Abstract:
A portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided and includes a housing for movement along the cleaning surface. A solution distribution system is mounted at least in part to the housing and includes a solution distributor operatively connected to the housing for distributing a solution onto the cleaning surface, a first solution tank for holding the solution, and a first adjustable flow rate valve fluidly connected between the first solution tank and the distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of the valve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an adjustable flow rate valve for a cleaning apparatus. 
     2. Background Information 
     It is known to have cleaning machines such as carpet extractors that distribute cleaning solution composed of detergent mixed with water to wash the cleaning surfaces. Some extractors can also distribute cleaning solution composed of clean water to rinse the cleaning surface in addition to cleaning solution composed of detergent mixed with water. Often, a clean water supply tank and a detergent supply tank are used for distributing either type of cleaning solution. Some cleaning machines further have mixing valves to selectively control the ratio of detergent and clean water in the cleaning solution. Such mixing valves are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,937,475 and 6,158,081. Yet, this valve is complicated in design, requiring a number of parts. Further, It would be desirable to provide a valve or valve system on a cleaning machine that can adjust the flow rate of the fluid distributed on the surface in addition to controlling the ratio of detergent and water. 
     Hence, it is an object the present invention to provide a simple valve or device that adjusts the flow rate of fluid from a cleaning machine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description and the attached drawings. In one aspect of the invention, a portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided and includes a housing for movement along the cleaning surface. A solution distribution system is mounted at least in part to the housing and includes a solution distributor operatively connected to the housing for distributing a solution onto the cleaning surface, a first solution tank for holding the solution, and a first adjustable flow rate valve having an inlet fluidly connected to the first solution tank and an outlet fluidly connected to the distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of the distributor. The first adjustable flow rate valve has a rotating valve part with a variable flow rate groove positioned between the inlet and the outlet. A knob is secured to the valve part, wherein rotating the knob rotates the valve part and the slot such that the flow rate through the first adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of the slot between the inlet and the outlet of the valve part. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided and includes a housing for movement along the cleaning surface. A solution distribution system is mounted at least in part to the housing and includes a solution distributor operatively connected to the housing for distributing a solution onto the cleaning surface and includes a solution tank for holding the solution, a first adjustable flow rate valve having a valve part operatively associated with the first solution tank and the distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of said distributor, and a second adjustable flow rate valve having a valve part operatively associated with the first solution tank and the distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of the distributor. A user operated selector operatively connected to the valve part of the first adjustable flow rate valve, wherein moving the selector moves the valve part such that the flow rate of the solution through said first adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of the valve part of the first adjustable flow rate valve. A coupling member is operatively connected between the valve part of the second adjustable flow rate valve and one of the selector and the valve part of the first adjustable flow rate valve such that movement of the selector causes the coupling member to move the valve part of the second adjustable flow rate valve such that the flow rate of the solution through the second adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of the valve part of the second adjustable flow rate valve. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided and includes a housing for movement along the cleaning surface. A solution distribution system is mounted at least in part to the housing and includes a solution distributor operatively connected to the housing for distributing a solution onto the cleaning surface and includes a first solution tank for holding a first solution, a second solution tank for holding a second solution, a mixing chamber fluidly connected between the first and second solution tanks for mixing the first and second solutions, a first adjustable flow rate valve having a valve part operatively associated with the mixing chamber and the distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of the mixing chamber, and a second adjustable flow rate valve operatively associated with the first solution tank and the mixing chamber for adjusting the flow rate of the first solution from the first solution tank and thereby varying the relative proportions of the first solution and the second solution flowing out of the mixing chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a carpet extractor embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the fluid distribution system of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the adjustable flow rate valve of the carpet extractor illustrating the elements thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the adjustable flow rate valve of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the adjustable flow rate valve being operated by a stepper motor; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial rear elevational view of the carpet extractor showing the knobs of the adjustable flow rate valves; and 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary side view showing two adjustable flow rate valve rotatably connected by a coupling arm. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an upright carpet extractor  60  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The upright carpet extractor  60  comprises an upright handle assembly  62  pivotally connected to the rear portion of the floor-engaging portion or base assembly  64  that moves and cleans along a surface  74  such as a carpet. 
     A supply tank assembly  76  is removably mounted to the handle portion  62  of the extractor  60  and includes a combination carrying handle and securement latch  78  pivotally connected thereto. A combined air/water separator and recovery tank  80  removably sets atop base assembly  64  and is surrounded by a hood portion  82 . The base assembly  64  includes two laterally displaced wheels  66  (only the left wheel  66 L being shown) rotatably attached thereto. A combined air/water separator and recovery tank  80  with carrying handle  332  removably sets atop a motor/fan assembly  90  ( FIG. 3  from co pending application having Ser. No. 10/165,731 and publication no. 20030226230; the disclosure being incorporated herein by reference) of base assembly  64  and is surrounded by a hood portion  82 . A floor suction nozzle assembly  124  is removably mounted to the hood portion  82  of the base assembly  64  and in fluid communication with the recovery tank  80  for transporting air and liquid into the recovery tank  80 . The floor suction nozzle assembly  124  includes a front plate secured to a rear plate that in combination define dual side ducts  130 , 132  separated by a tear drop shaped opening  134 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the base assembly  64  includes a brush assembly  70  having a plurality of rotating scrub brushes  72  for scrubbing the surface. A suitable brush assembly  70  is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,857, the disclosure which is incorporated herein by reference. Brush assembly  70  is operated by a suitable gear train (or other known means). A suitable air turbine driven gear train is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,362, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Other brush assemblies could be used such as, for example, a horizontal brush roll or fixed brush assembly. 
     The supply tank assembly  76  comprises a clean water supply tank  620  and a detergent supply tank  622  with cap  720  ( FIG. 2 ) adhesively mounted to the clean water supply tank  620  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The supply tank assembly  76  includes a combination carrying handle and tank securement latch  78  providing a convenient means for carrying the tank and/or securing the tank to the extractor handle assembly  62 . The supply tank assembly  76  is positioned upon a bottom base  624 , which with the tank assembly  76  is removably mounted to the handle. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the overall solution distribution system, which will be described below. The carpet extractor  60  includes a solution hose  794  that fluidly connects the outlet of the clean water tank  620  to a shut off valve  800  used for selectively turning on and off the flow of clean water. An adjustable flow rate valve  211  is provided in the solution hose  794  and in fluid communication with the clean water tank  620  and shut off valve  800 . Another solution hose  790  fluidly connects the outlet of the water tank  620  to an inlet  812  of a pressure actuated shut off valve  804 . The outlet of the detergent tank  622  is fluidly connected to inlet  523  of a mixing Tee  796  via a suitable flexible solution hose  798 . An adjustable flow rate valve  211  is provided in the solution hose  798  and in fluid communication with the mixing Tee  796  and detergent tank  622 . Further details of the valve  211  will be described later. 
     The pressure actuated shut off valve  804  is fluidly connected between the clean water tank  620  and the mixing Tee  796  for turning off and on the flow of water. This shut off valve  804  is opened and closed by outside pressure via a conduit  806  connected between it and the outlet  807  of a pump  808  through a Tee  817 . The valve  804  includes a pressure port  822  fluidly connected to the outlet  807  of a pump  808 . The outlet of the valve  814  is fluidly connected to an inlet  521  of the mixing Tee  796  via hose  815 . An adjustable flow rate valve  211  is provided in the solution hose  815  and in fluid communication with the mixing Tee  796  and pressure actuated shut off valve  804 . It should be known that clean water tank  620  could be fluidly connect to the outlet  814  of the valve  804  with the inlet  812  of the valve  804  being fluidly connect to the mixing Tee  796  so that fluid could flow the opposite direction if desired. 
     In operation, when the pressure at the pressure port  822  is below a predetermined value such as between 7 to 10 psi, the valve  804  opens to allow water to flow in both directions. Such a pressure value at the pressure port  822  occurs when the main shut off valve  820  is opened and the pump  808  is turned on. The pump  808  also pressurizes the water containing the dissolved fragrance tablet mixed with detergent to draw it to the distributor  792 . When the pressure exceeds a second predetermined value such as between 20 to 30 psi, the valve  804  closes. This would occur if the main shut off valve  820  is closed and the pump is turned on. Thus, with the valve  804  closed, the cleaning solution is prevented from flowing through it. Various types of pumps can be used such as a piston pump, gear pump or centrifugal pump. 
     Outlet  525  of the mixing Tee  796  is fluidly connected via flexible solution hose  823  to the inlet of the pump  808 , which provides pressure to draw the cleaning solution to the distributor  792 , when it is turned on. An adjustable flow rate valve  211  is provided in the solution hose  823  and in fluid communication with the mixing Tee  796  and pump  808 . A relief valve  809  is fluidly connected across the pump  808  to limit the pressure at the outlet  807  of the pump  808  to a predetermine value. The outlet  807  of the pump  808  is fluidly connected to the main shut off valve  820  via flexible hoses  825 ,  874  and  876 . Both of the shut off valves  800 ,  820  are in the form of a solenoid valve, however, other electrical actuated valves could be also used. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show each of the adjustable flow rate valves  211  in more detail. The valve  211  includes a generally cylindrical valve body  213  having an upstream housing  215  and a downstream housing  217  secured together by suitable fastening means such as screws. The upstream and downstream housings  215 ,  217  house a disc shaped valve plate  219  rotatably received therein. The upstream housing  215  includes a disc shaped base portion  223  having a raised hub portion  225  and an upstream inlet port  227  fluidly connected to one of the solution hoses  794 ,  798 ,  815 ,  823  via an elb formed rim  229  depends downstream from the base portion and fits around the valve plate  219  as seen in  FIG. 4 . Attached to the valve plate  219  and oriented perpendicular to the valve plate  219  is a cylindrical knob  231  that extends through the hub portion  225  of the upstream housing  215 . The knob  231  further extends through an opening in the rear of the lower body portion  360  of the handle assembly  62  for access by a user as seen in  FIG. 6 . The knob  231  can be attached to the valve plate  219  by any suitable means such as, for example, gluing, welding, or integrally forming it with the valve plate  219 . An arc shaped slot  233  ( FIG. 3 ) is formed in the valve plate  219  and is aligned with the inlet port  227 . The slot  233  is tapered along its length such that its cross sectional area increases going in the clockwise direction as seen in  FIG. 3 . Thus, the flow rate through the valve  211  increases when the valve plate  219  rotates a distance in the clockwise direction due to the larger portion of the groove  233  being aligned under the inlet port  227 . 
     The downstream housing  217  includes a disc shaped base portion  235  and a rim  237  extending upstream that fits around the rim  229  of the upstream housing  215  as seen in  FIG. 4 . The base portion  235  includes a cylindrical pocket  239  at its hub that rotatably receives a tapered downstream portion of the knob  231 .  0 -rings  241 ,  243  are received in respective grooves in the knob  231  to seal the valve body  213  as seen in  FIG. 4 . The base portion  235  further includes a downstream outlet port  245  aligned with the inlet port  227  and a cylindrical camming projection  247  ( FIG. 3 ) adjacent the outlet port  245  that extends through the slot  233 . The projection  247  rides against the inner end  249  of the slot  233  as the valve plate  219  rotates, thereby guiding and aligning the slot  233  between the inlet port  227  and outlet port  245 . The outlet port  245  fluidly connects to one of the solution hoses  794 ,  798 ,  815 , and  823 . To operate the valve, a user grasps the knob  231  and turns it to select one of several positions corresponding to different flow rates due to the different cross section area of the groove  233  aligned under the inlet port  227 . These flow rates are used for various cleaning conditions. 
     Further, with the valves  211  being strategically positioned in different solution hoses, the user can operate the carpet extractor  60  to distribute cleaning solution at a desired flow rate and/or a desired water and detergent mixing ratio for additional cleaning conditions as seen in  FIG. 6 . In particular, the valves  211  provided in the solution hoses  815  and  798  are used to adjust mixing ratio of clean water and detergent from all clean water for rinsing to all detergent. The valves  211  provided in the solution hoses  794  and  823  are used to adjust the flow rate of the cleaning solution. Thus, for example, the user can select a very high cleaning solution flow rate and a high concentration of detergent in the cleaning solution to clean very soiled or heavy traffic cleaning surfaces. In another example, a user can also select a low cleaning solution flow rate for a lightly soiled cleaning surface or for quick drying of the surface after use. Optionally as shown in  FIG. 7 , a mechanical connection such as a linking or coupling arm  261  rotatably connects the two knobs and/or valve plates  219  of the valves  211  in the solution hoses  794 ,  823  so that the user need only turn one of the knobs to select the cleaning solution flow rates for both of the valves  211 . In particular, rotation of one knob causes the arm to rotate the other knob in a similar manner as that of the coupling rod that transfers rotational motion from the front wheel to the other rear wheels of a train engine. Additional coupling arms  261  can also be used to connect any two of the four valves  211 . 
     Alternatively, as seen in  FIG.5 , each of the valves is operated electrically by a stepper motor assembly  251 . In particular, the knob  231  is attached to a shaft  253  of a stepper motor  255  that is electrically connected to a multiple position switch  257 . Each position of the switch  257  causes the stepper motor assembly  251  to rotate the valve plate  219  a distance to one of several positions corresponding to different flow rates. Other types of motors or devices could be used instead to rotate the valve part  219  such as, for example, a servomotor or a solenoid arrangement. Additionally, a touch screen or keypad device can operate the motor and valve via a microprocessor. The touch screen could have various operating mode and user information displayed in the form of alphanumeric and graphic light crystal displays (LCDs). 
     The shut off valves  800 ,  820  are operated by a trigger switch  821  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The trigger switch  821  is pivotally connected to the upper handle portion  358  approximately near a closed looped handgrip  824 . Slide switch  858  is used to select one of the shut off valve  800 ,  822  to be opened and closed by the trigger switch  821 . Slide switch  856  is the main power switch, which turns on and off the suction motor  90  and pump  808 . The cleaning solution containing the water or water mixed with detergent flows to their associated shut off valves  800 ,  820 . The cleaning liquid distributor  792  evenly distributes the cleaning solution to each of the rotary scrub brushes  72 . The scrub brushes  72  then spread the cleaning solution onto the carpet (or bare floor), scrub the cleaning liquid into the carpet and dislodge embedded soil. A solution discharge valve  877  allows the mixed detergent and clean water to flow through an integrally formed nipple  218  and a detachable solution tube  216  to a hand-held cleaning attachment (not shown) and dispense by typical spray means. 
     As is commonly known, a user pivots the handle  62  in an incline position while moving the carpet extractor  60  over the surface to clean it. The carpet extractor  60  distributes the cleaning solution to the carpeted surface using the brushes  72  and substantially simultaneously extracts it along with the dirt on the carpet in a continuous operation. In particular, soiled cleaning solution is extracted from the carpet via inlet  138  of the suction nozzle  124  and transported into the recovery tank  80  where the liquid and air are separated. A vacuum is created in the recovery tank  80  by the suction motor  90 , which draws air from the recovery tank  80  and exhausts the air to the carpeted surface  74 . 
     Any features shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , but not described herein, and further elements of the extraction cleaner, are disclosed in co pending application having Ser. No. 10/165,731; the disclosure being incorporated herein by reference. For example, elements disclosed in  FIG. 6  but not described herein are shown in  FIG. 24  of the above-mentioned pending application and described in that application. 
     Alternatively, the adjustable flow rate valve  211  could be placed in cleaning machine that has one solution tank such as that disclosed by previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,977. The present invention has been described by way of example using the illustrated embodiments. Upon reviewing the detailed description and the appended drawings, various modifications and variations of the embodiments will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. All such obvious modifications and variations are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention and of the claims appended hereto. 
     In view of the above, it is intended that the present invention not be limited by the preceding disclosure of the embodiments, but rather be limited only by the appended claims.