Foamed cleaning liquid dispensing system

Abstract

A foamed cleaning liquid dispensing system includes a cleaner cartridge, a flow control device, and an aerator. The cleaner cartridge includes a collapsible bag containing a supply of cleaning agent. The flow control device is configured to receive a flow of the cleaning agent from the cartridge and a flow of a primary cleaning liquid component. The flow control device combines the flows of cleaning agent and primary cleaning liquid component and produces an output flow of cleaning liquid at an output. The aerator includes a nozzle having an inlet fluidically coupled to the output of the flow control device, an outlet, a body having a bore extending between the inlet and the outlet, and a radial port. The nozzle is configured to receive the output flow of cleaning liquid at the inlet, inject air into the output flow of cleaning liquid through the radial port, and produce an output flow of foamed cleaning liquid through the outlet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A foamed cleaning liquid dispensing system for use in a mobile hard floor surface cleaner comprising: 
 a cleaner cartridge including a collapsible bag containing a supply of cleaning agent;    a flow control device configured to receive a flow of cleaning agent from the cartridge and a flow of a primary cleaning liquid component, combine the flows of the cleaning agent and the primary cleaning liquid component, and produce an output flow of cleaning liquid at an output; and    an aerator including a nozzle having an inlet fluidically coupled to the output of the flow control device, an outlet, a nozzle body having a bore extending between the inlet and the outlet, and at least one radial port extending through a side of the nozzle body to the bore, the nozzle configured to receive the output flow of cleaning liquid at the inlet, inject air into the output flow of cleaning liquid through the radial port, and produce an output flow of foamed cleaning liquid through the outlet.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  including a foamed cleaning liquid distributor configured to receive the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid and discharge the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid for wetting of a surface.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the distributor is configured to direct the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid directly to a hard floor surface.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the distributor is configured to direct the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid onto or through a scrubbing member of a motorized scrubber.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the distributor includes distributing conduit having a first end coupled to the nozzle output, whereby the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid discharged through the nozzle output is received by the distributing conduit.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a section having a plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the distributor includes a wand member through which the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid is discharged.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the wand member includes the nozzle and a section of tubing connecting the nozzle input to the output of the flow control device.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid is approximately 0.5 gallons per minute or less.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output flow of cleaning agent is less than 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control device includes a valve configured to terminate the output flow of cleaning agent when a flow rate of the output flow of the primary cleaning liquid component drops below a threshold value.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control device includes an injector component through which the output flow cleaning agent is discharged into the output flow of the primary cleaning liquid component.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the output flow of cleaning agent through the injector component of the flow control device is adjustable.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  including a valve downstream of the output of the flow control device relative to the output flow of cleaning liquid, the valve configured to selectively terminate the output flow of cleaning liquid.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a substantially horizontal section having a closed end and plurality of apertures in a top side, wherein the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid is routed through the apertures in the top side.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a substantially horizontal section having first and second closed ends and plurality of apertures in a top side, wherein the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid is routed through the apertures in the top side.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a second end coupled to a plurality of conduit sections.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the foamed cleaning liquid distributor includes first and second distributing components and a valve selectively controlling the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid to the first and second distributing components.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first distributing component is configured to direct the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid to a hard floor surface on which the mobile body travels and the second distributing component is configured for remote distribution of the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second distributing component is a wand member configured to receive the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid from the valve through a length of tubing.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1  including a supply of a second cleaning agent.  
     
     
         22  The system of  claim 21  including a second flow control device configured to receive a flow of the second cleaning agent and the flow of primary cleaning liquid component, combine the flows of the second cleaning agent and the primary cleaning liquid component, and produce a second output flow of cleaning liquid at an output.  
     
     
         23  The system of  claim 21 , including a valve configured to selectively direct a flow of the first cleaning agent or a flow of the second cleaning agent through the flow control device.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning agent includes a surfactant.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning agent is in concentrated form.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the cleaning agent includes at least 30% solids.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the supply of a second cleaning agent is contained in a collapsible bag of a second cleaner cartridge.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bore of the nozzle includes a constricted throat portion having a convergent upstream end and a divergent downstream end, and the radial port is positioned at the constricted throat portion.  
     
     
         29 . A hard floor surface cleaner comprising: 
 a mobile body;    a supply of primary cleaning liquid component contained in the mobile body and having an output flow of primary cleaning liquid component;    a cleaner cartridge including a collapsible bag containing a supply of cleaning agent;    a flow control device configured to receive a flow of cleaning agent from the cartridge and the output flow of primary cleaning liquid component, combine the flows of the cleaning agent and the primary cleaning liquid component, and produce an output flow of cleaning liquid at an output; and    an aerator including a nozzle having an inlet fluidically coupled to the output of the flow control device, an outlet, a nozzle body having a bore extending between the inlet and the outlet, and at least one radial port extending through a side of the nozzle body to the bore, the nozzle configured to receive the output flow of cleaning liquid at the inlet, inject air into the output flow of cleaning liquid through the radial port, and produce an output flow of foamed cleaning liquid through the outlet; and    a foamed cleaning liquid distributor configured to receive the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid from the outlet of the nozzle and discharge the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid for wetting of a surface.    
     
     
         30 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29  including a pump configured to drive the output flow of primary cleaning liquid component.  
     
     
         31 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29 , wherein the foamed cleaning liquid distributor includes distributing conduit having a first end coupled to the nozzle output, whereby the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid discharged through the nozzle output is received by the distributing conduit.  
     
     
         32 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 31 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a section having a plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         33 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29 , wherein the foamed cleaning liquid distributor includes the nozzle, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid to a hard floor surface on which the mobile body travels.  
     
     
         34 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29 , wherein the foamed cleaning liquid distributor includes a wand member through which the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid is discharged.  
     
     
         35 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 34 , wherein the wand member includes the nozzle and a section of tubing connecting the nozzle input to the output of the flow control device.  
     
     
         36 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29  including a motorized scrubber configured for rotating engagement with a hard floor surface over which the mobile body travels, wherein the foamed cleaning liquid distributor is configured to direct the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid onto or through a scrubbing member of the motorized scrubber.  
     
     
         37 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29  including a motorized scrubber configured for rotating engagement with a hard floor surface over which the mobile body travels, wherein the foamed cleaning liquid distributor is configured to direct the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid within a central region of the motorized scrubber.  
     
     
         38 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29  including a motorized scrubber configured for rotating engagement with a hard floor surface over which the mobile body travels.  
     
     
         39 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 38 , wherein the scrubber includes a plurality of discs mounted to a rotatable shaft, the discs concentrically aligned with an axis of rotation of the shaft and positioned to engage the hard floor surface.  
     
     
         40 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 39 , wherein the discs are formed of a material comprising approximately 70% polyester and 30% polyamide.  
     
     
         41 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 39  including a debris collector behind the motorized scrubber and configured to collect debris that is swept from the hard floor surface by the rotating engagement of the motorized scrubber with the hard floor surface.  
     
     
         42 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 39 , wherein the foamed cleaning liquid distributor is configured to direct the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid onto or through a scrubbing member of the motorized scrubber.  
     
     
         43 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 39 , wherein the foamed cleaning liquid distributor is configured to direct the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid to a leading side of the motorized scrubber.  
     
     
         44 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29  including a non-motorized wetting component having a plurality of liquid dispersing members each having a first end connected adjacent to a bottom side of the mobile body and a second end positioned to engage a hard floor surface over which the mobile body travels.  
     
     
         45 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 44 , wherein the foamed cleaning liquid distributor discharges the output flow of foam cleaning liquid to a leading side of the wetting component.  
     
     
         46 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29 , wherein the hard floor surface cleaner does not include a motorized scrubbing member that is configured for rotating engagement with the hard floor surface.  
     
     
         47 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 46  including a fluid recovery system configured to remove cleaning liquid from the hard floor surface.  
     
     
         48 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 47 , wherein the fluid recovery system includes a squeegee and a vacuum.  
     
     
         49 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29 , wherein the output flow of foamed cleaning liquid is approximately 0.5 gallons per minute or less.  
     
     
         50 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29 , wherein the output flow of cleaning agent is less than 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute.  
     
     
         51 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29  including a fluid recovery system configured to remove foamed cleaning liquid from a hard floor surface.  
     
     
         52 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29 , wherein the flow control device includes an injector component through which the flow of cleaning agent is discharged into the output flow of the primary cleaning liquid component.  
     
     
         53 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 52 , wherein a flow rate of the flow of cleaning agent discharged through the injector component is adjustable.  
     
     
         54 . The hard floor surface cleaner of  claim 29  including a valve between the output of the flow control device and the nozzle input, the valve configured to terminate the output flow of cleaning liquid.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 29  including a supply of a second cleaning agent.  
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55  including a second flow control device configured to receive a flow of the second cleaning agent and the flow of primary cleaning liquid component, combine the flows of the second cleaning agent and the primary cleaning liquid component, and produce a second output flow of cleaning liquid at an output.  
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 55 , including a valve configured to selectively direct a flow of the first cleaning agent or a flow of the second cleaning agent through the flow control device.  
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the supply of a second cleaning agent is contained in a collapsible bag of a second cleaner cartridge.  
     
     
         59 . A foamed cleaning liquid dispenser kit for installation in a hard floor surface cleaner that includes a primary cleaning liquid component dispenser configured to provide an output flow of a primary cleaning liquid component, the kit comprising: 
 a supply of cleaning agent;    a flow control device couplable to the output flow of primary cleaning liquid component and configured to receive a flow of cleaning agent from the supply, combine the flows of the cleaning agent and primary cleaning liquid component, and produce an output flow of cleaning liquid at an output;    an aerator including a nozzle having an inlet fluidically coupled to the output of the flow control device, an outlet, a nozzle body having a bore extending between the inlet and the outlet, and at least one radial port extending through a side of the nozzle body to the bore; and    packaging containing the conduit, the flow control device and the aerator.    
     
     
         60 . The kit of  claim 59  including a cleaner cartridge having a collapsible bag containing the supply of cleaning agent, wherein the packaging contains the cleaner cartridge.  
     
     
         61 . The kit of  claim 59  including conduit contained in the packaging.