FLEXIBLE PICKUP LIPS FOR USE WITH FIXED VACUUM SHOES ON SELF-CONTAINED AND PROPELLED CARPET CLEANING EQUIPMENT
An improved vacuum shoe for use on a self-propelled cleaning apparatus is disclosed. Specifically, the vacuum shoe may have a gliding member either integral or connected to the shoe housing. The gliding member is designed to decrease the drag coefficient of the vacuum shoe as it traverses a surface thereby increasing the machine's efficiency and decreasing the amount of required operating power.
1 . A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising:
a self-propelled chassis;
a vacuum shoe interconnected to the chassis, the vacuum shoe comprising a housing having a first end and a second end with a vacuum chamber therebetween, the first end being adapted to interface with a vacuum source; and
a gliding member interconnected to the second end of the housing, the gliding member comprising an outer surface that has at least one radius of curvature.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the gliding member intersects a surface to be cleaned at an angle of intersection that is between about 5° and about 80°.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the outer surface comprises a smooth transition that extends away from the surface to be cleaned.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gliding member is operable to be selectively attached to and detached from the housing without requiring a disassembly of the gliding member and the housing.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is a vacuum motor and wherein the vacuum motor is interconnected to the chassis.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gliding member comprises a series of at least one of slots and holes that allow debris of less than a predetermined size to pass through to the vacuum chamber.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radius of curvature is greater than about 0.5 inches.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gliding member comprises at least one of Teflon, polyvinylchloride, and Delrin.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the chassis is adapted for seating of an operator.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gliding member comprises a fluid passageway having a proximal end for receiving a fluid and a distal end for delivering the fluid to a surface to be cleaned.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the proximal end is adapted to interface with a fluid supply line that delivers the fluid from a fluid source to the gliding member.
12 . A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising:
a self-propelled chassis;
a vacuum shoe interconnected to the chassis, the vacuum shoe comprising a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being adapted to interface with a means for creating a pressure gradient between the proximal end and the distal end; and
a means for gliding in communication with the distal end of the housing, the means for gliding comprising an outer surface that has at least one radius of curvature.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the outer surface of the means for gliding intersects a surface to be cleaned at an angle of intersection that is between about 5° and about 80°.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the outer surface comprises a smooth transition that extends away from the point where the means for gliding intersects the surface.
15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the means for gliding is operable to be selectively attached to and detached from the housing without requiring a disassembly of the means for gliding and the housing.
16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the means for creating is a vacuum motor and wherein the vacuum motor is interconnected to the chassis.
17 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the means for gliding comprises a series of at least one of slots and holes that allow debris of less than a predetermined size to pass through to the vacuum chamber.
18 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the radius of curvature is greater than about 0.5 inches.
19 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the means for gliding comprises at least one of Teflon, polyvinylchloride, and Delrin.
20 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the chassis is adapted for seating of an operator.
21 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the means for gliding comprises a means for delivering a fluid to a surface to be cleaned.
22 . A method, comprising:
applying at least a first fluid to a surface to be cleaned;
agitating the surface to be cleaned;
generating a suction at a vacuum shoe interconnected to a self-propelled cleaning machine, wherein the vacuum shoe is equipped with a gliding member, and wherein the gliding member comprises an outer surface that comprises at least a first radius of curvature; and
passing the gliding member across the surface to be cleaned.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the outer surface of the gliding member intersects the surface to be cleaned at an angle of intersection that is between about 5° and about 80°.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the outer surface comprises a smooth transition that extends away from the point where the gliding member intersects the surface.
25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
removing the gliding member from the vacuum shoe without disassembling the gliding member and the vacuum shoe; and
after removing the gliding member, reattaching the gliding member to the vacuum shoe.
26 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the suction is generated by a vacuum motor and wherein the vacuum motor is interconnected to the cleaning machine.
27 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the gliding member comprises a series of at least one of slots and holes that allow debris of less than a predetermined size to pass through to the vacuum chamber.
28 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the radius of curvature is greater than about 0.5 inches.
29 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the gliding member comprises at least one of Teflon, polyvinylchloride, and Delrin.
30 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
an operator of the cleaning machine, sitting on the cleaning machine and controlling the direction of travel of the cleaning machine.
31 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising supplying a fluid to the surface to be cleaned via the gliding member.