Direct drive industrial carpet cleaner

An interface assembly for coupling a vacuum blower to a power plant in a drive system, the interface assembly comprising:

• an adapter plate secured to the power plant adjacent to a power output shaft thereof;
• a substantially rigid coupling rotationally secured in contact with both of the power output shaft of the power plant and a power input shaft of the vacuum blower;
• and
• a rigid bell housing coupled between the adapter plate and the vacuum blower adjacent to the power input shaft thereof, the bell housing structured to cooperate with each of the adapter plate and the vacuum blower to coaxially align the power input shaft of the vacuum blower and the power output shaft of the power plant.

An interface assembly for coupling a vacuum blower to a power plant in a drive system, the interface assembly comprising:

• an adapter plate secured to the power plant adjacent to a power output shaft thereof;
• a substantially rigid coupling rotationally secured in contact with both of the power output shaft of the power plant and a power input shaft of the vacuum blower, the rigid coupling further comprising:
• (a) a flywheel assembly having a power input surface rotationally secured to the power output shaft of the power plant external to the adapter plate and having a power output surface, the flywheel assembly comprising a flywheel having the power input surface rotationally secured in metal-to-metal contact to the power output shaft of the power plant and having a power output surface, and a coupling hub rotationally and angularly fixed to the power output surface of the flywheel and having a power output surface, and
• (b) a rigid metal-to-metal coupling having a power input surface rotationally secured between the output surface of the flywheel assembly and the power input shaft of the vacuum blower for transmitting power thereto in the form of torque;
• and
• a rigid bell housing coupled between the adapter plate and the vacuum blower adjacent to the power input shaft thereof, the bell housing structured to cooperate with each of the adapter plate and the vacuum blower to coaxially align the power input shaft of the vacuum blower and the power output shaft of the power plant.

An interface assembly for coupling a vacuum blower to a power plant in a drive system, the interface assembly comprising:

• an adapter plate secured to the power plant adjacent to a power output shaft thereof;
• a substantially rigid coupling rotationally secured in contact with both of the power output shaft of the power plant and a power input shaft of the vacuum blower, the rigid coupling further comprising:
• (a) a flywheel assembly having a power input surface rotationally secured to the power output shaft of the power plant external to the adapter plate and having a power output surface, and
• (b) a rigid metal-to-metal coupling having a power input surface rotationally secured between the output surface of the flywheel assembly and the power input shaft of the vacuum blower for transmitting power thereto in the form of torque;
• and
• a rigid bell housing coupled between the adapter plate and the vacuum blower adjacent to the power input shaft thereof, the bell housing structured to cooperate with each of the adapter plate and the vacuum blower to coaxially align the power input shaft of the vacuum blower and the power output shaft of the power plant, the bell housing comprising one or more precision guide pins, and the vacuum blower further comprises one or more precision guide holes structured to cooperate with the one or more precision guide pins to coaxially align the power input shaft of the vacuum blower and the power output shaft of the power plant.

An interface assembly for coupling a vacuum blower to a power plant in a drive system, the interface assembly comprising:

• an adapter plate secured to the power plant adjacent to a power output shaft thereof;
• a substantially rigid coupling rotationally secured in contact with both of the power output shaft of the power plant and a power input shaft of the vacuum blower, the rigid coupling further comprising:
• (a) a flywheel assembly having a power input surface rotationally secured to the power output shaft of the power plant external to the adapter plate and having a power output surface, and
• (b) a rigid metal-to-metal coupling having a power input surface rotationally secured between the output surface of the flywheel assembly and the power input shaft of the vacuum blower for transmitting power thereto in the form of torque;
• and
• a rigid bell housing coupled between the adapter plate and the vacuum blower adjacent to the power input shaft thereof, the bell housing structured to cooperate with each of the adapter plate and the vacuum blower to coaxially align the power input shaft of the vacuum blower and the power output shaft of the power plant, the bell housing comprising one or more precision guide pins, and the adapter plate further comprises one or more precision guide holes structured to cooperate with the one or more precision guide pins to coaxially align the power input shaft of the vacuum blower and the power output shaft of the power plant.

A cleaning system having a drive system mounted on a structural frame and coupled for generating vacuum in a water recovery tank, a high pressure solution hose between a supply of heated and pressurized water based chemical cleaning solution and a delivery wand for providing the cleaning solution to a target surface, and a vacuum hose for recovering previously delivered cleaning solution from the target surface using the vacuum generated by the drive system, wherein the drive system includes a torque generator having a torque output shaft and a vacuum generator having a torque input shaft, a rigid metal-to-metal interface assembly coupled for transmitting torque from the torque output shaft of the torque generator to the torque input shaft of the vacuum generator, the interface assembly comprising:

• an adapter plate secured to the torque generator relative to the torque output shaft;
• a robust structural connector secured to the adapter plate of the torque generator and to the vacuum generator relative to the torque input shaft, the structural connector being structured to rigidly coaxially align the torque input shaft of the vacuum generator and the torque output shaft of the torque generator and being sized to space an end face of the torque input shaft in proximity to a torque output surface of the flywheel assembly;
• and
• a coupling interconnected between the torque output shaft of the torque generator and the torque input shaft for transmitting torque from the torque output shaft of the torque generator to the torque input shaft of the vacuum generator.

An industrial substrate cleaning system having a means for delivering heated and pressurized water based chemical cleaning solution to a target substrate, and a means for recovering previously delivered cleaning solution from the target substrate using vacuum, and a drive means, wherein the drive means includes a torque generating means having a torque outputting means, and a vacuum generating means having a torque inputting means, and a means for interfacing the torque inputting means of the vacuum generating means to the torque outputting means of the torque generating means, the interfacing means comprising:

• a means for substantially inflexibly coupling the vacuum generating means and the torque generating means in a single structural unit;
• a means for substantially inflexibly coaxially aligning the torque inputting means of the vacuum generating means with the torque outputting means of the torque generating means;
• a means for maintaining the substantially inflexibly coaxial alignment of the torque inputting means of the vacuum generating means and the torque outputting means of the torque generating means;
• and
• a means for substantially rotationally fixing the torque inputting means of the vacuum generating means with the torque outputting means of the torque generating means for transmitting torque from the torque outputting means of the torque generating means to the torque inputting means of the vacuum generating means.

A professional substrate cleaning system having a means for delivering heated and pressurized water based chemical cleaning solution to a target surface, and a means for recovering previously delivered cleaning solution from the target surface using vacuum, and a drive means, wherein the drive means includes a torque generating means having a torque outputting means, and a vacuum generating means having a torque inputting means, and a method for interfacing the torque inputting means of the vacuum generating means to the torque outputting means of the torque generating means, the interfacing method comprising:

• coupling the vacuum generating means and the torque generating means in a single structural unit;
• coaxially aligning the torque inputting means of the vacuum generating means with the torque outputting means of the torque generating means;
• rigidly maintaining the coaxial alignment of the torque inputting means of the vacuum generating means and the torque;
• and
• rigidly rotationally fixing the torque inputting means of the vacuum generating means substantially inflexibly to the torque outputting means of the torque generating means for transmitting torque from the torque outputting means of the torque generating means to the torque inputting means of the vacuum generating means.

An industrial carpet cleaning system having a drive system mounted on a structural frame and coupled for generating vacuum in a water recovery tank, a high pressure solution hose between a supply of heated and pressurized water-based chemical cleaning solution and a delivery wand for providing the cleaning solution to a target surface, and a vacuum hose for recovering previously delivered cleaning solution from the target surface using the vacuum generated by the drive system, the drive system comprising:

• a power plant having a power output shaft;
• a vacuum blower having a power input shaft and a face plate adjacent to the power input shaft;
• a interface assembly coupled in mutual contact between the output shaft of the power plant and the input shaft of the vacuum blower, the interface assembly comprising:
• an adapter plate securely fastened to the power plant adjacent to the power output shaft,
• a flywheel assembly securely fastened to the power output shaft of the power plant and having a power output surface positioned external to the adapter plate,
• a coupling securely fastened between the output surface of the flywheel assembly and the power input shaft for transmitting power from the flywheel assembly to the power input shaft of the vacuum blower, and
• a rigid structural connector securely fastened between the adapter plate and the face plate of the vacuum blower, the structural connector being structured to coaxially align the power input shaft of the vacuum blower with the power output shaft of the power plant.

A slide-in industrial substrate cleaning system, comprising:

• a) a structural platform;
• b) a structurally integral drive system mounted on the structural platform, the drive system having:
• i) a power plant having a power output shaft,
• ii) a vacuum blower having a power input shaft, and
• iii) an interface assembly for transmitting power from the power plant to the vacuum blower, the interface assembly comprising:
• 1) a coupling having a power input surface coupled in rotationally and angularly fixed contact with the power output shaft of the power plant, and having an output surface coupled in rotationally and angularly fixed metal-to-metal contact with the power input shaft of the vacuum blower,
• 2) an adapter plate coupled in rotationally and angularly fixed metal-to-metal contact with the power plant,
• 3) a rigid bell housing coupled in rotationally and angularly fixed contact with both the adapter plate and the vacuum blower,
• 4) a first plurality of precision pins and mating precision holes operating between the bell housing and the adapter plate, and
• 5) a second plurality of precision pins and mating precision holes operating between the bell housing and the vacuum blower;
• c) one or more heat exchangers and associated plumbing for heating pressurized water;
• d) a chemical container coupled for delivering a stream of cleaning chemical into hot water;
• e) a wand for dispersing and removing hot water and cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned;
• f) a high pressure solution hose coupled for delivering hot water and cleaning solution to the wand;
• g) a vacuum hose coupled to the wand for removing hot water and cleaning solution from the surface;
• and
• h) a recovery tank coupled to the vacuum hose for storing the hot water and cleaning solution removed from the surface.

A method for carpet cleaning, the method comprising:

• a) a structurally integrating a drive system on a structural platform, including structurally integrating:
• i) a power plant structured for outputting power via an output shaft,
• ii) a vacuum blower structured for intaking power via an input shaft,
• iii) a structural interface assembly rigidly coupled between the vacuum blower and the power plant, the structural interface assembly being structured for rigidly coaxially aligning the vacuum blower input shaft with the power plant output shaft, and
• iv) a power transmission interface assembly rigidly coupled between the power plant output shaft and the vacuum blower input shaft, the power transmission interface assembly being structured for transmitting power from the power plant output shaft to the vacuum blower input shaft;
• b) operating the drive system for driving a pressurizer for pressurizing;
• c) operating the drive system for driving a heater for heating water;
• c) delivering a cleaning chemical into the water;
• d) dispersing hot water and cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned;
• and
• e) operating the drive system for generating a vacuum for removing the hot water and cleaning solution from the surface.

A method for carpet cleaning, the method comprising:

• a) a structurally integrating a drive system on a structural platform, including structurally integrating:
• i) a power plant structured for outputting power via an output shaft,
• ii) a vacuum blower structured for intaking power via an input shaft,
• iii) a structural interface assembly structured for rigidly coaxially aligning the vacuum blower input shaft with the power plant output shaft by:
• 1) rotationally and angularly fixing an adapter plate in contact with the power plant,
• 2) coupling a rigid bell housing in rigid rotationally and angularly fixed contact with both the adapter plate and the vacuum blower,
• 3) interfacing a first plurality of precision pins and mating precision holes between the bell housing and the adapter plate, and
• 4) interfacing a second plurality of precision pins and mating precision holes between the bell housing and the vacuum blower;
• and
• iv) a power transmission interface assembly structured for transmitting power from the power plant to the vacuum blower by:
• 1) rigidly coupling a power input surface of the power transmission interface assembly in rotationally and angularly fixed contact with the output shaft of the power plant;
• and
• 2) rigidly coupling a power output surface of the power transmission interface assembly in rotationally and angularly fixed contact with the input shaft of the vacuum blower;
• b) operating the drive system for driving a pressurizer for pressurizing;
• c) operating the drive system for driving a heater for heating water;
• c) delivering a cleaning chemical into the water;
• d) dispersing hot water and cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned;
• and
• e) operating the drive system for generating a vacuum for removing the hot water and cleaning solution from the surface.