Cleaning machine for cleaning a surface

Abstract

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 is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a liquid distribution system operatively associated with the housing. The liquid distribution system includes a fluid source providing a supply of the cleaning solution and a distributor fluidly connected to the fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface. A liquid recovery-system is operatively associated with the housing and includes a suction nozzle and a recovery tank removably mounted to the housing and in fluid communication with the suction nozzle. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. A filter system is provided on the housing and in fluid communication with the recovery tank for filtering the recovered cleaning solution to be reused and distributed to the surface by the distributor.

1 . 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 housing;    b) a liquid distribution system operatively associated with said housing and including: 
 a fluid source providing a supply of the cleaning solution;  
 a distributor fluidly connected to said fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface;  
   c) a liquid recovery system operatively associated with said housing and including: 
 a suction nozzle;  
 a recovery tank mounted to said housing and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle;  
 a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and into said recovery tank; and  
   d) a filter system provided on said housing and in fluid communication with said recovery tank for filtering the recovered cleaning solution to be reused and distributed to the surface by said distributor; and    e) an indicator device operatively connected to one of the liquid distribution system and liquid recovery system, said indicator device indicating to a user that none of the recovered cleaning solution is flowing to said distributor.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  including a pump fluidly connected between said recovery tank and said distributor for drawing the cleaning solution from said recovery tank to said distributor, said indicator device includes a pressure switch fluidly connected between said pump and said distributor.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said filter system comprises a first filter provided on said recovery tank, said first filter filtering particles from the cleaning solution and dirt, said filter system further comprising a second filter fluidly provided on said recovery tank and positioned downstream from said first filter, said second filter filtering particles from the cleaning solution and dirt of a smaller size than the particles filtered from said first filter.  
     
     
         4 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said recovery tank includes an outlet in fluid communication with said distributor and a screen mounted to the outlet of said recovery tank.  
     
     
         5 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said first and second filters are removable.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  including a pump fluidly connected between said recovery tank and said distributor for drawing the cleaning solution from said recovery tank to said distributor, wherein said pump has an outlet in fluid communication with said suction source such that the suction from said suction source is used to prime said pump.  
     
     
         7 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said suction nozzle includes a rear portion and a front portion, said distributor being positioned between said front and rear portions of said suction nozzle and defining front and rear flow paths, one of said front and rear flow paths being closed in response to said housing moving in a forward direction and said other one of said front and rear flow paths being closed in response to said housing moving in a rearward direction.  
     
     
         8 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 7  including a rear squeegee member mounted to said rear portion of said suction nozzle, a front squeegee member mounted to said front portion of said suction nozzle, wherein said rear squeegee member closes said rear flow path in response to said housing moving in a rearward direction and said front squeegee closes said front flow path in response to said housing moving in a forward direction.  
     
     
         9 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said fluid source is provided in said recovery tank.  
     
     
         10 . 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 housing;    b) a liquid distribution system operatively associated with said housing and including: 
 a fluid source providing a supply of the cleaning solution;  
 a distributor fluidly connected to said fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface;  
   c) a liquid recovery system operatively associated with said housing and including: 
 a suction nozzle;  
 a recovery tank removably mounted to said housing and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle;  
 a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and into said recovery tank; and  
   d) a filter assembly provided on said housing and in fluid communication with said recovery tank for filtering the recovered cleaning solution to be reused and distributed to the surface by said distributor, said filter system comprising: 
 a first filter provided on said recovery tank, said first filter filtering particles from the cleaning solution and dirt;  
 a second filter provided on said recovery tank and positioned downstream from said first filter, said second filter filtering particles from the cleaning solution and dirt of a smaller size than the particles filtered from said first filter.  
   
     
     
         11 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said recovery tank includes an outlet in fluid communication with said distributor and a screen mounted to the outlet of said recovery tank.  
     
     
         12 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said first and second filters are removable.  
     
     
         13 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  including a pump fluidly connected between said recovery tank and said distributor for drawing the cleaning solution from said recovery tank to said distributor, wherein said pump has an outlet in fluid communication with said suction source such that the suction from said suction source is used to prime said pump.  
     
     
         14 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said suction nozzle includes a rear portion and a front portion, said distributor being positioned between said front and rear portions of said suction nozzle and defining front and rear flow paths, one of said front and rear flow paths being closed in response to said housing moving in a forward direction and said other one of said front and rear flow paths being closed in response to said housing moving in a rearward direction.  
     
     
         15 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 14  including a rear squeegee member mounted to said rear portion of said suction nozzle, a front squeegee member mounted to said front portion of said suction nozzle, wherein said rear squeegee member closes said rear flow path in response to said housing moving in a rearward direction and said front squeegee closes said front flow path in response to said housing moving in a forward direction.  
     
     
         16 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said fluid source is provided in said recovery tank.  
     
     
         17 . 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 housing;    b) a liquid distribution system operatively associated with said housing and including: 
 a fluid source providing a supply of the cleaning solution;  
 a distributor fluidly connected to said fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface;  
   c) a liquid recovery system operatively associated with said housing and including: 
 a suction nozzle;  
 a recovery tank mounted to said housing and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle;  
 a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and into said recovery tank; and  
   d) a filter system provided on said housing and in fluid communication with said recovery tank for filtering the recovered cleaning solution to be reused and distributed to the surface by said distributor; and    e) a pump fluidly connected between said recovery tank and said distributor for drawing the cleaning solution from said recovery tank to said distributor, wherein said pump has an outlet in fluid communication with said suction source such that the suction from said suction source is used to prime said pump.    
     
     
         18 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said fluid source is a recovery tank containing the cleaning solution, said housing including a base and a handle pivotally connected to said base, said recovery tank removably mounted to one of said base and said handle.  
     
     
         19 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said suction nozzle includes a rear portion and a front portion, said distributor being positioned between said front and rear portions of said suction nozzle and defining front and rear flow paths, one of said front and rear flow paths being closed in response to said housing moving in a forward direction and said other one of said front and rear flow paths being closed in response to said housing moving in a rearward direction.  
     
     
         20 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 17  including a rear squeegee member mounted to said rear portion of said suction nozzle, a front squeegee member mounted to said front portion of said suction nozzle, wherein said rear squeegee member closes said rear flow path in response to said housing moving in a rearward direction and said front squeegee closes said front flow path in response to said housing moving in a forward direction.