US 6,254,462 B1Granted

Apparatus and method for cleaning and restoring floor surfaces

AssigneeEcolab Inc.

InventorsShane M. Kelton, Tina O. Outlaw, Terry J. Klos

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A cleaning and restoration system 10 for floors 11 and other hard surfaces is disclosed. The system 10 has an cleaning head 12 which can be moved across a floor 11 or other hard surface. The cleaning head 12 impinges particulate media upon the floor 11 to remove soils and provide a slip-resistant surface. The media is entrained into the air by a pressure tank 17 which includes a classifier 18 for reclaiming a portion of the media for reuse. The pressure tank 17 has a series of dispersion bars 68 for separating the heavy particles to be re-used. The dust, soils, and other undesirable materials are filtered in a dust collector 57 having a cyclonic filter 71. A compressor 20, a vacuum/blower 22, and other components of the system are mounted on a truck 19. A method for utilizing the restoration system 10 is also disclosed.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A system for cleaning a soiled surface and/or restoring the soiled surface to a slip resistant condition, the surface having soils and surface particles, the system comprising:

a) compressor means for supplying an air stream, said compressor means being adjustable to a desired level of air pressure, said compressor means being in fluid communication with an air supply conduit;
b) moisture reduction means in association with the air stream;
c) entrainment means for entraining media particulates into the air stream comprising an amount of media particles, said entrainment means being adjustable so that the amount of media particulates entrained can be varied;
d) media chamber means for storing the media particulates before entrainment in the air stream;
e) restoration means for impinging the media particulates upon the surface to remove soils and surface particles, said restoration means being movable across the surface in any direction, said restoration means being in fluid communication with an exhaust conduit, wherein said restoration means comprises:
i) a support frame including a plurality of wheels;
ii) a nozzle having a longitudinal bore, one end of which is proximate the surface;
and
iii) an exhaust chamber in fluid communication with said bore and with said exhaust conduit;
f) vacuum means in fluid communication with said exhaust conduit for an evacuation of substantially all of the soils and surface particles from the surface, wherein said vacuum means automatically adjusts to said level of said air stream of said compressor;
g) classifier means for separating a portion of the media particulates from the soils and surface particles, said classifier means being in fluid communication with said exhaust conduit;
h) automatic transfer means for transferring heavy media particulates from said classifier means to said media chamber means;
and
i) filter means for filtering the soils and surface particles, said filter means being in fluid communication with said classifier means, wherein said system etches the surface and increases the coefficient of friction of the surface.

11 more elements

A system of cleaning a soiled floor and restoring the soiled floor to a slip resistant condition by means of media particulates, the floor being made of relatively soft and hard components, the floor having soils and surface particles thereon, the system comprising:

a) a compressor for supplying an adjustable air supply to an air conduit;
b) a pressure tank for containing a media storage means and for entraining an effective amount of the media particulates into the air supply, said media particulates being made of garnet, wherein said media particulates impinge upon the floor to dislodge the soils and surface particles and to remove soft components of the floor;
c) moisture reduction means associated with said pressure tank, said moisture reduction means including a deliquescent;
d) a portable cleaning head movable on the floor in any direction, said cleaning head including:
i) a support frame including a plurality of wheels, said support frame including a handle;
ii) a nozzle which is in fluid communication with said air conduit;
iii) a wear tube releasably attached to a lower end of said nozzle;
iv) an exhaust chamber proximate said nozzle, said exhaust chamber being in fluid communication with an exhaust conduit;
e) vacuum means in fluid communication with said exhaust conduit for the evacuation of substantially all of the soils and surface particles from the floor;
f) classifier means for separating the media particulates from the soils and surface particles, said classifier means being located above said pressure tank, said classifier means including an inlet conduit having a plurality of dispersion bars;
and
g) dust collector means for filtering soils and surface particles, said dust collector means being in fluid communication with said classifier means.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/021,106Filed 10 Feb 1998 · continuation in part
Priority: 3 Feb 1995
Granted: 3 Jul 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B24C 3/065
Movable; portable: with suction means for the abrasive and the waste material
B24C 9/006
Appurtenances of abrasive blasting machines or devices, e.g. working chambers, arrangements for handling used abrasive material: treatment of used…
Y02P 70/10
Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products: greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material…
B24C
Abrasive or related blasting with particulate material