Abstract: Leading and trailing cylindrical brushes (14) are moved in an operation direction to sweep and wet scrub a floor In differing aspects, the trailing cylindrical brush (14) is rotated at a greater rotational speed than the leading cylindrical brush (14) to enhance sweeping ability and preferably in the order of 1500 RPMs to enhance polishing. The brushes (14) include spiraled, equally circumferentially spaced rows (R) of a multiplicity of equally spaced tufts (54). The tufts (54) of an adjacent trailing row (R) are indexed laterally from a leading row (R) by an index distance (T) less than one half of the distance (I) of the tufts (54) in the rows (R).

Abstract: A disinfecting device is presented having a UV light source for radiation of a cleaning medium to eradicate the medium of infestation agents such as molds, viuses, bacteria and dust mites. The device enhances the disinfection of the medium by providing mechanisms for enhanced penetration of the UV light into the cleaning medium. The device also offers enhanced heat dissipation to promote effective use of the device. Also provided are safety mechanisms to promote the safe and advantageous use of the UV device.

Abstract: Provided is a suction nozzle structure of a vacuum cleaner for enhancing a foreign particle suction efficiency. The suction nozzle structure includes: a suction tube in which a negative pressure is formed; a suction hole formed at a bottom of the suction nozzle structure such that air and foreign particles are sucked by the negative pressure of the suction tube; an agitator installed at an upper side of the suction hole; an air guide provided with an air suction passage communicating the suction hole with the suction tube, for guiding air flow; and a foreign particle rotation-preventing portion formed protruding from the air guide, for preventing a foreign particle from rotating.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a moquette carpet cleaning machine (10) operable in pull-back mode comprising a machine body (11) provided with main rear wheels (12) and a suction mouth (14) placed at the front and is characterised in that support means (19) are constrained to the machine (10), on which support means (19) at least one auxiliary wheel (16) is mounted, and in that at least one from among the main wheels (12), suction mouth (14), the at least one auxiliary wheel (16) and support means (19) are movable means with respect to the machine body (11), between at least a first (A) and at least a second (B) relative position such that, when the movable means (12,14,19,16) are in the first relative position (A), the suction mouth (14) is maintained adherent to the ground (20), and when the movable means (12,14,19,16) are in the second relative position (B), the suction mouth (14) is maintained substantially raised from the ground (20).

Abstract: A sweeper including a rotating brush or drum supported by a float arm movably coupled to a bucket. The float arm is coupled to a linkage to movably support the float arm between a retracted position and a forward position. Float arm is supported independently of a hood connected to the bucket and is movable through linkage relative to hood. In an illustrated embodiment, float arm is rotationally coupled to linkage to compensate for height variations and/or provide a mechanism to rotate linkage to move the float arm forward relative to the bucket.

Abstract: A self-propelled walk behind floor cleaning apparatus includes a frame. A plurality of floor engaging wheels support the frame above a floor and a brush assembly fixed to the frame agitates a fluid on the floor. A floating tank is supported by the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning ducts of a heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. In one embodiment, a pod has a vacuum chamber therein, a drive motor located within the pod and configured to receive a removable drive shaft therein, and a conduit member located within the pod adjacent the drive motor. The conduit member has a vacuum inlet opening at an exterior wall of the pod and a drive shaft exit opening formed in the conduit member through which the removable drive shaft can extend. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a man-portable pod and a cart removably-coupleable to the man-portable pod. A method of manufacturing the apparatus and a method of cleaning an HVAC duct is also provided.

Abstract: A cleaning appliance includes a housing with a brushroll and a wheel mounted thereto. A floor-type sensor is disposed within a mounting tube secured to the housing. The floor-type sensor emits sonic energy toward a surface being traversed by the cleaning appliance and receives corresponding sonic energy reflected by the surface. A comparator, electrically coupled to the floor-type sensor, compares the received reflected sonic energy to one or more associated predetermined values to determine the type of surface being traversed. A processor analyzes the results of the comparison and controls at least one of a suction fan, said wheel and said brushroll, based at least in part on the analysis.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for cleaning ducts of a heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a pod having a vacuum chamber therein, a drive motor located within the pod and configured to receive a removable drive shaft therein, and a conduit member located within the pod adjacent the drive motor. The conduit member has a vacuum inlet opening at an exterior wall of the pod and a drive shaft exit opening formed in the conduit member through which the removable drive shaft can extend. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a man-portable pod and a cart removably-coupleable to the man-portable pod. A method of manufacturing the apparatus and a method of cleaning an HVAC duct is also provided.

Abstract: A canister vacuum cleaner includes a housing carrying a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel. The housing is supported on a caster wheel assembly including a wheel riding on a cushion of air.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a blade, which rotates, is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner includes a body, a blade attached to a lower end of the body, and a rotating unit attached to the body so as to rotate the blade.

Abstract: An automatic cart wash apparatus. The automatic cart wash apparatus provides improved cleaning of stock carts on a regular basis over manual cleaning by store employees. The automatic cart wash apparatus includes three main stages: a debris removal (vacuum) stage, a cleaning (wash, sanitize, rinse) stage, and a drying stage. The debris removal stage uses forced air and/or suction to remove solid and generally non-soluble waste, such as a paper or other trash and debris, from a stock cart. The cleaning stage uses a selection of detergents, sanitizing agents, and rinse agents to remove soluble or sticky waste, such as food and liquids, and to kill germs, viruses, and bacteria present on the cart. The drying stage removes excess liquids from the cart making it ready for use by the next customer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing the accumulation of soil and debris within a vacuum system of a surface maintenance machine is disclosed. A secondary fluid, such as pressurized cleaning solution, is sprayed into the vacuum system in order to reduce soil and debris accumulation within the vacuum system without applying additional fluid to a floor surface. In one embodiment of the invention, pressurized fluid is introduced directly into the vacuum extractor tool of a surface cleaning machine in order to dislodge accumulated debris on surfaces therein. A method of minimizing the accumulation of soil and debris within the vacuum system is also disclosed. The invention is applicable to a variety of portable and vehicle-based floor cleaning machines.

Abstract: A cleaning appliance of the upright type having a cleaning head movable over a floor surface and a body connected to the head, wherein there is provided a means for detecting the attitude of the head and a switch means operable to prevent operation of at least an agitating means, if present, of the appliance if the head assumes an attitude different from a normal operational attitude thereof by more than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A suction apparatus of a cleaner includes: a suction motor inserted in a cleaner body and generating a suction force; a filter for collecting dust or filth sucked by a suction force generated for the suction motor; a suction head connected to the filter by a suction pipe and sucking dust and filth on the floor by the suction force generated from the suction motor; and an auxiliary suction unit installed at the opposite side of a side where the suction pipe of the suction head is connected. A cleaning performance is enhanced by compensating a suction force at a portion where the suction force is relatively weak.

Abstract: Several methods of controlling a vacuum cleaner (10) using various types of sensors (94, 96, 97, 98) are provided. One method is based on a differential pressure between a suction airflow path and ambient air and includes: detecting the differential pressure, comparing the detected differential pressure to a predetermined threshold, and, when the detected differential pressure is less than the predetermined threshold, initiating a predetermined control procedure. A status indicator (164) is updated based on the detected differential pressure. Another method is based on a level of electrical current flowing through a brush motor (100). Still another method is based on a type or condition of the floor being traversed. Yet another method is based on a distance to a surface of a floor over which the vacuum cleaner is advancing. In another aspect of the invention, a vacuum cleaner is provided.

Abstract: A vacuum sweeper includes a blower for pulling debris in a stream of air through a vacuum duct, past the blower, out a blower discharge duct and into a hopper. Debris settles to the bottom of the hopper and the air exits the hopper through a return air duct having a discharge opening. The discharge opening is positioned near a vacuum nozzle inlet of the vacuum duct such that dust and debris in the return air stream is pulled back into the vacuum duct. The air discharge opening and the return air duct are sized to be larger than the vacuum nozzle inlet. The speed of the air exiting the discharge opening is thereby reduced increasing the percentage of the return air pulled back through the vacuum nozzle inlet instead of being blown out of the vacuum chamber and into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A brush of a cleaner comprising: a rotation shaft rotatably supported at a lower surface of a body; a brush hub fixed to the rotation shaft; and brush hair mounted at an outer circumference surface of the brush hub for sweeping dust and contamination of a floor, wherein the brush hair is composed of a first row arranged toward a shaft direction of the brush hub and divided into a first hair portion which is not contacted with a floor and a second hair portion which is contacted with the floor, and a second row sequentially arranged with the first row and divided into a first hair portion which is contacted with the floor by facing to the first hair portion of the first row and a second hair portion which is not contacted with the floor by facing to the second hair portion of the first row.

Abstract: A floor care appliance is provided. The floor care appliance includes a base for movement along the surface attached to a housing. The floor care appliance has two liquid storage tanks located in the housing wherein one of the liquid storage tanks generally overlies the other liquid storage tank. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid storage tank located above the other liquid storage tank is a cleaning solution storage tank and the other liquid storage tank is a liquid recovery tank.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an electric blower for generating a suction air flow, a suction head in communication with the electric blower for drawing in dirt, a filter bag communication with the electric blower for capturing and collecting dirt, an exhaust unit for discharging exhaust air from the electric blower to atmosphere, and an ion generator for generating negative ions and/or positive ions. The ion generator is placed between the suction head and the filter bag.

Abstract: An agitator includes a high strength, continuous metal axle, a pulley held on one end of the metal axle and a sleeve of lightweight plastic material received over the axle. The agitator is manufactured by molding a pulley body onto an underlying metal support or D-nut, fitting an axle into the pulley, molding a sleeve around the axle and securing a cleaning structure on the sleeve.

Abstract: Catching grooves (34) extending in the axial direction are formed in the cylindrical outer surface of a brush base (35) that has a slender, substantially cylindrical shape and made of a twistable material. Brush attaching portions (43) of brush members (41) and blade attaching portions (47) of scraping members (42) are respectively secured in the catching grooves (34) so that axially aligned bristles (44) of each brush member (41) and an axially extending blade (46) of each scraping member (42) project from the cylindrical outer surface of the brush base (35). Receiving members (53) are respectively fitted to both ends of a shaft (51) inserted through a shaft insertion hole (39) of the brush base (35). By rotating the receiving members (53) in opposite directions, the brush base (35) is twisted in a spiral and secured. By eliminating the necessity of forming the brush base (35) in a twisted shape beforehand by means of twist extrusion molding, the invention facilitates production of the brush base (35).

Abstract: In this disclosure, air flow is formed above chemical liquid film and a move of the chemical liquid is generated by making the air flow into a contact with the surface of chemical liquid. Further, a negative pressure is generated in a space between a processing object substrate and a plate by rotating the plate. Consequently, uniformity of processing of chemical liquid is improved, so that liquid removing step can be carried out effectively. As a result, yield rate of chemical liquid treatment can be improved.

Abstract: Floor sweeping apparatus (9) of the type having a rotary brush member (20), which in use is driven to rotate about a generally horizontal axis, the brush member (20) having bristle elements (22) that, as the brush member (20) rotates, extend during part of their range of movement through an aperture (13) in a base plate (12) of a housing (10) in which the rotary brush member (20) is rotatably journalled has at least one bristle element (22), hereinafter called an end-most bristle element (25), arranged immediately adjacent to each end of said brush member (20), and a deflector member (26) is provided at each end of the aperture (13) to co-operate with said end-most bristle element (25) at the respective end of the brush member (20).

Abstract: An agitator includes a high strength, continuous metal axle, a pulley held on one end of the metal axle and a sleeve of lightweight plastic material received over the axle. The agitator is manufactured by molding a pulley body onto an underlying metal support or D-nut, fitting an axle into the pulley, molding a sleeve around the axle and securing a cleaning structure on the sleeve.

Abstract: In a brush assembly of a cleaner including plural brushes arranged at the bottom surface of a cleaner body radially at regular intervals; plural supporting shafts for rotatively supporting the brushes; and a driving unit connected to the brushes in order to rotate the brushes, by arranging the plural brushes radially, dust and filth can be collected in a wider region, and accordingly a cleaning performance can be improved. In addition, by forming the brushes as a curved shape, it is possible to compact a size of the cleaner.

Abstract: A brush roller assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes a rotatable spindle having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end and a central portion. A first airflow enhancing device (“AED”) is positioned, by being molded onto or operationally attached to, the first end of the rotatable spindle. The first AED includes a central portion, which is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable spindle when the first AED is positioned on the first end of the rotatable spindle. The first AED includes at least one fan blade projection outwardly extending from the periphery of the central portion of the first AED. The fan blade projection facilitates the movement of debris directly or indirectly from the first end of the rotatable spindle toward the central portion of the rotatable spindle. A second AED device may be positioned on the second end of the rotatable spindle, wherein the second AED has similar structure to and attaches in similar fashion as the first AED.

Abstract: A water extraction device aids in extracting water or other liquids from a floor covering such as a carpet and an associated pad. A housing has a generally cylindrical cavity defined within its interior, and a rotor assembly housed in the cavity. The bottom of the housing has a downwardly facing opening defined therethrough which extends laterally across the bottom of the device, and the rotor assembly protrudes through the opening to provide a means for easy movement of the device by an operator. The housing has a passageway defined through one portion thereof to provide a fluid connection between the cavity within the housing and a vacuum source which is externally applied to the device. The rotor assembly is preferably assembled from a plurality of spoked wheels mounted on a rotor shaft fashioned to be held in eccentric bearings mounted in the aides of the device.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner that has a rotary floor agitator driven by a motor has a hair cutter blade mounted adjacent a motor shaft that drives the agitator and/or at the ends of the agitator. The agitator is driven by an electric motor through a drive belt. The cutter blade(s) are designed to sever elongate particles, such as hair or threads that would build up on the agitation brush, drive belt and motor output shaft to hinder the operation of the brush and belt or otherwise dislodged the belt from the motor shaft.

Abstract: An agitator includes an axle, a pulley having a hub mounted to the axle and a belt receiving face having at least one lengthwise channel and a sleeve of molded material received over the axle and in the at least one lengthwise channel. A method of constructing an agitator from an axle and pulley includes the fitting of the axle into the pulley, the injecting of plastic resin into one end of the agitator forming mold on a first side of the pulley and the directing of plastic through at least one channel in the pulley to a second side of the pulley.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing adapted for movement on a subjacent surface and a nozzle defined in the housing, the nozzle having an opening. A brushroll tube, having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis, is rotatably mounted to the housing adjacent the nozzle opening. At least one cleaning element protrudes from the brushroll tube. A shaft is located in the brushroll tube and extends along the longitudinal axis thereof. A stator is rigidly mounted on the shaft. A cylinder surrounds the shaft and the stator and is spaced therefrom. The cylinder is rigidly connected to the brushroll tube. A permanent magnet rotor is fixedly mounted to an interior surface of the cylinder. The permanent magnet rotor overlies and is coaxial with the stator and is spaced therefrom. The rotor and stator form a motor for rotating the brushroll tube wherein the rotor is driven by changes in induced magnetic fields in the stator.

Abstract: An electric vacuum brush for vacuum cleaners has a vacuum head having a brush roller chamber through which suction air can flow, and a roller brush mounted to rotate in the brush roller chamber and driven by an electric motor. The vacuum head has a working width that is measured at the outside edges, crosswise to the working direction. The brush roller chamber has an opening at the bottom, delimited by parallel vacuum motor edges, which extends essentially over the working width of the brush roller chamber. The electric motor has a power consumption, measured at motor angle, of a maximum of 80 watts, and the vacuum head has a working width of more than 320 mm.

Abstract: A suction nozzle for a floor care appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner having at least a first channel located above an agitator to carry air and dirt to a suction passageway. The cleaner has several embodiments, one of which has a single channel and a single agitator. Another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and a single agitator. Yet another embodiment has the single channel and dual agitators. Still yet another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts and dual agitators. Further yet still, another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and dual agitators. Several embodiments of an agitator drive assembly are provided using various means to provide rotary power to the agitator(s).

Abstract: A cleaner having a brush includes a suction motor mounted in a main body, and generating a suction force; a filter for collecting dust or filth sucked by the suction force generated at the suction motor; a suction head connected with the filter by a suction pipe, and having an inlet through which dust and filth on a floor are sucked; and a brush rotatably mounted at an inside of the suction head. The inlet is partitioned off into a first section and a second section by a belt cover for protecting a belt winding around the brush, and a flow passage unit is formed at the brush so that air can flow between the first and second sections. Accordingly, air can flow smoothly at a portion, which is blocked by the belt cover, and thus cleaning performance can be improved.

Abstract: A suction nozzle for a floor care appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner having at least a fist channel located above an agitator to carry air and dirt to a suction passageway. The cleaner has several embodiments, one of which has a single channel and a single agitator. Another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and a single agitator. Yet another embodiment has the single channel and dual agitators. Still yet another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts and dual agitators. Further yet still, another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and dual agitators. Several embodiments of an agitator drive assembly are provided using various means to provide rotary power to the agitator(s).

Abstract: An agitator includes a high strength, continuous metal axle, a pulley held on one end of the metal axle and a sleeve of lightweight plastic material received over the axle. The agitator is manufactured by molding a pulley body onto an underlying metal support or D-nut, fitting an axle into the pulley, molding a sleeve around the axle and securing a cleaning structure on the sleeve.

Abstract: Vacuum cleaning apparatus having a rotary brush situated at an air intake opening in a housing has a configuration which enables efficient cleaning of edge portions of a floor that are adjacent to a wall or other vertical surface. A cleaning head portion of the housing has intersecting sidewalls which extend at right angles to each other enabling one sidewall to face the edge of a floor while the other sidewall faces the lower edge of an adjacent wall. The air intake opening is angled to extend into both of the angled intersecting sidewalls of the cleaning head. The rotary brush carries bristles which protrude through the air intake opening at both of the sidewalls of the cleaning head and at the intersection between the sidewalls.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner brushroll characterized by a bristle tufted arrangement that forms multiple dwell positions around the brushroll. In each dwell position, the majority of bristle tufts along the length of the spindle are out of sweeping contact with the carpet which allows the carpet to drawn upwardly toward the mouth of the vacuum cleaner nozzle. The up and down carpet movement that occurs during brushroll rotation enhances its cleaning performance.

Abstract: A brush of a cleaner comprising: a rotation shaft rotatably supported at a lower surface of a body; a brush hub fixed to the rotation shaft; and brush hair mounted at an outer circumference surface of the brush hub for sweeping dust and contamination of a floor, wherein the brush hair is composed of a first row arranged toward a shaft direction of the brush hub and divided into a first hair portion which is not contacted with a floor and a second hair portion which is contacted with the floor, and a second row sequentially arranged with the first row and divided into a first hair portion which is contacted with the floor by facing to the first hair portion of the first row and a second hair portion which is not contacted with the floor by facing to the second hair portion of the first row.

Abstract: A cleaning liquid dispensing system for use in a mobile hard floor surface cleaner includes fluid conduit and fluid communication with a supply of cleaning liquid, a pump, and a flow restriction member. The pump is adapted to drive a flow of the cleaning liquid through the conduit. The flow restriction member generates a pressure drop in the conduit, thereby restricting the flow of the cleaning liquid therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus performing multiple different cleaning operations for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces is disclosed. A device according to the present invention selectively utilizes soil transfer and solution extraction technology. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed having a cleaning implement in selective wiping contact with a surface to be cleaned, a cleaning solution dispenser which selectively wets with a cleaning solution a portion of the cleaning implement or a portion of the surface or both, a first selectively controllable vacuum extractor tool which when operating removes some of the dispensed cleaning solution and soil from the cleaning implement, and a second selectively controllable vacuum extractor tool which when operating removes soil and some of the cleaning solution directly from the surface intended to be cleaned. A method of use of such an apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid recirculating cleaning device includes an exhaust port defining an exhaust port longitudinal axis, a fluid source end and an exhaust end defining a first cross-sectional area. A suction port includes a suction port longitudinal axis, a fluid exit end and a fluid entrance end defining a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area. The suction port includes a second outer surface that extends from the entrance end toward the fluid exit end. A vacuum blower motor sucks fluid in through the suction port to create fluid flow away from the vacuum motor and toward the exhaust port exhaust end. The exhaust port exhaust end is recessed from the suction port fluid entrance end and the two ports are located with respect to one another so that fluid flow from the exhaust port will be effectively drawn into the suction port.

Abstract: A brush roller assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes a rotatable spindle having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end and a central portion. A first airflow enhancing device (“AED”) is positioned, by being molded onto or operationally attached to, the first end of the rotatable spindle. The first AED includes a central portion, which is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable spindle when the first AED is positioned on the first end of the rotatable spindle. The first AED includes at least one fan blade projection outwardly extending from the periphery of the central portion of the first AED. The fan blade projection facilitates the movement of debris directly or indirectly from the first end of the rotatable spindle toward the central portion of the rotatable spindle. A second AED device may be positioned on the second end of the rotatable spindle, wherein the second AED has similar structure to and attaches in similar fashion as the first AED.

Abstract: An agitator includes a high strength, continuous metal axle, a pulley held on one end of the metal axle and a sleeve of lightweight plastic material received over the axle. The agitator is manufactured by molding a pulley body onto an underlying metal support or D-nut, fitting an axle into the pulley, molding a sleeve around the axle and securing a cleaning structure on the sleeve.

Abstract: An agitator includes an axle, a pulley having a hub mounted to the axle and a belt receiving face having at least one lengthwise channel and a sleeve of molded material received over the axle and in the at least one lengthwise channel. A method of constructing an agitator from an axle and pulley includes the fitting of the axle into the pulley, the injecting of plastic resin into one end of the agitator forming mold on a first side of the pulley and the directing of plastic through at least one channel in the pulley to a second side of the pulley.

Abstract: A cleaner for cleaning a surface is provided comprising a main body and a brush assembly for engaging the surface being cleaned. An engaging member on the main body or brush assembly and a retaining portion on the other main body or brush assembly. The engaging member and retaining portion are releasably connected to each other such that the engaging member or retaining portion is accessible for engagement by a user to disengage the engaging member from the retaining portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium is disclosed. A method of mechanically removing soil from a surface intended to be cleaned includes the steps of successively and repeatedly: wetting a portion of a cleaning medium with a cleaning liquid; extracting any soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid from the previously wetted portion of the cleaning medium; and wiping the surface intended to be cleaned with the portion of the cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the surface intended to be cleaned to the cleaning medium. Portable and vehicle-based devices may be utilized to practice the method of cleaning.

Abstract: A fluid recirculating cleaning device includes an exhaust port defining an exhaust port longitudinal axis, a fluid source end and an exhaust end defining a first cross-sectional area. A suction port includes a suction port longitudinal axis, a fluid exit end and a fluid entrance end defining a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area. The suction port includes a second outer surface that extends from the entrance end toward the fluid exit end. A vacuum blower motor sucks fluid in through the suction port to create fluid flow away from the vacuum motor and toward the exhaust port exhaust end. The exhaust port exhaust end is recessed from the suction port fluid entrance end and the two ports are located with respect to one another so that fluid flow from the exhaust port will be effectively drawn into the suction port.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing adapted for movement on a subjacent surface and a nozzle defined in the housing, the nozzle having an opening. A brushroll tube, having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis, is rotatably mounted to the housing adjacent the nozzle opening. At least one cleaning element protrudes from the brushroll tube. A shaft is located in the brushroll tube and extends along the longitudinal axis thereof. A stator is rigidly mounted on the shaft. A cylinder surrounds the shaft and the stator and is spaced therefrom. The cylinder is rigidly connected to the brushroll tube. A permanent magnet rotor is fixedly mounted to an interior surface of the cylinder. The permanent magnet rotor overlies and is coaxial with the stator and is spaced therefrom. The rotor and stator form a motor for rotating the brushroll tube wherein the rotor is driven by changes in induced magnetic fields in the stator.

Abstract: A deflooding device includes a suction chamber having a downward facing opening therein and a compression roller protruding downward therefrom. The roller has openings or other structure to allow water to exist beneath and inside the roller while the roller is compressing the carpet nap. A propulsion motor drive system coupled to the roller allows the unit to be self-propelled and driven at variable speeds in forward and reverse across the carpet. Operator weight standing or sitting on the device, with or without ballast or discrete additional weight applies compression of roller on carpet. Coupling from suction chamber to on-board, adjacent, or remote vacuum source is convenient.