Cleaning apparatus for concrete and tile

Abstract

A tool for cleaning hard, nonabsorbent surfaces, of various compositions, such as concrete, ceramic tile, or the like, and of varying degrees of roughness or smoothness. The tool includes a movable platform with an outer housing and a structure which defines an interior cavity, the structure being spaced apart from the housing and nested beneath it. A liquid used in the cleaning operation is fed into the cavity through two nozzles located on the ends of a tube. Disposed horizontally, the tube is rigidly attached, in its midsection, to a hollow shaft which is supported vertically by a rotatable bearing/seal component. The latter allows a stationary liquid supply hose to deliver liquid at high pressure, via the hollow shaft, to the tube. The nozzles are positioned so that their flow streams discharge downwardly at a slight angle to the vertical. So discharged, the flow stream imparts a tangential force to the tube causing it to rotate. The rotation of the tube causes the fluid to be applied in a pulse-like sequence, enhancing cleaning action and greatly reducing the rate at which cleaning fluid is consumed. The space between the outer housing and the structure is supplied with a vacuum which sucks up sprayed liquid and any loose dirt, transporting the mixture to a portable storage tank. After the platform passes over a work surface, very little liquid is left thereon, making the tool suitable for indoor cleaning. A filter is provided so that dirt in the cleaning fluid itself can be removed, and the fluid reused.

It is claimed:  
     
         1 . A high pressure spray cleaning system, comprising: 
 (a) a source of high volume suction air flow;    (b) a movable platform having an outer housing, an inner structure, and a spacer, the spacer being rigidly juxtaposed between the housing and the structure, the structure defining both a large opening and an interior cavity, the structure terminating downwardly in said opening; the structure being nested beneath the outer housing and spaced therefrom, the structure and the housing together defining at least one narrow, elongated aperture which rims the cavity and is fluidly connected to said source;    (c) at least one pair of spray nozzles mounted within the cavity; and    (d) means for delivering liquid at high pressure to the spray nozzles, the nozzles being so positioned that the liquid discharges downwardly; the source of high volume suction air flow, in use, pulling liquid pooled proximate with the elongated, narrow aperture upwardly and thereinto.    
     
     
         2 . The high pressure spray cleaning system according to  claim 1 , which further comprises an inverted “T”-shaped element rotatably mounted within the cavity, the spray nozzles being attached to distal ends of the “T”-shaped element; and wherein the nozzles are so positioned that the liquid delivered at high pressure discharges downwardly at a slight angle to the vertical, imparting a tangential force to the “T”-shaped element and causing it to rotate about its longitudinal centerline.  
     
     
         3 . The spray-vacuum cleaning system according to  claim 1 , which further comprises means, including at least one seal adjustably fastened to lowermost portions of the outer housing, for capturing liquid sprayed from the nozzles and enhancing suction action as the source of high volume suction air flow pulls liquid pooled proximate with the elongated, narrow aperture upwardly and thereinto.  
     
     
         4 . The spray-vacuum cleaning system having a platform supplied by a source of high pressure cleaning liquid and a source of high volume suction air flow a for cleaning hard generally flat surfaces such as concrete or tile according to  claim 1  in which the platform further comprises a seal along the lower edges of the sides to enhance the suction action on the surface.  
     
     
         5 . The spray-vacuum cleaning system according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a set casters mounted externally to the housing and means for adjusting the height of the lowermost edges of the outer housing.