Abstract: Separation device and method for the fractionation and separation of finely divided solid particulate material suspended in a liquid are disclosed. The separation device comprises upper and lower portions which are joined together to form an inner cavity retaining liquid and a capillary gap which extends outwardly radially from said cavity. During rotation solid particles present in the suspending liquid pass outwardly along and/or become entrapped in the capillary gap(s).

Abstract: A general purpose cleaning and polishing mitten is fabricated from a tubular fabric blank by seaming one end closed, filling half the blank with padding, forming another seam adjacent the padding to enclose it, everting the remaining extent of the blank over the padded extent and forming a partial longitudinal seam from the transverse seam, thereby forming interior hand pockets with fingertip areas at opposite sides of the padding.

Abstract: An apparatus for pressure burst testing of a hollow vessel, such as a gun barrel, includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly and a test mandrel mounted on a frame in axial alignment. The test mandrel includes a hollow sleeve stationarily mounted on the frame and having an outer end adapted to receive thereover the vessel such that the portion of the vessel to be tested extends beyond the outer end. An elongated drawbar is disposed coaxially within the sleeve and is attached to a reciprocally driven piston of the cylinder assembly. At an outer end, the drawbar extends beyond the sleeve outer end and is coextensible within the vessel portion to be tested.

Abstract: A portable cleaning device for automotive parts. The device contains an asbestos residue compartment and an extendable/retractable catch basin for movement to the desired distance from the work piece. A transparent shield separates the user from the work piece, the shield has corner magnets at one end for attachment to the car wheel well. A hand held cleaning implement, out of which a cleaning fluid is pumped at low pressure, is used to clean the work piece. Magnets centrally located on the shield may be used to secure the shield to the catch basin.

Abstract: A drainage system for expressing liquids and fluids from fibrous materials. The system includes a plurality of spaced apart compression elements each retained in juxaposition one to another so as to have a fluid escape slot between each adjacent compression element. Each compression element has a longitudinal passageway therethrough each having an inlet and an outlet which is inwardly tapered toward its outlet. The combination of passageways through each compression element forms a compression conduit whose inlet and outlet generally functionally coincide with the intake and exit, respectively, of the drainage system. The fibrous material to be expressed is introduced into the system's intake under pressure, the fibrous material being compressed as it is forcably urged through each tapered passageway, the expressed fluids exiting the compression conduit radially outwardly through fluid escape slots.

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 useful 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 cleaning brush comprises a brush body rotatably mounted on and biased axially towards a brush holder by a compression spring, a post non-rotatable on the brush body and projecting axially towards the brush holder, a sleeve mounted on the posts for rotation relative thereto and non-rotatable relative to the brush holder, and an actuating lever for displacing the sleeve axially away from the brush holder. The post has a circumferentially extending slot engaged by a pair of opposed inwardly projecting pins of the sleeve to provide a camming arrangement such that operation of the lever to move the sleeve axially away from the brush holder causes rotation of the brush body. The brush body is rotatable through 180.degree. from one brushing position to another brushing position.

Abstract: A vacuum brush device for cleaning slatted structures such as venetian blinds includes a hollow body member that can be attached to a source of vacuum such as a vacuum cleaner hose through a tubular connector. The tubular connector can be adjustably positioned. The hollow body member includes a plurality of elongated finger members having a napped surface for cleaning the blinds.

Abstract: A plug retainer for use in a vacuum cleaner having a handle removably connected to a wand. The plug retainer is arranged to effectively preclude discharge of static electricity from the dirty suction air to the electrical conductors and interconnected plugs so as to avoid spurious operation of electrostatic discharge sensitive control structure of the vacuum cleaner, which may include microprocessor control elements. The plug retainer structure includes a locking tongue and an integral static shield extending over a substantial area between the connected male and female plugs of the control wiring.

Abstract: A back-pressure bearing arrangement for a twin-screw extrusion device which prevents any back-pressure forces from affecting a gear arrangement used for driving the screws. By disposing the back-pressure bearings between the gear arrangement and the housing of the extrusion device and by providing a bearing plate, which is supported by adjustment bolts or tension rods, the bearings are frictionally disconnected from the gear arrangement housing and the back-pressure forces of the screw shafts are effectively prevented from adversely affecting the gear arrangement.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an upright vacuum cleaner comprising a main body having a suction opening, and a handle body pivotally attached to the main body. A relatively simple cam, which may be made from sheet metal in the form of a box, is disposed in the main body and pivoted with respect thereto. The cam is engaged by a cam actuator of the handle body when the handle body is moved to its upright vertical position to cause the cam to pivot in a manner to raise the suction opening of the main body from the rug or carpet.

Abstract: A commercial warewasher consecutively washes racks of soiled ware, such as dishes, through a machine cycle which includes recirculating wash water over the ware followed by a fresh water spray rinse. Part of the wash water is drained and a second portion is retained in the machine after each rack of dishes is washed, then combined with subsequent fresh rinse water spray to provide a volume of water sufficient for pumped wash recirculation for the next rack without cavitation. When a drain valve is opened, water pressure to the wash arm system is reduced, flow through it decreases, and when the pump stops the wash system will drain by gravity to the lowest point in the wash system plumbing. In the meantime the pump discharges wash water until the level of water in the sump and/or its associated outlet pipe reaches the level of the pump impeller eye. The pump begins to cavitate and effectively ceases to pump water.

Abstract: A scraper for the inner surfaces of the housing or undercarriage of a lawn mower. The scraper is constructed of a metal sheet of elongated shape having a straight scraper edge along one side, an elongated handle extending along the other side and different configurated ends for accommodating differently shaped surfaces of different lawn mowers. In a preferred form, one of the ends is arcuate in shape and also arcuately bent in a third dimension for providing a saddle in which the user can place his or her thumb for ease in handling the scraper.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanical press comprising a shaft 1 coupled to a drive, which shaft 1 is supported in a yoke 2 at its end opposite to the drive, and a connecting rod 9, the lower end of which is rotatably connected with a slide 11 which is guided and movable relative to the press table 13. The two connecting rod ends 8, 10 can be rotatably connected with the slide 11 or journal 3, respectively, via cross-pieces or universal joints, which in turn is supported in the front end of the shaft 1, the rotation axis 4 of which extending in parallel to the rotation axis 5 of the shaft 1, however offset in relation thereto, and it being possible that the yoke 2 can be swivelled about an axis extending in parallel to the press table 13.

Abstract: The static mixing device employs mixing elements, each of which has at least three transversely spaced webs. The webs are spaced transversely from each other to provide gaps through which a fluid may pass during mixing. In addition, each web while being secured to the casing at the upper ends relative to a downward flow has lower terminal ends which are spaced from the casing to provide further gaps through which the liquid may pass during a downward descent.

Abstract: A plasticating apparatus including a rotating screw having a helical flight disposed within and cooperating with the inner wall of a heated barrel. Resinous material is introduced to a helical valley extending along said flight to be plasticated by said screw and advanced towards an outlet opening. The screw has a metering section for working said resinous material at high temperature. The bottom surface of the helical valley in said metering section is divided into side by side relatively shallow and relatively deep levels having a depth differential therebetween. The relatively shallow and relatively deep levels extend along the bottom surface of the helical valley in side by side helical paths. The side by side helical paths have a different pitch than the pitch of the helical flight so that the helical flight periodically interrupts the helical paths.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing semiconductor substrates (i.e., wafers) or the like by rotation of the same. The apparatus includes: a housing which defines a processing chamber therein; and an exhaust duct connected to the lower side portion of the chamber. A rotary member is rotatably mounted in the chamber, on which a plurality of wafers to be processed are held. At the upper side portion within the chamber an auxiliary chamber is provided. Undesired objects, such as water remaining on the wafers and vapor and dirts sprung from the wafers, are effectively expelled from the chamber, through both the exhaust duct and the auxiliary chamber.

Abstract: A butterfly-type sponge mop with presser plates and an actuating member pivotal relative to a center block. The mop includes a top center block which when interlocked with a bottom center block forms a plurality of bearing surfaces to enable motion of the presser plates about a transverse axis and motion of the actuating member about a longitudinal axis. The mop utilizes a generally loop-shaped actuating member to facilitate assembly without compression of the actuating member. The actuating member is connected to a connecting link which is actuated by a slide handle. A novel connecting means is utilized to enable a predetermined amount of rotation between the actuating member and the connecting link without the need for additional parts to retain same together.

Abstract: A chimney sweep system including a chimney support assembly, a winch attached to the chimney support assembly, and a scraper assembly connected to a cable of the winch which is used to lower and raise the scraper assembly within the chimney. The chimney support assembly is adjustable to accommodate different chimney lengths and widths. A scraper assembly includes upwardly concave bent edges, a flexing parallelogram which connects the scrapers to facilitate the descent of the scraper assembly into a chimney, and an elasticized collection bag for retention of scrapped creosote and dust.

Abstract: A device for shaving material from the outer surface of a pipe including a chuck for securing the device to the end of the pipe, a drive shaft having its axis coincident with the pipe axis and a fixed plate immovably secured to the drive shaft perpendicular thereto. A cutting unit for scraping the outer surface of the pipe is secured to an arm which extends parallel to the drive shaft, and the arm is secured to a disc which is movably secured to the fixed plate, thus permitting radial adjustment of the cutting unit.