Patent Publication Number: US-6658693-B1

Title: Hand-held extraction cleaner with turbine-driven brush

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 06/239,670, filed Oct. 12, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to extraction cleaners. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a portable hand-held extraction cleaner with an agitation brush. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a portable hand-held extraction cleaner with a turbine-driven agitation brush. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a portable hand-held extraction cleaner with a removable recovery tank and a motor-driven agitation brush. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Portable, hand-held extraction cleaners having a cleaning solution supply tank and a recovery tank are known. These extraction cleaners typically have a vacuum motor that powers an impeller to create low pressure on one side of the impeller and higher pressure on the other side thereof. The recovery tank is typically positioned between the low-pressure side of the impeller and a fluid collection nozzle to remove fluid from a surface and deposit it in the recovery tank. It is also known to provide a separate cleaning solution pump for directing cleaning solution from the supply tank to the surface. 
     One hand-held extraction cleaning device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,738 issued to Monson et al. on Dec. 6, 1988. In this arrangement, a hand-held extraction cleaner has a handle section removably joined to a lower discharge section. A collection chamber receives fluid from a surface through a nozzle opening that communicates with the intake side of a vacuum motor. The collection tank houses a hollow plenum chamber and a centrifugal separator attached to a vacuum blower. A cleaning-fluid tank is pressurized by exhaust air from the outlet side of the rotating vacuum blower to force cleaning fluid under pressure from the cleaning fluid tank to a supply nozzle when a solution supply trigger is depressed to thereby apply cleaning fluid to a surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,740 issued to McCray on Nov. 29, 1994, discloses a hand-held extraction cleaner that includes a housing, a handle, a body portion, and a nozzle with a suction opening. A collection tank is removably supported on the housing and is fluidly connected through a separator to a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump has an exhaust port and is powered by an electric pump motor. A solution tank is removably connected to the housing and is pressurized by a pressure pump that is also connected to the pump motor. A separate drive motor is coupled to a rotatable brush for scrubbing a surface to be cleaned. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,176 issued to Lessig, III et al. on Dec. 15, 1981, discloses an air-powered vacuum cleaner floor tool including a housing having an air-powered turbine motor and a rotary floor agitator. The rotary floor agitator is coupled to and driven by the turbine motor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,864 issued to Miller et al. on Feb. 9, 1999, discloses a hand-held extractor nozzle having a pair of rotary scrub brushes, each having a vertical axis, and powered by an air turbine having an ambient air inlet and an outlet in communication with a suction tube. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,498 issued to Roberts et al. on Oct. 3, 2000, and having common ownership with this application, discloses a hand-held extraction cleaner including a cleaning fluid supply system for supplying a cleaning fluid to a surface and a fluid recovery system including a source of suction fluidly connected to the surface through a cleaning fluid recovery tank assembly. This patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A hand-held liquid extraction cleaner for cleaning a surface comprises a cleaner housing, a liquid extraction system including a vacuum source mounted to the cleaner housing, a liquid dispensing system mounted to the cleaner housing, a rotatably mounted agitation brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned and a motor operably connected to the agitation brush for rotatably driving the brush. According to the invention, the motor is a turbine motor that is operably connected to the vacuum source for driving the turbine motor with the vacuum source and the cleaner housing, the liquid extraction system, the liquid dispensing system, the agitation brush, and the motor constitute a unit that can be carried and operated with a single hand. 
     The liquid extraction cleaner is of the type in which a handle is mounted on the cleaner housing to facilitate carrying and operating the unit during use. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the recovery tank is removably mounted to the cleaner housing. The agitation brush is mounted to the recovery tank for rotation with respect thereto. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the turbine motor is also mounted to the recovery tank so that the agitation brush and turbine motor are removable with the recovery tank from the cleaner housing. 
     The liquid extraction system includes a recovery tank that has an inlet opening at an upper portion thereof and is connected through a suction conduit to a vacuum source for delivery of liquid and debris from the suction nozzle into the recovery tank. 
     Further according to the invention, a hand-held liquid extraction cleaner has a cleaner housing, a liquid extraction system mounted to the cleaner housing, a liquid dispensing system, a rotatably mounted brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned and a motor operably connected to the brush for rotatably driving the brush. The brush is mounted to the recovery tank for rotation with respect thereto. Preferably, the motor is also mounted to the recovery tank. Typically, a handle on the cleaner housing is adapted for carrying and manipulating the extraction cleaner during use. 
     The liquid extraction system used in the various embodiments of the invention typically includes a suction nozzle having a nozzle opening, a recovery tank with an inlet opening and a vacuum source. The vacuum source is in open communication with the recovery tank, the suction conduit and the suction nozzle whereby the vacuum source can draw liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and to the recovery tank in which the liquid and debris are deposited. 
     The liquid dispensing system used in the various embodiments of the invention is of the type which has a cleaning fluid supply tank, at least one spray nozzle having an outlet opening for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned and a supply conduit interconnecting the cleaning fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle for supplying cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle. A pump, of the electrical or hand type, can be used for pressurizing the cleaning fluid in the supply conduit. 
     The agitation brush used in the various embodiments of the invention a is the type which is mounted for rotation with respect to the cleaner housing, preferably on the recovery tank. The agitation brush can rotate about a horizontal axis or about a vertical axis. Either type of brush can be powered by a turbine motor. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand-held extraction cleaner with turbine-driven brush according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the cleaner of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held extraction cleaner taken through line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the recovery tank assembly taken through line  4 — 4  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the turbine housing taken through line  5 — 5  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through line  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through line  7 — 7  of FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the FIGS. 1-4, a hand-held extraction cleaner with turbine-driven brush  10  according to the invention comprises a housing  12  having a handle portion  19 , a removable cleaning fluid supply tank  24 , recovery tank assembly  20 , and power cord  710 . Those features of the hand-held extraction cleaner  10  not expressly discussed herein are further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,498, commonly owned with this application and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the hand-held extraction cleaner  10  according to the invention includes a solution-dispensing system and a solution-recovery system. The solution-dispensing system and the solution-recovery system are both powered by an electric motor  30 . The motor  30  drives a pump assembly  18  for pumping the cleaning solution and an impeller  34  for developing suction in the solution-recovery system. The electric motor  30  is controlled by an on/off switch  23 . The motor can be a direct-current motor powered by rechargeable batteries carried within the housing  12 , or an alternating-current motor of known construction supplied power from an external source through the power cord  710  (FIG.  1 ). 
     The solution-dispensing system comprises a cleaning solution supply tank  24  fluidly connected through the pump assembly  18  and fluid supply conduit  106  to a trigger mechanism  162 . Actuation of the trigger mechanism  162  releases the fluid to a tube  260  for dispensing by a spray nozzle assembly  160  onto a surface being cleaned. The tube  260  is encased within a nozzle cover  186  on a forward portion of the hand-held extraction cleaner  10 . The spray nozzle assembly  160  is assembled to a lower end of the nozzle cover  186 . The nozzle cover  186  is assembled onto a channel cover  184  on the front face  192  of the recovery tank assembly  20 . 
     The channel cover  184  and front face  192  form a suction conduit  196 . A lower end of the suction conduit  196 , behind the lower lip  450  of channel cover  184 , forms a suction nozzle opening  198  positioned for placement proximate a surface being cleaned. The suction nozzle opening  198  is fluidly connected through the suction conduit  196  and an inlet opening  200  to the interior chamber  204  of the recovery tank assembly  20 . The interior chamber  204  is further fluidly connected to the impeller  34  through air conduit  250 . 
     In operation, the user turns on the motor  30  by switch  23  to develop pressure in the cleaning solution-dispensing system and a suction force within the solution-recovery system. The user then dispenses cleaning solution onto the surface being cleaned by actuation of trigger mechanism  162  and can agitate the surface using agitation brush  705 . The dispensed solution is drawn into suction nozzle opening  198  by the suction force in the recovery tank assembly  20 . The recovered solution is drawn through inlet opening  200  and deposited into the bottom of the interior chamber  204 . The solution is deflected downwardly by deflector  202 . Air conduit  250  has a first open end  252  in an upper region of the chamber  204 . Deflector  205  and open end  252  cooperate to prevent fluid from being drawn into impeller  34 . Air drawn in by the suction force thus passes free of liquid through the air conduit  250  to the impeller  34  and is exhausted to the atmosphere. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, the recovery tank assembly  20  further comprises a turbine assembly  700  and rotatable agitation brush  705 . The turbine assembly  700  includes a turbine air conduit  747  fluidly connected to air conduit  250  through the turbine air outlet  748 . The turbine assembly  700  is thus fluidly connected to the impeller  34 . 
     Agitation brush  705  is rotatably mounted to the recovery tank assembly  20 , parallel to a bottom wall  188  of the tank assembly  20 . It is thereby positioned to be parallel to a surface being cleaned so that as the brush  705  rotates, bristles  707  agitate the surface to effectuate dirt removal. The recovery tank assembly  20  is removably mounted to the housing  12  and is removable by depressing latch  206  and rotating recovery tank assembly  20  in a forward and downward direction. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, the turbine assembly  700  comprises a turbine housing  715  and a gear housing  810 . The turbine housing  715  encloses a turbine  720  therein and the gear housing  810  encloses a plurality of intermediate gears  820 . 
     The turbine housing  715  comprises parallel inner and outer walls  725 ,  730  connected about their perimeter by annular inner and outer sidewalls  735 ,  740 . The inner wall  725  has a central air outlet  745  fluidly connected to turbine air conduit  747 , and the outer wall  730  has a central axis aperture  750 . The outer sidewall  740  includes a number of spaced air inlet apertures  755 , each aperture  755  covered with a screen  760 . 
     Turbine housing  715  is fluidly connected with a source of suction (impeller  34 ) within the interior of the recovery tank assembly  20  through central air outlet  745  and turbine air conduit  747 . Turbine housing  715  is further fluidly connected to the atmosphere through air inlet apertures  755 . 
     The inner sidewall  735  of turbine housing  715  includes a number of angled vanes  765 . Vanes  765  are colocated and aligned with the air inlet apertures  755  of the outer sidewall  740  about the perimeter of the housing  715 . Vanes  765  are perpendicular to the inner and outer walls  725 ,  730 , and are oriented in the same angular relationship with respect to a radial line extending from the center of the turbine housing  715  to the inner sidewall  735 . The vanes  765  thereby direct air drawn through the inlet apertures  755  in one substantially tangential direction about the perimeter of the housing  715 . In lieu of, or in addition to, the apertures  755  in the outer sidewall  740  of the housing  715 , apertures can be placed in the parallel inner and/or outer sidewalls  735 ,  740 . 
     Turbine  720  comprises a central hub  770  and an annular disk  780  integrally formed with the central hub  770  and concentric therewith. An axle  775  is press-fit in the center of the central hub  770 . Axle  775  is rotatably received in a bushing  800  that is press-fit in the axis aperture  750  of the outer wall  730 , centering the turbine  720  within the housing  715 . 
     Annular disk  780  defines a plane perpendicular to the axle  775 . The disk  780  includes a plurality of fins  785  about its perimeter. The fins  785  stand perpendicular to the disk  780 , and include a rounded leading face  790  and a concave trailing face  795 . The fins  785  are arranged in a line about the perimeter of the disk  780  so that the leading face  790  of one fin  785  is aligned with the trailing face of the next fin  785 . Alternate blade shapes, such as straight radial blades, can be used in lieu of the fins  785 . 
     With turbine  720  centered within housing  715 , disk  780  is oriented parallel to the outer wall  730  with fins  785  perpendicular to the outer wall  730 . The fins  785  are aligned about the perimeter of the disk  780 , forming a plane generally parallel to the inner sidewall  735 . The concave trailing faces  795  are arranged about the perimeter of the disk  780  and are oriented so that air passing through vanes  765  will impinge upon trailing faces  795  to impart rotational motion to turbine  720 . 
     Axle  775  passes through the bushing  800  and into gear housing  810  received on an outer portion of the turbine housing  715 . A portion of the outer wall  730  of the turbine housing  715  forms the inner wall of the gear housing  810 . Axle  775  includes at an outer end thereof within the gear housing  810 , a turbine gear  815 . Gear housing  810  further encloses a plurality of intermediate gears  820 , and a drive belt  825 . The drive belt  825  can be replaced with additional gears. Turbine gear  815  and intermediate gears  820  are oriented so that the teeth of the gears  815 ,  820  mesh to translate rotational movement from one gear to another. The drive belt  825  has teeth for meshing with the teeth of one of the intermediate gears  820 , and passes from the gear housing  810  to a brush housing  835  (FIG.  4 ). 
     The drive belt  825  further meshes with a brush drive gear  840  in the brush housing  835 . The brush drive gear  840  is operably connected to the agitation brush  705 , and the combination is rotatably mounted to the recovery tank assembly  20  and brush housing  835  by way of a bushing  837  fixed to the brush housing  835 . 
     The interior of the gear housing  810  is generally of molded construction, including bosses  845  for receiving spindles  850  on which the gears  820  are rotatably mounted. The spindles  850  can be integrally molded to the gear housing  810 . The interior of the gear housing  810  further includes molded bosses  855  for receiving screws (not shown) for mounting the gear housing  810  to the turbine housing  715 . 
     In operation, the source of suction (impeller  34 ) is activated, creating a suction force within the recovery tank assembly  20  and creating a suction at the turbine air outlet  748 . The suction force draws ambient air through air inlet apertures  755  due to the fluid connection of turbine air outlet  748  to air inlet apertures  755  through turbine housing  700 , central air outlet  745 , and turbine air conduit  747 . Vanes  765  in the inner sidewall  735  impart a tangential component to the inlet air to direct the inlet air against the concave trailing face  795  of the fins  785 . The force of the inlet air against the fins  785  causes the turbine  720  to rotate with axle  775 , the axle  775  rotating within the bushing  800 . The inlet air then passes over a plurality of arcuate vanes  860  formed in the inner wall  725  of the turbine housing  715  so as to direct the air from the fins  785  toward the central air outlet  745  and into the recovery tank assembly  20 . 
     With particular reference to FIG. 7, as axle  775  rotates, its rotational motion is transferred through turbine gear  815  to intermediate gears  820 . Intermediate gears  820  are operably connected to brush drive gear  840  through drive belt  825 . Agitation brush  705  is thus rotatably driven relative to the recovery tank assembly  20 . Bristles  707  of agitation brush  705  can be applied to a surface being cleaned. 
     Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the spirit of the foregoing specification and drawings without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.