Apparatus for cleaning carpets and the like

Claim 1

Home or residential cleaning apparatus of the hot water or steam extraction type for carpets, other floor coverings, upholstery, and the like, comprising a hot solution tank for containing a heated cleaning solution, pump means for pumping the hot cleaning solution to an applicator nozzle, wet pick-up vacuum means for extracting soiled cleaning solution and heating means at the bottom of said solution tank for heating the cleaning solution, said heating means comprising electrical resistance heater means of relatively low wattage sufficient to maintain the cleaning solution in a heated condition so that the energy requirements of the apparatus are maintained at a relatively modest level, a thermostat thermally coupled to the said heater and in series electrical connection therewith, said thermostat being set to open at a temperature slightly above the boiling point of the cleaning solution so that said thermostat may function as a safety device, disconnecting flow of electrical power to the heater when said solution tank is emptied, and said solution pump is also coupled with said thermostat, in parallel with said heater so that, upon the solution tank being emptied, the solution pump will also be disconnected.