초록 ▼

An apparatus and method, particularly adapted to clean fabrics, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a generally hollow head having two foam mixing chambers in close proximity to a vacuum chamber. Foam is generated adjacent the fabric to be cleaned by admixing pressurized air and a liquid foam-produ

An apparatus and method, particularly adapted to clean fabrics, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a generally hollow head having two foam mixing chambers in close proximity to a vacuum chamber. Foam is generated adjacent the fabric to be cleaned by admixing pressurized air and a liquid foam-producing agent in the two mixing chambers. The air pressure directs the foam from the second mixing chamber towards the fabric. Two screens are used to control the consistency and application of the foam. Suction is simultaneously provided in the vacuum chamber, so that the foam is rapidly and continuously recovered. A brush means is positioned between the second mixing chamber and the vacuum chamber to further agitate the foam and fabric to be cleaned, and to help create a partial pressure when the moving foam is applied to the surface of a fabric.

대표청구항 ▼

In a fabric cleaning apparatus having a generally hollow head defining a cleaning agent chamber with a bottom opening for applying a cleaning agent to a fabric to be cleaned, and a vacuum chamber with a bottom opening positioned forward of the cleaning agent chamber for generating suction to remove

In a fabric cleaning apparatus having a generally hollow head defining a cleaning agent chamber with a bottom opening for applying a cleaning agent to a fabric to be cleaned, and a vacuum chamber with a bottom opening positioned forward of the cleaning agent chamber for generating suction to remove the cleaning agent from the fabric, the improvement comprising: the cleaning agent chamber having a first mixing chamber and a second mixing chamber, the second mixing chamber including the bottom opening of the cleaning agent chamber; means for providing a cleaning solution to the first mixing chamber; means for providing pressurized air to the first mixing chamber; means for controlling the delivery of the cleaning solution and pressurized air to the first mixing chamber so that the cleaning solution and pressurized air admix to generate foam; first screen means, adjacent the first mixing chamber through which the foam is expressed into the second mixing chamber, for regulating the consistency of the foam; second screen means, adjacent the bottom opening of the second mixing chamber through which the foam is expelled towards the fabric to be cleaned, for the regulating the consistency of the foam; a plurality of non-rotating brush bristles positioned between the second mixing chamber bottom opening and the suction chamber bottom opening; and the suction and pressurized air cooperating, when the bottom of the head is applied to a fabric, to move the foam rapidly and continuously under partial pressure from the second mixing chamber bottom opening, across the fabric, between and over the brush bristles, and into the vacuum chamber bottom opening so that the rapidly moving foam and brush bristles combine to agitate, release, and suspend dirt from the fabric into the foam which is removed by the suction. A method for cleaning fabric comprising: continuously generating foam under positive pressure at a point adjacent to the fabric to be cleaned; continuously propelling the foam under positive pressure against the fabric to be cleaned so that foam bubbles compress against the fabric under the positive pressure; continuously and concurrently removing the foam from the fabric by suction so that the foam bubbles expand under the negative pressure of the suction; and moving the foam rapidly and continuously across the surface of the fabric between the point of foam generating and suction and under partial pressure resulting from the continuous positive pressure on the foam and the suction, and without rotating brush means.