Apparatus for Wet Cleaning of Floors

The present invention relates to a compact, motor-driven apparatus for wet cleaning of floors.

At present, there is no suitable machine equipment for wet cleaning of floors available which would be appropriate for commercial use in today's environments, like on furnished premises, where existing cleaning equipment cannot be used because of its size. Further, the known scrubbing machines are characterized in that the scrubbing brushes are located separately from the suction nozzles. Usually, the suction nozzle is of rectangular shape and is located behind the scrubbing brushes, implying that after cleaning by means of these machines the floor is not completely dry.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,680,260 discloses a scrubbing machine with rotating brush and suction means. Above the brush and the suction means there are tanks for dirty and filtered water, a pump, a filter for dirty water and other components as well which makes the machine heavy and space-requiring and difficult to use in narrow spaces. Owing to the design of the mouth-piece surrounding the brush and the location of the suction means, the floor will not be dry after cleaning.

By means of the apparatus according to the invention, the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided, since the apparatus is so compact, that it can be used also in small, for example, furnishes rooms and has the advantages of leaving the floor surface completely dry after cleaning. The special features of the apparatus according to the invention will be seen from the attached claims.

With reference to the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 shows the cleaning appliance viewed from below.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of said appliance and

FIG. 3 shows the appliance provided with a handle and a hose and adapted to be connected to a water separator.

The apparatus according to the invention for wet cleaning of surfaces, such as floors and the like, has a centrally mounted, rotating, round scrubbing brush 1. Rotation is achieved by means of a connection 12 with a motor 11. In the centre of the scrubbing brush 1 there is an opening 5 for clean water containing detergent. By means of a hose or a tube 10, the opening is connected with a liquid supply.

Around the circumference of the scrubbing brush 1 there is mounted an annular suction nozzle 3, which in use of the apparatus is non-rotatable. Outside the outside circumference of the nozzle 3, there is a space, in the upper part of which there is mounted a ring 13 which is provided with a plurality of lips or flaps 7, or a plurality of fibres mounted in the ring 13 and extending to the floor, as well as with a plurality of openings 9 facing the floor for the supply of rinsing water to the floor surface outside the nozzle 3. The ring 13 is arranged to rotate in the same direction of rotation as the scrubbing brush 1 or in the opposite direction of rotation to the same. Rotation is achieved by means of the motor 11 and a connection 15. The rinsing water is obtained from a liquid supply by means of a flexible hose or a tube 14. The ring 13 is arranged to slide around the non-rotatable nozzle 3 via slide bearings 16. The nozzle 3, which is adapted to divert dirty cleaning water by means of suction effect, is provided with a plurality of radial openings 4, 6, some 4 of which are oriented inwardly towards the scrubbing brush 1 and some 6 of which are oriented outwardly towards the space located outside the nozzle 3, in which space the rotating ring 13 with the lips 7 and openings 9 is mounted. The openings 4, 6 are adapted to lead the dirty cleaning water and rinsing water to a hose 18, which by means of suction effect will force the liquid to a water separator or the like, in which the dirty cleaning water can be collected.

The cleaning water and rinsing water will be directed to the openings 4, 6 by lips 2 mounted on the outer part of the scrubbing brush 1 and by the lips 7 mounted in the space outside the nozzle 3. The lips 2, 7 are formed in such a way as to keep the openings 4, 6 free of dirt particles. The apparatus according to the invention is surrounded by a non-rotating protective casing 8 which has no contact with the floor and is fixedly connected to the nozzle 3 by means of a plurality of spacing rods 17. The compact apparatus according to the invention is operable by means of a handle 19 attached to the protective casing 8.

The apparatus functions in such a way that it supplies clean water containing detergent of a suitable kind to the scrubbing brush 1 inside the liquid nozzle 3 at the same time as supplying clean rinsing water to the outside of the liquid nozzle. The apparatus scrubs and rinses the floor surface and, as part of one and the same operation, sucks up the dirty cleaning water via the nozzle 3, leaving the floor surface clean and dry with no dirt marks on it. The apparatus, which is very compact, facilitates access to surfaces under tables, beds, bookcases etc. which are otherwise difficult to reach. The apparatus is easy to carry, for instance, up stairs.