Kit for a surface cleaning device

Abstract

A cylindrical brush configured for depositing a fluid on a surface to be cleaned, a kit containing the cylindrical brush, and a method for cleaning a surface with a foam cleaning device. The cylindrical brush includes a perforated hollow cylindrical core configured to accept a fluid from a fluid source to the central portion of the brush, porous pad, or porous felt. Bristles, a porous pad, or a porous felt are attached to the perforated hollow cylindrical core, wherein the bristles, porous pad, or porous felt are configured for contacting a surface to be cleaned.

Description

Docket No: 77834. W1KIT FOR A SURFACE CLEANING DEVICETECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure is related to surface cleaning devices and in particular to kits adapted to be used with surface cleaning devices to improve the performance of cylindrical cleaning machines.BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventional carpet cleaning machines remove a majority of soil in the carpets by conventional dry vacuuming, but oily or sticky soil can leave the carpet dull and unattractive. Conventional surface cleaning machines with cylindrical cleaning pads or brushes use liquid gravity feed or a spray solution systems to deliver the cleaning, rinsing, or other fluids to the floor surface or to the exterior surfaces of the brushes, paddles, or pads. In the case of a liquid cleaner, the brushes, paddles, or pads are used to agitate the flooring or surface material to be cleaned. The problem with gravity feed and spray systems is the variability of application to the surface to be cleaned which causes dry spots, inconsistent fluid delivery, and some overflooding of fluids on the surface. As a result, the conventional gravity-feed and spray systems provide inconsistent cleaning, excess fluid usage, over or under-wetting of the surfaces to be cleaned, and additional labor for recleaning and correction.

[0003] A variety of cleaning techniques using surface cleaning machines are known including wet cleaning and encapsulation cleaning techniques. Wet cleaning methods have a number of drawbacks. For example, wet cleaning usually takes an extra day for the solution to dry prior to a separate vacuuming step. Also, wet cleaning may leave a sticky detergent residue which can attract soil. The residue from wet cleaning is known to re-soil the carpet faster as new dirt sticks to the detergent residue causing accelerated wear and visual deterioration of the carpet.

[0004] Based on carpet cleaning experience, encapsulation carpet cleaning is proven to result in a preferred aesthetic appearance compared to traditional carpet cleaning methods, keeping the carpet looking cleaner for longer periods of time. Encapsulation cleaning involves the application of an encapsulation solution to the carpet by gravity feed or by spraying a liquid solution on the carpet. The encapsulation solution is a low moisture cleaner that includes water soluble polymers that encapsulate and crystallize around soil particles to promote easy removal byDocket No: 77834. W1 vacuuming. Detergents in the encapsulation solution break the bond of the soil with the fiber along with agitation to release the soil from the carpet / fabric and the encapsulating polymers surround and hold the dirt and soil with a dry shell coating to be vacuumed out, while leaving additional soil protection on the carpet / fibers to provide extended soil resistance.

[0005] Encapsulation cleaning solutions may also be used to spray a pre-generated dry foam to the carpet or exterior surface of the brushes that is rubbed onto and into the carpet by brushes, paddles, or pads. The gravity or spray techniques, whether liquid or dry foam, only cover the fiber surface area that the droplets touch according to a random deposition or spray pattern that is affected by the volume of fluid, direction and consistency of deposition of the fluid, and the speed that the fluid is applied to areas to be cleaned. The problem with spraying a pre-generated dry foam to a carpet is that the dry foam is not sufficient to break a bond between the soil and the carpet fibers, because the foams sits mainly on the top surface of the carpet and the brushes, paddles, or pad push the dry foam across the fiber surface and across the carpet face with a minimum amount of cleaning solution. Accordingly, the dry foam only makes contact with the surface of the carpet and does not adequately penetrate the fibers or the soil in the carpet in a consist manner and with enough dwell time to release the soil effectively. Encapsulation cleaning provides for faster cleaning and drying times compared to wet cleaning methods. The crystallization process used in encapsulation typically leaves no soil attraction residue on the carpet fibers. In view of the foregoing, what is needed is a more consistent fluid delivery system and device that improves the effectiveness of cleaning a surface without leaving unwanted residues and without increasing the time and labor required for cleaning.SUMMARY

[0006] An embodiment of the disclosure provides a cylindrical brush configured for depositing a fluid on a surface to be cleaned as the cylindrical brush rotates. The cylindrical brush has a perforated hollow cylindrical core configured to accept a fluid from a fluid source and bristles, a porous pad, or a porous felt attached to the perforated hollow cylindrical core that are configured for contacting a surface to be cleaned.

[0007] In another embodiment there is provided a kit configured for use with a surface cleaning device. The kit a cylindrical brush having a perforated hollow cylindrical core configured to accept a fluid from a fluid source; bristles, a porous pad, or a porous felt attached to theDocket No: 77834. W1 perforated hollow cylindrical core, wherein the bristles, porous pad, or porous felt are configured for contacting a surface to be cleaned; and a fluid supply in fluid flow communication with the perforated hollow cylindrical core.

[0008] Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a method for cleaning a surface with a foam cleaning device. The method includes providing a cylindrical brush having a perforated hollow cylindrical core configured to accept a fluid from a fluid source, wherein the cylindrical brush has bristles, a porous pad, or a porous felt attached to the perforated hollow cylindrical core for contacting a surface to be cleaned. A fluid supply is provided in fluid flow communication with the perforated hollow cylindrical core. Fluid flows from the fluid supply to the perforated hollow cylindrical core along a length of the perforated hollow cylindrical core as the cylindrical brush rotates in order to cause fluid to flow from the perforated hollow core through the bristles, porous pad, or porous felt and onto the surface to be cleaned. The fluid on the surface is agitated with the cylindrical brush as the fluid is deposited onto the surface to be cleaned to create a cleaning foam at a point of contact between the cylindrical brush and the surface to be cleaned as the cylindrical brush rotates.

[0009] In some embodiments, there is provided a liquid feed connection to the perforated hollow cylindrical core.

[0010] In some embodiments, the perforated hollow cylindrical core is made of a material selected from a plastic material and a metal material. In other embodiments a perforated metal cylindrical conduit is disposed within the perforated hollow cylindrical core and a liquid feed connection is provided for the perforated cylindrical conduit. In still other embodiments, the perforated metal cylindrical core has a hexagonal axle attached to at lease one end thereof that is mated to a hexagonal insert in the perforated hollow core and is configured for rotating the cylindrical brush.

[0011] In some embodiments, the kit includes two or more cylindrical brushes.

[0012] In some embodiments, the kit includes a vacuum attachment in fluid flow communication with a vacuum pump, wherein the vacuum attachment is configured for removing dirt or foam from a surface. In other embodiments, the vacuum attachment is a vacuum head having squeegee selected from a stiff squeegee for soft surfaces and a flexible squeegee for hard surfaces. In still other embodiments, the vacuum attachment has a vacuum head having at least one grooved surface adjacent to the surface to be cleaned.Docket No: 77834. W1

[0013] In some embodiments, a vacuum attachment is attached to the surface cleaning device in fluid flow communication with a vacuum pump, and when activated the vacuum pump removes debris and / or cleaning foam from the surface.

[0014] In some embodiments, the surface cleaning device is selected from a walk behind scrubber, auto- scrubber, a vacuum device, an extractor device, a ride on vacuum, scrubber or cleaning device, a manually operated or robot cleaning system for home, commercial or industrial surface cleaning use.

[0015] A primary advantage of the disclosure is that it provides a device that delivers consistent effective amounts of fluids onto a surface to be cleaned and generates foam at the point of liquid delivery to the surface by contact and agitation of the liquid to pull soil away from the surface for more effective cleaning. Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments enable low moisture cleaning with soil removal in a single step thereby reducing labor and drying times.BRIEF DESCRITION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. l is a perspective view, not to scale, of a cleaning machine containing a brush and vacuum kit according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, not to scale, of a center feed brush according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view, not to scale, of the brush of FIG. 2.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view, not to scale, of an alternative brush with a center liquid delivery system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 5 A is a partial, exploded view, not to scale, of the brush of FIG. 4.

[0021] FIG. 5B is a partial exploded view, not to scale, of the brush FIG. 2 having a liquid feed adapter.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cylindrical cleaning machine having brushes according to embodiments of the disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 7 is partial, cross-sectional view of a cylindrical cleaning machine having brushes and a vacuum attachment according to and embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a perspective view, not to scale, of a vacuum head for the vacuum attachment of FIG. 7.Docket No: 77834. W1

[0025] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional, schematic view, not to scale, of a vacuum head for liquid or foam vacuuming according to a one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional, schematic view, not to scale, of a vacuum head for liquid or foam vacuuming according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 11 is a partial schematic view, not to scale, of the use of a cylindrical cleaning machine for foam cleaning according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view, not to scale, of a vacuum head for dry vacuuming according to another embodiment of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] This invention specifically focuses on greatly improving the efficiencies of surface cleaning systems for all types of surfaces by developing and incorporating, among other things, a unique cylindrical brush that enables even and consistent distribution of fluid onto a surface to be cleaned. Components to be used with surface cleaning systems are modular components, supplied as a kit to be interchanged with conventional components to enhance the efficiency and performance of the surface cleaning systems. In some embodiments, surface cleaning devices may be selected from walk-behind auto-scrubbers, vacuum devices, extractor devices, mopping devices, ride on vacuum or cleaning systems, robot cylindrical cleaning systems, cylindrical cleaning devices for home, commercial or industrial surface cleaning devices, and the like.

[0030] For illustrative purposes only, a typical walk-behind device 10 is illustrated in FIG.1. The device 10 includes a handle 12 attached to a frame 14. At least one brush 16, described in more detail below, that contains bristles, a porous pad, or a porous felt is attached to the frame 14. When a cleaning liquid is used with the device 10, a liquid supply tank 18 may also be attached to the frame. In other embodiments, a vacuum attachment 20, described in more detail below, may be attached to the frame. An activation button 21 may also be attached to the handle 12 to activate the supply of liquid and / or a vacuum pump as described in more detail below.

[0031] A particularly unique component of the surface cleaning system is the use of one or more cylindrical brushes 16. An end cross-sectional view, not to scale, of the cylindrical brush 16 according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes the following primary components: bristles, a porous pad, or porous felt 22 attached to a perforated hollow central core 24. In the case of bristles, the bristles may be punched into the perforated hollow central core 24. Otherwise, aDocket No: 77834. W1 porous felt or porous pad is attached to the perforated hollow central core by a press-fit or an adhesive or other means known to those skilled in the art. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of perforations 26 extend radially outward from a hollow center 28 and provide a path for flow of cleaning liquid from the hollow center 28 to the bristles, felt or pad attached to the central core 24. Accordingly, as the cylindrical brush 16 is rotated by a motor in the device 10, the cleaning liquid through the bristles, porous pad, or porous felt 22 and is applied to a surface to be cleaned all across the length of the cylindrical brush 16.

[0032] As an example, when a brush 16 containing bristles is used to clean a carpeted surface, the cleaning liquid is transferred to the carpet fibers from each individual brush bristle providing consistency of liquid coverage and increased dwell time of the liquid with the carpet fibers compared to conventional spray, gravity feed, or dry foam application directly to the carpet fibers or to an exterior of a brush. Increased dwell time allows the liquid to penetrate the carpet surface and the soil and break soil binders that hold the soil to the surface of the fibers more consistently across the full width of the brush 16 without over wetting the surface to be cleaned.

[0033] By delivering the cleaning fluid through the central core 24 of the brush 16, a thin disbursement of liquid flows down each individual bristle of the brush, which minimizes the amount of liquid used and spreads the liquid out more consistently and evenly across the width of the brush and to a consistent depth in the carpet to be cleaned. In addition to the advantages of a consistent measured amount of liquid cleaning solution applied to the carpet by each individual brush bristle, rotation of the bristles agitates the liquid causing the liquid to explode at the point of agitation and transform from a liquid to a foam. Foam creation in this manner combined with the use of the correct cleaning solution and consistent dwell time, pulls the soil from the carpet fibers and suspends the soil in the created foam encapsulating the soil for dry or wet extraction from the fibers.

[0034] Significant benefits of generating foam in situ in the carpet using the brush 16 described herein are consistent soil removal, rapid drying times, and a reduction in the amount of liquid cleaner that is used. While the foregoing description is related to carpet cleaning, the unique cylindrical brush 16, described above, can be installed within or attached to any cylindrical cleaning device and can be used for all low moisture, wet cleaning applications including home, commercial, and industrial cleaning applications.Docket No: 77834. W1

[0035] With reference to FIG. 3, further details of the cylindrical brush 16 are shown. The central hollow cylindrical core 24 has a round cross-sectional shape with hexagonal drive plugs 30 inserted into the ends of the core 24 for rotating the brush 16. In some embodiments, the central hollow cylindrical core may be made of a plastic material for use with light-weight cleaning devices or relatively low pressure cleaning applications. In other embodiments, the central hollow cylindrical core may be made of a metal material for use with relatively heavy cleaning devices or relatively high pressure cleaning applications. Accordingly, the metal reinforced brush may be used for applications wherein the down pressure on the brush may range from about 0.05 to about 710 kilograms-force / cm2.

[0036] In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, there is provided a cylindrical brush 32 containing the bristles, porous pad, or porous felt 22 described above, the central hollow cylindrical core 24 made of plastic, a reinforcing perforated metal insert 36 and a perforated cylindrical conduit 34 disposed through the cylindrical core 24 and insert 36 for supplying liquid to the hollow center of the cylindrical cores 24 and insert 36. In other embodiments, the perforated cylindrical conduit 34 may be used with only one of the cylindrical cores 24 or metal insert 36. In some embodiments the perforated conduit 34 is a perforated hollow cylindrical axle having a hexagonal cross-sectional shape 38 on at least one end thereof for mating with the hexagonal drive inserts 30 for rotating the cylindrical brush 16 as shown in FIG. 5 A. In some embodiments, both the cylindrical core 24 and the perforated conduit 34 are made of a metal material to reinforce the brush 32 when a heavy down pressure is used on the cleaning device. In some embodiments, a reinforcing perforated metal insert 36 is disposed in the central hollow cylindrical core 24 to reinforce the brush 32 when a heavy down pressure is used on the cleaning device. The cylindrical brushes 16 and 32 described above may be sold as a unit or components of the brush 16 and 32 may be provided individually in a brush kit so that the brush 16 or 32 may be configured on site for the particular cleaning application. Likewise, the individual components described above may be sold individually or in a kit for use in a variety of cleaning applications.

[0037] With reference to FIG. 5A, a liquid feed coupling 40 is attached to the perforated metal conduit 34 to provide fluid to the central hollow cylindrical core of the brushes 16 and 32. The liquid feed coupling 40 contains seals, such as o-rings or other sealing material to allow the perforated metal conduit to rotate with the brushes 16 and 32. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5B, the liquid feed coupling 40 is attached to a stub hexagonal shaft 42 for feeding liquid directly to the hollow center of the brush 16. As Shown in FIG. 6, flexible feed tubes 44 provide liquid flow from the liquid supply tank 18 to the liquid feedDocket No: 77834. W1 couplings 40. Liquid is delivered to the brush is through a specially designed tank and pressure pump system that releases the solution to the center of the hollow cylindrical core of the brush 16 or 32 quickly with an activation button 21 on the handle 12 and a solution regulator for different types of carpets and surfaces.

[0038] The cleaning device described above may include one or more of the brushes 16 or 32 and liquid cleaning solutions may be provided to one or more of the brushes 16 or 32. The brushes 16 and 32 are designed to replace conventional brushes and may be provided in a variety of diameters and lengths. A conventional belt drive, chain drive, or gear drive mechanism may be used to rotate the brushes 16 and 32 during a cleaning operation. The brushes 16 and 32 may be rotated at speeds ranging from one rpm to 1000’ s of rpms. A typical machine may rotate the brushes 16 or 32 at a speed of about 100 to about 3000 rpm. Other machines may rotate the brushes 16 or 32 at speeds of about 3000 to about 10000 rpm.

[0039] Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a kit for the device 10 that includes the brush 16 or 32 described above and the vacuum attachment 20 having a vacuum head 52 in fluid flow communication with a vacuum pump 50 as shown in FIG. 7. The brush 16 or 32 and vacuum attachment 20 components of the kit are adapted to be added to various soft and hard surface cleaning devices. For example, the combination of the vacuum attachment 20 and the brush 16 or 32 may be used to remove the dirty encapsulation foam from a carpet at the time of cleaning in one step with an encapsulation foam using the device 10. Accordingly, the kit may be used to replace the conventional process of leaving the encapsulation chemical and soil in the carpet for later removal by dry vacuuming. Later removal by dry vacuuming rarely happens in janitorial and floor maintenance environments that are currently in use. The brushes 16 or 32 may also be used without liquid for dry vacuuming soft and hard surfaces.

[0040] The vacuum attachment 20 included in a kit for the device 10 has changeable slide on heads to allow for using the correct slide on head for the correct surface cleaning or the type of cleaning to be performed. For example, a vacuum head having a stiff scraping type squeegee may be used for carpet and soft surfaces, a vacuum head having a softer squeegee may be used for smooth hard surface floors, and a ribbed vacuum head devoid of a squeegee may be used for dry soil removal. The special slide on heads for hard and soft surface floors for wet and dry soil vacuuming may be used with the same device 10 as described in more detail below.Docket No: 77834. W1

[0041] Accordingly, the kit for the cleaning device 10 includes a vacuum attachment 20 having a vacuum head 52 that is specifically designed for a particular surface to be cleaned. For example, the vacuum head 52 of FIG. 8, has a slide-on replaceable head unit 54 that may include a stiff or flexible squeegee 56. The slide-on replaceable head unit 54 is designed to be interchangeable on a plenum 58 that is in fluid flow communication with the vacuum pump 50.

[0042] In some hard surface cleaning applications, a flexible squeegee 56 may be required as shown schematically in FIG. 9. As the vacuum head 52 is moved across a hard surface 60 in the direction of arrow 62, the flexible squeegee 56 flexes in the opposite direction closing off a suction port 64 thereby increasing the efficiency of suction of solids 66 on the surface 60 through suction port 68. Likewise, when the vacuum head 52 is moved in the opposite direction, the suction port 68 is closed off by the squeegee 56 and suction port 64 is opened. In the case of liquids or foams on the surface 60, a liquid seal is made between the slide-on head unit 54 and squeegee and the surface 60 thereby increasing the efficiency of removing liquid from the surface 60. According to this embodiment, the flexible squeegee 56 may be made of a variety of plastic or elastomeric materials, including, but not limited to, rubber, nylon, silicone, vinyl, and the like. The flexible squeegee 56 of the slide-on head unit 54 is particularly suitable for low moisture or foam cylindrical brush cleaning on hard floors. The flexible squeegee 56 forms a wave of foam or liquid in front of the squeegee 56 and slide-on head unit 54 directly adjacent to the front of the squeegee 56 thereby creating a vacuum extraction seal in a straight line across the width of the vacuum head 52 that is effective to remove the soiled solution creating a nearly dry surface in one step or sweep of the machine.

[0043] For soft surface cleaning applications, such as carpet cleaning with a liquid or foaming liquid cleaner, a slide-on head unit 70 may be used with the vacuum head 52. The slide- on head unit 70 includes a relatively hard, less flexible or more rigid squeegee 72 that is effective to push down into the carpet pile 74 as shown schematically in FIG. 10 and force any liquid or foam 76 ahead of the squeegee 72 so that a sealing mound 78 is made with the slip-on head unit 70. The more rigid squeegee 72 of the slide-on head unit 70 is particularly suitable for low moisture or foam cylindrical brush cleaning on soft or carpeted floors. The rigid squeegee 72 forms the sealing mound 78 of foam or liquid in front of the squeegee 72 and vacuum port 75 directly adjacent to the front of the squeegee 72 thereby creating a vacuum extraction seal in a straight line across the width of the slide-on head unit 70 that is effective to remove the soiledDocket No: 77834. W1 solution in one step. In this way, a more efficient suction is created plenum 58 of the vacuum head. As in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the squeegee 72 also seals off a portion 80 of the plenum 58 when moving in the direction of arrow 82 thereby increasing the suction force in portion 84 of the plenum 58. When the vacuum head 52 is moved in the opposite direction the portion 84 of the plenum 58 is sealed off by the squeegee 72. Accordingly, the squeegee 72 is attached to a pivot pin 86 inserted through the plenum 58.

[0044] In fully wet liquid extraction of soils from surfaces, the vacuum extraction of liquid solution from carpet or other surfaces is done by creating a liquid seal between the vacuum head 52 against the carpet, fabric, or surface using the liquid solution, that has been applied to the carpet, fabric, or surface to create a liquid seal around the vacuum head 52 as the vacuum system pull the liquid and soil from the carpet, fabric, or surface. When foam cleaning is used on carpet, fabrics, or surfaces, it is very difficult to extract the soil filled foam because a seal cannot adequately be created between the vacuum head 52 and the surface to promote the soil lift by the vacuum head. The airiness of the foam interferes with making a good seal to form between the vacuum head and the surface. In order to generate an adequate seal for liquid and soil removal on a carpeted surface wherein it is more difficult to form a seal, the slide-on head units 70 described above having a scraper-type squeegee is used to create a seal with carpet fibers in order to remove a higher volume of the foaming solution. The scraper-type squeegee is effective to more deeply clean the a carpet pile while using a low moisture foam created by rotation of the cylindrical brush 16 or 32 described above.

[0045] By way of further example, FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of the use of a cylindrical cleaning machine 90 using a kit containing cylindrical brushes 32 and a vacuum attachment 20 as described above. A foaming liquid 92 is supplied to the perforated metal conduit 34 so that the liquid flows into the central hollow cylindrical core of the brush 32 and out through the bristles along a length of the brush 32. The brush 32 is rotated at a speed that is sufficient to agitate the liquid 92 on the surface to be cleaned or with the fibers of a carpet to create an encapsulating foam 94. In some machines 90, a secondary brush 32, without or without depositing additional liquid 92 is used to further agitate the liquid. In fact some machines may use more than two brushes. A vacuum head 52 having a squeegee 72 is used to suck up the foam 94 and soil encapsulated in the foam as the machine 90 is moved back and forth over the surface in the direction of arrow 96. In some embodiments, the vacuum head 52 may be after a second brush,Docket No: 77834. W1 between a first brush and the second brush or before the first brush. Accordingly, a cylindrical cleaning machine using the kit described above is substantially more effective in cleaning and recovering a soiled solution in one step with increased mobility and faster dry times, while being more effective, efficient, and easier to use.

[0046] The cylindrical brushes described above may also be used for dry vacuuming in combination with a uniquely designed slide-on head unit 100 for the vacuum head 52 as shown in FIG. 12. Unlike the slide-on head units 54 and 70 described above, the slide-on head unit 100 is devoid of a squeegee component. Instead, the slide-on head unit 100 includes plurality of grooves 102 on at least one side thereof in the direction of travel of the vacuum head 52 as indicated by arrow 104. An angled deflector 106 is provided between the vacuum head 52 and the rotating cylindrical brush 16 to prevent debris from building up on a top surface 108 of the slide-on head unit 100 as the brush 16 rotates in the direction of arrow 110. Accordingly, all of the debris removed from the surface by the rotating brush 16 can flow through the grooves 102 into the plenum 58 in the direction of arrow 112.

[0047] The components of the kit are designed to be installed within or attached to any cylindrical or rotary cleaning system in unlimited types of machines industries and uses. Examples of cylindrical or rotary cleaning systems that the foregoing brushes and vacuum heads may be used with include, but are not limited to, walk behind scrubbers, auto- scrubbers, vacuum device, extractor devices, ride on vacuum, scrubber, mop, or cleaning devices, and manually operated or robot cleaning systems for home, commercial or industrial surface cleaning use.

[0048] A primary advantage of the use of the components of the kit described above is that the components are interchangeable, providing more effective cleaning of multiple surfaces with a single machine. The various components can be combined in a single machine to provide consistent removal of cleaning solution, foam, or dry soil and contaminates with higher efficiency. In the field of wet form encapsulation cleaning, the kit can be used with a cylindrical cleaning machine to remove dirty foam at the point of cleaning in a single step in both forward and reverse directions. The brushes in the kit deliver liquid solution from the center of the brushes to the outer surfaces of the brushes and then agitate the solution at the point of contact of the brushes with the surface to create an explosion of foam which powers the soil from the fibers or surface and suspends it, to be scraped / squeegeed and removed with the vacuum attachment. Thus a cleaning machine using the disclosed brushes and vacuum attachments may result in the use of less water,Docket No: 77834. W1 less labor, and provide deeper cleaning than existing cleaning methods by removal of soiled foam or soiled solution in one pass. As a result of the use of less water or liquid over wetting of a surface is avoided resulting in quicker drying times which can reduce the growth of mold and bacteria.

[0049] Consistent delivery of cleaning solution across the entire brush surface of agitation for any type of cylindrical machine including encapsulation machines, extraction machines, portable and industrial auto scrubbers, ride on machines, concrete and stone scrubbing machines, hazardous material scrub machines, robotic cleaning & scrubbing machines and many other types of cylindrical cleaning machines.

[0050] While particular embodiments have been described, alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents that are or can be presently unforeseen can arise to applicants or others skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims as filed and as they can be amended are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents.

Claims

Docket No: 77834. W1What is claimed is:

1. A cylindrical brush configured for depositing a fluid on a surface to be cleaned as the cylindrical brush rotates, the cylindrical brush comprising: a perforated hollow cylindrical core configured to accept a fluid from a fluid source; and bristles, a porous pad, or a porous felt attached to the perforated hollow cylindrical core, wherein the bristles, porous pad, or porous felt are configured for contacting a surface to be cleaned.

2. The cylindrical brush of claim 1, further comprising a liquid feed connection to the perforated hollow cylindrical core.

3. The cylindrical brush of claim 1, wherein the perforated hollow cylindrical core comprises a material selected from a group consisting of a plastic material and a metal material.

4. The cylindrical brush of claim 3, further comprising a perforated metal cylindrical conduit disposed within the perforated hollow cylindrical core and a liquid feed connection to the perforated cylindrical conduit.

5. The cylindrical brush of claim 4, wherein the perforated metal cylindrical conduit comprises a hexagonal axle attached on at least one end thereof and mated to a hexagonal insert in the perforated hollow core, wherein the hexagonal axle is configured for rotating the cylindrical brush.

6. A kit configured for use with a surface cleaning device, the kit comprising: a cylindrical brush comprising: a perforated hollow cylindrical core configured to accept a fluid from a fluid source; bristles, a porous pad, or a porous felt attached to the perforated hollow cylindrical core, wherein the bristles, porous pad, or porous felt are configured for contacting a surface to be cleaned; and a fluid supply in fluid flow communication with the perforated hollow cylindrical core.

7. The kit of claim 6, comprising two or more cylindrical brushes.Docket No: 77834. W18. The kit of claim 6, wherein the perforated hollow cylindrical core comprises a material selected from a group consisting of a plastic material and a metal material.

9. The kit of claim 8, further comprising a perforated metal cylindrical conduit disposed within the perforated hollow cylindrical core and a liquid feed connection to the perforated cylindrical conduit.

10. The kit of claim 9, wherein the perforated metal cylindrical conduit comprises a hexagonal axle attached on at least one end thereof and mated to a hexagonal insert in the perforated hollow core, wherein the hexagonal axle is configured for rotating the cylindrical brush.

11. The kit of claim 6, further comprising a vacuum attachment in fluid flow communication with a vacuum pump, wherein the vacuum attachment is configured for removing dirt and / or foam from a surface.

12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the vacuum attachment comprises a replaceable vacuum head having squeegee selected from a stiff squeegee for soft surfaces and a flexible squeegee for hard surfaces.

13. The kit of claim 11, wherein the vacuum attachment comprises a replaceable vacuum head having at least one grooved surface adjacent to the surface to be cleaned.

14. A method for cleaning a surface with a foam cleaning device, the method comprises: providing a cylindrical brush comprising a perforated hollow cylindrical core configured to accept a fluid from a fluid source, wherein the cylindrical brush has bristles, a porous pad, or a porous felt attached to the perforated hollow cylindrical core for contacting a surface to be cleaned; providing a fluid supply in fluid flow communication with the perforated hollow cylindrical core; flowing fluid from a fluid supply to the perforated hollow cylindrical core along a length of the perforated hollow cylindrical core as the cylindrical brush rotates in order to cause fluid toDocket No: 77834. W1 flow from the perforated hollow core through the bristles, porous pad, or porous felt and onto the surface to be cleaned; and agitating the fluid with the cylindrical brush as the fluid is deposited onto the surface to be cleaned to create a cleaning foam at a point of contact between the cylindrical brush and the surface to be cleaned as the cylindrical brush rotates.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a vacuum attachment attached to the foam cleaning device in fluid flow communication with a vacuum pump, and activating the vacuum pump to remove the cleaning foam from the surface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the vacuum attachment comprises a replaceable vacuum head and a squeegee selected from a stiff squeegee for soft surface foam recovery and a flexible squeegee for hard surface liquid and foam recovery.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the surface cleaning device is selected from the group consisting of a walk behind scrubber, auto-scrubber, a vacuum device, an extractor device, a ride on vacuum, scrubber or cleaning device, a manually operated or robot cleaning system for home, commercial or industrial surface cleaning use.