Self-cleaning system and method for extraction cleaners

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12453449-B2
Application number	US-202318242756-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2023
Priority date	Jun 2, 2017
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods for self-cleaning an extraction cleaner are provided. The extraction cleaner includes a suction nozzle defining a suction pathway, a fluid distributor configured to dispense cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned, and a nozzle flushing manifold configured to spray cleaning fluid into the suction pathway of the suction nozzle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An extraction cleaner comprising:
a fluid delivery system comprising a supply container;
a recovery system comprising a recovery container, a suction nozzle defining a suction pathway, and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and configured to generate a working air stream through the suction pathway;
a brush chamber; and
an agitator within the brush chamber;
wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises:
a fluid distributor in fluid communication with the supply container, the fluid distributor configured to deposit a cleaning fluid onto the agitator and/or onto a surface to be cleaned; and
a nozzle flushing manifold in fluid communication with the supply container and comprising a plurality of distributor outlets configured to spray cleaning fluid into the suction pathway.

2. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the suction nozzle comprises a nozzle assembly having a front wall and a rear wall defining the suction pathway therebetween with an opening forming a suction nozzle inlet adjacent the surface to be cleaned, wherein the nozzle flushing manifold is mounted on the nozzle assembly.

3. The extraction cleaner of claim 2 , wherein the nozzle flushing manifold is mounted on the rear wall of the nozzle assembly.

4. The extraction cleaner of claim 3 , wherein at least one outlet of the plurality of distributor outlets are formed in the rear wall to form a flow path from the nozzle flushing manifold into the suction pathway, wherein the at least one outlet is configured to spray directly into the suction pathway.

5. The extraction cleaner of claim 2 , wherein the extraction cleaner is an upright extraction cleaner comprising a base assembly configured for movement across the surface to be cleaned and an upright assembly pivotally connected to the base assembly for directing the base assembly across the surface to be cleaned, and wherein the base assembly comprises a base housing and the nozzle assembly is removable from the base housing.

6. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the suction pathway is in fluid communication with a recovery airflow conduit leading to the recovery container.

7. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 , comprising an agitator housing provided beneath the suction nozzle and defining the brush chamber for the agitator.

8. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the agitator comprises two horizontally-rotating brushrolls.

9. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the fluid distributor is gravity-fed by the supply container and the fluid delivery system comprises a pump controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to the nozzle flushing manifold.

10. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery system comprises:
a first fluid pathway supplying cleaning fluid to the fluid distributor and including a first flow controller in the first fluid pathway; and
a second fluid pathway supplying cleaning fluid to the nozzle flushing manifold and including a second flow controller in the second fluid pathway;
wherein the first and second flow controllers are individually activatable such that cleaning fluid can be distributed from the fluid distributor and not from the nozzle flushing manifold, and cleaning fluid can be distributed from the nozzle flushing manifold and not from the fluid distributor.

11. The extraction cleaner of claim 10 , comprising:
a first actuator for the first flow controller; and
a second actuator for the second flow controller;
wherein the first and second actuators are individually actuatable.

12. The extraction cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the first flow controller comprises a first valve and the second flow controller comprises a second valve.

13. The extraction cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the extraction cleaner is an upright extraction cleaner comprising a base assembly configured for movement across the surface to be cleaned and an upright assembly pivotally connected to the base assembly for directing the base assembly across the surface to be cleaned, and wherein the second actuator comprises a pedal on the base assembly.

14. The extraction cleaner of claim 13 , wherein the upright assembly comprises a handle with a hand grip, and the first actuator comprises a trigger on the hand grip.

15. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 , comprising a fluid pathway supplying cleaning fluid to the nozzle flushing manifold, a push-push flow control valve in the fluid pathway, and a control pedal operably coupled with the push-push flow control valve to selectively flush the suction nozzle, whereby pushing the control pedal once starts fluid flow to the nozzle flushing manifold and subsequently pushing the control pedal again stops fluid flow to the nozzle flushing manifold.

16. The extraction cleaner of claim 15 , wherein the extraction cleaner is an upright extraction cleaner comprising a base assembly configured for movement across the surface to be cleaned and an upright assembly pivotally connected to the base assembly for directing the base assembly across the surface to be cleaned, and wherein the control pedal is provided on a rear, upper portion of the base assembly and is configured to be actuated by a foot of a user of the extraction cleaner.

17. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the fluid distributor is positioned to spray cleaning fluid into the brush chamber, the suction nozzle disposed outside the brush chamber, and the nozzle flushing manifold is configured to spray cleaning fluid directly into the suction pathway and not into the brush chamber.

18. The extraction cleaner of claim 1 , comprising:
a base assembly configured for movement across a surface to be cleaned; and
an upright assembly pivotally connected to the base assembly for directing the base assembly across the surface to be cleaned;
wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises:
a fluid pathway supplying cleaning fluid to the nozzle flushing manifold;
a push-push flow control valve in the fluid pathway; and
a control pedal operably coupled with the push-push flow control valve to selectively flush the suction nozzle, whereby pushing the control pedal once starts fluid flow to the nozzle flushing manifold and subsequently pushing the control pedal again stops fluid flow to the nozzle flushing manifold.

19. The extraction cleaner of claim 18 , wherein the base assembly comprises at least the suction nozzle, the brush chamber, the agitator, the fluid distributor, and the nozzle flushing manifold, and comprises a base housing and a plurality of wheels at least partially supporting the base housing for movement over the surface to be cleaned, wherein the control pedal is provided on a rear, upper portion of the base housing and is configured to be actuated by a foot of a user of the extraction cleaner.

20. The extraction cleaner of claim 18 , wherein the base assembly comprises the suction nozzle, the suction nozzle comprises a nozzle assembly having a front wall and a rear wall defining the suction pathway therebetween with an opening forming a suction nozzle inlet adjacent the surface to be cleaned, and the nozzle flushing manifold is mounted on the nozzle assembly.

Assignees

• Bissell Inc

Inventors

• Krebs Alan J
• Lenkiewicz Kenneth M
• Vogel Scott Miller
• Griffith Aaron P
• Buehler Eric Daniel
• Scholten Jeffrey A
• Boles Jake

Classifications

• A47L11/302

  having rotary tools · CPC title

• A47L11/40

  Parts or details of machines not {provided for in} groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, {or not restricted to one of these groups}, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers · CPC title

• A47L9/0063 Primary

  External storing devices; Stands, casings or the like for the storage of suction cleaners · CPC title

• A47L11/292

  having rotary tools (A47L11/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47L7/0009

  with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid · CPC title