Abstract: A collectorless vacuum fan for floor maintenance machines has a backplate with an inlet plate attached thereto in spaced relationship, and an impeller between the backplate and inlet plate. Both the backplate and the inlet plate extend radially beyond the periphery of the impeller. A shaft mounts the impeller for rotation. The inlet plate has a central opening providing air to the hub of the impeller. Vanes on the impeller discharge air out through a diffuser channel defined by the space between the inlet plate and the backplate outside the periphery of the impeller. Attachment elements for mounting the inlet plate on the backplate leave the diffuser channel substantially unobstructed so that air is discharged about the entire periphery of the impeller. The fan has increased air flow compared to a conventional fan having an integral collector housing and decreased noise compared to a fan having a 360 degree discharge and no diffuser.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling plumbing fixtures includes an electronic control board having a microprocessor that accepts four inputs and produces four outputs. Inputs at other than the microprocessor's operating voltage are converted thereto. Outputs having different voltages are controlled by latching relays. The control board can be used with a sink that requires a sequenced hand washing. The control board can form a node on a network that monitors and controls the functions of multiple boards throughout a facility.

Abstract: An advancing support frame is connected to the face conveyor (9) via an advancing rod (7) engaging with the advancing cylinder (5). A lifting cylinder (10) is supported on the advancing rod (7), with which the base shoes (1) are lifted during the advancing process. The lifting cylinder (10) is guided so as to be able to move in height in longitudinal guides (15) on the inner sides of the base shoes (1). A U-shaped tension stirrup (18), whose shanks (19) directed towards the ground have elongated holes (20), is supported centrally by the lifting cylinder (10) and joined to the base shoes (1) via carrying bolts (21) fastened to them.

Abstract: A trim panel for use in automotive trim applications is made from a laminate of a thermoformable foam layer and an A-side layer made of vinyl or cloth or the like. The laminate is thermoformed to impart permanently the contour of a rigid substrate to which the panel will be attached. The foam layer retains the desired contour without the use of other materials. The A-side material and foam layer may be laminated by an adhesive layer which may be a foam which is flame laminated to the foam layer and A-side layer. The foam layer may be encased by thin layers of polyethylene. Process controls are applied allowing thermoforming of parts to automotive precision.

Abstract: A cardiovascular system observation method using a computer processor on the basis of pulse wave amplitude data obtained from a patient in a compressed state which changes, said method comprising: process steps for forming measurement patterns expressing the transition of pulse wave amplitude values by smoothing minute fluctuations of said pulse wave amplitude data and normalizing the pulse wave amplitude values and pulse wave intervals of said pulse wave amplitude data; process steps for extracting the features of the measurement patterns; and process steps for judging the pattern shape to judge reference pattern groups to which said measurement pattern belongs by using said features.

Abstract: Treatment of gelatinous bacterial cellulose by breaking up gelatinous cellulose into a micro-fiber form and then evaporating water from the result with application of heat. The evaporation can be achieved by heating to a temperature above 100 degrees Centigrade and is continued for a sufficient time to be effective as the sole reason for evaporation of the moisture.

Abstract: A unitary radial lip seal assembly to provide a fluid tight seal between a shaft and a housing bore through which the shaft extends includes an annular rigid retainer, a resilient body portion secured to the retainer and defining at least one sealing lip to seal against the rotatable shaft and a sleeve bearing member supported by said seal assembly outboard of the sealing lip. In one form the bearing member is rigidly connected to the retainer, in another, it is resiliently mounted to provide shaft vibration dampening. In the latter embodiment, the bearing member includes a radial wall urged into frictional engagement with a radial wall of the resilient body to restrict rotation of the bearing member.

Abstract: A seal for sealing a low pressure area from a high pressure area for containing a process fluid. The high pressure area is located along a rotatable shaft extending from a machine body. The seal includes an outboard seal positioned along the shaft and an inboard seal axially spaced along the shaft from the outboard seal to define an annular chamber between the inboard seal and the outboard seal for containing a buffer fluid. The inboard seal includes a stationary assembly attached to the machine body and having a stationary seal ring with a stationary sealing face. The inboard seal also includes a rotating assembly attached to the shaft. The rotating assembly includes a rotating seal ring having a rotating sealing face in sealing relation with the stationary sealing face.

Abstract: A bowling ball has a heavy core of given density; the core has an asymmetrical shape that affords no planes of symmetry. The core is encompassed by a spherical shell of lower density; the shell may include two layers, a relatively hard outer layer of an acrylated resin or urethane resin and a more resilient, softer inner layer, usually of urethane or filled polyester resin. A balancing weight, to compensate for finger holes to be drilled into the shell, is preferably an integral part of the bowling ball core. The density of the balancing weight is usually greater than the density of the rest of the core.

Abstract: An electrical control system for operating a toilet flushing device includes an electric operator, a source of power for the operator and a detection system for detecting the presence of a user of a toilet device and upon detection thereof connecting the source of power to the electric operator. The detection system includes an infrared transmitter and an adjacent infrared receiver, with the receiver being sensitive to infrared radiation reflected from a toilet device user. There is a refracting element positioned in front of the transmitter and receiver to bend the transmitted infrared radiation beam to a desired angle relative to the initial direction of the transmitted beam and to bend a reflected beam from a toilet device user to a direction wherein it is generally parallel to the initial transmitted beam.

Abstract: A mechanical end face seal for sealing between a housing and a relatively rotating shaft which includes a pair of relatively rotating annular rings having seal faces in sealing contact with each other to define a seal interface. A generally annular flexible metal diaphragm is secured between an axially movable ring and either the housing or shaft in a configuration such that it is placed in tension to achieve a preload or initial closing force upon the seal faces. In one form the seal components are unitized into a single assembly. A retainer is adapted to be disposed in a bore of the housing in surrounding relation to the shaft. The seal rings are disposed intermediate the axial ends of the retainer with the generally annular flexible metal diaphragm secured to one end of the retainer to define one closure wall of the assembly and to capture the ring components within the retainer.

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: A floor cleaning machine of the type having a fluid driven scrub brush utilizes fluid pressure for applying down force on the scrub brush to a floor surface being cleaned. The fluid pressure applied is controlled by a fluid pressure regulator which has a movable valve element and an electrical coil for controlling the position of the movable valve element. There is a feedback circuit for controlling current through the coil which includes a source of power and a pulse width modulation switching device. The switching device in turn is controlled by a comparison between the current sensed in the coil circuit and an operator set value for the desired current to provide a desired down force on the cleaning brush.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an injection molded object having an outer shell with a front face and a light transmitting assembly molded into the outer shell which assembly is visible from the front face. The method includes the following steps. Supporting a light transmitting assembly on a mold projecting tool which is closable with a mold cavity tool having an interior wall which defines the front wall of the outer shell. Forming narrow passages through the light transmitting assembly to connect its front and rear faces. Closing the mold to position the front face of the light transmitting assembly adjacent the interior wall of the mold cavity tool while leaving a narrow peripheral recess therearound in communication with the narrow passages.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine has a cleaning system which includes a rotatable brush and a mechanism for raising and lowering it, and a drive for propelling the machine in forward and reverse directions. There is a visual control screen for use by the operator which has a plurality of display sectors, at least some of which display multiple information icons. There are a plurality of buttons for use by the operator, at least some of which are each associated with a specific display sector. A central processing unit is connected to the visual control screen, the control buttons, the drive for the brush, and the drive for propelling the machine. There are sensors connected to the central processing unit and positioned on the machine to determine operating conditions in the cleaning system and the propelling system.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine for use in sweeping and collecting dust and debris from inside and outside areas has a frame and wheels for supporting the frame for movement along the surface to be cleaned. There is a debris hopper on the frame and a rotary sweeping brush on the frame mounted to direct dust and debris from sweeping a surface into the hopper. A vacuum fan is located on the frame and there is an air flow path on the frame from the hopper to the vacuum fan. A dust collection container in the form of a flexible bag is positioned within a vacuum chamber in said air flow path and is in a generally upright disposition. The dust collection container has an air flow entrance adjacent the upper end thereof. During operation of the sweeping brush, dust and debris are directed into the hopper, with the vacuum fan moving dust from the hopper along the air flow path to the dust collection upper air inlet with the debris remaining in the hopper.

Abstract: A mechanical end face seal of the non-contacting type includes a primary seal ring having a back section, a seal face section and a middle section between the seal face and the back sections, each primary ring section having a radial dimension, defined as the difference between the outermost radius and the innermost radius of said respective section, the radial dimension of the back section being in a ratio relative to said middle section of between about 1.5 to about 3.1, and more preferably of between about 1.9 to about 2.5, and most preferably about 2.0 to about 2.3. Additionally, the mating seal ring includes grooves extending from one seal ring circumference toward the other and terminating adjacent a dam at a radius R.sub.g, it is beneficial to have the boundary between the grooves and the dam have a radius R.sub.g slightly larger or smaller, within about 10%, than the outer radius of the middle section.

Abstract: A faucet handle has a generally cylindrical ceramic body, with a bore extending axially through the body. A mounting member extends through the bore and has an enlarged head on the exterior end thereof. The interior end of the mounting member has threads for attachment to the faucet control member. There is a cylindrical chamber formed between the exterior of the mounting member and the surface of the bore and there is an axially extending cushioning insert positioned within the chamber. The insert extends substantially about the mounting member within the chamber and is there to prevent damaging contact between the mounting member and the ceramic body.

Abstract: For a line branching device for branching a conductor string it is proposed that an approximately T-shaped housing be provided and the conductor string be guided uninterruptedly through the upper crosspiece of the T-shaped. At the base of the T there is provided a plug terminal whose contacts are permanently connected to the conductors of the conductor string and via which a consumer can be connected.