WO2017093717A1

WO2017093717A1 - A steam cleaning device

Info

Publication number: WO2017093717A1
Application number: PCT/GB2016/053741
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Brian AITKEN; Edward Barrett; Samuel William Bennett; Jennifer Kathryn MARSDEN
Original assignee: TTI Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd
Current assignee: TTI Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd
Priority date: 2015-12-04
Filing date: 2016-11-29
Publication date: 2017-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-04
Also published as: GB201521441D0; GB2545019A

Abstract

(With reference to figure 2) A steam cleaning device for cleaning surfaces comprising: a water reservoir, and a detergent reservoir; a steam generator; a pump for supplying water from the water reservoir to the steam generator; a Venturi valve having a steam inlet connected to the steam generator, a detergent inlet connected to the detergent reservoir by a detergent passage, and an outlet for steam and detergent to exit the Venturi valve; a blocking device for blocking the detergent passage, which device is moveable between blocking and unblocking conditions; and a control assembly which controls operation of the pump and the blocking device, such that when the control assembly is used to deactivate the pump the control assembly initiates movement of and/or moves the blocking device to the blocking condition.

Description

Title: A steam cleaning device Description of Invention

This invention relates to a steam cleaning device for cleaning a surface.

The use of steam cleaners for cleaning floor and other surfaces is well known. For cleaning floor surfaces, a steam cleaner typically has a cleaning head able to be moved, by a user, over the surface to be cleaned, the cleaning head being adapted to carry a cleaning element of or including a fabric/textile or other material of a steam permeable absorbent nature. Steam (or very hot water) is emitted from the cleaning head passes through the cleaning element to contact the surface being cleaned, with the effect of loosening dirt from the surface. Dirty water from condensation of the steam on the surface is absorbed by the cleaning element.

The cleaning head, to enable it to be manipulated over the surface being cleaned, may be attached to a wand and steam supplied thereto by way of a hose from a separate steam generator. Alternatively, the wand may itself be provided with a steam generator and supply of water, to form a self-contained steam cleaning device, sometimes referred to as a "stick" or "mop" type of steam cleaner.

The steam generator for such devices typically includes a water storage container (e.g. a tank which a user fills with water), an electric pump (which is controlled by a user operable switch) and a heating element(s). In use, water is fed from the tank to the heating element by the pump, where it is then heated. The resulting steam (or very hot water) then passes, from the heating element, towards the surface to be cleaned. Typically, when a user no longer requires a source of steam (e.g. they have finished cleaning), the user presses or releases the appropriate switch on the apparatus, so as to disconnect the power being supplied to the electric pump.

According to an aspect of the present invention, we provide a steam cleaning device for cleaning surfaces comprising: a water reservoir, and a detergent reservoir; a steam generator; a pump for supplying water from the water reservoir to the steam generator; a Venturi valve having a steam inlet connected to the steam generator, a detergent inlet connected to the detergent reservoir by a detergent passage, and an outlet for steam and detergent to exit the Venturi valve; a blocking device for blocking the detergent passage, which device is moveable between blocking and unblocking conditions; and a control assembly which controls operation of the pump and the blocking device, such that when the control assembly is used to deactivate the pump the control assembly initiates movement of and/or moves the blocking device to the blocking condition.

Further features of the invention are set out in the claims appended hereto.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a steam cleaning device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the inside of a steam cleaning device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the inside of a steam cleaning device illustrating flow paths of steam and detergent in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 4 is a schematic view of a Venturi valve in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a block diagram illustrating parts of a steam cleaning device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

In reference to the figures, a steam cleaning device 10 for cleaning surfaces such as floors is shown. The cleaning device 10 has a floor cleaning head 50 which is pivotally connected to a main body 20 by an elongate member 51 . A user graspable handle 22 is provided on the main body 20 which allows a user to manoeuvre the cleaning device 10. Whilst figure 1 shows a steam cleaning device 10 in which is embodied the present invention, it should be appreciated that the invention can be realised in other forms of steam cleaning device. In particular, whilst the main body 20 is pivotally connected to the head 50, via elongate member 51 , it need not be the case. A handheld steam cleaning device may be provided which does not include the elongate member 51 or cleaning head 50 - this is especially useful for use in spot cleaning where a small outlet for steam/detergent may be provided to allow for direct cleaning. Additionally, the outlet from the handheld steam cleaning device 10 may fit multiple 'tools' to allow flexibility of use in many environments.

The main body 20 provides a single housing in which other components of the steam cleaning device 10 are located (this is especially useful for a handheld cleaner, so that a user can easily use the device 10). The main body 20 houses a water reservoir 30 and a detergent reservoir 32, for holding water and detergent, respectively (which are generally removable, so that they can be refilled and/or emptied when desired and then replaced in the main body 20, although this need not be the case). The main body 20 also includes a pump 36 and a steam generator 34. The pump 36 is operable to feed water from the water reservoir 30 to the steam generator 34. The water reservoir 30 has an outlet 29 which is fluidly connected to the pump 36 via conduit 33 and the pump 36 is fluidly connected to the steam generator 34 via conduit 35 (see figure 5). The steam generator 34 includes at least one heating element (not shown) for heating water at least close to boiling point, and preferably such that the water turns to steam. The pump 36 is activated by a micro switch 83 which is controlled by a pump actuation member 80.

The conduit 35 between the pump 36 and the steam generator 34 may also have a bleed valve 38. The bleed valve 38 allows the pump 36 to be drained of water, so that access to components of the steam cleaning device 10 is available for maintenance and/or cleaning. It should be appreciated that the provision of the bleed valve 38 is optional.

The detergent reservoir 32 has a detergent outlet 31 which connects to a detergent passage 52. A Venturi valve 40 fluidly connects to an outlet of the steam generator 34 and to the outlet of the detergent reservoir 32 and is configured to draw detergent from the detergent reservoir 32, when steam flows through the Venturi valve 40.

The Venturi valve 40 has a steam inlet 42, a detergent inlet 44, and an outlet 46 for both steam and detergent. The steam inlet 42 of the Venturi valve 40 is fluidly connected to the steam generator 34 (via a steam passage 54), so that steam generated in the steam generator 34 flows into the Venturi valve 40. The detergent inlet 44 of the Venturi valve 40 is connected to the detergent reservoir 32 via the detergent passage 52. The outlet 46 of the Venturi valve 40 is connected to a cleaning outlet 48 for steam and detergent to exit the steam cleaning device 10.

The Venturi effect is the name given to a well-known phenomenon, which is the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section of pipe. The product of the fluid velocity and the fluid pressure remains the same at all points in the pipe, so when the fluid is forced through the constricted section and the velocity of the fluid increases the fluid pressure decreases to maintain the product constant. This effect is used in aspects of the present invention to draw detergent from a reservoir into a steam passage, to mix detergent with steam.

The Venturi valve 40 has a narrowed portion 48 of pipe/conduit and uses the resulting reduction in pressure to create suction. In this way, the Venturi valve 40 is designed to exploit the Venturi effect and create a suction force that draws detergent into the steam flowing from the steam generator 34. The pressure in the Venturi valve 40 (created by the steam travelling from the steam generator 34) is lower than in the detergent passage 52 and/or the detergent inlet 44, and so detergent is drawn into the Venturi valve 40. Detergent is mixed with the steam between the Venturi valve 40 and the cleaning outlet 54.

The detergent passage 52 includes a blocking device 60 between the detergent reservoir 32 and the detergent inlet 44 of the Venturi valve 40, which selectively blocks the flow of detergent through the detergent passage 52. The blocking device 60 is moveable between blocking and unblocking conditions. Detergent is inhibited and/or substantially prevented from flowing to the Venturi valve 40, from the detergent reservoir 32, when the blocking device 60 is in the blocking condition. Detergent is permitted to flow to the Venturi valve 40 when the blocking device 60 is in the unblocking condition. In the illustrated example, the blocking device 60 is a mechanical blocking valve, however, it may be or include an electrically operated solenoid valve, or another suitable device, as is known in the art.

The blocking device 60 includes a valve body 62 which has an inlet 63 and an outlet 64 for connection to the detergent passage 52. The blocking device 60 includes an actuation member 82 which is moveable within the valve body 62. Detergent flow is inhibited and/or substantially prevented when the actuation member 82 closes the inlet 63 and/or the outlet 64 and detergent flow is permitted when the actuation member 82 is moved away from the inlet 63 and/or the outlet 64.

The steam cleaning device 10 includes a control assembly 70, which includes a user operable control member 72 (in this case a trigger type switch), to control the operation of the pump 36. The control member 72 also controls the position / condition of the blocking device 60. The control member 72 is moveable between a first position and a second position. The first position corresponds to the pump 36 being deactivated and the blocking device 60 being in its blocking condition. The second position corresponds to the pump 36 being activated and the blocking device 60 being in its unblocking condition.

The control member 72 at least partially extends from the user graspable handle 22 when its in the first position. When a user moves the control member 72 to its second position, it is substantially completely housed within the user graspable handle 22.

When a user activates the control member 72 the pump 36 is activated, so as to provide water to the steam generator 34, and the blocking device 60 is moved to the unblocking condition, so as to allow detergent to be drawn towards the Venturi valve 40.

When the user releases the control member 72, the pump 36 is deactivated and the blocking device 60 moves to its blocking condition. The control member 72 need not be a trigger style switch, any single control member as is well known in the art may be used (e.g. a push button or lever, or any actuator which can be configured to operate both the pump 36 and blocking device 60 would be suitable). In this example, the control member 72 is biased towards the first position. It should be appreciated that this need not be the case.

The release of the control member 72 initiates movement of and/or moves the blocking device 60 to the blocking condition. It should be appreciated that this does not limit the movement of the blocking device 60 to be simultaneous with the activation / deactivation of the pump 36 on use / release of the control member 72. For example, the release of the control member 72 may initiate a blocking 'sequence' which, when completed, results in the blocking device 60 being in the blocking condition.

When the control member 72 is moved to its second position the pump actuation member 80 and the blocking device actuation member 82 both move towards the control member 72. The control member 72 is pivotally mounted to the control assembly 70.

The pump actuation member 80 is linked at one end of the control member 72 via a cam mechanism. In more detail the control member 72 a cam slot 72a in which is positioned a projection 80a of the pump actuation member 80. The slot 72a and projection 80a are configured such that when the control member 72 is moved towards its second position the pump actuation member 80 is caused to move towards the control member 72 such that the actuation member 80 triggers the micro switch 83 to activate the pump 36. The pump actuation member 80 is conveniently located within the user graspable handle 22 which allows the steam cleaning device 10 to be more compact.

The blocking device actuation member 82 is linked at a second, opposing, end of the control member 72. When the control member 72 is moved to its second position the blocking device actuation member 82 is moved away from the valve body 62 of the blocking device 60, so that detergent may flow towards the Venturi valve 40. The steam cleaning device 10 may also include a detergent modulation device 74 which allows a user to control the release rate of detergent from the detergent reservoir 32 when operating the steam cleaning device 10. The detergent modulation device 74 is controllable to substantially inhibit or prevent detergent from flowing through the detergent passage 52 while steam continues to flow through the Venturi valve 40 (i.e. when only steam is required by the user). The detergent modulation device 74 may provide a simple on/off functionality or provide a continuous control which can be set at the desired rate of detergent flow.

The detergent modulation device 74 is positioned between the detergent reservoir 32 and the blocking device 60. However, it should be appreciated that the detergent modulation device 74 may be positioned between the blocking device 60 and the Venturi valve 40, and have the same function.

The conduits used to connect the reservoirs 30, 32 to other components (e.g. the pump 36) are flexible plastic tubing. The respective inlets and outlets have connection parts which allow the flexible tubing to engage the connection parts with a push fit connection. It should be appreciated that this need not be the case.

Figure 3 illustrates flow paths of the water/steam (solid black arrows) and the detergent (dashed black arrows), respectively when the steam cleaning device is in use. In use, the user pulls the control member 72 to activate the pump 36 and initiate movement of the blocking device 60 to the unblocking condition. Water is fed from the water reservoir 30 to the pump 36 and into the steam generator 34. The steam generator 34 heats the water to produce steam, which exits the steam generator. The steam flows through the steam passage 54 and through the Venturi valve 40, via the steam inlet 42; the steam flow through the narrowed portion 48 of the Venturi valve 40 creates suction and draws detergent through the detergent inlet 44/the detergent passage 52 into the flow of steam. The detergent and steam mix and are emitted from the cleaning outlet 54.

When the user releases the control member 72, the pump 36 is deactivated and water is no longer fed to the steam generator 34 for steam production. The blocking device 60 moves to its blocking condition to inhibit and/or substantially prevent detergent from flowing through the detergent passage 52 when the pump 36 and/or the steam generator 34 are not active. When the pump 36/steam generator 34 are switched off the pressure drops upstream of the Venturi valve 40, in the steam passage 54. This results in detergent being drawn 'the wrong way' through the Venturi valve 40, towards the steam generator 34. However, advantageously, the control assembly 70 controls the blocking device 60 to block the detergent passage 52 and substantially prevents the detergent from being drawn up the steam passage 54 towards the steam generator 34. This negates the damaging effects caused to the heating element(s) and/or other interior components of the steam generator 34 by a chemical detergent.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1 . A steam cleaning device for cleaning surfaces comprising:

a water reservoir, and a detergent reservoir;

a steam generator;

a pump for supplying water from the water reservoir to the steam generator;

a Venturi valve having a steam inlet connected to the steam generator, a detergent inlet connected to the detergent reservoir by a detergent passage, and an outlet for steam and detergent to exit the Venturi valve;

a blocking device for blocking the detergent passage, which device is moveable between blocking and unblocking conditions; and a control assembly which controls operation of the pump and the blocking device, such that when the control assembly is used to deactivate the pump the control assembly initiates movement of and/or moves the blocking device to the blocking condition.

2. A steam cleaning device according to claim 1 wherein the blocking device is configured, when in the blocking condition, to inhibit or substantially prevent the flow of detergent towards the Venturi valve.

3. A steam cleaning device according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the control assembly includes a control member which is moveable from a first position, which corresponds to the pump being deactivated and the blocking device being in its blocking condition, to a second position, which corresponds to the pump being activated and the blocking device being moved to its unblocking condition.

4. A steam cleaning device according claim 3 wherein the control member is biased to the first position.

5. A steam cleaning device according to any preceding claim including a pump actuation member which is moved by movement of the control member.

6. A steam cleaning device according to any preceding claim including a blocking device actuation member which is moved by movement of the control member.

7. A steam cleaning device according to claims 5 or claim 6, as dependent on claim 3, wherein when the control member is moved to its second position the pump actuation member is moved towards the control member.

8. A steam cleaning device according to claims 5 or claim 6 or claim 7, as dependent on claim 3, wherein when the control member is moved to its second position the blocking device actuation member is moved towards the control member.

9. A steam cleaning device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, as dependent on claim 3, wherein when the control member moves to its first position the pump actuation member is moved away from the control member.

10. A steam cleaning device according to any one of claims 5 to 9, as dependent on claim 3, wherein when the control member moves to its first position the blocking device actuation member is moved away from the control member.

1 1 .A steam cleaning device according to any one of claims 3 to 10 wherein the control member is pivotally moveable.

12. A steam cleaning device according to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the control member is linked at one end to the pump actuation member and at an opposing end to the blocking device actuation member.

13. A steam cleaning device according to claim 6 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the control member is linked at one end to the blocking device actuation member.

14. A steam cleaning device according to claim 12 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the pump actuation member is linked to the control member by a cam mechanism.

15. A steam cleaning device according to any preceding claim including a user graspable handle which houses the or a substantial portion of the pump actuation member.

16. A steam cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the blocking device includes a valve positioned in the detergent passage.

17. A steam cleaning device according any of the preceding claims wherein the blocking device is or includes a solenoid valve or a mechanical blocking valve.

18. A steam cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the detergent passage is provided by a flexible conduit.

19. A steam cleaning device according to claim 18 wherein a detergent reservoir outlet and/or the Venturi valve detergent inlet engages the flexible conduit with a push fit connection.

20. A steam cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims which further includes a detergent modulation device for controlling a flow rate of detergent towards the Venturi valve.

21 . A steam cleaning device according to claim 20 wherein the detergent modulation device is positioned in the flow path between the detergent reservoir and the blocking device or in the flow path between the blocking device and the Venturi valve.

22. A steam cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims wherein an outlet of the steam cleaning device is connectable to a wand member and/or a floor head and/or one or more spot cleaning tools

23. A handheld steam cleaning device including a steam cleaning device according to any of claims 1 to 22.

24. A steam cleaning device or a handheld steam cleaning device substantially as herein described and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. Any novel feature or combination of features which is described herein and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings