Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has an electric motor driving an air impeller for creating suction and a pump which draws liquid material through an inlet tube from the bottom of a tank and expels it from the tank. The vacuum cleaner also includes a mechanical shut-off and override assembly that automatically shuts off the motor if the liquid level in the tank gets too high. The user, however, can mechanically override this automatic shut-off in order to continue pumping liquid out of the tank. A priming apparatus is disposed in the tank in fluid communication with the pump, and a valve is selectively actuable to establish a pressure differential across liquid in the priming apparatus to thereby prime the pump.

Abstract: A vegetation debris blower and carrying cart assembly is provided with a quick mount and dismount assembly. The cart has two vertically orientated mounting tubes. The blower has a mounting bracket attached to its bottom rear end. The mounting bracket has two U-shaped rods with downward extending legs adapted to be slid into the tubes to thereby quickly mount the blower to the cart by merely vertically lowering the blower onto the cart. The blower can be quickly dismounted from the cart by merely upwardly raising the blower from the cart with the rods merely sliding out of the tubes.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner suction nozzle is provided with inner front and rear ducts and a duct cover piece disposed within the agitator chamber. This chamber is formed by a tunnel piece that is at least partly user observable from above the nozzle. The nozzle includes a hood piece which melds with its underbody at, at least, a portion of their juncture. This is occasioned by an offset or undercut formed in one of the hood piece or underbody, whereby the hood piece and underbody join with coplaner outer surfaces.

Abstract: A battery powered, back-pack blower comprising a mounting frame, a horizontally mounted impeller oscillated by an electric motor powered by a battery pack. The impeller and motor are positioned on the mounting frame above the battery back to better distribute the weight. The electric motor reduces the level of noise and smoke emissions from blowers using internal combustion engines. A U-bracket serves to horizontally mount the electric motor which allows for greater heat dissipation from the motor and also aids in dismantling the blower.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaner having a hopper for receiving dirty product to be cleaned. The hopper feeds the dirty or contaminated product downwardly onto a cleaning comb that directs the larger sized contaminants onto the exterior surface of a scalping reel having a plurality of apertures of a preselected size and shape. The dirty or contaminated material falls through the screen openings into the interior thereof and on out through the screen at the bottom thereof as it rotates. The dirty or contaminated material is then directed into a vertically oriented aspiration column that has a negative airflow from the bottom thereof upwardly. Fines, chaff, and other light contaminants are carried upwardly by the negative airflow and out of the product, which drops on downwardly into an outlet into a storage facility or onto a conveyor as desired by the cleaner operator. A vacuum nozzle is disposed in close proximity to the scalping reel to remove contaminants that may become lodged in the apertures.

Abstract: An adjustable vacuum handle construction 10 including a collar member 20 dimensioned to fit over and be secured to the rearwardly angled generally straight tubular hand grip portion 102 of a conventional vacuum handle 101. A handle member 30 is pivotally secured to the collar member 20 and provided with a locking unit 13 for fixedly securing the handle member 30 to the collar member 20 at a desired angular orientation.

Abstract: A vacuum trash collection vehicle includes a debris container and a source of vacuum, both mounted on the vehicle. There is a hose connected at one end to the debris container and the source of vacuum is applied thereto. The opposite end of the hose is open to form a collection nozzle. A boom supports the hose during use as a debris collection device. There is a driver accessible control for moving the hose and nozzle which includes an elongated tubular assembly, pivotally mounted at its upper end to the boom and movably mounted at its lower end to the collection nozzle. There is an operator's handle, having multiple hand-gripping areas, mounted on the tubular assembly and movable relative thereto during use of the debris collection hose.

Abstract: A vacuum trash collection vehicle includes a frame with facilities for debris collection mounted on the frame which include a debris canister. There is a cover for the canister and there is a vacuum fan in the cover. A debris collection hose is connected to the cover and is in communication with the vacuum fan whereby vacuum is applied to the hose. There is a boom for supporting the hose and a driver control for manipulating the hose for debris collection. The debris canister is pivotally mounted on the frame and there are side-by-side debris collection containers positioned within the canister. A deflector plate is mounted above the debris canister to direct debris passing from the hose and into the cover toward both of the side-by-side debris collection containers.

Abstract: A cleaning tool having a height adjustment mechanism which may be overridden to prevent damage to the cleaning tool in the event an excessively high force is applied to an exterior surface of the cleaning tool. The height adjustment mechanism forms an overrideable clutch having a manually adjustable thumbwheel, a biasing member and a clutch member. The height adjustment assembly is operably associated with a roller assembly which supports the cleaning tool on a work surface at a desired height above the work surface. The application of a predetermined excessive force to an exterior surface of the cleaning tool causes the height adjustment assembly to be de-clutched to allow the lower surface of the cleaning tool to come in contact with the work surface, thereby preventing damage to the various internal components of the cleaning tool.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises a housing, a motor mounted in the housing, and a switch coupled the motor for actuating the motor to an operative and an inoperative condition. The switch includes an actuator button for moving the switch between an opened and a closed position. A foot pedal is pivotally mounted to the housing and has a bottom surface in an abutting relationship with respect to the actuator button. The foot pedal can include an axle having a pair of flat surfaces which pivotally mount to a slotted circular retainer in the housing. The bottom surface of the foot pedal can include a depending flange which is in abutting relationship with the actuator button. Further, a spring can be disposed between the bottom surface of the foot pedal and the housing to bias the foot pedal away from the switch wherein the spring at least partially surrounds a portion of the foot pedal and at least partially surrounds the actuator button.

Abstract: A suction cleaner includes a base unit (1) and a body unit (2) mounted on the base unit. The base unit (1) incorporates a downwardly-facing suction opening (1a) and the body unit (2) houses a dust-collection receptacle. The body unit (2) is provided with a pipe (7) for delivering dust-laden air from the base unit (1) to the dust-collection receptacle. The pipe (7) is made of a transparent material and is detachably mounted on the cleaner.

Abstract: A yard blower is provided which includes a housing mounting a source of high volume pressurized air, a hose fluidly communicating with the housing for directing the pressurized air, a nozzle with a rear end connected with the hose for distributing the pressurized air. The nozzle has a front end with an opening for releasing the pressurized air. The nozzle also has a generally rigid rake formed by a plurality of spaced apart tines projecting from the nozzle allowing the nozzle to agitate yard debris.

Abstract: An apparatus for dry-leaning dust-contaminated auxiliary objects for handling and storing semiconductor wafers is disclosed and comprises a housing having a receiving opening and a closable lid for closing the opening. The housing further includes a receiving space for receiving an auxiliary object and a collecting space spatially separated therefrom, gas inlet nozzles having corresponding gas outlet openings in the receiving space for injecting a cleaning gas into the receiving space, and a gas draw-off opening in the collecting space for receiving the injected cleaning gas flowing from the receiving space to the collecting space. As the injected cleaning gas flows over the auxiliary object from the receiving space to the collecting space, the dust particles are removed from the auxiliary object by the flow of injected cleaning gas over the auxiliary object and delivered to said gas draw-off opening for disposal.

Abstract: A test tube storage tray assembly with multiple storage bays for individual test tubes is disclosed. The storage tray assembly comprises three sections: a base section, a center section and a cover section. Each storage bay centers a test tube stored at two levels: at the base section and at the center section. The base section and the center section are connected by interlocking rims. The cover section may have a hermetically sealing rim interface with the center section. The test tube storage tray assembly is dimensioned for use in combination with automatic test tube handlers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a suction nozzle for connection to a hose, which is under vacuum and which is connected to a vacuum cleaner, the nozzle having a topside and an underside. According to the invention the suction nozzle is characterized by the combination of the following features: the nozzle has two suction holes (7, 8), which debouch on the underside (3) of the nozzle (1), and each of which is connected to a pipe part (5, 6), which parts are stationarily arranged on the topside (2) of the nozzle; the two pipe parts (5, 6) are connected with a T-formed connection pipe (4), which in its turn is connected with the pipe being under vacuum, the pipe being under vacuum being pivotally essentially 180.degree. in relation to the nozzle; the underside (3) of the nozzle (1) is designed with two separate vacuum chambers (13, 14), the one suction hole (7) debouching into the one vacuum chamber (13), whereas the other suction hole (8) debouches into the other vacuum chamber (14).

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing the slinging of the slop, or slurry, which results from the use of liquids such as water during cutting, coring, or drilling operations on concrete and other strata. A shield fits around the cutting element and is positioned closely enough to a vacuum ring to effectively close off the area around the strata which is being cut or cored so as to contain the slop that is flung about by the cutting element. The vacuum ring is coupled to a wet/dry vacuum so that when a vacuum is applied into the area which is closed off around the strata which is being cut, the slop is suctioned into the vacuum ring and on through a hose into the vacuum.

Abstract: A large-scale cleaning vehicle, for operation with a forklift, includes rotation brushes for sweeping debris toward a center of said cleaning vehicle, a sweeping brush for sweeping the debris into a debris collection box and a fan for pulling said debris into said debris collection box without the need for a motor in the cleaning vehicle. Each of the rotation brushes, the sweeping brush, and the fan are rotatably connected to a rear wheel of the cleaning vehicle such that when the cleaning vehicle is moved, the brushes and fan are rotated. The cleaning vehicle further includes a vertical adjustment for the rotation brushes to lift them when they are not needed, a lateral adjustment for the rotation brushes to adjust a width of sweeping, an audible warning for pedestrians, a water sprinkler system to aid in the cleaning process, and a large-scale trash removal brush mounted in front of the cleaning vehicle to push large-scale trash.

Abstract: A portable, self-contained vacuum device designed for hand-held use to create a moderate vacuum effect for various applications. A small diameter tube (10) is firmly attached (14) to the nozzle or spray tip of an aerosol canister and inserted at a point (16) through the wall of, and directed in one direction along the interior length of a larger diameter tube (12). The tubes may be fixed to the exterior of the aerosol canister, may be detachable for storage, or may be manufactured into the interior of the aerosol canister. When propellant gas from the aerosol canister is released and injected out of the outflow end (20) of the smaller diameter tube toward one end of the larger diameter tube, the resulting aspiration of ambient gasses creates a vacuum effect at the opposite end, or intake end (18), of said larger diameter tube.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle lamp which can light and observe a forward are of a suction nozzle for collecting dust or alien substances without being overheated. A reflection plate with a predetermined shape is formed inside a lower case forming a suction nozzle with a suction opening for sucking dust or alien substances, and a window is formed at the forward area of the reflection plate and at the lower case to light the forward area after light is reflected by the reflection plate. A suction nozzle lamp is formed between the reflection plate and the window. A strip-type electric bulb is located between the reflection plate and the window by first and second terminals or a socket terminal, thereby emitting enough light to the forward area of the suction nozzle to perform cleaning without being overheated.

Abstract: A microprocessor is used to control various components of a carpet cleaning machine to improve its functionality. In various aspects of the invention, the microprocessor is software controlled, and can provide sequential operating instructions to the operator, enforce start-up and shut down sequences, store an electronic record of operating parameters for future use, provide auto--and remote diagnostics, and provide remote control. In another aspect of the invention the microprocessor can affect the operation of the entire system by dynamically controlling the speed of the motor. In another aspect of the invention, a more effective muffler can be attached to the exhaust of the motor, thereby greatly reducing the noise level. In still other aspects of the invention, the microprocessor can operate an ignition kill switch to the motor, solenoid and/or clutch controls for the fluid and air pumps, an energy cutoff switch for the heater, and software updates via modem.