor to the brushes.

23. An extractor nozzle according to claim 22, further comprising a bearing mounted in a first end wall of the turbine housing, remote from the suction tube and between the rotor and the gear train, wherein the turbine rotor is fixed on an axle that is rotatably mounted in the bearing and that extends through and beyond the first end wall, a portion of the axle extending beyond the first end wall has helical gear teeth provided thereon that engage and drive the gear train, the helical gear teeth being twisted about the axle such that under load the helical gear teeth apply a generally axial load on the axle in a direction away from the turbine outlet.

24. An extractor nozzle according to claim 23, wherein the turbine rotor has a centrally located recess in a surface of the rotor facing the first end wall of the turbine housing, the first end wall has a central raised portion that extends into the recess, and the bearing is mounted in the central raised portion such that the bearing is at least partially received in the recess in the rotor.

25. An extractor nozzle having an agitator and an air turbine operatively connected to the agitator for driving the agitator, the turbine having at least one ambient air inlet opening and an outlet opening, wherein the improvement comprises:

a suction tube having the extractor nozzle attached to a first end thereof, a second end of the suction tube being adapted for connection to a suction inlet of a wet pickup suction cleaner;

a turbine exhaust opening in the suction tube in fluid communication with the turbine outlet opening, whereby when suction is applied to the suction tube air is drawn through the turbine for driving the agitator; and

a turbine outlet baffle extending from an edge of the turbine outlet opening proximate the extractor nozzle into the suction tube and over and beyond the turbine outlet opening, the end of the baffle remote from the nozzle being open for providing fluid communication between the turbine outlet opening and the suction tube, and suction openings passing through opposing sides of the baffle for providing further fluid communication between the turbine outlet opening and the suction tube.

26. An extractor nozzle according to claim 25, wherein a first portion of the suction tube between the baffle and the extractor nozzle has a cross-sectional area that is less than the cross-sectional area of a second portion of the suction tube on a side of the baffle remote from the extractor nozzle.

27. An extractor nozzle according to claim 25, further comprising a raised floor in the suction tube that extends from the nozzle to the baffle, the raised floor being arranged relative the suction openings in the baffle such that the raised floor directs air, liquid and debris traveling through the suction tube substantially over and beyond the suction openings.

28. An extractor nozzle according to claim 27, wherein the raised floor reduces the cross-sectional area of the first portion of the suction tube relative the second portion of the suction tube.

29. An extractor nozzle according to claim 27, wherein the raised floor extends along a plane that is located on a side of the suction openings in the baffle remote from the turbine, and shoulders are formed in opposing sides of the baffle, the shoulders extend generally longitudinally in the suction tube and are located between the suction openings and an inner surface of the suction tube, portions of the shoulders upstream of the suction openings curve toward the raised floor such that the upstream ends of the shoulders are substantially flush with an inner surface of the raised floor, whereby drops of liquid adhering to and traveling along the inner surface of the raised floor toward the baffle adhere to the shoulders and are directed around and beyond the suction openings and are substantially prevented from entering the turbine.

30. An extractor nozzle according to claim 25, wherein the suction openings in the sides of the baffle are slots passing through opposing sides of the baffle, the slots extend generally longitudinally in the suction tube and are open at the end of the baffle remote from the nozzle.

36. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 30, wherein the turbine comprises:

a generally disc-shaped turbine housing having a first end wall adjacent and generally parallel to the suction tube, a second end wall parallel to and spaced from the first end wall, and a peripheral wall joining the first and second end walls enclosing a generally disc-shaped turbine chamber; and

a generally disc-shaped turbine rotor rotatably mounted in the turbine chamber.

37. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 36, wherein said at least one turbine inlet is located in the peripheral wall;

and

the turbine outlet is centrally located in the first end wall and fluidly communicates an eye of the turbine with the suction tube.

38. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 36, wherein the turbine further comprises an outlet baffle for directing air, liquid and other debris traveling through the suction tube over and beyond the turbine outlet to substantially prevent the liquid and debris from entering the turbine outlet and fouling the turbine.

39. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 38, wherein the turbine baffle comprises a first portion that extends from an upstream edge of the turbine outlet into the suction tube and a second portion that extends down stream from the first portion over and beyond the turbine outlet, a downstream end of the baffle being open for providing fluid communication between the suction tube and the turbine outlet.

40. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 39, further comprising suction openings passing through opposing sides of the baffle for providing further fluid communication between the suction tube and the turbine outlet.

41. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 40, further comprising a raised floor in the suction tube upstream of the baffle, the raised floor being positioned and arranged to direct air, liquid and debris traveling through the suction tube past the suction openings in the sides of the baffle.

42. A hand held extractor nozzle according to claim 41, wherein the raised floor is located in a plane located on a side of the suction openings remote from the turbine;

shoulders are formed in opposing sides of the baffle, the shoulders are located between the suction openings and an inner surface of the suction tube and extend generally longitudinally in the suction tube, portions of the shoulders upstream of the suction openings curve toward the raised floor such that the upstream ends of the shoulders are substantially flush with an inner surface of the raised floor, whereby drops of liquid traveling on the raised floor toward the baffle adhere to the shoulders and are directed around and beyond the suction openings in the baffle.

31. A turbine powered suction nozzle having a wet pickup suction nozzle with a suction inlet and an outlet communicating with a suction tube adapted for connection to a vacuum source, an agitator, a turbine operatively connected to the agitator for driving the agitator, the turbine having at least one turbine inlet communicating with ambient atmosphere and a turbine outlet communicating with the suction tube, whereby the turbine is driven by the vacuum source, wherein the improvement comprises:

a baffle extending from an edge of the turbine outlet proximate the wet pickup nozzle into the suction tube and over and beyond the turbine outlet to direct air, liquid and debris exiting the outlet of the suction nozzle over and beyond the turbine outlet, and thereby substantially preventing liquid and debris from entering the turbine outlet, an end of the baffle remote from the pickup nozzle being open for providing fluid communication between the suction tube and the turbine outlet, and slots passing through opposing sides of the baffle for providing further fluid communication between the suction tube and the turbine outlet.

32. A turbine powered suction nozzle according to claim 31, further comprising a wall extending transversely across the suction tube between the baffle and the pickup nozzle, said wall being arranged to direct air and debris traveling through the suction tube past the slots in the sides of the baffle.

33. A turbine powered suction nozzle according to claim 31, wherein the open end of the baffle and the slots in the sides of the baffle are spaced from an inner surface of the suction tube to prevent any liquid pooling in the suction tube from entering the turbine outlet.

34. A turbine powered suction nozzle according to claim 33, further comprising longitudinally extending shoulders in opposing sides of the baffle located between the slots and the inner surface of the suction tube, ends of the shoulders proximate the pickup nozzle being curved toward the wall in the suction tube such that the ends of the shoulders proximate pickup nozzle are substantially flush with an inner surface of the wall.

35. A compact hand held extractor nozzle with air turbine powered scrub brushes, said hand held extractor nozzle comprising:

a suction tube having a suction nozzle mounted on one end thereof, a second end of the suction tube defining a hand grip;

the scrub brushes comprise a pair of counter-rotating vertical axis rotary scrub brushes located adjacent to the nozzle;

the air turbine being located between the scrub brushes and the suction tube, the turbine having at least one turbine inlet communicating with ambient atmosphere and a turbine outlet communicating with the suction tube; and

a gear train drivingly connecting the turbine with the brushes.