Cleaning Apparatus

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus is described and which includes a chassis for enclosing an electrically energizable vacuum motor; fluid pump; and first and second electrical heaters, and which when individually energized consume a given amount of electricity; and an electrical control coupled in controlling relation relative to the respective vacuum motor, fluid pump and first and second electrical heaters, and wherein the electrical control has first, second and third modes of operation; and wherein during the respective modes of operation the respective vacuum motor; fluid pump; and first and second electrical heaters are selectively energized in a predetermined manner such that the cleaning apparatus consumes less than about 20 amps of electrical power.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a chassis for enclosing an electrically energizable vacuum motor; a fluid pump; and first and second electrical heaters, and which, when individually energized, consume a given amount of electricity; and   an electrical control coupled in controlling relation relative to the respective vacuum motor; fluid pump and first and second electrical heaters, and wherein the electrical control has a first, second and third mode of operation, and wherein during the respective modes of operation the respective vacuum motor; fluid pump and first and second electrical heaters are selectively energized in a predetermined manner such that the cleaning apparatus consumes less than about 20 amps of electrical power.   
     
     
         2 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a cleaning solution tank which is made integral with the chassis, and is further coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the liquid pump;   a source of cleaning solution enclosed within the cleaning solution tank, and which is supplied to the first and second heaters, and also to the liquid pump; and   a recovery tank which is releasably borne by the chassis, and which further defines an internal cavity, and wherein the internal cavity of the recovery tank is coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to both a surrounding ambient environment, and the vacuum motor.   
     
     
         3 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  2 , and further comprising:
 a single electrical power cord for electrically coupling the cleaning apparatus to a source of electricity and for energizing the vacuum motor; fluid pump; and first and second electrical heaters.   
     
     
         4 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , and wherein the electrical control implements the first, second and third modes of operation, one at a time. 
     
     
         5 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein in the first mode of operation, the electrical control energizes the liquid pump; and the first and second electrical heaters so as to provide a heated cleaning solution which may be sprayed upon a soiled surface which needs to be cleaned. 
     
     
         6 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein in the second mode of operation, the electrical control energizes the vacuum motor; liquid pump; and one of the first or second electrical heaters, so as to provide a heated cleaning solution which is applied to a soiled surface, and which needs to be cleaned, and wherein the energized vacuum motor is effective in removing the previously applied, and now used, cleaning solution from the soiled surface, and depositing the used cleaning solution into the recovery tank. 
     
     
         7 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein, in the third mode of operation, the electrical control energizes the vacuum motor, and the liquid pump so as to provide an unheated cleaning solution which is then applied to a soiled surface, and which must be cleaned, and wherein the energized vacuum motor is effective in removing the previously applied, and now used cleaning solution from the soiled surface, and then depositing the used cleaning solution into the recovery tank. 
     
     
         8 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the first and second heaters each consume less than about 750 watts of electrical power. 
     
     
         9 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the recovery tank is releasably mounted on the chassis, and located above, and in covering relation relative to, the respective vacuum motor; liquid pump; and first and second heaters; and wherein the solution tank is made integral with the chassis. 
     
     
         10 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , and wherein the recovery tank is further defined by a sidewall, and a bottom surface which is coupled to the sidewall, and wherein the bottom surface has an aperture formed therein, and wherein the recovery tank further includes a ball valve which is coupled in fluid metering relation relative to the aperture which is formed in the bottom surface of the recovery tank, and which is further oriented within the recovery tank. 
     
     
         11 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , and further comprising:
 a vacuum well mounted above the vacuum motor, and which further releasably and sealably cooperates with the vacuum motor, and wherein the vacuum well has a top surface defining an aperture which is disposed in substantial coaxial alignment with the aperture formed in the bottom surface of the recovery tank, and wherein the vacuum well is defined, at least in part, by a downwardly depending sidewall, and wherein the sidewall directs any previously used cleaning solution which escapes from the recovery tank to move downwardly, and away from the aperture defined by the top surface of the vacuum well so as to prevent the vacuum motor from receiving any cleaning solution which may cause damage to the vacuum motor.   
     
     
         12 . A cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a chassis which has a sidewall which defines, at least in part, a cleaning solution tank, and which further defines an internal equipment cavity;   a source of a cleaning solution which is received within the cleaning solution tank;   a recovery tank having an internal cavity, and which communicates with the ambient environment, and which is, further, releasably coupled to the chassis;   an electrically energized vacuum motor which is mounted within the internal equipment cavity of the chassis, and which is further coupled in predetermined, selective, fluid flowing relation relative to the internal cavity of the recovery tank, and wherein the vacuum motor, when energized, can remove ambient air from the internal cavity of the recovery tank, and then discharge the ambient air back to the ambient environment so as to create a partial vacuum within the internal cavity of the recovery tank;   a first and second heater which are electrically energized, and which are further individually mounted in the internal equipment cavity of the chassis, and wherein the respective heaters are further each coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the source of cleaning solution, and wherein the first and second heaters may be selectively energized so as to impart heat energy to a portion of the cleaning solution;   an electrically energized fluid pump mounted within the internal equipment cavity of the chassis, and which is further coupled in fluid receiving relation relative to the source of the cleaning solution, and the respective first and second heaters, and wherein the fluid pump, when energized, discharges the cleaning fluid, under pressure, and further delivers the cleaning solution to a surface which is to be cleaned; and   an electrical control which is coupled with, and operable to selectively energize the vacuum motor; fluid pump; and first and second heaters, and wherein the vacuum motor; fluid pump; and first and second heaters, when energized, individually utilize a given amount of electrical power, and wherein the electrical control selectively energizes the respective vacuum motor; fluid pump and first and second heaters in a fashion so as to restrict a cumulative amount of electrical power consumed by the cleaning apparatus to less than about 20 amps during operation.   
     
     
         13 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , and wherein the recovery tank further is defined by a sidewall and a bottom surface which is coupled to the sidewall, and wherein the bottom surface has an aperture formed therein, and wherein the recovery tank further includes a ball valve which is coupled in fluid metering relation relative to the aperture which is formed in the bottom surface of the recovery tank, and which is further located within the recovery tank. 
     
     
         14 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , and further comprising:
 a vacuum well mounted above the vacuum motor and which further releasably and sealably cooperates with the vacuum motor, and wherein the vacuum motor has a top surface defining an aperture which is disposed in substantial coaxial alignment with the aperture formed in the bottom surface of the recovery tank, and wherein the vacuum well is defined, at least in part, by a sidewall, and wherein the sidewall of the vacuum well directs any previously used cleaning solution which escapes from the recovery tank to move downwardly, and away from the aperture which is defined by the top surface of the vacuum well so as to prevent the vacuum motor from receiving any cleaning solution which may damage the vacuum motor.   
     
     
         15 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  and wherein the electrical control implements a first, second and third mode of operation, one at a time. 
     
     
         16 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , and wherein in the first mode of operation the electrical control energizes the liquid pump; and the first and second electrical heaters so as to provide a heated cleaning solution which may be sprayed upon a soiled surface which needs to be cleaned. 
     
     
         17 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , and wherein in the second mode of operation the electrical control energizes the vacuum motor; liquid pump; and one of the first or second electrical heaters, so as to provide a heated cleaning solution which is applied to a soiled surface, and which needs to be cleaned, and wherein the energized vacuum motor is effective in removing the previously applied, and now used, cleaning solution from the soiled surface, and depositing the used cleaning solution into the recovery tank. 
     
     
         18 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , and wherein, in the third mode of operation, the electrical control energizes the vacuum motor, and the liquid pump so as to provide an unheated cleaning solution which is then applied to a soiled surface, and which must be cleaned, and wherein the energized vacuum motor is effective in removing the previously applied, and now used cleaning solution from the soiled surface, and then depositing the used cleaning solution into the recovery tank. 
     
     
         19 . A cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , and wherein the first and second heaters consume less than about 750 watts of electrical power each, and wherein a single power cord supplies the electrical power consumed by the cleaning apparatus during operation.