Wet / dry cleaner

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus may include a fluid distributor, a supply tank configured to receive a cleaning fluid, the supply tank configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid distributor, one or more batteries, and a heat exchanger in a heat exchange relationship with the one or more batteries, wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the supply tank such that at least a portion of heat generated by the one or more batteries is absorbed by the cleaning fluid as the cleaning fluid flows through the heat exchanger.

Description

WET / DRY CLEANERCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims the priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 626,877, filed January 30, 2024, and entitled “Wet / Dry Cleaner,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure is generally directed to a surface cleaning apparatus and more specifically to a thermal management system for a power supply of a surface cleaning apparatus.BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0003] Surface treatment apparatuses are configured to be moved across a surface to be cleaned (e.g., a floor). While being moved across the surface to be cleaned, the surface treatment apparatus is configured to collect at least a portion of debris present on the surface to be cleaned. One example of a surface treatment apparatus is a wet / dry vacuum cleaner. The wet / dry vacuum cleaner includes an air inlet, a dirty water tank, a supply tank, and a suction motor configured to cause air to flow into the air inlet and through the dirty water tank. The air flow may have debris and / or water from the supply tank entrained therein and at least a portion of the entrained debris and / or water may be deposited in the dirty water tank for later disposal. Debris collected in the dirty water tank may be emptied by a user.

[0004] A challenge in cordless wet / dry cleaners and / or similar home appliances may include achieving optimal cleaning performance with a compact design. In general, optimal cleaning performance is measured using a key performance index (KPI) called “air wattage,” which is influenced by air path ergonomics of a system, motor maximum torque, and battery peak power. Heat generated as a result of discharging a battery may have a detrimental impact on battery performance. Passive air cooling may not sufficiently dissipate heat, causing the battery to operate a reduced performance to reduce a quantity of heat generated. As such, battery overheating may cause these products to operate under the peak power during a full discharge cycle.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] These and other features and advantages will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings, wherein:

[0006] FIG. l is a schematic example of a surface cleaning device, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic example of a battery pack for use with the surface cleaning device of FIG. 1 in a heat exchange relationship with a heat exchanger, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the battery pack of FIG. 2, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of the battery pack of FIG. 2, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the battery pack of FIG. 2, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an example method of operation of the surface cleaning device of FIG. 1, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The present disclosure is generally directed to a surface cleaning apparatus having a power supply (e.g., one or more batteries) configured to be cooled using cleaning fluid stored on the surface cleaning apparatus. The surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head and an upright section pivotally coupled to the surface cleaning head. The surface cleaning apparatus may further include a supply tank configured to hold a cleaning fluid and a fluid distributor configured to distribute cleaning fluid from the supply tank to the surface to be cleaned (e.g., a floor) and / or an agitator of the surface cleaning head. The cleaning fluid may further be configured to pass through a heat exchanger that is thermally coupled to the power supply of the surface cleaning apparatus such that the cleaning fluid absorbs at least a portion of the heat generated by the power supply.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a schematic example of a surface cleaning apparatus 100. The surface cleaning apparatus 100 includes a surface cleaning head 102 and an upright section 104 pivotally coupled to the surface cleaning head 102. The surface cleaning head 102 is configured to be maneuvered along a surface to be cleaned 106 using the upright section 104. The surface cleaning head 102 may include, for example, an agitator 108 configured to be rotated by an agitator motor 111. The agitator 108 extends from an agitation chamber 112 and into contact with the surface to be cleaned 106 such that rotation of the agitator 108 agitates debris on the surface to be cleaned 106. The surface cleaning head 102 may further include a fluid distributor110 configured to distribute a cleaning fluid (e.g., water, a cleaning chemical, and / or the like) to the surface to be cleaned 106 and / or the agitator 108.

[0014] The upright section 104 may include a supply tank 114 configured to receive a cleaning fluid and configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid distributor 110, a recovery tank 116 configured to be fluidly coupled to the agitation chamber 112, a suction motor 118 configured to urge distributed cleaning fluid into the recovery tank 116, and a pump 120 configured to urge cleaning fluid from the supply tank 114 to the fluid distributor 110. The upright section 104 may further include one or more batteries 122 and a battery management system 124, wherein the one or more batteries 122 are configured to provide power to one or more of the agitator motor 111, the suction motor 118, and / or the pump 120. The battery management system 124 is configured to control operation of the one or more batteries 122 (e.g., based on one or more inputs) using, for example, a management controller 125. The pump 120 may include a diaphragm pump, a rotary vane pump, a roller pump, a centrifugal pump, and / or any other suitable pump.

[0015] In operation, the one or more batteries 122 and / or battery management system 124 generate heat as a result of the discharge of the one or more batteries 122. As the generated heat increases the performance of the one or more batteries 122 and / or battery management system 124 may decrease. As such, the power output of the one or more batteries 122 may be reduced by the battery management system 124 in order to maintain a temperature of the one or more batteries 122 within a predetermined range.

[0016] In some instances, the upright section 104 may include a heat exchanger 126. The one or more batteries 122 and / or the battery management system 124 may be configured to cooperate with the heat exchanger 126. In other words, the one or more batteries 122 and / or the battery management system 124 may be in a heat exchange relationship (or thermally coupled with) the heat exchanger 126. For example, the heat exchanger 126 may be fluidly coupled to the supply tank 114 such that when the pump 120 urges cleaning fluid from the supply tank 114, the cleaning fluid passes through the heat exchanger 126. As the cleaning fluid passes through the heat exchanger 126, the cleaning fluid absorbs at least a portion of the heat generated by the one or more batteries 122 and / or the battery management system 124 to generate warmed cleaning fluid. The warmed cleaning fluid may be distributed to the surrounding environment via the fluid distributor 110. In some instances, the warmed cleaning fluid may be returned to the supply tank 114.

[0017] A valve 128 may selectively fluidly couple the supply tank 114 to the fluid distributor 110. For example, the valve 128 may be configured to selectively direct the warmed cleaning fluid to either the supply tank 114 or the fluid distributor 110. Such a configuration, may allow auser to use the surface cleaning apparatus 100 in a dry mode (e.g., without distributing cleaning fluid) while still absorbing heat from the one or more batteries 122 and / or the battery management system 124. Additionally, or alternatively, such a configuration may allow a user to selectively distribute cleaning fluid (e.g., to distribute cleaning fluid only when a stain is present), while still absorbing heat from the one or more batteries 122 and / or the battery management system 124. In other words, in this example, the valve 128 may be generally described as being configured to selectively create a distribution flow path 129 (which fluidly couples the supply tank 114 to the fluid distributor 110) and a recirculation flow path 131 (which cycles cleaning fluid through a closed loop that includes the supply tank 114 and the heat exchanger 126).

[0018] In some instances, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130. The one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130 may be communicatively coupled to the battery management system 124. In some instances, the one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130 may be communicatively coupled to the battery management system 124 through a main controller 132 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. In these instances, the main controller 132 may be, for example, configured to output binary indication of fluid level (sufficient / insufficient fluid) or supply tank presence (present or not present) to the battery management system 124 that is based on output from the fluid monitoring sensors 130.

[0019] The fluid monitoring sensors 130 may be configured to detect a fluid level within the supply tank 114. When the fluid monitoring sensors 130 detect a fluid level that is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the battery management system 124 may cause the one or more batteries 122 to discharge at a non-liquid cooled operational level. When the fluid monitoring sensors 130 detect a fluid level is greater than a predetermined threshold, the battery management system 124 may cause the one or more batteries 122 to discharge at a liquid cooled operational level, the discharge rate of the liquid cooled operational level being higher than the non-liquid cooled operational level. In other words, the one or more batteries 122 are configured to operate according to a liquid cooled operational mode and a non-liquid cooled operational mode.

[0020] In some instances, the one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130 may be configured to determine the availability of cleaning fluid (e.g., whether the supply tank 114 is coupled to the upright section 104). Additionally, or alternatively, one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130 may be configured to measure a temperature of the cleaning fluid (e.g., in a situation where the cleaning fluid is being returned to the supply tank 114, a temperature of the cleaning fluid may increase over time). In some instances, the liquid cooled operational mode may have a variable discharge rate that is based, at least in part, on a temperature of the cleaning fluid.

[0021] The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may further include one or more battery monitoring sensors 134. The one or more battery monitoring sensors 134 may measure a temperature of the one or more batteries 122. When the battery monitoring sensors 134 indicate a temperature of the one or more batteries 122 is greater than a threshold, the battery management system 124 may cause the one or more batteries to discharge at the non-liquid cooled operational level.

[0022] In some instances, the battery management system 124 may be configured to selectively transition the one or more batteries 122 between the liquid cooled and non-liquid cooled operational levels in response to a user input. For example, a user may actuate an input control 136 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 that corresponds to, for example, an enhanced cleaning mode (e.g., which causes the agitator motor 111, the suction motor 118, and / or the pump 120 to operate at an increase speed, drawing more power). In this example, the valve 128 may direct cleaning fluid to either the fluid distributor 110 or the supply tank 114 depending on whether the user wants to distribute cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned 106.

[0023] One or more of the one or more batteries 122 and / or the battery management system 124 may have one or more fluid ingress prevention features configured to prevent ingress of cleaning fluid (e.g., as a result of a leak forming in the heat exchanger 126) into the one or more batteries and / or the battery management system 124. For example, one or more of the one or more batteries 122 and / or the battery management system 124 may be disposed within a liquid tight heat conductive container or cavity within the surface cleaning apparatus 100. In some instances, the one or more battery monitoring sensors 134 may include a leak detection sensor.

[0024] In one example, use of the heat exchanger 126 to absorb heat from the one or more batteries 122 and / or battery management system 124 may allow a six-cell pack capable of delivering 200 watts (w) when air cooled to deliver 1000 w when liquid cooled. As may be appreciated, while one or more components may be described as being positioned on the upright section 104 (e.g., the supply tank 114, the pump 120, the suction motor 118, the one or more batteries 122, the battery management system 124, and / or any other component) or the surface cleaning head 102 (e.g., the agitator motor 111, the fluid distributor 110, and / or any other component), this description is made by way of example only and other configurations are possible. For example, the surface cleaning head 102 may include one or more of the supply tank 114, the pump 120, the suction motor 118, the one or more batteries 122, and / or the battery management system 124. Further, while the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is shown as having an upright configuration, other configurations are possible. For example the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may have a handheld configuration (e.g., configured to be held and operated with asingle hand, held and operated using both hands independently, and / or any other handheld configuration), a canister configuration, and / or any other configuration.

[0025] While the cleaning fluid from the supply tank 114 is described as being used to cool the one or more batteries 122 and / or the battery management system 124, other configurations are possible. For example, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include a dedicated coolant tank configured to provide coolant to the heat exchanger 126 for cooling the one or more batteries 122 and / or the battery management system 124. In this example, the coolant tank may include fluids having better heat exchange properties than water and / or a cleaning chemical. In some instances, use of a dedicated coolant tank may allow the surface cleaning apparatus 100 to be a dry only cleaner.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a schematic example of a battery pack 200. The battery pack 200 includes a housing 202 defining a cavity 204. The cavity 204 is configured to receive a plurality of battery cells 206 that collectively form a battery 207, which is an example of the battery 122 of FIG. 1, and a battery management system 208, which is an example of the battery management system 124 of FIG. 1. The battery management system 208 is configured to control the discharge of the plurality of battery cells 206.

[0027] The housing 202 may be made of a thermally conductive material (e.g., a metal alloy) configured to be in a heat exchange relationship with a heat exchanger 210, which is an example of the heat exchanger 126 of FIG. 1. As shown, the heat exchanger 210 includes one or more pipes 212 in a heat exchange relationship with the housing 202 and the housing 202 may be in a heat exchange relationship with the plurality of battery cells 206 and the battery management system 208. As such, heat exchanger 210 may generally be described as being in a heat exchange relationship with the battery pack 200. In some instances, the one or more pipes 212 may be integrated within or formed from the housing 202. For example, the housing 202 may include channels defined between inner and outer surfaces of the housing 202, wherein the channels form or include one or more the pipes 212. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more pipes 212 may be coupled to a surface (e.g., an outer surface) of the housing 202.

[0028] As shown, the one or more pipes 212 are fluidly coupled to the supply tank 114 and include an inlet 214 and an outlet 216. In operation, cleaning fluid passing into the inlet 214 is at a lower temperature than cleaning fluid passing through the outlet 216. In other words, as cleaning fluid flows through the one or more pipes 212 the cleaning fluid absorbs at least a portion of the heat generated as result of the use of the battery pack 200 (e.g., heat generated by one or more of the battery cells 206 and / or the battery management system 208).

[0029] The battery management system 208 may be configured to monitor and / or control one or more properties of the one or more cells 206. For example, each cell 206 may be associated with a corresponding cell sensor 218, which are examples of the battery monitoring sensors 134 of FIG. 1. Each cell sensor 218 may be configured to monitor a physical property (e.g., temperature) of the corresponding cell 206. The monitored property may be reported to the battery management system 208 such that the battery management system 208 may control operation (e.g., a discharge rate) of each cell 206 (e.g., on an individual cell-by-cell basis). For example, each cell sensor 218 may be configured to measure a temperature of the corresponding cell 206. In this example, the battery management system 208 may be configured to increase or decrease a discharge rate of each cell 206 based, at least in part, on the measured temperature (e.g., to reduce a risk of an individual cell 206 overheating). Adjusting the discharge rate of each cell 206 based on the measured temperature may include reducing the discharge rate of a respective cell 206 when the temperature is greater than a first temperature threshold and disabling discharge of the respective cell 206 when the temperature is greater than a second temperature threshold (and / or remains greater than the first temperature threshold for a predetermined time), the second temperature threshold being greater than the first temperature threshold.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of the battery pack 200. As shown, a top cover 300 of the battery pack 200 includes at least a portion of the one or more pipes 212. The one or more pipes 212 may be coupled to or formed within the top cover 300. As shown, the one or more pipes 212 may form an undulated cooling path 302 extending along the top cover 300 such that a top flow direction 304 of the cleaning fluid is changed (e.g., by about 180°) at least once (e.g., at least twice, at least three times, at least four times, or more). For example, the one or more pipes may form a W-shaped flow path along the top cover 300. In some instances, and as shown, the top cover 300 may include the inlet 214.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a schematic bottom view of the battery pack 200. As shown, a bottom cover 400 of the battery pack 200 includes at least a portion of the one or more pipes 212. The one or more pipes 212 may be coupled to or formed within the bottom cover 400. As shown, the one or more pipes 212 may form an undulated cooling path 402 extending along the bottom cover 400 such that a bottom flow direction 404 of the cleaning fluid is changed (e.g., by about 180°) at least once (e.g., at least twice, at least three times, at least four times, or more). For example, the one or more pipes may form a W-shaped flow path along the bottom cover 400. In some instances, and as shown, the bottom cover 400 may include the outlet 216.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of one side of the battery pack 200. As shown, a side cover 500 of the battery pack 200 includes at least a portion of the one or more pipes 212. The one or more pipes 212 may be coupled to or formed within the side cover 500. As shown, the one or more pipes 212 may form an undulated cooling path 402 extending along the side cover 500 such that a side flow direction 504 of the cleaning fluid is changed (e.g., by about 180°) at least once (e.g., at least twice, at least three times, at least four times, or more). For example, the one or more pipes 212 may form a U-shaped flow path along the side cover 500.

[0033] In some instances, the one or more pipes 212 may be a single continuous pipe that extends along the top cover 300, the bottom cover 400, and at least one side cover 500. In other instances, the one or more pipes 212 may include a plurality of pipes fluidly coupled together.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of an example of a method of operation 600 for the surface cleaning apparatus 100 of FIG. 1. The method 600 may be embodied as one or more instructions stored in one or more memories (e.g., non-transitory computer readable memories), wherein the one or more instructions are configured to be executed on one or more processors. For example, one or more controllers (e.g., the main controller 132 and / or the management controller 125) may be configured to cause one or more steps of the method 600 to be carried out. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more steps of the method 600 may be carried out in any combination of software, firmware, or circuitry (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit).

[0035] As shown, the method 600 may include a step 602. The step 602 includes determining whether the supply tank 114 is fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning apparatus 100 and whether a quantity of cleaning fluid within the supply tank 114 is greater than a predetermined threshold using the one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130. In some instances, determining whether the supply tank 114 is fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be based, at least in part, on a determination that the quantity of cleaning fluid is below a threshold. For example, if the supply tank 114 is decoupled from the surface cleaning apparatus 100, the one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130 may indicate a fluid level of zero or the controller may detect a break in communication with the one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130 (e.g., resulting in an error), which would be indicative of the supply tank 114 being missing.

[0036] As shown, the method 600 may include a step 604. The step 604 includes, in response to determining the supply tank 114 is fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning apparatus 100 and includes a quantity of cleaning fluid is greater than the predetermined threshold, causing the pump 120 to urge cleaning fluid from the supply tank 114 and through the heat exchanger 126. In some instances, the step 604 may include actuating the valve 128 to transition between the distribution flow path 129 and the recirculation flow path 131. Actuation of the valve 128 maybe based, at least in part, on a sensor input (e.g., a floor type sensor) or a user input (e.g., a user input corresponding to cleaning fluid delivery request).

[0037] As shown, the method may include a step 606. The step 606 includes, in response to the pump 120 causing a flow of cleaning fluid, causing the battery management system 124 to allow the one or more batteries 122 to (e.g., selectively or automatically) discharge at the liquid cooled operational level. For example, the one or more batteries 122 may selectively discharge at the liquid cooled operational level in response to a user input (e.g., actuation of the input control 136) causing the surface cleaning apparatus to transition from a baseline cleaning mode to the enhanced cleaning mode. The enhanced cleaning mode may include increasing a power draw of one or more of the agitator motor 111, the suction motor 118, and / or the pump 120. By way of further example, the one or more batteries 122 may automatically discharge at the liquid cooled operational level whenever the pump 120 is causing a flow of cleaning fluid.

[0038] As shown, the method may include a step 608. The step 608 includes monitoring a temperature of one or more of the one or more batteries 122 and / or the cleaning fluid within the supply tank 114 using at least one of the one or more battery monitoring sensors 134 and / or the one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130. In response to the temperature of the one or more batteries 122 and / or the cleaning fluid being greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the battery management system 124 may prevent the one or more batteries from discharging at the liquid cooled operational level. If the temperature is greater than or equal the predetermined threshold after transitioning from the liquid cooled operational level to the non-liquid cooled operational level, the battery management system 124 may prevent the one or more batteries 122 from discharging.

[0039] Additionally, or alternatively, the step 608 may include monitoring a quantity of cleaning fluid within the supply tank 114 using the one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130 to determine whether the quantity of cleaning fluid is greater than the predetermined threshold. When the one or more fluid monitoring sensors 130 indicate that the quantity of fluid is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold, the battery management system 124 may prevent the one or more batteries from discharging at the liquid cooled operational level.

[0040] Additionally, or alternatively, when the one or more batteries 122 have a plurality cells, the temperature of one or more of the cells may be monitored. For example, in the battery pack 200 of FIG. 2, the plurality of cells 206 collectively form the battery 207. In this example, the temperature of at least one of the plurality of cells 206 may be monitored. In some instances, a temperature of all the cells 206 may be monitored. When the temperature of an individual cell of the plurality of cells 206 is greater than a first temperature threshold, the battery managementsystem 124 may cause the affected cell 206 to discharge according the non-liquid cooled operational level in an attempt to allow the affected cell 206 to cool down while the remaining cells 206 discharge according to the liquid cooled operational level. If the temperature of the affected cell 206 continues to increase and becomes greater than a second temperature threshold (and / or remains above the first temperature threshold for a predetermined time), the battery management system 124 may cause the affected cell 206 to discontinue discharging. By selectively changing a discharge rate on an individual cell level, heat generation of the battery pack 200 may be adjusted to account for the ability of the heat exchanger 126 to maintain the battery pack 200 at a desired temperature (e.g., which may be influenced by cleaning fluid temperature, cleaning fluid presence, and / or a quantity of heat generated by the battery pack 200). In some instances, a measured temperature of the hottest cell 206 may be used by the battery management system 124 to control the discharge rate of all of the cells 206.

[0041] As shown, the method 600 may include a step 610. The step 610 includes, in response to determining the supply tank 114 is not fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning apparatus 100 or that the supply tank 114 includes a quantity of cleaning fluid below the predetermined threshold, disabling the pump 120 and preventing the one or more batteries 122 from discharging at the liquid cooled operational level.

[0042] As shown, the method 600 may include the step 612. The step 612 includes, when the discharging of the one or more batteries 122 at the liquid cooled operational level is disabled, monitoring a temperature of the one or more batteries 122 using the one or more battery monitoring sensors 134. When the temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the battery management system 124 may prevent the one or more batteries 122 from discharging.

[0043] Additionally, or alternatively, when the one or more batteries 122 have a plurality cells, the temperature of one or more of the cells may be monitored. For example, in the battery pack 200 of FIG. 2, the plurality of cells 206 collectively form the battery 207. In this example, the temperature of at least one of the plurality of cells 206 may be monitored. In some instances, a temperature of all the cells 206 may be monitored. When the temperature of an individual cell of the plurality of cells 206 is greater than a first temperature threshold, the battery management system 124 may cause the affected cell 206 to reduces its discharge rate to allow the affected cell 206 to cool down while the remaining cells 206 discharge according to non-liquid cooled operational level. If the temperature of the affected cell 206 continues to increase and becomes greater than a second temperature threshold (and / or remains above the first temperature threshold for a predetermined time), the battery management system 124 may cause the affected cell 206 toDocket No.: 057664-684001WO discontinue discharging. In some instances, a measured temperature of the hottest cell 206 may be used by the battery management system 124 to control the discharge rate of all of the cells 206.

[0044] While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.

Claims

Docket No.: 057664-684001WOWhat is claimed is:

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a surface cleaning head having a fluid distributor; and an upright section pivotally coupled to the surface cleaning head, the upright section including: a supply tank configured to receive a cleaning fluid, the supply tank configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid distributor; one or more batteries; and a heat exchanger in a heat exchange relationship with the one or more batteries, wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the supply tank such that at least a portion of heat generated by the one or more batteries is absorbed by the cleaning fluid as the cleaning fluid flows through the heat exchanger.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a valve configured to selectively fluidly couple the supply tank to the fluid distributor.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the valve is configured to cause the cleaning fluid to selectively flow along a distribution flow path or a recirculation flow path, the distribution flow path fluidly coupling the supply tank to the fluid distributor and the recirculation flow path corresponding to a closed loop that includes the supply tank and the heat exchanger.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more batteries are configured to operate in a liquid cooled operational mode and a non-liquid cooled operational mode, a discharge rate of the one or more batteries in the liquid cooled operational mode being greater than the non-liquid cooled operational mode.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a fluid monitoring sensor configured to measure a fluid level within the supply tank, wherein, when the fluid level is greater than a predetermined threshold, the one or more batteries are able to discharge according to the liquid cooled operational mode.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a fluid monitoring sensor configured to measure a fluid level within the supply tank, wherein, when the fluid level falls is equal to less than a predetermined threshold, the one or more batteries are prevented from discharging according to the liquid cooled operational mode.Docket No.: 057664-684001WO7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more batteries include a plurality of battery cells disposed within a housing.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger includes one or more pipes in a heat exchange relationship with the housing.

9. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a fluid distributor; a supply tank configured to receive a cleaning fluid, the supply tank configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid distributor; one or more batteries; and a heat exchanger in a heat exchange relationship with the one or more batteries, wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the supply tank such that at least a portion of heat generated by the one or more batteries is absorbed by the cleaning fluid as the cleaning fluid flows through the heat exchanger.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a valve configured to selectively fluidly couple the supply tank to the fluid distributor.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the valve is configured to cause the cleaning fluid to selectively flow along a distribution flow path or a recirculation flow path, the distribution flow path fluidly coupling the supply tank to the fluid distributor and the recirculation flow path corresponding to a closed loop that includes the supply tank and the heat exchanger.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more batteries are configured to operate in a liquid cooled operational mode and a non-liquid cooled operational mode, a discharge rate of the one or more batteries in the liquid cooled operational mode being greater than the non-liquid cooled operational mode.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a fluid monitoring sensor configured to measure a fluid level within the supply tank, wherein, when the fluid level is greater than a predetermined threshold, the one or more batteries are able to discharge according to the liquid cooled operational mode.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a fluid monitoring sensor configured to measure a fluid level within the supply tank, wherein, when the fluid level is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the one or more batteries are prevented from discharging according to the liquid cooled operational mode.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more batteries include a plurality of battery cells disposed within a housing.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15, wherein the heat exchanger includes one or more pipes in a heat exchange relationship with the housing.

17. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a surface cleaning head having a fluid distributor; an upright section pivotally coupled to the surface cleaning head; a supply tank configured to receive a cleaning fluid, the supply tank configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid distributor; one or more batteries; and a heat exchanger in a heat exchange relationship with the one or more batteries, wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the supply tank such that at least a portion of heat generated by the one or more batteries is absorbed by the cleaning fluid as the cleaning fluid flows through the heat exchanger.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more batteries are configured to operate in a liquid cooled operational mode and a non-liquid cooled operational mode, a discharge rate of the one or more batteries in the liquid cooled operational mode being greater than the non-liquid cooled operational mode.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a fluid monitoring sensor configured to measure a fluid level within the supply tank, wherein, when the fluid level is greater than a predetermined threshold, the one or more batteries are able to discharge according to the liquid cooled operational mode.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a fluid monitoring sensor configured to measure a fluid level within the supply tank, wherein, when the fluid level is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the one or more batteries are prevented from discharging according to the liquid cooled operational mode.

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