Abstract: A package for delivering a cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned comprises a housing, a pocket in the housing having at least one piercing projection extending into the pocket and a passageway between the pocket and the surface to be cleaned beneath the housing. A sealed packet containing a cleaning solution can be configured to fit into the pocket and can have at least a portion of an outer surface thereof adapted to be pierced by the at least one piercing projection when the packet is placed in the pocket. The cleaning solution can be discharged from the packet when the packet is positioned in the pocket and the packet is pierced by the at least one piercing projection. The cleaning solution can then be dispensed through the passageway onto a surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: An extractor has a duct door moveably mounted to a working air conduit for movement between a first position at which normal suction at a suction nozzle is reduced and a second position at which normal suction at the suction nozzle is unreduced. An actuator is connected to the duct door for selectively moving the duct door between the first position and second position. In one embodiment, a suction leak hole is formed within the working air conduit and the duct door is moveable with respect to the leek hole to selectively fluidly open and close the leak hole. In another embodiment, the duct door is moveable within the working air conduit to selectively fluidly restrict the working air flow in the working air conduit and the actuator selectively moves the duct door between the first and second positions. The suction reduction selectively increases the cleaning solution dwell time.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a cyclone module assembly comprising a cyclone separation chamber for separating dust and debris from air with the generation of a cyclonic airflow vortex forming a vortex tail, the cyclone separation chamber having an inlet opening in fluid communication with the suction nozzle through the working air path and an outlet opening for discharging cleaned air, and a dirt cup for collecting dust and debris that is separated from the air in the cyclone separation chamber. The inlet opening in the cyclone separation chamber is formed with a pair of opposed inlets. The opposed inlets can be symmetrically or asymmetrically positioned with respect to each other. The cyclone separation chamber can comprise first and second concentric cyclone separation chambers and the opposed inlets can form the inlet opening to the second or inner cyclone separation chamber.

Abstract: An extractor has a plurality of fluid delivery needles mounted to a housing in fluid communication with a fluid distribution system and positioned to penetrate a carpet surface to deliver a cleaning solution below the surface of the carpet and into the carpet nap. Soiled cleaning fluid is removed from the surface with suction. A method of cleaning a carpet or a pet coat having a nap comprises injecting cleaning fluid, such as a foam detergent, directly into the nap and removing soiled cleaning fluid from the carpet.

Abstract: An extractor has a duct door moveably mounted to a working air conduit for movement between a first position at which normal suction at a suction nozzle is reduced and a second position at which normal suction at the suction nozzle is unreduced. An actuator is connected to the duct door for selectively moving the duct door between the first position and second position. In one embodiment, a suction leak hole is formed within the working air conduit and the duct door is moveable with respect to the leek hole to selectively fluidly open and close the leak hole. In another embodiment, the duct door is moveable within the working air conduit to selectively fluidly restrict the working air flow in the working air conduit and the actuator selectively moves the duct door between the first and second positions. The suction reduction selectively increases the cleaning solution dwell time.

Abstract: An extraction cleaner comprises a fluid delivery system and a fluid recovery system. The fluid recovery system includes a centrifugal separator for separating a liquid and debris-entrained working air flow with a tangential air/water inlet, water outlet and air outlet at a lower portion of the separator. The air outlet has a vertical stand pipe that extends upwardly above the tangential air/water inlet and water outlet. The centrifugal separator can be mounted in a plurality of locations on the extraction cleaner thereby offering greater architectural flexibility.

Abstract: A cyclone separator assembly comprises a cyclone separator that removes large particles of dirt from a working airstream as it flows through the cyclone separator, and the separated large particles of dirt are deposited into a dirt cup. The cyclone separator assembly further includes a fine particle separation member comprising a plurality of apertures for separating fine particles of dirt from air in the cyclone separator or the dirt cup.

Abstract: A package for delivering a cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned comprises a housing, a pocket in the housing having at least one piercing projection extending into the pocket and a passageway between the pocket and the surface to be cleaned beneath the housing. A sealed packet containing a cleaning solution can be configured to fit into the pocket and can have at least a portion of an outer surface thereof adapted to be pierced by the at least one piercing projection when the packet is placed in the pocket. The cleaning solution can be discharged from the packet when the packet is positioned in the pocket and the packet is pierced by the at least one piercing projection. The cleaning solution can then be dispensed through the passageway onto a surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclonic separator having a first cyclone and a plurality of downstream secondary cyclones. The first cyclone comprises a side wall defining a first cyclonic chamber, and the secondary cyclones each comprise a side wall defining a second cyclonic chamber. A dirt cup assembly is mounted below the cyclonic separator to collect contaminants separated in the first and second cyclonic chambers. The secondary cyclones can be arranged around the first cyclone side wall and form a gap between adjacent secondary cyclones so that the first cyclone side wall is exposed at the gap. A working air conduit can extend through the first cyclone and the dirt cup assembly to couple the secondary cyclones to a suction source located below the dirt cup assembly. Furthermore, the secondary cyclones can have a vortex stabilizer.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a cyclone module assembly comprising a cyclone separation chamber for separating dust and debris from air with the generation of a cyclonic airflow vortex forming a vortex tail, the cyclone separation chamber having an inlet opening in fluid communication with the suction nozzle through the working air path and an outlet opening for discharging cleaned air, and a dirt cup for collecting dust and debris that is separated from the air in the cyclone separation chamber. The inlet opening in the cyclone separation chamber is formed with a pair of opposed inlets. The opposed inlets can be symmetrically or asymmetrically positioned with respect to each other. The cyclone separation chamber can comprise first and second concentric cyclone separation chambers and the opposed inlets can form the inlet opening to the second or inner cyclone separation chamber.

Abstract: A kit and method for preparing a cleaning solution for delivery under pressure includes combining a cleaning composition, an oxidizing agent, an effervescent agent and an aqueous medium in a pressurizable container having an opening with a removably mounted cap. The effervescent agent reacts with the aqueous medium to generate a gas to pressurize the cleaning solution within the container. The method can be used for preparing a cleaning solution for use with a pressurizable container have an aerosol valve assembly or an extraction cleaner with a fluid delivery system for dispensing the cleaning solution under pressure to a surface to be cleaned. The cleaning solution and a pressurizable container having a removably mounted cap with an aerosol valve assembly can be provided as a kit to a consumer for preparing a pressurized cleaning solution.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclonic separator having a first cyclone and a plurality of downstream secondary cyclones. The first cyclone comprises a side wall defining a first cyclonic chamber, and the secondary cyclones each comprise a side wall defining a second cyclonic chamber. A dirt cup assembly is mounted below the cyclonic separator to collect contaminants separated in the first and second cyclonic chambers. The secondary cyclones can be arranged around the first cyclone side wall and form a gap between adjacent secondary cyclones so that the first cyclone side wall is exposed at the gap. A working air conduit can extend through the first cyclone and the dirt cup assembly to couple the secondary cyclones to a suction source located below the dirt cup assembly. Furthermore, the secondary cyclones can have a vortex stabilizer.

Abstract: A liquid extraction cleaner comprises a solution dispensing system, a liquid recovery system, and an agitation brush assembly. The solution dispensing system includes a cleaning solution supply tank affixed to the cleaner and fluidly connected to a solution spray nozzle through a trigger-operated manual solution spray pump. The supply conduit interconnecting the cleaning fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle traverses a passage formed integrally with the air-liquid separator housing, spray nozzle being mounted in the passage at a front portion of the cleaner. The liquid recovery system includes a air-liquid separator fluidly connected with a suction nozzle and a suction source for drawing liquid and debris into the air-liquid separator, and a recovery tank releasably mounted to the air-liquid separator for collecting recovered liquid. The agitation brush assembly is mounted in a lower forward portion of the cleaner for contact with a surface being cleaned.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing joint timing recovery in a digital receiver using multiple input signals. The apparatus comprises a plurality of phase detectors, a summer, a level shifter, a loop filter and a numerically controlled oscillator NCO. The phase detectors produce a phase signal by comparing a timing signal produced by the NCO with the input signals. The phase signals are then summed and the level shifter adjusts the summed value to compensate for the number of signals used to form the sum, i.e., the summed value is adjusted to be within the input range of the NCO.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hand-held extraction cleaner including a cleaning fluid supply system for supplying a cleaning fluid to a surface, a dirt recovery system including a source of suction fluidly connected to the surface through a cleaning fluid recovery tank assembly, and a rotary agitation brush for agitating the surface to be cleaned. The brush is driven by air-powered turbine assembly fluidly connected between ambient air and the suction source.

Abstract: A liquid extraction cleaner includes a recovery tank mounted to the forward end of a cleaner housing with a suction nozzle and conduit on a front face of the recovery tank connected to an inlet opening in the recovery tank. A vacuum source is connected to the recovery tank through a working conduit integrally formed in the recovery tank, the recovery tank removably received in a cavity on a front portion of the cleaner housing, and including a pivotal connection and latch for securing the tank to the housing. A removable cleaning fluid supply tank is mounted to a rear portion of the cleaner housing, having depressions formed thereon to aid removal, and retained thereon by the seal between the supply tank and the housing. A recharging base for the cleaner has a guide pin and electrical connector for aligning to form an electrical connection with a battery charging circuit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the correct set of samples to retain in applying a decimation process. The present method provides an automatic approach to determine the timing phase of the desired samples to decimate the oversampled input signal (data sequence), thereby producing the underlying data signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a co-channel interference signal and, in response to detecting such an interference signal, utilizing a co-channel interference rejection filter. Specifically, the present invention monitors the status information generated by the error detecting/correcting circuitry of a signal receiver such as a high definition television (HDTV) receiver. A counter is used to determine an error rate. While this first error rate is being determined, the filter is not used within the signal path of the receiver. The filter is then switched into the signal path of the receiver and a second error rate is determined. The first and second error rates are then compared and if the first error rate is the same or lower than the second error rate, the co-channel interference rejection filter is not utilized.

Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. A clean water holding tank and a detergent holding tank are removably mounted to the handle while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the base. A mixing valve is fluidly connected between the holding tanks and the spray nozzle for changing the mixing ratio of the detergent with respect to the water. The fluid recovery tank includes an integrally molded conduit that extends from the suction nozzle and a mounting for an accessory hose that interrupts the fluid path from the suction nozzle in the conduit and redirects fluid flow through the hose.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing joint timing recovery in a digital receiver using multiple input signals. The apparatus comprises a plurality of phase detectors, a summer, a level shifter, a loop filter and a numerically controlled oscillator NCO. The phase detectors produce a phase signal by comparing a timing signal produced by the NCO with the input signals. The phase signals are then summed and the level shifter adjusts the summed value to compensate for the number of signals used to form the sum, i.e., the summed value is adjusted to be within the input range of the NCO.