Abstract: The appliance comprises a portable and electrical self-contained assembly comprising a case of plastics material defining a housing in which there are disposed an instant steam generator operating at atmospheric pressure with a porous water storage body and electrical heater resistance elements, and a steam distributor for diffusing steam through a series of front orifices. The case is extended by a squeegee carrier fitted with a squeegee blade projecting from the front of the appliance.

Abstract: A self propelled upright vacuum cleaner is provided that has at least one drive wheel, a transmission for selectively driving the drive wheel in forward and reverse and propelling the cleaner in forward and reverse over a floor. A bag housing pivotally connected to the floor engaging portion. An electric power switch located adjacent to a top of the bag housing. A control link extending from the transmission and up the bag housing, with a top end of the control link being located adjacent to the top of the bag housing. An upper handle assembly having a hand grip reciprocally mounted thereon and a power switch button mounted thereon. The lower end of the upper handle assembly is adapted for connection to the top of the bag housing, such that the upper end of the control link and the hand grip are automatically interconnected when the upper handle assembly is attached to the bag housing.

Abstract: A power working machine has a noise level display device which enables the noise level of the machine to be easily recognized with the naked eyes. When compressed air that is pressurized and delivered by a blower fan is delivered to an air-ejecting pipe, a noise level proportional to the magnitude of the force of the ejected air flow is indicated by the noise level display device, which is mounted on the air-ejecting pipe.

Abstract: A workbench includes a hollow base member formed with a lower chamber and an upper chamber that is disposed above and in fluid communication with the lower chamber. A tabletop is mounted on top of the base member and is formed with a plurality of apertures for access into the upper chamber. An air filtering device is mounted in the upper chamber. A motor-operated suction device is mounted in the lower chamber and is operable to create a downward air stream for drawing air to flow in a direction from above the tabletop into the base member such that woodworking waste on the tabletop can be drawn into the base member via the apertures so as to be entrapped by the air filtering device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suction cleaning device which provides liquid dispensing, scrubbing, squeegeeing, and suction drying in a single, compact, self contained device. The suction cleaning device includes a cleaning device housing, a handle connected to the housing, an absorbent cleaning member mounted on the housing and movable between an extended and a retracted position, and a pair of squeegee blades. The squeegee blades are mounted in a squeegee tray, and at least one of the squeegee blades is movable between an extended and a retracted position in response to changes in the relative angle between the housing and the surface being cleaned. The movable squeegee blade is spring-biased into the extended position by one or more springs such as leaf springs. The device includes a suction system which draws the water from the floor surface which has been cleaned into a tank mounted on the housing which collects the liquid from the floor surface.

Abstract: A vacuum appliance is disclosed, comprising a collection canister and a powerhead housing a motor and impeller assembly for establishing vacuum pressure within said canister. In one embodiment, the appliance is of the wet/dry variety. A filter assembly comprising a rigid filter cage around which a filter is disposed. The filter cage is supported on an underside of the powerhead and extends into the collection canister such that the bottom of the filter assembly is at or substantially near the bottom of the collection canister. As a result, deflection of the collection canister as a result of vacuum pressure built up in the canister is resisted by the rigidity of the filter cage. In one embodiment, a frame within the powerhead serves the dual functions of supporting the motor and defining one wall or surface of an impeller chamber in which an impeller rotates to create the vacuum pressure.

Abstract: A tube shaft (14) for a vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is connected to a tube handle (15) or the like communicating with a vacuum source and a particle separating means. The lower end is connected to a nozzle (13). The tube shaft (14) includes at least two sections (17,18) arranged telescopically with respect to one another and the parts of the sections which are telescopically arranged with respect to one another are curved.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an automated air quantity adjusting mechanism which has good linearity and has no hysteresis. The automated air quantity adjusting mechanism includes an exhaust opening section 7a formed within a cylindrical body 7. A flange 26 provides the exhaust opening section 7a at the lower section of a supporting body 6 which supports an electric generator 9. A guide shaft 21 is provided at a central section of the exhaust opening section 7a in a standing manner which guide shaft has a stopper member 24 at its uppermost edge section. The mechanism further includes a circular plate shaped valve 22 in which the guide shaft 21 is passed therethrough, and a returning coil spring 25 for pushing the valve 22 towards the stopper 24.

Abstract: An accessory holder for a vacuum cleaner having a base member for supporting a plurality of vacuum accessories. The base member has a pair of arms for attaching the holder to a support structure on the vacuum cleaner. The arms include a tapered wedge projecting from the base member for intermeshing with a tapered channel in the support structure to provide a frictional retaining attachment of the base member to the support structure. The holder further includes a cradle portion extending from the base member for selectively engaging a portion of the vacuum cleaner wand to detachably secure the holder to the wand.

Abstract: Device for driving/stopping a brush of a vacuum cleaner, including a driving motor built in a body of the vacuum cleaner, a brush fitted in front of the driving motor in the body of the vacuum cleaner, a support frame fixed inside of the body and having the motor shaft of the driving motor rotatably passed through a surface thereof, a first link of a circular arc cam form rotatably mounted on an outer circumference of the motor shaft passed through the support frame centered on the motor shaft without interference with the motor shaft and having a belt shaft fitted at a fore end thereof, a belt for connecting between the belt shaft and the brush, a change over lever fitted at one side of rear of the motor shaft in the support frame to be rotatable centered on a hinge shaft and having a foot step for applying a stepping force thereto for connecting/disconnecting a driving force of the motor to the brush, a second link of an arch form connected between a middle of an arm of the change over lever and the belt sh

Abstract: A motor assembly for use in a vacuum cleaner utilizes a clam-shell type housing having a plurality of shell components that cooperate with each other to define a fan cavity and a motor cavity adjacent to the fan cavity. The housing has a fan cavity inlet and a fan cavity outlet. A field is received in the motor cavity. An armature assembly includes an armature shaft extending through the field and extending into the fan cavity. A pair of brushes are mounted to the housing in the motor cavity, and contact a commutator. A fan blade is disposed in the fan cavity and secured to the armature shaft for rotation together therewith. The fan blade rotates with the armature shaft during motor operation to cause airflow from the fan cavity inlet to the fan cavity outlet.

Abstract: The multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance has a lower housing part provided with an electrically driven brush. A further housing part is allocated to the lower housing part. The further housing part incorporates the operational parts for vacuum generation, dust filtering and dust collection. The lower housing part can be coupled to the suction circuit of the further housing part. In addition to vacuum sweeping work with the complete assembly, the appliance can also be used for normal vacuuming work without spatial limitations because the further housing part is a pull-along cylinder vacuum cleaner which is detachably coupled to the lower housing part.

Abstract: A diagnostic microbiological testing system and method for microorganism identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility determinations (AST). The system includes multiple-well test panels capable of performing ID and AST testing on the same test panel. Each test panel is inoculated with reagents, broth-suspended organisms, and placed into the instrument system. The instrument system includes a rotating carousel for incubation and indexing, multiple light sources each emitting different wavelength light, precision calorimetric and fluorometric detection, barcode test panel tracking and a control processor for making determinations based on measured test data. One light source includes a plurality of LEDs arranged in a linear array. Each of the LEDs' junction currents are controllable to produce a predetermined illumination profile.

Abstract: A suction cleaner comprising a motor which operates a blower in such a manner that the blower blows a flow of air out into a motor chamber that delimits a volume which extends at least radially around the motor, and then out through outlet openings arranged in said motor chamber, and wherein the motor chamber is provided with a silencer element made of a silencing material, such as foamed plastics, said silencer element enclosing the motor radially and forming a silencing chamber around the same, and wherein the silencer element is provided with flow passages which substantially constitute the flow connection from said silencing chamber to the outflow openings in the motor chamber. The fact that the flow passages in the silencer element according to the invention extend axially along the motor in substantially the entire length thereof provides an optimum silencing effect.

Abstract: A vacuum trash collection vehicle includes a vehicle mounted debris container and a hose connected at one end to the debris container. There is a source of vacuum on the vehicle and it is applied to the hose. The hose is open at one end to form a collection nozzle. The hose is boom supported by the vehicle and there are driver accessible controls for moving the hose and nozzle for debris collection. There is a debris collection wand assembly mounted on the vehicle which includes a flexible collapsible hose connected at one end to the debris container and having a source of vacuum applied thereto. There is a valve for controlling the application of vacuum to the collapsible hose. A tubular portable wand is mounted on the vehicle and removable for debris collection. The collapsible hose extends into the tubular wand for connection thereto, with the collapsible hose collapsing into the tubular wand for storage on the vehicle when not in use for debris collection.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having an elongated transverse brush cavity with an elongated cylindrical brush therein, a duct having an air flow nozzle adjacent the brush cavity for receiving dirt-entrained air from the brush cavity, a vacuum motor operably associated with the duct and nozzle to draw dirt-entrained air through the nozzle and duct, and the brush cavity having a wrap configuration geometry over the brush including an elongated reflective ledge angled laterally upwardly toward the nozzle.

Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. Supply tanks are removably mounted to the handle or base while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the handle or base. An outlet in each supply tank includes a valve to close the outlet when the supply tank is removed from the base. A float valve assembly in the recovery tank includes a first end for covering an air outlet port from the recovery tank and a second end, which is buoyant and elevated by the rising recovered fluid in the tank, for raising the first end to cover the air outlet port.

Abstract: An improved system for cleaning vertical walls includes a vacuum source to adhere the system to the vertical wall. The vacuum source removes fluid and removed material from the wall, and also adheres the system to the wall. A rotating fluid jet is positioned radially inwardly of the vacuum source and impinges high pressurized fluid off of the surface to be cleaned to remove material. In a preferred embodiment, a central portion mounts both the fluid source and the vacuum source. A base portion mounts motors for driving the system along the wall. The base portion rotates relative to the central portion such that the central portion does not move as the base portion turns on the wall to drive the system along the wall. In a further feature, an additional air flow system is provided to provide supplemental air flow to assist the vacuum when moving the fluid and removed material.

Abstract: A chip and dust collection apparatus attached to a machine tool having a spindle and a cutter for removing chips and dust near the cutter at the time of cutting is disclosed. The invention comprises a vacuum supply apparatus and a hollow vacuum hood rotatably attached to the machine tool around the spindle so that the cutter projects forwardly through the vacuum hood. A hose connecting, the vacuum supply apparatus to the vacuum hood is also provided. A flexible sleeve is attached the vacuum hood so that the cutter projects through the flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve is more flexible along the longitudinal sleeve axis than normal to the longitudinal sleeve axis. The flexible sleeve is also pivotable at one end to a plurality of orientations not parallel with the longitudinal sleeve axis. Further, a hollow foot is attached to the flexible sleeve. A sealing end of the foot has a flange extending outwardly and back toward the machine tool.

Abstract: A fluid guide device that can evenly and effectively distribute the potential from a fluid transport source over an area substantially larger than the opening of a source conduit. The fluid guide device includes a first major surface having a structured surface that includes a plurality of flow channels disposed thereon. The flow channels extend from a first point to a second point along the structured surface and have a minimum aspect ratio of about 10:1 and a hydraulic radius no greater than about 300 micrometers (.mu.m). The fluid guide device also includes an active fluid transport source provided external to the structured polymeric surface to provide a potential over the flow channels to promote movement of matter through the flow channels from a first potential to a second potential. The fluid transport source is connected with a plurality of the flow channels of the structured surface by way of a manifold.