Patent ID: 7237299

Claim:
A cleaning apparatus 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, said base assembly having a front portion and a rear portion; b) a liquid distribution system associated with said base assembly and including: a first source providing a supply of said cleaning solution; a distributor fluidly connected to said first source for distributing said cleaning solution to the surface; c) a liquid recovery system associated with said base assembly and including: a suction nozzle having an inlet located at said front portion of said base assembly; 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; d) a detecting device for detecting the speed of the cleaning apparatus as it moves along the surface and producing a speed signal representing the speed of the cleaning apparatus relative to the surface; e) a controller operatively connected to said detecting device and said liquid distribution system, said controller controlling the amount of cleaning solution distributed to the surface based on said speed signal; and f) a handle pivotally connected to said base assembly, said recovery system including a recovery tank removably mounted to one of said handle and said base assembly, said recovery tank in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for collecting the cleaning solution and dirt drawn through the suction nozzle.