Abstract: A vacuum refuse collecting vehicle has a tank divided into two hermetically sealed compartments by an internal sloped wall. The forward compartment functions as a water tank and the rear compartment as a waste containment tank. The capacity of the compartments can be increased by the addition of spacers to the cylindrical tank to make the tank longer, by changing the angle of the internal sloped wall, or by changing the depth of the concave end walls of the tank. The rear compartment is equipped with an upwardly tilting hinged concave tail gate for emptying the waste therefrom. The airstream which deposits the waste material in the tank is directed out of the tank into one or more bag filter housings, through an air pump, a silencer, and then to the surrounding atmosphere. The bag filters are so mounted and constructed that they may be removed through the bottom of the housings, thereby maintaining the upper portions of the housings substantially free of waste material.

Abstract: A mobile vacuum loading machine has a swivel assembly permitting the boom to be rotated 360.degree. through the use of internal hydraulic and pneumatic passages in the swivel assembly. The hose reel is mounted on the rear of the machine and capable of being swung out outwardly a full 180.degree. and fixedly held at any position through the use of a linkage assembly attached to a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A liquid extraction surface cleaning apparatus has an upwardly opening recovery tank and a top for the tank which contains a suction fan having a suction inlet opening into the tank. A wand connects to a source of cleaning liquid and has a dispensing and pickup head that deposits liquid on the surface to be cleaned in response to actuation of a control valve and picks up dirty fluid. A water and air separator has an arcuate surface transverse of the flow path of the air and spent liquid which gently separates them into separate streams by diverting the cleaning liquid laterally away from the air stream. A shutoff valve for preventing recovered liquid in the tank from entering the suction fan is mounted in the recovery tank rather than to the suction inlet to avoid dripping dirty liquid onto the floor when the cover is removed. A handle is mounted internal the tank and additionally serves to strengthen the tank sidewalls.

Abstract: A golf ball washing machine has been invented where a detachable upper vibrating trough may receive numerous golf balls and dispense them individually into a spiral cage encircling a rotating brush in a lower water tank where the golf balls are entrapped between the brush and cage interior and are scrubbed as they are forced along the interior of the spiral cage to an exit leaving dirt and debris in the tank.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning machine for fireplaces and the like having a decorative canister enclosed in a vacuum chamber containing a fireproofed dust bag, a blower and electric motor unit and storage reels for an electric cord and a flexible vacuum hose.

Abstract: A gas driven cleaning apparatus for clearing clogged pipe lines or the like. The apparatus is comprised of a gas driven nozzle having specially devised gas passages for aiding the propulsion of the nozzle through and clearing the clogged area. A flexible hose is connected to the nozzle and a high pressure gas cylinder supported on a two wheel hand cart. The hand cart has a main hose reel and handle for a first gas line and a portable hand reel which supports a second gas line connected to the main reel line and the nozzle at opposite ends. The hand reel may be carried apart from the hand cart to difficultly accessible or remote areas not approachable by the hand cart. In a modification the nozzle is provided with a rotary head element powered by the high pressure gas.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning apparatus has a main suction box (11) with a dirt collecting container (32) and an auxiliary suction box (16) with a flexible hose (14) laid therein in the form of a loop (15), with the flexible hose being guided outwardly through an opening (17) in the front wall of the housing (36). The flexible hose (14) is automatically drawn in into its position of non-use and is automatically cleaned during this by a depression in the auxiliary suction box (16).

Abstract: A hose reel system for a sewer and catch basin cleaner and the like has a fixed mounted hose reel and a movable hose traction wheel. The hose reel includes a drive motor which rotates the reel in a direction to wind a hose onto the reel and a clutch which permits the reel to freely rotate when the hose is payed out. The hose traction wheel may be attached to a boom movable horizontally and vertically with respect to the reel and is driven by a motor to pay out the hose and a clutch which permits the traction wheel to turn freely during rewind of the hose. A first fairlead assembly mounted to the fixed reel and a second fairlead assembly mounted to the hose traction wheel guides the hose to permit pay out and rewind when the traction wheel is not in the plane of the reel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a drainage unit in particular for aircraft sanitation systems.The technical problem resides in providing such a unit which is extremely simple, reliable and effective.According to the invention, this unit, which is formed by a mobile truck (1) carrying a collecting reservoir (12), comprises depression-producing means (18, 19) connected to the collecting reservoir (12) so as to produce the vacuum therein and take-off means (14) mounted in a support (15) and capable of being temporarily connected to the sanitation systems of the aircraft for transferring waste materials and waters to the reservoir (12), the depression-producing means (18, 19) for the reservoir, the take-off means (14) and the reservoir (12) being disposed on the chassis (4) of the truck (1) in the form of a compact assembly inscribed within the frame of the chassis (4).The invention is principally employed for the rapid draining of aircraft sanitation systems.

Abstract: A vehicle for cleaning drains or cesspools has a tank for taking up and transporting waste material such as sludge, an aspiration pipe and a reel for the pipe. The reel is so placed that, at least when aspiration is taking place, its axis is upright, this making possible the use of a single-piece aspiration pipe which only has to be uncoiled from the reel to the degree necessary to get the inlet end of the pipe to the point at which it is needed within the cesspool or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning root crops while still in the field whereby the harvested crops are subjected to jet blasts of a cleaning agent without excessive dust generation.

Abstract: The decontamination apparatus comprises a rotatable hone capable of being inserted into a heat exchange tube of a steam generator for removing contamination from the inside of the heat exchange tubes. The apparatus also comprises means for advancing and retracting the hone and means for removing contamination from the apparatus as the apparatus is withdrawn from the steam generator.

Abstract: The flexible hose of an industrial scale vacuum cleaning apparatus is wound upon and unwound from a drum by a reversible motor which drives four rollers tangentially engaging the hose at a point between the drum and the vacuum intake. The rollers preferably comprise small pneumatic tires inflated to a low pressure and the motor control means are located on the operator's handle connected to the vacuum intake head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a carpet on location without removing the carpet to a cleaning plant, the method comprising washing the carpet on location with an alkaline solution and neutralizing the alkaline residue left on the carpet after washing by blowing a spray of an acid solution under pressure into the washed carpet and removing the blown acid solution from the carpet after blowing by drawing a vacuum over the washed and blown carpet. The washing step also comprises blowing a heated spray of the alkaline solution under pressure into the carpet and removing the blown alkaline solution and loosened dirt from the carpet after blowing by drawing a vacuum over the blown carpet.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for cleaning a sewer or other chamber. The apparatus includes a wheeled vehicle having a frame. A water reservoir tank is mounted near the front of the vehicle frame and is adapted to hold a supply of water. A hose unit is mounted at the rear of the vehicle frame. The hose unit has a hose connected to the water reservoir tank and adapted to be inserted into the chamber to discharge water into the chamber. A debris holding tank is mounted on the vehicle frame between the water reservoir tank and the hose unit. The debris holding tank is adapted to receive and hold debris. A boom is mounted on top of the debris holding tank and adapted to extend rearwardly over the hose unit. The boom has a conduit connected to the debris holding tank and adapted to be lowered into the chamber to be cleaned to transport material from the chamber into the debris holding tank.

Abstract: A chip washer comprising a tank holding washing fluid, a conveyor for supplying chips into the tank, a vane for setting the fluid and therewith the chips into motion in the tank, a conduit provided with valve for removal from the tank of the foreign substances separated from the chips and a washed chips removing conveyor, this latter consisting of a screw conveyor ascending obliquely upwardly from the tank with its lower end extending into the washing fluid and the mantle of which is constituted by a strainer tube. The strainer tube of the screw conveyor is encircled by a collecting tube or trough, which returns the washing fluid running off the chips, back to the tank.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for cleaning sewers, catch basins and the like includes a debris collection chamber mounted on the rear of a vehicular chassis. A vacuum conduit communicates with the chamber and is adapted to be lowered into the sewer. A vacuum fan also communicates with the chamber and draws air through the conduit and chamber thereby picking up debris from the sewer. As the debris enters the chamber, the configuration thereof creates a rapid decrease in the air flow velocity and otherwise interrupts the flow so that material entrained in the air is deposited in the chamber. The configuration of the chamber also permits facile discharge of the debris out of the bottom of the chamber in that one end wall of the chamber is swingable to open the bottom thereof. This same end wall also carries a hose reel for use in flushing the sewer. Because the debris which is picked up may well include water, means are provided to drain the water from the chamber.

Abstract: A sewer cleaning unit is disclosed which comprises a single tank assembly mounted on a wheeled vehicle. The single tank assembly has a substantially horizontal fixed divider forming a first tank portion adapted to carry and discharge a supply of water, and a second tank portion adapted to receive and hold debris, thus obviating the disadvantages of tank designs of the prior art. The unit may also be provided with hand-operated control means near the intake end of the conduit connected to the second tank portion and a control means connected to the reel for the hose from which water is discharged from the first tank portion, the reel control means and the hand-operated control means capable of being operated simultaneously by a single operator.

Abstract: A sewer and catch basin cleaner includes a system for injecting water under pressure into a sewer lateral for cleaning same and a vacuum loading system for removing the cleaning water and resultant debris from the sewer catch basin or manhole. The cleaner includes a water storage tank for providing the cleaning water and a body for receiving the liquid and debris removed from the catch basin or manhole. Water filtration and reclamation means are provided intermediate the body and water tank to provide a continuous supply of cleaning water without the need for interrupting operation of the cleaner to load water. This feature reduces the total amount of clean water which is consumed during sewer cleaning.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a storage chamber in which a flexible hose, used to connect the usual dust collection tools to the cleaner, can be stored when not in use. In a preferred embodiment, the hose can be sucked into the storage chamber when it is desired to store same.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner of a baseboard type which is concealed in a handsome article of furniture so that the vacuum cleaner concurrently serves as a piece of furniture. To this end, the vacuum cleaner herein disclosed comprises a housing structure of a substantially hollow cubic body having a first chamber adapted to accommodate therein a length of a flexible vacuum hose, a second chamber in which a source of vacuum is housed and a third chamber adapted to removably accommodate a dust collector. A lid is provided at either or both of the top and side of the housing structure and may provide for the convenient storage of some appurtenances such as floor brush, extensible wand, nozzle, etc. An automatic drawing mechanism for drawing a length of the flexible vacuum hose, that has been taken out of the hose chamber for use, back into the hose chamber is also provided.

Abstract: A controlling apparatus for the driving gear of a suction cleaner equipped with a container accommodating a suction fan together with a motor for actuating said fan, a suction hose, and a device for the paying-out and hauling-in of said suction hose together with a reversible motor for actuating said device, both of said motors being supposed to be controlled by means of controlling circuits to be actuated by a switch disposed near the fore end of said hose through a couple of lead wires buried in the hose, wherein said controlling circuits for these motors are respectively provided with three relays for actuating the respective motor and three switches for actuating said relays as incorporated therein, two of three circuits thus combined with said relay and actuating switch corresponding therewith are respectively provided with AC half-wave rectifiers having opposite polarities while the remaining one circuit is provided with contacts to be controlled by two relays included in said two circuits.

Abstract: A suction cleaner, wherein the interior of a container thereof is divided into two chambers, namely, the first chamber and the second chamber, by a partition, and the first chamber accommodates a suction fan, a filter member and a dust-receiving box installed therein while the second chamber randomly stores a suction hose, the rear end of said hose being rotatably supported within an opening provided in said partition while the front end of said hose projects out of an opening provided on one side of said container; a device for the paying-out and hauling-in of the hose is installed adjacent the inside of said opening provided on the container; lead wires are provided for the hose along the whole length thereof, the front end of said lead wires being connected with a switch mounted on the hose while the rear end of the same being connected with a ring contact provided on the hose; said movable contact is devised to be in touch with a fixed contact provided on the partition; and said fixed contact is connected