GB1288763A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1288763 Cleaning floors, walls, windows, &c J WATERS 22 Oct 1969 [26 Oct 1968 13 Jan 1969 9 May 1969 19 May 1969] 50902/68 Heading A4F A surface treating apparatus particularly for cleaning floors, walls, windows, carpets, and upholstery comprises a main housing 1, 6, Fig. 1, containing a motor driven air suction unit 7, the exhaust air from which operates a system for transferring cleaning liquid from a reservoir 4 within the housing 1 to a surface to be cleaned either through a cleaning head 24, Figs. 2 to 4 (not shown) or through delivery means adjacent thereto, the cleaning head (24) being in communication with the suction side of the suction unit 7 so that used cleaning liquid is withdrawn through the head into a separator tank 5, or into the reservoir 4, the tank 5 then being omitted. The exhaust air is supplied to the reservoir 4 via a cowling 8 and a resilient tube 15 containing a flat stretching element 17 functioning as a oneway valve. Cleaning liquid is thus forced by airpressure from the reservoir 4 through conduits 37, 34, and a control valve 31, Fig.2 (not shown) to be delivered through nozzles (26) mounted on the cleaning head or through perforations in a tube 52, Fig. 5 (not shown) surrounding the mouth of the head. The pressure applied by the exhaust air may be regulated by adjustment of a butterfly valve 39 controlling an air-flow to the atmosphere from the cowling 8. A switch 43 operated by a float 57 in the tank 5 actuates an alarm device and/or de-energizes the suction unit 7 when the used liquid in the tank 5 reaches a predetermined level. If during operation of the apparatus the pressure within the tank 5 falls below a predetermined value a valve 46 opens to admit air into the tank so that the suction applied to the cleaning head is not such that its manipulation is difficult. A filter bag impregnated with anti-foaming agent may be provided in the tank 5.