Surface cleaner

Abstract

A surface cleaner having a cleaning head. The cleaning head has a deck and a skirt extending from the deck such that when the skirt is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned, a cleaning volume is defined. The cleaning head has at least one vent port and at least one vacuum port formed therein. Nozzles are mounted in the cleaning volume for movement therein when fluid under pressure is supplied thereto and sprayed therefrom. A liquid supply system supplies the fluid under pressure to the nozzles so that the surface to be cleaned is effectively scrubbed by the fluid to produce a mixture of the fluid and contaminants loosened from the surface to be cleaned. A vacuum recycling system coupled to the vacuum port(s) draws high-pressure air through the vent port(s) and over the surface being sprayed with the liquid under pressure. The mixture of fluid and contaminants is suctioned through the vacuum port(s) and filtered to separate the fluid from the contaminants. The fluid so-separated is then discharged. The fluid has a boiling point lower than the temperature and atmospheric pressure in which the cleaner is operated.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates generally to a surface cleaning apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a self-contained surface cleaner that effectively scrubs a surface with a pressurized fluid, and reclaims the contaminants loosened from a surface during the cleaning thereof. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A variety of industrial-strength surface cleaners are known in the prior art. In general, a pressurized cleaning fluid is sprayed onto a surface to loosen dirt, rubber, oil, grease, etc., that has been deposited on the surface during the use thereof. The loosened dirt and other contaminants are then vacuumed. Some surface cleaners filter out the dirt and other contaminants in order to reuse the cleaning fluid. Specific examples of prior art surface cleaners are noted below. [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,010 discloses a surface cleaner having a spray / vacuum head attached to the front of a tractor and having mechanical systems mounted on a towe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention may provide a surface cleaner having improved cleaning capabilities with a reduced size for cleaning hard flat industrial surfaces such as ship decks, airport runways, streets, parking surfaces and industrial floors.

[0011] The present invention may further provide a surface cleaner that can be operated by a single person.

[0013] The present invention may provide a surface cleaner that effectively scrubs a surface without the use of brushes or other types of surface-contacting scrubbing devices.

[0014] The present invention may still further provide a self-propelled surface cleaner that is easy to maneuver on a surface to be cleaned.

[0015] The present invention may also provide a surface cleaner that traps loosened surface contaminants in order to prevent any toxic exposure to the environment.

Problems solved by technology

However, each of these prior art surface cleaners are relatively large to accommodate the fluid storage, reclamation and recycling equipment.

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