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US 6,275,654 B1Granted
Cleaning unit
OwnerE. Gerald Hebertinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cleaning unit is described which includes a heating unit and a recirculating pump assembly capable of supply a given fluid flow output at a given pressure at a dispenser head or wand. The recirculating flow is controlled by an unloader valve connected to the high pressure side of a pump, recirculating a portion of the flow to the low pressure side when the pressure in the high pressure side exceeds some set value. The unit utilizes an oversized pump so that an undersized motor can be used to improve durability and lifetime and low weight.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a fluid heating unit including:
- a fluid heating reservoir having:
- a reservoir input connected to a fluid supply
- a reservoir output;
- and
- a heater having at least on heating element inserted into the reservoir for heating a fluid contained in the reservoir;
- a pressurized, re-circulating pump assembly in fluid communication with the heating unit output including:
- an oversized pump driven by an undersized motor where the pump comprises:
- a low pressure side input including:
- a re-circulation connection for receiving a re-circulation flow;
- a high pressure side output including:
- an unloader valve having:
- an re-circulation outlet connected to the re-circulation connection of the low pressure input side where the re-circulation flow exist whenever a pressure at the unloader valve exceeds a re-circulation pressure;
- and
- a fluid outlet;
- an output device connected to the unloader valve fluid outlet which supports a cleaning fluid flow rate whenever the output device is in an open condition;
- and
- an electrical control unit for supplying electrical energy to the heater and motors
- where the pump has a maximum capacity about 10 to 100% greater than a desired operating flow output and pressure of the system allowing for the motor to be undersized increasing apparatus lifetime.
16 more elements
A method for cleaning a surface comprising the step of:
- directing a cleaning fluid flow onto a surface to be cleaned where the fluid flow is produced by an apparatus comprising:
- a fluid heating unit including:
- a fluid heating reservoir having:
- a fluid input connected to a fluid supply;
- a fluid output;
- and
- a heater having at least on heating element inserted into the reservoir for heating a fluid contained in the reservoir;
- a pressurized, re-circulating pump assembly in fluid communication with the heating unit output including:
- an oversized pump driven by an undersized motor where the pump comprises:
- a low pressure side input including:
- a re-circulation connection for receiving a re-circulation flow;
- a high pressure side output including:
- an unloader valve having:
- an re-circulation outlet connected to the re-circulation connection of the low pressure input side where the re-circulation flow exist whenever a pressure at the unloader valve exceeds a re-circulation pressure;
- and
- a fluid outlet;
- an output device connect the unloader valve fluid outlet which supports a cleaning fluid flow rate whenever the output device is in an open condition;
- and
- an electrical control unit for supplying electrical energy to the heater and motor,
- where the pump has a maximum capacity about 10 to 100% greater than a desired operating flow output and pressure allowing for the motor to be undersized increasing apparatus lifetime.
17 more elements
A method for producing a fluid flow comprising the step of:
- heating a fluid to a desired temperature in a fluid beating unit including:
- a fluid heating reservoir comprising:
- a fluid input connected to a fluid supply;
- a fluid output;
- and
- a heater having at least on heating element inserted into the reservoir for heating a fluid contained in the reservoir;
- forwarding the heated fluid to a pressurized re-circulating pump assembly comprising:
- an oversized pump driven by an undersized motor where the pump comprises:
- a low pressure side input including:
- a re-circulation connection for receiving a re-circulation flow;
- a high pressure side output including:
- an unloader valve having:
- an re-circulation outlet connected to the re-circulation connection of the low pressure input side;
- and
- a fluid outlet;
- re-circulating the fluid from the re-circulating outlet of the unloader valve to the re-circulation connector of the low pressure input when a pressure at the unloader valve exceeds a re-circulation pressure;
- forwarding a fluid flow to an output device connect the unloader valve fluid outlet which supports a cleaning fluid flow rate whenever the output device is in an open condition;
- where an electrical control unit supplies electrical energy to the heater and motor and where the pump has a maximum capacity about 10 to 100% greater than a desired operating flow output and pressure allowing for the motor to be undersized increasing apparatus lifetime.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.