Steam cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A steam cleaning apparatus may include a wand, a cleaning assembly coupled to the wand, the cleaning assembly including a steam generator, and a cleaning head pivotally coupled to the wand. The cleaning head may include a plurality of cleaning pads, a pad motor having a motor driveshaft, a drivetrain configured to transfer rotational motion of the motor driveshaft to each of the plurality of cleaning pads such that a rotation of the motor driveshaft causes a corresponding rotation in each of the plurality of cleaning pads, and a temperature sensor positioned proximate to the drivetrain, the temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the drivetrain.

1 . A steam cleaning apparatus comprising:
 An elongate shaft;   a cleaning assembly coupled to the elongate shaft, the cleaning assembly including a steam generator; and   a cleaning head pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft, the cleaning head including:
 a plurality of cleaning pads fluidly coupled to the cleaning assembly; 
 a pad motor having a motor driveshaft; and 
 a drivetrain configured to transfer rotational motion of the motor driveshaft to each of the plurality of cleaning pads such that a rotation of the motor driveshaft causes a corresponding rotation in each of the plurality of cleaning pads. 
   
     
     
         2 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cleaning pads are releasably coupled to the cleaning head via a plurality of pad holders positioned on opposing sides of the motor driveshaft. 
     
     
         3 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a pad skirt positioned atop and extending over at least a portion of a pad holder of the plurality of pad holders. 
     
     
         4 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pad skirt includes an abrasion mitigation member extending along an inner portion of the pad skirt and contacting at least a portion of the pad holder. 
     
     
         5 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the abrasion mitigation member is formed of a compliant material or a low friction material configured to reduce wear on the pad holder. 
     
     
         6 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned proximate to the drivetrain, the temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the drivetrain. 
     
     
         7 . A steam cleaning apparatus comprising:
 an elongate shaft;   a cleaning assembly coupled to the elongate shaft, the cleaning assembly including a steam generator; and   a cleaning head pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft, the cleaning head including:
 a plurality of cleaning pads; 
 a pad motor configured to rotate each of the plurality of cleaning pads via a drivetrain; and 
 a steam nozzle configured to emit steam along a steam axis that extends outwardly from the cleaning head in a direction of forward movement of the cleaning head. 
   
     
     
         8 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of pad holders configured to rotationally couple the plurality of cleaning pads to the cleaning head. 
     
     
         9 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a pad holder comprises a holder body, a pad driveshaft, a steam channel, at least one steam distribution cavity, and at least one steam outlet fluidically coupled to the at least one steam distribution cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the steam channel is positioned within the pad driveshaft and the at least one steam distribution cavity is fluidically coupled to the cleaning assembly and is positioned around a circumference of a pad holder. 
     
     
         11 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pad driveshaft further comprises a first seal, a second seal, and a coupling configured to couple the pad holder to the drivetrain. 
     
     
         12 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second seals are configured to rotate relative to an inner surface of a steam distribution line so as to sealingly engage the steam distribution line. 
     
     
         13 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the pad driveshaft includes an oil seal in place of the first and second seals. 
     
     
         14 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the coupling is configured to engage the pad driveshaft in a plane that is orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the pad driveshaft. 
     
     
         15 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pad holder comprises a first side including the pad driveshaft and a second side, opposite the first side, including a plurality of ribs extending radially outward from a rotational axis of the pad driveshaft, wherein the at least one steam distribution cavity and the at least one steam outlet are positioned between a first rib and a second rib adjacent to the first rib. 
     
     
         16 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of ribs include at least one surface shaped to correspond to a rotational direction of the pad holder. 
     
     
         17 . A steam cleaning apparatus comprising:
 an elongate shaft comprising a user interface;   a cleaning assembly coupled to the elongate shaft, the cleaning assembly including a steam generator; and   a cleaning head pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft, the cleaning head including:
 a plurality of cleaning pads, each cleaning pad having a pad mount configured to couple with a pad holder having a first side and a second opposite side at which each cleaning pad is mated to the pad holder, the second side including a steam diffusion plate fluidically coupled to the steam generator; and 
 a pad motor configured to rotate each of the plurality of cleaning pads. 
   
     
     
         18 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the pad mount includes a plurality of protrusions extending from and spaced along an annular base, where a space between adjacent protrusions is configured to receive a protrusion extending from the second side of the pad holder and to prevent rotation of the cleaning pad relative to the pad holder. 
     
     
         19 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the pad mount includes a plurality of arms configured to snap fit the pad mount with the steam diffusion plate, wherein the snap arms extend in a direction corresponding to a rotational direction of the plurality of cleaning pads. 
     
     
         20 . The steam cleaning apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of arms includes an annular connector positioned at a circumference of an opening in the pad mount at which the steam diffusion plate is received, the annular connector having a central connector configured to translate away from a rotational axis of the cleaning pad responsive to coupling the pad mount to the steam diffusion plate.