Surface cleaning apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
- a housing adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned;
a supply tank for holding a supply of liquid;
a distributor fluidly coupled to the supply tank for delivering a fluid to the surface to be cleaned;
a regulator tank fluidly coupled to the supply tank for regulating the flow of liquid out of the supply tank, the regulator tank comprising;
a chamber for holding a volume of liquid from the supply tank and a volume of air; and
a vent in fluid communication with ambient air for venting ambient air into the chamber;
an outlet in fluid communication with the distributor;
a steam generator in fluid communication with the outlet for producing steam from the liquid, wherein the fluid delivered to the surface to be cleaned by the distributor comprises steam;
a conduit extending between the supply tank and the outlet; and
at least one port provided in the conduit and in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein, as liquid flows out of the supply tank, the at least one port exchanges liquid and air between the chamber and the supply tank to regulate a steady flow of liquid through the outlet regardless of the volume of liquid in the supply tank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a supply tank and a distributor for delivering fluid to a surface to be cleaned. A constant flow of fluid can be delivered from the supply tank to the distributor via a regulator tank in fluid communication with the supply tank for exchanging liquid and air with the supply tank.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a housing adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned; a supply tank for holding a supply of liquid; a distributor fluidly coupled to the supply tank for delivering a fluid to the surface to be cleaned; a regulator tank fluidly coupled to the supply tank for regulating the flow of liquid out of the supply tank, the regulator tank comprising; a chamber for holding a volume of liquid from the supply tank and a volume of air; and a vent in fluid communication with ambient air for venting ambient air into the chamber; an outlet in fluid communication with the distributor; a steam generator in fluid communication with the outlet for producing steam from the liquid, wherein the fluid delivered to the surface to be cleaned by the distributor comprises steam; a conduit extending between the supply tank and the outlet; and at least one port provided in the conduit and in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein, as liquid flows out of the supply tank, the at least one port exchanges liquid and air between the chamber and the supply tank to regulate a steady flow of liquid through the outlet regardless of the volume of liquid in the supply tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification