Abstract: A toothbrush whose tufts comprise three distinct kinds of rows, with each row oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the head. The tufts of the first kind are the shortest. The endmost tufts on each row of the second kind tilt laterally outwardly by about 12 degrees. The tufts of the third kind are nearest the end of the head farthest from the handle and diverge from each other, with each tuft thereof tilting laterally at an angle of about 30 degrees and forwardly at about 14 degrees. In a first embodiment, each row of the first kind comprises a single, wide tuft. In a second embodiment, each row of the first kind has a plurality of laterally spaced round tufts. In a third embodiment, each row of the first kind comprises a plurality of laterally spaced rectangular tufts. All of the tufts may also be considered as defining four functional groups of tufts, with each of these four groups performing a specific function during brushing.

Abstract: A tool for cleaning parts of a bowling machine. The tool includes a base plate having a handle pivotally secured thereto between two opposed side walls and including a planar forward portion having a notch therein which is adapted to manipulate a latch in a bowling machine. A cleaning cloth is provided to substantially cover the base plate and outward portions of the side walls.

Abstract: A wiping and spraying apparatus is provided for wiping away dirty articles such as dead insects caked on the surface of a windshield of an automobile. The apparatus includes a wiper blade with adjustable depression force as well as first and second reservoirs of cleaning fluid. A valve is fluidly connected with the reservoirs to selectively allow either of the fluids to be sprayed onto the windshield. The apparatus further includes a control unit to operate the apparatus by automatically operating spraying and wiping, including adjustment of the depression force, according to two modes of operation.

Abstract: A cascade orificial resistive device for throttling fluid flow which minies acoustic noise and internal vibrations is described herein. The device has a hollow body defining a fluid passageway, a plurality of perforated plates mounted within the passageway, a fixed end ring adjacent one end of the perforated plates, and a threadable end ring adjacent an opposite end of the perforated plates to place the plates in compression. Each of the perforated plates is a single piece molded plate having an integral outer ring and an integrally formed center keying mechanism as well as a plurality of orifices. The keying mechanism formed on each plate is designed so that adjacent ones of the plates have their orifices misaligned. In this manner, a pressure drop across each plate is created and the fluid flow through the device is throttled. The device of the present invention has utility in a number of onboard marine vessel systems wherein reduced acoustic noise and internal vibrations are particularly desirable.

Abstract: An ansate oral prophylaxis device includes a hand engageable shaft having a bristle carrying head at one end. The head is configured for oral anti-carries and periodontal prophylaxis with simultaneous bristle contact against all accessible tooth and adjacent gingival surfaces on each reciprocal stroke. The head is configured with a spine and pair of generally planar side panels, each lying in a plane approximately 45.degree. from the plane of the spine. Bristles project perpendicularly from the spine for engagement against occlusal tooth surfaces, while bristles project perpendicularly from the side panels for engagement against buccal and lingual tooth side walls, gingival surfaces and tooth surfaces beneath the gum line. To assure softer bristle contact with gingival surfaces, the bristles of the side panels are progressively tapered in length with the longest bristles being furthest from the spine and the shortest bristles being adjacent the spine.

Abstract: A bathtub scrubbing implement for efficiently and effectively cleaning the interior surface of a bathtub providing a scrubber head having at least one substantially planar side conformable to the planar surfaces of a bathtub interior and at least one curved side conformable to the curves of a bathtub interior. In the preferred embodiment, the scrubbing implement includes a base, an elongated handle, and a trapezoid-shaped scrubber head encased in a scrubber material. The scrubber head is detachable and interchangeable with other scrubber heads constructed in accordance with the present invention to provide choice of scrubber materials. The scrubbing implement improves reach during use without compromising appropriate leverage and stable thrust, thus providing greater manipulability. The scrubbing implement may be used swiftly and reliably, and is easily guided even in aggressive operation. Optionally, the handle may also provide a hook for convenient storage over a shower head, curtain rod, or wall-hook.

Abstract: A screw extruder having a barrel with a longitudinal bore for receiving a rotatable screw, a transverse bore disposed in the barrel tangential to the longitudinal bore for receiving and supporting a pin wherein the pin extends partially into the longitudinal bore. The tangential arrangement of the pin substantially decreases the susceptability of the pin to bending or breaking. The pin may also be adjustably positioned in the transverse bore and further may be subject to thermal heating and cooling.

Abstract: A brush assembly adapted to be rotated about an axis has a brush having a flexible, annular and generally cylindrical collar generally centered on the axis and having a predetermined and generally uniform radial thickness, a predetermined inside diameter, and a predetermined axial length, and a plurality of arrays of radially projecting bristles angularly equispaced about the collar and defining a plurality of axially throughgoing and angularly equispaced bristle-free zones. A holder drum has a core having an outer surface centered on the axis and having a predetermined outside diameter substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the collar, inner and outer end flanges axially flanking the core paced axially apart by a predetermined axial distance greater than the axial length of the collar so that the collar is received with axial play between the flanges, and respective retaining tongues extending axially between the flanges in the bristle-free zones of the brush.

Abstract: A process for the production of hot mix asphalt (HMA) by the treatment of virgin material alone or adding reclaimed or recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) (up to 100% of the HMA). The HMA is first heated in either a parallel or a counter flow rotating drum which is supplied with hot combustion gases generated by a remote low NO.sub.x burner. The process is controlled by a micro-processor which controls RAP temperature, mixture gradation, emissions and production rate as a function of measured drum conditions such as temperature at the drum inlet, drum speed, drum slope, drum RPM, output hydrocarbons, drum gas outlet temperature, and amount of aggregate added.

Abstract: A windscreen wiper blade (1) comprises a harness (3, 5, 7) carrying a blade rubber (23) for wiping contact with the windscreen and having means (17) for connection with a wiper arm (11) for driving the blade (1) across the screen, in which the longitudinal central plane (.alpha.) through at least a part of the harness (3, 5, 7) lies at an angle (.theta.) to the longitudinal central plane (.beta.) of the blade rubber (23).

Abstract: A desk top cleaner for cleaning dust from the top of a table includes a crankshaft rotatably supported in a frame. A broom is formed with an elongated slot to engage with the crankshaft and has its upper end portion fitted in a supporting portion formed in the frame and its lower end portion equipped with a brush. A drive mechanism is provided for transmitting a rotating force from a drive source to the crankshaft. A dust case for accommodating the dust swept by the broom is included in the frame.

Abstract: A pancake maker in which several batter-filled containers are simultaneously placed within a heating device to make pancakes. All the resulting pancakes are uniformly shaped and cooked and can be quickly produced. This invention is applicable to the individual as well as the restaurant industry and greatly enhances the look, consistency, and quality of pancakes made.

Abstract: A gas dispersion stirrer comprises a rotatable hollow shaft and at least one circular hollow stirring member disposed thereon wherein the cavity in the stirring member communicates with the hollow shaft. The stirring member has aeration apertures disposed in an outer peripheral portion thereof. The stirring member has flow-inducing blades for radially directing the liquid from the hollow shaft toward the aeration apertures. The gas dispersion stirrer effectively aerates liquids and achieves an improvement in mass transfer.

Abstract: An automatic medical sampling device comprises a vacuum breaking needle for connecting the inside of a vacuum blood gathering tube with the air. An inserting needle has a length sufficient to be located at a position slightly below the lower end of the vacuum breaking needle at the highest position of the vacuum breaking needle. A container holder or maintainer has a bottom slope or projections for supporting a container, and a stirring device stops reciprocation of the stirring bar by detecting the position of the bar.

Abstract: A vacuum power head is provided which has a bare floor feature. A vacuum cleaner head assembly defines a vacuum chamber which contains a power driven rotary brush. Located outside of the vacuum chamber adjacent the rotary brush is a generally U-shaped trailing brush. The trailing brush cooperates with a height adjustment mechanism which is movable between a deep carpet position and a bare floor position. As the height adjustment mechanism of the head assembly is moved toward the bare floor position, the trailing brush is automatically moved to an extended position into engagement with the floor. When the height adjustment mechanism is moved from the bare floor position, a spring biases the trailing brush toward a retracted position within the head assembly. An actuator cooperates with the height adjustment mechanism to automatically move the trailing brush between the retracted position and the extended position in response to movement of the height adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A screw kneader for a plastic material in which a pair of longitudinal screws are rotatably mounted in respective bores for conveying plastic material through the kneader. The screws have spaced portions for advancing the plastic material from an inlet region to an outlet region and between the spaced portions is a section with reversed threads opposing plastic flow to effect mixing of the plastic material. The threads of the intermediate section are provided with openings to permit passage of up to 20% of said plastic material in the direction of advance. Transfer elements with helical threads connect opposite ends of the threads in the intermediate section with the threads of the inlet and outlet regions. The transfer elements of the two screws mutually engage one another to strip plastic material from one another and from the walls of the bores.

Abstract: A method for controlling centrifuges to improve solid-liquid separations, and particularly to achieve desired or optimal solids concentration in the concentrate discharge, is described. The method utilizes mass and solids balances on the centrifuge, together with measured and/or specified values for variables in the balances and for operating conditions of the centrifuge. The system further provides for the measurement of mass or solids concentrations of the concentrate and/or centrate streams as input for a feedback control system which adjusts the shot duration, shot interval or feed rate to modify operation of the centrifuge.

Abstract: A screw for use in an plasticating injection apparatus includes a plurality of interrupted primary flights. An outer surface of a primary valley is formed by the primary flights and features a plurality of plateaus. The plateaus span adjacent sections of the primary flights and define shallow levels between deeper levels of the primary valleys. This depth differential contributes to a turbulent mixing action which, along with the primary and secondary valleys, contributes to improve mixing action within a metering section of the screw. The primary flights are interrupted by secondary valleys which are of opposite hand to the primary valleys.

Abstract: An electrically driven handmixer comprises a manually actuated electric switching device for an electromotor with several switch steps (I, II, III) for permanent operation of the electromotor as well as at least one switch step (IL) for short-time operation. A coupling device is used for holding and driving various insertable tools, and an interlock ensures that after the insertion of the blending attachment or other knife-like tool into the coupling device, the electromotor remains separated from the power supply despite the activation of the switch steps (I, II, III) for permanent operation of the electromotor, whereas the electromotor remains connected with the power supply during the manual actuation of the switch step (IL) for short-time operation of the electromotor.

Abstract: Adjustable components for swimming pool cleaners or other devices are disclosed. The components, when forming part of a fluid-interruption cleaner, can accommodate a variety of diaphragms (valves) of different lengths. The exterior of the cleaner's inner tube, to which the diaphragm is attached, includes a series of spaced, concentric ribs, any selected group of which may be gripped by a cantilever ring positioned between the inner tube and the cleaner body. Because the inner tube may be alternatively positioned relative to the cantilever ring and body, it can accept and accommodate diaphragms of varying lengths. The components also facilitate removal of the diaphragm and inner tube from the cleaner for inspection or, for example, when repair or replacement is desired.