# US 2014/0196230 A1 · Gravity feed solution distribution system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196230 A1 - Document ID: US20140196230A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/154,846 - Filed: 2014-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-14 - Assignees: Kärcher North America, Inc. - Applicants: Karcher North America, Inc. - Inventors: Scott Pyne; Pete William Von Vett; Todd Leifheit; Steven Tucker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196230A1 ## CPC - A47L 11/4088: {Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits} - A47L 11/4041: {Roll shaped surface treating tools} - A47L 11/185: {with supply of cleaning agents} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract A gravity feed solution distribution system for use with surface maintenance and conditioning machines includes front and rear counter-rotating brush rollers within a shroud, a manifold having delivery ports and disposed within the shroud above the counter-rotating brush rollers, an agitating blade extending from an inner surface of the shroud and underneath the manifold to contact the front counter-rotating brush roller, and a baffle extending downward from an inner surface of the shroud above the front counter-rotating brush roller to contact the front counter-rotating brush roller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gravity feed solution distribution system for a surface cleaning device, the system comprising: a shroud defining an at least partially enclosed space; a first brush roller disposed at least partially within the shroud, the first brush roller rotatable in a clockwise direction about a first axis; a second brush roller disposed at least partially within the shroud, the second brush roller rotatable in a counterclockwise direction about a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel to the first axis; a manifold having a plurality of fluid delivery ports spaced along a length of the manifold, the manifold being disposed above the first and second brush rollers; an agitation member provided proximal at least one of the first brush roller and the second brush roller, the agitation member provided in force transmitting communication with at least one of the first and second brush rollers; and a baffle extending into the at least partially enclosed space, the baffle further positioned above and in contact with at least one of the first and second brush rollers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a motor in operable communication with at least one of the first and second brush rollers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a wheel-driven chassis for selective conveyance of the system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 1, wherein the manifold comprises first and second substantially parallel troughs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fluid delivery ports are spaced evenly along a length of the manifold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 1, wherein the manifold is selectively removable from the system. ### Claim 7 A gravity feed solution distribution system for a surface cleaning device, the system comprising: a movable chassis comprising at least two wheels; the chassis comprising a shroud defining an at least partially enclosed space, the shroud adapted to prevent unwanted conveyance of a fluid; a first brush roller disposed at least partially within the shroud, the first brush roller rotatable in a clockwise direction about a first axis; a second brush roller disposed at least partially within the shroud, the second brush roller rotatable in a counterclockwise direction about a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel to the first axis; a clean fluid storage tank positioned at a location of greater gravitational potential energy than the first brush roller and the second brush roller; a resilient extension member provided proximal at least one of the first brush roller and the second brush roller, wherein the resilient extension member contacts a portion of at least one of the first brush roller and the second brush roller at least once per revolution of the brush roller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 7, wherein the shroud comprises a baffle to contain fluid and maintain the contained fluid proximal a periphery of at least one of the first brush roller and the second brush roller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 7, wherein the first brush rollers comprises a plurality of radially extending bristles, each of said radially extending bristles provided in force-transmitting communication with the resilient extension at least once per rotation of the first brush roller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 7, further comprising a motor in operable communication with at least one of the first and second brush rollers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 7, further comprising a fluid collection tray for receiving a fluid from the clean fluid storage tank. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 7, wherein the fluid collection tray comprises a plurality of ports permitting a fluid to drain from the fluid collection tray under the force of gravity. ### Claim 13 A gravity feed solution distribution system for a surface cleaning device, the system comprising: a chassis comprising at least two wheels; the chassis comprising a shroud defining an at least partially enclosed space, the shroud adapted to prevent unwanted conveyance of a fluid; a brush roller disposed at least partially within the shroud, the brush roller rotatable about an axis, the axis being substantially parallel to a surface to be cleaned; the brush roller comprising a plurality of bristles extending from the brush roller, the plurality of bristles defining a circumference of the brush roller; a clean fluid storage tank positioned at a location of greater gravitational potential energy than the brush roller; a fluid distribution and containment system comprising: a fluid collection tray for receiving a fluid from the clean fluid storage tank, the fluid collection tray comprising a plurality of ports for conveying gravity-fed fluid from the tray to the brush roller; and a resilient extension member extending into the circumference such that when the brush roller is rotated the plurality of bristles contact the resilient extension member and a fluid on the brush roller is agitated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 13, further comprising a second brush roller rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel to the axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 14, wherein the brush roller is rotatable about the axis in a first direction and wherein the second brush roller is rotatable about the second axis in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 13, wherein the shroud comprises a baffle to contain fluid and maintain the contained fluid proximal a periphery of the brush roller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 13, further comprising a motor in operable communication with at least one of the first and second brush rollers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 13, wherein the fluid collection tray is selectively removable from the system.