Abstract: A compost handling machine comprising a carriage to support the machine for movement along a composting bay, and a compost agitating and conveying assembly to agitate compost in, and to move the compost along the bay. The agitating and conveying assembly includes a conveyor subassembly and a drum subassembly. The conveyor subassembly includes a plurality of lifting cleats that, in use, are moved around a closed path to lift compost in the bay and move the compost rearwardly therein. The drum subassembly includes an agitating drum extending between and supported by a pair of support arms, and the drum is rotated to agitate and comminute the compost in the bay.

Abstract: A vacuum conduit arrangement for use with a central dust-collecting system that is provided in a building. The arrangement includes vacuum conduits that are interconnected by couplings. The arrangement further includes at least one connector for a vacuum hose of a cleaning apparatus. The vacuum conduits are conduit-like floor or base moldings that are disposed in the corner zones between the floors and walls of the building. These moldings can be easily retrofitted in an exposed manner as a conduit system along the edges of the floors.

Abstract: A drive control for a vehicle such as a floor scrubber, a floor sweeper, a pallet truck or the like, operated by a person walking or riding on a sulky behind it, includes first and second drive motors each arranged to drive a vehicle wheel. Manual means are provided whereby an operator by manipulation of a control may determine vehicle speed; forward and reverse direction; and turning right or left. A variable voltage is responsive to the operator's movements for providing an electrical signal representative of the desired speed in either the forward or reverse direction. Other movements by the operator of the control provide turning in the right or left direction. The means for detecting a turning control signal from the operator is effective to reduce the motor drive signal to the motor on the inside of the desired turn, from the level representative of the existing speed toward a no-speed level at a programmed rate.

Abstract: A device for allowing inspection of foreign matter in a stream of fluid flow in a conduit includes a filter disposed transversely in the fluid flow for filtering and collecting foreign matter from the fluid flow passing therethrough. A support frame supports the filter and allows connection to the conduit. A filter retainer is connected to the support frame for retaining the filter therebetween and has a first position disposed transversely in the fluid flow. A first pivotal member interconnects the filter retainer and the support frame for allowing pivotal movement of the filter retainer in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fluid flow from the first position to a second position outside the fluid flow to allow the filter to be removed and inspected.

Abstract: A dust removal attachment for a router has a diamond shaped base plate having a circular central aperture through which the spindle of the router extends during use. A vacuum connection fitting and a handle extend upwardly from opposite ends of the top surface of the base plate. A brush, having bristles arranged in a partial circular arc which surrounds a portion of the circular central opening, is attached by a mounting flange to the bottom surface of the base plate. The brush has a concave body portion which forms a vacuum passage which communicates with the vacuum connection on the top surface of the base plate. In use, chips and dust created by the router bit are contained by the brush and suctioned off through the vacuum connection.

Abstract: In a previously known centrifugal separator the separation chamber (4) of the centrifuge rotor has an inlet (9) for a mixture of two liquids and relatively heavy solids, a central outlet (23a) for separated light liquid and a periphery outlet (12) for separated solids. A third outlet (35) from the separation chamber (4), situated radially between the first said two outlets (23a, 12), communicates with a recirculation channel, which extends partly through a stationary structure and through which liquid may be conducted from the separation chamber (4) through a sensing device (38) and back to said inlet (9) for mixture. The sensing device (38) is arranged to initiate opening of the periphery outlet (12), when a certain amount of heavy liquid has been separated in the separation chamber (4). A throttle is arranged for limiting of the flow through the recirculation channel.

Abstract: An agitator for mixing food or other materials in a kettle either with or without heating of the materials, the invention allows gentle and thorough mixing of materials ranging from liquids to semi-solids. The present agitator is especially usefual, for mixing and blending of substantially liquid mixtures having suspended solids, the solids being uniformly suspended within the mixture without damage to the solids. The agitator preferably takes the form of a rotary shaft horizontally disposed within a kettle having a substantially hemispherical bottom portion, each end of the shaft having a substantially arcuate element of particular contour attached thereto. The arcuate elements lie in planes which are perpendicular to each other and are the same general shape.

Abstract: A portable cleaning container for use with a conventional mop and wringer for cleaning floors and other surfaces. The container includes a bucket with a drain opening formed through the bucket floor and closable by an elastomeric stopper supported on the end of a threaded drive rod extending through a threaded bore formed through a drive rod mount attached to the inside of the bucket within a stopper drive recess formed in the wall of the bucket and extending vertically from the floor of the bucket above the drain opening. A filter recess is formed in portions of the upper surface of the bucket floor to receive an interior filter having a planar portion that extends across the filter recess and a semitubular portion that extends about lower portions of the stopper drive recess to enclose the entrance of the drain opening to the bucket interior. Troughs in the planar portion of the interior filter and corrugations in the floor of the bucket adjacent the filter recess trap detritus when the bucket is drained.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with panel portion structure which includes an improved panel main body and a blower facility valve body. The panel main body has an exhaust air port and an opening for a blower facility. The blower facility valve body is provided at a lower side of the panel main body and is rotatably supported so as to normally shut the blower facility opening. A first exhaust air passage is formed between the intermediate exhaust air port to the main body exhaust air port. A second exhaust air passage is formed between the intermediate exhaust air port to the blower facility opening. The first exhaust air passage and the second exhaust air passage are changed over by the blower facility valve body. The improved blower facility structure permits the development of a series of vacuum cleaners with and without a blower facility.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process and apparatus for dispensing a uniform flow of carbon black from a tank. The process is carried out by stirring the carbon black in a surge tank, providing equal movement of the carbon black away from the center of the surge tank towards the outlet(s) of the surge tank and removing caked carbon black from the wall of the tank and/or minimizing caking of carbon black on the wall of the surge tank. The apparatus includes horizontal blades for stirring the carbon black, lifters for lifting carbon black from the bottom of the tank, impeller vanes shaped in the form of curves such that each segment of rotation of the vanes causes an equal movement of the carbon black away from the center of the surge tank towards the tank outlet(s), and side scrapers for removing caked carbon black from the wall of the tank and/or minimizing caking of carbon black on the wall of the surge tank.

Abstract: A system for pickling hot rolled carbon steel strip with hydrochloric acid completely and uniformly in optimum time. The system consists of a series of cells made up of a number of section modules, each having a straight narrow passageway with monolithic top and bottom walls through which the strip and pickling liquor travels and a pair of cooperative conduits in the top and bottom walls for introducing the fluid into the passageway. A wringer roll assembly with motor driven wringer rolls push the strip through each cell and consists of a housing having walls closely spaced to the rolls and a sealing element in the walls for the concentration of acid in each individual cell. The rate of pickling on the strip is increased due to the turbulence of the circulating pickling liquor within each cell, the higher temperatures, and the high concentration in each cell; the latter two of which are due to the design of the section modules.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a machine in the nature of a scrubber for removing dirt, grime, etc. from a surface to be cleaned and includes a mobile machine with a scrub brush mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis with a housing therefor which is pivotally mounted and concentric with the scrub brush drive. The brush, brush drive, brush housing and squeegees which are mounted on the brush housing, also make up a brush head assembly that is raised and lowered as a unit.

Abstract: A cleaning system is provided for cleaning fuel injectors of deposits inhibiting their efficient operation. The system provides a circuit for cleaning fluid to be passed through the injector and includes a pump for fluid and controls whereby the fluid is passed through the injector with periodic reversals of flow. A flowmeter is provided to check the cleaning action and an electrical supply to the injector ensures it is in an open condition during cleaning. The injector is releasably located in fluid communication with the fluid.

Abstract: A self-propelled carpet scrubbing machine includes a solution tank for storing cleaning solution and a recovery tank for storing the dirty recovered solution. The machine is front-wheel driven and includes a rear axle which is mounted by means of a resilient member which permits it to rock about a central axis extending in the direction of travel to insure that all four wheels, and principally the drive wheels, are in contact at all times with the surface being cleaned. A vacuum recovery assembly is mounted by cushioned spring assemblies which permit the vacuum recovery assembly to rock upwardly thereby permitting the machine to be operated in reverse, without having to raise the assembly. When the machine is then returned to forward motion, the vacuum recovery assembly rotates back to the normal use position.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring temperature, including: a body which experiences a change in shape in response to a change in the temperature of the body; a rotatable device having an axis of rotation and an optical transmissivity which varies circumferentially and radially relative to the axis of rotation; a light conductor device disposed for passing a light beam along a beam axis which intersects the rotatable device at a location spaced from the axis of rotation; and an arrangement for rotating the rotatable device about the axis of rotation while the light beam impinges on the rotatable device such that the rotatable device permits light to be transmitted therethrough with an intensity which varies in time as a function of the distance between the beam axis and the axis of rotation, with one of the devices being mounted on the body such that a change in the shape of the body in response to a change in body temperature produces a corresponding change in the distance between the axis of rotation and the beam axis

Abstract: A disposable bag filters dirt particles and the like from exhaust air of a hand-held vacuum cleaner. The motor housing of the vacuum cleaner receives a conventional reusable bag thereon and an adaptor facilitates changeover of existing vacuum cleaners to accommodate the disposable bag. A reinforcing member is provided on the disposable bag and is dimensioned for a friction fit with the adaptor. Another preferred embodiment incorporates a seal member into the assembly to enhance the sealing integrity between the adaptor and disposable bag.

Abstract: A blower comprises a unit blower housing of molded plastic material having a circular outer wall and laterally spaced front and rear walls, defining an impeller chamber and a tangential outlet upon a first axis adapted to receive a flexible hose. The outlet defines with an end portion of the outer wall a reverse curved cut off edge extending between the side walls. An opening in the front wall is arranged upon a second axis at right angles to the first axis and receives an air inlet cone secured to the housing by a plurality of threaded inserts molded into the housing. An electric motor upon a support has a drive shaft extending through the rear wall. The rear wall is mounted upon and secured to the motor and an impeller is positioned within the housing and axially mounted upon the motor shaft and has an air intake receiving the air inlet cone.

Abstract: An outlet port baffle for an air or gas exhaust port comprises a cylindrical entrance section, a conical intermediate section terminating in an end wall. The conical intermediate section has two rows of apertures extending over an arcuate segment of that section and has radially projecting, circumferential ridges which are between and also define the apertures. Fluid enters the cylindrical section and flows to the conical section where it is redirected in a direction normal to its original flow and through the apertures. The outlet port baffle may be utilized to redirect the air exhaust from a vacuum cleaner, for example.

Abstract: A power driven vacuum sweeper for thoroughly and rapidly removing padding and glued particles which remain attached to a floor after a worn-out carpet has been removed therefrom. The sweeper is characterized by having a cylindrical metal broom mounted on the front end of a frame and arranged for clockwise rotation to bite into and remove the padding and glued particles from the top surface of the floor as a pair of handlebars attached by a lever to the frame of the sweeper is moved forward and in and upward direction about a pair of wheels. The sweeper is further characterized in that the pair of wheels are mounted for a rocking sidewise movement about the frame when either wheel engages irregular high or low floor surfaces thereby allowing the thorough horizontal cleaning position of the entire width of the broom to be maintained under these adverse operating conditions.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus particularly for cleaning printed circuit boards, of the type comprising an enclosure through which passes a conveyor conveying the boards along a continuous path, at least one cleaning unit, using solvent and so arranged as to spray the solvent over and under the boards carried along the path, at least one solvent reservoir situated at the lower part of the enclosure and designed to receive the solvent dripping after the spraying operation, wherein the apparatus further comprises an ultrasonic cleaning unit comprising a solvent storing tank arranged in the enclosure, in parallel relationship with respect to a horizontal portion of the path and at a short distance below the horizontal portion and above the reservoir, and equipped with ultrasonic generators, the storing tank having at least one draining pipe issuing into the reservoir and controlled by a valve, and an overflow along one side of the tank on the boards inlet side, and controls for the selective control of the spray-cleaning un