Patent ID: 7392566

Claim:
A cleaning machine for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is distributed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation as it moves along the surface comprising: a) a base assembly for movement along the surface; b) a liquid distribution system associated with said base assembly for distributing the cleaning solution to the cleaning surface; c) a suction nozzle assembly mounted to said base assembly, said suction nozzle assembly including a front nozzle portion and rear nozzle portion, said front nozzle portion defining a fluid flow path having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said rear nozzle portion defining a fluid flow path having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; d) a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface and through the suction nozzle assembly; and e) a valve assembly is associated with said suction nozzle assembly, said valve assembly substantially covering said outlet of said front nozzle portion to close said fluid flow path of said front nozzle portion in response to said base assembly moving in one of the forward direction and rear direction, said valve assembly substantially covering said outlet of said rear nozzle portion to close said fluid flow path of said rear nozzle portion in response to said base assembly moving in other one of the forward direction and rear direction.