Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-21
2001-04-17
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S385000, C015S420000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216312
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to equipment for the cleaning of surfaces, particularly equipment for pressurised water cleaning of hard surfaces to remove dirt, debris and other materials from the surface.
BACKGROUND
There is a large variety of cleaning equipment used for domestic and industrial cleaning, ranging from domestic vacuum cleaners to liquid based cleaning devices. Devices for cleaning hard surfaces involve loosening dirt, grease, oil and other materials by scrubbing or the application of water under high pressure. Cleaning liquids such as solvents or detergents may also be utilised. The loosened material is usually removed by flushing with water.
One disadvantage with existing cleaning and flushing arrangements concerns the effective disposal of the loosened material. Flushing such material down open drains may offend anti-pollution regulations because of the contaminate levels in the loosened materials and waste water. There is also a considerable cost in collecting the loosened material and transporting it to a suitable waste disposal or treatment facility.
There is a commercial need for equipment which, not only effectively cleans the surface, but which also captures the loosened material and provides for proper disposal of such material.
There have been attempts at providing clean and capture devices utilising vacuum extraction and flexible sealing skirts. The effectiveness of these devices has been limited. For example, the disposition of the vacuum inlet has limited their effectiveness and versatility. In many cases, the mobility of these devices is restricted due to the provision of wheels or castors which support the weight of the device during operation. In such devices the flexible sealing skirt usually includes a brush arrangement that only partially supports the weight of the device. A further disadvantage of such devices is that they cannot effectively clean undulating hard surfaces because of the air gap beneath the brush skirt which results in the surface being left damp, thus presenting a slip hazard.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which substantially overcomes or at least ameliorates one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages, or which at least provides the consumer with a useful choice.
In one broad form, the present invention provides a tool for liquid based cleaning of a surface, the tool having:
a head to generally cover an area of the surface, the head including a generally downwardly facing channel to which a vacuum is applied to draw air, the liquid and material removed from the area by the tool into the channel;
an outlet communicating with the channel and to which the vacuum is applied, the outlet being provided to direct the air, liquid and material from within the channel;
a spray assembly to direct the liquid, under pressure, at the area to aid in loosening the material from the surface; and
a fringe member mounted on the head and extending generally downwardly therefrom and generally surrounding the channel and area, the fringe member having formed therein a plurality of apertures through which air passes to enter a space generally enclosed by the head and the fringe member.
In another broad form, the present invention provides a system for liquid based cleaning of a surface, the system having:
a cleaning tool;
a water source for supplying water to at least one supply tank;
a first supply tank for supplying water to a source of reduced pressure;
a second supply tank for supplying water to the cleaning tool;
a first filtering device for filtering water received from the second supply tank;
a pressure pump for pressurising the water received from the first filtering device;
a heating device for heating the water received from the pressure pump;
a source of reduced pressure to recover liquid applied by the cleaning tool and material loosened from an area being cleaned;
a waste tank assembly comprising a first separator device and a second filtering device, the first separator device for separating solid waste from the liquid and loosened material recovered from the cleaned area, the second filtering device for filtering liquid from the first separator device; and
a waste pump for discharging the liquid from the second filtering device into a sewer.
In another broad form, the present invention provides a system for delivering liquid for cleaning of a surface, the system having:
a tool adapted to apply liquid, under pressure, to an area to be cleaned;
a water source;
a supply tank for supplying liquid to the tool;
a filtering device for filtering liquid received from the supply tank;
a pressure pump for pressurising liquid received from the filtering device; and
a heating device for heating liquid received from the pressure pump.
In another broad form, the present invention provides a system for recovering applied liquid and material loosened in cleaning of a surface, the system having:
a tool adapted to recover, under reduced pressure, applied liquid and loosened material from an area being cleaned;
a source of reduced pressure;
a supply tank for supplying water to the reduced pressure source;
a waste tank assembly comprising a first separator device and a filtering device, the first separator device for separating solid waste from the liquid and loosened material recovered from the cleaned area, the filtering device for filtering liquid from the first separator device; and
a waste pump for discharging the liquid from the filtering device into a sewer.
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Aussie Red Equipment Pty. Ltd.
Ladas and Parry
Till Terrence R.
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