Abstract: In a refrigerator of a compression type or an absorption type, including a condenser and an evaporator, an apparatus for cleaning condenser tubes in which a cleaning brush movably mounted in each tube is moved through the tube by reversing a flow of cooling fluid therethrough so that the inner wall of the tube can be cleaned by the moving cleaning brush. Switching means switches from a temperature control means which controls refrigeration capacity depending upon temperature of a cooling and heating medium within the evaporator during the refrigeration operation, to control by pressure restriction means which restricts the pressure within the condenser to not exceed a predetermined value, before the flow of the cooling fluid in the tube is changed for cleaning the tube.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. A basket retaining plate is fixedly mounted, as by bolts or the like, in spaced relationship outwardly from the outer tube sheet face. The plate and its mount cooperate with the tube sheet to hold the baskets in fixed position relative to the tube sheet and tube ends. The outer capturing and holding portions of the baskets extend outwardly from the retaining plate. The baskets include central or intermediate portions which extend through openings in the plate and inner portions which extend through the space between the plate and tube sheet and which terminate within the tube sheet openings. The baskets are fixedly secured against transverse shifting by a two-point support, one at the inner basket ends and one intermediate their ends.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets (6, 7). Cleaning elements (18) are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by elongated slotted baskets (17). A removable cleaning element retainer (28) is adapted to be snap fit into the end of each basket via flexible clip legs (30) terminating in radially outwardly extending prongs (31). A notch (39) formed in the outer slot end receives a retainer prong and thereby holds the retainer against basket-wearing rotation.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets (6, 7). Cleaning elements (18) are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by elongated slotted baskets (17). A cleaning element retaining device includes inwardly extending pairs of projections (30, 31) integral with the basket and with the respective pairs being offset longitudinally along the basket axis. A cleaning element can be tiltingly manipulated past the pairs of projections for insertion or removal into or out of the basket without substantial damage to the projections.

Abstract: An improvement in apparatus for cleaning heat exchanger tubes wherein each tube has chambers at its opposite ends for capturing a tube cleaning element, such as a brush, which is adapted to move in opposite directions through the tube upon reversing the direction of flow of heat exchange fluid therethrough. The improvement comprises apparatus for detachably mounting the chambers to the ends of the respective tubes including a holder plate having openings formed therethrough at locations corresponding to locations of the ends of the heat exchanger tubes.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a floor nozzle having a rotatable brush housed therein for operative contact with a surface to be cleaned, a main cleaner assembly coupled with the floor nozzle and accommodating a motor-driven fan having a motor shaft and a filter therein, a flexible power transmitting shaft for transmitting rotative power from the motor-driven fan to the rotatable brush along a power transmitting path between the motor shaft and the rotatable brush, and an intermediate power transmitting mechanism including a torque limiter mechanism disposed in the power transmitting path for cutting off power transmission from the motor shaft to the rotatable brush when the rotatable brush is subjected to a torque greater than a preset torque.

Abstract: A sluice for cleaning bodies includes a sluice housing having two substantially hemispherical housing halves, flanges each being disposed on a respective housing half for interconnecting the halves, substantially radially projecting stubs disposed on each respective housing half including at least one inlet and at least one outlet stub for flow medium carrying the cleaning bodies, and a screen element disposed in the housing for covering at least one of the inlet and outlet stubs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning debris from the interior surfaces of two flowlines, particularly dissimilar sized flowlines, utilizes a crossover flowline, crossover valve, and two bypass flowlines and bypass valves, wherein the bypass flowlines communicate between a respective flowline and the crossover flowline.

Abstract: Recirculating tube cleaners pass through inside diameters in a bank of heat exchanger tubes. Variable density tube cleaners are provided which are pressurized to compress and have a substantially neutral buoyancy upon entry from an inlet manifold to the inside diameter of the tubes. Upon exiting from a heat exchanger outlet manifold, the tube cleaners return to either positive or negative buoyancy depending upon the embodiment. Skimmer means intercept tube cleaners having positive buoyancy from the upper portion of flow and direct them to a recirculation system. Open cell elastomer tube cleaners having negative buoyancy may be intercepted at the bottom of the flow and then partially dewatered for adjustment toward neutral buoyancy. As contrasted to prior art embodiments in which the entire outlet flow must be screened, here only a small percentage, for example one percent of the outlet flow, need be intercepted.

Abstract: In the operation of cleaning the pipes of heat exchangers by means of sponge rubber balls which are entrained by the cooling water, a cylindrical housing is connected upstream of the heat exchanger, in which housing several chambers are formed by several dividing walls rotating about a vertical axis, and the chambers are subdivided by a horizontal sieve plate into an upper group of chambers for receiving the balls and into a lower group of chambers. In this arrangement, two opposite cooling water supply and removal connections are each provided in the region of the lower group of chambers, and two similar cooling water connections are provided in the region of the upper group of chambers which are connected to the heat exchanger pipes. In order to also allow a discontinuous cleaning operation, while stopping the balls and without interrupting the flow of cooling water, the present invention provides that the interior of the housing (2) is subdivided by three dividing walls (4,5,6) which are arranged at 120.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a housing (2) containing a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) through which tube cleaning elements (18) are propelled between elongated baskets (17) mounted in communication with the tube ends. The baskets include longitudinally extending slots (22). A removable retainer (28) is adapted for mounting to each outer basket end. The retainer includes a central body portion (29) of molded plastic and a plurality of circumferentially spaced clips (30) for latching onto the basket. Each clip includes a first longitudinally outwardly extending leg (31), a second longitudinally inwardly extending leg (33), and a reverse bend loop (32) joining the legs. A radially extending rib (38) is formed in the reverse bend loop and is connected at its ends to the first and second legs. The ribs on circumferentially spaced clips are of such a length as to normally hold all of the legs in parallelism.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. A basket retaining plate is fixedly mounted, as by bolts or the like, in spaced relationship outwardly from the outer tube sheet face. The plate and its mount cooperate with the tube sheet to hold the baskets in fixed position relative to the tube sheet and tube ends. The outer capturing and holding portions of the baskets extend outwardly from the retaining plate. The baskets include central or intermediate portions which extend through openings in the plate and inner portions which extend through the space between the plate and tube sheet and which terminate within the tube sheet openings. The baskets are fixedly secured against transverse shifting by a two-point support, one at the inner basket ends and one intermediate their ends.

Abstract: A cleaning element for cleaning the interior of heat exchanger tubes by being carried along by a cooling water stream and automatically squeezed through the tubes by the cooling water stream, includes a sphere foamed in a closed mold, the sphere being formed of an open-cell sponge rubber core and an open-pore water-permeable skin integral with the core.

Abstract: A sluice for collecting cleaning bodies in the form of sponge rubber balls which are guided in the circulation of cooling water through the pipes of a heat exchanger having inlet and outlet connections, in particular a generating plant condenser, includes a return line passing through the sluice, the return line including an inlet line having a pump and an outlet line having a shut-off valve, a cylindrical housing including a sieve body and a shutting flap connected downstream of the sieve body, the housing being connected to the outlet connection of the heat exchanger through the inlet line and being connected to the inlet connection of the heat exchanger through the outlet line, and a flap trap disposed in the return line for the cleaning bodies between the outlet connection and the inlet connection of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets (6, 7). Cleaning elements (18) are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by elongated molded plastic slotted baskets (17). The generally uninterrupted basket chamber (25) terminates in an outer end portion defined by the basket body to which is integrally mounted a cleaning element retainer in the form of a closure (26). The closure is pivotally mounted to one side of the end of the basket body by a living hinge (27) which permits swinging of the closure between a fully open position wherein the open-ended basket chamber is unobstructed for cleaning element installation and removal, and a fully closed position which retains the cleaning element within the basket during outward fluid flow. The closure is held in closed position by an integral latch (28, 29) on the side of the basket diametrically opposite the living hinge (27).

Abstract: A collecting device for removing cleaning balls from a water stream of a power plant condenser has a comparatively short pipe section forming a housing for the pivotal sieve or sieves. A downstream end of each sieve is provided with part of the collecting trough for the balls, the other part being formed by a wall portion downstream of the downstream flange of the pipe section when the sieve is swung into its operative position. A fitting in the housing is connected to this trough by a connecting pipe.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for separating, from the fluid (F) which transports them, the cleaning bodies (2) leaving the tubes of an exchanger with this fluid after having cleaned these tubes, which device comprises two stages for gathering together the bodies respectively in two transverse direction X and Y perpendicular to each other, namely a first stage formed by an oblique grid (4) and a second stage formed by a hopper (6) converging toward the downstream direction, which hopper has a permeable wall (7) parallel to direction Y and is elongate in this direction. A bridge (9) is provided across the hopper, which bridge extends on each side of this hopper in direction X, but not in direction Y, which creates in the downstream region of the hopper swirls preventing any clogging up of the wall (7).

Abstract: A suction device for cleaning textile floor coverings comprising a base member, a central housing, and a cover. A brushing device is detachably mounted closely adjacent to the base member. The base member has a tubular stub receiving a flexibly supported suction air connector sleeve of the brushing device. The dust chamber is located in the central housing and a dust air canal located within the housing of the suction device connects the tubular stub with the dust chamber. The suction blower and at least a portion of the electrical and/or electronic components are located in the base member resulting in a low center of gravity for the unit. The closely adjacent detachable mounting of the brushing device to the suction device avoids long vacuum hose and long electrical lines connecting the suction device to the brushing device.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Brushes are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. The brushes comprise an elongated wire twist stem having fine wire bristles looped through the twist along the stem length. End caps are secured to the stem ends. The brush basket is provided with a dash pot at its outer end which not only serves as a brush stop but which also creates a hydraulic cushion to slowly decelerate the brush before it engages the stop.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements, such as brushes, are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes. Cleaning element capturing cages or baskets are mounted to the tube ends. When the tube ends are of varying diameters along the plane of a tube sheet, some baskets are press fit into the larger diameter tube ends and an adhesive used to rigidly secure the members together, as heretofore. In addition, other baskets are loosely slipped over the smaller diameter tube ends. However, an adhesive is not necessary to rigidly fix these latter baskets in place. Instead, a connector device joins baskets which are not rigidly fixed against axial movement to those that are, so that the latter support the former in rigid interconnecting relationship.

Abstract: A gas operated tube emptying apparatus for firing missiles into a tube. The apparatus includes a gas source, a gas control and delivery unit connected to the source for delivering the pressure and amount of gas needed. The apparatus further includes a missile delivery unit having a bin for holding a plurality of missiles and a missile loading tube extending between the delivery unit and a firing chamber. The firing chamber has a barrel extending upwardly therefrom and is connected to the gas source so that as the gas control unit supplies a burst of gas a missile is drawn into the barrel from the chamber and fired through the barrel into a tube.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for sorting elastic balls for cleaning the inner surfaces of heat transfer tubes of a heat exchanger.

Abstract: In a cleaning system for heat conductive conduits of a heat exchanger, a great number of balls are circulated through the conduits for mechanically removing incrustations formed on the inner surfaces of the conduits. In order to automatically operate the cleaning system, there are provided with ball counters, one of which counts the number of balls actually circulating the system and the other count the number of balls to be withdrawn out of the system or replaced with new balls because of worn out or breakage. The number of balls circulating is always maintained at a certain level necessary for effective cleaning by a controller which actuates various valves to maintain the number of balls in response to the signal generated by the ball counters.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be received by capturing cages. The inner ends of the cleaning element capturing cages are provided with enlarged collars having generally semi-circular flanges providing inclined undercut seats. The heat exchanger tube ends extend fully through the openings in the tube sheets and are provided with annular flared lips extending outwardly from the outer tube sheet faces. The cages are mounted directly to the tubes by bringing the collar seats down into hanging engagement with the tube lips.

Abstract: For cleaning the tubes (1) of a heat exchanger (2) through which flows a fluid between an upstream duct (3) and a downstream duct (4), by means of cleaning bodies (5), recourse is had to a sealed box (6) provided with four apertures (J,K,L,M) connected externally so as to define respectively a section (J,K) of the upstream duct and a section (L,M) of the downstream duct, a rotary support (7) mounted in this box and dividing it into two diametrically opposite compartments, two identical baskets (8,9) permeable to the fluid but not to the cleaning bodies and mounted in the two compartments so as to be open solely in the direction of the exchanger, and means (10) for rotating the support by half a revolution so as to switch over the two baskets and their functions (supply of cleaning bodies and collection of same).

Abstract: A dust collector for a vacuum cleaner having a blower has an outer wall with an air-impermeable main portion bounding an inner chamber and a limited air-permeable portion, a filter accommodated in the chamber and connectable with the blower, and an additional filtering member associated with the air-permeable portion of the outer wall. The additional filtering member may be composed of an electrostatically chargeable filtering material and may be formed as a separate member or as a part of the wall of the dust collector.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a dirt cup and a dirt cup holder that telescopically engages with a handle of the cleaner for the guidance of it as the handle of the cleaner pivots relative to the main body of the cleaner.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. A basket retaining plate is fixedly mounted, as by bolts or the like, in spaced relationship outwardly from the outer tube sheet face. The plate and its mount cooperate with the tube sheet to hold the baskets in fixed position relative to the tube sheet and tube ends. The outer capturing and holding portions of the baskets extend outwardly from the retaining plate. The baskets include central or intermediate portions which extend through openings in the plate and inner portions which extend through the space between the plate and tube sheet and which terminate within the tube sheet openings. The baskets are fixedly secured against transverse shifting by a two-point support, one at the inner basket ends and one intermediate their ends.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. The baskets are positioned so that their basket holding chambers having fluid flow openings in the side walls thereof are disposed in the space between a retaining plate and tube sheet. The outer end portions of the baskets are engaged by the retaining plate while the inner end portions of the baskets are positioned relative to the tube sheet openings to be in fluid communication with the heat exchanger tubes. The retaining plate has a plurality of openings therein which may be in axial alignment with the tube sheet openings and in axial registry with the open outer ends of the baskets. Alternately, the retaining plate openings may be arranged in a random pattern basically out of alignment with the tube sheet openings and out of registry with the baskets.

Abstract: A device for diverting discrete cleaning bodies carried in a fluid flowing through a tubular heat exchanger from the main stream of the fluid consisting of a diverter casing through which an axial current flows and a separating sieve system disposed therein having at least one sieve surface disposed at an angle to the flow and terminating at the downstream end in a lateral outlet connection. The at least one sieve surface being pivotable for cleaning purposes to such an extent that the sieve surface that was on the upstream side comes to be situated on the downstream side. The at least one sieve surface terminates in the vicinity of the diverter casing wall and a transition surface is disposed between the upstream sieve surface and the casing wall, the radius of curvature or angle between the transition surface and the casing wall being selected such that the cleaning bodies are prevented from becoming wedged.

Abstract: A suction cleaner capable of rapid conversion for either on-the-floor or above-the-floor cleaning, is disclosed. The cleaner includes an elongated housing arranged in a generally upright manner and having an elongated, upwardly extending handle at the rear side thereof. A floor nozzle is connected to the lower end of the housing so that the latter "floats" on the surface of a rug or carpet being cleaned. A suction control valve assembly is mounted in a cavity in the rear of the housing so as to be easily removable therefrom. The valve assembly is connected to conduit means extending between a subatmospheric pressure filtering chamber in the housing and the floor nozzle. An auxiliary suction inlet communicates with the filtering chamber, upstream from the suction valve assembly, and one end of an auxiliary suction hose is permanently connected to the auxiliary inlet.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having a ductwork system for carrying dust-laden air comprised of a plurality of interconnected sections. Some of the sections are quickly removable for dislodging debris within the sections and coincidentally exposing the remaining ductwork for cleaning out debris. A cleanout rod is stored within the upper body of the cleaner and is quickly removed to be inserted into the ductwork for dislodging debris therein.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel sieve assembly for collecting cleaning balls from a fluid passing through the tubes of a heat transfer system and comprised of a plurality of guide members having cleaning body support members disposed therebetween with the distance between guide members being at least equal to the diameter of the cleaning bodies and with the distance between the top surface of the guide members and the top surface of the cleaning body support members being at least 0.5 times such diameter.

Abstract: A fluid-circulation system, specifically a heat exchanger with entrance and exit ducts interconnected by a bank of tubes, is provided in its exit duct with an extractor for intercepting generally spherical cleaning bodies of sponge rubber or the like which are to be returned to the inlet duct via a bypass connection for recirculation through the tubes. The extractor comprises two substantially symmetrical screens, converging downward in the direction of fluid flow, which direct the oncoming cleaning bodies into a narrow collecting box having a sloping bottom near one or more outlets forming part of the bypass connection. The two screens have generally planar confronting surfaces and are swingable about respective transverse axes into a downwardly diverging position in which their opposite surfaces are exposed to the flow for cleansing purposes during a regeneration phase.

Abstract: There is disclosed a quick-connect-disconnect coupling for attaching a flexible dirt-receiving bag to the handle of an upright vacuum cleaner. The coupling includes first and second coupling members, respectively, which are rigidly attached to the handle and to the bag, with the second member rigidly supporting at least a major portion of a bag-supporting casing as a cantilever. The first coupling member defines a pocket in which there is provided a fixed member and a movable member. The movable member is biased toward the fixed member, and the second coupling member is adapted to be releasably inserted between the fixed and movable members. The movable and fixed members cooperate with the second coupling member to define a one-way ratchet which is releasable upon movement of the movable member away from the fixed member.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having a motor housing, a handle pivotally attached to the housing, and a flexible dirt-receiving bag extending between the housing and the handle is disclosed. A top cover assembly is provided for supporting the top of the bag, and includes a rectangular cup-shaped cover having top, side, and end faces enveloping a portion of the top of the bag. An attaching assembly is provided for attaching the cover to the handle and to the top of the bag within the cover. The attaching assembly includes a wire hanger extending through the top face of the cover and then extending from a location adjacent one end of the cover toward the other end of the cover. The attaching assembly further includes a clamping web fixed to the underside of the top face. Downwardly and inwardly extending ends of the web enter pleats at the sides of the bag to removably hold the bag in place within the cover.

Abstract: A filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner hose includes a tubular member having opposite open ends and a filter plate between said ends. In one version, the assembly is telescoped into the vacuum cleaner hose and has a reduced opening at one end with the filter plate having a solid central core that is larger than the reduced opening and passages surrounding the central core. In a second version, an enlarged intermediate portion has tubes extending therefrom that respectively telescope over and into adjacent conduit sections of the vacuum cleaner hose and the filter plate is located in the enlarged portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the segregation of worn-out cleaning bodies consisting of resiliently deformable material such as rubber or plastic from the coolant circuit of a heat exchanger for the purpose of segregating and removing those cleaning bodies which on account of wear no longer have sufficient dimensions to clean the tubes of the heat exchanger. Cleaning bodies found still good are--together, if desired, with the new cleaning bodies replacing the rejected cleaning bodies--delivered back through the injecting device to the coolant circuit such that any air which has penetrated during the sorting or is contained in new cleaning bodies is virtually completely removed from the sponge-like cleaning bodies, and the cleaning bodies are imbibed with coolant fluid in order to assure a uniform distribution of the cleaning bodies in the coolant fluid and to prevent any floating up or sinking of the cleaning bodies and hence to prevent improper cleaning of the heat exchanger tubes.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has an elongated porous outer bag for holding a filter bag over an air outlet. A hanger within the outer bag is positioned to suspend the outer bag from the vacuum cleaner, as well as to hold a pocket within the outer bag, so that spare filter bags may be held within the porous outer bag.

Abstract: A cleaning body intercepting apparatus for a tube-type heat-exchanger, with the apparatus including a cylindrical body, a pair of outer gratings disposed in the cylindrical body so as to receiving cleaning bodies from the heat-exchanger, at least a pair of inner gratings within the outer gratings for forming a pair of throat portions each adjacent to the side wall of the cylindrical body, and extraction tubes each disposed under each of the throat portions. The pair of throat portions each are surrounded by the outer and inner gratings so that the cleaning bodies from the heat-exchanger are introduced into the throat portions. The cleaning bodies passed through the throat portions are taken out the cylindrical body through the extraction tubes.

Abstract: In a heat exchanger comprising tubes to be cleaned by the injection of compressible balls into the fluid upstream of the tubes, grids are provided downstream of the tubes to enable the balls to be separated from the flow of fluid and reinjected upstream. At least certain of the grids are fixed, their cleaning being carried out by movable combs, the teeth of which clean out the spaces between the bars of the grids.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vacuum cleaner bag assembly for an upright vacuum cleaner comprising a flexible, air-permeable, outer bag having an upper end adapted to be attached to a handle of a vacuum cleaner. The other end of the outer bag has an open mouth attached to an open mouth of a dirt-collecting box. The dirt-collecting box has a suction inlet opening and also a suction outlet opening which comprises its open mouth. A tube closes the open mouth of the box and is in fluid communication with the box and extends toward the top of the outer bag. A disposable inner bag is provided within the outer bag and has an inlet opening in fluid communication with the tube. A vacuum cleaner provided with the bag assembly may be operated as a vacuum cleaner with a disposable bag with all of the foregoing elements in place, or as an air-permeable outer bag filter vacuum when the tube and disposable bag are removed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a heat exchanger during operation thereof. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes through which a first fluid is conducted from an inlet end to an outlet end in indirect heat transfer relationship with a second fluid disposed on the outside of the tubes intermediate the inlet and outlet ends of the tubes. Further, the heat exchanger includes an inlet chamber for the first fluid communicating with the inlet ends of the tubes, and a tube sheet for supporting the inlet ends of the tubes and isolating the inlet chamber from the second fluid, the inlet ends of the tubes extending into the inlet chamber beyond the tube sheet.

Abstract: A multi-motor suction cleaner of the upright type having a power-driven rotary brush operated in the usual manner with a low-suction, high-volume airflow produced by a typical first motor-fan unit in the cleaner suction nozzle housing to carry out a usual floor, rug or carpet cleaning operation. The cleaner is converted to efficient off-the-floor cleaning merely by selectively uncovering an opening in a closed suction chamber carried by the cleaner containing a second motor-fan unit producing high-suction, low-volume airflow. A converter member mounted on one end of a typical flexible attachment hose is inserted in the uncovered opening. This automatically energizes the second motor-fan unit. The selective and alternate operation of the two motor-fan units provides a single cleaner that can carry out most efficiently every cleaning operation heretofore requiring both a canister and an upright cleaner to perform.

Abstract: An adapter, particularly for detachably connecting an electrical floor-treating device to an operating appliance, includes a first housing having a first longitudinal axis, a first end portion to be connected to the operating appliance and a second end portion. The adapter further includes a second housing having a second longitudinal axis extending substantially transverse to the first axis, a third portion adapted to be mounted on the second end portion for rotation relative thereto and about the first axis. The second housing is adapted to be mounted on the treating device for pivotal movement relative thereto about the second axis and for rotational movement with the treating device about the first axis.

Abstract: A floor care appliance is described in which a rigid housing may extend upwardly from the appliance nozzle. The rigid housing may mount a reel therein or may just serve as an appearance housing for the floor care appliance. In either case, the rear of the housing mounts a rigid plate that extends upwardly from it. An upper fill tube has its upper end attached to this plate. The cloth bag for the floor care appliance extends around the fill tube and is mounted to the housing, intermediate its upper and lower ends, by the rigid plate. The cloth bag thereby encapsulates the rigid plate and fill tube so as to provide a pleasing outside appearance to the floor care appliance.

Abstract: A device for recovering cleaning elements, such as form-rubber balls or other particles, from a heat-exchanger stream traversing a tube-bundle heat exchanger comprises a vertically oriented cylindrical housing or duct traversed axially by the main stream of heat-exchanger fluid and at least one separating sieve built into the housing for intercepting particles entrained in the stream and recovering them therefrom. The separating sieve is inclined to the axis of the housing and has, at least partially, an ellipsoidal boundary where it meets the inner wall of the housing. At the lower part of the sieve a collecting tube is provided, along the ellipsoidal boundary, and is formed with a laterally open longitudinally extending slit constituted a mouth through which the particles pass into this tube. A fitting at the low point of the tube conducts the collected particles from the collecting tube.

Abstract: A filter bag assembly for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The assembly includes an elongated, relatively rigid, hollow tube coupled at one end to the exhaust of a vacuum cleaner. The tube runs upwardly along the handle of the vacuum cleaner and is attached at its other end to a porous filter bag. The filter bag runs downwardly along the rigid tube and has an open end closed by a nonporous dirt-collecting bag. The tube, the porous bag, and the nonporous bag are encased in an envelope so that the nonporous bag is held in a collapsed or stored condition at the end of the filter bag during normal use of the cleaner. To empty the filter bag of its collected dirt, the envelope is opened to expose the nonporous bag and to permit the dirt in the filter bag to drop downwardly into the nonporous bag. The vacuum cleaner may be turned on and off a number of times to distend the bag and dislodge dirt from the filter bag during the emptying operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously cleaning tubular heat exchangers during use is disclosed, including a separator for continuously circulating cleaning bodies through the heat exchanger along with the heat transfer-medium being employed. The separator thus recirculates the cleaning bodies along with fresh heat transfer medium while separating out a major portion of the heat-transfer medium withdrawn from the tubular heat exchanger, and includes means for withdrawing the cleaning bodies from a downstream portion of the separator and means for withdrawing the heat-transfer medium withdrawn from the heat exchanger from an upstream portion of the separator. The separator is preferably vertically disposed, so that the cleaning bodies are aided by gravity in reaching the downstream portion of the separator, and the cleaning bodies therefore do not impinge upon any screen for separating them from the heat-transfer medium.

Abstract: A heavy-duty floor-cleaning machine for such work as cleaning encrusted diamond-plate catwalks in ship engine rooms comprises a housing on wheels spacing it from the floor with the housing containing a rotating cylindrical wire brush driven by belts by an electric motor mounted rearward thereof inside the housing. The shaft of the wire brush is mounted in manually adjustable supports that permit the wire brush to be lowered with respect to the housing as brush wear occurs. The electric motor also drives air impellers or fans that expel air and debris from the housing into a collecting bag in the manner of a vacuum cleaner.