Abstract: A high maneuverability riding turf sweeper (8) includes a debris-intake hood (13) that is mounted forwardly of a wheeled chassis (41) upon which the major components, including an engine (42) and a hydraulic pump (27) for powering the sweeper (8) are mounted. A radial-flow fan assembly (10) creates an air recirculation loop by which debris picked-up by the debris-intake hopper (13) is deposited into a debris-containment hopper (43). The hopper (43) is pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end and its contents can be dumped by raising the hopper (43) about its pivot (49) to provide an efficient high-dump capability.

Abstract: In windshield wiper blade apparatus including a wiper blade assembly carried by a wiper arm, the wiper blade assembly including a first end, a second end and a wiper blade, a cover for substantially engulfing the wiper blade assembly for protecting the wiper blade, the cover comprising a cover body having a first pocket for receiving and substantially engulfing a first portion of the wiper blade assembly in a direction from one of the first and second ends, and a second pocket for receiving and substantially engulfing a second portion of the wiper blade assembly in a direction from the other one of the first and second ends, and one of the first and second pockets movable between an open position for receiving one of the first and second portions and a closed position for substantially engulfing one of the first and second portions.

Abstract: A low noise vacuum cleaner is comprised of a dust collecting chamber having a paper filter, and air blowing chamber partitioned by a wall. The air blowing chamber comprises an air suction motor, a front casing, a rear casing having space established by assembling with the front casing, and the motor being housed in the space, and a first and a second air guiders which are housed in the rear casing. A periphery of the second air guider is sealedly disposed between the joint portion of the front casing and the rear casing.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner (A) includes an upright housing section (B) and a nozzle section (C). A cyclonic airflow dirt and dust separating chamber (54) is defined in said upright housing section. A suction source (E) pulls air and entrained dirt, dust, and other contaminants through a main suction opening (26) formed in the underside (24) of the nozzle and into the cyclonic airflow chamber (54). The cyclonic airflow chamber causes the suction airstream to travel in a cyclonic path such that the entrained contaminants are separated therefrom and deposited into a dirt container (52) that defines the chamber (54). A main filter element (K) filters residual contaminants from the suction airstream between the chamber and the suction source. The main filter element is preferably made from high-density polyethylene porous filter media.

Abstract: A tool storage module adapted to be mounted to the handle of a vacuum cleaner comprising a handle pivotally mounted to a floor supported base. The accessory storage module has a support panel to which is mounted a pliable storage bag. The storage bag is preferably removably mounted to the support panel. The storage bag is also transparent, made, for example, of a mesh material, for viewing of the contents of the storage bag from outside the storage bag. The storage bag can be sized to receive multiple tools and accessories.

Abstract: The present invention comprises devices and methods for performing channel-less separation of cell particles by dielectrophoresis, DC high voltage-pulsed electronic lysis of separated cells, separation of desired components from crude mixtures such as cell lysates, and/or enzymatic reaction of such lysates, all of which can be conducted on a single bioelectronic chip. A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a cartridge (10) including a microfabricated silicon chip (12) on a printed circuit board (14) and a flow cell (16) mounted to the chip (12) to form a flow chamber. The cartridge (10) also includes output pins (22) for electronically connecting the cartridge (10) to an electronic controller. The chip (12) includes a plurality of circular microelectrodes (24) which are preferably coated with a protective permeation layer which prevents direct contact between any electrode and a sample introduced into the flow chamber.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor element is inserted and fixed in a housing. A base body is provided at an end of the housing. The base body is made of a resin. The base body has a flange at an end. The housing has a caulking portion which is deformable when received a pressing force acting in a direction parallel to an axis of the oxygen sensor. By deforming the caulking portion, the flange is tightly connected with the caulking portion.

Abstract: A mop is composed of a rod, a head fastened with one end of the rod, two first press bars fastened with the head, a pull rod fastened pivotally with the rod, two connection rods fastened pivotally at one end thereof with the pull rod such that other end thereof is extended into the head, a colloidal cotton having a top edge which is disposed between the two first press bars and connected with free ends of the connection rods, and at least two second press bars fastened with the head such that the second press bars are parallel to the first press bars and that the second press bars and the first press bars are located side by side to rid the soaked colloidal cotton of water.

Abstract: A method of impedance matching for coating SiO.sub.2 on a bare glass. The method includes the steps of outputting a matching voltage for matching an impedance of an oscillator with an impedance of a coating unit. A converted voltage is then produced by converting the amplitude of the matched voltage to a predetermined amplitude. The converted voltage is then stabilized and the phase is detected. Next, the phase of the matched voltage is controlled according to the phase of the converted voltage.

Abstract: A fugitive dust collection system includes a dust collecting suction unit which is connected to a hood through a flexible hose. The hood surrounds an unloader for unloading bulk cargo of a dusty nature from the cargo hold of a ship or barge. The dust collection system forms a vertical curtain of air which absorbs a dust cloud or air borne contaminants and transports them to the dust collecting suction unit through the flexible conduit.

Abstract: An auxiliary brush holder for a vacuum cleaner which can hold a plurality of auxiliary brushes. The auxiliary brush holder has a frame having an opening into which an extension pipe is inserted, an extension bar which is integrally formed with a lower portion of a first end of the frame and extends downwards therefrom so as to be inserted into a receptacle formed at a body of the vacuum cleaner, and two arcuate ribs which are integrally formed at a lower portion of a second end of the frame and upwardly extend to an upper surface of the frame. The two arcuate grooves are defined between the two arcuate ribs and the second end of the frame and the arcuate ribs are regularly spaced out by a predetermined distance apart from each other. The auxiliary brush holder can hold a plurality of auxiliary brushes with simple construction, so the user can easily use the required auxiliary brush while the cleaning work is being carried out, thereby improving cleaning efficiency.

Abstract: A wafer scrubbing system includes a upper and lower elongated scrubbers extending generally parallel with one another, the scrubbers being driven in rotation about their own axes. The wafer is disposed between the scrubbers so that the top and bottom surfaces of the wafer engage the scrubbers. The scrubbers are arranged to provide different frictional forces with the wafer at opposite ends of the scrubbers, and thereby provide a torque on the wafer about a central axis transverse to the top and bottom surfaces of the wafer and transverse to the scrubber axes.

Abstract: A wafer scrubbing machine is provided with a network of wafer holders which can be moved from a retracted position adjacent each other at a wafer receiving station to an expanded position spaced apart from each within a scrubbing station. The wafers are picked up simultaneously by pairs of depending arms in the scrubbing station and passed between pairs of rotating brushes for cleaning purposes. A common drive wheel is provided to rotate the wafers simultaneously during scrubbing between the brushes. A second network of wafer holders is provided to receive the scrubbed wafers in the scrubbing station and to move into a retracted position within a delivery station for transfer of the cleaned wafers into a cassette for subsequent processing. Two sets of networks may be provided on a common rotatable assembly in order to accommodate two different sizes of delivered wafers.

Abstract: An upholstery nozzle for a vacuum cleaner including an inlet part, an outlet part (12) and an intermediate channel (13) extending between the inlet and outlet parts. The inlet part includes an elongated nozzle opening (11a) and a spot suction nozzle 11(b). The spot suction nozzle (11b) is arranged close to the nozzle opening (11a) and is in direct communication with the intermediate channel (13).

Abstract: A fluid distribution device for distributing cleaning fluid to the floor surface comprises a hollow tube extender attached to a hollow fixed shaft. A hub assembly having a plurality of hollow open-ended spokes is rotatably mounted to the tube extender. If used with a brush floor cleaning apparatus a portion of each spoke extends into and terminates within a radial passage in the brush.

Abstract: An improved windshield wiper system having a cumulative ozone indicator (20) disposed in proximity to a wiper blade (10) which gives a visual cue when the wiper blade (10) should be replaced. The exposure to a predetermined amount of ozone causes the indicator (20) to change its color and thus communicate to the vehicle operator that it is time to change wiper blade (10). Rather than changing color the indicator (20) can be a pop up device which can be observed by the vehicle operator. To allow a reaction with ozone but to prevent damage from contact with a liquid the indicator (20) is covered with a gas permeable and liquid impermeable material.

Abstract: A measuring device, in particular, an electrochemical sensor, has a sensor element arranged at a measuring point. The sensor element is arranged in a housing and is connected via electrical connecting lines to an evaluation circuit away from the measuring point. The electrical connecting lines are run, at least in the vicinity of the measuring point, in a protective device. The protective device forms a sealing seat with the housing. The housing in the area of the sealing seat, at least in some areas, has a coating.

Abstract: A crevice cleaning tool having an elongated hollow body portion extending between a first end configured for attachment to a wand of a vacuum cleaner and a second end providing an opening for passage of vacuum cleaning air. The body portion has a base section slidably coupled to an extension section for movement between a retracted and extended position and a locking mechanism selectively locks the extension section to the base section in each of the retracted and extended positions. The body portion includes a first air channel for providing passage of vacuum cleaning air through the body and a second air channel adjacent the body portion extending to the opening of the second end to provide a secondary air inlet into the body portion. A passageway passes between the first and second air channels for providing fluid communication therebetween and to prevent blockage of vacuum cleaning air through the opening of the second end into the body portion.

Abstract: An object cleaning device for cleaning objects such as golf balls is disclosed. The device comprises a cleaning element including an inlet end for receiving objects and an outlet end for discharging objects, the cleaning element further comprising a rotatable body including at least a first interior object cleaning surface, and a stationary track interior of the rotatable body. The stationary track defines a path of travel for objects between the inlet and outlet ends of the cleaning element. A drive mechanism rotates the rotatable body relative to the stationary track such that rotation of the rotatable body relative to said stationary track causes the movement of objects from the inlet end to the outlet end of the cleaning element along the stationary track.

Abstract: A device for collecting and transporting organic material comprises a trailer chassis, collector frame, and collector bag. The trailer chassis has a double tongued hitch for connecting to a tractor and for preventing jackknifing. The collector frame can be folded so as to occupy minimum space when the device is not in use. The collector frame is hingedly connected to the trailer chassis so that the collector bag can be dumped by rotating the collector frame about the hinges. The collector frame is removable from the trailer chassis to make storage easy. The collector bag is constructed preferably from non-breathable fabric and has an exhaust vent in the top of the collector bag.