Abstract: A clutchless, direct drive, self-propelled vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle base having a suction inlet and a housing pivotally mounted on the nozzle base. A suction source is mounted to one of the nozzle base and the housing. A filter chamber is located in one of the nozzle base and the housing. A drive motor is mounted to one of the nozzle base and the housing, the drive motor having an output shaft. A transmission is directly coupled to the output shaft of the motor. A driven wheel is directly coupled to the transmission. Also disclosed is a height adjustment mechanism for the vacuum cleaner, the height adjustment mechanism employing the drive assembly of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A floor care appliance is provided with a microprocessor based control arrangement. The microprocessor adjust the height of the suction nozzle through a motorized suction nozzle height gear and cam arrangement. The microprocessor is programmed to turn the current off to either of the motor-fan assembly or the agitator drive motor when the current consumed by either exceeds a predetermined amount based upon the nozzle height. The height of the suction nozzle is selected by one or more switches located on the appliance handle. A separate switch is provided to select bare floor mode and the microprocessor is programmed to store the height of the suction nozzle prior to bare floor mode being selected. By pressing a the bare floor mode button again or the use of a sensor the suction nozzle is returned to the stored position when the suction nozzle is returned to the carpeted surface.

Abstract: A floor cleaning device comprises a base portion for movement along a surface and a handle portion pivotally connected to the base. The base portion further includes a suction nozzle and a brush assembly for agitating the surface, wherein the brush assembly and the nozzle assembly are in a first position raised off of the surface for vacuuming the surface, and the nozzle assembly is lowered to a second position contacting the surface for collecting and picking up liquid and dirt from the surface. A method of cleaning a surface by first dry vacuuming the surface using a cleaning unit in which the nozzle assembly is raised to pick up particles and then wet vacuuming the floor with the nozzle assembly lowered to collect and pick up dirt from the floor mixed with cleaning solution distributed on the floor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a height adjusting apparatus for a suction brush of an upright vacuum cleaner, by which a user can facilely adjust a gap between the suction brush and a cleaning surface. The apparatus comprises a suction brush body; a height adjusting knob rotatably disposed at a seating portion formed in the suction brush body, and having a cam curve portion formed at a part of an end of the height adjusting knob inserted into the suction brush body, the cam curve portion having a height difference between a starting point and an end point thereof and a plurality of recessed grooves formed between the starting point and the end point; a height adjusting shaft integrally formed with a rod member which is contacted with the cam curve portion and lifted up and down according to a rotational direction of the height adjusting knob; and a brush front wheel rotatably coupled to the height adjusting shaft.

Abstract: A floor suction tool for electric vacuum cleaners includes a suction opening formed on a bottom face of a main body casing, a cover defining a front wall of the main body casing, and an abutting member projecting from a front face of the cover and functioning as a bumper between a front face of the main body casing and a wall. The cover is rotatably supported on a rotation axis formed horizontally in a direction of width of the front wall of the main body casing, the cover rotates upward to open the front face of the main body casing when a front-to-back force acts on the abutting member, and the cover rotates downward to close the front face of the main body casing when the front-to-back force ceases.

Abstract: A mobile sweeper having a wheel supported housing to be moved forward and backward over a surface to be swept of debris. A pair of parallel elongated rotary brushes are mounted in the housing for rotation and extend in the direction of their elongation transversely to the direction of normal forward movement of the housing. These rotating brushes project downwardly through a bottom opening in the housing for sweeping an underlying surface of leaves and other debris. The drive for the brushes drives the rotary brushes in counter rotation whereby debris is swept upwardly between the brushes. A vacuum shredder fan is also mounted in the housing and communicates through a vacuum chute with the bottom opening of the housing for drawing in debris swept up by the brushes and chipping, shredding or mulching and discharging the shredded debris through a discharge chute for collection.

Abstract: A blower head, comprising a frame, a brush rotatably supported by the frame, a sweeper drive adapted for rotating said brush to sweep a surface, and a blower unit adapted for removing swept-up particles away from the surface. The frame includes a mouth portion and a throat portion. The brush is rotatably supported by the frame within the mouth portion. The sweeper drive rotates the brush to sweep particles such as snow or ice on a surface toward the frame. The mouth portion and the throat portion are constructed and arranged to funnel swept-up particles from the mouth portion and into the throat portion and the blower unit positioned therein. The blower head further includes an exit chute. The blower unit creates a pressure differential between the mouth portion and the exit chute sufficient to draw the swept-up particles from the mouth portion and into the throat portion, and to blow the swept-up particles out through the exit chute.

Abstract: The invention provides a cleaner head assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner head body pivotably attachable to a main body of a vacuum cleaner and a brush housing pivotably mounted on the cleaner head body, the brush housing having a suction opening and a brush bar mounted therein, wherein the brush housing comprises a sealed unit connectable to a vacuum cleaner air inlet via a conduit separate from the cleaner head body. The arrangement allows the brush housing to be doubly articulated with respect to the main body of the vacuum cleaner whilst the suction opening remains in a horizontal plane without requiring the use of seals which must be able to accommodate the articulation of the brush housing.

Abstract: A vacuum trash collection vehicle includes a debris container and a source of vacuum on the vehicle. There is a hose connected at one end to the debris container and has the source of vacuum applied thereto. The hose is open at its other end to form a debris collection nozzle. There is a boom for supporting the hose during use as a debris collection device. A vacuum pickup head is carried by the vehicle and there are operator controls for raising and lowering the pickup head. The pickup head has an opening of a size and shape to be connected to the hose nozzle. There is a driver accessible control for moving the hose and boom to utilize the hose nozzle as a debris collection device. The hose may be connected to the pickup head opening and thereby provide vacuum to the pickup head so that it functions as a debris collection device.

Abstract: A self-propelled brushless surface cleaner with reclamation is provided as a self-contained vehicle. A cleaning head mounted to the vehicle extends forward therefrom. The cleaning head has a deck and a skirt extending from the deck such that when the skirt is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned, a cleaning volume is defined. The cleaning head has at least one vent port formed in a forward portion thereof and at least one vacuum port formed in a rear portion thereof. Nozzles are mounted in the cleaning volume for movement therein when liquid under pressure is supplied thereto and sprayed therefrom. A liquid supply system supplies the liquid under pressure to the nozzles so that the surface to be cleaned is effectively scrubbed by the liquid to produce a mixture of the liquid and contaminants loosened from the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism for a vacuum cleaner includes a wheel carriage pivotally mounted to a foot of the vacuum cleaner, a height adjustment cam which engages the wheel carriage, and a cam actuator which attaches to the height adjustment cam for camming the height adjustment cam against the wheel carriage. The height adjustment cam is formed with a stepped bottom camming surface. The camming surface is formed with a plurality of spaced parallel ribs having a rounded outer surface which minimizes the surface-to-surface contact between the height adjustment cam and the wheel carriage. This reduced surface-to-surface contact reduces the frictional resistance between the height adjustment cam and the wheel carriage allowing the cam actuator to be easily slid for height adjustment of the vacuum cleaner foot.

Abstract: A suction nozzle unit for a vacuum cleaner unit includes a casing formed with a suction inlet, a pair of front wheels located at the front of the casing, and a pair of rear wheels located at the rear of the casing. The suction nozzle unit also includes a shaft pin for rotatably supporting the front wheels and an arrangement, for moving the casing up and down relative to the shaft pin so as to raise and lower the front end of the casing relative to the surface to be vacuumed. As a result the front end of the unit can be moved up and down as necessary depending, for example, on the depth of pile of a carpet being vacuumed, thereby increasing ability of the unit to travel over the carpet during vacuuming.

Abstract: A machining apparatus has a frame, a conveyor on the frame extending in a workpiece travel direction and adapted to support a flat workpiece, a tool mount displaceable on the frame transversely of the direction, a material-removing tool on the mount for machining the workpiece with generation of particles, and a drive roller engageable with an upper surface of the workpiece upstream of the tool for advancing the workpiece in the direction past the tools. A shield is provided above the conveyor extending transverse to the direction upstream of the tools and downstream of the drive roller. At least one actuator serves for pressing the shield against the workpiece between the tools and the drive roller during machining of the workpiece. Nozzles immediately adjacent the shield are connected to a supply of compressed gas for directing a gas current at the workpiece and blowing particles thereon downstream in the direction.

Abstract: The invention is an adjustable portable vacuum assisted device for collecting dense matter, such as nuts, while separating and ingesting less dense matter in the same original environment as the nuts, such as leaves or other lawn refuse. The source of vacuum may be the inlet side of a lawn blower. In the invention, ambient forces, such as gravity and turbulence disengage dense solids in a gaseous stream from less dense matter in the gaseous stream induced by the vacuum means without operational malfunction caused by clogging or jamming of the device. Disengaged dense matter is collected within a collection chamber while less dense matter is ingested through and discharged by the vacuum means.

Abstract: In situ lehr-roll cleaning apparatus includes a carriage supported within the space between first and second adjacent rolls, the carriage having a first set of elements contacting the surface of the first roll and a second set of elements contacting the surface of the second roll, whereby the carriage is movable back and forth along a path parallel to the rolls. A mechanism such as a rotating wire wheel disposed on the carriage is used to clean at least one of the first and second rolls as the carriage moves along the path and in between the adjacent rolls. The invention further including means for forcing the carriage away from an adjacent roll toward the one being cleaned so that the elements contacting the surface of the roll being cleaned are forced thereagainst to precisely position the cleaning mechanism relative to the surface. Means are preferably further provided for fine-adjusting the distance of the cleaning mechanism relative to the surface of the roll being cleaned.

Abstract: A new Combination Broom and Vacuum Cleaner Assembly for easy pickup of dirt piles. The inventive device includes an upper handle, a lower handle, a broom portion, a means for creating suction, a vacuum manifold, and an attachment head. In use, the Combination Broom and Vacuum Cleaner Assembly is used to sweep up dirt and the like using the broom portion. After gathering the debris up into a pile, the vacuum manifold is lowered and used to pickup the pile easily and swiftly. After picking up the pile of debris, the vacuum manifold is again raised to enable sweeping once again.

Abstract: A jet cleaning device for connection to one or more liquid pumps which includes a telescoping ram having a pivotally mounted cleaning head. The telescoping ram may be mounted on a manlift or a self propelled cart and has extension compensators which maintain a constant distance between the cleaning head and the surface to be cleaned. The jetting head or heads inside the cleaning head are adjustable so as to control the standoff distance and the jetting pattern. The perimeter of the base of the cleaning head shroud is also fitted with a brush which reduces the amount of misting produced by the operation of the device.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a wheel housing having at least one axle bracket extending therefrom along a transverse axis and at least one axle bracket-receiving socket formed in a foot of the vacuum cleaner whereby the socket slidably receives and pivotally mounts the at least one axle bracket. The wheel housing is thereby pivotally mounted to the foot. A height adjustment mechanism is provided with the wheel housing having an actuator having a bearing shaft and a bearing sleeve with a longitudinal bore. The longitudinal bore of the bearing sleeve receives the bearing shaft to rotatably mount the actuator. A detent mechanism is provided between the bearing shaft and the bearing sleeve to releasably mount the actuator to the foot. The actuator can be adapted to release upon encountering abnormal forces applied against the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism for a vacuum cleaner includes a wheel carriage pivotally mounted to a foot of the vacuum cleaner, a height adjustment cam which engages the wheel carriage, and a cam actuator which attaches to the height adjustment cam for camming the height adjustment cam against the wheel carriage. The height adjustment cam is formed with a stepped bottom camming surface. The camming surface is formed with a plurality of spaced parallel ribs having a rounded outer surface which minimizes the surface-to-surface contact between the height adjustment cam and the wheel carriage. This reduced surface-to-surface contact reduces the frictional resistance between the height adjustment cam and the wheel carriage allowing the cam actuator to be easily slid for height adjustment of the vacuum cleaner foot.

Abstract: A vacuum trash collection vehicle includes a debris container and a source of vacuum, both mounted on the vehicle. There is a hose connected at one end to the debris container and the source of vacuum is applied thereto. The opposite end of the hose is open to form a collection nozzle. A boom supports the hose during use as a debris collection device. There is a driver accessible control for moving the hose and nozzle which includes an elongated tubular assembly, pivotally mounted at its upper end to the boom and movably mounted at its lower end to the collection nozzle. There is an operator's handle, having multiple hand-gripping areas, mounted on the tubular assembly and movable relative thereto during use of the debris collection hose.

Abstract: A vacuum trash collection vehicle includes a debris container and a source of vacuum on the vehicle. There is a hose connected at one end to the debris container and has the source of vacuum applied thereto. The hose is open at its other end to form a debris collection nozzle. There is a boom for supporting the hose during use as a debris collection device. A vacuum pickup head is carried by the vehicle and there are operator controls for raising and lowering the pickup head. The pickup head has an opening of a size and shape to be connected to the hose nozzle. There is a driver accessible control for moving the hose and boom to utilize the hose nozzle as a debris collection device. The hose may be connected to the pickup head opening and thereby provide vacuum to the pickup head so that it functions as a debris collection device.

Abstract: A cleaning tool having a height adjustment mechanism which may be overridden to prevent damage to the cleaning tool in the event an excessively high force is applied to an exterior surface of the cleaning tool. The height adjustment mechanism forms an overrideable clutch having a manually adjustable thumbwheel, a biasing member and a clutch member. The height adjustment assembly is operably associated with a roller assembly which supports the cleaning tool on a work surface at a desired height above the work surface. The application of a predetermined excessive force to an exterior surface of the cleaning tool causes the height adjustment assembly to be de-clutched to allow the lower surface of the cleaning tool to come in contact with the work surface, thereby preventing damage to the various internal components of the cleaning tool.

Abstract: In apparatus to facilitate vacuum cleaning carpets with obstacles, the first combination comprising a suction base, at least two of each of the following components: suction heads, suction hoses, suction head position rods, dusting brush holders, dusting brush rocking devices, pairs of spring supports, and springs, the second combination comprising a suction base, at least two of each of the following components: suction heads, suction ducts, suction head position rods, dusting brush holders, dusting brush rocking devices, pairs of spring supports, and springs; the third combination comprising a suction base, at least two of each of the following components: suction heads, suction ducts, dusting brush rocking rods, dusting brush holders, dusting brush rocking devices, pairs of spring supports, and springs; the fourth combination comprising a suction base, at least two of each of the following components: suction heads, suction ducts, suction head position keepers, dusting brush rocking rods, dusting brush hol

Abstract: A vacuum trash collection vehicle has a debris container and a source of vacuum, both located on the vehicle. There is a hose connected at one end to the debris container and has the source of vacuum applied thereto. The other end of the hose is open to form a collection nozzle. There is a boom for supporting the nozzle during use as a debris collection device with the boom including a rear support arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle and supporting the hose in a rear area and a forward support arm pivotally mounted to the rear arm and supporting the hose at an area forward of the rear support arm. There is a control element accessible to the vehicle driver for moving the hose and nozzle. There is a spring pivotally connected between the rear and front support arms which urges the front support arm in an upward direction to, at least in part, carry the weight of the hose for assisting the vehicle driver in operating the control element.

Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism for a vacuum cleaner includes forwardly positioned lift off wheels which move downwardly when the handle of the vacuum cleaner is moved to the raised position. Two transfer members convert the rotational movement of the handle to vertical motion of the lift off wheels.

Abstract: A suction nozzle is provided with a linearly movable, stepped cam which adjusts the height of the suction nozzle by acting against a pivoted wheel carriage. The stepped cam is relatively fixedly positioned by an indexing means including a deflectable arm which is manually deformed to release the fixed indexing and then manipulated in a sideward direction to move the position of the stepped linear cam means.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to an improved vacuum cleaner comprising a foot, a handle pivotally mounted to the foot, and a vacuum motor mounted to one of the handle and the foot. The foot has a suction inlet fluidly connected to the vacuum motor and an agitator brush rotatably mounted to the foot. The improvement relates to a wheel assembly comprising a housing, an axle mounted to the housing and at least one wheel rotatably mounted to the axle. The housing has an integrally-molded flange extending therefrom. The wheel assembly rollably supports the vacuum cleaner on a floor surface. A channel is formed in the foot and is adapted to pivotably mount the housing flange for movement between a first and a second position. In the first position, the wheel assembly supports the suction inlet at a first distance relative to the floor surface. In the second position, the wheel assembly supports the suction inlet at a second distance therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a ground, comprising:a frame;rotatable brushing means arranged on the frame;drive means for driving the brushing means;suction means arranged behind the brushing means as seen in forward and/or rearward travel direction of the apparatus; andconnecting means for connecting the suction means to the frame,wherein the connecting means are embodied such that the suction means can be displaced transversely relative to at least one direction of travel.

Abstract: The robot according to the present invention sequentially performs a collecting operation in which dust and particles on the floor are collected, and a cleaning or waxing operation. The cleaning robot includes a moving unit including driving wheels or crawlers, a collecting unit for suctioning dust from the floor, and a wiping unit for wiping the floor with a detergent, disinfectant, wax, etc. The collecting unit is positioned on the front of the cleaning robot with respect to the moving direction while the wiping unit is positioned on the back of the cleaning robot. Thus, the robot prevents secondary contamination of the floor and slippage or failure of the moving means caused by soiling of the moving means. The cleaning unit and the wiping unit include sensors which sense an obstacle and determine whether the obstacle is one which can be moved over, such as a cord, or whether the obstacle is one which must be avoided, such as a wall.

Abstract: An environmentally compliant triboelectric applicator and process for coating or ablating a substrate and for retrieving excess or ejected material from the substrate. The applicator comprises an inner supersonic nozzle for accelerating triboelectrically charged projectile particles entrained in a supersonic gas to speeds sufficiently high to coat or ablate a substrate and an outer evacuator nozzle coaxially surrounding the inner supersonic nozzle for retrieving excess projectile particles, ablated substrate powders, or other environmentally hazardous materials. A fluid dynamic coupling uses the efficacy of the Mach turning angle associated with a supersonic boundary layer of carrier gas to aspirate the central core of the supersonic two-phase jet.

Abstract: A self-guiding vacuum cleaner having a chassis (10) supporting a brush nozzle (50) facing the floor and having a nozzle opening (51) communicating with a chamber (16) in which a dust container (17) is arranged, the chamber being connected to the inlet side of a fan unit (33). The vacuum cleaner has a drive system for driving the vacuum cleaner on the floor, the drive system including at least two drive wheels (35) which are also arranged to guide the vacuum cleaner on the floor by relative motion of the wheels. The chassis (10) and the nozzle (50) are provided with cooperating means (48, 49) by means of which the nozzle (50) is such supported in the chassis for vertical movement.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner is provided which includes a sound muffler which, according to one aspect of the invention, may be combined with an accessory selector valve. The vacuum cleaner includes a height adjustment mechanism which eliminates positioning detents along the cam adjustment surface. The vacuum cleaner also includes a vacuum bag mounting arrangement which insures that the bag will not project above a handle parting plane, thus reducing the size of the shipping carton.

Abstract: A pressure washer sprays a pressurized liquid into a groove of a pavement, floor or similar surface to remove dirt and debris from the groove. The dirt and debris dissolves and/or becomes suspended in the liquid and is then removed from the pressure washer for disposal. The pressure washer includes a cleaning hood with a cover plate and a skirt that extends downward from the periphery of the cover plate to form a less than air tight seal with the surface containing the groove. A spray nozzle in a forward portion of the cover plate directs the pressurized liquid spray downward into the groove, where the liquid picks up dirt and debris to form a liquid suspension and/or solution, and preferably, rearward toward an exhaust port which removes the liquid suspension and/or solution of dirt and debris from the cleaning hood. A handle extends upward from the cleaning hood for guiding the pressure washer.

Abstract: A hand held cleaner is provided with a swiveling nozzle that moves from a position perpendicular to the cleaner body to a position of axial alignment with it. A series of stops are mounted on the swiveling nozzle and cleaner body to limit nozzle swing to these two positions. A reciprocable latch is mounted with the nozzle to engage, selectively, in one of a pair of latching apertures in the cleaner body to lockingly maintain the swiveling nozzle of its stopped positions. The agitator and agitator belt are offset from what would be considered their normal centered relationship to accommodate the swiveling action of the hand held cleaner nozzle.

Abstract: A carpet cleaning system which utilizes a conventional vacuum cleaner which is modified to include a cutting system. The vacuum cleaner raises the upper parts of the carpet material through suction and the cutting system cuts off the upper portion of the stained carpet. The vacuum removes the cut portion and what remains is clean carpet.

Abstract: A combined self-contained implement features a broom or brush assembly for sweeping large areas of debris into small piles with a rechargeable battery operated vacuum assembly for aspirating the dirt piles into a bag. The broom and vacuum assembly are slidably mounted relative to one another so that either the bristles or the vacuum extends below the other for unimpeded sweeping or vacuuming. The large areas are swept without battery power. A small, light vacuum pick-up will serve a large area because it is only used for efficiently picking up the small area dirt piles.

Abstract: The flexible hose of the vacuum trash collector is supported by a leaf spring boom secured to the trash collector canister by the boom height adjustment mechanism. A nozzle at the end of the hose picks up the trash. A hand crank, driving a threaded reciprocative coupling, changes the angle of attachment of the boom to the canister, to raise and lower the boom and thereby allow the operator to set the nozzle height to a comfortable operating position while in the field and without the need to use tools or to dismantle the boom attachment mechanism.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner and a method for constructing a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner utilizes interchangeable detent bars having different numbers of detents thereon to selectively determine the number of height adjustment selections the vacuum cleaner will have. The vacuum cleaner includes a chassis, a detent bar attached to the chassis, a cam member slidably mounted to the chassis and a wheel retainer with laterally spaced wheels thereon. The wheel retainer is pivotally mounted to chassis such that the wheels may pivot toward and away from the chassis. The wheel retainer has a cam follower surface thereon which operatively cooperates with a cam surface on the cam member to raise and lower the wheels relative to the chassis as the cam member is moved. The cam member has a finger selectively engageable with individual detents on the detent bar to selectively laterally position the cam member relative to the chassis and thereby selectively establish the height of the chassis from a floor surface.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner including a canister assembly pivotally connected to a nozzle assembly and an extensible hose which forms part of the vacuum path between the nozzle assembly and the canister assembly and which can be disconnected from the nozzle assembly for above-the-floor cleaning. Disconnecting the hose deenergizes an agitator motor in the nozzle assembly. The canister assembly includes a housing with an integral hand tool and attachment storage area which retains the tools and attachments, as well as the extensible hose, within the periphery of the housing. The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a height adjustment mechanism which deenergizes the agitator motor when the nozzle assembly is in its closest relation to the floor surface being cleaned.

Abstract: An integral gimbal housing is trunnion mounted beneath and to the rear of the frame of a floor scrubber. The gimbal housing includes a vertical pivot shaft to which a yoke is mounted. A spring biases the gimbal housing to the use position. The yoke swings laterally and includes a rearwardly extending tubular receptacle which receives a forwardly extending tube of the squeegee so that the squeegee assembly has independent rotation about a horizontal axis and the squeegee adjusts to uneven surfaces. Torsion springs bias a vertical pivot shaft in the gimbal housing to the center position.

Abstract: A hand-held cleaner is disclosed which is capable of performing suction operation to suck fallen leaves, refuse and the like and blowing operation to drift them together selectively with ease, and as opposed to the conventional one, which is not required to be changed in a manner of holding handles to greatly change position of a body including an engine depending upon type of operation, thereby enabling various operations to be performed easily and improved operational efficiency and manageability to be realized. The hand-held cleaner 10 comprises a blower body 10A including a prime mover 12, and a blower suction path 20 and a blower blow-off path 30 which are located on said blower body 10A in such a manner that the axis S of the former and the axis F of the latter are substantially in parallel with each other when viewed in plan, said blower suction path 20 being adapted to be rotatable.

Abstract: A portable, compact and self-contained continuous flow recycling system includes a housing to accommodate a vacuum motor and liquid pump for recirculating a liquid cleaning solution and air. A pair of wheels supports the housing for tilting about a wheel axle. A pair of support arms are mounted to rotate on the axle, and their opposite ends are fixed to the shell of a cleaning head. The head is shaped to define a first compartment for receiving atomized cleaning solution and air, and a second compartment. A vacuum source draws the solution and air from the first chamber, across a partition near the floor, into the second compartment. The head is free to travel in an arcuate path relative to the housing, with its orientation determined by the arms, to insure a desired coplanarity with the floor or other surface being cleaned, when the head is in its operating position.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a processing tube is performed by an apparatus providing a vacuum and a flow of an inert gas. The flow of the inert gas dislodges particles from the tube surface and assists in carrying the particles to the vacuum. The vacuum is centered in the tube, thus preventing the sides of the tube from being scraped. Wheels are attached to the vacuum means to facilitate cleaning of the tube.

Abstract: A cleaning head assembly for a vacuum cleaning apparatus of the wet, dry and wet/dry types includes a rotatably driven brush carried within and laterally spanning the head assembly. A pair of floating vacuum heads are positioned on opposite sides of a housing for the brush, and each defines a portion of a vacuum pathway having an inlet opening adjacent to the surface to be cleaned, which extends from the inlet opening to a dirt collection zone within the vacuum cleaning apparatus. The floating vacuum heads are each attached to the brush housing in a manner permitting relative movement therebetween. In this regard, a track fixed to the brush housing engages a generally vertically extending flange extending from a vacuum head such that the flange moves within the track to control movement of the vacuum head relative to the brush housing. A roller spaces the flange from the track to minimize frictional contact therebetween, and a stop pin limits relative movement between the vacuum head and the track.

Abstract: A floor scrubbing machine for tile and other hard surface floors has a low enough profile height that it can be operated bodily under furniture or equipment such as, for example, seats in fast food stores. This floor scrubber has three principle functioning components, comprising a tank for cleaning solution and means to apply that solution to the floor, a powered scrub brush to agitate the solution on the floor, and a vacuum pickup squeegee system which dries the floor after scrubbing by removing spent solution from the floor to an on board tank. Floor scrubbers are known which comprise the three above elements, but are too tall to operate under the seats of fast food stores, except with a remote wand attachment which is cumbersome and slow. Other floor scrubbers are known which are low enough to operate bodily in such places but lack a vacuum pickup squeegee system for drying the floor, and leave a hard surface floor unacceptably wet, or require following operations to dry it.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner train comprises a blowing device mounted transversely and two suction devices disposed downstream and upstream of the blowing device with respect to the direction of the train. It is provided with deflectors for transversely deviating the blowing and suction flows to effect to a non-homogeneous distribution of said flows. The blowing and suction devices comprise nozzles equipped with obturation systems and apparatus for controlling the obturation system in synchronization. Moreover, the end piece of the nozzles may be orientable laterally for cleaning overhanging platforms.

Abstract: An adjustable wheel assembly for varying the height of a pool vacuum head above the bottom surface of a pool includes a wheel mounted rotatably on an axle which is in turn mounted on a pair of axle mounts to the body of the vacuum head. The axle mounts themselves are also rotatably mounted between a pair of spaced arm members. The axle is mounted spaced away from the axis of rotation of the axle mounts in a manner to vary the vertical position of the axle with respect to the body as the axle mounts are rotated. A cooperating tab and notch arrangement secures the axle mounts into a selected position to prevent rotation of the axle mounts during normal use of the pool cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: A detachable hopper and vacuum apparatus which includes a mobile, detachable hopper adapted for use with the vacuum apparatus of this invention or towed by a tractor or alternative towing vehicle or apparatus, and characterized by a sliding tongue which is extendible in one embodiment for coupling to the towing apparatus and retractable in a second embodiment for coupling to the vacuum apparatus by means of a dual-contact coupling system. The hinged panel defines the upper half of the front panel of the detachable hopper and features a window for receiving the discharge chute of the towing vehicle or vacuum apparatus. Pivoting tandem wheels are provided on the detachable hopper for easily traversing uneven terrain.

Abstract: A mobile vacuum trash collector comprised of a motorized cart, a frame connected rearwardly of the cart, a bin mounted on the frame, a lid removably connected to the bin and a flexible hose connected to the lid at one end and having a nozzle at the other end. The hose is held via a rigid supporting arm above an operator's head and is maneuverable by the operator using a telescopic arm which interconnects an intermediate portion of the hose via the arm and the nozzle. A vacuum motor is mounted at the bottom of the bin for drawing airborne trash through the hose and downwardly into the bin. An air permeable bag is suspended in the bin for collecting the trash, the air bag being drawn downwardly and out of the bin via an exhaust port. Because suction is provided continuously downwardly through the bin, large quantities of debris are sucked into the bag and compressed or compacted.

Abstract: A self-propelled brushless surface cleaner with reclamation is provided as a self-contained vehicle. A cleaning head mounted to the vehicle extends forward therefrom. The cleaning head has a deck and a skirt extending from the deck such that when the skirt is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned, a cleaning volume is defined. The cleaning head has at least one vent port formed in a forward portion thereof and at least one vacuum port formed in a rear portion thereof. Nozzles are mounted in the cleaning volume for movement therein when liquid under pressure is supplied thereto and sprayed therefrom. A liquid supply system supplies the liquid under pressure to the nozzles so that the surface to be cleaned is effectively scrubbed by the liquid to produce a mixture of the liquid and contaminants loosened from the surface to be cleaned.