Scrubber with foam and spray suppressor

A scrubbing apparatus comprising:

• a body;
• wheels rotatably affixed to said body;
• means for containing aqueous detergent solution;
• means for conveying said aqueous detergent solution to the surface to be cleaned;
• means for scrubbing the surface to be cleaned with said aqueous detergent solution;
• means for recovering said aqueous detergent solution from the clean surface;
• said recovering means including duct means for conveying said recovered aqueous detergent solution from said recovery means to said containing means, said duct means serving to decrease the velocity of said solution from an inlet velocity of at least 200 feet per second to thirty feet per second or less upon entering the containing means thereby suppressing foam and spray as said recovered aqueous detergent solution is conveyed into said containing means.

A scrubbing machine comprising:

• a body;
• wheels rotatably affixed to said body;
• tank means for containing scrubbing solution, said tank means including a plenum space;
• means for conveying said solution from said tank means to the surface to be scrubbed;
• means for working the solution on the surface;
• vacuum squeegee means for recovering said solution from the scrubbed surface;
• means for conveying said solution from said squeegee means to said tank means;
• said tank means having foam suppressing means including means for spraying a fine mist into said plenum space in said tank means.