Abstract: A vacuum-type cleaning apparatus employs a cleaning head which has an intake opening that is adapted to be juxtaposed with contaminated portions of an object to be cleaned. Air is withdrawn from the interior of the cleaning head. Nozzles inject streams of cleaning fluid into the channel and the flow of the fluid is directed towards the intake opening and at an angle relative to the plane of the intake opening for the fluid to impinge the object and to be subsequently removed from the object by suction together with contaminants entrained therein at a wet cleaning zone. The flow is directed and changed into a liquid curtain by a baffle which is inclined transversely of the plane of the intake opening, preferably at an acute angle.

Abstract: A vacuum-type cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method employ a cleaning head which is mounted on a housing and which has an intake opening that is adapted to be juxtaposed with contaminated portions of an object to be cleaned. A suction force is generated and transmitted via a suction channel through the intake opening and thereby to the object. Nozzles inject a stream of cleansing fluid into the channel and its flow is directed towards the intake opening and at an angle relative to the plane of the intake opening so as to impinge the object prior to the removal of the contaminants entrained in the stream from the object by suction. The flow is directed by a baffle which is inclined transversely of the plane of the intake opening, preferably at an acute angle. The baffle is mounted within the channel and provides for a dry cleaning zone to pick up loose contaminant particles prior to contact being made by the stream of cleaning fluid in the wet cleaning zone.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner wherein a mobile housing contains a tank for a supply of liquid and is connected with a first tube which supplies liquid to a brush serving to scrub and wet a surface to be treated. The brush is further connected with or adjacent to the inlet of a hose which sucks liquid, together with air and solid constituents, into the housing. Coarse solid constituents are segregated by a perforated belt which allows air, liquid and smaller solid particles to enter an upright separating and conveying unit having an air separating device at its lower end, a liquids-solids separating centrifuge in the median portion and a multi-stage compressor at its upper end. Air which is separated from liquid and solid constituents is drawn into the compressor which discharges such air into the atmosphere. The centrifuge has a stator surrounding a hollow rotor which contains a cylinder and a bottom wall defining a compartment which receives clean liquid from above.