Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner has a single motor on the body thereof, for rotating the vacuum producing fan blade, for rotating the rotary brush, as well as for driving the wheels by way of a clutch. The clutch is driven from the motor shaft by way of Evoloid gearing and a continuously driven bevel pinion, to drive oppositely rotating bevel gears. The handle grip of the cleaner is slidable along the end of the shaft or rod between the handle and the body, and controls a Bowden cable to effect the movement of a pair of clutch plates with respect to corresponding bevel gears, thereby to drive wheels on the body in a reversible manner.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has an elongated porous outer bag for holding a filter bag over an air outlet. A hanger within the outer bag is positioned to suspend the outer bag from the vacuum cleaner, as well as to hold a pocket within the outer bag, so that spare filter bags may be held within the porous outer bag and an end flap extending into the outer bag.

Abstract: A brush-beater assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprises a hollow cylinder having outwardly extending projections formed in the material thereof, and slots diametrically opposed to the projections for receiving brush assemblies. The projections may be formed pneumatically or hydraulically in the cylinder, during the production thereof. An additional projection is provided in front of the brush assemblies.

Abstract: A connection for securing one end of a helically convoluted suction hose to a hose fitting such as is used to effect rapid engagement of the hose with or disengagement thereof from the suction inlet of a vacuum cleaner. The fitting includes a tubular portion having external threads of the same pitch as the unstressed convolutions of the hose so that the tubular portion can be threaded into the end of the hose. The cross sectional configuration of the threads is such as to resist relative rotation between the fitting and the end of the hose when the threads are engaged with the hose convolutions. Additional resistance to relative rotation between the fitting and end of the hose is provided by a collar at the inner end of the tubular portion, the collar serving as an abutment to cause compression and a reduction in the pitch of the convolutions of the hose between the threads and collar with continued threading of the fitting into the end of the hose after the end edge of the hose has engaged the collar.

Abstract: 1. In a thermal battery, the combination in stacked arrangement of (A) a cell assembly containing at least one fusible electrolyte cell including a mass of fusible electrolyte, a cathode, an anode, and heat producing means for energizing the cell, (B) heat sink means comprising at least one heat sink unit disposed at each opposite side of said cell assembly, said unit comprising a protective metal housing containing a fusible metal having a fusion temperature between the maximum operating temperature and the minimum activation temperature of said cell assembly, (C) heat producing means interposed between said cell assembly and the innermost sides of said heat sink units and also disposed at the outermost sides of said heat sink units for fusing said fusible metal, and (D) thermal insulation means at the outermost sides of the stacked arrangement.

Abstract: 7. In a thermal cell including a mass of electrolyte, a depolarizing agent, a cathode, and an anode; the improvement wherein said anode comprises a pelletized mixture of an anode metal and a refractory non-flow agent, said anode metal having a fushion point within the optimum operating temperature range of the cell and being selected from the group consisting of magnesium-aluminum alloys, mixtures of magnesium and aluminum powders, calcium-magnesium alloys, mixtures of calcium and magnesium powders, and zinc, and said non-flow agent being selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide and alumina.

Abstract: 1. In a thermal cell including a mass of electrolyte, a depolarizing agent, a cathode and an anode, that improvement wherein the said depolarizing agent comprises from about 81% to about 96.5% by weight of V.sub.2 O.sub.5, from about 3% to about 15.5% by weight of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, and from about 0.5% to about 3.5% by weight of bentonite.

Abstract: A fan and motor assembly for an electric appliance, wherein the fan is comprised of a plastic material and has a mounting hole of a diameter greater than the shaft diameter of the motor. Insulating washers closely fitted in annular recesses at the end of the mounting hole have inner diameters substantially the same as that of the shaft for centering the fan on the shaft.

Abstract: A sole plate and rake latch assembly in a vacuum cleaner nozzle is provided which is capable of making the nozzle effective for both raking and cleaning shag-type rugs and rugs with short nap. The sole plate is provided with forwardly and rearwardly inclined walls extending upwardly from an air intake opening disposed lengthwise therein. A pivotal rake member is mounted adjacent the upper edge of both the forwardly and rearwardly inclined walls with the inclined walls preferably having recesses formed in their outer surface to receive the lower ends of the rake members in nesting position therein. Several rake latching means are provided which enable the rake members to be moved into either raking position or in nesting position.

Abstract: 1. A thermal cell comprising a metal container, heat source material in said container, said container forming one electrode of said cell, dry electrolyte in contact with the outer surface of said container, and an outer metal shell contacting said electrolyte and separated thereby from said container and constituting another electrode of said cell.

Abstract: A filter bag construction for filtering dirt, dust and other materials from the exhaust air flow of an upright vacuum cleaner, wherein an elongated, non-disposable outer fabric bag having a longitudinally extending delivery tube therein provides one stage of filtration and a disposable, inner paper filter bag provides a second stage of filtration. The filter bag construction may be used without the inner, paper filter bag when maximum filtration efficiency is not required or with the inner, paper filter bag when high filtration efficiency and/or the convenience of a disposable filter element is desired. When operating as a single stage filter, the upper end of a flow channeling conduit in the lower end of the outer bag is positioned in the lower end of the delivery tube and, when operating as a two-stage filter, the upper end of the conduit is shifted to another position in the outer bag so that unfiltered air from the cleaner is initially channeled into the inner filter bag.

Abstract: 1. An electrolyte for a fused electrolyte cell consisting essentially of a mixture of 45 to 55 mole percent of CaCl.sub.2 ; 30 to 54 mole percent of NaCl; and 1 to 15 mole percent of KCl, containing proportions of each component substantially as determined by a three system diagram of such components; and a depolarizing agent.

Abstract: 1. Thermal cell construction comprising a stack of annular bimetal disks separated from each other by dry electrolyte, and a mass of heat source material in the cavity formed by said stack and arranged in intimate contact with said bimetal disks, said disks constituting the electrodes of said cell.

Abstract: 1. A fused electrolyte cell embodying an electrolyte consisting essentially of a mixture of 25 to 40 mole percent CdCl.sub.2 ; 10 to 50 mole percent NaCl; and 10 to 65 mole percent KCl, containing proportions of each component substantially as determined by a three system diagram thereof; and a depolarizing agent.

Abstract: 1. Multiple thermal cell construction comprising a cylinder having heat source material therein and forming one electrode of a cell, dry electrolyte in contact with the outer surface of said cylinder, a metal band enclosing said electrolyte and forming another electrode of said cell, a metal band on said cylinder in spaced and insulated relation with respect to said electrolyte and forming an electrode of another cell in series with said first mentioned cell, dry electrolyte in contact with said band and an outer band contacting said last mentioned electrolyte and forming another electrode of said last mentioned cell.

Abstract: A hose coupling for detachably connecting one end of a cleaning tool hose to the suction inlet of a suction cleaner. The coupling includes a female coupling portion comprising a pair of circumferentially spaced, diametrically arranged flange portions on the margin of the suction inlet, and a male coupling portion comprising diametrically-spaced lug means on the end of the hose. The lug means are axially shiftable through recesses in the flange portions when the end of the hose is positioned for initial insertion into the inlet. After initial insertion, the end of the hose is rotated through a predetermined number of degrees to a locked, operative position in the inlet. A spring biased detent holds the end of the hose in its locked operative position, and a manually actuated push-button permits a user to disengage the detent from a receiving notch in one of the flange portions so that the end of the hose can be rotated to its initial insertion position and then withdrawn axially from the suction inlet.