Cleaning liquid dispensing system

Abstract

A cleaning liquid dispensing system for use in a mobile hard surface cleaner. The system generally includes a cleaning agent container, a cleaning agent supply line coupled to the cleaning agent container, a flow control device, and a pressure regulator. The cleaning agent container is configured to contain a supply of cleaning agent. The flow control device includes a first input coupled to the cleaning agent supply line, a second input, and an output. The pressure regulator is configured to control a pressure in the cleaning agent supply line and is positioned in line with the cleaning agent supply line between the first input of the flow control device and the cleaning agent container.

1 . A cleaning liquid dispensing system for use in a mobile hard surface cleaner comprising: 
 a cleaning agent container configured to contain a supply of cleaning agent;    a cleaning agent supply line coupled to the cleaning agent container;    a flow control device having a first input coupled to the cleaning agent supply line, a second input, and an output; and    a pressure regulator in line with the cleaning agent supply line between the first input of the flow control device and the cleaning agent container, the pressure regulator adapted to control a pressure in the cleaning agent supply line.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the cleaning agent supply line defines a cleaning agent flow path; and    the pressure regulator includes an air inlet port and an airflow path between the air inlet port and the cleaning agent flow path.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure regulator includes a valve operable between an open position in which the airflow path is open, and a closed position in which the airflow path is closed.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure regulator includes a check valve in the airflow path.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  including a metering device in line with the cleaning agent supply line and between the flow control device and the cleaning agent container.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the metering device includes an orifice plate having an orifice.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the orifice has a diameter of 0.010 inches or less.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the metering device includes a labyrinthine fluid flow path in line with the cleaning agent supply line.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the metering device includes a needle valve.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control device includes an injector component configured to receive a flow of cleaning agent through the first input, inject the flow of cleaning agent into a flow of primary cleaning liquid component received through the second input to thereby form a flow of cleaning liquid, and discharge the flow of cleaning liquid through the output.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  including a cleaning liquid distributor coupled to the outlet of the flow control device and configured to receive the flow of cleaning liquid and discharge the flow of cleaning liquid to a hard surface.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the injector component includes a venturi injector.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning agent container is collapsible.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning agent container includes a collapsible bag.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning agent container includes a removable cleaning agent cartridge.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , including an aerator having an inlet coupled to the output of the flow control device, an outlet, and a gas inlet.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the flow control device is configured to receive a flow of cleaning agent at the first input, combine the flow of cleaning agent with a flow of primary cleaning liquid component received at the second input, and discharge a flow of cleaning liquid at the output; and    the aerator is configured to receive the flow of cleaning liquid from the output of the flow control device at the inlet, inject gas into the flow of cleaning liquid through the gas inlet, and discharge an output flow of foamed cleaning liquid through the outlet.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  including a cleaning liquid distributor coupled to the outlet of the aerator and configured to receive the flow of foamed cleaning liquid and discharge the flow of foamed cleaning liquid for wetting of a surface.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the distributor is configured to direct the flow of foamed cleaning liquid directly to a hard floor surface.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the distributor is configured to direct the flow of foamed cleaning liquid onto or adjacent to a scrubbing member of a motorized scrubber.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the distributor includes distributing conduit having a first end coupled to the outlet of the aerator.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a section having a plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a substantially horizontal section having a closed end and a plurality of apertures in a topside.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the distributor includes a wand member through which the flow of foamed cleaning liquid is discharged.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the wand member includes the aerator and a section of tubing connecting the inlet of the aerator to the output of the flow control device.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the flow of foamed cleaning liquid is proximately 0.5 gallons per minute or less.  
     
     
         27 . A cleaning liquid dispensing system for use in a mobile hard surface cleaner comprising: 
 a cleaning agent container configured to contain a supply of cleaning agent;    a cleaning agent supply line coupled to the cleaning agent container;    a flow control device having a first input coupled to the cleaning agent supply line, a second input, and an output;    a pressure regulator in line with the cleaning agent supply line between the first input of the flow control device and the cleaning agent container, the pressure regulator adapted to control a pressure in the cleaning agent supply line; and    an aerator including an inlet coupled to the output of the flow control device, an outlet, and a gas inlet.    
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 the cleaning agent supply line defines a cleaning agent flow path; and    the pressure regulator includes an air inlet port and an air flow path between the inlet port and the cleaning agent flow path.    
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the pressure regulator includes a valve operable between an open position in which the airflow path is open, and a closed position in which the airflow path is closed.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the pressure regulator includes a check valve in line with the airflow path.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27  including a metering device in line with the cleaning agent supply line and between the flow control device and the cleaning agent container.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the metering device includes an orifice plate having an orifice.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the orifice has a diameter of 0.010 inches or less.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the metering device includes a labyrinthine fluid flow path in line with the cleaning agent supply line.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the metering device includes a needle valve.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the flow control device includes an injector component configured to receive a flow of cleaning agent through the first input, inject the flow of cleaning agent into a flow of primary cleaning liquid component received through the second input to thereby form a flow of cleaning liquid, and discharge the flow of cleaning liquid through the output.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  including a cleaning liquid distributor coupled to the outlet of the flow control device and configured to receive the flow of cleaning liquid and discharge the flow of cleaning liquid to a hard surface.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the injector component includes a venturi injector.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the cleaning agent container is collapsible.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the cleaning agent container includes a collapsible bag.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the cleaning agent container includes a removable cleaning agent cartridge.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 the flow control device is configured to receive a flow of cleaning agent at the first input, combine the flow of cleaning agent with a flow of primary cleaning liquid component received at the second input, and discharge a flow of cleaning liquid at the output; and    the aerated is configured to receive the flow of cleaning liquid from the output of the flow control device at the inlet, inject gas into the flow of cleaning liquid through the gas inlet, and discharge an output flow of foamed cleaning liquid through the outlet.    
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42  including a cleaning liquid distributor coupled to the outlet of the aerator and configured to receive the flow of foamed cleaning liquid and discharge the flow of foamed cleaning liquid for wetting of a surface.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the distributor is configured to direct the flow of foamed cleaning liquid directly to a hard floor surface.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the distributor is configured to direct the flow of foamed cleaning liquid onto or adjacent to a scrubbing member of a motorized scrubber.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the distributor includes distributing conduit having a first end coupled to the outlet of the aerator, whereby the flow of foamed cleaning liquid discharged through the outlet of the aerator is received by the distributing conduit.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a section having a plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a substantially horizontal section having a closed end and a plurality of apertures in a topside.  
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the distributor includes a wand member through which the flow of foamed cleaning liquid is discharged.  
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the wand member includes the aerator and a section of tubing connecting the inlet of the aerator to the output of the flow control device.  
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the flow of foamed cleaning liquid is proximately 0.5 gallons per minute or less.  
     
     
         52 . A hard floor surface cleaner comprising: 
 a mobile body;    a tank carried by the mobile body and configured to contain a supply of primary cleaning liquid component;    a cleaning agent container configured to contain a supply of a cleaning agent;    a cleaning agent supply line coupled to the cleaning agent container;    a flow control device having a first input coupled to the cleaning agent supply line, a second input coupled to the tank, and an output; and    a pressure regulator in line with the cleaning agent supply line between the first input of the flow control device and the cleaning agent container, the pressure regulator adapted to control a pressure in the cleaning agent supply line.    
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52  including an aerator having an inlet coupled to the output of the flow control device, an outlet, and a gas inlet.  
     
     
         54 . The cleaner of  claim 52 , wherein: 
 the cleaning agent supply line defines a cleaning agent flow path; and    the pressure regulator includes an air inlet port and an air flow path between the inlet port and the cleaning agent flow path.    
     
     
         55 . The cleaner of  claim 54 , wherein the pressure regulator includes a valve operable between an open position in which the airflow path is open and a closed position in which the airflow path is closed.  
     
     
         56 . The cleaner of  claim 54 , wherein the pressure regulator includes a check valve in line with the airflow path.  
     
     
         57 . The cleaner of  claim 52  including a metering device in line with the cleaning agent supply line and between the flow control device and the cleaning agent container.  
     
     
         58 . The cleaner of  claim 57 , wherein the metering device includes an orifice plate having an orifice.  
     
     
         59 . The cleaner of  claim 58 , wherein the orifice has a diameter of 0.010 inches or less.  
     
     
         60 . The cleaner of  claim 57 , wherein the metering device includes a labyrinthine fluid flow path in line with the cleaning agent supply line.  
     
     
         61 . The cleaner of  claim 57 , wherein the metering device includes a needle valve.  
     
     
         62 . The cleaner of  claim 52 , wherein the flow control device includes an injector component configured to receive a flow of cleaning agent through the first input, inject the flow of cleaning agent into a flow of primary cleaning liquid component received through the second input to thereby form a flow of cleaning liquid, and discharge the flow of cleaning liquid through the output.  
     
     
         63 . The cleaner of  claim 62  including a cleaning liquid distributor coupled to the outlet of the flow control device and configured to receive the flow of cleaning liquid and discharge the flow of cleaning liquid to a hard surface.  
     
     
         64 . The cleaner of  claim 62 , wherein the injector component includes a venturi injector.  
     
     
         65 . The cleaner of  claim 52 , wherein the cleaning agent container is collapsible.  
     
     
         66 . The cleaner of  claim 65 , wherein the cleaning agent container includes a collapsible bag.  
     
     
         67 . The cleaner of  claim 65 , wherein the cleaning agent container includes a removable cleaning agent cartridge.  
     
     
         68 . The cleaner of  claim 52 , wherein: 
 the flow control device is configured to receive a flow of cleaning agent at the first input, combine the flow of cleaning agent with a flow of primary cleaning liquid component received at the second input, and discharge a flow of cleaning liquid at the output; and    the aerated is configured to receive the flow of cleaning liquid from the output of the flow control device at the inlet, inject gas into the flow of cleaning liquid through the gas inlet, and discharge an output flow of foamed cleaning liquid through the outlet.    
     
     
         69 . The cleaner of  claim 68  including a cleaning liquid distributor coupled to the outlet of the aerator and configured to receive the flow of foamed cleaning liquid and discharge the flow of foamed cleaning liquid for wetting of a surface.  
     
     
         70 . The cleaner of  claim 69 , wherein the distributor is configured to direct the flow of foamed cleaning liquid directly to a hard floor surface.  
     
     
         71 . The cleaner of  claim 69 , wherein the distributor is configured to direct the flow of foamed cleaning liquid onto or adjacent to a scrubbing member of a motorized scrubber.  
     
     
         72 . The cleaner of  claim 69 , wherein the distributor includes distributing conduit having a first end coupled to the outlet of the aerator, whereby the flow of foamed cleaning liquid discharged through the outlet of the aerator is received by the distributing conduit.  
     
     
         73 . The cleaner of  claim 72 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a section having a plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         74 . The cleaner of  claim 72 , wherein the distributing conduit includes a substantially horizontal section having a closed end and a plurality of apertures in a topside.  
     
     
         75 . The cleaner of  claim 69 , wherein the distributor includes a wand member through which the flow of foamed cleaning liquid is discharged.  
     
     
         76 . The cleaner of  claim 75 , wherein the wand member includes the aerator and a section of tubing connecting the inlet of the aerator to the output of the flow control device.  
     
     
         77 . The cleaner of  claim 68 , wherein the flow of foamed cleaning liquid is proximately 0.5 gallons per minute or less.