The introduction of Truckmounted Carpet Cleaning Equipment
The introduction of Truckmounted Carpet Cleaning Equipment
Who invented the truck mount? First off, the industry can’t even agree whether it should be truckmount (one word) or truck mount (two words). So reaching a consensus on just exactly who invented the truckmount well…just likely is not going to happen. So I will make an attempt to bring to light virtually all of the original inventors and entrepreneurs who built truckmounts, and perhaps more importantly for our recognition here – actually brought them into the marketplace and sold them to a number of cleaning and restoration companies. Plus, as you have read about in this blog, there were trailer – mounted carpet dusting machines that dated back to the early ’s. The invention of the truckmounted hot water extraction machine specifically designed for the on-location professional carpet cleaner to use to clean carpet dates back to the latter part of the ’s and early parts of the ’s.
Though introduced in the late ’s and early ’s, the truckmount became the dominant piece of equipment for the carpet cleaning professional in the ’s. Like any new revolutionary change, there were those who were resistant to change and slow to adapt. It might be hard for many cleaners to understand now, but there was a long time when the hardest part of selling a truckmount was convincing the carpet cleaner the increased productivity of the truckmount was worth the extra investment required.
I believe the single greatest contribution of the truckmount to the professional carpet cleaning industry was it gave the professional cleaner the ability to double his income in the same amount of time of work performed. It raised the average income level of the professional cleaner, which in turn, led to the advanced development of technical educational opportunities. A significant portion of the industry began to look at education and training as in integral part of their business plan. This inevitably raised the professionalism of the industry and no doubt is what began to bring outside interest in the cleaning industry in the early ’s.
Old #1 – Bane-Clene
Bill Bane of Bane-Clene was certainly one of the first to introduce an extractor mounted in a truck. Here is what he said in his 50th Anniversary reflections.
“I started thinking about the possibility of truck-mounted carpet cleaning equipment in the mid ‘60s. Pumps were available that could move the cleaning solution from the truck to the cleaning head, but recovering the dirty water with fan-vacs remained a problem. That little sewage pump introduced by Bill Wisdom was the missing piece of the puzzle. A larger model of that pump would make it possible to create enough vacuum for water recovery beyond 100 feet. An electrical engineer worked out a design that would let a 1½ horsepower electric motor with dual capacitors, drive the large vacuum and solution pumps that we needed on only 12 amps. With an idea inspired by tanker trucks and using available technology, we built our first two truck-mounted carpet cleaning systems in January of . They were designed on the Wisdom concept but our pumps, tanks and motors were larger and bolted to the floor of the truck.
Here is a picture of the unit that Bane-Clene operators affectionately refer to as “Old #1” the very first Bane Clene van with that machine mounted in it. The design of the Bane-Clene unit has certainly stood the test of time.
For more information on Bane-Clene, visit www.baneclene.com
Judson truckmounts
Next are two drawings provided by Judson and Les Jones detailing the idea that Judson had for the production of what was certainly one of the very first truckmounts.
Here is the machine in production, and the unit in operation. It was a direct drive “Big Truck” and had a four foot wide wand that was pulled with a garden tractor. It was designed for Monsanto to clean Astro-Turf fields.
Judson built their first slide in truckmount in . It had an APO (automatic pump out) and an LP heat system.
For more information on Judson truckmounts and their history, visit www.judsontruckmounts.com/about-us/judson-history
Mike Palmer – HydraMaster
In Michael C. Palmer was a carpet cleaner. After seeing a crude homemade truckmount put together by a cleaner, Mike told himself that he could do it better. Starting in his garage, he set out to do just that. His training as a jet engine mechanic in the military and natural born talent were his only assets to begin with. His first machine was so good, a friend asked him to build one for him. After a while, Mike had so many people wanting machines that he started hiring his neighbors to help and thus HydraMaster began in . While Mike Palmer cannot directly be credited with the invention of the truckmount, but he is generally acknowledged as one of the first to make a business of manufacturing and selling truckmounts all over the U.S. – thus, his reputation as the “father” of truckmounts is certainly well founded. His revolutionary new mobile cleaning system changed carpet cleaning forever.
For more information on HydraMaster truckmounts, visit http://www.hydramaster.com.
The Baron
The first HydraMaster truckmount was called the Baron.
The Baron 2
The Baron 2 started the company into full scale production and nationwide sales
HM Plant
Here is a picture from the first full scale manufacturing plant
BobCat
The next model was the BobCat unit
HydraCat
And then the HydraCat
Ralph Bloss/Clark Seabloom – Steam Way International
As previously discussed. Steam Way was one of the first companies to manufacture and sell a portable hot water extraction machine in . While their portable Steam Way 400 was the “bread and butter” of the company well into the mid-’s it had become obvious that the truckmounts already in the marketplace from Bane-Clene and HydraMaster, and those soon to be introduced by Prochem were gaining a significant marketshare. Together, Mr Bloss and Mr. Seabloom, along with their right hand “MacGyver” machinist – Larry Hawkins, and a long time customer of Steam Way’s, Ralph Greco designed and introduced into the marketplace in the very first Steam Way truckmount – the TurboMatic.
Turbo What?
Here is a great picture from at a training seminar offered by Ohio Steamway Distributors. Like those leisure suits? Steam Way was introducing their very first truckmount – the TurboMatic. This was probably the first time this collection of professional cleaners had ever seen a truckmount
TurboMatic
The Steam Way Turbomatic was first introduced in . It was equipped with an auto pump out system so there was no waste tank.
Prototype PowerMatic
The second Steam Way truck mount was called the PowerMatic. Here is a prototype beta unit for this machine, put out for field testing in .
Steam Way Inventory
Here is a picture from the late ’s showing all of the Steam Way machines in production
For more information on Steam Way truckmounts, visit www.steamway.com.
Prochem (Professional Chemicals)
With his extensive background in chemicals, Jim Rhoden opened the doors to Professional Chemicals in after working with ServiceMaster to formulate products. “We started with shampoo, spotters, furniture cleaning chemicals, deodorizers, etc., and a line of disaster clean-up products, and in , we got involved with dry cleaning furniture. We found we needed to develop equipment to meet the need.”
Shortly after, between and , Prochem became aware of portable steam cleaning equipment. “We weren’t manufacturing at the time, but were reselling equipment. We always attempted to innovate and find the best solution for our customers, so developed an oil burner rather than a propane burner, as there were previous problems with propane safety issues and lack of maintenance on the equipment.”
Jim’s brother Mike came on board shortly after and reworked a design of what became the first Prochem truck mounts – the Model 100 and 150 series.
For more information about Prochem truckmounts, visit http://www.prochem.com
Other early truckmount developers
Arnie Ballweber and Judge Sales first introduced power take off truckmounts to the industry in the late ’s. Gene Bates started Steam Genie and later developed Big Red Truckmounts. Jerry Holman continued to build the Steam Genie truckmount brand. John Sales at Steamaction also was an early developer and innovator of truckmounts.
Electric truckmounts were also developed early on by Herb Harpham and David Bergin at Certified Equipment, and by Ed York and Steve Brandt at Steam Services.
If you have a picture of an early truckmount, or your truckmount from the ’s, I would love for you to post it and provide a little history. Add your knowledge to our collection of historical documentation of the beginning of truckmounts.
Continue reading at https://historyofprofessionalcarpetcleaning.wordpress.com ...
The Carpet Cleaning Truck Mount
If you spot one of our carpet cleaning trucks you might ask yourself, "What is inside those things?" Our trucks are specialized to provide various forms of highly effective carpet cleaning. While certain trucks are made differently, the parts are mostly the same. Let's break down what goes on behind the mechanics. Generall speaking, a truck mount carpet cleaner is made of up of:
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Felici Machinery.
— A heat exchange system that uses the engine's exhaust to heat the cleaning solution
— An engine that powers the entire machine
— A water pump to deliver the cleaning solution
— A vacuum blower to suck up dirty water and debris
— And a pressure pump to control the force of the cleaning spray
Each component is crucial to creating a unique system for an effective carpet cleaning. Here is each components and their functions:
HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM
With the heat exchange mechanics, the engine's exhaust does an important task of warming up the carpet cleaning chemicals. The dirt and debris stuck inside carpets are easily removed with this heated solution.
The start of this process includes the engine's exhaust gases being channeled through different components such as coils and heat exchangers. The cleaning agent flows through and takes in the heat from the gases. This is efficient in that the energy from the exhaust doesn't go to waste, proving to be environmentally conscious.
ENGINE
The engine is the heart of the truck mount by powering the vacuum blower, water pump, and pressure pump. How does it work? TruckMountForums tells it best:
Powering the Vacuum Blower: The engine supplies power to the vacuum blower, which is responsible for sucking up the dirty water and debris from the carpet. It ensures that the blower operates at optimal efficiency, providing strong suction to leave the carpet clean and dry.
Running the Water Pump: The engine also powers the water pump, controlling the flow and pressure of the cleaning solution. It ensures that the solution is delivered consistently and at the right pressure, allowing for deep penetration into the carpet fibers.
Operating the Pressure Pump: The pressure pump, which controls the force of the cleaning spray, is also driven by the engine. It can be adjusted to suit different types of carpets and levels of dirt, providing a customized cleaning experience.
Integration with Heat Exchange System: The engine's exhaust is used by the heat exchange system to heat the cleaning solution. This synergy between the engine and the heat exchange system enhances the overall efficiency of the machine.
It is crucial to understand the functions of a carpet cleaning truck mount engine. With this knowledge, our carpet cleaning technicians can provide optimal cleaning services.
WATER PUMP
The water pump delivers the cleaning agent to the carpet.
Want more information on Truck Mounted Carpet Cleaning Machine? Feel free to contact us.
What makes a truck mount carpet cleaner stand out is the consistency in flow and pressure, allowing the cleaning solutions to penetrate the fibers of the carpet, leaving no dirt or debris behind.
The water pump is a finely tuned mechanism in the process of carpet cleaning. With its consistency and adjustable features, an evenly distributed and effective cleaning service is the proven outcome.
Working alongside the heat exchange, the water pump provides the heated cleaning solution at the perfect pressure, enhancing the effective nature of the machine.
Modern water pumps are designed for energy efficiency and durability. We make sure to keep safety features on to prevent issues such as overheating or over-pressurization.
VACUUM BLOWER
The vacuum blower is made to get rid of used/dirty water and debris from any carpet.
Once the cleaning agent has been dispersed and permeated into the carpet fibers, the highly-effective vacuum blower's suction ensures that no debris is left in the carpet.
The vacuum blower operates with a mixture of airflow and high-pressure, creating a vacuum that draws up dirt, grime, and excess moisture. Alongside the carpet being clean, the vacuum drastically reduces drying time, allowing re-use of space to return promptly.
This piece of machinery works with the water pump and heater exchange system to provide an all-inclusive cleaning experience. We make sure to regularly maintain each truck mount, ensuring longevity and efficiency.
PRESSURE PUMP
The pressure pump is crucial the the integrity of the carpet cleaning system. This piece of equipment is the regulator of cleaning solution and its application to the carpet. Unlike other components, it has the unique ability to be adjusted, including the force of spray. This gives technicians a tailored approach to each carpet.
It doesn't matter the surface or delicate or more rough around the edges, the pressure pump ensures the cleaning is effective and considerate of the structural integrity of the carpet. This gives the process allowance for heavy-debris cleaning or just a touch up.
The pressure pump makes the cleaning process seamless, complimenting other parts of the system such as the water pump and heater exchange. The pressure and temperature are kept in check while enhancing and protecting the carpet.
CONCLUSION
Since the inception of the truck mount carpet cleaning machine in the late s, the design and functionality are at their core a wonder of engineering. Each component was thoughtfully made, proving to be one of the best cleaning solutions in contemporary janitorial services. Each of the five systems work flawlessly together to give you only the best carpet cleaning.
— AZ
Sources:
TruckMountForums, "How Does It Work Truck Mount Carpet Cleaning Machine?".
HistoryofProfessionalCarpetCleaning, "The Introduction of Truckmounted Carpet Cleaning Equipment".
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