Patent ID: 6230362
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: A47L,B01F,C11D,F16K,H05B

Abstract:
A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:a base module for movement along a surface;an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module;a liquid dispensing system comprising:a liquid dispensing nozzle associated with the base module for applying liquid to a surface to be cleaned;a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid;a fluid supply conduit fluidly connected to the fluid supply chamber and to the dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid to the dispensing nozzle;a fluid recovery system comprising:a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder;a suction nozzle associated with the base module;a working air conduit extending between the recovery chamber and the suction nozzle; anda vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery chamber for generating a flow of working air from the nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery chamber to thereby draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned through the nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery chamber; the improvement comprising:a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber.