Patent ID: 8056182

Claim:
A portable extractor apparatus used to clean planar surfaces, the extractor apparatus comprising: a wheel mounted base having a cleaning solution tank for dispensing cleaning solution and a recovery tank for recovering cleaning solution; a cleaning wand connected to the solution tank by pliable hosing, the cleaning wand having a cleaning head which contacts the surface to the cleaned for dispensing and recovering cleaning solution; a fluid pump for circulating cleaning solution in a path between the solution tank and the cleaning head of the wand; at least one vacuum motor which comprises a vacuum source for the extractor apparatus, the vacuum source being in communication with the cleaning head of the wand for suctioning the surface being cleaned, the vacuum motor having an exhaust fan associated therewith for exhausting excess heat created by the operation of the vacuum motor; a fluid operated heat exchanger mounted on the base in heat transfer relation with the vacuum motor for circulating a liquid heat exchange medium in the vicinity of the vacuum motor, whereby excess heat generated by the vacuum motor is transferred to air surrounding the vacuum motor, which is in turn transferred to the fluid heat exchanger, the heat transfer process being between two separate and distinct fluids, the liquid heat exchange medium and the air surrounding the vacuum motor; wherein the liquid heat exchange medium which is being circulated is the cleaning solution which is passing between the solution tank and the cleaning head of the wand, whereby the cleaning solution is heated by the excess heat generated by the vacuum motor; wherein the fluid operated heat exchanger comprises a tubing coil which is wound about a portion of the vacuum motor so as to be in heat exchange relationship with the vacuum motor; and wherein the fluid operated heat exchanger further comprises a fluid conduit connected to the fluid operated heat exchanger for routing the heat exchange medium to and from the fluid operated heat exchanger, the fluid conduit being plumbed into the path of the cleaning solution which is passing between the solution tank and the cleaning head of the wand.