Carpet cleaning machine with improved system for removing dirty material

Claim 2

In a carpet cleaning machine including (a) a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth having a mouth area, and (b) a vacuum motor for drawing air through the separator, the improvement comprising: a first air flow guide spaced inwardly from the mouth and including a first aperture having a first area less than the mouth area; and a second air flow guide fixed with respect to the first guide and including a second aperture having a second area less than the first area; and wherein: the flow guides include a cavity therebetween for capturing dirty material removed from a carpet and entering the first aperture, thereby causing the dirty material to fall along a path spaced from the exit mouth when the vacuum motor is turned off.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 wherein: the separator includes a neck portion terminated by the mouth; and the first guide includes a first guide portion extending into the neck portion.

Claim 4

The machine of claim 2 wherein the second guide includes a second guide portion extending into the neck portion.

Claim 5

The machine of claim 2 wherein the guides are made of transparent material.

Claim 6

The machine of claim 1 wherein: the separator and the guides are coincident with an axis; air flows through the separator and the guides in a first direction; and the first guide includes a first transition portion tapered inwardly toward the axis in a second direction.

Claim 7

The machine of claim 5 wherein the second guide includes a second transition portion tapered inwardly toward the axis in a second direction.

Claim 8

The machine of claim 5 wherein the guides are made of transparent material.

Claim 9

The machine of claim 1 wherein: the separator and the guides are coincident with an axis; the machine includes a pocket coincident with the axis; and a filter is in the pocket.

Claim 10

In a carpet cleaning machine, a method for removing dirty material from air flowing through a centrifugal separator toward a filter in downstream series with the separator, and wherein the separator terminates in an upper neck portion, the method including the steps of: providing first and second flow guides spaced inwardly from the neck portion and having a cavity therebetween; flowing air-entrained dirty material into the separator; capturing a portion of the dirty material in the cavity; and releasing the dirty material in the cavity to fall along a path spaced inwardly from the neck portion.

Claim 11

In a carpet cleaning machine, a method for removing dirty material from air flowing through a centrifugal separator toward a filter in downstream series with the separator, and wherein the separator terminates in an upper neck portion, the method including the steps of: providing first and second flow guides spaced inwardly from the neck portion and having a cavity therebetween; flowing air-entrained dirty material into the separator; capturing a portion of the dirty material in the cavity; and releasing the dirty material in the cavity to fall along a path spaced inwardly from the neck portion.

Claim 12

In a carpet cleaning machine including a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth having a mouth area, the improvement comprising: a first air flow guide fixed with respect to the mouth and including a first aperture having a first area; a second air flow guide fixed with respect to the first guide and including a second aperture having a second area less than the first area; a cavity between the first and second guides for capturing dirty material removed from a carpet and entering the first aperture; and wherein: the separator includes a neck portion terminated by the mouth; and the first guide includes a first guide portion extending into the neck portion.

Claim 13

In a carpet cleaning machine including a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth having a mouth area, the improvement comprising: a first air flow guide fixed with respect to the mouth and including a first aperture having a first area; a second air flow guide fixed with respect to the first guide and including a second aperture having a second area less than the first area; a cavity between the first and second guides for capturing dirty material removed from a carpet and entering the first aperture; and wherein: the separator includes a neck portion terminated by the mouth; and the first guide includes a first guide portion extending into the neck portion.

Claim 14

The machine of claim 10 wherein the second guide includes a second guide portion extending into the neck portion.

Claim 15

The machine of claim 10 wherein the guides are made of transparent material.

Claim 16

In a carpet cleaning machine including a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth having a mouth area, the improvement comprising: a first air flow guide fixed with respect to the mouth and including a first aperture having a first area; a second air flow guide fixed with respect to the first guide and including a second aperture having a second area less than the first area; and wherein: the separator and the guides are coincident with an axis; air flows through the separator and the guides in a first direction; and the first guide includes a first transition portion tapered inwardly toward the axis in a second direction.

Claim 17

In a carpet cleaning machine including a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth having a mouth area, the improvement comprising: a first air flow guide fixed with respect to the mouth and including a first aperture having a first area; a second air flow guide fixed with respect to the first guide and including a second aperture having a second area less than the first area; and wherein: the separator and the guides are coincident with an axis; air flows through the separator and the guides in a first direction; and the first guide includes a first transition portion tapered inwardly toward the axis in a second direction.

Claim 18

The machine of claim 13 wherein the second guide includes a second transition portion tapered inwardly toward the axis in a second direction.

Claim 19

The machine of claim 13 wherein at least one of the guides is made of transparent material.

Claim 20

In a carpet cleaning machine including a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth having a mouth area, the improvement comprising: a first air flow guide fixed with respect to the mouth and including a first aperture having a first area; a second air flow guide fixed with respect to the first guide and including a second aperture having a second area less than the first area; a cavity between the first and second guides for capturing dirty material removed from a carpet and entering the first aperture; and wherein: the separator includes a neck portion terminated by the mouth; and the first guide includes a first guide portion extending into the neck portion; and wherein the machine further includes (a) counter-revolving first and second carpet cleaning members for removing dirty material from a carpet, and (b) a vacuum nozzle between the cleaning members for directing the dirty material to the separator, and wherein: the nozzle includes a first surface toward the first member; the first member has a radius of curvature; the first surface has a radius of curvature; and the radius of curvature of the first surface is greater than the radius of curvature of the first member.

Claim 21

In a carpet cleaning machine including a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth having a mouth area, the improvement comprising: a first air flow guide fixed with respect to the mouth and including a first aperture having a first area; a second air flow guide fixed with respect to the first guide and including a second aperture having a second area less than the first area; a cavity between the first and second guides for capturing dirty material removed from a carpet and entering the first aperture; and wherein: the separator includes a neck portion terminated by the mouth; and the first guide includes a first guide portion extending into the neck portion; and wherein the machine further includes (a) counter-revolving first and second carpet cleaning members for removing dirty material from a carpet, and (b) a vacuum nozzle between the cleaning members for directing the dirty material to the separator, and wherein: the nozzle includes a first surface toward the first member; the first member has a radius of curvature; the first surface has a radius of curvature; and the radius of curvature of the first surface is greater than the radius of curvature of the first member.

Claim 22

In a carpet cleaning machine including a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth having a mouth area, the improvement comprising: a first air flow guide fixed with respect to the mouth and including a first aperture having a first area; a second air flow guide fixed with respect to the first guide and including a second aperture having a second area less than the first area; and wherein: the separator and the guides are coincident with an axis; air flows through the separator and the guides in a first direction; and the first guide includes a first transition portion tapered inwardly toward the axis in a second direction; and wherein the machine further includes (a) counter-revolving first and second carpet cleaning members for removing dirty material from a carpet, and (b) a vacuum nozzle between the cleaning members for directing the dirty material to the separator, and wherein: the nozzle includes a first surface toward the first member; the first member has a radius of curvature; the first surface has a radius of curvature; and the radius of curvature of the first surface is greater than the radius of curvature of the first member.

Claim 23

In a carpet cleaning machine including a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth having a mouth area, the improvement comprising: a first air flow guide fixed with respect to the mouth and including a first aperture having a first area; a second air flow guide fixed with respect to the first guide and including a second aperture having a second area less than the first area; and wherein: the separator and the guides are coincident with an axis; air flows through the separator and the guides in a first direction; and the first guide includes a first transition portion tapered inwardly toward the axis in a second direction; and wherein the machine further includes (a) counter-revolving first and second carpet cleaning members for removing dirty material from a carpet, and (b) a vacuum nozzle between the cleaning members for directing the dirty material to the separator, and wherein: the nozzle includes a first surface toward the first member; the first member has a radius of curvature; the first surface has a radius of curvature; and the radius of curvature of the first surface is greater than the radius of curvature of the first member.