US-12622564-B2 - System and method for centralized steam cleaning

Abstract

Certain examples of the disclosure concern a centralized steam cleaning system which includes a central control unit and a pipe network distributed within a building. The pipe network can include a vacuum pipeline and a water pipeline extending alongside each other.

Inventors

• Sean Blanchard
• Daniel Blexrude

Assignees

• Clean Core LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231128

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A centralized steam cleaning system comprising: a central control unit; a pipe network connected to the central control unit; and a plurality of ports connected to the pipe network, wherein the pipe network is configured to be distributed within a building, wherein the pipe network comprises a vacuum pipeline and a water pipeline that extend alongside each other, wherein the central control unit is configured to generate a negative pressure for air within the vacuum pipeline and a water steam within the water pipeline, wherein each port comprises an outlet of the water pipeline and an outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the plurality of ports comprises one or more floor ports configured to be located at corresponding floors of the building, wherein each floor port comprises a floor port housing enclosing the outlet of the water pipeline and the outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the water pipeline and the vacuum pipeline extend from a first side of the floor port housing to a second side of the floor port housing.
2. 2 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the negative pressure is between 6 psi and 9 psi, wherein the water steam has a temperature ranging between 200- and 240-degree Fahrenheit.
3. 3 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein each floor port comprises an air valve and a water valve enclosed within the floor port housing.
4. 4 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ports comprises one or more room ports configured to be located within corresponding rooms of the building, wherein each room port comprises a room port housing enclosing the outlet of the water pipeline and the outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the water pipeline and the vacuum pipeline extend into the room port housing and do not exit from the room port housing.
5. 5 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 4 , wherein each room port comprises a water valve enclosed within the room port housing, wherein the water valve is configured to enable or disable the water steam within the water pipeline to flow through the outlet of the water pipeline.
6. 6 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a hose assembly, wherein the hose assembly comprises a water hose and a vacuum hose, wherein the water hose is configured to be releasably connected to the outlet of the water pipeline, wherein the vacuum hose is configured to be releasably connected to the outlet of the vacuum pipeline.
7. 7 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 6 , wherein the outlet of the water pipeline comprises a seal configured to block the water steam within the water pipeline from escaping through the outlet of the water pipeline, wherein connecting the water hose to the outlet of the water pipeline is configured to displace the seal so as to enable the water steam within the water pipeline to escape through the outlet of the water pipeline.
8. 8 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 6 , further comprising at least one portable cleaning device, wherein the at least one portable cleaning device comprises a water channel and a vacuum channel, wherein the water channel is configured to be releasably connected to the water hose, wherein the vacuum channel is configured to be releasably connected to the vacuum hose.
9. 9 . A centralized steam cleaning system comprising: a pipe network configured to be distributed within a building, wherein the pipe network comprises a vacuum pipeline and a water pipeline that extend alongside each other; and a plurality of ports connected to the pipe network, wherein each port comprises an outlet of the water pipeline and an outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the water pipeline is configured to allow a water steam to flow therethrough, wherein the vacuum pipeline is configured to allow an air under negative pressure to flow therethrough, wherein the plurality of ports comprises one or more floor ports, wherein each floor port comprises a floor port casing enclosing the outlet of the water pipeline and the outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the water pipeline and the vacuum pipeline extend through the floor port casing.
10. 10 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 9 , further comprising a central control unit configured to generate the negative pressure for the air within the vacuum pipeline and the water steam within the water pipeline.
11. 11 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 9 , further comprising a hose assembly, wherein the hose assembly comprises a water hose and a vacuum hose that are bundled together, wherein the water hose is configured to be releasably connected to the outlet of the water pipeline, wherein the vacuum hose is configured to be releasably connected to the outlet of the vacuum pipeline.
12. 12 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 11 , further comprising at least one portable cleaning device, wherein the at least one portable cleaning device comprises a wand, a cleaning head connected to a distal end of the wand, a water channel, and a vacuum channel, wherein the water channel and the vacuum channel extend through a lumen of the wand and into the cleaning head, wherein the water channel is configured to be releasably connected to the water hose, wherein the vacuum channel is configured to be releasably connected to the vacuum hose.
13. 13 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of ports comprises one or more room ports, wherein each room port comprises a room port casing enclosing the outlet of the water pipeline and the outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the water pipeline and the vacuum pipeline extend into the room port casing and do not exit from the room port casing.
14. 14 . A centralized steam cleaning system comprising: a pipe network configured to be distributed within a building, wherein the pipe network comprises a vacuum pipeline and a water pipeline that extend alongside each other; and a plurality of ports connected to the pipe network, wherein each port comprises an outlet of the water pipeline and an outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the water pipeline is configured to allow a water steam to flow therethrough, wherein the vacuum pipeline is configured to allow an air under negative pressure to flow therethrough, wherein the plurality of ports comprises one or more room ports, wherein each room port comprises a room port casing enclosing the outlet of the water pipeline and the outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the water pipeline and the vacuum pipeline extend into the room port casing and do not exit from the room port casing.
15. 15 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 14 , further comprising a central control unit configured to generate the negative pressure for the air within the vacuum pipeline and the water steam within the water pipeline.
16. 16 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 14 , further comprising a hose assembly, wherein the hose assembly comprises a water hose and a vacuum hose that are bundled together, wherein the water hose is configured to be releasably connected to the outlet of the water pipeline, wherein the vacuum hose is configured to be releasably connected to the outlet of the vacuum pipeline.
17. 17 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 16 , further comprising a portable cleaning device, wherein the portable cleaning device comprises a wand, a cleaning head connected to a distal end of the wand, a water channel, and a vacuum channel, wherein the water channel is configured to be releasably connected to the water hose, wherein the vacuum channel is configured to be releasably connected to the vacuum hose.
18. 18 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 14 , wherein each room port comprises a water valve enclosed within the room port casing, wherein the water valve is configured to enable or disable the water steam within the water pipeline to flow through the outlet of the water pipeline.
19. 19 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of ports further comprises one or more floor ports, wherein each floor port comprises a floor port casing enclosing the outlet of the water pipeline and the outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the water pipeline and the vacuum pipeline extend through the floor port casing.
20. 20 . The centralized steam cleaning system of claim 19 , wherein each floor port comprises an air valve and a water valve enclosed within the floor port casing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/429,900, filed Dec. 2, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein. FIELD The present disclosure concerns systems and methods related to centralized steam cleaning for buildings. BACKGROUND Steam cleaning involves using steam or vapor for cleaning, and can be used for cleaning carpet, tile and grout, upholstery, etc. However, steam cleaning can be laborious and time consuming, especially for high rise buildings that include numerous rooms on multiple floors. Using a portable steam cleaner to clean multiple rooms is generally inefficient. Using an industrial steam cleaning machine (e.g., a truck mount carpet cleaning machine) with extendable hoses to clean a building is also limited by many factors, such as the height of the building, the floor plan of individual rooms, etc. The complexity and length of operation also lead to increased costs. Thus, there exists a need for improved steam cleaning techniques for buildings. SUMMARY Described herein are apparatuses, systems, and methods for centralized steam cleaning for buildings, which overcome one or more of the deficiencies of state-of-the-art steam cleaning technologies. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a centralized steam cleaning system including: a central control unit; and a pipe network connected to the central control unit, wherein the pipe network is configured to be distributed within a building, wherein the pipe network includes a vacuum pipeline and a water pipeline that extend alongside each other, wherein the central control unit is configured to generate a negative pressure for air within the vacuum pipeline and a water steam within the water pipeline. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a centralized steam cleaning system, wherein the negative pressure is between 6 psi and 9 psi, wherein the water steam has a temperature ranging between 200- and 240-degree Fahrenheit. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a centralized steam cleaning system, further including a plurality of ports connected to the pipe network, wherein each port includes an outlet of the water pipeline and an outlet of the vacuum pipeline. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a centralized steam cleaning system, wherein the plurality of ports includes one or more floor ports configured to be located at corresponding floors of the building, wherein each floor port includes a housing enclosing the outlet of the water pipeline and the outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the water pipeline and the vacuum pipeline extend from a first side of the housing to a second side of the housing. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a centralized steam cleaning system, wherein each floor port includes an air valve and a water valve enclosed within the housing, wherein the air valve is configured to enable or disable the air within the vacuum pipeline to flow from the first side of the housing to the second side of the housing, wherein the water valve is configured to enable or disable the water steam within the water pipeline to flow from the first side of the housing to the second side of the housing. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a centralized steam cleaning system, wherein the plurality of ports includes one or more room ports configured to be located within corresponding rooms of the building, wherein each room port includes a housing enclosing the outlet of the water pipeline and the outlet of the vacuum pipeline, wherein the water pipeline and the vacuum pipeline extend into the housing and do not exit from the housing. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a centralized steam cleaning system, wherein each room port includes a water valve enclosed within the housing, wherein the water valve is configured to enable or disable the water steam within the water pipeline to flow through the outlet of the water pipeline. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a centralized steam cleaning system, further including a hose assembly, wherein the hose assembly includes a water hose and a vacuum hose, wherein the water hose is configured to be releasably connected to the outlet of the water pipeline, wherein the vacuum hose is configured to be releasably connected to the outlet of the vacuum pipeline. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a centralized steam cleaning system, wherein the outlet of the water pipeline includes a seal configured to block the water steam within the water pipeline from escaping through the outlet of the water pipeline, wherein connecting the water hose to the outlet of the water pipeline is configured to displace the seal so as to enable the water steam within the water pipeline to escape through the outlet of the water pipeline. In some aspects, the t