Pump for removing fluids from floor coverings and related methods

A pump for removing fluid from a floor covering, comprising:

• a piston chamber;
• a piston at least partially disposed within the piston chamber;
• a reservoir for storing fluid removed from the floor covering, the reservoir extending circumferentially around the piston chamber and at least partially surrounding the piston chamber;
• a nozzle plate coupled to a bottom of the reservoir and having a plurality of nozzles extending therefrom;
• a nozzle guide disposed within the reservoir proximate the nozzle plate, the nozzle guide comprising:
• a plate having a plurality of holes extending through the plate from a top surface thereof to a bottom surface thereof;
• a plurality of passages extending radially outward from a center of the plate, wherein each hole of the plurality of holes at least partially intersects with at least one passage of the plurality of passages;
• and
• a central circular recess extending at least partially through the plate from a top surface thereof;
• a diverting valve seated within the central circular recess of the nozzle guide and extending at least partially into the piston chamber, the diverting valve having an interior, the diverting valve at least partially defining:
• a first fluid flow path extending from the piston chamber to the interior of the diverting valve;
• a second fluid flow path extending from the nozzle plate to the interior of the diverting valve;
• and
• a third fluid flow path extending from the reservoir to the interior of the diverting valve.

A method of removing fluid from a floor covering, comprising:

• causing a piston that is at least partially disposed within a piston chamber to move in a first direction within the piston chamber, the piston chamber comprising:
• a bottom wall;
• and
• a plurality of hollow columns extending upward from the bottom wall, and wherein the piston comprises a plurality of solid columns sized, shaped, and oriented to be insertable into the plurality of hollow columns of the piston chamber;
• in response to moving the piston in a first direction, drawing fluid through a plurality of nozzles of a nozzle plate and into the piston chamber;
• causing the piston to move in a second direction within the piston chamber;
• and
• in response to moving the piston in the second direction, pushing fluid from the piston chamber and into a reservoir extending circumferentially around the piston chamber and at least partially surrounding the piston chamber, the reservoir for storing fluid removed from the floor covering, and wherein the nozzle plate is coupled to a bottom of the reservoir.