Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface includes a recovery tank with a lower portion with a bottom wall that defines an opening and an extraction nozzle that is in fluid communication with the recovery tank. A motor/fan assembly is in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle and the recovery tank to generate a working airflow to transport debris-containing fluid including air and liquid from the extraction nozzle into the recovery tank. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes an air/liquid separator assembly that is selectively insertable into the recovery tank. The air/liquid separator assembly includes a riser tube with a liquid conduit integrally formed with an air conduit and a float assembly that is operably coupled with the air conduit. A coupling joins the air/liquid separator assembly with the recovery tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising:
 a recovery tank having a bottom wall defining an opening into an interior of the recovery tank;   an extraction nozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank;   a motor/fan assembly in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle and the recovery tank to generate a working airflow to transport debris-containing fluid including air and liquid from the extraction nozzle into the recovery tank;   an air/liquid separator assembly for separating liquid from air in the debris-containing fluid and comprising:
 a liquid conduit defining an inlet pipe that is in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle; 
 an air conduit defining an outlet pipe that is in fluid communication with the recovery tank; and 
 a float assembly configured to close an inlet of the air conduit, wherein the liquid conduit, the air conduit, and the float assembly are integrally connected to and removable from the recovery tank as a single integral unit; and 
   a mechanical coupling removably coupling the air/liquid separator assembly to the bottom wall of the recovery tank, the mechanical coupling including an alignment feature that properly aligns the air/liquid separator assembly within the recovery tank.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air/liquid separator assembly includes a sealing assembly that seals the air/liquid separator assembly to a lower surface of the recovery tank. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air/liquid separator assembly is configured to be rotated into secure engagement with the recovery tank. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid conduit includes an outlet that faces away from the inlet of the air conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery tank includes a fill aperture proximate an upper portion thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the opening defined in the bottom wall of the recovery tank is surrounded by a circumferential neck. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the circumferential neck is configured to rotatingly engage a rim that secures the air/liquid separator assembly with the recovery tank. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the float assembly is juxtaposed closer to the motor/fan assembly than the air conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air conduit is disposed between the liquid conduit and the float assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising:
 a recovery tank having a lower portion with a bottom wall defining an opening;   an extraction nozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank;   a motor/fan assembly in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle and the recovery tank to generate a working airflow to transport debris-containing fluid including air and liquid from the extraction nozzle into the recovery tank;   an air/liquid separator assembly for separating liquid from air in the debris-containing fluid and selectively insertable into the recovery tank through the opening defined by a circular neck of the recovery tank, the air/liquid separator assembly comprising:
 a liquid conduit having a lower end in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle and an upper end having an outlet in fluid communication with an interior of the recovery tank; and 
 an air conduit in fluid communication with the interior of the recovery tank and including an inlet facing away from the liquid conduit; and 
   a mechanical coupling removably coupling the air/liquid separator assembly to the bottom wall of the recovery tank, wherein the mechanical coupling can be operated to selectively detach the air/liquid separator assembly from the recovery tank for removal of the air/liquid separator assembly from the bottom wall of the recovery tank.   
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a float assembly configured to selectively close the inlet of the air conduit.   
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a base housing, wherein the inlet of the air conduit is spaced a first distance from the base housing and the outlet of the liquid conduit is spaced a second distance from the base housing, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.   
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the inlet of the air conduit faces the motor/fan assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the outlet of the liquid conduit faces away from the inlet of the air conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the air/liquid separator assembly includes a base plate that abuts the bottom wall of the recovery tank. 
     
     
         16 . A surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising:
 a recovery tank having a lower portion with a bottom wall defining an opening;   an extraction nozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank;   a motor/fan assembly in fluid communication with the extraction nozzle and the recovery tank to generate a working airflow to transport debris-containing fluid including air and liquid from the extraction nozzle into the recovery tank;   an air/liquid separator assembly selectively insertable into the recovery tank, the air/liquid separator assembly comprising:
 a riser tube including a liquid conduit integrally formed with an air conduit; and 
 a float assembly operably coupled with the air conduit; and 
   a coupling that joins the air/liquid separator assembly with the recovery tank.   
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid conduit includes an outlet that faces away from an inlet of the air conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the float assembly is juxtaposed closer to the motor/fan assembly than the air conduit. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the air conduit is disposed between the liquid conduit and the float assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a gasket disposed between the riser tube and the recovery tank.