Abstract: A seal actuated by generally atmospheric pressure helps protect the motor bearing of a vacuum appliances, such as a dry air vacuum cleaner, a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, a water extractor (e.g., carpet cleaner), etc. The generally atmospheric air pressure on a motor side of the seal and a vacuum on an opposite turbine side of the seal urges the seal in an axial direction toward an impeller of the vacuum appliance and presses the seal firmly against an axially abutting sealing surface. Sliding sealing contact between a broad axial surface of the seal and the abutting sealing surface helps prolong the life of the seal and the bearing.

Abstract: A splash guard includes a shield that helps deflect and drain misdirected urine into a toilet bowl. When not needed, the shield can pivot 180 degrees from an operative, raised position down to tuck underneath the front end of the toilet bowl at a stored, lowered position. In the lowered position, the shield is generally inverted. To prevent residual urine on the inverted shield from dripping onto the floor, the shield includes a drip lip that temporarily collects the residual urine. When returned to the upright, raised position, urine in the drip lip is free to drain back into the toilet. The shield is pivotally connected to the toilet bowl at a point below the upper rim of the bowl so that when the shield pivots to the lowered position, the shield is completely out of the way.

Abstract: A fluid separator includes a side-by-side double-vortex fluid generator installed within a pressure vessel. The vortex generator separates the liquid and gas components of the incoming fluid mixture, and the vessel itself helps further separate the liquid into water and oil components, which makes the fluid separator particularly suited for processing fluids extracted from an oil well. The generator includes two diverging vortex tubes each having a polygonal cross-section. Such a cross-section allows the tubes to be formed using a conventional press brake. The vortex tubes also have diverging longitudinal centerlines to help spread the liquid flow pattern discharging into the vessel.

Abstract: A portable winch system mounted to a standard trailer hitch tow ball of a vehicle permits steep incline pulling angles of the winch without cutting into the neck portion of the tow ball. To achieve a broad range of inclination angles, the cup plate (socket that fits over the tow ball) and/or the ball-locking portion of the winch system includes relieved neck-clearance areas. In some embodiments, the cup plate and/or ball-locking mechanism includes neck contact points that are softer than the material of the tow ball.

Abstract: A horticulture growing medium mixture or so-called “potting soil” provides a generally soil-less medium that does not rely on the use of peat moss, soil or compost. A unique combination of anaerobically digested solids, perlite, vermiculite, and various additives and amendments provides a growing medium with a surprisingly high acid-buffering coefficient. Although the growing medium is particularly suited for orchids, the medium can be tailor-mixed for various other plants as well.

Abstract: A milk temperature monitor helps determine the health or physiological condition of a lactating animal (e.g., cow, goat, sheep, camel, etc.). It does this by comparing the temperature of the animal's milk to an acceptable temperature range that is automatically adjusted to compensate for a varying ambient air temperature. In some embodiments, the acceptable temperature range is adjusted based on the average milk temperature reading of the most recent series of animals that were milked. The average reading is preferably a rolling average of a limited sample size. In calculating the rolling average, the monitor disregards temperature readings that are beyond a reasonable range. The monitor can record and display historical peak temperatures rather than real-time temperatures. In some cases, the monitor's microprocessor and power supply are hermetically encapsulated within a clear permanent cast housing.

Abstract: A bass drum comprises a batter head and a resonant head at opposite ends of a cylindrical shell, wherein the resonant head is excitable to produce a lower resonant pitch than what is typically achieved with conventional bass drums. In some embodiments, the resonant head includes the cone of a conventional speaker. The speaker cone, however, is driven by fluid dynamics rather than by electromagnetic force. Moreover, the speaker cone can function without relying on any active electrical pickup coil or transducer being attached to it. In preferred embodiments, the speaker cone is part of a speaker assembly that has an outside diameter that is appreciably smaller than the inside diameter of the shell, wherein an adaptor ring bridges the radial gap between the speaker assembly and the shell. The adaptor ring is particularly useful in retrofitting standard size drum shells with standard size speaker assemblies.

Abstract: A universal motor comprises a stator interposed between a housing and a novel plastic bracket. The plastic bracket is a unitary piece that not only defines a plurality of terminal receptacles but also supports the motor's outboard bearing. In some embodiments, the plastic bracket also includes an integral post for supporting a spring that urges a carbon brush against the motor's commutator.