EP0529805B1

EP0529805B1 - Suction cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP0529805B1
Application number: EP92306845A
Authority: EP
Inventors: William Newlands Cottage Gilchrist; Craig Ian Whightman; James Cowan Braid Ferguson; William Edwards; Anthony Charles Ralph Harvey
Original assignee: Hoover Ltd
Current assignee: Hoover Ltd
Priority date: 1991-07-26
Filing date: 1992-07-27
Publication date: 1997-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-27
Also published as: EP0744148A3; GB9116200D0; EP0744148A2; EP0529805A2; EP0529805A3; DE69216716D1; DE69231070D1; DE69231070T2; EP0744148B1; DE69216716T2

Description

This invention relates to a suction cleaner.
EP 0 176 697 discloses a suction cleaner which provides the alternative functions of dry pick-up, wet pick-up, and washing: in the latter mode, cleaning fluid is delivered to the carpet or other surface material being treated and this material is then subjected to suction drying. For the dry pick-up mode of use, a dust bag is fitted into the cleaner in order to collect the dust and the like which is picked up, and an air filter is fitted between the dust bag and the suction fan. For the wet pick-up or washing mode however, the dust bag and the air filter are removed and the wet materials which are picked up are collected in an appropriate container within the cleaner. It is often tedious to remove or replace the dust bag and air filter, and often a problem to set the dust bag and air filter down, when not in use, so that they will not contaminate the surface on which they are placed.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a suction cleaner having an internal waste-receiving compartment which comprises a container and a carrier arranged to support a dust receptacle, the suction cleaner having a first mode of operation in which waste picked up by the cleaner is received in said dust receptacle, and a second mode of operation in which waste picked up by the cleaner is received in said container, said carrier being disposed in the compartment during said first mode of operation, such that the dust receptacle is supported in said container, said dust receptacle being removed from the compartment during said second mode of operation, characterised in that the carrier comprises a foot or stand the carrier and dust receptacle being removed from the compartment during said second mode of operation, the foot or stand enabling the carrier to support the dust receptacle away from a surface on which the carrier is stood, away from the rest of the suction cleaner, during said second mode of operation.
The carrier is preferably arranged also to support an air filter. Thus the carrier can be removed from the cleaner, together with the dust receptacle and air filter, as a single unit. The foot or stand enables the carrier to be set down on a surface (e.g. the floor) without the dust receptacle or air filter coming into contact with that surface and without the risk of dust spilling from the dust receptacle.
The carrier is preferably arranged to support the dust receptacle with its opening facing upwardly so that dust is not spilled from the receptacle when the carrier is removed from the cleaner e.g. when it is being carried or when it is stood on a surface away from the cleaner.
Preferably the carrier includes a pair of opposed grooves into which the opposite edges of a flat collar around the opening of the dust receptacle can be slid, in order to engage the dust receptacle with the carrier.
Preferably the carrier includes a carrying handle or grip at its top, for use in lifting the carrier out of the compartment in which it is normally disposed.
Preferably the cleaner has a lid from which a suction hose of the cleaner extends, with a tubular connector to the suction hose projecting from the underside of the lid. Then when the lid is closed, this tubular connector engages into the opening of the dust receptacle, preferably sealing within an aperture in the flat collar around the opening.
In suction cleaners having a washing mode of operation, normally the cleaning fluid or shampoo must be pre-mixed with water in a reservoir within the cleaner. This however requires correct measuring of the shampoo to be pre-mixed with the water every time the water reservoir is filled, and also the cleaner does not offer a rinsing mode of operation. It has also been proposed to provide a reservoir of cleaning fluid, arranged for cleaning fluid to mix with a stream of clean water being pumped to the washing head from the cleaner: these proposed arrangements have been generally complex with several flow valves through which the cleaning fluid passes; the valves are liable to become blocked when the equipment is not in use and the residual cleaning fluid in the valves dries out.
Preferably the cleaner comprises a cleaning fluid dispensing system which comprises a reservoir divided into two compartments by a flexible wall, a first compartment for containing cleaning fluid and having a dispensing outlet, and the second compartment having an inlet for water under pressure.
Thus when water under pressure is applied to the second compartment, cleaning fluid is dispensed from the reservoir. Preferably the water under pressure is branched from a main flow of water passing to the cleaning or washing head of the apparatus, and the dispensed cleaning fluid mixes with this flow downstream of the branching point in a WASH mode of the cleaner.
Preferably the cleaning fluid reservoir is mounted in a hand-grip, which comprises a tubular portion connectable at a first end to a flexible suction hose extending from a suction cleaner body of the cleaner and at its second end to a wand or directly to the cleaning or washing head of the cleaner (at the user's choice). Preferably the hand-grip includes an L-shaped handle joined at its opposite ends to the tubular portion: preferably the second end of the latter is angled to extend generally parallel to the adjacent, first arm of the L-shaped handle. The user grips the hand-grip around the second arm of the L-shaped handle.
Preferably the dispensing system includes a control valve for controlling the flow of the water under pressure. In one setting, the water is applied to the dispenser over a branch to dispense cleaning fluid into the main flow. In another setting, the branch to the dispenser is shut-off and clean water only flows to the cleaning head, for rinsing purposes. In a further setting, the branch to the dispenser is connected to the air suction stream to drain the water compartment of the dispenser and so allow the cleaning fluid compartment to expand for refilling the latter with cleaning fluid. In a yet further setting, the feed of water to the dispenser and to the cleaning head and the suction to the water compartment of the dispenser are all shut-off, to provide a DRYING mode in which the cleaner applies normal suction only to the cleaning head.
In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing system is controlled by a single valve permitting one-handed operation, with the cleaning fluid mixing with the water downstream of the valve and therefore without the risk of the valve becoming blocked.
Preferably the control valve is mounted in the hand-grip and is manually operated by an actuator (preferably a slidable trigger) also mounted on the hand-grip. Preferably the actuator detents in its respective positions. Preferably the actuator includes indicia or other markings visible, in each of its positions, to indicate the operating mode.
Preferably only one fill of the shampoo or cleaning fluid reservoir is necessary for several (e.g. two) refills of the water reservoir in the cleaner.
Preferably the reservoir is tubular in shape and the flexible wall comprises an elastomeric diaphragm sealed across one end of the compartment. Preferably the diaphragm is a rolling-wall type of diaphragm, comprising a series of annular sections, one encircling another and joined together to form a convoluted configuration. Under pressure from one side of the diaphragm, the diaphragm expands along the length of the reservoir by means of the annular sections inverting: for example, they may invert one-by-one, starting with the centre section.
Preferably the dispensing outlet of the reservoir forms a constriction which determines the rate of flow of cleaning fluid, for a constant applied water pressure, so that the water finally passing to the cleaning head will include a constant concentration of the cleaning fluid. Preferably the dispensing outlet is provided with a non-return valve.
An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of a suction cleaner showing internal components thereof;
FIGURE 2 is a side view of the suction cleaner shown with a tool rack thereof in position;
FIGURE 3 is an end view of the suction cleaner;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a dust bag and filter carrier of the cleaner;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a wet pick-up bucket of the cleaner shown with the carrier of Figure 4 in position;
FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal section through a hand-grip of the cleaner;
FIGURE 7 is a section through an outlet connector of the hand-grip, along the line II-II of Figure 6.
FIGURE 8 is a block diagram to explain the operation of the dispensing valve in a WASH mode of the cleaner;
FIGURE 9 is a block diagram to explain the operation of the dispensing valve in a RINSE mode of the cleaner;
FIGURE 10 is a block diagram to explain the operation of the dispensing valve in a DRYING mode of the cleaner; and
FIGURE 11 is a block diagram to explain operation of the dispensing valve in a REFILL mode of the cleaner;

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a body 1 of a suction or vacuum cleaner comprising a casing 2 which contains the operating components of the cleaner and has two pairs of running wheels 4, 31 on its underside. The casing 2 is substantially box-shaped, and has a lid 5 on its upperside, hinged at 23.
A motor 10 inside the body 1 drives a two stage centrifugal fan 11 which draws air down a flexible suction hose 28 and into the body 1. The air is expelled from the fan 11 through an exhaust duct 14 and into the atmosphere through one portion of a grill 15 formed in the rear of the casing 2. The motor 10 is sealed from the fan 11, and is cooled by a secondary fan 12. The exhaust from the secondary fan flows through a duct 13 which vents through a separate portion of the grill 15.
When the cleaner is being used for dry pick-up cleaning, any dirt and dust which is drawn into the body is collected in a dust receptacle 20 which may comprise a porous body or box. Clean air is drawn through the porous walls of the dust bag 20 and through a secondary cloth filter 19.
A ball-shaped float 18 is disposed inside a cage 29, the float 18 being free to move up and down within the cage. An inverted U-shaped pipe comprising elements 16, 17 is connected to a neck at the top of the cage 29. The down-tube 16 of the U-shaped pipe is integrally formed within the walls of a bucket 21, and an elbow 17 connects the down-tube 16 to the cage 29. The U-shaped pipe assembly and float 18 form a snorkel-type arrangement which shuts off the air flow through the U-shaped tube to the fan 11 should the bucket 21 become full of liquid. Under normal conditions the ball 18 stays well below the neck of the cage 29, thereby allowing the free flow of air to the fan 11.
To use the cleaner for picking up liquids, it is necessary to remove the dust-bag 20 and cloth filter 19. The bag and filter are mounted on a common one-piece carrier 22 which can be lifted out of the casing and set aside whilst the cleaner is being used in the wet mode.
Figure 4 shows the bag and filter carrier 22, comprising a rectangular diffuser 96 which is formed from a series of intersecting horizontal and vertical webs to form a honeycomb type of structure. In use, a removable cloth filter (not shown) is stretched over the curved rear of the diffuser 96. A carrying handle 95 is formed on the upper surface of the diffuser, and two fingers 99 project outwardly from the upper surface. The fingers 99 are formed with inwardly facing grooves which receive a square cardboard collar 91 fixed to the neck of the dust bag 20. A circular inlet hole is formed in the centre of the collar 91 and an annular rubber seal 93 surrounds this hole for sealing the dust bag to an air inlet tube 30 of the cleaner, which projects from the underside of the lid 5. The lowermost horizontal web of the diffuser 96 is extended outwardly to form a foot 92.
When using the cleaner in its dry mode the bag and filter carrier 22 are housed inside the wet pick-up bucket 21 as shown in Figure 5. Side edges of the front of the diffuser 96 are formed with grooves e.g. 96a which slide on two vertical ribs e.g. 98 formed on the bucket.
To remove the bag 20 and filter for use of the cleaner in its wet mode, the user simply opens the lid 5 of the cleaner and lifts out carrier 22 together with the bag and filter as one unit. The foot 92 allows the carrier to be stood aside without its bag or filter soiling the surface on which it is placed and without the risk of the dust bag tipping over and spilling its contents. Once the lid 5 has been closed, the cleaner can be used to pick-up liquids, the bucket 21 collecting any liquids which are sucked into the cleaner. As the bucket 21 fills with liquid, the float 18 rises inside the cage 29: if the liquid exceeds a predetermined level the ball 18 shuts off the suction thereby preventing any further liquids entering the bucket 21. If the cleaner is knocked over accidentally whilst containing liquid, again the ball 18 shuts off the U-shaped pipe to stop any liquid from entering the tube 16 leading to the centrifugal fan 11.
A foldable carrying handle 94 is provided on the bucket 21 and can be used to lift the bucket out of the cleaner for emptying.
A fresh water storage tank 24 is provided within the cleaner, below the bucket 21. In the shampoo or rinse modes of use of the cleaner, water is pumped out of the tank 24 by means of a pump 25, and pumped along a pipe 26 to a fluid feed tube 50 running along the hose 28 to feed the water to a cleaning head for shampooing or rinsing carpets etc., as will be described below. It will be noted that the pipe 26 passes through a handle on the top of the lid 5 of the cleaner, and includes a coil before entering the handle, to allow for extension of the pipe when the lid is hinged open.
Figures 2 and 3 show that the cleaner has a compartment at its rear, closed by a hinged door 32, preferably of translucent material. The compartment normally contains a rack 94 which holds accessories. The rack 94 of accessories is however removable and then a steam generating apparatus may be installed in its place, for use in steam cleaning. Referring again to Figure 1, the steam generating apparatus comprises a vessel or kettle 6 for holding water and having an electric element 7 which is connected to an electrical connector (not shown) mounted within the compartment. A steam outlet pipe 8 extends from the top of the kettle and a safety pressure valve (not shown) is provided adjacent the outlet pipe 8.
In use for steam cleaning, the rack 94 is removed from its compartment and replaced by the kettle 6 as shown in Figure 1. The electrical connector 34 engages with a complementary electrical socket provided on the floor of the compartment. The steam outlet pipe 8 is connected via an elbow as shown to a pipe 9. Thus as water inside the kettle boils, the steam generated is forced along the steam pipe 9 to a steam cleaning head (not shown). A thermostat mounted inside the kettle ensures that the water is kept constantly at boiling point.
Three electrical switches (not shown) are provided on the top of the cleaner for selecting the different modes of operation. A first switch has three positions for selecting VACUUM ON/POWER OFF/STEAM READY. A second switch is operable when the first switch is set to STEAM READY and is used to select STEAM ON/OFF. The third switch provides power to the pump 25 for shampooing and rinsing, but the first switch should be set to VACUUM for suction cleaning/washing.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7, each end of the hose 28 has an end connector 38 or 49 for connecting to a tubular collar 37 of a hand-grip and to the cleaner body 1 respectively. The end connector 38 snap-engages within the tubular collar 37 of the hand-grip, the inner surface of the collar 37 having a stepped profile complementary to the outer surface of the end connector 38 so as to co-operate with two O- rings 40, 41 disposed on the end connector 38 in sealed manner, but the two elements are free to rotate through an unlimited angle. Preferably the end connector 38 cannot be removed from the collar 37 once engaged therewith: the end connector 49 at the other end of the hose snap-engages with the connector on the cleaner body but releasable latches are provided to enable disengagement.
An annular space 39 is left between the two O- rings 40, 41 once the end connector 38 is engaged within the collar 37 of the hand-grip. A passage 43 is formed through the hand-grip collar, and opens into the annular space 39: thus communication is established between the cleaning fluid feed tube 50 and the passage 43 in the hand-grip, the annular space 39 forming a sealed water gallery. Where the end connector 49 at the other end of the suction hose engages into the complementary connector on the cleaner body, a similar annular space is defined to form a similar water gallery, which establishes communication between the feed tube 26 within the cleaner and the fluid feed tube 50 that runs along the section hose 28.
The hand-grip comprises an injection moulded plastics body which is formed in two halves to allow components to be mounted inside the hand-grip before the halves are joined. The hand-grip includes a straight tubular portion 75 formed at one end with the tubular collar 37 which connects to the suction hose 28, and formed at its opposite end with an angled portion which terminates in an end connector 70 to which an extension tube or a cleaning accessory may be connected. The hand-grip further comprises an L-shaped handle, having a first arm joined to the tube 75 adjacent the end connector 70 and a second arm joined to the tube 75 adjacent the end connector 37. The first arm of the L-shaped handle lies parallel to the axis of the end connector 70 and the second arm of the handle lies substantially perpendicular to the axis of the end connector 70. A slidably-mounted suction control knob 57 is mounted on the tube 75 under the L-shaped handle, to control a window allowing air to enter and reduce the suction at the inlet connector 70 if desired.
The passage 43, which receives water from the fluid feed tube 50, is connected to a port 100 of a dispenser valve 55 housed within the second arm of the L-shaped handle and shown in detail in Figure 8. The dispenser valve 55 comprises a piston 101 which is slidably mounted in a barrel 102. An actuating rod 73 connects the piston 101 to a trigger 56 on the handle. The valve further comprises a manifold 74 having three ports 103, 104, 105 which extend through the side wall of the barrel 102 and are connected to outlets 80, 81, 82 respectively. O-ring seals e.g. 83 are mounted around the piston 101 at intervals along its length. An annular cut-out 84 is formed in the piston 101 to connect ports 103 and 104 together when the piston is slid fully into the barrel, i.e. when the end of the piston is positioned at A (Figure 11). As the piston 101 is retracted from this position, water from passage 43 can enter the barrel 102 and the position to which the piston is retracted determines to which of outlets 80, 81, 82 the water flows. With the end of the piston at position C (Figure 9), water flows out through port 105 only. If the piston is withdrawn to position D (Figure 8), then water can flow out of both ports 104 and 105. To shut off the flow of water altogether, the piston is pushed back into the barrel to position B (Figure 10).
An elongate cylindrical shampoo reservoir 66 is disposed within the first arm of the handle of the hand-grip. A removable plug 67 covers an aperture 68 for filling the shampoo reservoir 66, preferably from a sachet of shampoo. A fine gauze filter 69 covers the aperture to prevent any dirt entering the reservoir. A portion of the handle wall overlying the reservoir 66 is formed with a window 65 which enables the user to see how much shampoo is left within the reservoir 66. An elastomeric diaphragm 64 is sealed across an end of the reservoir 66: the diaphragm 64 is a rolling wall type, moulded in a convoluted shape such that it is able to open out when unequal pressures are applied to the compartments 34, 36 on its opposite sides. A pipe 58 is connected to the adjacent end wall of the reservoir 66 from the outlet 81 of the dispenser valve 55.
The opposite end of the reservoir 66 is formed with an outlet aperture in which an orifice plate 62 is disposed. Orifice plate 62 comprises a metal disc having a small hole in its centre, the size of the hole determining the rate of flow of shampoo from the compartment 36 of the reservoir. A non-return valve 63, of the duck-bill type, is mounted over the orifice plate 62.
The operation of the dispenser valve 55 and shampoo reservoir 66 will now be described with reference to Figures 8 to 11 of the drawings. Figure 8 shows the dispenser valve set in the wash mode, by setting the piston with its end at position D. In this mode both water and shampoo are fed to the shampoo head via an outlet pipe 61. Water under pressure enters the valve barrel and passes out through ports 104 and 105 and along pipes 58 and 59. Pipe 58 is connected to the compartment 34 of the shampoo reservoir 66. The water pressure on the inlet side of the diaphragm 64 is approximately 22 psi, whilst the other side of the diaphragm (in contact with the shampoo) is at atmospheric pressure. Thus shampoo is forced out of the compartment 36 of the reservoir 66 through the orifice plate 62 and non-return valve 63 to mix with the flow of fresh water passing along the pipe 59. The size of the hole formed in the orifice plate 62 determines the concentration of shampoo in the mixture. It should be noted that the pump 25 of the cleaner maintains a constant pressure of water behind the diaphragm 64, so that the flow-rate of the shampoo remains constant. The diaphragm 64 progressively expands and eventually will completely fill the compartment 36 of the shampoo reservoir 66, whereupon the reservoir will need refilling. For this purpose, all of the water contained behind the diaphragm 64 must be drained, to return the diaphragm 64 to its original convoluted configuration. Figure 11 shows the piston 101 fully inserted into the barrel 102 to position A, to provide the drain mode. The annular cut-out 84 formed in the piston 101 now connects the water space behind the diaphragm to the tube 75 of the hand-grip, by way of a pipe 71 connected to the manifold 74. Thus the water in the compartment 34 is sucked out into the air stream which is passing to the cleaner through the suction hose. The nozzle of a shampoo sachet is introduced into the filling aperture 68 and squeezed by hand to refill the reservoir: this refilling is assisted in that as the diaphragm 64 collapses, fresh shampoo is drawn into the compartment 36 by suction.
If it is desired to rinse a surface with fresh water only, the piston 101 is set to position C within its barrel as shown in Figure 9. In this rinse mode, water passes out of the valve 55 only through the fresh water pipe 59. No shampoo is dispensed in this mode because no water pressure is applied to the diaphragm 66 in the shampoo reservoir.
In order to dry a surface being cleaned, the flow of both water and shampoo is stopped by setting the piston 101 with its end at position B as shown in Figure 10.
The trigger 56 which controls the piston 101 is slidably mounted and projects through the second arm of the L-shaped handle. The piston actuating rod 73 is journalled to the trigger 56 such that sliding the trigger inwardly or outwardly moves the piston 101 into or out of the valve barrel. The user places his or her index finger on the profiled inner end of the trigger 56 to move it outwards and his or her thumb on the outer end of the trigger to move in inwards: the trigger detents in each of its different positions.
The angled end connector 70 of the hand-grip comprises an oval-section female socket as shown in Figure 7. An outlet pipe 72 is mounted to project into this socket parallel to its axis, the inner end of the pipe 72 being connected to the pipe 61. The female connector 70 is arranged for receiving the male end of an extension tube or cleaning accessory. Typically two rigid extension tubes are provided with the cleaner, each having a male connector at one end and a female at the other.
The extension tubes connect the hand-grip to the tool being used e.g. a shampoo cleaning head. The outlet pipe 72 of the hand-grip connects to a fluid feed tube running along the extension tubes.

Claims

A suction cleaner having an internal waste-receiving compartment which comprises a container (21), and a carrier (22) arranged to support a dust receptacle (20), the suction cleaner having a first mode of operation in which waste picked up by the cleaner is received in said dust receptacle (20), and a second mode of operation in which waste picked up by the cleaner is received in said container (21), said carrier (22) being disposed in the compartment during said first mode of operation , such that the dust receptacle (20) is supported in said container, said dust receptacle (20) being removed from the compartment during said second mode of operation, characterised in that the carrier (22) comprises a foot or stand (92), the carrier (22) and dust receptacle (20) being removed from the compartment during said second mode of operation, the foot or stand (92) enabling the carrier to support the dust receptacle (20) away from a surface on which the carrier (22) is stood, away from the rest of the suction cleaner, during said second mode of operation.
A suction cleaner as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the carrier (22) is also arranged to support an air filter (19).
A suction cleaner as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the carrier (22) is arranged to support the dust receptacle (20) with its opening facing upwardly when the carrier 22 is stood away from the rest of the suction cleaner during said second mode of operation.
A suction cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the carrier (22) comprises a pair of opposed grooves into which the opposite edges of a flat collar (91) around the opening of the dust receptacle (20) can be slid, in order to engage the dust receptacle (20) with the carrier (22).
A suction cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the carrier (22) comprises a carrying handle or grip (95) at its top.
A suction cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised by a cleaning fluid dispensing system which comprises a reservoir (66) divided into two compartments (34, 36) by a flexible wall (64), a first compartment of the reservoir (36) for containing cleaning fluid and having a dispensing outlet (60) and the second compartment (34) of the reservoir having an inlet (58) for water under pressure.
A suction cleaner as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the water under pressure is branched from a main flow of water passing to a cleaning or washing head of the cleaner and the dispensed cleaning fluid mixes with this flow downstream of the branching point in a WASH mode of the cleaner.
A suction cleaner as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the dispensing system comprises control valve means (55) operable to relieve the second compartment (34) of the reservoir from the water under pressure, in a RINSE mode of the cleaner.
A suction cleaner as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the control valve means (55) is operable to interrupt said main flow of water and to relieve the second compartment (34) of the reservoir from the water under pressure, in a DRYING mode of the cleaner.
A suction cleaner as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the control valve means (55) is operable to interrupt said main flow of water and vent the second compartment (34) of the reservoir, in order to permit refilling of the first compartment (36) with cleaning fluid.