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CN-122004700-A - Air/liquid separation system for an extraction cleaner

CN122004700ACN 122004700 ACN122004700 ACN 122004700ACN-122004700-A

Abstract

An air/liquid separation system for an extraction cleaner has a recovery tank assembly including a recovery tank, an inlet standpipe for receiving a flow of working air entrained with extracted liquid and debris, an outlet standpipe for discharging air separated from the flow of working air, and a cap assembly. The float is disposed adjacent the curved outer sidewall of the recovery tank and the inlet and outlet risers are disposed laterally side-by-side in the tank chamber with the outlet riser between the float and the inlet riser. The bottom of the lid assembly defines an open bottom cavity within the tank chamber and above the outlet of the inlet standpipe. The lower surface of the cap assembly at the open bottom cavity slopes upwardly and outwardly from above the outlet of the inlet standpipe to the outermost side wall of the cap assembly.

Inventors

  • Victoria J. Royal
  • Mitchell P. Sloboda

Assignees

  • 必胜公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230725
Priority Date
20220725

Claims (14)

  1. 1. An air/liquid separation system (21) for an extractor cleaner (10), the extractor cleaner (10) having a suction source (32) for generating a flow of working air and a fluid source for supplying fluid to a surface (S) to be cleaned, the air/liquid separation system (21) comprising: A recovery tank assembly (20) comprising a recovery tank (48) defining a tank chamber (48E) having a top opening (125A), the recovery tank (48) having a bottom wall (48B) and a plurality of side walls (48C, 48D) extending upwardly from the bottom wall (48B) to the top opening (125A) and defining the top opening (125A); An inlet standpipe (129) for receiving the flow of working air entrained with the extracted liquid and debris; -an outlet standpipe (134) for discharging air separated from the working air flow, wherein the bottom wall (48B) has an inlet opening (126) and an outlet opening (128), the inlet opening (126) for receiving the working air flow, the inlet standpipe (129) extending upwardly from the inlet opening (126) and the outlet standpipe (134) extending upwardly from the outlet opening (128); A cap assembly (118) configured to sealingly close the top opening (125A), and A cover chamber (150) defined by the cover assembly (118), the cover chamber (150) having a first cover chamber opening (154) in selective fluid communication with the tank chamber (48E) and serving as a tank chamber air outlet, and a second cover chamber opening (156) located at an inlet (133) of the outlet standpipe (134), wherein a bottom cover portion (118B) of the cover assembly (118) defines an open bottom cavity (162) located within the tank chamber (48E) and above the outlet (131) of the inlet standpipe (129), and wherein a lower surface (164) of the cover assembly (118) located at the open bottom cavity (162) slopes upwardly and outwardly from above the outlet (131) of the inlet standpipe (129) to an outermost sidewall (166) of the cover assembly (118) to deflect fluid and dirt entrained in the working air flow away from the outlet (131) of the inlet standpipe (129).
  2. 2. The air/liquid separation system (21) of claim 1, further comprising: A pair of downwardly extending guide rails (168) spaced apart from each other and disconnected from each other, wherein the first cover chamber opening (154) is disposed between the guide rails (168), the guide rails (168) including slots (170) extending therethrough.
  3. 3. The air/liquid separation system (21) of claim 2, further comprising: A float (160) disposed within the tank chamber (48E) and operatively attached to the cap assembly (118), and the float is vertically translatable relative to the cap assembly to close the first cap chamber opening (154) when the liquid in the tank chamber (48E) reaches a predetermined level.
  4. 4. An air/liquid separation system (21) according to claim 3 wherein the float (160) comprises a side extension (172) extending through the slot (170), wherein the float (160) is translatable at the slot (170) along the guide track (168).
  5. 5. The air/liquid separation system (21) as set forth in claim 1, wherein a bottom wall (118C) of the cap assembly (118) extends parallel to a bottom wall (48B) of the recovery tank (48).
  6. 6. The air/liquid separation system (21) as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first cover chamber opening (154) is located in a bottom wall (118C) of the cover assembly (118).
  7. 7. The air/liquid separation system (21) as set forth in any of claims 1-6, wherein the cap assembly (118) comprises an outlet standpipe connector (173) extending downwardly into the tank chamber (48E) at the second cap chamber opening (156), the outlet standpipe connector (173) configured to sealingly engage an inlet (133) of the outlet standpipe (134).
  8. 8. The air/liquid separation system (21) of claim 7 wherein the outlet riser connector (173) extends downwardly to a lowermost portion of the open bottom cavity (162).
  9. 9. The air/liquid separation system (21) as set forth in any of claims 1-8, wherein the cap assembly (118) comprises a downwardly extending guide flange (180) configured to at least partially surround the outlet standpipe (134).
  10. 10. The air/liquid separation system (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the bottom cover portion (118B) and top cover portion (118A) of the cover assembly (118) are fixed to each other, the bottom cover portion (118B) comprising an upwardly extending inner wall (118E) extending over the bottom cover portion (118B).
  11. 11. The air/liquid separation system (21) as set forth in claim 10, wherein the bottom cover portion (118B), the top cover portion (118A), and the upwardly extending inner wall (118E) define the cover chamber (150).
  12. 12. The air/liquid separation system (21) as set forth in any of claims 1-11, wherein an outer side (129A) of the inlet riser (129) is spaced apart from and not connected to an outer side (134A) of the outlet riser (134), whereby the inlet riser (129) is independent within the tank compartment (48E).
  13. 13. The air/liquid separation system (21) as set forth in any of claims 1-12, wherein the cap assembly (118) is removable from the recovery tank (48) and the inlet standpipe (129) and the outlet standpipe (134) remain in the recovery tank (48).
  14. 14. The air/liquid separation system (21) of claim 9, further comprising: -a splash guard (182) extending from the guide flange (180) towards the outer periphery of the lid assembly (118), wherein the splash guard (182) extends in the tank chamber (48E) below an inlet (133) of the outlet standpipe (134) and below an outlet (131) of the inlet standpipe (129).

Description

Air/liquid separation system for an extraction cleaner The application is a divisional application of 'air/liquid separation system for extraction cleaner' of Chinese patent application No. 202310925062.2, with application date of 2023, 7, 25, priority date of 2022, 7, 25. Citation of related applications The present application is based on the priority and benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 63/369,291 entitled "air/liquid separation System for extraction Cleaner" filed on 7.25.2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to an air/liquid separation system for an extraction cleaner. Background Removable cleaners are used for cleaning carpets, upholstery, furniture and other surfaces. The extractor cleaning device uses a fluid delivery system and a recovery system to extract dirt from the surface to extract debris and/or fluid from the surface. The fluid delivery system supplies a cleaning fluid (such as water, a cleaning solution, or a mixture of both) from a supply tank onboard the extractor cleaner to the surface to be cleaned. The recovery system utilizes an on-board suction source that recovers the fluid applied by the fluid delivery system as well as dirt and debris, typically sucking the recovered dirt and fluid through the mouth of the cleaning tool, through a hose coupled to a suction source, and into a recovery tank that is also on-board the extraction cleaner. The recovery system may include an air/liquid separation system operable to substantially separate fluid and debris from the working air stream before the working air stream exits the recovery tank and passes through the suction source and is then discharged from the extraction cleaner. Disclosure of Invention An air/liquid separation system for an extraction cleaner is provided. The air/liquid separation system disclosed herein includes a recovery system having a structure configured to effectively separate air from an incoming working air stream, which is a mixture of recovered fluid, debris, and air, using a relatively compact packaging space. For example, an air/liquid separation system within the scope of the present disclosure may have a recovery tank assembly including a recovery tank, an inlet standpipe for receiving a flow of working air entrained with extracted liquid and debris, an outlet standpipe for discharging air separated from the flow of working air, and a cap assembly. The recovery tank may define a tank chamber having a top opening, and the recovery tank may have a bottom wall, a curved outer sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to the top opening, and a relatively flat inner sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to the top opening. The relatively flat inner side walls may be connected to the curved outer side walls. The relatively flat inner side wall and the curved outer side wall may together surround the tank compartment and define a top opening. The bottom wall may have an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet opening may receive a flow of working air. An inlet standpipe may extend upwardly from the inlet opening, and an outlet standpipe may extend upwardly from the outlet opening. The lid assembly may define a lid chamber having a first lid chamber opening in selective fluid communication with the tank chamber and serving as a tank chamber air outlet, and a second lid chamber opening at an inlet of the outlet standpipe. At the top of the recovery tank, the outer perimeter of the lid assembly may follow the shape of and seal to the curved outer side wall and the relatively flat inner side wall to close the top opening of the recovery tank. A float may be disposed within the tank chamber and may be operatively attached to the cap assembly, and the float is vertically translatable relative to the cap assembly to close the first cap chamber opening when the liquid in the tank chamber reaches a predetermined level. The float may be disposed adjacent the curved outer sidewall, the inlet and outlet risers may be disposed laterally side-by-side in the tank compartment, and the outlet riser is located between the float and the inlet riser. This packaging arrangement fully utilizes the shape and volume of the recovery tank, taking into account the constraints of the curved outer side wall. For example, the mechanical layout of the components within the housing of the extraction cleaner (on which the recovery tank is mounted and in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet openings) may require that the inlet and outlet risers be closer to the center of the recovery tank, which is better accomplished by a side-by-side arrangement rather than an arrangement in which the inlet and outlet risers progress from relatively flat inner side walls to curved outer side walls. In addition, the lateral side-by-side arrangement in the recovery tank compartment (with the outlet riser between the float a