Abstract: A device for enhancing removal of liquid from fabric utilizing mechanical and aerodynamic techniques. A base plate contains one or more apertures to which a vacuum is applied for extracting water from the fabric. The total cross-sectional area of the apertures is selected to be that which will increase, and preferably maximize, the extraction power for the vacuum motor with which said base plate is to be utilized. The number and shape of the apertures is selected to reduce the ratio of the total distance along all the perimeters of said apertures to the total cross-sectional area of said apertures in order to reduce boundary layer drag. The cross-sectional area of each of said apertures is selected to be large enough to permit solid contaminants that can be expected to be in the liquid to pass through said apertures without clogging said apertures. Barriers are attached to the bottom of the base plate to force any liquid in the fabric toward the apertures as the base plate is moved across the fabric.

Abstract: A device for enhancing removal of liquid from fabric, such as a vacuum head device for removing liquid from carpet, includes an elongated base plate to be moved across the carpet. The vacuum head has a tapering cross section with a wider upper end and a narrower lower end configured to penetrate into the carpeted surface. In addition, a plurality of apertures are formed in an array in the base plate to withdraw the fluid under a vacuum force. Preferably, the plurality of apertures are sized larger than a width of the lower surface to create a plurality of protrusions extending from the base plate configured to penetrate the carpeted surface.