Machine for cleaning a fabric workpiece

Claim 2

A machine for cleaning a fabric workpiece, comprising (a) a suction nozzle having a screen for supporting the workpiece horizontally; (b) air blowing means including a motor and a fan; (c) means for connecting said nozzle to the suction side of said air blowing means for drawing air through said nozzle and past said motor for thereby cooling said motor and heating said air; (d) means for connecting the pressure side of said air blowing means to a downwardly directed blowing nozzle situtated above said screen; (e) a tool for applying water to a selected area of the workpiece on the screen, said selected area being substantially smaller than the entire area of the workpiece on the screen; and (f) means for supplying a controlled flow of water under controlled pressure to said tool to control said flow to enable water supplied to said selected area of the workpiece to be rapidly withdrawn through the suction nozzle by said air to inhibit such water from spreading in and splashing on the workpiece beyond said selected area.

Claim 3

A machine according to claim 1, wherein the area of the screen of said suction nozzle is sufficiently small that, in the absence of the workpiece, air flow through the screen will be no less than approximately 7.5 cubic feet per square inch per minute.

Claim 4

A machine according to claim 1, wherein said tool has a face for engaging the workpiece, said face having a central orifice therein surrounded by an imperforate shield portion extending outwardly from the orifice to inhibit outward spreading of water from the orifice when the tool is pressed down against the workpiece.

Claim 5

A portable machine for cleaning a fabric workpiece, comprising: (a) a casing; (b) air blowing means including a motor and a fan mounted in said casing; (c) a suction nozzle projecting from the exterior of said casing and having a horizontally extending screen for supporting the workpiece; (d) means connecting said nozzle to the suction side of said air blowing means for drawing air through said nozzle and past said motor for thereby cooling said motor and heating said air; (e) a downwardly directed blowing nozzle mounted on the exterior of said casing above said screen and connected to the pressure side of said air blowing means; (f) a tool for applying water to a selected area of the workpiece on the screen, said selected area being substantially smaller than the entire area of the workpiece on the screen, said tool having a face for engaging the workpiece, said face forming a shield around an orifice in said face through which the water flows; (g) a water tank and pump mounted in said casing; and (h) means connecting the pressure side of said pump to said tool to supply water to said orifice, including means for controlling the velocity and volume of said water to the orifice to restrict said velocity and volume and enable water supplied to said selected area of the workpiece to be rapidly withdrawn through the suction nozzle by said air to inhibit such water from spreading in or splashing on the workpiece beyond said area.

Claim 6

A portable machine for cleaning a fabric workpiece, comprising: (a) a casing; (b) air blowing means including a motor and a fan mounted in said casing; (c) a suction nozzle projecting from the exterior of said casing and having a horizontally extending screen for supporting the workpiece; (d) means connecting said nozzle to the suction side of said air blowing means for drawing air through said nozzle and past said motor for thereby cooling said motor and heating said air; (e) a downwardly directed blowing nozzle mounted on the exterior of said casing above said screen and connected to the pressure side of said air blowing means; (f) a tool for applying water to a selected area of the workpiece on the screen, said selected area being substantially smaller than the entire area of the workpiece on the screen, said tool having a face for engaging the workpiece, said face forming a shield around an orifice in said face through which the water flows; (g) a water tank and pump mounted in said casing; and (h) means connecting the pressure side of said pump to said tool to supply water to said orifice, including means for controlling the velocity and volume of said water to the orifice to restrict said velocity and volume and enable water supplied to said selected area of the workpiece to be rapidly withdrawn through the suction nozzle by said air to inhibit such water from spreading in or splashing on the workpiece beyond said area.

Claim 7

A machine according to claim 4, wherein said air blowing means delivers approximately 150 cubic feet per minute and the area of said screen is approximately 20 square inches.

Claim 8

A machine according to claim 4, wherein said air blowing means delivers approximately 150 cubic feet per minute and the area of said screen is approximately 9.5 square inches.

Claim 9

A machine according to claim 4, wherein said air blowing means delivers approximately 150 cubic feet per minute and the area of said screen is approximately 5 square inches.

Claim 10

A machine for cleaning a fabric workpiece, comprising (a) a suction nozzle having a screen for supporting the workpiece horizontally; (b) means for connecting said nozzle to the suction side of air blowing means; (c) a tool for applying water to the workpiece on the screen, said tool having a face for engaging the workpiece, said face having a central orifice therein surrounded by a flat imperforate shield portion extending outwardly from the orifice to inhibit outward spreading of water from the orifice when the tool is pressed down against the workpiece; and (d) means for supplying a controlled flow of water under controlled pressure to said tool to restrict said flow to enable water supplied to a selected area of the workpiece to be rapidly withdrawn through the suction nozzle to inhibit such water from spreading in or splashing on the workpiece beyond said area, said selected area being substantially smaller than the entire area of the workpiece on the screen.

Claim 11

A machine for cleaning a fabric workpiece, comprising (a) a suction nozzle having a screen for supporting the workpiece horizontally; (b) means for connecting said nozzle to the suction side of air blowing means; (c) a tool for applying water to the workpiece on the screen, said tool having a face for engaging the workpiece, said face having a central orifice therein surrounded by a flat imperforate shield portion extending outwardly from the orifice to inhibit outward spreading of water from the orifice when the tool is pressed down against the workpiece; and (d) means for supplying a controlled flow of water under controlled pressure to said tool to restrict said flow to enable water supplied to a selected area of the workpiece to be rapidly withdrawn through the suction nozzle to inhibit such water from spreading in or splashing on the workpiece beyond said area, said selected area being substantially smaller than the entire area of the workpiece on the screen.

Claim 12

A machine for cleaning a fabric workpiece, comprising: (a) a suction nozzle having a screen for supporting the workpiece horizontally; (b) means for connecting said nozzle to the suction side of air blowing means; (c) means for connecting the pressure side of said air blowing means to a downwardly directed blowing nozzle situated above said screen; (d) a tool for applying water to a selected area of the workpiece on the screen, said selected area being substantially smaller than the entire area of the workpiece on the screen; and (e) means for supplying a controlled flow of water under controlled pressure to said tool to control said flow to enable water supplied to said selected area of the workpiece to be rapidly withdrawn through the suction nozzle by said air to inhibit such water from spreading in and splashing on the workpiece beyond said selected area.

Claim 13

A machine for cleaning a fabric workpiece, comprising: (a) a suction nozzle having a screen for supporting the workpiece horizontally; (b) means for connecting said nozzle to the suction side of air blowing means; (c) means for connecting the pressure side of said air blowing means to a downwardly directed blowing nozzle situated above said screen; (d) a tool for applying water to a selected area of the workpiece on the screen, said selected area being substantially smaller than the entire area of the workpiece on the screen; and (e) means for supplying a controlled flow of water under controlled pressure to said tool to control said flow to enable water supplied to said selected area of the workpiece to be rapidly withdrawn through the suction nozzle by said air to inhibit such water from spreading in and splashing on the workpiece beyond said selected area.