Patent ID: 7624473

Claim:
A portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising: a) a housing for movement along the cleaning surface; b) a solution distribution system mounted at least in part to said housing and comprising: a solution distribution system operatively connected to said housing for distributing a solution onto the cleaning surface; a first solution tank for holding the solution; a first adjustable flow rate valve having an inlet fluidly connected to said first solution tank and an outlet fluidly connected to said distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of said distributor, said first adjustable flow rate valve having a substantially planar rotating valve plate positioned between said inlet and said outlet, said planar valve plate having a variable flow rate slot disposed through said valve plate, said slot allowing said solution to pass between said inlet and said outlet; a knob secured to said valve plate, wherein rotating said knob rotates both said planar valve plate and said slot between said inlet and said outlet wherein the position of said slot determines the flow rate of the solution through said first adjustable flow rate valve; a second adjustable flow rate valve operatively associated with said first solution tank and said distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of said distributor, said second adjustable flow rate valve having a valve part, and a coupling member operatively connected between said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve and one of said knob and said valve plate of said first adjustable flow rate valve such that movement of said selector causes said coupling member to move said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve such that the flow rate of the solution through said second adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve.