Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-27
2001-09-11
Moore, Chris K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286180
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cleaning machines and, more particularly, to an upright water extraction cleaning machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Water extraction cleaning machines have long been used for removing dirt from surfaces such as carpeting, upholstery, drapes, and the like. The known water extraction cleaning machines can be in the form of a canister-type unit as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,720 to Blase et al. or an upright unit as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,977 to McAllise et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,665 to Fitzwater.
The current water extraction cleaners can be difficult to use and often have limited adaptability for a variety of cleaning conditions. For example, none of the known water extraction cleaners can quickly and efficiently vary the mixture ratio of detergent and water. In addition, none of the known upright water extraction cleaners can automatically adjust the height of the roller-type agitation brush in response to changes on the surface being cleaned. Another problem inherent with the known water extraction cleaners is ease of use in filling and emptying the clean water tank and recovery tank. Finally, none of the known prior art water extraction cleaners can quickly and easily convert between on-the-floor cleaning and off-the-floor cleaning with an accessory hose and cleaning tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, an improved upright water extraction cleaning machine comprises a base adapted for movement across a supporting surface, a handle pivotally mounted to the base, a fluid pump having a fluid inlet connected to at least one liquid holding tank and a fluid outlet connected to at least one spray nozzle to thereby transfer liquid from the at least one holding tank to the at least one spray nozzle under pressure and distribute the liquid onto the supporting surface, a suction nozzle mounted to the base to remove liquid and debris from the surface, and a vacuum source mounted to one of the base and the handle and connected to the suction nozzle to generate a working air flow for recovering the liquid and debris. A priming valve having a valve body with an interior chamber includes a valve inlet port connected to the pump outlet and a valve outlet port connected to the vacuum source. A valve element is located within the interior chamber and is movable between a priming position wherein the valve element is spaced from the valve outlet such that liquid can be drawn into the interior of the hollow body when the vacuum source is operating, and a sealing position wherein the valve element seats against the valve outlet port to block liquid from entering the vacuum source.
In still another embodiment of the invention, a fluid supply conduit in the liquid dispensing system includes a pump fluidly connected to the fluid supply chamber and to the dispensing nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the dispensing nozzle. A pump primer is connected to the pump for priming the pump and includes a valved opening connected to the vacuum source. According to the invention, the pump primer includes a housing defining a priming chamber with an inlet opening connected to the fluid supply chamber and an outlet opening connected to an inlet for the pump. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valved opening is in an upper portion of the priming chamber. Further, the pump primer includes a valve chamber and a plunger chamber. The valve chamber has an inlet opening defined by the valved opening in the primer chamber and an outlet opening defining an inlet opening to the plunger chamber. The plunger chamber has an outlet opening in fluid communication with the vacuum source. A buoyant plunger is reciprocally mounted in the plunger chamber for generally vertical movement therein. A valve is mounted in the valve chamber and reciprocally movable between the inlet opening and the outlet opening thereof and connected to the plunger for movement therewith. By this structure, the valve closes the outlet opening to the valve chamber when fluid in the plunger chamber raises the plunger and the valve closes the inlet opening when fluid in the plunger chamber falls to a predetermined level. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve in the valve chamber is an umbrella valve.
Preferably, the weight and dimension of the valve element is chosen such that the combined presence of negative air pressure on the valve element and movement of liquid in the interior chamber toward the valve outlet is sufficient to move the valve element toward the valve outlet.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4329756 (1982-05-01), Chicoine et al.
patent: 4809397 (1989-03-01), Jacobs et al.
patent: 4940397 (1990-07-01), Kuhlen
patent: 4956891 (1990-09-01), Wulff
patent: 5287590 (1994-02-01), Yonkers et al.
patent: 5289610 (1994-03-01), Monson
patent: 5850668 (1998-12-01), Berfield et al.
Huffman Eric C.
Kasen Timothy E.
Kasper Gary
Kelly Luke E.
Reed Charles A.
Bissell Homecare Inc.
Moore Chris K.
Rader, Fishman, Grauer, & MC Garry,
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