Patent ID: 8429788

Claim:
An apparatus for drawing liquid from a floor or other surface utilizing a flow of air provided by a suction source, said apparatus comprising: a liquid collection tank; an intake opening in fluid communication with said collection tank, said intake opening being positionable proximate said floor or other surface; means for establishing fluid communication between said collection tank and said suction source so that said flow of air is drawn in said intake opening and through said collection tank; a plurality of liquid separation passages that restrict and divide said flow of air between said intake opening and said collection tank, so that said liquid is separated from said flow of air and collected in said tank prior to said flow of air reaching said suction source, said plurality of liquid separation passages comprising: a plurality of elongate passages arranged in a bundle, said bundle having an intake end at which said flow of air and liquid enters said passages and a discharge end at which said flow of air exits said passages with said liquid having been separated therefrom; and means for introducing said flow of air at an indirect angle to openings of said liquid separation passages at said intake end of said bundle.