Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus including a base module for movement along a surface, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a liquid dispensing system including a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid recovery system including a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder, and a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber. In a further embodiment the tank has an outlet opening in a bottom portion thereof and a drain plug is removably mounted in the outlet opening.

Abstract: A brushroll having a pulley driven spindle with an end assembly at each end rotatably mounting the spindle in a vacuum cleaner nozzle. On the pulley end of the spindle, a projecting pin is knurled at one end and inserted into the end of the spindle. An outboard portion of the pin is threaded. The knurling on the pin forms an abutment shoulder outboard of the end of the spindle. The drive pulley is threaded onto the threaded end of the pin until it contacts a bearing and presses it against the abutment shoulder, so as to prevent the pin from being jacked out of the spindle when the pulley is threaded onto the pin.

Abstract: A massaging apparatus includes a hollow housing having a centrally disposed hollow chamber with an opening at the bottom out of which extends two power driven rollers. A handle is provided on the housing in addition to a hollow extending portion communicating with the central chamber for connection to a vacuum source. A flywheel motor disposed within the hollow chamber is coupled to an auxiliary power source disposed within the hollow housing. A centrifugal squirrel cage fan is disposed on the motor shaft at one end with a driving pulley on the other end of the motor shaft that is coupled to the pair of elongated rollers.

Abstract: A motorized power head for a machine for cleaning upholstery, carpeting or hard floors includes a spray nozzle for distributing a clean spray solution on a selected area enclosed by the power head. A cylindrical rotating brush is driven by a two-speed motor housed in the power head to work the solution into the carpet to clean the selected area. A suction nozzle picks up the spent solution together with loosened dirt and grime. The power head may be used as a close-up applicator with a handle adjacent the power head, or as a stand-up applicator with an extension inserted between the handle and the power head. The brush is easily removed for replacement or for converting the apparatus for different applications.

Abstract: A nozzle head for a vacuum cleaner employing a roller-shaped duster that can be rotated and removed in order to improve efficiency of duster-cleaning. The nozzle head comprises outer and inner casings spaced from each other, a duster supporting shaft detachably and rotatably mounted in the inner casing, a roller-shaped duster member inserted on the duster supporting shaft, a duster holding member which has means for holding the duster supporting shaft and is slidably mounted in the inner casing, means for locking the duster holding member which is fixed to the inner casing, and means for stopping the duster supporting shaft which is disposed between the duster holding member and the opposite ends of the duster supporting shaft.

Abstract: An endless elastomeric vacuum sweeper belt for use in a vacuum sweeper having a diamond pattern drive surface. A first set of ribs project inwardly in a substantially diagonal direction along the drive surface of the belt. A second set of ribs project inwardly along the drive surface of the belt in a substantially diagonal direction opposite the direction of the first set of ribs. The first and set second set of ribs together define a diamond-like pattern on the drive surface as well as a number of particle recesses for the temporary collection of matter. Each rib includes knife-like edge portions to increase the traction of the belt on a drive surface by cutting, loosening and expelling foreign matter lodged between the belt drive surface and the rotation member and/or the drive source of the vacuum sweeper.

Abstract: A belt tensioner for a vacuum cleaner includes a roller and a torsion spring to bias the roller against an endless, non-stretch, flat vacuum cleaner belt to exert an increasing force thereon as the belt lengthens with wear and the torsion spring unwinds, thereby maintaining the tension in the belt substantially constant as the belt lengthens with wear. The tensioner includes a pair of connecting arms each having a first end coupled to opposite ends of the roller and each having a second end pivotal about a pivot axis, the torsion spring being disposed adjacent to the second ends of the connecting arms. The spring rate of the torsion spring is relatively low so that the moment about a pivot axis through the center of the torsion spring of the force applied to the connecting arms by the free end of the torsion spring decreases only slightly as the belt lengthens with wear.

Abstract: A floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner which includes a housing, and an agitator, a driving motor for the agitator, and a switch for changing over rotating directions of the motor which are accommodated in the housing, and a coupling pipe connected to the housing so as to be displaceable at least back and fourth, and communicated with a suction passage to a vacuum cleaner main body, and an associating device for transmitting the back and forth displacement of the coupling pipe to the switch. The associating device is adapted to be held at two stabilized positions with respect to a boundary dead point and provided with a movable member arranged to be displaced through quick action, to one of the stabilized positions after passing through the dead point, with the movable member being associated with the switch.

Abstract: The invention consists of an upright vacuum cleaner having two oppositely rotating brush rolls, eliminating substantially all the resistance to movement of the cleaner along a carpet caused by a single brush roll. A single belt drives both rolls. The rear brush roll has two circumferential grooves, to accommodate the incoming and outgoing runs of the belt to reduce friction and wear. The belt is twisted 180.degree. between the rolls, and runs in a single groove in the front brush.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improvement in a surface maintenance machine whereby means are provided for automatically maintaining a desired normal force by a maintenance tool against a surface being maintained, although there may be undulations in the surface, variations in the condition of the surface and changes in the tool caused by wear. Normal force is applied to the tool by gravity and an actuator, both acting through a load cell which senses their algebraic sum, compares this with a preset desired force and operates the actuator as needed to maintain the force at or near the pre-set level. Further, the load on the motor or motors driving the tool is sensed and compared against high and low reference points. If drive motor load is outside of the reference limits a signal is provided which causes a decrease or increase in the normal force to maintain the motor load within limits.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a dust intake portion, a rotary brush provided in the intake portion, a drive motor for driving the rotary brush, a fan motor for suction of dust, a dust collector for the dust taken in, a dust transfer passage extending from the intake portion to the dust collector, a rotary brush pulley, a drive motor pulley, a belt coupling the above mentioned two pulleys for transmitting the power of the drive motor, at least one of the pulleys being frustoconical, and drive motor stopping means disposed at one side of the belt toward which said one pulley is diametrically smaller and pushable by the belt when the belt is displaced, which can provide to surely protect the belt and the drive motor for driving the rotary brush even if the rotary brush becomes stalled.

Abstract: A self-cleaning joint is disclosed. The joint is disposed in an air flow passage, such as that of a vacuum cleaner power nozzle, and allows an element attached thereto, such as a vacuum cleaner hose to which it is connected, to be pivoted between first and second positions. The joint includes a chamber and a tubular member having a first portion pivotably disposed in the chamber and a second portion protruding from the chamber. To prevent abrasion of the joint caused by the accumulation of abrasive particles, the inner walls of the chamber are provided with grooves where any dust which penetrates the joint can collect. The grooves are positioned so that they are cleaned periodically by the flow of air in the passage.

Abstract: An electric motor construction and method particularly adapted for integration in rotating final drive members. The motor includes a hollow armature assembly rotatably supported about a permanent magnet stator. The armature assembly includes a winding preferably fabricated by printed circuit techniques in the form of flat conductors clad on a flexible dielectric sheet rolled into a tube and a soft magnetic tube circumferentially surrounding the winding to provide a structural support and a heat sink for the winding and a flux return path for the poles of the permanent magnet stator. In the preferred embodiment, the motor is integrated in the cleaning brush of a vacuum sweeper unit.

Abstract: An improvement for electrically driven floor maintenance apparatus including means for varying the speed of the driving motors is disclosed. Two speed ranges are provided by switching means which change the interconnection of the drive motors from series for the low speed range, and parallel for the high speed range. Within each speed range, intermediate speeds are provided by placing resistors with shunt in series with the motors. Time delay circuitry is also included to prevent immediate operation of the vehicle in the high speed of each range until the vehicle has had some time to accelerate. Additionally, means are provided for detecting whether a vehicle is rolling in a forward or reverse direction and circuits are provided to prevent the operator from driving the vehicle in an opposite direction until the vehicle has slowed down to a near stop. A deadman control is provided to prevent the energizing of the drive motors when the operator is no longer seated on the driver's seat.

Abstract: A floor cleaner motor mount wherein the motor is resiliently pivoted to provide the desired disposition of the belt in a cog drive belt extending between the motor and a rotatable brush of the cleaner located in a nozzle portion of the cleaner. The pivot axis is disposed so as to permit the axis of the motor shaft to be angularly adjusted relative to the axis of the brush. The pivot may be provided at one end of the motor housing. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor is adjustably positioned by a leaf spring acting against a base portion of the nozzle housing intermediate the pivot and drive connection.

Abstract: A floor care appliance or the like is provided with vibration isolating means for its motor-fan system which includes isolation at the agitator driving motor pulley which acts against belt tension.

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 brush-beater roller for a vacuum cleaner in which the roller is elongated and is helically twisted about its longitudinal axis, said roller having elongated dovetail slots for accommodating a brush bristle holder, and a beater bar. The dovetail slots are arranged to receive radial projections on the integral belt pulley which correspond in shape to the dovetail slots. The roller further has means thereon for preventing the bristle holders from coming out of the dovetail slot upon rotation of the roller.