Carpeting and surface cleaning apparatus

摘要

A cleaning device for either carpeted or hard surfaces which utilizes pressurized cleaning fluid to clean the surface. The fluid nozzles are arranged on two or more heads which are in turn mounted on two or more arms. The arms rotate about a common axis causing the heads to move in a circular pattern. The heads rotate about their own central axis. The nozzles are angled relative to the surface being cleaned and preferably rotate towards the direction of the fluid jet. Preferably, at least two of the heads counter-rotate. Also preferably, the heads are arranged at somewhat different radial distances from the rotational axis of the arms so that their coverage patterns partially overlap. The combination of the counter rotation and the overlap provides an alternating, or beating, pattern to the angle of incidence of the fluid on the surface being cleaned. The device may alternatively include vacuum nozzles to retrieve the cleaning fluid and may incorporate two sets, one to the front and one to the rear, so that the device may be operated in either direction. Optionally, manual or automatic switching may be used to activate one set of nozzles at a time. Additional rinse nozzles may be used to provide additional rinse fluid immediately adjacent the vacuum nozzles. The rinse nozzles may also be switched with the vacuum nozzles.