Abstract: A surface maintenance machine has a body, wheels for supporting the body, a source of cleaning solution on the body and a conduit for applying the cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned. There are scrub brushes on the body and there is a squeegee carried by the body. A container for used cleaning solution is located on the body and there is a vacuum system, including a vacuum fan, for removing used cleaning solution from adjacent the squeegee and conveying it to the used cleaning solution container. The vacuum system includes a conduit between the used cleaning solution container and the vacuum fan. There is a seal extending about this conduit, with the exterior of the seal being exposed to atmospheric pressure and the interior being exposed to the less than atmospheric pressure of the vacuum system.

Abstract: The invention provides uncharged water-soluble silica-adsorbing polymers for suppressing electroendoosmotic flow and to reduce analyte-wall interactions in capillary electrophoresis. In one aspect of the invention, one or more of such polymers are employed as components of a separation medium for the separation of biomolecules, such as polynucleotides, polysaccharides, proteins, and the like, by capillary electrophoresis. Generally, such polymers are characterized by (i) water solubility over the temperature range between about 20.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C., (ii) concentration in a separation medium in the range between about 0.001% to about 10% (weight/volume), (iii) molecular weight in the range of about 5.times.10.sup.3 to about 1.times.10.sup.6 daltons, and (iv) absence of charged groups in an aqueous medium having pH in the range of about 6 to about 9.

Abstract: An apparatus for scrubbing and mopping a surface, comprising in combination, a scrub brush, including a supporting block and bristles carried by the block, to project toward the surface for scrubbing that surface; the first structure for attaching an elongated handle to the block to extend in a first direction from the block; and second structure for attaching a mop to the block, with mop strands extending in generally parallel relation with that surface and in mopping contact therewith, as the bristles project to simultaneously engage that surface, for simultaneous mopping and scrubbing of that surface, as the handle extends at an angle to the surface to displace the block, bristles and mop parallel to the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for brushing an elongated workpiece as the workpiece moves through the apparatus is particularly useful in removing scale from a rod. The apparatus includes a plurality of brushes which are engageable with the rod. Motors are provided to rotate the brushes. A detector detects the occurrence of brush wear during brushing of the rod. In order to automatically compensate for brush wear, a brush adjustment assembly changes the positions of the brushes relative to the rod in response to the detector detecting the occurrence of brush wear. When a predetermined maximum permissible amount of brush wear is detected, the brushes are automatically retracted away from the workpiece by the brush adjustment assembly. The brush adjustment assembly moves the brushes relative to the workpiece in directions perpendicular to the axes about which the brushes rotate and perpendicular to a longitudinal central axis of the workpiece.

Abstract: Car wash side brushing apparatus includes a rotatable vertical shaft to the top and bottom of which is mounted a horizontal arm supporting a rotatable washer adjacent its end. The end of each horizontal arm is rotatable about its longitudinal axis with respect to the attached end such that the longitudinal axis of each washer is tilted to place one of the upper and lower ends thereof more closely to the vertical side surface of a vehicle than the other end. In addition, the upper end of the vertical shaft is rotatable axially with respect to the lower end thereof such that one of the horizontal arms leads the other by a selected angle measured in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a moving web, such as paper, paper board or cardboard, prior to printing or processing wherein a tacky wiper cloth engages the moving web to collect contaminating particles. The wiper collection surface is renewable and the apparatus firmly holds the wiper in contact with the web yet is releasable during web threading procedures.