Abstract: A machine for cleaning floors is provided and more particularly a riding machine which both sweeps and scrubs the floors. The machine has a rotary drum broom near the front and three staggered disc brushes at an intermediate portion. The drum broom is rotatably carried by two arms which are pivotally mounted on a frame or body of the machine. A hopper for receiving dirt and debris from the drum broom is also moveably mounted on the arms in front of the broom. A linkage and lever mechanism is used to rotate the arms to raise and lower the broom and the hopper simultaneously when the cleaning machine is driven from one location to another. A squeegee assembly is carried by the machine behind the disc brushes for picking up the dirty solution, clean solution being first supplied to the disc brushes and to the floor.

Abstract: A riding sweeper is provided with a high dump mechanism for a dirt and debris receiving hopper of the sweeper. The dumping mechanism includes tracks located at forward side portions of the sweeper body. A carrier extends between the tracks and has rollers guided therein so that the carrier can move in an upright manner, preferably with the tracks slanting somewhat forwardly. A hopper is mounted on the back of the carrier and moves up and down therewith. A first fluid-operated ram is located between the sweeper body and the carrier for raising and lowering the carrier and the hopper. A second fluid-operated ram is located between the carrier and the hopper for tilting or rotating the hopper in an arcuate path to a dumping position after the carrier has been raised to an upper position. The hopper dumping mechanism includes a hydraulic system with a valve arrangement for stopping broom and vacuum blower motors when the hopper is raised.

Abstract: A squeegee assembly is provided for a scrubbing machine. The squeegee assembly is mounted in a manner such that it can separate from the machine to avoid damage in the event the assembly encounters a stationary object. The mounting arrangement includes a mounting plate which can be raised and lowered. The squeegee assembly is frictionally connected to the mounting plate so as to move therewith and be supported thereby but so that the squeegee assembly can separate rearwardly relative to the mounting plate to prevent damage. The squeegee assembly includes a squeegee blade supporting member with quick-release bands. The bands clamp a squeegee blade between the supporting member and the bands with the squeegee blade requiring no special attaching provisions at all, not even mounting holes. The bands have quick-release latches so that the blades can be easily and quickly removed and replaced, when necessary.

Abstract: A liquid pump is provided and particularly a downhole pump for use in an oil well bore for pumping oil or in a gas well to remove condensate. The downhole pump includes a plurality of pump and transfer modules, each of which includes an elongate housing with end couplings and with two internal passages extending therethrough. The pump module further has a bladder extending between the end couplings around the internal passages with the couplings having passages connecting one of the internal passages to space on one side of the bladder. When fluid, preferably gas, under pressure is supplied to that passage, the bladder forces liquid therein upwardly into the next module. At the same time, fluid under pressure is exhausted through one of the passages from the space on the opposite side of the bladder of the next pump module, aiding it to receive liquid from the pump module therebelow.

Abstract: This invention relates to a safety switch for a small transmission to prevent operation of an engine when the transmission is in gear. The transmission can have an H-shaped shifting pattern with the engine being capable of starting only when a gear shift lever of the transmission is in neutral. The switch and preferably being made mostly of plastic material.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying a bead of gasket-forming material to a mateable surface of a workpiece. The apparatus includes a source of gasket-forming material and a screen having a predetermined pattern conforming to the desired bead of the gasket-forming material. A spreader applies the gasket-forming material to one side of the screen and the gasket pattern is then formed on an adjacent transfer surface of a transfer pad on the opposite side of the screen. Means are provided for moving the pad with the pattern on the transfer surface and engaging it with the mateable surface of a workpiece mounted on a support spaced from the screen, thereby forming a bead of gasket-forming material on the mateable surface. The transfer surface is moved through an arc of 180.degree. when moving between the screen and the workpiece surface.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying a bead of gasket-forming material to a mateable surface of a workpiece. The apparatus includes a source of gasket-forming material and a screen having a predetermined pattern conforming to the desired bead of the gasket-forming material. A spreader applies the gasket-forming material to one side of the screen and the gasket pattern is then formed on an adjacent transfer surface of a transfer pad on the opposite side of the screen. Means are provided for moving the pad with the pattern on the transfer surface and engaging it with the mateable surface of a workpiece mounted on a support spaced from the screen, thereby forming a bead of gasket-forming material on the mateable surface. The transfer surface is moved through an arc of 180.degree. when moving between the screen and the workpiece surface.

Abstract: A rocker arm and method of making same are provided. The rocker arm is of the cam-follower type and is preferably made from a stamped metal piece and a stamped metal strip, the latter preferably being of a hardened alloy. A rounded recess is formed at one end portion of the metal piece and facing away from the metal strip to receive a lifter post having an end on which the rocker arm can pivot. The metal piece also has an additional recess at another end portion to receive an end of a valve stem. The metal strip has an intermediate convex portion facing away from the metal piece to be engaged by a cam. The metal piece has a hole extending through the piece and communicates with the rounded recess while the strip forms a groove communicating with the hole and extending toward the convex portion to supply lubricating fluid from the convex portion to the rounded recess.

Abstract: This invention consists of a transparent non-inflammable plastic container the purpose of which is to enclose an electrical outlet box to prevent air and water or moisture from entering into or passing through such box. The container is in the form of a rectangular box for use with rectangular outlet boxes, and is round for use with round or octagonal outlet boxes. Each of the containers is provided with a flange around the open rim of it, and said flange extends outwardly and at a small angle to the wall of the container.

Abstract: A transaxle is provided especially for small riding vehicles, such as lawn mowers. The transaxle has multiple forward speeds in a compact housing by virtue of a unique gear train arrangement in which shafts serve multiple functions. A driven bevel gear in the transaxle housing is carried on an intermediate portion of a shaft and is backed up by a structurally-integral rib or flange in the housing. This support minimizes lateral deflection of the shaft on which the bevel gear is mounted, when the transmission is under load.

Abstract: Shift mechanism for a transmission is provided for engaging and disengaging a gear therein. The mechanism is particularly designed to disengage the gear even when the transmission is under a heavy load. The shift mechanism includes a clutch dog or collar on a shaft with the collar having at least one lug or projection which is engagable with and disengagable from a lug or projection on a gear rotatably carried on the shaft. One of the collar and gear has a recess adjacent its respective lug in which a ball is located with the ball also being retained by a retaining ring mounted on the collar or gear. When the collar and gear are in an engaged position, both lugs are in contact with the ball; when the collar is moved away from the gear to disengage the collar and the gear, the point contact of the lugs and ball enables disengagement of the collar from the gear even when the transmission is under a heavy load.

Abstract: A power-assisted valve is provided which is particularly effective for systems handling viscous materials, such as certain metering systems. The check valve operates effectively even with highly-filled viscous resins used in such systems. The valve includes a valve seat and a valve ball which can be urged toward the valve seat to a closed position by a fluid-powered cylinder and piston. The piston rod is separate from the valve ball so that the ball can rotate relative to the valve seat.

Abstract: A machine for making packages with labels is provided. The packaging machine utilizes a supply of packaging material in the form of a length of plain plastic tubing and a supply of labels in the form of a continuous strip thereof. In a previous cycle of the machine, the tubing was heat sealed along a transverse strip near the leading edge thereof. The strip is subsequently advanced a predetermined distance between a first set of jaws which close, with a first sealing wire carried by one of the jaws then energized to seal a leading edge of the tubing which will form the next package. A knife severs the tubing below that seal and the upper edges of the severed section which has been advanced are engaged by clamps. These move apart with the jaws to open the upper edges, thereby enabling an article to be dropped into the resulting pocket in the severed package section. The jaws then close once again and a second sealing wire below the clamps seals the upper edges of the severed section.

Abstract: A transaxle is provided, especially for small riding vehicles, such as lawn mowers. The transaxle is exceptionally shallow, with the gear shift lever entering the housing on about the same level as the rear axles. The transaxle has six forward speeds in a compact housing by virtue of a unique gear train arrangement in which shafts serve multiple functions. A driven bevel gear in the transaxle housing is also backed-up by a structurally-integral rib or flange in the housing. A unique bearing design provides effective lubrication for the output shafts or axles of the transaxle. A compact differential of the transaxle also rotates within a cavity without any axle.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling gasket-forming material. This material is usually supplied in tubular cartridge form and is dispensed to a screen with a porous pattern which shapes the material to the desired gasket-configuration. The material is spread on the screen and forced through to the other side where the gasket pattern is applied to an adjacent transfer surface of a transfer pad. This pad with the pattern on the transfer surface is moved to a mateable surface of a workpiece located on a support spaced from the screen. The gasket-forming material is then transferred to the mateable surface. The gasket-forming material is dispensed from the cartridge with the aid of a cartridge holder having an opening at one end to receive a spout of the cartridge and having a plunger at the other end with a plunger rod extending outwardly therefrom. A fluid-operated cylinder is aligned with the plunger rod and has a piston connected with the rod.

Abstract: A coupling is provided for connecting a lance pipe to an oxygen supply line. The lance pipe supplies oxygen to molten metal in a furnace and is fed thereinto longitudinally by feed rolls as the end of the pipe burns off. The coupling automatically closes a supply valve in the supply line and then disconnects the line from the lance pipe as the trailing end of the pipe reaches the feed rolls of the furnace.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for rotating the spray head or cap of a spray gun to manipulate a noncircular spray emitted therefrom relative to a workpiece to be coated. The apparatus includes a translator located adjacent the spray gun cap and having a drive gear meshing with a driven gear on the cap. The translator includes a twist drill and carrier block moveable longitudinally and having pins extending into helical grooves of the drill. The translator forms a noncircular passage and the block is noncircular so as to be held in the passage for longitudinal but nonrotatable movement. When the block and pins move longitudinally they cause the drill and the drive gear which is affixed thereto to rotate. A flexible, tubular plastic shaft and a flexible plastic tubular sheath extend from the translator to a remote position where a suitable drive moves the shaft longitudinally to move the block. The sheath and shaft are highly flexible and light in weight.

Abstract: A surface cleaning machine and particularly a riding power sweeper is provided. The sweeper has a main rotary broom and an adjacent hopper with an inlet opening for receiving dirt and debris swept from the surface by the broom. The hopper has an outlet opening spaced from the inlet opening through which dirt and debris are emptied from the hopper, and a dumping door is located adjacent the outlet opening for opening and closing the outlet opening. The dumping mechanism for the hopper includes a single drive unit which is connected to the hopper and to the dumping door. When the hopper is to be dumped, the drive unit is operated to first open the dumping door to a position against a stop. After the door contacts the stop, continued operation of the drive unit moves the hopper to a tilted dumping position in which the dirt and debris are emptied through the open outlet opening.