Wet cleaning suction nozzle

Abstract: This invention relates to a wet cleaning suction nozzle comprising at least one suction opening (22) facing the floor and communicating with a nozzle outlet tube (12), at least one scraper blade (24) which is placed in front of and behind the suction opening as seen in the direction of movement of the nozzle the lower ends of the scraper blade abutting the floor when the nozzle is used. The suction opening (22) is permanently placed closer to the floor than the fastening points (23) of the scraper blades in the nozzle. The nozzle is used on hard as well as soft floors without being converted and the nozzle comprises one or several distance means (31) preventing the nozzle opening (22) from touching the floor when the nozzle is used on a hard floor but which admits the suction opening to abut the floor when the nozzle is used on a soft floor.

Description: This invention relates to a wet cleaning suction nozzle comprising at least one suction opening facing the floor and communicating with a nozzle outlet tube, at least one scraper blade which is placed in front of and behind the suction opening as seen in the direction of movement of the nozzle the lower end of the scraper blade abutting the floor when the nozzle is used. Nozzles of the type described above are previously known. The nozzles are used for cleaning floors by sucking up dirt together with water or cleaning liquids which have previously been applied on the floor. The liquid and the dirt is collected in a container which is emptied in a sewage system. In order to apply liquid to the surface there usually is an additional container with clean liquid and a pump by means of which the liquid via a manually operated control means is delivered to an outlet opening close to the nozzle and from which the liquid is spread over the floor. For this type of nozzles, see for instance FR-A-2698777, the suction opening as well as the fastening points of the scraper blades are placed at a comparatively large distance from the surface. However, the known nozzles mentioned above have the limitation that they are only suited to be used on hard surfaces. If they are used on soft surfaces they will not suck up the liquid since the liquid will penetrate into the surface which means that the distance between the opening and the surface becomes too large for sucking up the liquid effectively. Indeed the distance can be shortened by pressing the nozzle against the surface thereby bending the scraping blades but this means that the friction forces become too large making it difficult to move the nozzle on the surface. In order to take up the liquid from soft surfaces separate nozzles have up to now been used these nozzles being provided with an elongated narrow suction opening which is surrounded by an even surface resting on the floor. The arrangement gives a comparatively low friction resistance when the nozzle is moved in one direction but a comparatively great resistance when the nozzle is moved in the opposite direction. This means that the nozzle is conventionally used so that it is first moved on the floor in one direction (towards the body of the operator) after which it is lifted and when being moved in the opposite direction is kept above the floor. It is often desirable to make a mechanical treatment of such parts of the surface where the dirt is sticking to the surface or to achieve drying of the surface in connection with wet cleaning of hard floors. In order to make it possible to suck up liquid from hard as well as soft surfaces and to achieve said mechanical treatment or drying there are also nozzles on the market which comprise several seperate parts which can be combined manually so that the different nozzle types are created. Such nozzles however have the disadvantage that changing between the different types of nozzles is cumbersome and unhygienic and demands from the operator that all details are accessible at each moment. For dry cleaning purposes of different floor types it is also previously known to use automatic nozzles, see US-A-3497903, that are provided with a pressure sensing mechanism shifting brushes between a "soft floor" and a "hard floor" position. The purpose of this invention is to achieve one single nozzle which admits sucking up liquid from hard as well as soft floors and which does not have the disadvantages which are mentioned above. Thus, the nozzle can without being converted be used on these two surfaces and be moved in both directions without any greater resistance and without being lifted from the surface. It is also possible to achieve said mechanical treatment or drying solely by turning the nozzle through 180°. This is achieved by means of a device which has the caracteristics mentioned in the claims. One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a nozzle according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a partly broken vertical section through the nozzle, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bottom side of the nozzle and Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial view of a detail of the nozzle. As appears from the figures the nozzle 10 comprises a front part 11 and a rear tube shaped part 12 which are turnably connected to each other. The tube shaped part which is connected to a vacuum source has a support 13 for a spray nozzle 14 by means of which liquid, for instance cleaning liquid, can be sprayed on the surface. The spray nozzle is connected to a hose 15 through which the liquid is supplied to the nozzle. The supply of liquid is controlled by means of control means arranged on the tube shaft which is connected to the part 12. The nozzle part 11 has an elongated shape and is provided with a chamber 16 limited by an upper and a lower wall part 17 and 18 resp. a front and rear wall part 19 and 20 resp. and inner side wall parts 21. The lower wall part 18 has a central portion which is placed close to the surface on which the nozzle is moved this portion having an elongated slot shaped opening 22 serving as a suction opening. In front of and behind the opening 22 there is a holder 23 for a scraper blade 24 extending through mainly the complete width of the nozzle. Thus, the holder 23, which is placed at a larger distance from the surface than the suction opening 22, has a cylinder shaped recess 25 with a downwardly extending elongated slot 26 through which the scraper blade 24 extends. The width of the slot is larger than the thickness of the scraper blade and the width of the slot increases towards the floor. The upper part of the scraper blade 24 is provided with a cylinder shaped bead 27 which is inserted into the recess 25 the diameter of the bead being somewhat less than diameter of the recess which means thet the scraper blade can be turned with respect to the recess. The tilting possiblility which the scraper blade has means that it folds away when the nozzle is moved on a surface thereby reducing the movement resistance compared to a nozzle having fixed scraper blades. Preferably the scraper blade cosists of rubber or plastics and has a corrugated surface facing outwardly. The nozzle also has outer side wall parts 28 which together with the inner side wall parts 21 form a pocket 29 at each end of the nozzle. The side wall parts 28, 21 are provided with recesses in which a shaft 30, which is provided with a wheel 31, is secured. The lower part of the wheels extend somewhat below the suction opening 22 and serves at certain occasions as a distance means between the surface and the suction opening whereas the scraper blades 24 have such a length that they extend somewhat below the lower parts of the wheels 31. Further the nozzle has a vertical front wall portion 32 which together with the outer side wall parts 28, a rear vertical wall portion 33 and a bottom comprising vertical flanges 34 forms an upwardly open pocket in which a body 35 of elastic material is inserted. The body 35 which is turnable and which can easily be removed from the pocket preferably comprises an upper layer 36 of grinding or polishing material and a lower layer 37 of a liquid absorbing material for instance foamed plastic. The device is used in the following manner. First a cleaning agent is applied on the floor surface which should be cleaned and this can be done by means of the spray nozzle 14. Then the liquid is sucked up from the floor by moving the nozzle, independently of type of floor, forwads and backwards on the floor. When working on hard floors the suction opening 22 is placed immediately above the floor since the nozzle rests on the wheels 31 at the same time as the scraping blades 24 when moving the nozzle on the floor will pivot about their support points 25 and hence serve as suction curtains. When the nozzle is moved on a soft floor the wheels 31 will sink down into the floor so that the portions surrounding the suction opening will abut the surface which means a good suction effect on the liquid which has peneterated into the surface. Also in this case the scraping blades 24 will be folded away which means that they will not hinder the nozzle from being moved on the surface. In case it is necessary to treat the surface in order to get rid of spots which are stuck to the surface or in order to take up remaining water the nozzle can easily be pivoted half a turn after which the outwardly facing side of the body 35 is brought in contact with the floor. It should be mentioned that it of course whithin the scope of the invention is possible to replace the wheels by other types of distance means for instance sliding elements if this should be desirable as well as varying the shape of the suction opening.

Claims: Wet cleaning suction nozzle comprising at least one suction opening (22) facing the floor and communicating with a nozzle outlet tube (12), at least one scraper blade (24) which is placed in front of and behind the suction opening as seen in the direction of movement of the nozzle the lower end of the scraper blade abutting the floor when the nozzle is used, characterized in that the nozzle is shaped in such a way that in use, the suction opening (22) is permanently placed closer to the floor than stationary fastening points (23) for the scraper blades in the nozzle and that the nozzle is intended to be used on hard as well as soft floors without being converted the nozzle comprising on ore several distance means (31) preventing the nozzle opening (22) from touching the floor when the nozzle is used on a hard floor but which admits the suction opening to abut the floor when the nozzle is used on a soft floor. Nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction opening (22) is shaped as an elongated slot. Nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distance means (31) are wheels preferably placed adjacent the side walls (28) of the nozzle. Nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that the scraper blades (24) are turnably supported in the nozzle. Nozzle according to claim 4, characterized in that the scraper blades at their supporting end are provided with a bead (27) which is inserted into an elongated recess (25) in the nozzle. Nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that the scraper blades (24) are made of rubber or plastics. Nozzle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with means (14) for distributing liquid to the floor. Nozzle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with a link by means of which the the outlet tube (12) is turnably connected to a nozzle housing (11) comprising said suction opening (22) scraper blades (24) and distance means (31). Nozzle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a surface which is used for drying or mechanically treating the floor. Nozzle according to claim 9, characterized in that said surface is a part of an element (35) which is removably arranged at the upper side of the nozzle.

Inventors: EDIN ANDERS, EDIN, ANDERS
Applicants: ELECTROLUX AB, AKTIEBOLAGET ELECTROLUX
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A47L9
IPC codes: A47L9, A47L7, A47L11