Reduced liquid consumption cleaning apparatus

Claim 2

A reduced liquid consumption cleaning system, comprising: Means for supplying a cleaning liquid under pressure; Means for supplying a gas under pressure; An enclosure for containing a surface to be cleaned, Means connected to said liquid supply means and said gas supply means for entraining droplets of said cleaning liquid on a stream of said pressurized gas, said entraining means comprising: a first passageway for said pressurized gas; a second passageway for said cleaning liquid, said second passageway being substantially parallel to said first passageway in said entraining means to provide an effective cleaning spray with reduced liquid consumption in said enclosure; and Means connected between said enclosure and said gas supply means for recirculating a portion of said stream of pressurized gas.

Claim 3

A low water consumption shower system for bathing, comprising: Means for supplying water under pressure; Means for supplying air under pressure; An enclosure for containing a surface to be cleaned; Means connected to said water supply means and said air supply means for entraining droplets of water from said water supply means onto a stream of said pressurized air, said entraining means comprising: a first passageway for said pressurized air; a second passageway for said water, said second passageway being substantially parallel to said first passageway in said entraining means; Means connected between an input to said means for supplying a stream of air under pressure and said enclosure to recirculate a portion of air used for cleaning to reduce system energy consumption.

Claim 4

A low water consumption shower system for bathing, comprising: Means for supplying water under pressure; Means for supplying air under pressure; An enclosure for containing a surface to be cleaned; Means connected to said water supply means and said air supply means for entraining droplets of water from said water supply means onto a stream of said pressurized air, said entraining means comprising: a first passageway for said pressurized air; a second passageway for said water, said second passageway being substantially parallel to said first passageway in said entraining means; Means connected between an input to said means for supplying a stream of air under pressure and said enclosure to recirculate a portion of air used for cleaning to reduce system energy consumption.

Claim 5

A reduced liquid consumption cleaning system, comprising: Means for supplying a volume of a cleaning liquid under pressure; Means for supplying a volume of gas under pressure; Means connected to said liquid supply means and said gas supply means for entraining droplets of said liquid on a stream of said pressurized gas, said entraining means comprising: a first passageway for said pressurized gas; terminating in said entraining means and a second passageway for said cleaning liquid, said second passageway whereby said liquid is efficiently entrained on said stream of pressurized gas to reduce liquid consumption being substantially parallel to said first passageway in said entraining means; and valve means connected to one of said supply means for controlling the rate of flow of such supply that the volume of gas issuing from said entraining means is substantially greater than the volume of liquid issuing from said entraining means.

Claim 6

A reduced liquid consumption cleaning system, comprising: Means for supplying a volume of a cleaning liquid under pressure; Means for supplying a volume of gas under pressure; Means connected to said liquid supply means and said gas supply means for entraining droplets of said liquid on a stream of said pressurized gas, said entraining means comprising: a first passageway for said pressurized gas; terminating in said entraining means and a second passageway for said cleaning liquid, said second passageway whereby said liquid is efficiently entrained on said stream of pressurized gas to reduce liquid consumption being substantially parallel to said first passageway in said entraining means; and valve means connected to one of said supply means for controlling the rate of flow of such supply that the volume of gas issuing from said entraining means is substantially greater than the volume of liquid issuing from said entraining means.

Claim 7

A cleaning system according to claim 3, further comprising: means to heat said pressurized gas to increase liquid carrying capacity.

Claim 8

A cleaning system according to claim 3, further comprising: means for mixing liquid from a first source of cleaning liquid with liquid from a second source of cleaning liquid to obtain a cleaning liquid to be entrained on said pressurized gas stream.

Claim 9

A cleaning system according to claim 3, further comprising: means for containing a surface to be cleaned.

Claim 10

A reduced liquid consumption cleaning system according to claim 3 wherein said volume of gas is at least one hundred times said volume of liquid.

Claim 11

A reduced liquid consumption cleaning system according to claim 3 wherein the ratio of said volume of gas to said volume of liquid is in the range of five hundred to five thousand.

Claim 12

A low water consumption shower bathing system comprising: Means for supplying a volume of water under pressure; Means for supplying a volume of air under pressure: Means connected to said water supply means and said air supply means for entraining droplets of water from said water supply means onto a stream of said pressurized air, said entraining means comprising: a first passageway for said pressurized air; a second passageway for said water, said second passageway terminating in said entraining mean and being substantially parallel to said first passageway in said entraining means whereby said liquid is efficiently entrained on said stream of pressurized gas to reduce liquid consumption.

Claim 13

A low water consumption shower bathing system comprising: Means for supplying a volume of water under pressure; Means for supplying a volume of air under pressure: Means connected to said water supply means and said air supply means for entraining droplets of water from said water supply means onto a stream of said pressurized air, said entraining means comprising: a first passageway for said pressurized air; a second passageway for said water, said second passageway terminating in said entraining mean and being substantially parallel to said first passageway in said entraining means whereby said liquid is efficiently entrained on said stream of pressurized gas to reduce liquid consumption.

Claim 14

A shower bathing system according to claim 9, further comprising: means for controlling temperature and flow rate of water through said means for supplying water.

Claim 15

A shower bathing system according to claim 9, further comprising: means for heating said air stream.

Claim 16

A shower bathing system according to claim 9, further comprising: a bathing enclosure.

Claim 17

A shower bathing system according to claim 9 wherein: said means for supplying water comprises a source of hot water, a source of cold water and a temperature control valve for mixing said hot and said cold water; said means for supplying a stream of air under pressure comprises an air compressor with an air intake connected to a bathing enclosure, an air output connected to a flexible air tube; switch means for controlling the application of power to said air compressor; and said means for entraining droplets of water comprises an adjustable nozzle having a centrally mounted tube for emitting water and a passage for said air stream said passage being substantially parallel to said centrally mounted tube.

Claim 18

A low water consumption shower bathing system according to claim 9 wherein said volume of air is at least one hundred times said volume of water.