Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing fibrous material wound around a generally cylindrical shaft rotated about a central longitudinal axis thereof. A cutter blade is provided to have a forward edge portion extending along the central longitudinal axis of the shaft, which edge portion is normally spaced from the shaft to define a non-cutting position. The edge portion of the cutter blade is moved about a reciprocating locus defined by a forward movement from the non-cutting position to a predetermined distance from the shaft effective to define a cutting position contacting the fibrous material, a lateral movement in the cutting position along the central longitudinal axis of the shaft to cut the fibrous material for its removal from the shaft, and a rearward movement from the shaft to return the edge portion to the non-cutting position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning ducts such as used in HVAC systems includes as part of the apparatus a propeller having pitched, flexible blades for rotatably engaging the interior duct surface for dislodging soot and propelling a cloud of soot along the duct to an evacuation point. The method includes establishing a temporary block in the duct, moving the propeller along the duct for dislodging soot and generation a dust cloud, and evacuating the duct by drawing the soot cloud created by the propeller.

Abstract: A brushroll for a vacuum cleaner includes a cylindrical dowel having a number of holes drilled thereinto. The holes are formed into a first row and a second row, the two rows being closely spaced in relation to each other. First tufts are secured in each hole of the first row and second tufts are secured in each hole of the second row. The tufts can be made of the same type of bristle or of different types of bristles. The tufts of the first row are supported by the tufts of the second row during a cleaning rotation of the brushroll. Preferably, the tufts of the second row are located at between 1/4 and 3/4 of a free length of the first row of tufts. The bristles of the second row are shorter than the bristles of the first row. If desired, a third row of tufts may also be provided. The rows of tufts can extend helically around the dowel.

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 generally has a working head which is positioned on the floor surface when the machine is in use. The working head of a vacuum cleaner essentially includes a rotating brush, a suction blower and a motor for operating both the brush and the blower. In addition, this working head also generally requires a spacing device, such as a wheel for guiding the brush head or suction brush head and controlling its proper spacing in relation to the floor.

Abstract: In a self-propelled cleaning apparatus, particularly for swimming pools, a cleaning apparatus drive (9) is integrated into a basic casing (1) and at least one cleaning brush (21) and a suction duct (29) are provided. By means of the said suction duct (29) the liquid to be cleaned is delivered by means of a pump (40) into a filter chamber (35). The filter chamber (35) extends over almost the entire top of the basic casing (1) and is covered by a casing cover (41).

Abstract: A hand-held corded vacuum cleaner having a housing with a motor compartment containing a motor mounted on partitions defining inlet, cooling and outlet chambers for efficient motor cooling by air which enters inlet and exits outlet vents in the inlet and outlet chambers, respectively. A dirt channel extends from a fan chamber having a fan mounted by being swaged on a motor shaft. A nozzle chamber is disposed at one end of the housing and a bag assembly is removably detached from the rear of the housing by means of a collar having a side hole through which a detent extends and which may be depressed to remove the bag assembly. The nozzle is in communication with the fan chamber and the fan pushes dirt through a dirt channel over the motor compartment into the bag of the bag assembly. The motor shaft has a pulley at the end thereof which is connected to a brush which is releasably retained in the nozzle compartment. A belt extends around the brush and the pulley.

Abstract: A cleaning machine includes a frame having wheels, a suction blower having an inlet and an outlet mounted on the frame, an intake opening communicated with the inlet of the suction blower for sucking dirt containing relatively large dirt such as fallen leaves and relatively small dirt such as dust together with air, a main separator for separating the relatively large dirt, a subseparator for separating the relatively small dirt from the air having passed through the main separator, and a dirt receptacle made of an air-impermable material detachably attached under the main separator through a pivoting rod which is pivotably mounted to the frame so as to support the receptacle to the main separator and a clamp member for securing the dirt receptacle to the main separator.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a power brush which projects dirt particles directly into a specially formed and located vacuum nozzle in such a manner that low air consumption can be used. The vacuum nozzle has an inlet extending along the full axial length of the power brush. Inclined grooming brushes may be provided to eliminate wheel tracks. The front wall forwardly of the power brush may be modified to provide front edge cleaning. A cordless upright vacuum cleaner may advantageously be provided having a cleaning performance comparable with that of mains powered upright cleaners.

Abstract: A cleaner for an exhaust pipe comprises a main housing, a power means, a dirt suction means, a flexible suction pipe, a flexible wire spindle, a discharge sleeve, and a porous container. The power means and the dirt suction means are installed in the main housing. A connecting element connects the suction means chamber to a suction pipe. At the bottom of the suction means chamber are located a discharge sleeve and a porous container. A flexible wire spindle is provided at the free end with a discharge sleeve and a porous container. A flexible wire spindle is provided with a brush at the end opposite to the power means. When the flexible wire spindle and the flexible suction pipe are inserted into an exhaust pipe and the power means started, the cleaner may clean off and suck out the dirt accumulated in the exhaust pipe handily and swiftly.

Abstract: In a floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner the nozzle housing is provided with a substantially closed bottom, and it has in its upper housing portion a lockable opening, through which the suction chamber and the mechanical driving members of the cleaning means are accessible when the floor nozzle is in the operating position. The opening is locked by a cover which is hinged on the forward front face of the nozzle housing.

Abstract: A front side flexible member is provided along the vicinity of an opening front edge of a suction opening of a suction nozzle main body and has a plurality of opening grooves. The flexible member is positioned at a dent wall of the suction nozzle main body. A suction guide wall is formed between the flexible member and the suction opening of the suction nozzle main body. The suction guide wall is positioned at a dent portion more than a bottom face of the suction nozzle main body. The large size solid dust at the corner portion is moved smoothly into the suction opening and the cleaning operation with the large size solid dust at the corner portion is carried out thoroughly.

Abstract: A device for removing and cleaning asbestos containing material from a surface is disclosd. The device has a housing which is moved in a path to clear a swath of asbestos-containing material from a surface. A plurality of knives are positioned on an open face of the housing to make a plurality of incisions in the asbestos-containing material layer as the housing is moved along the surface. A scraping blade trailing the knives scrapes the asbestos-containing material from between the incisions. A sheet of water from a pressurized source is sprayed onto the scraped surface at an oblique angle to wash residual asbestos-containing material from the surface. The liquid spray and asbestos-containing material is aspirated together by a vacuum source connected to the housing, and the mixture of liquid and asbestos-containing material is removed in a separating receptacle.

Abstract: A floor nozzle for use with a vacuum cleaner has an agitator rotatably disposed in a housing and includes a rotor and at least one elongate web mounted on a circumferential surface of the rotor. The elongate web is made of a flexible material and has a plurality of teeth on at least one of opposite surfaces thereof. The elongate web has a T-shaped helical anchor foot inserted in a complementary T-shaped helical groove defined in the circumferential surface of the rotor. The floor nozzle also has a turbine rotatable under a vacuum developed by the vacuum cleaner and operatively coupled to the agitator for rotating the agitator.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a power brush which projects dirt particles directly into a specially formed and located vacuum nozzle in such a manner that low air consumption can be used. The vacuum nozzle has an inlet extending along the full axial length of the power brush. Inclined grooming brushes may be provided to eliminate wheel tracks. The front wall forwardly of the power brush may be modified to provide front edge cleaning. A cordless upright vacuum cleaner may advantageously be provided having a cleaning performance comparable with that of mains powered upright cleaners.

Abstract: Disclosed is an upright-type electric vacuum cleaner which comprises a suction port body provided with a rotary brush and a main body case supported tiltably on the suction port body. Improvements are made in details such as the arrangement for supporting the main body case in the suction port body, the arrangements of mounting a handle onto the main body case, the configuration of a main body duct, the arrangement of a rotary brush, the arrangement of a cover of the main body case, and the arrangement of a T-shaped joint for connecting the main body duct and a dust filter means, thereby increasing the strength and rigidity of each of these parts and improving the performance of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a nozzle with an opening and a vacuum pump connected to draw dirt laden air into the opening from exteriorly of said vacuum cleaner. A shield is movably mounted to the vacuum cleaner to have a first position at which a first part of the opening is blocked from passing air and a second position at which a second part of the opening is blocked from passing air. The first part of the opening may be downwardly directed and the second part may be forwardly directed. The shield may be pivotally mounted to the nozzle.

Abstract: A mechanism for removing water from tennis courts. A large roller having a sponge sleeve thereon is rolled over the court surface to pick up water lying on the court surface. As the roller rotates the sponge sleeve moves against a smaller roller that exerts a localized pressure force on the sponge material; water is thus squeezed out of the sponge pores into a collection tank located below the small roller. The mechanism further includes a heating device located behind the large roller to direct heated gas onto the tennis court surface to evaporate moisture that was not picked up by the roller (sponge).

Abstract: A beater brush for a vacuum cleaner includes a cylindrical dowel having at least one groove helically disposed in an outer periphery thereof for receiving a bristle strip. The bristle strip has a bristle support section and a beater bar integrally formed with a hinge disposed therebetween. In the bristle strip's molded position, the beater bar is disposed a distance from the bristle support section to allow bristle tufts to be inserted in apertures formed in the bristle support section. After the bristle tufts are secured to the bristle support section, the beater bar is swung into position abutting the bristle tufts so as to impart kinetic energy thereto.

Abstract: A portable tacking unit includes a hand-held tacking head having a cylindrical brush operatively communicating with a central suction unit via a flexible conduit. The unit is readily adapted to electrostatically attract, and remove fine dust particles from surfaces prior to painting, lacquering or coating thereof.

Abstract: A floor nozzle for vacuum cleaner comprising: a floor nozzle body in which an agitator and a drive source are incorporated, the agitator includes a rotor provided on its outer peripheral surface with flexible lips made of polyurethane rubber added with talc as a reinforcing agent so as to have a rubber hardness of 50 to 70, and blended with 0.1 to 0.5% of a coloring agent.

Abstract: A portable tacking unit includes a hand-held tacking head having a cylindrical brush operatively communicating with a central suction unit via a flexible conduit. The unit is readily adapted to electrostatically attract and remove fine dust particles from surfaces prior to painting, lacquering or coating thereof.

Abstract: A pneumatic pavement cleaning apparatus (10) comprising: an air supply unit (11); a wheeled support unit (12); a drive unit (13) including an air powered motor (25); and a cleaning unit (14) operatively associated with the drive unit (13); wherein, a plurality of diverse cleaning attachment members (31) including a brush element (32) and a blade element (33) may be selectively secured to the axial drive shaft (27) of the drive unit (13).

Abstract: A vent cleaning system for removing dust from a vent has a brush that substantially occludes the vent, and is rotated by a flexible shaft that is concentrically disposed in a flexible tubular vacuum conduit, so that dust is dislodged from the vent wall and vacuumed into the vacuum conduit.

Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner has a floor engaging unit, a generally vertically extending handle assembly pivotally affixed to the rear of the floor engaging unit, and a porous bag assembly mounted to the front of the handle assembly. The handle assembly is hollow to direct dust-laden air from the floor engaging unit to the bag assembly. A bottom plate, under the brush roll, has notches at its edges to enhance edge cleaning, and front wheels for the cleaner. Ridges are provided in the floor engaging unit to prevent improper assembly of the drive belt. The handle assembly is resiliently biased upwardly, and a release is provided thereon to enable relaxation of forces on the porous bag of the porous bag assembly, to facilitate changing of the bag.

Abstract: A floor cleaning machine including a support frame with a handle attached to the upper end of the support frame for guiding the machine along the floor and a wheel assembly attached to the lower end. A plurality of disc-shaped floor cleaning pads disposed and held adjacent one another such that a floor pad cylinder having a horizontally-disposed longitudinal axis is formed are attached to the lower end of the frame. A motor supported by the frame rotates the floor pads about the axis on the floor in a vertical cleaning motion. A spraying system sprays cleaning fluid downward towards the floor and forward of the rotating cleaning pads. The dirtied cleaning fluid is then sucked up through a nozzle positioned behind the floor pad cylinder to a vacuum and holding tank assembly mounted on the frame.

Abstract: A miniature electrically powered surface sweeper having a rotary brush element which is adapted to come in direct contact with a surface to be cleaned. The brush element is disposed within a housing having a curved inner wall surface which contacts the bristles as the same move inwardly within the housing to prevent loss of dust particles. A receptacle element is provided with a movable trap opened by the moving of an electrical switch to closed position to power the brush element, and closed when the switch is opened to discontinue operation of the brush element. The brush element includes bristles which are formed of cutting a planar sheet of synthetic resinous material to form flat bristles attached to a base, the base being in turn attached to an outer surface of a rotating drum member to permit convenient replacement.

Abstract: A submersible device for cleaning and scrubbing the bottom and/or sides of a pool or the like comprising a housing having a width in the left-right direction greater than its length. An elongate brush of a dimension approaching the width of the housing is mounted in the lower part of the housing, with the bristles of the brush protruding somewhat below the housing. An electric motor carried on the housing is utilized for driving the brush in rotation, and wheels on the underside of the housing enable it to roll along the bottom of the pool. The housing is made of flexible components such that a substantial portion of the width of the brush can remain in contact with the bottom of the pool as a result of flexing. I prefer to use a rotary brush whose bristles are in a double helix configuration such that encountered particles will be drawn toward the midpart of the housing. Suction will be applied at a location on the centerline of the housing.

Abstract: A self-propelled road sweeper has brush gear comprising a narrow sweep brush and a wide sweep brush, together with an associated refuse collecting nozzle. The narrow sweep brush is mounted on a linkage comprising pivotally connected inner and outer mounting links and controlled by pneumatic actuators whereby the position of the brush and its downward loading is controlled. The brush can be tilted by one of said actuators. One of the mounting links is connected to the sweeper frame through a resilient mounting permitting the brush to yield under impact. The application also discloses details of the mounting and structure of the wide sweep brush, and of the mounting and fabrication of the nozzle and of a mechanism for tilting the nozzle.

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: A floor maintenance machine includes a machine housing, a treating tool mounted on the machine housing for positional adjustment toward and away from the surface to be treated as considered in the operative position of the machine, an electric motor having a housing and an output shaft, and a transmission interposed between the output shaft of the motor and the treating tool and operative for transmitting torque therebetween. The motor housing is mounted on the machine housing for angular displacement in a range delimited by abutments on these housings about the axis of the output shaft and carries an eccentrically situated pin which is received in a slot of an adjusting lever which is rigid with a frame on which the treating tool is mounted, so that the tool is lifted when the torque increases and lowered when the torque decreases. A section of the machine housing is transparent and markings provided on the periphery of the motor housing are visible therethrough.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning machine using a floor-mounted vacuum hood forming a travelling vacuum chamber with an optimum combination of suction nozzle intake means, jet stream manifold means and a mechanical soil agitator means in the form of a carpet rake, where the rake is interposed between the suction nozzle intake means and a plurality of jet streams. The jet streams are generally directed toward the tips of the teeth of the carpet rake and from there toward the intake opening of the suction nozzle means to increase the effectiveness of the suction nozzle means. A second modification of the invention shows the carpet rake replaced by a power-driven brush, and the jet stream means is a combined carpet rake and source of a plurality of jet streams directed toward the working area of the brush. An optimum design is where the compressed air that divides into a plurality of jet streams is made to pulsate so as to create a hammering action on the soil.

Abstract: A brush-beater assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprises a hollow cylinder having outwardly extending projections formed in the material thereof, and slots diametrically opposed to the projections for receiving brush assemblies. The projections may be formed pneumatically or hydraulically in the cylinder, during the production thereof. An additional projection is provided in front of the brush assemblies.

Abstract: Cleaning devices are described which include a vacuum cleaner wherein electrostatically charged brushes that brush dirt off a floor, are electrically grounded to remove charges that could tend to hold dirt to the brushes.

Abstract: An appliance for cleaning various types of floors by suction and motorized beating or brushing, has several operational members or elements including a rotary brush or beater, a motor (electrical, mechanical, or turbine) for rotating the brush, and at least one suction channel connecting the brush housing to a pivoting connection which attaches to an external suction source. The various operational members or elements are all integrally mounted onto or formed within a single molded platform which forms the body of the appliance. The assembled platform then becomes the single operational element of the appliance and allows direct access to the functional members or elements. The platform is covered with a protective cover and attaches to a sliding or rolling base plate.

Abstract: The invention is included in a nozzle having side exhaust so that its suction tube is connected to one side of the nozzle. A groove arrangement of part spiral configuration is made in the internal periphery of the nozzle to provide the nozzle air and entrained dirt with a motion tending to move the air and entrained dirt towards the connecting suction duct. This is occasioned by the agitator brush configuration moving air and entrained dirt in a rotary direction which movement is interrupted by the groove and then moved along it. In addition, the cross sectional dimensioning of the nozzle arrived at tends to provide a substantially constant velocity of air flow to insure a relatively even suction effect completely across the lateral extent of the nozzle mouth.

Abstract: A floor care appliance is described having a nozzle body that has a floating action relative to its undercarriage. A camming and engaging arrangement is disposed to act between the two to permit height and angular adjustment of the nozzle body. An index means is also provided acting automatically to assure that a particular cam setting is maintained.

Abstract: A rapid-rotation beater or soil-loosening roller for wet or dry carpet-cleaning apparatus which has a circular axial profile and a plurality of inclined angular projections defining between them annular grooves having widths of several millimeters. The roller is formed unitarily or at least in part of a shape-retentive (rigid) material and the grooves between projections lie along a cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A snow removing device has a hollow roller with closely spaced apertures forming its surface through which partially compacted snow moves as the roller advances. A suction blower communicates with the hollow roller to continuously remove snow therefrom and a secondary roller having fingers engagable with the apertures in the first roller is arranged as an idler with respect thereto. A framework engages the rollers and supports the suction blower and provides a handle for moving the snow removing device.

Abstract: A street sweeper hood has a transverse main compartment with an intermediate transverse partition that stops short of the swept surface and divides the main compartment into a front transverse air duct compartment and a rear broom compartment. Air and debris enter an inlet port at the curb end of the air duct and are withdrawn at the opposite end by a blower, the stream of air and entrained debris being accelerated along the air duct by an inclined top plate. A flexible scoop at the curb side of the inlet port and a windrower at the opposite side deflect debris into a tunnel that forms the inlet port.

Abstract: An apparatus for loosening-up the walked-down nap of a carpet has a carrier that rides on rollers on the carpet and which is provided with a pair of brushes spaced apart in the displacement direction. Each brush has an elastic bed for a multiplicity of wire bristles with bent-over ends that engage in and loosen up the carpet nap. The brushes may be cylindrical and driven by a motor on the carrier which also drives the rollers. The trailing brush engages more deeply in the carpet nap than the leading brush.

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 vacuum cleaner is provided with a suction nozzle and a cylindrical rotary brush. The brush includes a plurality of generally longitudinally extending rows of uniform bristle tufts. Alternate tufts in alternate rows are spaced at about twice the distance as the remaining more closely spaced tufts and prepare the carpet for sweeping by the latter.PRIOR ART OF INTERESTU.S. Pat. Nos. 1,044,488, Case, 11/19/12; 1,970,355, Bennet, 8/14/34; 2,281,798, Prince, 5/5/42; 2,459,007, Taylor, 1/11/49; 2,659,921, Osborn, 11/24/53; 3,716,889, Goldstein, 2/20/73; 3,815,170, Brooks et al, 6/11/74.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVacuum cleaners have long been considered one of the most effecient devices for removing debris from carpets and the like.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having edge cleaning features comprising a cleaner body with a floor contacting suction chamber and a suction duct leading from the chamber, an edge auxiliary cleaning chamber at one end of the suction chamber and communicating through a port with the suction duct, a valve within the cleaner body movable between open and duct restricting positions for selective full nozzle cleaning and edge cleaning with suction through the auxiliary cleaning chamber when the valve is open and operating means accessible from the exterior of the cleaner for the moving of the valve between said positions.

Abstract: The invention is included in a nozzle having side exhaust so that its suction tube is connected to one side of the nozzle. A groove arrangement of part spiral configuration is made in the internal periphery of the nozzle to provide the nozzle air and entrained dirt with a motion tending to move the air and entrained dirt towards the connecting suction duct. This is occasioned by the agitator brush configuration moving air and entrained dirt in a rotary direction which movement is interrupted by the groove and then moved along it. In addition, the cross sectional dimensioning of the nozzle arrived at tends to provide a substantially constant velocity of air flow to insure a relatively even suction effect completely across the lateral extent of the nozzle mouth.