Extraction cleaner

Abstract

An extraction cleaner may include a base, an upright body pivotally coupled to the base, a supply tank for supplying cleaning fluid to the base or a cleaning tool coupled to a hose, a recovery tank removably coupled to the upright body for recovering the cleaning fluid and/or debris through at least one inlet at the base and at least one inlet at the cleaning tool. A suction changeover valve may include a valve drive arrangement coupled between the base and the upright body to automatically provide suction at the cleaning tool when the upright body is in an upright position relative to the base, and suction at the base with the upright body is in a reclined position relative to the base. A diverter valve may be provided in the base and may be coupled to a diverter valve switch, such as a diverter valve switch in contact with the surface to be cleaned, for automatically directing suction to a nozzle when the base is moved in a rearward direction and to a suction inlet in an agitator chamber when the base is moved in a forward direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An extraction cleaner comprising:
 a base;   an agitator chamber defined by the base;   an agitator disposed in the agitator chamber for agitating the surface to be cleaned;   at least one base fluid dispensing nozzle coupled to the base, the at least one base fluid dispensing nozzle being configured for distributing a fluid directly or indirectly onto a surface to be cleaned;   a nozzle suction inlet disposed at a bottom of the base and forward of the agitator chamber;   a recovery tank; and   a diverter valve, the diverter valve comprising
 a nozzle inlet port in fluid communication with the nozzle suction inlet through a nozzle airflow path, 
 a chamber inlet port in fluid communication with a chamber suction inlet within the agitator chamber, and 
 an outlet port coupled to a base airflow path, 
   the diverter valve having a nozzle suction state wherein the outlet port is fluidly coupled to the nozzle inlet port for receiving recovered fluid from the surface to be cleaned through the nozzle suction inlet and into the recovery tank and chamber suction state wherein the output port is fluidly coupled to the chamber inlet port for receiving chamber debris from the agitator chamber through the chamber suction inlet and into the recovery tank.   
     
     
         2 . The extraction cleaner according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a diverter valve switch having a nozzle switch state when the base is moved in a rearward direction and a chamber switch state when the base is moved in a forward direction, 
 the diverter valve being responsive to the diverter valve switch, whereby when the diverter valve switch is in the nozzle switch state the diverter valve is in the nozzle suction state and when the diverter valve switch is in the chamber switch state the diverter valve is in the chamber suction state. 
 
     
     
         3 . The extraction cleaner according to  claim 2  further comprising:
 a first status switch having a first status switch nozzle suction state and a first status switch chamber suction state; and 
 a second status switch having a second status switch nozzle suction state and a second status switch chamber suction state, 
 wherein when the diverter valve switch is in the nozzle switch state the first status switch is placed in the first status switch nozzle suction state and the second status switch is placed in the second status switch nozzle suction state, and 
 wherein when the diverter valve switch is in the chamber switch state the first status switch is placed in the first status switch chamber suction state and the second status switch is placed in the second status switch chamber suction state. 
 
     
     
         4 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the diverter valve switch comprises:
 a body rotatably mounted relative to the diverter valve,   whereby movement of the base in the rearward direction causes rotation of the body to place the diverter valve switch in the nozzle switch state and movement of the base in the forward direction causes rotation of the body to place the diverter valve switch in the chamber switch state.   
     
     
         5 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein the diverter valve switch comprises:
 a floor contacting member extending downwardly from the body,   the floor contacting member being positioned to contact the surface to be cleaned to cause the rotation of the body to place the diverter valve switch in the nozzle switch state and the rotation of the body to place the diverter valve switch in the chamber switch state.   
     
     
         6 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein the diverter valve switch comprises:
 a valve interface comprising a first link arm having a first end coupled to the body and a second link arm having a first end coupled to a second end of the first link arm, the second link arm having a second end coupled to a door of the diverter valve.   
     
     
         7 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein the body comprises:
 a hammer positioned to place the first status switch in the first status switch nozzle suction state or a first status switch chamber suction state upon movement of the base in the rearward direction; and   an extension configured to place the second status switch in the second status switch nozzle suction state or the second status switch chamber suction state upon movement of the base in the forward direction.   
     
     
         8 . The extraction cleaner according to  claim 7  further comprising:
 a plunger positioned adjacent the hammer; 
 and a carriage positioned adjacent the extension, 
 wherein the hammer is configured to contact the plunger to place the first status switch in the first status switch nozzle suction state or the first status switch chamber suction state upon movement of the base in the rearward direction, and 
 the extension is configured to contact the carriage to place the second status switch in the second status switch nozzle suction state or the second status switch chamber suction state upon movement of the base in the forward direction. 
 
     
     
         9 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter valve comprises:
 a door rotatably disposed in a central cavity for movement between a nozzle suction position and a chamber suction position,   wherein when the door is in the nozzle suction position the outlet port is fluidly coupled to the nozzle inlet port and when the door is in the chamber suction position the outlet port is fluidly coupled to the chamber inlet port.   
     
     
         10 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the diverter valve comprises
 a first shelf and a second shelf in the central cavity,   wherein a first side of the door is positioned against the first shelf when the door is in the nozzle suction position, and   wherein a second side of the door is positioned against the second shelf when the door is in the chamber suction position.   
     
     
         11 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the door has a triangular shape and is rotatably disposed in the central cavity for rotation about an axis adjacent an apex of the triangular shape. 
     
     
         12 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter valve has a front wall, and wherein the chamber inlet port is provided through the front wall. 
     
     
         13 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the front wall is removably disposed in an opening in a portion of the rear wall of the agitator chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The extraction cleaner according to  claim 1  further comprising
 a flexible hose; 
 a cleaning tool coupled to the flexible hose; 
 at least one cleaning tool fluid dispensing nozzle coupled to the cleaning tool, the at least one cleaning tool fluid dispensing nozzle configured for distributing a second fluid directly or indirectly onto a target surface; and 
 a cleaning tool suction inlet disposed at a bottom of the cleaning tool and configured for positioning adjacent the target surface. 
 
     
     
         15 . The extraction cleaner according to  claim 14  further comprising:
 a suction changeover valve, the suction changeover valve comprising:
 a base inlet port fluidly coupled to the diverter valve, 
 a cleaning tool inlet port fluidly coupled to the cleaning tool suction inlet, and 
 a suction valve outlet port fluidly coupled to the recovery tank, 
 
 the suction changeover valve having a base suction state wherein the suction valve outlet port is fluidly coupled to the base inlet port for receiving recovered fluid from the surface to be cleaned or chamber debris through the diverter valve and into the recovery tank and a cleaning tool suction state wherein the suction valve outlet port is fluidly coupled to the cleaning tool suction inlet for receiving recovered fluid from the target surface through the cleaning tool inlet port and into the recovery tank. 
 
     
     
         16 . The extraction cleaner according to  claim 15  further comprising:
 an upright body pivotally coupled to the base, the suction changeover valve being disposed in the upright body; and 
 a valve drive arrangement coupled between the base and the suction changeover valve, the valve drive arrangement comprising:
 a drive gear coupled to the suction changeover valve, 
 a sequential cam fixed to the base, the sequential cam comprising at least two cams disposed at different positions across a width of the sequential cam, and 
 a cam sector gear rotationally coupled between the sequential cam and the drive gear, the cam sector gear comprising at least two cam followers disposed at different positions across a width of the cam sector gear, 
 wherein upon rotation of the upright body relative to the base, the at least two cams engage the at least two cam followers to cause rotation of the cam sector gear and the drive gear to move the suction changeover valve to the base suction state or the cleaning tool suction state. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The extraction cleaner according to  claim 16 , wherein the suction changeover valve is moved to the base suction state by the engagement of the at least two cams and the at least two cam followers when the upright body is reclined to a first angle relative to an upright position of the upright body relative to the base and is moved to the cleaning tool suction state when upright body is returned to a second angle relative to the upright position. 
     
     
         18 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two cams are disposed on a bottom of the cam sector gear and a plurality of teeth are provided on the top of the cam sector gear, and wherein the teeth are in meshing engagement with teeth on the drive gear. 
     
     
         19 . The extraction cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the drive gear is coupled to a plug of the suction changeover valve, whereby rotation of the drive gear rotates the plug between a base suction position wherein the suction changeover valve is in the base suction state and a cleaning tool suction position wherein the suction changeover valve is in the cleaning tool suction state. 
     
     
         20 . An extraction cleaner comprising:
 a base;   an upright body pivotally coupled to the base;   an agitator chamber defined by the base;   an agitator disposed in the agitator chamber for agitating the surface to be cleaned;   at least one base fluid dispensing nozzle coupled to the base, the at least one base fluid dispensing nozzle being configured for distributing a fluid directly or indirectly onto a surface to be cleaned;   a nozzle suction inlet disposed at a bottom of the base and forward of the agitator chamber;   a recovery tank;   a flexible hose;   a cleaning tool coupled to the flexible hose;   at least one cleaning tool fluid dispensing nozzle coupled to the cleaning tool, the at least one cleaning tool fluid dispensing nozzle configured for distributing a second fluid directly or indirectly onto a target surface;   a cleaning tool suction inlet disposed at a bottom of the cleaning tool and configured for positioning adjacent the target surface;   a suction changeover valve disposed in the upright body, the suction changeover valve comprising:
 a base inlet port fluidly coupled a base airflow path, 
 a cleaning tool inlet port fluidly coupled to the cleaning tool suction inlet, and 
 a suction valve outlet port fluidly coupled to the recovery tank, 
   the suction changeover valve having a base suction state wherein the suction valve outlet port is fluidly coupled to the base inlet port for receiving recovered fluid and debris from the base airflow path into the recovery tank and a cleaning tool suction state wherein the suction valve outlet port is fluidly coupled to the cleaning tool suction inlet for receiving recovered fluid and debris from the target surface through the cleaning tool inlet port and into the recovery tank; and   a valve drive arrangement coupled between the base and the suction changeover valve, the valve drive arrangement comprising:
 a drive gear coupled to the suction changeover valve, 
 a sequential cam fixed to the base, the sequential cam comprising at least two cams disposed at different positions across a width of the sequential cam, and 
 a cam sector gear rotationally coupled between the sequential cam and the drive gear, the cam sector gear comprising at least two cam followers disposed at different positions across a width of the cam sector gear, 
 wherein upon rotation of the upright body relative to the base, the at least two cams engage the at least two cam followers to cause rotation of the cam sector gear and the drive gear to move the suction changeover valve to the base suction state or the cleaning tool suction state.