Patent ID: 6081962
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: A47L,B01F,C11D,F16K,H05B

Abstract:
A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:a housing including wheels for movement of the housing along a surface to be cleaned;a fluid recovery system comprising:a fluid recovery tank on the housing having an enclosed chamber for holding recovered fluid, an inlet opening and an exhaust opening, a substantially horizontal baffle in an upper portion of the enclosed chamber and below the exhaust opening, a relatively small opening in the baffle proximate to the exhaust opening;a suction nozzle mounted to the housing;a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank inlet opening and the suction nozzle;a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery tank exhaust opening for generating a suction in the recovery tank, conduit and nozzle to thereby draw liquid from the surface and deposit the liquid in the recovery tank;a float assembly in the fluid recovery tank and having a first end that is buoyant and a second end with a valve surface that is adapted to register with and cover the exhaust opening in the recovery tank and thereby block the transfer of air and liquid from the recovery tank to the vacuum source when the recovered fluid in the recovery tank reaches a predetermined level, the first end positioned below the horizontal baffle and the second end positioned above the horizontal baffle, the first and second ends of the float assembly being connected by a support arm that extends through the relatively small opening in the baffle.