Conversion attachment for a wet-dry vacuum cleaner

Claim 1

For use with a source of water under pressure and a wet-dry vacuum cleaner having a recovery tank with an inlet and an outlet and means for selectively vacuumizing said tank, said cleaner further having a vacuum conduit connected to said inlet and a wand connected to said conduit, said wand having a cleaning head at its lower end with said head including a vacuum nozzle connected through said wand and conduit to said inlet; a conversion attachment for said vacuum cleaner and comprising: (a) a substitute wand connectable to said vacuum conduit to form a suction line therewith and with said wand having a substitute cleaning head with a vacuum nozzle, (b) liquid discharge means mounted on said substitute cleaning head, (c) a water line connected to said liquid discharge means and adapted for connection with said source of water, (d) an assembly inserted in said water line, said assembly including a detergent container and also including liquid flow control means for dispensing detergent into said water line when water is flowing therethrough from the water source, (e) means for mounting said assembly to said suction line, (f) means disposed on said liquid flow control means for connecting the latter into said water line to thereby divide the latter into inlet and outlet line portions, (g) a detergent line connected between the interior of said detergent container and said liquid flow control means, (h) said liquid flow control means being constructed to selectively dispense pressurized water and detergent through said outlet line portion to said liquid discharge means on said substitute cleaning head, said liquid flow control means comprising: (1) a member forming a valve body having: (A) a water inlet port connectable to said inlet line portion, (B) a detergent inlet port connected to said detergent line, (C) and a liquid outlet port connectable to said outlet line portion, (2) said ports being positioned so that said detergent inlet port is disposed between said water inlet port and said liquid outlet port, (3) a tubular valve member shorter than and slideably disposed in said valve body, said valve member having an inlet opening in its wall which is selectively registrable with said water inlet port, and having an inner head end having a discharge passageway disposed therein which faces said liquid outlet port, (4) said valve member being movable longitudinally in said valve body between: (A) a retracted position wherein said inlet opening registers with said water inlet port and said head end terminates longitudinally outwardly of said liquid outlet port to form a metering chamber communicating with said detergent inlet port, said discharge passageway and said liquid outlet port, (B) and an extended position wherein the valve member wall blocks said water and detergent inlet ports and said metering chamber is replaced by the said head end of the valve member, (5) and means to move said valve member between said retracted and extended positions to thereby control the flow of liquid from said outlet port to said liquid discharge means of said substitute cleaning head, (i) the construction being such that, upon actuation of said liquid flow control means of said assembly and said tank vacuumizing means of said cleaner, a mixture of water and detergent liquid is discharged through said liquid discharge means onto the surface to be cleaned and subsequently removed to the said recovery tank of said cleaner.