Abstract: A vacuum trash collection vehicle has a debris container and a source of vacuum, both located on the vehicle. There is a hose connected at one end to the debris container and has the source of vacuum applied thereto. The other end of the hose is open to form a collection nozzle. There is a boom for supporting the nozzle during use as a debris collection device with the boom including a rear support arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle and supporting the hose in a rear area and a forward support arm pivotally mounted to the rear arm and supporting the hose at an area forward of the rear support arm. There is a control element accessible to the vehicle driver for moving the hose and nozzle. There is a spring pivotally connected between the rear and front support arms which urges the front support arm in an upward direction to, at least in part, carry the weight of the hose for assisting the vehicle driver in operating the control element.

Abstract: An improved carpet extractor is provided having powered brushes for scrubbing cleaning solution on a floor surface and a floor nozzle for extracting soiled cleaning solution from the floor surface in a floor cleaning mode. The extractor may be converted from the floor cleaning mode to an above the floor cleaning mode for cleaning upholstery, stairs, spots on carpet, or the like, with an attached hand held wand having a cleaning solution applicator and an upholstery and stair cleaning nozzle. A pair of motors are provided, one for driving the floor scrubbing brushes when in the floor cleaning mode and one for driving a cleaning solution supply pump and providing pressurized cleaning solution to the wand in the above floor cleaning mode. An automatic conversion mechanism is provided for automatically energizing and de-energizing the motors depending upon the operative position of the handle portion of the extractor.

Abstract: There is provided an accessory attachment with a built-in light for attachment to a vacuum cleaner. The accessory is preferably of modular design and is detachably connected in air flow relationship to a hose of the vacuum cleaner at one part, is adapted for detachable connection to an attachment such as a crevice tool at one part, and is detachably connected to a power source at one part, preferably a portable power source such as a battery pack, or the power supply line of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: An attachment for use with a vacuum powered debris removal system, said attachment comprising a debris collection bowl, said bowl having a first aperture through which a material cutting tool may be removably inserted, a second aperture through which a vacuum source may be connected, and a third aperture the open circumferential face of which is designed to lie substantially in contact with a material undergoing a cutting operation, such that in use, as debris is generated by the action of the cutting tool on said material, substantially all debris is collected in said bowl and thereby extracted through the second aperture by the action of the vacuum source.

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: An apparatus for removing dust from a photographic film is disclosed. The apparatus includes cylindrical rotatable dust removing members disposed upwardly and downwardly of the film, and a dust take-off member disposed adjacent the dust removing members for taking off the dust from the dust removing members. The dust removing members may be brush members or members having an adhesive face. Further, these dust removing members may be adapted to be movable between a dust removing position and a non dust removing position.

Abstract: A dust collection/control system is disclosed utilized in a floor polishing machine (10) in the most preferred form. A polishing member (16) for maintaining a floor surface as it is moved along the floor is located and rotated within a housing or shield (186) including a circular, planar portion (92) terminating at its periphery in a downwardly extending flange (94) including a flexible skirt (95) which engages the floor. The rotation of the polishing member (16) within the housing (186) passively generates an air current contained within the housing (186).

Abstract: The invention provides a wet vacuum accessory for a domestic vacuum cleaner that separates liquid droplets from the suction airstream before the airstream is drawn into the vacuum cleaner intake hose. A suction intake passage is formed between a pair of baffles, which discharges the airstream into a reservoir that is isolated from the airflow outlet of the accessory body by the baffles. The reservoir is provided with a relatively large cross sectional area, which reduces the suction airstream velocity sufficiently to allow liquid entrained in the airstream to fall into the reservoir before the airstream is drawn out of the accessory into the vacuum cleaner intake hose. In the preferred embodiment a hollow handle of the accessory is provided for connection to the vacuum cleaner intake hose.

Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism for a vacuum cleaner includes forwardly positioned lift off wheels which move downwardly when the handle of the vacuum cleaner is moved to the raised position. Two transfer members convert the rotational movement of the handle to vertical motion of the lift off wheels.

Abstract: A dust-collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner having a dust-collecting body and a cleaner body and alternatively operable as an upright-type vacuum cleaner or as a canister-type vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The dust-collecting unit includes an air-guiding part having first, second and third air-guiding pipes, and a door part. The door part accommodates a portion of the air-guiding part, closes and opens the dust bag receptacle part, and engages or disengages the air-guiding part with or from the dust bag receptacle part.

Abstract: In a suction hood (2) for a wet floor cleaning machine (1) in which a motor-driven scrubbing roller (3) rotates, accompanied by application of water, on an axle (free-arm axle) which is clamped in on only one side within the suction hood (2) which overlaps this axle (7) at both ends, this suction hood (2) is guided so as to be displaceable axially relative to the scrubbing roller (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cost effective and simple apparatus for cleaning surfaces, engines or other machinery parts of environmentally sensitive materials and also containing this material with its cleaning agent for shipment to a permitted recycling facility. Generally the invention comprises a device for cleaning a hazardous material contained on a surface. The device comprises a wash assembly, a vacuum member operatively adapted with said wash assembly, and a delivery member, operatively associated with the wash assembly, for delivering a cleaning agent to the surface. In the preferred embodiment, the wash assembly comprises a hood adapted to engage the surface and a conduit, operatively associated with the hood, for channeling the hazardous material and the cleaning agent into the vacuum member.

Abstract: A suction nozzle is provided with a linearly movable, stepped cam which adjusts the height of the suction nozzle by acting against a pivoted wheel carriage. The stepped cam is relatively fixedly positioned by an indexing means including a deflectable arm which is manually deformed to release the fixed indexing and then manipulated in a sideward direction to move the position of the stepped linear cam means.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for cleaning industrial and commercial operations hard surfaces, e.g., concrete and asphalt slabs, walls, tanks, grates, and ship hulls, contaminated by oil and chemical spills or barnacles. The methods and apparatus of the present invention produce a high velocity airflow about only the periphery of the area being cleaned by the device to provide improved entrainment and removal of cleaning fluid and dislodged debris. High velocity streams of cleaning fluid are directed against the surface from nozzles disposed on rotating arms of a hub suspended within the portable housing of the slab cleaner. The spent cleaning fluid and dislodged debris are removed by the application of a vacuum to a chamber extending about the periphery of the housing to create the high velocity airflow. Thus, high velocity airflow is developed without fear that the slab cleaner will be sucked down and become temporarily stuck on the surface being cleaned.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has an electric motor driving an air impeller for creating suction and a pump impeller which draws liquid material through an inlet tube from the bottom of the tank and expels it from the tank. A removable plenum having openings separates the tank from the air impeller. A baffle is movable by a user to cover the openings to create a low pressure area above the plenum with respect to the pressure in the tank. The pump is located above the plenum and has an aperture in the pump housing. When the baffle covers the openings in the plenum, the air pressure differential drives the liquid material through the inlet tube into the pump housing thereby priming the pump.

Abstract: An electric dust pan having a housing with a forwardly extending lower section. The lower section includes an inlet opening and an upwardly and forwardly inclined bottom surface terminating at the inlet opening. An electric vacuum source is activated by a mercury switch when the housing is tilted forward from the upright position so that the inclined bottom surface contacts a floor surface. The inlet opening communicates with the suction side of the vacuum source and a dust bag held in the housing communicates with the discharge side of the vacuum source. A hinged top cover provides access to the dust bag and a handle of the top cover can be gripped by the user to move the housing from the upright position to the forward tilted position.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning tool having a housing that includes a connector for a vacuum hose of a vacuum cleaning apparatus is provided. Disposed in a brush chamber of the housing is a brush roller, the bristles of which project through a vacuum slot formed in the base plate of the housing. The brush roller is driven via a belt drive by an air turbine, which is provided in a turbine chamber of the housing. Provided between the brush chamber and the turbine chamber is a guide member for guiding the suction air stream that is to act upon the air turbine. In order when the vacuum cleaning tool is raised from the floor to reduce the drive power, the guide member is pivotably mounted in the housing of the tool. In a first operating pivot position the suction air stream is directed essentially tangentially against the air turbine to achieve a high drive power. In a second, non-operative pivot position the suction air stream is directed essentially radially against the turbine to achieve a low no-load speed.

Abstract: A hand-held blower and adjustable blower nozzle attachment is disclosed for providing a variable rate air flow discharge from the nozzle attachment. The blower includes a housing having a handle, a discharge portion and a motor with an operatively connected impeller within a chamber connected to the discharge portion. A tubular body is attached to the discharge portion at one end and a blower nozzle attachment at a second end. The blower nozzle attachment includes at least one constrictor flap provided within the nozzle attachment body to change the air flow rate between a low air velocity rate in a first position and a higher air velocity rate in at least one second position. The adjustable blower nozzle attachment is provided with at least one aperture corresponding to the at least one constrictor flap for adjustment of the flap between the first and the at least one second position.

Abstract: A hard bag cleaner is provided where cleaner air is exhausted through a lower positioned motor-fan system disposed in the hard bag portion of its cleaner. Air then moves upwardly along the side of the hard bag portion of the cleaner to be exhausted horizontally outwardly therefrom. A series of vertically extending guiding vents formed by vertically extending louvers baffle exhaust air flow and also serve as an inner support for a filter mounted outwardly against these louvers.

Abstract: A workstation on wheels comprising a housing having a shelf dividing the housing interior into an upper and lower chamber. The shelf supports a vacuum unit that draws air from the lower chamber and exhausts it into the upper chamber. The lower chamber is provided with a vacuum outlet to which is connected an inelastic ductwork. The ductwork includes a nozzle for receiving air and solid materials from a floor surface. The air and solid materials flow through the ductwork and into a bag or bin in the lower chamber where the solid materials are accumulated. The ductwork is rotatable about the vacuum inlet and may be a one-piece L-shaped structure. Alternatively, it may be longitudinally adjustable by multiple interconnecting duct parts or by telescoping segments. The ductwork includes an housing duct to which is connected a valved flexible conduit for providing an auxiliary vacuum source.