Wet cleaning apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a wet cleaning apparatus ( 10 ), such as a wet vacuum cleaner. The wet cleaning apparatus comprises a dirt inlet ( 11 ), and a motor ( 14 ) and fan ( 16 ) for delivering suction to the dirt inlet. A separator unit ( 18 ) separates water from a flow of air generated by the suction. The apparatus further includes a container ( 19 ) for collecting the separated water. The container has a top ( 19 A) and a bottom ( 19 B). An air passage ( 22 ) is provided in the container for passing the air separated from the water towards the motor and fan. The air passage is spatially separated from the bottom of the container. An internal wall ( 19 E) extends from the top towards the bottom of the container. A space ( 25 ) is thus defined between the container and the internal wall. Water collected at the bottom of container is receivable in the space when the container is orientated, e.g. tilted, such that the collected water moves from the bottom towards the top of the container. The internal wall is arranged to prevent water received in the space from passing into the air passage.

1 . A wet cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a dirt inlet;   a motor and a fan for delivering suction to the dirt inlet;   a separator unit for separating water from a flow of air generated by the suction;   a container for collecting the separated water, wherein the container has a top and a bottom;   an air passage for passing the air separated from the water towards the motor and fan, the air passage being spatially separated from the bottom of the container; and   an internal wall extending from the top towards the bottom of the container, a space being defined between the container and the internal wall, wherein the water collected at the bottom of container being receivable in the space when the container is orientated such that the collected water moves from the bottom towards the top of the container, and wherein the internal wall is arranged to prevent the water received in the space from passing into the air passage.   
     
     
         2 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a cleaner head for cleaning a surface to be cleaned, the dirt inlet being included in the cleaner head; and   a pivot point between the cleaner head and the container, wherein the pivot point is arranged to permit angular adjustment of the container towards the surface to be cleaned such that the water collected in the bottom of the container moves into the space, and subsequent angular adjustment of the container away from the surface to be cleaned causes the water to move towards the bottom of the container.   
     
     
         3 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the container comprises:
 a side portion between the top and the bottom of the container;   a handle for grasping by a user of the wet cleaning apparatus, wherein the handle, the cleaner head, and the container are arranged such that a user pushing the handle causes at least the cleaner head and the container to move forward, and the user pulling the handle causes said at least the cleaner head and the container to move backwards towards the user, the water collected in the container sloshing against the side portion of the container during said pushing, and wherein the pivot point is arranged to permit tilting of the container towards the user grasping the handle while the dirt inlet continues to provide the suction to the surface to be cleaned; and   a water directing member sealingly adjoining the side portion, the water directing member protruding backwards from said side portion, thereby to inhibit said water sloshing against the side portion from continuing to move along the side portion towards the air passage optionally wherein the water directing member is detachable from the side portion.   
     
     
         4 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein a longest lateral extension of the water directing member from the side portion measured normal to the side portion is at least 5 mm, preferably wherein said longest lateral extension is in a range of 10 to 50 mm or up to 75% of an interior width of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the water directing member comprises a peripheral shut-off area or a sealing portion for adjoining the water directing member to the side portion, optionally wherein a thickness of the water directing member increases towards a region of the side portion to which the peripheral shut-off area or the sealing portion is sealingly adjoined. 
     
     
         6 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the water directing member comprises a surface which faces away from the air passage, and wherein the water directing member comprises a curved surface which curves from a surface towards the peripheral shut-off area or the sealing portion. 
     
     
         7 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the sealing portion is formed from an elastomeric material optionally wherein the elastomeric material comprises silicone rubber. 
     
     
         8 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the water directing member comprises a first surface and/or a second surface for contacting said water sloshing against the side portion. 
     
     
         9 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first surface extends normal to the side portion or inclines towards the top of the container, and   the second surface declines towards the bottom of the container such as to guide the water thereon away from the air passage or, when the first surface inclines towards the top of the container, the second surface extends normal to the side portion, optionally   the first surface extends from the side portion and the second surface extends from the first surface.   
     
     
         10 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the water directing member comprises the first surface and the second surface, and wherein the second surface curves from the first surface towards the bottom of the container and/or towards the side portion. 
     
     
         11 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the separator unit, the water directing member, and optionally the internal wall are included in a unit, said unit being detachable from the container. 
     
     
         12 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein an inner surface of the side portion is arcuate such that the inner surface curves outwardly in forward direction. 
     
     
         13 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal wall sealingly adjoins to the container, optionally wherein the internal wall and the container are integrally formed. 
     
     
         14 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the separator unit comprises at least one selected from a labyrinth-type separator unit, a filter-type separator unit, and a cyclone-type separator unit. 
     
     
         15 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a tube for delivering airflow to the separator unit, wherein the separator unit comprises a cup which receives an end of the tube optionally wherein the tube extends in a central region of the container towards the cup. 
     
     
         16 . The wet cleaning apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the tilting of the container is up to 90 degrees.