A cleaning device and methods for cleaning are provided. In one embodiment, the cleaning device includes a head assembly, a body assembly, and a handle assembly. The cleaning device also includes components that enable the cleaning device to operate in dry cleaning modes and wet cleaning modes. Dry cleaning modes can employ a vacuum assembly, including a motor, tubing, and a fluid recovery tank in order to draw in debris and waste into a fluid recovery tank. Wet cleaning modes can further employ a fluid supply tank, a pump, and tubing in order to supply fluid to a brushroll to aid in a cleaning process.

A vacuum appliance comprising a drum and a vacuum head. The drum may include a base and a cylinder sealed to the base. The vacuum head may include a lid and a blower. The lid preferably includes a portion that is detachably mounted to an open upper end of the drum. The blower may be mounted to, atop, or within the lid. In any case, the blower induces a vacuum within the drum and moves through the vacuum. The base or the cylinder may include a drain to drain fluid and debris contained within the drum. The lid may include a lower portion sealed to and defining the open upper end of the drum. The cylinder or the lid may include an air inlet through which the blower draws air and entrained debris.

A cleaning device and methods for cleaning are provided. In one embodiment, the cleaning device includes a head assembly, a body assembly, and a handle assembly. The cleaning device also includes components that enable the cleaning device to operate in dry cleaning modes and wet cleaning modes. Dry cleaning modes can employ a vacuum assembly, including a motor, tubing, and a fluid recovery tank in order to draw in debris and waste into a fluid recovery tank. Wet cleaning modes can further employ a fluid supply tank, a pump, and tubing in order to supply fluid to a brushroll to aid in a cleaning process.

An autonomous vacuum implements a semi-waterproof waste bag capable of collecting dry waste from vacuum debris and liquid waste from mopping. The autonomous vacuum leverages a dual-roller cleaning head, one for dry cleaning and another for wet cleaning. The autonomous vacuum utilizes vacuum force to ingest both dry waste and liquid waste from the cleaning head into the semi-waterproof waste bag. The semi-waterproof waste bag includes a non-permeable portion formed of a waterproof material and a permeable portion formed of an air-permeable material. The semi-waterproof waste bag may further include a water-absorbent material, e.g., water-absorbing spherical beads.

A muffler for an autonomous vacuum includes one or more chambers and one or more noise-absorbing elements for noise reduction of air exhausted into an external environment of the autonomous vacuum. The muffler is coupled to a vacuum stack inclusive of a vacuum motor. The muffler includes a main body, a foam layer, and a sealing plate. The main body includes an inlet for air exhausted by the vacuum motor and forms the one or more chambers fluidically connected to the inlet. The foam layer is disposed within one of the chambers of the main body. The foam layer absorbs sound waves incident on the foam layer. The sealing plate is affixed to the main body and includes an outlet to exhaust air from the chambers to an external environment of the autonomous vacuum.

An autonomous vacuum leverages a dual-roller cleaning head, one for dry cleaning and another for wet cleaning. The autonomous vacuum utilizes vacuum force to ingest both dry waste and liquid waste from the cleaning head into the waste bag. The autonomous vacuum further comprises a cleaning head coupled to the vacuum motor, the cleaning head forming a mop roller cavity including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein a mop opening exposes the mop roller cavity to an external environment. The cleaning head comprises a mop motor positioned at the first end of the mop roller cavity and including a driver clutch. The cleaning head further comprises mop roller core having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and an outer surface covered with a fabric material, the mop roller comprising a spring clutch positioned at the first end of the mop roller and removably couplable to the driver clutch of the mop motor.

A cleaning device and methods for cleaning are provided. In one embodiment, the cleaning device includes a head assembly, a body assembly, and a handle assembly. The cleaning device also includes components that enable the cleaning device to operate in dry cleaning modes and wet cleaning modes. Dry cleaning modes can employ a vacuum assembly, including a motor, tubing, and a fluid recovery tank in order to draw in debris and waste into a fluid recovery tank. Wet cleaning modes can further employ a fluid supply tank, a pump, and tubing in order to supply fluid to a brushroll to aid in a cleaning process.

A shop vac includes a handle, a canister, a vacuum tube, and a pick-up device. The canister holds an enclosure that generates a negative pressure by forcing compressed, high velocity air through a orifice plug and out a muffler to create a vacuum in the enclosure. The vacuum in the enclosure is transferred to the vacuum tube and the pick-up device to pick up liquid or debris on a shop floor. The enclosure inside the canister includes a flow control valve such as a ball in cage device to prevent fluid from entering the enclosure. An evacuation spout is located at the bottom of the canister for draining the vacuum when the canister becomes full.

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.