Abstract: A vacuum system with a blower, a flexible hose connected to an intake opening and a discharge duct for transporting the materials to a collection zone has a suction nozzle mounted on the outer end of the flexible hose. The nozzle is formed by a cylindrical collar connected to the outer end of the flexible hose, a pick-up tube mounted within the collar so as to define an annular space therebetween and projecting forwardly from the forward end of the collar to an open circular mouth into which material to be picked up can be drawn to enter the pick-up tube to be transported by the hose to the blower for discharge to the collection zone.

Abstract: A hoist includes two lift columns with a base for supporting the upright on a floor, the base projecting to a working side of the upright and a lift arm mounted for sliding movement up and down along the upright with the lift arm projecting to the working side of the upright. A safety mechanism, for limiting movement of the lift arm slide downwardly along the upright towards the base, has an upright rack and a latch engageable with teeth spaced along the rack with an upper cross member coupling the uprights of the two column assemblies at a position spaced above the bases thereof; and a lift mechanism for simultaneously raising and lowering the lift arm slides along the respective uprights.