Extraction cleaner exhaust ducting

Abstract

An upright deep cleaner includes a base housing pivotally connected to an upright handle, wherein the base housing supports a recovery tank. A working air path that flows through the recovery tank is exhausted through a vent that is directed away from the surface to be cleaned. Air drawn into a motor and impeller assembly to cool the motor is also ducted away from the surface to be cleaned.

1 . A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising: 
 a base housing adapted for movement along a surface to be cleaned;    an upright handle pivotally mounted to the base housing;    a liquid dispensing system mounted at least in part on one of the base housing and the upright handle and comprising:    a liquid dispenser for applying liquid to a surface to be cleaned;    a liquid supply tank for holding a supply of the liquid; and    a liquid supply conduit fluidly connected to the liquid supply tank and to the liquid dispenser for supplying the liquid to the liquid dispenser; and    a liquid recovery system comprising:    a recovery tank having a liquid recovery chamber for holding recovered liquid;    a suction nozzle associated with the base housing and adapted to draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned;    a working air conduit extending between the suction nozzle and through the recovery chamber;    a vacuum source mounted in the base or handle in fluid communication with the recovery chamber for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery chamber to thereby draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit, and into the recovery chamber to thereby recover the dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned; and    an exhaust vent in communication with working air conduit for exhausting working air from the surface cleaning apparatus;    wherein the exhaust vent directs the working air away from the surface to be cleaned.    
   
   
       2 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust vent is positioned in an upper surface of the recovery tank.  
   
   
       3 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the exhaust vent is removably mounted to an upper portion of the recovery tank.  
   
   
       4 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the vacuum source is in the working air conduit between the suction nozzle and the recovery tank.  
   
   
       5 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum source is in the working air conduit between the suction nozzle and the recovery tank.  
   
   
       6 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum source is in the working air conduit downstream of the recovery tank.  
   
   
       7 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum source is mounted in the base housing.  
   
   
       8 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum source is mounted in the upright handle.  
   
   
       9 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 the vacuum source includes a motor that is mounted within a portion of the upright handle or the base housing;    a cooling air path formed in the portion of the upright handle or the base housing that includes the motor and including an inlet vent at one end and an outlet vent at another end thereof, wherein the motor is between the inlet and outlet vents;    a fan for generating a flow of cooling air through the cooling air path;    wherein the outlet vent is positioned in the upright handle or the base housing to direct the cooling air away from the surface to be cleaned.    
   
   
       10 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the vacuum source motor is mounted in the base housing.  
   
   
       11 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the vacuum source motor is mounted in the upright handle.  
   
   
       12 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the outlet vent comprises leak joints in the upright handle or the base housing.  
   
   
       13 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the motor is mounted in a compartment in the base housing.  
   
   
       14 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the outlet vent comprises apertures that direct the cooling air laterally to one or more sides of the upright handle or the base housing.  
   
   
       15 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the fan is mounted to the motor drive shaft.