A surface cleaning apparatus such as an extractor has a fluid flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet head to a clean air outlet. The fluid flow path upstream of the separation stage comprises a removable portion.

A dust collector has a well-balanced weight. The dust collector includes a body housing, a motor located inside the body housing, a fan rotatable by the motor, and a battery mount located inside the body housing and frontward from the motor.

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a recovery tank, a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank, and a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the recovery tank to generate a working air path to transport debris-containing fluid including air and liquid from the suction nozzle into the recovery tank. An air/liquid separator can be provided within the recovery tank for separating liquid from air in the debris-containing fluid.

A surface cleaning apparatus such as an extractor has a liquid delivery system, a separator, a collection chamber in communication a the separated element outlet of the separator, and a separated liquid collection container downstream from the collection chamber.

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 arranged 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.

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 (19A) and a bottom (19B). 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 (19E) 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.

A wet cleaning apparatus includes a cleaner head having a dirt inlet. A motor and fan deliver suction to the dirt inlet. Further, the wet cleaning apparatus includes a separator unit for separating water from a flow of air generated by the suction. The separated water is collected in a container having a top and a bottom, and a side portion extending there between. The separated air is passed out of the container towards the motor and fan via an air passage. The air passage is spatially separated from the bottom of the container. The water collected in the container sloshes against the side portion of the container when a user is pushing the cleaner head and the container forward. A water directing member sealingly adjoins the side portion, and protrudes into the container backwards from the side portion, thereby to inhibit the water sloshing against the side portion.

A vacuum apparatus can include a vacuum chamber assembly having a motor and blowing port, an inlet port forming a portion of the vacuum chamber assembly, a valve plate having a plurality of switchable valves, an intake chamber arranged and constructed between the vacuum chamber assembly and the valve plate, and a water collection chamber having a divided chamber residing below the valve plate, wherein the plurality of switchable valves is configured to switch from a first portion of the divided chamber to at least a second portion of the divided chamber. In some embodiments, the vacuum apparatus further includes a flapper valve at a bottom portion of the water collection chamber where the flapper valve retains and releases water intermittently, periodically or continuously between the first portion of the divided chamber and at least the second portion of the divided chamber.

An upright extractor has an upright section moveably mounted to a surface cleaning head. The upright section has a wand and hose assembly and a liquid separator. The liquid separator comprises a solid collection chamber that is separated from a liquid collection chamber by a porous divider. The upright extractor is operable in a floor cleaning mode in which the handle is a driving handle of the upright extractor. The upright extractor is also operable in an above floor cleaning mode in which the inlet end of the wand is disconnected from fluid flow communication with the surface cleaning head dirty fluid inlet and an above floor air flow path extends from the inlet end of the wand to the clean air outlet and the liquid separator and the suction motor are provided in the above floor cleaning air flow path.

A floor cleaner including a recovery tank. The recovery tank includes a tank body having a lower end wall, an open upper end, and a sidewall that extend upwardly from the lower end wall. A cover that includes a suction air outlet in fluid communication with a vacuum source. An inlet duct extends upwardly from the lower end wall. The recover tank includes a shutoff float including a float body and a closure. The float body is configured to float on a surface of cleaning fluid and the closure is received in the suction air outlet to close the suction air outlet. The float body moves along the inlet duct as the float body floats on the surface of the cleaning fluid. The float body includes an aperture extending through the float body and the inlet duct extends through the aperture of the float body.