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: Disclosed is a brush mounting assembly for a brush utilized in an industrial sweeper. The mounting assembly enables the height of the brush to be easily adjusted while allowing independent action of each end of the brush. Furthermore, the assembly provides quick disconnect at each end of the brush so that the brush may be changed without the use of tools.

Abstract: A floor scrubbing machine has a floor scrubbing device with at least two floor scrubbing elements, of which at least one is mounted to a chassis to be adjustable in such a manner that the operating width of the floor scrubbing device can be changed. An adjustable vacuum element or an adjustable strip-like member can be connected to at least one adjustable floor scrubbing element. The strip-like member follows the movements of the adjustable scrubbing element. The adjustable vacuum element and/or the adjustable strip-like member is connected to a vacuum device whose working width will be adapted automatically to the working width of the floor scrubbing device.

Abstract: A brush roll assembly for an upright vacuum cleaner having mounting blocks at each end to support the brush at different levels, to account for wear, depending on the selected angular orientation of such blocks. The blocks, while of different size to prevent improper installation end-for-end, are relatively large for convenience and performance and are configured to avoid obstruction of edgewise air flow and to avoid improper installation in an angular sense.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning surfaces includes a cleaning head defining an open-faced chamber for facing the surface to be cleaned and means for blowing air into the chamber. A rotary brush is positioned in the chamber for engaging and brushing the surface to be cleaned, and, preferably, the flowing air is directed in a stream that directly impinges the surface to be cleaned adjacent the brush. It is also preferred for the brush to be carried on an arm movable between a first position for engaging the surface to be cleaned and a second position where the brush is spaced from the surface to be cleaned. A control system is provided for power means for moving the brush and arm between the first and second positions, to cause the brush and arm to assume the first position when the motor is on to operate the brush, and to cause the brush and arm to assume the second position when the motor is off.

Abstract: A self-propelled sweeper vehicle (10) has front steerable wheels (16) mounted on a centrally pivoted axle assembly (28) which also carries the nozzle (30) and brush gear (24) whereby these assemblies are steered in unison with the vehicle. The nozzle front edge (106) is convex and promotes non-turbulent air intake. The nozzle is formed as a hollow rotationally moulded structure of a plastics material having inherent structural strength and stiffness. The brush gear (24) is mounted on linkages comprising inner and outer portions (200, 202) pivotally connected for folding movement to resiliently yield under impact. The brush covers (260) are formed as hollow plastics mouldings and part of the brush support structure.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner nozzle with a retractable brush having a plate carrying strips of bristles along the forward and rearward edge thereof and having leaf springs extending from one side and cam following members extending from the opposite side. A slide having camming members in engagement with the cam following members of the brush plate. The slide and brush plate are captured in a housing into which a conduit from the vacuum source extends through the housing and out of a sole plate, which is removably secured to the top plate and against which the brush plate leaf springs bear. Projections from the slide extend through the top of the housing and move the slide laterally in one direction to bring the brush through openings along the forward and rearward edges of the sole plate against the bias of the leaf springs to extend the brush. The projections move laterally in the opposite direction to permit the springs to retract the brush.

Abstract: Fleas and flea eggs are removed from an animal's coat by combing the fleas and flea eggs from the coat and into a vacuum cleaner-created air stream flowing through an insecticide-treated filter bag. A flea comb carried in a vacuuming device is adjustable to comb long-haired and short-haired animal pets at different angles of attack. A flea trap, containing a porous filter treated with an insecticide, is connected to the comb-carrying vacuuming device by a flexible hose and to a vacuum cleaner by an additional hose.

Abstract: Wall-floor edge cleaning ability in a vacuum cleaner is improved by a disk brush positioned rim with its bristles capable of floor contact and the hard, unyielding parts entirely contained in a gap in a bumper guard affixed to an exterior side wall of the housing. A stub shaft, loosely penetrating an aperture in the said housing side wall, is rigidly affixed at one extremity to the hub of the disk brush and at the other extremity axially to a free, unfettered end of a revolvable brush roll, the said brush roll horizontally supported within the nozzle area between the housing side walls. The disk brush is consequently revolvable with the brush roll. The disk brush may join the stub shaft end on a slightly oblique plane to assure better agitation of a carpet nap and direct penetration of a wall-floor edge by the rim bristles. To facilitate assembly and replacement of worn parts, the members are removably joined.

Abstract: The carpet cleaning device of this invention includes a liquid application means, liquid removal means and carpet brushing means. A reciprocating motion is provided to a pivoted brush by means of a rotary shaft having an oblique crank portion carrying a bearing whose outer race is connected to the brush. The shaft axis, center line of the bearing, and the brush pivot axis all intersect at a common point thus transforming rotary motion of the shaft to an arcuate, reciprocating motion of the brush.

Abstract: A floorcare device has a round brush located in a housing and rotatable about a rigid axle. At least one axial end portion of the axle is supported in the housing by an eccentric, so that by turning the eccentric the height of the axle and thereby of the round brush relative to the housing can be varied. Turning of the eccentric is performed by a ratchet mechanism. Another such eccentric may support the other end of the axle. The ratchet mechanism may include two ratchet wheels each provided on a respective one of the eccentrics, and two rings surrounding the ratchet wheels and having inner ratchets engageable with the latter.

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.

Abstract: A cylindrical brush, turnable about a horizontal axis in a housing, has hollow end portions extending along said axis. An arrangement for adjusting the brush relative to said housing and for removing it therefrom, is mounted in said hollow end portions of the brush. The adjusting arrangement comprises a pair of eccentrics respectively arranged in the hollow end portions of the brush, and having end portions normally arranged in openings in adjacent side walls of said housing.