Wet vacuum/extractor with vacuum priming system

A wet vacuum/extractor comprising:

• (a) a vacuum fan for generating a vacuum;
• (b) a cleaning solution tank;
• (c) a cleaning tool and vacuum flow path defining means operably connecting said tool to said vacuum fan whereby debris and liquid can be removed from a surface to be cleaned through said cleaning tool;
• (d) a non-self-priming pump operatively connected with said cleaning solution tank for pumping cleaning solution from said tank to said cleaning tool;
• (e) a fluid flow line extending from said pump to said cleaning tool to deliver cleaning solution from said tank to said cleaning tool;
• (f) a first valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to said cleaning tool;
• and
• (g) a second valve means for switchably connecting said fluid flow line to said vacuum flow path means whereby when said first valve means is closed said second valve means causes cleaning solution to flow from said tank through said non-self-printing pump to prime said pump.

A method for priming a non-self-priming pump on a wet vacuum/extractor which includes a vacuum fan for generating a vacuum, a cleaning solution tank, a cleaning tool, vacuum flow path defining means operably connecting said tool to said vacuum fan whereby said vacuum fan can generate said vacuum in said cleaning tool, a non-self-priming pump, a cleaning solution feed line extending from said cleaning solution tank to said pump, a fluid flow line extending from said pump to said cleaning tool, said method comprising the following steps:

• (a) generating a vacuum with said vacuum fan;
• (b) providing a valve means operatively connecting said fluid flow line and said vacuum flow path means for switchably connecting said fluid flow line with said vacuum flow path means;
• (c) opening said valve means to operatively connect said fluid flow line with said vacuum flow path means;
• (d) using said vacuum to cause cleaning solution to flow from said cleaning solution tank to said pump via said cleaning solution line to thereby prime said pump with said cleaning solution;
• and
• (e) closing said valve means after said pump is primed, whereby is pumped to said cleaning tool from said tank via said fluid flow line.

A method for priming a non-self-priming pump on wet vacuum/extractor which includes a vacuum fan for generating a vacuum, a cleaning solution tank, a cleaning tool, vacuum flow path defining means operably connecting said tool to said vacuum fan whereby said vacuum fan can generate said vacuum in said cleaning tool, a non-self-priming pump, a cleaning solution feed line extending from said cleaning solution tank to said pump, a fluid flow line extending from said pump to said cleaning tool, said method comprising the following steps:

• (a) generating a vacuum with said vacuum fan;
• (b) providing a valve means operatively connecting said fluid flow line and said vacuum flow path with means for switchably connecting said fluid flow line with said vacuum flow path means;
• (c) using said vacuum to cause cleaning solution to flow from said cleaning solution tank to said pump via said cleaning solution line to thereby prime said pump with said cleaning solution;
• and
• (d) closing said valve means after said pump is primed whereby delivering said cleaning solution to said cleaning tool from said tank via said fluid flow line.

A method for providing a cleaning solution to a cleaning tool on a wet vacuum/extractor which includes a vacuum fan for generating a vacuum, a cleaning solution tank, vacuum flow path defining means operably connecting said tool to said vacuum fan whereby said vacuum fan can generate said vacuum in said cleaning tool, a non-self-priming pump, a cleaning solution feed line extending from said cleaning solution tank to said pump, a fluid flow line extending from said pump to said cleaning tool, said method comprising the following steps:

• (a) generating a vacuum with said vacuum fan;
• (b) providing a first valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to said cleaning tool, a second valve means operatively connecting said fluid flow line and said vacuum flow path means for switchably connecting said fluid flow line with said vacuum flow path means;
• (c) opening said second valve means to operatively connect said fluid flow line with said vacuum flow path means;
• (d) using said vacuum to cause cleaning solution to flow from said cleaning solution tank to said pump via said cleaning solution line to thereby prime said pump with said cleaning solution;
• (e) closing said second valve means after said pump is primed;
• (f) unlocking said first valve means;
• and
• (g) pumping said cleaning solution to said cleaning tool from said pump via said fluid flow line.

A method for priming a non-self-priming pump on a wet vacuum/extractor which includes a vacuum fan for generating a vacuum, a cleaning solution tank, a cleaning tool, vacuum flow path defining means operably connecting said tool to said vacuum fan whereby said vacuum fan can generate said vacuum in said cleaning tool, a non-self-priming pump, a cleaning solution feed line extending from said cleaning solution tank to said pump, a fluid flow line extending from said pump to said cleaning tool, said method comprising the following steps:

• (a) generating a vacuum with said vacuum fan
• (b) providing a first valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to said cleaning tool, a second valve means operatively connecting said fluid flow line and said vacuum flow path means for switchably connecting said fluid flow line with said vacuum flow path means;
• (c) using said vacuum to cause cleaning solution to flow from said cleaning solution tank to said pump via said cleaning solution line to thereby prime said pump with said cleaning solution;
• and
• (d) closing said second valve means after said pump is primed whereby unlocking said first valve means, said cleaning solution is pumped to said cleaning tool from said pump via said fluid flow line.