AU609379B2 - Device for cleaning by suction - Google Patents

Description

11 -1.251f- ZAXM~fl1SdONW1irI~j s1oJ3 1 111 1.25 il11 1.4 I I I I i A-AI 6 3 3 2 6 86 PCT WORD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIOL IS i ER HE ENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 (11) International Publication Number: WO 87/ 01267 A47L 11/00 A l (43) International Publication Date: 12 March 1987 (12.03.87) (21) International Application Number: PCT/SE86/00377 (81) Designated States: AT, AT (European patent), AU, BB, BE (European patent), BG, BR, CF (OAPI patent), (22) International Filing Date: 25 August 1986 (25.08.86) CG (OAPI patent), CH, CH (European patent), CM (OAPI patent), DE, DE (European patent), DK, FI, FR (European patent), GA (OAPI patent), GB, GB (31) Priority Application Number: 8503957-6 (European patent), HU, IT (European patent), JP, KP, KR, LK, LU, LU (European patent), MC, MG, (32) Priority Date: 26 August 1985 (26.08.85) ML (OAPI patent), MR (OAPI patent), MW, NL, NL (European patent), NO, RO, SD, SE, SE (European (33) Priority Country: SE patent), SN (OAPI patent), SU, TD (OAPI patent), TG (OAPI patent), US.

(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): HED- EROLBA AB [SE/SE]; Norra Gavlevagen 43, S-810 Published Hedesunda With international search report.

With amended claims.

(72) Inventor; and In English translation (filed in Swedish).

Inventor/Applicant (for US only) OLSSON, Hans, Olov [SE/SE]; Villagatan 16, S-810 20 Osterfarnebo (SE).

(74) Agent: EDHOLM, Sigurd; Akerslund 375 E, S-810 22 AT. D. J APR Arsunda 3 0 APR 198 'tis dS I I AUSTRALIAN This da.:ument contains the

AUSTRALI

a.,rdmenlfts made under 2 4 MA 1987 Section 49 and is correct for printing. PATENT OFFICE (54) Title: DEVICE FOR CLEANING BY SUCTION (57) Abstract Thedevice comprises a vacuum pump (10) or other suction means with ability to create a substantial low pressure, means (50, 51) for sprinkling liquid on the suction spot and a tank (13) for separating sucked up dirt and liquid from the suction air.

Declarant's Nam .H .a sson I F B. RICE CO PATENT ATTOPdNEYS I j This formis suitable for any, type of Patent Application. No legalisation required.

Device for Cleaning by Suction The present invention relates to a device for cleaning by suction especially suitable for internal cleaning of public transportation vehicles as buses, trains, ships and aeroplanes or of large premises as schools, offices and hotels. It is previously.known to use central suction devices for creating a suction effect at a number of working spots for connecting suction tools, but these have not been sufficient in view of the difficult contamination to which public transportation means and public premises are subjected. A special problem has been the removal of dirt which has got stuck Si: ;by drying )r has been tramped into mats and cannot be 15 removed by suction only.

A purpose of the invention is to improve a suction *device of this type by a combination of steps for dissolving the dirt and increasing the suction force.

•The present invention therefore comprises a device for cleaning by suction, comprising means for creating a low pressure, means for spraying liquid on the spot of suction and a tank for separating sucked up dirt and liquid from the suction air, characterised in that said means for creating low pressure is a pump which gives a low pressure of at least 50% vacuum at a suction end of said device.

S" A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be further described with reference to the B accompanying drawings in which: S* Fig. 1, shows a view of a suction device according to 30 one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2, shows a detailed picture, on a larger scale, of a suction head of an embodiment of the present invention seen from below.

Figs. 3 5, show sectional views of the suction head Bi7 J5 of the embodiment of the present invention as shown in la Fig. 2 and as seen along the arrows 3 4 4 and 5 in Fig. 2.

The device shown in Fig. 1 comprises a suction system where the low pressure is generated by a vacuum pump to which an inlet pipe 11 and an outlet pipe 12 are connected. The inlet pipe 11 is connected at its other end to a tank 13 via a separator 14 which prevents water and dirt from following with the air flow from the tank to the vacuum pump. The direction of the air flow is shown by the arrows 15 and 16.

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6* *g Both the separator 14 and the tank 13 are provided with not illustrated level controls. The supply pipe to the tank extends below the surface of the water 19 present in the tank.

At the bottom of the tank dirt 20 gathers which has been brought along by the suction air. The water which also has been conveyed by the suction air mixes with the water in the tank. In this way the water which is added at the suction spot is prevented from reaching the vacuum pump 10. The tank 13 and the separator 14 cooperating tnerewith thus perform a separating function which is necessary for the use of a vacuum pump.

The pipe 18 is provided with an arbitrary number of connection studs 21, of which one is shown in Fig. 1, each stud leading via a valve device 22 to a joining duct 25 to a con- :15 nection for a hose 24, which leads to a suction tool having a suction head 52. The arrow 26 shows the direction of the air current.

For the supply of water to the suction spot tnere is provided a pipe 27 which suitably can be connected to an existing water supply system. It is suitable to use hot water. The water flows along the arrow 28 and continues in the pipe 29 via the valve device 22 parallel with the hose 25,24 to the suction head 52, where the water is sprinkled out through one or more spray nozzles. There can also be a not illust- 25 rated dosing pump for a cleaning agent.

The hoses 24 and 29 are hung in a balance block 42 which holds the hoses weightlessly hung up in a curved loop, so that they can be pulled apart or pushed together, so that the hand tool 25 can be moved. At the upper end of the hand 30 tool there is an operating lever 30 for opening or closing the air flow and another operating lever 51 for controlling the water flow. These levers act via the valve aggregate 22.

Fig. 2 is a view from below of a auction head 32. This consists of a frame 553 with an elbngated hole 354 for the suction air connected to the tubular hand tool 25 by a funnel 4 41 36 (Figs. 35- Along each long side of the frame 33 a ~~~"nlnr 6O

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6**SS 'rubber strip 44 and 45 respectively is attached, which is formed with vertical ribs and is held by a clamcing iron 46 and 47 respectively which is fastened to the frame 33 with screws 48. In order to prevent the rubber strips 44 and 45 from being compressed by the suction effect there are two sliding pins 52 arranged, which have a rounded lower end surface in order to slide more easily on the floor. The rounded surface lies somewhat higher than the lower edge of the rubber strips 44 and 45. In order to prevent the head from getting stuck by the suction the strips 44 and 45 are separated from each other at their ends by openings 49.

The water is sprayed by a pipe 50 which is coupled to the hose 29 which is attached along the suction tool 25. The pipe is mounted on the suction head along one long side thereof 15 and is provided with two spray nozzles 51, which sprinkle the water on the floor for instance in the form of a thin fan-shaped curtain from each nozzle.

The pump -10 shall be of a type which gives a substantial low pressure, for instance a vacuum pump which gives 80 C 20 vacuum. A prerequisite for the use of such a pump is that the suqtion air is cleaned both from dirt and- from water, and this is achieved by means of the sludge tank 13 which is supported by the separator 14. Also other pumps giving a substantial low pressure are possible, for instance a turbine which gives about 60 t vacuum. The low pressure (vacuum) delivered by the pump should preferably be of the size 50 x vacuum or more.

The sprinkling of water does not only serve the purpose of dissolving the dirt, so that the dirt easier follows with 30 the suction air. The water sprinkling in connection with the sludge tank has tne advantage that'burning cigarrette stubs ae effectively extinguished and can be sucked into the system without danger of fire. This is not possible with dry suction systems where the risk of fire has been found so serious that the ash trays have to be emptied .separately.

Moreover the water serves to bind the dust.

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Claims (3)

1. 2. A device as claimed in claim i, further comprising a tank wherein said tank is formed as a liquid filter having an inlet pipe which terminates below the surface of a liquid contained in said tank, said liquid being present in the tank during operation. S 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said low pressure is at least 60% vacuum. a' A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said low *,.,°pressure is at least 80% vacuum. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, oo further comprising a suction heads having a flexible curtain-shaped ridge and at least one supporting abutment which prevents said ridge from being compressed by said low pressure. S-6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said suction head is provided with at least one opening for supply of air.
2. 7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said liquid is water.
3. 8. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with .reference to any one of the accompanying Figures. DATED this 21 day of January 1991 HEDEROLBA AB Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO. i- i i c~.