Patents Examined by Christopher K. Moore
  • Patent number: 4208762
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for capturing lint, dust, fly and the like particulate matter released by the passage of sliver to the trumpet of an orbital sliver coiler utilizing an annular plenum arranged to surround the circumferential path of travel of the trumpet of the coiler. The plenum is formed with a stationary outer plenum section having an outlet connected to a suction hose, and a rotating inner plenum section formed with an inlet opening arranged adjacent and moving with the trumpet of the coiler. Air and particulate matter released by the sliver is drawn through the inlet opening into the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1980
    Assignee: Pneumafil Corporation
    Inventor: Bobby L. Starling
  • Patent number: 4208761
    Abstract: A bottle conveying and cleaning apparatus for handling a succession of bottles at high speed. The apparatus comprises a lower portion of a vertical first rotary conveyor which receives the bottles in open-end trailing disposition, reorienting means which changes the disposition of each bottle to open-end radially outward during its conveyance by the first rotary conveyor, a linear conveyor which grasps each bottle at the bottom of the first rotary conveyor while its open end is downward and maintains each bottle in open-end downward orientation while conveying it past cleaning means associated with the linear conveyor, and means for inverting each bottle, removing it from the linear conveyor and placing it on an output conveyor with the open end up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1980
    Assignee: New England Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandru D. Ionescu
  • Patent number: 4207648
    Abstract: The lance of the soot blower is disclosed as having a square cross section extending through a square hole in a rotating bushing. The square lance is reciprocated into and out of a furnace cavity by means of a carriage positioned through a rack and pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Sullivan, Clyde L. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 4207647
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus for cleaning sewers, catch basins and the like includes a debris collection chamber mounted on the rear of a vehicular chassis. A vacuum conduit communicates with the chamber and is adapted to be lowered into the sewer. A vacuum fan also communicates with the chamber and draws air through the conduit and chamber thereby picking up debris from the sewer. As the debris enters the chamber, the configuration thereof creates a rapid decrease in the air flow velocity and otherwise interrupts the flow so that material entrained in the air is deposited in the chamber. The configuration of the chamber also permits facile discharge of the debris out of the bottom of the chamber in that one end wall of the chamber is swingable to open the bottom thereof. This same end wall also carries a hose reel for use in flushing the sewer. Because the debris which is picked up may well include water, means are provided to drain the water from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: McNeil Corporation
    Inventor: Philip C. Masters
  • Patent number: 4207649
    Abstract: A carpet cleaning machine wherein cleaning fluid is continuously dispensed to an in-place carpet from manually manipulatable tools and wherein dirty fluid is continuously picked up from the carpet and conveyed to a dirty fluid collecting chamber. The machine is characterized by an automatic discharge means for the dirty fluid collecting chamber whereby dirty fluid is automatically cycled out of the collecting chamber and delivered to a disposal location as required. The machine is further characterized by an automatic cleaning fluid supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Inventor: Jack A. Bates
  • Patent number: 4207650
    Abstract: This disclosure shows the supplying of fluid at a pressure greater than the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere to a cleaner in which the cleaning is done by intermittently and consecutively jetting fluid, controlled by a double distributing valve against the surface of the material being cleaned, where the total average pressure of the air or gas is maintained at a few inches of water below the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere. The double distributing valve, having circular outlets evenly spaced around a valve rotor, allows the same number of passages leading from the valve rotor cavity to jet nozzles to be in operation at all times and allows an increase in time for the jetting fluid through the jet nozzles to reach the desired speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Inventor: W. Paul Crise
  • Patent number: 4206530
    Abstract: A powered sweeping machine is disclosed, particularly suitable for efficiently removing light and heavy weight litter from surfaces such as parking lots, warehouse floors and the like. The machine includes a main frame carrying a hopper and a powered brush. The brush operates through an opening in the lower side of a brush housing. The hopper is separated into a debris receiving compartment and a filter compartment. An air fan and an associated duct recirculates air from the far end of the debris compartment to a zone adjacent the brush. This nonfiltered air is discharged into the brush housing and again moved through the debris compartment to aid in moving debris to the far end of the debris compartment. A fan is provided for withdrawing a portion of the air from the filter compartment and discharging the air to the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Harley E. Kroll, Donald L. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 4206531
    Abstract: A suction pump for removing excess soldering tin at a soldered joint. The suction pump has a tensionable piston which jumps or snaps back upon a release thereof. A shock occurs in the suction pump and is transmitted onto a collecting nozzle. A shock absorbing device is mounted in axial direction in the collecting nozzle and absorbs the shock to act positively on the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: Homax AG
    Inventor: Walter Haeuptli
  • Patent number: 4205919
    Abstract: A mixer especially for mixing materials such as cement and sand with water and with a fibrous reinforcing material such as glass fibre. The mixer consists of a tubular casing containing a skeletal rotor constructed from a plurality of rods extending longitudinally of the casing and spaced apart laterally of each other at positions circumferentially spaced apart around the axis of rotation of the rotor and the longitudinal axis of the casing. The rods are supported on end plates and a central shaft or stub shafts extending from the end plates. The rods are enveloped along at least part of the axial length of the rotor by a helical, outwardly-directed flight having widely-spaced convolutions to impart a component of movement to the mix along the inside of the tubular casing to an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1980
    Assignee: London Brick Buildings Limited
    Inventor: Ronald L. Attwell
  • Patent number: 4205412
    Abstract: A movable brake dust recovery unit that may be disposed adjacent an automotive shaft after the wheel has been removed therefrom, and thereafter subject the backing plate and associated brake shoe assemblies to a current of air to remove particled foreign material therefrom.The current of air with entrained dust and particled foreign material is directed into a confined space where the air is washed and then subjected to the action of a filter. The washed and filtered air may then be safely discharged to the ambient atmosphere without danger of contaminating the same. During the above-described operation the brake shoe assemblies and the interior of the brake drum are subjected to a rotating blast of air to separate dust and foreign material therefrom, with the separated dust and foreign material being subsequently entrained with a current of air and carried into the confined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1980
    Inventor: Ronald W. Weber
  • Patent number: 4204296
    Abstract: A cleaning system for furnaces in which a cleaning fluid such as air is directed through nozzles in the furnace, exiting adjacent curved fluid attachment surfaces. The fluid follows the attachment surfaces and is thereby directed onto and across the dirty surfaces of the furnace to continuously scrub the soot therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Inventor: Richard J. Reilly
  • Patent number: 4204299
    Abstract: A replaceable tip assembly for desoldering tools includes an end cap and a nozzle tip in the end cap. The end cap has a frustoconical front portion and a rear cylindrical portion, both being concentric with the central axis thereof. The end cap has a central bore extending therethrough provided with an inwardly extending annular detent. An annular relief is provided between the cylindrical and frustoconical portions so that the inner core is flexible. The nozzle tip has a generally cylindrical outer surface and a central bore extending therethrough. The nozzle tip also has an annular recess cooperating with the annular detent of the end cap. Preferably the annular detent on the end cap and the annular recess on the nozzle tip are disposed about halfway between the two end planes of the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Inventor: William S. Fortune
  • Patent number: 4204298
    Abstract: An improved compact-type vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner comprises a hollow body member having a closed end and an open end, driving means disposed in said body member, fan means also disposed in said body member and adapted to be driven by said driving means, and duct means also disposed in said body member and adapted to recirculate within said body member an air flow generated by said fan means, said duct means having one end connected to the suction side of said fan means and the other end connected to the discharge side of said fan means.The vacuum cleaner may further be provided with wiping means attached to the open end of said hollow body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Handa, Tomoko Handa
  • Patent number: 4204297
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a main body incorporating an electric fan and a dust collector, a nozzle having a motor-driven rotary brush therein, a flexible hose having one end connected to the main body, a bent pipe connected to the other end of the flexible hose, and an extension pipe connecting the bent pipe to the nozzle. An electrical cord extending from the nozzle and connected to the other end of the flexible hose is tensioned to extend along the extension pipe and the bent pipe and partly covered with a cord cover over the portion thereof coextensive with the bent pipe. The cord will not interfere with the movement of the nozzle, assuring an easy cleaning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Inventors: Ryuichi Yasunaga, Shinya Tsutsumi, Mototsugu Kuroda
  • Patent number: 4202071
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing and drying phonograph records including a tank to contain a washing solution, and a phonograph record to be cleaned is mounted vertically for rotation within the tank. The washing solution is drawn in the bottom of the tank by a pump and discharged through jets against opposite faces of the rotating record. Mounted adjacent the jets is a pair of brushes which rotate against the opposite faces of the record to clean the same. After cleaning, air is discharged downwardly from an air tube against the opposite faces of the record to prevent the washing solution from dripping onto the record label and to the dry the record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Inventor: Mike A. Scharpf
  • Patent number: 4202070
    Abstract: A car wash vacuum cleaner and the method of making same is disclosed. The car wash vacuum cleaner comprises an inner shell means. A plurality of vacuum motors are secured within the inner shell means and adapted to provide a suction means therein. A monolithic concrete outer housing surrounds the inner shell means and encloses the top and bottom thereon. A plurality of door means disposed on the concrete housing provides an opening within the housing and inner shell means to both provide a vent means for the vacuum motor and a means for removing dirt particles or the like from within the inner shell. A suction tube fitting extends through the concrete housing and inner shell and is adapted to attach to a suction tube. Dirt particles or the like are drawn through the tube and tube opening into the inner shell when the motors are energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Inventor: Robert G. Harfst
  • Patent number: 4202072
    Abstract: A self-service, wet-vacuum cleaning machine for carpets, upholstery, and the like, utilizes a hand-held tool attached to both a vacuum hose and a hot water hose. A motor driven pump operates for a metered time to provide hot water under a high pressure in a direction that closes a valve in the hand tool to prevent spraying until it is called for by manually unseating the valve, thus allowing hot water to be sprayed on an area to be cleaned by wet-vacuuming. A spring in the valve housing exerts a force against the valve in a direction to unseat it, but not with sufficient force to do so against the hot water pressure. When the hot water pump is turned off, cold water under line pressure enters the hot-water hose through a T-fitting at a controlled low rate and passes through the valve now opened by the spring. This flow at a low rate prevents freezing in the hot water hose or spray valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Inventor: Albert S. Gonzales
  • Patent number: 4202073
    Abstract: A moisture stripping device for non-evaporatively stripping moisture from a moving film such as a photographic motion picture film. The film is cleaned in a liquid bath which has ultrasonic energy applied thereto. The film leaves the bath and passes through an air nozzle which is supplied with a source of air pressure. The air nozzle consists of a split block having a film slot extending through the block. A plurality of air jets are conducted into the slot at opposite sides thereof. The film, wet with cleaning solution, enters the slot and is non-evaporatively dried by air pressure which forms a moisture barrier at the lower edge of the slot. The slot is only slightly wider than the thickness of the film, yet the film is protected from touching the sides of the slot by an air cushion formed by air jets directed at both sides of the film. The air jets are formed by a plurality of air holes in the split block. The holes conduct air from the air source to the film slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Assignee: Research Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Hughes
  • Patent number: 4200951
    Abstract: A machine is provided for cleaning surfaces, including hard floors and carpeting. The machine has a frame with a disc brush rotatably carried thereby and driven by a motor which is mounted on a plate that is resiliently carried by the frame. A first vacuum nozzle and a squeegee are located at the back of the machine behind the disc brush for picking up cleaning solution when hard floors are being cleaned. The machine has a second nozzle located at the front thereof, in front of the disc brush, for picking up cleaning solution when carpeting is being cleaned and the machine is moved in a rearward direction. A cleaning solution supply tank is located on the frame and a recovery solution tank is located in the supply tank. A vacuum motor is mounted on a lid above the recovery tank and means are provided for connecting the recovery solution tank with each of the exhaust hoses for the two vacuum nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: The Scott & Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Jack L. Burgoon, William R. Smith
  • Patent number: 4200952
    Abstract: A device for cleaning floors with the aid of a liquid comprising: a hollow, elongated suction mouth piece having a longitudinal axis and having an elongated suction port extending along the lower surface thereof parallel to said longitudinal axis, a suction tube connected to the mouth piece and communicating at one end with the interior of the mouth piece, the suction tube having an opposite end for connection with a suction device; a spray nozzle mounted adjacent each end of the elongated suction mouth piece, said nozzles being directed downwardly and inwardly toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Cemsto B.V.
    Inventors: Jan F. Smies, Leo Dijkmans