Abstract: A self-propelled floor cleaner is provided having a random motion generator which enhances the maneuverability of the floor cleaner. The random motion generator is rotatably attached to the frame of the cleaner and propels the cleaner across the floor in a random motion. This random motion facilitates cleaning of the floor by making the cleaner easier to manipulate. The random motion generator includes a hollow spherical shell. In the preferred embodiment, the hollow spherical shell houses a weighted motor assembly which is rotatably mounted on a center fixed axle which extends diametrically between the first and second hemispherical halves and is attached thereto. The weighted motor assembly is comprised of a motor housing and a power source, such as batteries or cells. A motor is housed within the motor housing and rotates the motor housing about the center fixed axle.

Abstract: A squeegee assembly (60) includes first and second protrusions (314) interconnected to a support (172) to which front and rear flexible blades (170a, 170b) are mounted. In preferred aspects, squeegee assembly (60) is of a curved design such that the flexible blades (170a, 170b) are spaced at the center of the support (172) where a suction tube (174) is provided and taper towards each other so that their ends are closely adjacent each other. The first and second protrusions (314) define upper and lower channel portions (324, 326) between the flexible blades (170a, 170b) so that appreciable reduction in the speed of air flow towards the suction tube (174) does not occur, which reduction may result in dropping of carried moisture.

Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner with a vacuum cleaner main body that includes a water pan which stores water for removing dust from dust-containing air, and a suction compartment made up with a main casing detachably installed on the water pan compartment, a separator that rotates in the main casing to separate air from the water, and a main fan that rotates in the main casing and sucks in dust-containing air and exhausts air, from which water has been separated by the separator, to the outside of the vacuum cleaner main body; and in this cleaner, the separator is in a round basket shape and ribs are formed in the circumferential direction with slit gaps opened between the ribs, and a reverse jet fin assembly that rotates together with the separator and causes air to jet downward toward the outer surface of the separator is provided on the upper opening of the separator.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention concerns novel end effectors that may incorporate hexagonal drive shafting and are particularly well suited to be used as scrubbing/abrasive or wiping elements for the cleaning of surfaces. Another embodiment of the present invention is a tool that can wipe and scrub a surface to be cleaned and dry the same surface. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a tool or a kit of tools that can be adapted to either wipe or scrub a surface or the tool may be adapted to accomplish other tasks such as acting as a power screw driver, power nut-driver, power hand drill, power sander, etc. And yet another embodiment is a novel powered device that serves as a duster.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner nozzle for floors and carpets having a housing comprised of an upper part and a slide sole, a pivotable rocker located in the housing on a rear segment in working direction and an actuating lever to operate the rocker. Strip-shaped gasket elements are attached to the rocker, which are arranged in working direction in front of and behind a suction port formed into the slide sole and can be retracted and moved out of openings on the lower side of the housing with a pivoting movement of the rocker.

Abstract: A system for cutting and cleaning material to be cut. The system is particularly effective for hard materials which produce heavy particles. The system is ideal for cutting green concrete. This invention provides a two-piece device for locating vacuum a hose connection for a circular saw used in cutting concrete. The hose connection is contained in the low, rear part of the lower piece. The invention also proves a vacuum cleaner which passes debris-laden air through water which collects the debris. Water-laden air rising from the water is passed around a first water barrier connected to a float and a second water barrier connected to the top of the container in order to remove entrapped water droplets which may contain debris.

Abstract: A cleaning tool for a vacuum cleaning device has a housing having a bottom plate with a working slot. A rotatingly driven working tool is rotatably supported in the housing and passes through the working slot to act on a surface to be cleaned. A motor is arranged in the housing and has a motor shaft. A gear system is connected between the motor and the working tool, wherein the gear system has a driving wheel driven by the motor shaft and a driven wheel fixedly connected to the working tool. The driving wheel and the driven wheel are V-belt pulleys and have a peripheral groove, respectively. The gear system further has a V-gear positioned between the driving wheel and the driven wheel, wherein the V-gear has an outer periphery that engages the peripheral grooves for establishing a driving connection between the driving wheel and the driven wheel.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning tool has a housing having a turbine chamber and a bottom plate. A working tool is rotatably supported in the housing. An air turbine for driving the working tool is arranged in the turbine chamber and has axial end faces defining a gap relative to the chamber sidewalls. A turbine chamber wall has a first intake window and at least one second intake window. The first intake window supplies a driving suction air stream to the peripheral turbine surface on a first side of a plane that extends through the turbine axis. The second intake window supplies a partial suction air stream to the turbine chamber that enters the turbine chamber on a second side of the plane extending through the turbine axis. The second intake window overlaps at least partially at least one gap and the partial suction air stream flows into the gap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-stepped accessory holder for an appliance having accessories that have dissimilar inner diameter connections, such as accessories with a male and/or a female ends. The female end of an accessory has a first inner diameter, and the male end of an accessory has a second inner diameter. The accessory holder includes a base having a first perimeter, and an upper portion mounted atop the base that has a second perimeter. The second perimeter of the upper portion is smaller than the first perimeter of the base. When the female end of an accessory is placed upon the accessory holder, the female end engages the first perimeter of the base. If it is desired that an accessory's male end be placed upon the holder, the male end engages the second perimeter of the accessory holder's upper portion.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The cleaning apparatus further includes a detecting device for detecting the speed of the cleaning apparatus as it moves along the surface and producing a speed signal representing the speed of the cleaning apparatus relative to the surface. A controller, operatively connected to the detecting device and a component on the cleaning apparatus, controls the function of the component based on the speed signal. The controller can also control the function of the component based on a signal representing other operating characteristics of the cleaning machine.

Abstract: A towable sweeping apparatus includes a housing supported by a plurality of surface-engaging wheels and an impeller mounted to the housing and adjustable relative to the surface. The impeller includes a plurality of blades rotatable about an axis. A space permitting air flow is present between a portion closest to the axis of at least one of the plurality of blades and the axis. The towable sweeping apparatus also includes a drive motor inter-operably connected to the impeller and a bin arranged to receive debris collected by the impeller. The bin includes an angulated surface adapted to facilitate removal of debris from the towable sweeping apparatus.

Abstract: A hose holder includes a frame comprising first and second opposed cradles for supporting a vacuum hose wrapped thereabout. The frame is suitably sized for supporting long hoses, for example in the order of 35 feet or more, of the type typically associated with a central vacuuming system. The frame includes first and second clamp members for securement at spaced positions along the rigid pipe typically attached to the vacuum head in the central vacuuming system.

Abstract: A spot cleaning apparatus comprises a fluid distribution system, a fluid recovery system, an agitation system, and a controller system to automatically monitor and control inputs and outputs to said systems for removal of spots and stains from a surface without attendance by a user. A suction nozzle and agitation device are mounted to the housing for movement over the surface to be cleaned relative to a stationary housing. Optionally, the spot cleaning apparatus can be operated in a manual mode. In one embodiment, the spot cleaning apparatus comprises a controller for continuously reversing the agitation direction of the agitatation system. In another embodiment, the spot cleaning apparatus comprises a modular strain relief assembly. In yet another embodiment, working air is recirculated to the surface to be cleaned through internal ducting.

Abstract: A tool and a process for removing particles from a reticle are described. The tool is disposed in front of a pellicle particle detector, including at least a gas spray member toward a surface of the reticle for removing particles and a supporting member supporting the gas spray member in front of the pellicle particle detector. The supporting member can further fix the tool onto the pellicle particle detector. In the particle removing process, when particles are detected on the reticle, the tool is turned on and the reticle is loaded into the pellicle particle detector through the gas spray member in order to remove the particles from the reticle before the pellicle particle detector detects the particles.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided including a housing, a nozzle inlet, a suction generator carried on the housing and a dirt cup. The dirt cup includes a dirt collection chamber, a chamber inlet, a filter cavity and a chamber outlet. A filter element is received in the filter cavity. Air is axially directed into an interior chamber of the filter element and then radially discharged from that chamber.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner system is mounted inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and includes a hose that is retractable into a housing for storage and a power cord that is also retractable into the housing for storage and which also includes a connector for connecting the motor of the system to the power of the vehicle via a cigarette lighter receptacle of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit, a suction generating device, and first and second dirt separation members. The first dirt separation chamber includes an inlet to receive airflow from the base unit, an outlet, a filter between the inlet and outlet, and a collection chamber having a bottom disposed below the first filter and a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom. The filter has a surface extending in a first direction, and the surface is adapted to pass the airflow radially therethrough. The second dirt separation member includes a cyclone body, an inlet to receive airflow from the first chamber outlet, and an outlet to convey airflow to the suction generating device. This outlet includes a cyclone outlet tube located within and at a first end of the cyclone body and extending in a second direction. A dirt outlet is located opposite the first end of the cyclone body. Another collection chamber is connected to the dirt outlet.

Abstract: A carpet extractor head for a carpet extractor including at least one sonic agitator. The at least one sonic agitator includes a beater portion and an actuating member that vibrates the beater portion. The beater portion includes a hollow roller.

Abstract: A spot cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a fluid distribution system, a fluid recovery system, an agitation system, and a controller system to automatically monitor and control inputs and outputs to said systems for removal of spots and stains from a surface without attendance by a user. A suction nozzle and agitation device are mounted to the housing for movement over the surface to be cleaned relative to a stationary housing. Optionally, the spot cleaning apparatus can be operated in a manual mode.

Abstract: A noise suppressor for use with the vacuum air cleaner includes an enclosed casing. On the casing, there are an air intake end and an air outlet end. Between the air intake end and the air outlet end, there is the noise suppressing chamber. At the air intake end and the air outlet end, there are the air intake area and the air outlet area made up of densely arranged dust-shaped air exhaust microholes. The air intake sectional area and air outlet sectional area, which are defined by the cross-sectional area of the microholes respectively, are smaller than the sectional area of the noise suppressing chamber. A number of noise suppressing structures or arrangements may be used to form the noise suppressor. After being installed at the air exhaust port of the vacuum air cleaner, the noise suppressor can greatly reduce the noise the vacuum air cleaner gives out when in use.