Abstract: A carpet extractor head for a carpet extractor including at least one sonic agitator.

Abstract: A dry cleaning device, wherein a pad is moved towards a surface of a wafer, cleaning gas is injected into a space formed between the pad and the wafer to generate a high-speed gas flow along the surface of the wafer whereby particles left on the surface of the wafer are removed with the high-speed gas flow. In addition, in order to assist this physical cleaning action, either a chemical or an electrical cleaning method such as a plasma additionally may be used.

Abstract: An air barrier or skirt apparatus for a surface treating machine having a brush chamber and a rotatable brush substantially disposed within the brush chamber. The air barrier or skirt apparatus is disposed adjacent either end of the rotatable brush and extend from the brush chamber to a surface to be cleaned. The air barrier or skirt apparatus comprises an inner flexible member and an outer flexible member. The inner flexible member and the outer flexible member are coupled to each other at predetermined attachment regions, with the predetermined attachment regions defining first and second dimensions on the inner and outer flexible members, respectively. The first dimension of the inner flexible member is less than the second dimension of the outer flexible member, so that when the inner and outer flexible members are coupled to each other at the predetermined attachment regions the inner flexible member is formed into a non-planar configuration.

Abstract: A handle for an electric floor polishing or burnishing machine comprising a centrally-mounted actuator with safety lock is disclosed. In one embodiment, the handle is generally T-shaped and has a centrally-mounted actuator, which offers an operator more control over the polisher or burnisher and allows for one-handed operation. In another embodiment, the handle also has a safety lock which prevents the accidental operation of the machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying a hard floor comprises a frame and first and second rollers mounted in the frame for rotation about substantially parallel axes. The first roller has a continuous roll of absorbent sheet material mounted thereon whose free end is attached to the second roller such that the sheet material may be drawn from the first roller to become wound on the second roller. A part of the sheet material at the periphery of each roll is exposed for contact with the floor.

Abstract: A centrifuge comprising a yoke element that rotates about a rotational axis and a processing chamber having an axis. The processing chamber includes a bowl element, a spool element, and a mechanism for joining the spool and bowl elements for relative movement between a mutually cooperating position for centrifugal processing and a mutually separated position for loading. A hinge attaches the processing chamber to the yoke element for pivotal movement between an operating position and an access position. In the operating position, the spool and bowl elements are in their mutually cooperating position and oriented for rotation with the yoke element about the rotational axis. In the access position, the processing chamber axis lies outside the axis of rotation and the spool and bowl elements are oriented for movement from their mutually cooperating position into their mutually separated position.

Abstract: A mechanically actuated plug comprises a pole system to lower a pair of seals into a refueling pool in a Boiling Water Reactor ("BWR") plant. A plug adapter is connected to the end of a pole system and is attached to a scissors jack assembly. The scissors jack assembly is comprised of at least one jack screw shaft, at least a pair of nuts, scissor arms connected between the nuts and the seals, and scissor arms connected between the nuts and a loading pad. The pole and plug adapter have a central shaft assembly which is connected to the jack screw shaft and transfers rotational motion from the top of the pole to the jack screw shaft. By rotating the central shaft assembly, the plug may be opened to seal the recirculation line. Once opened, the pole and plug adapter are preferably detached from the plug so that the plug may remain in position while the pole system is removed from the refueling pool.

Abstract: An assembly which is adapted for mounting inside a mixing drum (18) and a mobile system for mixing and dispensing concrete includes a spiral fin assembly (36) for mixing and guiding a substance when the mixing drum (18) is rotated. The fin assembly (36) is constructed of a lightweight polymeric material which is resistant to abrasion, is many times lighter than steel, and tends to wear smooth rather than rough, which increases the cleanability of the fin structure over its entire design life. Novel structure for securing the fin assembly (36) to an outer wall (38) of the mixing drum (18), novel structure of fin assembly (36), and novel structure for connection of adjacent fin sections are disclosed.

Abstract: A mixer of the type comprising an axle (2) such as a screw rotatably mounted within a trough (1) is characterized in that the rotatable axle (2) has at its periphery at least one opening comprising an injection point (21) or distribution point of at least one of the constituents of the mixture. The mixer is useful in the production of foundry molds.

Abstract: An improved tool for spreading bonding compound, or the like, on planar surfaces which, in a first embodiment, includes a contoured surface having two end tip portions and a midportion contained in a plane spaced between the end tip portions. The tool includes a back which gives structural integrity to the tool, and a flexible application outer edge connected to the application face. In use, the bonding compound is applied to the planar surface, and the projecting flexible outer edge of the application face is forced against the wall and pulled along to obtain a flat surface to spread the plaster out along the planar surface to spread the bonding compound evenly and smoothly over the planar surface. The flexible outer edge can be removable and replaceable for adjusting to varying surfaces and for easy maintenance.

Abstract: An automatic noodle cooker which continuously and automatically supplies hot water while cooking long thin ingredients such as spaghetti. The noodle cooker comprises a hot-water boiler which is divided into several water storage spaces, for example four, and which allows the supplied water to flow from space to space, and where each storage space is equipped with its own heater. The water supplied to the first storage space is heated by the heater and then moves to the next storage space. The hot water is finally supplied from the last storage space through a hot-water supply pipe to a processing section where the ingredients are processed. If new water is supplied to the first storage space equal to the amount of water which was supplied from the last storage space, the temperature of the hot water in the last storage space does not drop very much due to the fact that there are several storage spaces.

Abstract: A device for cleaning soiled footwear with a contoured brush attached to a base section made of flexible carpet or the like, the brush member having one end with affixed bristles pointing upwardly and outwardly for cleaning the instep portions of soiled footwear and having an opposite end comprising an integrally formed U-shaped recessed opening with an overhanging lip used as a boot-jack or footwear remover, allowing the user to clean and remove soiled shoes or boots and change into different footwear and providing the user with a flat, clean surface upon which to stand during this operation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the production of plastic material containing an additive in which the plastic material is supplied into a mixing tank to undergo vigorous mixing therein and the mixed plastic material is discharged by an extrusion screw at the bottom of the tank into a conveying cylinder in which the extrusion screw extends. The mixed plastic material is conveyed by the screw in the conveying cylinder for discharge of the plastic material at a discharge outlet. The plastic material is heated in the conveying cylinder to achieve melting of the plastic material and the additive is supplied to the melted plastic material within the conveying cylinder so that the additive is thoroughly mixed with the melted plastic material before discharge thereof at the discharge outlet.

Abstract: An in-duct searching apparatus characterized by comprising a traveling truck, a video camera for in-duct observation on board the traveling truck, a singular or plural compressed air ejecting nozzle, and a monitor/remote-control portion for remotely controlling the traveling truck and the video camera and the compressed air ejecting nozzle; wherein the compressed air ejecting nozzle ejects compressed air toward the alien substances inside the duct which have been observed by the video camera, for grasping their properties.

Abstract: Simple, narrow bands are secured to a generally planar platform, and joined together, above the platform, by a tether-attaching bolt. The bolt mounts a lifting eye for a hook and tethering cable. One of the bands and the platform, receive mixer-mounting bolts for replaceably fixing the mixer on the platform. To inhibit unwanted migration of the apparatus across the bottom of a liquid-confining tank or reservoir, the platform has pointed-end feet depending therefrom, and removable weights are set atop the bands, whereat the latter are joined together.

Abstract: A worm centrifuge having a rotatable drum and a rotatable worm therein each independently rotatable at different speeds, adjustable weir plates at one end on the drum adjacent liquid fraction discharge openings, a ring seal including first and second rings in the region of the liquid discharge openings with one ring on the worm and the other ring on the drum, annular anti-wear protection segments on the seal ring on the auger with the segments on carriers which are removable through an end wall of the drum for replacement and for assimilating wear of material flowing through the liquid discharge openings wherein the wear on the seal ring rotating with the conveyor worm is avoided due to the anti-wear protection segments detachably joined to the seal ring.

Abstract: A centrifuge drum for concentrating suspended solids, which are conveyed through channels out of an outer solids space in the drum and into a radially inner peeling chamber, whence they are diverted by a peeler and by an associated concentrate line. A separated clear phase is continuously extracted from the interior of the drum by another peeler and by an associated clear-phase line. The object is to prevent the concentrated solids from heating up undesirably even when their volume is small. There is an opening-and-closing communicating line between the concentrate line and the clear-phase line and an opening-and-closing recirculation line extending into the first peeling chamber from the clear-phase line. The communicating line and the recirculation line are closed to divert the solids and opened to discontinue the diversion.

Abstract: An improved toothbrush (10) includes an elongated handle (12) having a proximal end (14) and a distal end (16), and a longitudinal axis (18) extending therebetween. A head (20) is attached to the distal end of the handle and has a top surface (24) and bottom surface (34). A plurality of bristle tufts (22) are attached to the top surface of the head. The handle has a transverse cross section adjacent the proximal end in the shape of a trapezoid that has a bottom edge, a top edge, and side edges extending from the bottom edge to the top edge. The top edge is smaller than the bottom edge.

Abstract: A hydraulic jet flash mixer in a system for treating waste water jets a secondary flow of water through a high-velocity nozzle towards a deflector assembly. In one embodiment, the deflector assembly is formed by a tip and a body, and the tip is spaced from, but spring biased toward, the body. The space between the tip and body acts as a nozzle for radially injecting a coagulant fed to the body by a pressurized supply line. In another embodiment, the deflector assembly is one piece, and the supply line is inside of and extends through the high-velocity nozzle such that coagulant is injected from a point between the nozzle and the deflector assembly.

Abstract: A centrifuge instrument and a rotor therefor which is loaded with sample containers automatically by gravity through an opening in a cover located over a core and, subsequent to centrifugation, is unloaded automatically, again assisted by gravity, through an opening in a floor disposed beneath the core. A sample container loading arrangement is provided to hold a plurality of sample containers and to individually present sample containers to the rotor.