Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Continuous flow type fluid heater
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-08-14
Paik, Sang (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Continuous flow type fluid heater
C392S474000, C134S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275654
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure cleaning unit including a pressurized, recirculating pump subsystem, a heated fluid feed subsystem, an electrical control sub-system, and a fluid sprayer subsystem and to method for using the unit to clean surfaces.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a pressure cleaning unit including a pressurized, re-circulating pump subsystem where fluid is re-circulated by an unloader valve set to a pressure below a maximum output pressure of the pump, a heated fluid feed subsystem having unidirectional flow from the feed subsystem into the pump subsystem and having a thermocouple water temperature controller, an electrical control sub-system, and a fluid sprayer subsystem and to method for using the unit to clean surfaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cleaning units currently in the art are designed to operate in a non-pressurized environment. U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,162 discloses an electric combination cleaner which utilizes a float tank attached to a pump which then forwards water to heaters which in turn forwards water to the dispenser wand. Although water is or can be re-circulated to the float tank, the re-circulated fluid is not maintained under pressure.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved pressure cleaning unit that utilizes a pressurized, re-circulating pumping subsystem so that cleaning fluid is immediately available to at the desired pressure on demand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus for cleaning surfaces of objects including a fluid supply and a heated fluid reservoir having a unidirectional inlet valve, an unidirectional outlet valve and a thermocouple connected to a temperature controller to maintain the fluid at or near a target or desired temperature. The apparatus also includes a pressurized, re-circulating pumping subsystem having a positive displacement pump, a low pressure side, feed assembly connected to a low pressure pump inlet and a high pressure side outlet assembly connected to a high pressure pump outlet. The inlet assembly includes a low pressure, side pressure relief valve and a re-circulation return line. The outlet assembly includes a high pressure side, pressure relief valve, a pressure oscillation damper or anti-hammer device and an unloader valve. An unloader valve over-pressure line is connected to the re-circulation return line of the inlet assembly, while a normal pressure line is connected at its distal end to a fluid dispenser, sprayer or wand. The wand can also include a venturi soap supply device or a separate soap line connected to a soap metering device where the soap supplied mixes with the fluid flow from the pump resulting in the dispensing of a soap solution.
The present invention also relates to a method for cleaning surfaces including directing a stream of cleaning fluid onto a surface to be cleaned using a cleaning device of the present invention.
The present invention further relates to a method for producing a fluid stream including supplying a fluid to a reservoir through a one-way valve where the fluid is heated to a desired temperature. Forwarding the heated fluid through a one-way valve to a pressurized, re-circulating pump assembly including a positive displacement pump having a low pressure side, supply line which includes a return line and a low pressure side relief valve, and a high pressure side, outlet line which includes a high pressure side relief valve, a pressure oscillation damper or anti-hammer device, and an unloader valve having an overpressure line connected to the return line and a normal pressure line connected to a fluid dispensing head. Producing a fluid stream by opening a valve in the dispensing head which can be directed towards a surface to be cleaned.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4344571 (1982-08-01), Kundig
patent: 4552162 (1985-11-01), Finger
patent: 4773113 (1988-09-01), Russell
patent: 4862551 (1989-09-01), Martinez et al.
patent: 5004156 (1991-04-01), Montanier
patent: 5527275 (1996-06-01), Ginsberg
patent: 5662269 (1997-09-01), Francis
Campbell Thor
Paik Sang
Strozier Robert W.
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