Abstract: A housing of a vacuum cleaner nozzle has an opening in which a brush disk is located so that bristles of the disk extend outwardly of the opening. A journal pin for the brush disk extends with one end portion into a tubular socket formed in the housing, and has another end portion engaged by a single-point bearing in the region of the opening. A brush-disk changing arrangement is provided in the region of the socket to facilitate rapid installation and removal of the brush disk in the housing.

Abstract: A cylindrical brush, turnable about a horizontal axis in a housing, has hollow end portions extending along said axis. An arrangement for adjusting the brush relative to said housing and for removing it therefrom, is mounted in said hollow end portions of the brush. The adjusting arrangement comprises a pair of eccentrics respectively arranged in the hollow end portions of the brush, and having end portions normally arranged in openings in adjacent side walls of said housing.

Abstract: A suction cleaner, wherein the interior of a container thereof is divided into two chambers, namely, the first chamber and the second chamber, by a partition, and the first chamber accommodates a suction fan, a filter member and a dust-receiving box installed therein while the second chamber randomly stores a suction hose, the rear end of said hose being rotatably supported within an opening provided in said partition while the front end of said hose projects out of an opening provided on one side of said container; a device for the paying-out and hauling-in of the hose is installed adjacent the inside of said opening provided on the container; lead wires are provided for the hose along the whole length thereof, the front end of said lead wires being connected with a switch mounted on the hose while the rear end of the same being connected with a ring contact provided on the hose; said movable contact is devised to be in touch with a fixed contact provided on the partition; and said fixed contact is connected

Abstract: An improved suction head for a surface vacuum cleaning apparatus which includes a glide shoe having slots on the bottom thereof adjacent to the leading and trailing edges of the shoe, a vacuum conduit in fluid communication with the glide shoe slots, a nozzle positioned within the interior of the head and between the leading and trailing glide shoe slots to spray cleaning fluid onto a soiled surface, and means for permitting air to continuously flow to the soiled surface through the interior of the suction head when the glide shoe is in contact with the soiled surface whereby air flows continuously into the slots from both the interior and the exterior of the head during operation so as to assure that substantially all of the cleaning fluid sprayed is drawn into the glide shoe slots.

Abstract: Canister cleaner arrangements are provided in which auxiliary cooling air is introduced to the cleaner main air stream fan system discharge so as to provide a cooled discharge air temperature to maintain cooled portions of the canister cleaner adjacent the fan discharge. In the first embodiment of the invention, auxiliary cooling air flows through perforations in the bottom pan of the cleaner to mix with the fan system discharge air so that the total flow may then be exited outwardly around the periphery of the canister cleaner. In the second embodiment of the invention auxiliary cooling air moves inwardly into the canister cleaner between the bottom pan therefor and an auxiliary pan spaced above the bottom pan to mix with main stream fan discharge air so that the combined air flow can be discharged downwardly through the bottom pan of the cleaner. This provides an air cushion effect for the canister cleaner.

Abstract: Dust is removed from a running web by a counterflow liquid bath and downstream application of one or more high velocity air jets to a localized convex curvature of the web, said application of high velocity air jets being accompanied by application of vacuum pressure to remove the mist created by the air jets.

Abstract: To permit versatile application of a washing machine for bottles of different sizes and shapes, a rotatable frame is located within a vessel, the frame having secured thereto a plurality of bottle holding, or retaining boxes, each adapted to hold one, or more bottles, which boxes are made of mesh, or similar material, and have an open top, the frame being arranged with holding means for mesh, grid or other tops, at different heights above the bottoms of the boxes; the frame rotates in the vessel, to dip the bottles into cleaning, rinsing and other treatment solutions and, when the bottles are facing upside down, spray means are arranged to spray washing liquid into the bottles. The vessel may be strong enough to accept pressurized steam for sterilization of the wash bottles.

Abstract: A dog brush is provided for attachment to a conventional vacuum cleaner. Semi-flexible plastic bristles are curved in the direction in which the brush is drawn across a dog, whereby to cradle loose hairs transversely of the air flow into the vacuum cleaner, and thus most efficiently to pull the loose hairs into the vacuum cleaner. Restrictive orifices are provided to increase velocity of air flow further to facilitate picking up loose hairs. The handle of the brush is oriented for most efficient brushing of a dog.

Abstract: A kit for converting an upright vacuum cleaner for use as an above-the-floor cleaner. The kit includes a housing which is removably fitted over the front of the cleaner chassis and includes an air chamber communicating the cleaner nozzle opening with one extremity of a hose. The kit includes a plurality of tabs and bosses on the housing for storing the hose and a plurality of accessory nozzles which are selectively exchangeable on the other extremity of the hose.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a floor treating machine having laterally spaced drive wheels driven by separate electric traction motors under electronic control so as to be driven by separate train of pulses, comprising means for recording the trains of pulses to the traction motors and means for replaying the record to reproduce the trains of pulses whereby the machine will repeat the operation. When replaying the record it is normally necessary to provide course correction by means of sensing devices for sensing the presence of a wall or other physical obstruction and further sensing devices for sensing the presence of unscrubbed floor, and means for providing overriding control by signals from the sensing devices.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner nozzle having an internal brush which is selectively elevated from or lowered to rug engaging position. The actuating means for the brush constitutes two operating devices located, as viewed from the operator, on the left hand side of the nozzle housing and accessible from the exterior thereof. The operating devices are connected to cam members in the form of rollers which co-act with the brush support to effect the vertical movement of the brush.

Abstract: Canister type vacuum cleaners, which can be used in any of their horizontal and upright positions. The vacuum cleaners include a casing housing a motor and a vacuum pump and a readily accessible compartment for a dust bag. The casing is free of protuberances and is configured so it will slide easily across the surface of the area in which it is used. It may be surrounded with an integral or removable cover to keep the cleaner from damaging furniture, etc., and/or a removable dolly may be attached to increase the mobility of the cleaner. A readily locatable, foot-operated power switch external to the vacuum cleaner casing is also provided to facilitate turning it on and off.

Abstract: A suction port device comprising a shield member extending along at least one of the peripheral edges of an opening formed in a suction port body, so that the suction force of the vacuum cleaner can be made substantially uniform in intensity over the entire length of the suction port body.

Abstract: Apparatus for drawing liquid by suction from a surface and into a reservoir including intake and exhaust conduits communicating with the reservoir. The intake conduit has an inner end which is shaped to provide a continuous change in the path of flow of the liquid flowing therethrough to thereby avoid impact of the liquid with adjacent structure and thereby minimize aeration of the liquid. The apparatus can be in the form of an attachment for a conventional vacuum cleaner or can be self-contained. It is constructed to provide assurance that the suction force produced is such as to prevent liquid from passing out of the reservoir through the exhaust conduit.

Abstract: A loom cleaner for cleaning a plurality of looms in a row comprising a carriage adapted to be moved along an overhead track above the row of looms. A pair of spaced blowers are provided on the carriage. Each blower includes a scroll and a fan. A motor on the carriage drives a horizontal shaft connected to the fans of the blowers. A plenum is associated with the outlet of each blower scroll and is mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis intersecting said outlet. Means are provided for oscillating the plenums about their respective axes. A plurality of blower tubes extend downwardly from each said plenum and are oscillated as each plenum is oscillated.

Abstract: In the removal of trash and waste from beneath a carding machine the trash and waste is collected on support means positioned beneath the carding elements of the machine and a flow of air is created in a direction to transport the trash and waste on the support means to a waste collection zone by supplying pressurized air to a plurality of spaced nozzles arranged above the support means in such a manner that each of a plurality of preselected groups of rows of said nozzles is supplied with the pressurized air in turn and cyclically.

Abstract: A carpet cleaning machine of the portable type that is characterized by a compact frame arrangement for supporting dispensing and pick-up systems for liquid type carpet cleaners. The cleaning liquid and dirty liquid are simultaneously applied to and picked up from a carpet by means of a manually operated carpet cleaning tool. The machine is further characterized by auxiliary dirty fluid collecting means mounted on a separate wheeled auxiliary frame. The auxiliary fluid collecting means is disconnectably located in the flow of dirty fluid from the carpet cleaning tool to a main collecting means on the machine with said auxiliary collecting means being adapted to be removed for emptying without preventing continuation of the carpet cleaning operation.

Abstract: A floor maintenance machine comprises a platform mounted on wheels. An electric power system on the platform is coupled to some of the wheels for driving the machine. A steering system on the platform is coupled to selected ones of the wheels for steering the machine. A vacuum system on the platform is connected to and operated by the electric power system for vacuuming a floor on which the machine is driven. A brushing system on the platform is connected to and operated by the electric power system for performing operations on the floor. The brushing system comprises a plurality of brushes selectively manually coupled to the brushing system for selectively washing, waxing and buffing the floor. A washing system on the platform washes the floor. The washing system comprises a storage drum having two independent compartments, one containing a detergent and water solution and the other containing rinse water when washing and liquid wax when waxing.

Abstract: A wheeled suction nozzle is provided having, generally, a simplified three-piece construction including an upper shell, an intermediate plate and a bottom pan, with the intermediate plate sandwiched between the other two members so that its top surface and the bottom surface of the upper shell form the suction passageways for the nozzle.A rotary valve is included to activate edge or normal suction, with this valve rotating on a vertical axis and snapfit into position and thus not requiring any sort of connecting means which would positively maintain the rotary valve attached to the nozzle.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having edge cleaning features comprising a cleaner body with a floor contacting suction chamber and a suction duct leading from the chamber, an edge auxiliary cleaning chamber at one end of the suction chamber and communicating through a port with the suction duct, a valve within the cleaner body movable between open and duct restricting positions for selective full nozzle cleaning and edge cleaning with suction through the auxiliary cleaning chamber when the valve is open and operating means accessible from the exterior of the cleaner for the moving of the valve between said positions.