Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Patent
1997-03-18
1998-06-23
Moore, Chris K.
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
15353, A47L 11283
Patent
active
057687420
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a mobile automatic floor cleaner, and more specifically to such a floor cleaner comprising integrated fresh-liquid and soiled-liquid compartments, a cleaning rotor designed to be supplied from the fresh-liquid compartment and at least one suction nozzle which feeds into the soiled-liquid compartment.
2. Discussion of Related Art
One such mobile automatic floor cleaner is known, for example, from DE 93 09 461 U. In this automatic floor cleaner, cleaning liquid preferably containing a concentrated cleaner is sprayed onto the floor to be treated through the rotor from a separate fresh-liquid compartment. At the same time, the floor is scrubbed by the rotor. A bar-like water suction nozzle which follows the rotor as the cleaner advances sucks up the dirty water still remaining after scrubbing so that the floor can be thoroughly scrubbed and, at the same time, wiped dry, i.e. vacuum-cleaned, to a certain extent in a single operation. This dirty water is returned to the soiled-liquid compartment of the automatic floor cleaner. A pressure equalizing opening and a throughflow opening each provided with an openable closure element are formed in the partition between the soiled-liquid compartment and the fresh-liquid compartment.
By virtue of this construction, the automatic floor cleaner can be operated with recycling of the dirty water, in which case the pressure equalizing opening and the throughflow opening in the partition are opened and dirty water can pass from the soiled-liquid compartment into the fresh-liquid compartment after cleaning to a certain extent by sedimentation and optionally filtration. A satisfactory throughflow of liquid is guaranteed by the pressure equalizing opening because the pressure level in both liquid compartments is the same. On the other hand, the automatic floor cleaner can also be operated in the normal mode with the soiled-liquid compartment and the fresh-liquid compartment separated from one another. In this case, the openings in the partition are closed so that there is no recycling of liquid from the soiled-liquid compartment to the fresh-liquid compartment. In order to close the throughflow opening between the two compartments in the normal mode, the closure element is formed by an elastic ball arranged in the fresh-liquid compartment of which the diameter is larger than the diameter of the associated opening. This ball is drawn sealingly into the corresponding openings in the partition under the effect of the reduced pressure in the soiled-liquid compartment. If, by contrast, the openings are to be uncovered, the balls closing them are moved into the opening position by means of a slide or pivotal lever.
Typically, an automatic floor cleaner of this type can be operated both in the recycling mode, i.e. reusing the soiled liquid as cleaning liquid, and in the normal mode where the soiled liquid is not reused. However, it has been found that the openings in the partition cannot always be reliably closed by the closure balls in the normal mode, for example when there is not enough reduced pressure in the soiled-liquid compartment for example, with the result that soiled liquid can pass from the soiled-liquid compartment into the fresh-liquid compartment, even if this is not intended. This problem can also arise in the recycling mode if solid particles from the soiled liquid settle in and around the throughflow opening and subsequently prevent the balls from fitting tightly therein.
EP 0 224 055 A2 describes an automatic floor cleaner which also comprises a fresh-liquid compartment and a soiled-liquid compartment, the soiled liquid being returned to the soiled-liquid compartment from which it can enter the fresh liquid compartment through an opening in the partition. This opening is designed to be closed by a slide so that the automatic floor cleaner also cannot be used with the opening closed in the recycling mode, i.e. in the normal mode. However, the disadvantage of this automatic floor cleaner is that
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Kohl Albert
Moser Thomas
Henkel-Ecolab GmbH & Co. OHG
Jaeschke Wayne C.
Moore Chris K.
Szoke Ernest G.
Watov Kenneth
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