Abstract: Floor care apparatus is disclosed wherein a powered brush assembly having a multiplicity of rotary brushes is suspended within the apparatus such that the brush assembly floats freely upon the surface being cleaned without supporting any of the machine's weight. The rotary brushes are generally configured as spur gears and function in a gear train wherein one brush drives all other gear brushes in the system. Axially projecting brush bristles are embedded in each gear tooth such that there is no unbrushed area between adjacent brushes in the brush line. The portion of the gear tooth wherein the bristles are embedded includes a recessed profile to allow for circumferential expansion of the tooth, upon insertion of the brush bristles, thereby preventing gear tooth interference. The brush assembly is particularly suitable for hot water carpet extractors of the upright design.

Abstract: A novel upright carpet cleaning extractor is disclosed which may be conveniently converted from the floor cleaning mode to the upholstery and/or stair cleaning mode. The overall configuration and operation of the extractor is similar to that of a typical upright vacuum cleaner and may be operated in the forward or reverse direction similar to a typical upright vacuum cleaner. When in the floor cleaning mode, cleaning solution is supplied to a solution distributor by gravity flow. However, when converted to the upholstery cleaning mode an auxiliary, air turbine driven cleaning solution pump is automatically energized for supplying pressurized cleaning solution to an upholstery or stair cleaning nozzle.

Abstract: A portable compact extractor having permanent solution and recovery tanks integrally formed in a single main tank portion, with a removable power head attached to the top of the main tank. A fill port passes through the powerhead into the cleaning solution tank and a pour spout is formed in the recovery tank. With this construction, the cleaning solution tank may be filled with water and, if desired, detergent, by pouring the water and detergent into the fill port in the power head, and the recovery tank may be emptied as desired simply by tipping the unit and pouring the contents of the recovery tank out the pour spout and down the drain, without ever having to remove any tanks, bottles or the power head from the unit, or disconnect and reconnect any tubes. A carry handle is located on the powerhead to facilitate transportation of the unit, removal of the power head from the main tank for cleaning the tanks when desired, and to facilitate pouring the contents of the recovery tank out of the pour spout.

Abstract: Floor care apparatus is disclosed wherein a powered brush assembly having a multiplicity of rotary brushes is suspended within the apparatus such that the brush assembly floats freely upon the surface being cleaned without supporting any of the machine's weight. The rotary brushes are generally configured as spur gears and function in a gear train wherein one brush drives all other gear brushes in the system. Axially projecting brush bristles are embedded in each gear tooth such that there is no unbrushed area between adjacent brushes in the brush line. The portion of the gear tooth wherein the bristles are embedded includes a recessed profile to allow for circumferential expansion of the tooth, upon insertion of the brush bristles, thereby preventing gear tooth interference. The brush assembly is particularly suitable for hot water carpet extractors of the upright design.

Abstract: A unique valve door mechanism is disclosed for use in a dual chambered utility type vacuum cleaner having two suction inlets whereby the inactive suction inlet may be selectively closed and sealed off from the atmosphere. The valve door is slidingly suspended between guide rails whereby the door may be selectively positioned adjacent the suction inlet to be disabled. Atmospheric pressure is utilized to urge the valve door against the selected inlet opening thereby sealing off the inlet from the atmosphere. The valve may also be in the form of a rotatable, elbow-shaped body having a single plenum. The body may be rotated between at least two positions where the outlet to the plenum is in fluid communication with a wet tank in one position and a dry tank in the other position.

Abstract: A portable compact extractor having permanent solution and recovery tanks integrally formed in a single main tank portion, with a removable power head attached to the top of the main tank. A fill port passes through the powerhead into the cleaning solution tank and a pour spout is formed in the recovery tank. With this construction, the cleaning solution tank may be filled with water and, if desired, detergent, by pouring the water and detergent into the fill port in the power head, and the recovery tank may be emptied as desired simply by tipping the unit and pouring the contents of the recovery tank out the pour spout and down the drain, without ever having to remove any tanks, bottles or the power head from the unit, or disconnect and reconnect any tubes. A carry handle is located on the powerhead to facilitate transportation of the unit, removal of the power head from the main tank for cleaning the tanks when desired, and to facilitate pouring the contents of the recovery tank out of the pour spout.

Abstract: A gravity feed liquid cleaning solution supply system particularly suitable for use on an upright hot water carpet extractor having a free floating brush assembly is disclosed. The unique system generally comprises a stationary fluid supply manifold positioned above a free floating brush assembly having multiple laterally disposed rotary brushes rotatable about vertical axle shafts suspended from a laterally disposed brush support beam. The support beam includes open top troughs, one above each individual brush, into which liquid cleaning solution cascades from the overhead manifold. From each fluid trough, the cleaning solution is conveyed to the center cup of an associated rotary brush through a conduit integrally molded into the brush support beam. By this unique structure liquid cleaning solution is supplied to the free floating brush assembly without restricting the floating movement of the scrubbing brushes over the surface being cleaned.

Abstract: The herein disclosed invention relates to an improved carpet extractor having powered brushes for scrubbing a floor surface and which may be converted to an above the floor mode for upholstery cleaning or the like. A pair of air driven turbines are disclosed, one for driving the floor scrubbing brushes when in the floor cleaning mode and one for driving a cleaning solution supply pump when in the above floor cleaning mode. A unique linkage mechanism is taught whereby only one turbine or the other is energized depending upon the cleaning mode selected by the operator.

Abstract: A novel upright, hot water carpet cleaning extractor is disclosed. The overall configuration and operation of the extractor is similar to that of a typical upright vacuum cleaner and may be similarly operated in both the forward and reverse direction. The herein taught extractor comprises a base frame including the floor suction nozzle, suction fan, cleaning solution distributor, and a removable combination air/liquid separator and recovery tank. A manipulative push-pull handle is pivotly attached to the base frame having a removable cleaning solution supply tank supported thereon. The herein taught upright extractor is easily stored, self contained, easy to operate and requiring minimal effort by the operator.

Abstract: A novel upright carpet cleaning extractor is disclosed which may be conveniently converted from the floor cleaning mode to the upholstery and/or stair cleaning mode. The overall configuration and operation of the extractor is similar to that of a typical upright vacuum cleaner and may be operated in the forward or reverse direction similar to a typical upright vacuum cleaner. When in the floor cleaning mode, cleaning solution is supplied to a solution distributor by gravity flow. However, when converted to the upholstery cleaning mode an auxiliary, air turbine driven cleaning solution pump is automatically energized for supplying pressurized cleaning solution to an upholstery or stair cleaning nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a utility, wet/dry, tank type, vacuum cleaner suitable for domestic use whereby wet or dry material may be alternately vacuumed. Two storage or receiving chambers are provided, preferably positioned one within the other. Two suction inlets, one communicating with the first chamber and the other communicating with the second chamber are provided such that wet and dry material may be selectively directed, by the user, to the appropriate chamber for collection.

Abstract: A novel upright carpet cleaning extractor is disclosed which may be conveniently converted from the floor cleaning mode to the upholstery and/or stair cleaning mode. The overall configuration and operation of the extractor is similar to that of a typical upright vacuum cleaner and may be operated in the forward or reverse direction similar to a typical upright vacuum cleaner. When in the floor cleaning mode, cleaning solution is supplied to a solution distributor by gravity flow. However, when converted to the upholstery cleaning mode an auxiliary, air turbine driven cleaning solution pump is automatically energized for supplying pressurized cleaning solution to an upholstery or stair cleaning nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a utility, wet/dry, tank type, vacuum cleaner suitable for domestic use whereby wet or dry material may be alternately vacuumed. Two storage or receiving chambers are provided, preferably positioned one within the other. Two suction inlets, one communicating with the first chamber and the other communicating with the second chamber are provided such that wet and dry material may be selectively directed, by the user, to the appropriate chamber for collection.

Abstract: An air turbine is provided having an entrance stator blade arrangement formed in two halfs, each containing a blade array, with the two halfs interleaved, upon turbine assembly, to thereby easily form an entrance stator with a multiplicity of entrance stator blades.

Abstract: A cleaner suction nozzle is provided in which provisions are made for a nozzle height elevation arrangement and a hose conversion valve arrangement. The hose conversion valve arrangement works in conjunction with the nozzle height elevation arrangement so that the suction nozzle can be elevated from the floor to disengage the cleaner agitator and then hose conversion of the cleaner can occur almost simultaneously.

Abstract: The invention comprehends the use of a brush mounting housing mounted over a nozzle housing so as to dispose brushes forwardly and rearwardly of a nozzle opening. The brush mounting housing is pivotally mounted relative to the nozzle housing so that the forward and rearward brushes may be movable relative to the nozzle. The brush mounting housing is advantageously pivoted to the nozzle at the location of nozzle housing pivot to a wand coupling for the floorcare appliance.