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. A clean water holding tank and a detergent holding tank are removably mounted to the handle while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the base. A mixing valve is fluidly connected between the holding tanks and the spray nozzle for changing the mixing ratio of the detergent with respect to the water. The fluid recovery tank includes an integrally molded conduit that extends from the suction nozzle and a mounting for an accessory hose that interrupts the fluid path from the suction nozzle in the conduit and redirects fluid flow through the hose.

Abstract: A self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner is provided having a lower portion and an upright handle portion pivotally attached to the floor engaging portion for a pivotal motion between an upright storage position and a pivotal operating position including a transmission operatively connected to a drive wheel and a motor drivingly connected to the transmission for driving the drive wheel in forward and reverse. A clutch engaging member is pivotally mounted to the floor engaging portion adjacent to the transmission for pivotal motion about a pivot axis located generally at a forward portion of the clutch engaging member. Operably associated with the clutch engaging member is a transverse linking member that reciprocates from a neutral position in first and second directions in response to pivotal motion of a bottom link. The reciprocation of the transverse link selectively moves said clutch engaging member from a neutral position to a forward drive position and a reverse drive position.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a vacuum cleaner main body, an electric blower motor provided in the vacuum cleaner main body, a dust collection part provided in the vacuum cleaner main body, a suction nozzle body for communicating with the dust collection part, an impeller having a rotary axis provided in an interior portion of the suction nozzle body and driven by a suction force which is generated by said electric blower motor. At least one of a rotation brush member and a rotation blade member is included in the suction nozzle body and an opening portion of the suction nozzle body is opposed to a surface to be subjected to cleaning, a suction inlet port for the suction nozzle body is provided for sucking air from an outside portion and is located separately from the opening portion of the suction nozzle body.

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. A clean water holding tank and a detergent holding tank are removably mounted to the handle while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the base. A mixing valve is fluidly connected between the holding tanks and the spray nozzle for changing the mixing ratio of the detergent with respect to the water. The fluid recovery tank includes an integrally molded conduit that extends from the suction nozzle and a mounting for an accessory hose that interrupts the fluid path from the suction nozzle in the conduit and redirects fluid flow through the hose.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dust-collecting barrow according to the invention. The dust-collecting barrow has a layer of silicon oil on the bottom thereof. The silicon oil is stable; that is, it is difficult for it to react with chemical compounds. The dust-collecting barrow has a plurality of alternately-arranged dividers. When chemical materials and/or particles are sucked into the dust-collecting barrow, heavier materials are first deposited in the silicon oil while lighter materials continuously move forward, and then are deposited in the silicon oil. Furthermore, the dust-collecting barrow is divided by the alternatively-arranged dividers into a plurality of open spaces which are used to absorb various chemical materials or particles, thereby preventing the various chemical materials or particles from reacting with each other.

Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner having a chasse, an air blower and a dust extraction and collection unit is provided. The dust extraction and collection unit has an easily removable inlet chamber and an easily removable outlet chamber. The inlet chamber is substantially cylindrical, and the outlet chamber is disposed concentrically within the upper portion of the inlet chamber. Duct work within the chasse conducts air from the base of the chasse and into the inlet chamber in tangential fashion, such that air swirls about the inside walls of the inlet chamber. Air within the inlet chamber is then allowed to escape from the inlet chamber into the outlet chamber via a plurality of small holes disposed in the side walls of the outlet chamber. Air within the outlet chamber is exhausted to the blower via a top wall opening in the outlet chamber.

Abstract: A duct cleaning device including a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end with inlets at first end and outlets at second end to allow air to circulate within the conduit. A whipper located at first end is rotated by a drive shaft, housed within the conduit, and powered by an air-activated drive system located near to the whipper at first end of the conduit. A stationary circular brush is also located around the conduit near its first end. In operation, the air-activated drive system is activated by air passing though the conduit preferably when a vacuum is applied. The vacuum is created a pressure reducing air pump To which the second end of the conduit is attached. The device may be mounted with a dolly, and displaced within a duct using rods attached to the dolly. The loosened debris generated by the action of The whipper and brush on the internal surfaces of the duct are aspirated through the inlets and into the conduit by the vacuum.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner head carries an array of brush bristles in conventional fashion. The bristles surround an inlet through which dust and debris are sucked into the vacuum cleaner during normal brushing action. A skirt is mounted inside the bristles so that when the head is pressed sufficiently towards a brushing surfaces a lower edge of the skirt can contact directly against the brushing surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing material from an elongated member having known dimensions and traveling through known air densities, in which applied compressed air removes the material from the elongated member in a chamber configured to optimize the decompression and acceleration of the air.

Abstract: A dirt cup latching mechanism that secures a lid onto a dirt receptacle of vacuum cleaner and simultaneously secures the dirt cup in place on the vacuum cleaner. The latching mechanism presses the lid down onto an open top of the dirt receptacle and presses the dirt receptacle down into a dirt cup retaining recess provided in a generally horizontal wall of the vacuum cleaner housing. The latching mechanism may press down on the top of an open topped dirt receptacle, with or without a lid, while simultaneously pulling the dirt cup horizontally against a generally vertical wall of the vacuum cleaner housing. Thus, the latching mechanism simultaneously presses the dirt receptacle down against one of an inlet and outlet seal located on the horizontal wall of the housing and horizontally against the other one of inlet and outlet seal on the vertical wall of the housing, thereby sealing both the receptacle inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A utility type surface cleaning vehicle comprises a unitary frame utility type tractor defining a longitudinal axis and having a front end and a back end, left and right driven rear wheels and at least one steerable front wheel and a trailer connecting mechanism. A debris hopper is removably connectable to the utility type tractor via the trailer connecting means. A main surface cleaning apparatus is operatively mountable on the unitary frame utility type tractor between the front end and the back end thereof, and is connected in debris depositing relation via a debris transfer mechanism to the debris hopper.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a central passage formed by the inside of a casing. The vacuum cleaner is conventional except that two electrically driven fans are provided. The fans are driven respectively by a DC motor 16 and an AC motor. The motors are normally switched ON and OFF individually at the option of a user.

Abstract: System for drying printed circuit boards in a liquid cleaning apparatus. The liquid cleaning apparatus includes a series of air knife dryers enclosed within two drying modules. The first drying module houses a first set of top and bottom air knife dryers which includes at least one top air knife dryer, positioned above a conveyor belt carrying printed circuit boards through the liquid cleaning apparatus, and at least one bottom air knife dryer, positioned below the conveyor belt. The air knife dryers may be symmetrically opposed and aligned above and below the conveyor belt. The liquid cleaning apparatus further includes side air knife dryers disposed along the conveyor belt between the first drying module and the second drying module.

Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum cleaner (2) having a cleaner head (8) comprising a dirty air inlet (12) and a passage 20) forming an airflow path for dirty air entering the dirty air inlet (12). Access means (24, 26) are provided for allowing access to the airflow path (20) to facilitate cleaning thereof and or removal of blockages therefrom. A transparent portion is provided in an outer casing (22) of the cleaner head (8) to allow the interior of the airflow path (20) to be visually inspected. The improved vacuum cleaner facilitates use and maintenance of the vacuum cleaner (2) by enabling a user to easily and quickly detect and remove blockages in the airflow path (20) between the dirty air inlet (12) and dust separating apparatus (6).

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a handle pivotally mounted to a base module, a lower portion of the handle mounts a lamp assembly which is hidden from view by the base module when the handle is in an upright, storage position and is visible above the base module when the handle is rotated to a use position. Between the front and back of the base module, a set of wheels or other projections that support the base module are mounted. The handle likewise has at a lower portion a set of wheels that mobilize the vacuum cleaner. In one embodiment, the pivot axis of the handle with respect to the base is selected so that rotation of the handle assembly from a use position to a storage position pivots a front end of the base module about the base wheels and thereby raises an agitation brush from contact with a surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a housing (1) accommodating a suction unit (7). The vacuum cleaner further comprises a dust container (11) in which a dust filter (21) can be placed. The dust container is detachably coupled to the housing and comprises a handle (33) and an opening (31) via which the dust filter can be placed. According to the invention, the handle is provided on a side wall (39) of the dust container, while the opening is provided at an upper side (35) of the dust container, the upper side of the dust container being directed towards an upper side (37) of the housing in an operational position of the vacuum cleaner. In this manner, it is prevented that the dust filter can fall out of the dust container or that dust can fall out of the dust filter when the dust container is detached from the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the handle of the dust container also is a unique handle for the housing, so that the construction of the housing is simplified.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use with a mobile air blower which allows the blower air stream to be oscillated vertically or redirected away from the work piece to avoid damage to vehicles and structure that are in the path of the air blower air stream and the apparatus provides for redirection of the air stream in forward and rearward directions.

Abstract: A knapsack engine-driven tool driven by an engine provided on a knapsack frame consists of a supporting tool composed of a hollow tube made of a flexible rigid material, preferably of brass, whose base end is fixed onto the knapsack frame, in which the flexible rigid material can be held at a desired shape, a member for operating said engine provided on the edge portion of the hollow tube, a regulating wire which is inserted into the hollow tube for connecting said engine and said operating member, and a flexible protective member for covering said hollow tube. The knapsack engine-driven tool has a metal fixing member, preferably made of iron.

Abstract: A carpet extractor is disclosed having scrub brushes located behind a transparent suction nozzle, whereby the brushes are visible through the nozzle. A main frame of the extractor is formed with transparent portions adjacent to the ends of the brushes, so that he brushes are also visible from the sides of the extractor. Headlights are provided on either side of the suction nozzle for illuminating the floor adjacent to the suction nozzle. The headlights are formed so that a portion of the light emitted by the headlights passes through a transparent portion of the main frame adjacent to the brushes and illuminates the brushes for improved viewing of he brushes. The headlights are also formed so that a portion of the light emitted by the headlights passes through the edge walls of the suction nozzle and illuminates the soiled cleaning liquid traveling through the nozzle.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for removing fine particles from an uneven surface and a method for using such apparatus are disclosed. The cleaning apparatus can be used on any uneven surface, and is particularly suitable for use on a grooved surface such as that of an exposure table in a stepper. The apparatus includes a cleaning head having a head portion with a front surface for contacting the uneven surface to be cleaned. The front surface is equipped with a plurality of vacuum openings and blown air openings. When the cleaning apparatus is suitably connected to a vacuum source and a clean dry air source, fine particles can be dislodged from the grooved surface first by the blown air and then sucked away by the vacuum source through the plurality of vacuum openings.