Extraction cleaner with quick empty tank
AssigneeBISSELL Inc.
InventorDavid M. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An extraction cleaner is provided with a removable recovery tank having a recovery container, a drain opening quick-empty valve, and an actuator assembly for emptying the recovery container. The drain opening can be provided on a lower portion of the recovery container. The actuator assembly can selectively open the valve. At least a portion of the actuator assembly can be provided on an upper portion of the recovery container.
Claims20
An extraction cleaner, comprising:
- a flexible vacuum hose in fluid communication with a suction inlet;
- a suction source in fluid communication with the flexible vacuum hose and the suction inlet for generating a working airstream;
- and
- a recovery tank assembly adapted for separating and collecting fluid and debris from the working airstream for later disposal, wherein the recovery tank assembly is removably mounted and comprises:
- a recovery container having an upper portion and a lower portion, the recovery container defining at least a portion of a recovery chamber, a drain opening provided with the lower portion;
- a valve fluidly connected to the drain opening for movement between a closed position wherein the valve seals the recovery chamber and an opened position wherein the valve allows for draining fluid from the recovery chamber;
- and
- an actuator operably coupled to the valve and adapted for moving the valve, wherein at least a portion of the actuator is provided on an upper portion of the recovery container.
An extraction cleaner, comprising:
- a support structure;
- a suction inlet;
- a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet for generating a working airstream;
- and
- a recovery tank assembly adapted for separating and collecting fluid and debris from the working airstream for later disposal, wherein the recovery tank assembly is removably mounted to the support structure and comprises:
- a recovery container having an upper portion and a lower portion, the recovery container defining at least a portion of a recovery chamber, a drain opening provided with the lower portion;
- a valve fluidly connected to the drain opening for movement between a closed position wherein the valve seals the recovery chamber and an opened position wherein the valve allows for draining fluid from the recovery chamber;
- and
- an actuator operably coupled to the valve and adapted for moving the valve, wherein at least a portion of the actuator is provided on an upper portion of the recovery container, whereby a user can separate the recovery tank assembly from the support structure and position the drain opening of the recovery tank assembly over a waste receptacle, followed by actuation of the actuator to move the valve from the closed position to the open position to empty the recovery chamber while maintaining the recovery tank assembly in an upright position.
A method of emptying liquid from a recovery container of a recovery tank assembly of an extraction cleaner having a fluid delivery system and a fluid system, the method comprising:
- separating the recovery tank assembly from a support structure of the extraction cleaner;
- followed by carrying the recovery tank assembly to a waste receptacle;
- positioning at least a portion of the recovery tank assembly over the waste receptacle;
- causing liquid to flow out of the recovery container into the waste receptacle by opening a valve on a lower side of the recovery tank assembly while maintaining the recovery tank assembly in an upright position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.