the suction generator 48 is illustrated as being carried on the handle assembly 16 it should be appreciated that alternatively it could be carried on the nozzle assembly 14 if desired during normal operation the rotary agitator 46 is driven by the motor 52 of the suction generator 48 and functions to beat dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying carpet the suction generator 48 functions to draw a vacuum air stream into the agitator cavity 44 dirt and debris from the carpet is entrained in the air stream which is then drawn by the suction generator 48 into the dirt cup 34 dirt and debris is captured in the dirt cup 34 while relatively clean air is drawn through the primary filter 40 that air stream passes over the motor 52 of the suction generator 48 to provide cooling before being exhausted through a final filter such as a hepa filter not shown before being exhausted through an exhaust port 38 into the environment a first embodiment of the rotary agitator 46 drive motor 52 and drive linkage 54 is illustrated in detail in fig2 as illustrated the rotary agitator 46 comprises an axle 56 a body 58 received over the axle and a cleaning element 60 carried on the body typically the axle 56 is made of a strong metal such as steel while the body 48 is molded from a plastic such as abs nylon polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene in the illustrated embodiment the cleaning element 60 comprises bristle tufts it should be appreciated however that substantially any other type of cleaning element known.