Abstract: A vacuum tool for delicate dusting of plants and similar delicate fabrics has an inner and outer shell. The inner shell has a distribution of holes providing even volume of air flow per unit length of inner and outer shells. The outer shell has an even distribution of holes which provide even volume of air flow and air velocity per hole and also even suction over the outer shell. The outer holes are sunk within grooves so that fabric, leaves and petals and the like are not sucked against the holes and torn, ripped or frayed. The grooves also provide even suction over the surface of the outer shell.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner floor tool is provided with a vacuum chamber housing top cover, and parallel front and rear floor engagement bars. Floor engagement bars are provided with a plurality of air bypass slots extending up from a floor engaging bottom surface of the front and rear bars. Said bypass slots together have a total cumulative cross-sectional area within the range of 85% to 115% of the cross-sectional area of a top cover orifice. The top cover orifice is interconnected to a wand-receiving socket. A brush is provided attached to the rear beater bar.

Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle comprising a dust inlet formed in a bottom surface of a nozzle body and a rotary brush rotatably mounted therein along said dust inlet, wherein said electric vacuum cleaner having either or both of configurations that said nozzle body has a flexible member mounted to a front wall thereof to rotate back and forth corresponding to the backward and forward movement of said nozzle body so that the flexible member comes in contact with a floor to cover a lower portion of said front wall, and that said nozzle body has a sliding piece slidably mounted on at least one of side walls thereof to open and close the side face corresponding to the backward and forward movement of said nozzle body.

Abstract: A floor nozzle for vacuum cleaners comprises a housing and two suction channels, separated by an intermediate strip, arranged in the bottom plate thereof and extending transversely to the direction of movement the intermediate strip being designed as a rigid plow strip arranged between a front and a rear cleaning edge and acting to open the nap to be cleaned, due to its digging-in effect, toward the front or rear suction channel, depending on the direction of movement.

Abstract: The invention is vacuum cleaner attachment for cleaning a surface within a confined space. In detail, the vacuum cleaner attachment fitting includes a first thin hollow rectangular member having a closed off first end and an open second end. A hollow tubular fitting is coupled to the second end for attaching to the vacuum hose of a vacuum cleaner. A second thin hollow rectangular member having open first and second ends, and top, bottom and side walls, is slidably engaged by its first end with the first end of the first member in a telescoping manner. The second end of the second member includes a plurality of vertical walls extending from the top wall to the bottom wall forming channels therebetween. The bottom wall is slotted between the vertical walls. Magnets are mounted on the side walls of the second member in proximity to the channels.

Abstract: As a carcass moves down the conveyor in a meat processing plant, it may carry contaminants from an earlier processing step. The surface is sterilized, and the contaminants are removed by simultaneous delivery of steam to the surface and vacuuming away of the steam. A sterilizing hot water spray is controlled by a valve so that the operator may deliver it to particular spots that need more cleaning.

Abstract: A recirculating type cleaner having a dust collecting port including a suction port and an outlet in which downstream flow of a fan is recirculated, discharged through said outlet, and drawn into said suction port. Said dust collecting port means has an outer peripheral wall defining an outer boundary of said suction port. The outlet is located within the region of the suction port and has an orifice or opening so constricted as to discharge the downstream flow in the form of a jet and so oriented as to discharge the jet at an angle in the range of 90.degree..+-.30.degree. relative to a surface to be cleaned. The end surface of the boundary wall between the outlet and the suction port and/or the flange or a outer peripheral wall are formed with a plurality of minute channels.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner suction nozzle attachment which permits to use a vacuum cleaner in the fashion of a broom, namely, which is capable of vacuuming dust while sweeping dust out of a narrow space or out of a corner portion of a wooden or Tatami floor. The suction nozzle attachment includes a joint pipe 1 which is connectible to a suction pipe of a vacuum cleaner. The joint pipe 1 has its fore end pivotally connected to an apex portion of a brush holder box 2 of a flattened box-like shape for adjustments of the joint pipe angle relative to the brush holder box. A brush is mounted in an intake opening at the bottom of the brush holder box so that the suction nozzle attachment presents a broom-like shape as a whole.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a new and useful apparatus and method for absorbing and collecting blood and other fluids which accumulate in a patient during surgical procedures. An absorbent portion is connected to a suction source. When the absorbent portion is placed in contact with the fluid to be collected, the fluid is absorbed by the absorbent portion. Operation of the suction source provides a vacuum which draws the fluid away from the absorbent portion and out of the body. The fluid can be drawn into a receptacle for later cleansing and reuse. A flexible backing plate is attached to the absorbent portion. Channels formed a long the backing plate direct the vacuum evenly across the absorbent portion of the device such that fluid is drawn evenly from the absorbent portion. Suction tubing connects the absorbent portion to the suction source. The absorbent portion and attached backing plate can be folded to fit into small areas.

Abstract: A disc for use with an automatic swimming pool cleaner which operates on a substantial intermittent reduction in water flow through the swimming pool cleaner is disclosed. The disc is made of flexible material and has grooves formed symmetrically across and into the under surface of the disc.

Abstract: A high speed propane power buffer is provided with a dust evacuation system. A peripheral skirt is telescopically depended from a hood overlying the high speed rotating buffer pad. This skirt, at the extremity adjacent the surface to be polished, is supplied with angularly inclined grooves sloped away from the radial disposition with respect to the buffer. These angularly inclined grooves slope from the outside of the skirt to the inside of the skirt in the direction of buffer disc rotation at the disc periphery and are maintained by the telescoping skirt immediately adjacent the surface being polished. Entrained air is drawn at the surface being polished in the direction of buffer disc rotation from the outside of the skirt to the inside of the skirt through the slanting louvers establishing a buffer dust confining boundary at the depending peripheral skirt immediately adjacent the floor.

Abstract: A portable stick-type vacuum cleaner includes an elongated housing and a substantially triangular nozzle which is selectively securable to the housing. The nozzle includes a nozzle body having a bottom surface and a top surface. A V-shaped suction opening is located on the bottom surface of the nozzle body. The nozzle body also has a plurality of casters located on its bottom surface. An air outlet member is in fluid connection with the suction opening. The air outlet member includes a sleeve pivotally mounted to the top surface of the nozzle body and a coupling for selective fluid connection with the housing. The coupling is rotatably mounted on the sleeve. A motor is mounted in the housing for effecting a suction of air through the nozzle.

Abstract: A system and method for removing particulate matter from an object being machined or having been machined. A vacuum tube is connected to a source of vacuum and has an intake end adapted to be placed in close proximity to the object being machined. In one embodiment the intake end has a slot such that the intake end can at least partially surround a machining tool. In another embodiment the intake end has standoff buttons that are placed against the object. The vacuum tube can have an inlet cone with a bellmouth shape. Ionized gas is directed at the area proximate the inlet cone and/or machining tool. A vibrator can also be used to vibrate the object.

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 vacuum cleaner includes a motor, a housing enclosing the motor, a fan driven by the motor for producing a vacuum, a canister removably attached to the front end of the housing and having an intake nozzle for reception of foreign matter, liquid and air drawn into the canister in response to the vacuum developed by the fan. The intake nozzle includes a converging section extending from the front of the nozzle towards the center thereof and a diverging section extending from the terminus of the converging section towards the terminus of the nozzle. A squeegee is disposed in said nozzle and has a main body portion including at least one flow passage defined by a forward converging section terminating in a generally constant diameter section. The end of said constant diameter section is generally aligned with the terminus of the converging section of the nozzle. A flapper valve overlies the end of said constant diameter section of said squeegee and is integrally molded with said main body portion.

Abstract: A suction head for attachment to a vacuum cleaner, the suction head including a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a suction port and a bank on the peripheral of the suction port, and a woven cloth disposed on the bank, the woven cloth having cut piles which constitute a brush.

Abstract: An attachment for a vacuum system which is utilized for cleaning the eave troughs of a building from ground level. The attachment is an arcuately-shaped at least semi-rigid tubular member which connects to an elongated at least semi-rigid extension tube of a vacuum system. The curvature and dimensions of the arcuate attachment allows the operator of the vacuum system to raise the arcuate attachment up to the eave trough and insert the free end thereof into the trough for purposes of cleaning the same. A mirror is mounted on the intrados surface of the arcuate attachment, which allows the operator standing on the ground to view the inner bottom surface of the trough which is being cleaned. The operator of the cleaning system can move the attachment through the length of the eave trough and suck all of the debris therefrom, while watching to ensure that no debris is left behind. The free end of the attachment tapers to a smaller diameter to facilitate mounting of other attachments thereto.

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 manually operated cleaning tool for use in a liquid jet printing apparatus of the type having a manifold assembly with an interior cavity and which generates a linear array of droplet streams under pressure through an orifice plate in fluid communication with the interior cavity. The preferred embodiment of the cleaning tool comprises a vacuum head for contacting the surface of the orifice plate, an adjustable handle operatively connected to the vacuum head for rotatably positioning the vacuum head to contact the orifice plate along a corridor defined by the orifice plate mounting structure, a fluid conduit operatively connected to the vacuum head, and a vacuum apparatus for continuously removing excess printing fluid from the orifice plate.

Abstract: A cleaning head for a hard or a yielding surface cleaning machine having a cleaning and a suction chamber therein, the cleaning head having an annular seal overlying the bottom edge portion thereof, the cleaning head having an incoming jet stream of aerated cleaning fluid, the seal having a predetermined density, porosity or particularly defined air passages to provide a controlled accessability of air into the cleaning chamber in operative association therein with the incoming stream of cleaning fluid.

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: An extension device for vacuum cleaner specifically directed to dust removal from under household appliances and pieces of furniture having a small ground clearance. The device includes a main hollow blade portion and a socket portion for connection to the vacuum cleaner suction hose. The blade bottom wall has an elongated aperture and the blade is spacedly supported over ground by shoulder members at the ends of this aperture. The front end of the blade has also a transverse slit. The blade and socket bottom walls are coplanar.

Abstract: A bristle component is disclosed for a floor cleaning nozzle for vacuum cleaners. The bristle component includes a bristle holding strip mounted to the housing of the nozzle. The holding strip is provided with downwardly extending bristles at the corners or sides of the housing which are longer than the remaining bristles held therein. These longer bristles extend laterally from the sides of the housing as the nozzle is moved along the floor and sweep away dust from the floor in a corner defined by the floor and a surface extending upwardly from the floor such as the wall of a room or the like.

Abstract: An exhauster nozzle for cleaning surfaces is described, which consists of a nozzle element which encloses a suction chamber and is provided with a connecting suction pipe. The open side of the nozzle element is closed by an adapter plate made of metal or plastic and exhibiting a suction orifice. A plurality of axially juxtaposed and mutually merging substantially circular or oval chambers are provided on the outside of the adapter plate, into which chambers obliquely oriented air supply ducts starting from the edges of the adapter plate lead tangentially. At least some of the chambers are open relative to the suction chamber of the nozzle element and form the suction orifice in the adapter plate. The remaining chambers are preferably closed relative to the suction chamber by a bottom plate.

Abstract: A lightweight broom having a rechargeable battery powered vacuum pump and a mounting assembly for pivotally mounting a nozzle. The mounting assembly and power assembly are spaced apart on a frame carrying both assemblies, and a filter bag arrangement is removably received therebetween. The filter bag arrangement includes a canister adapted to removably fit on a frame between the mounting assembly and the power assembly.

Abstract: The disclosed spray-vacuum tool has a partitioned housing with two adjacent open faces, and defines adjacent liquid and vacuum chambers each open to both open housing faces. A pair of squeegees project beyond the open housing faces from opposite housing sides paralleling the partition, and each squeegee is angled across a sharp angle corresponding to the corner angle. A pair of end guides also project beyond the open housing faces from the other interconnecting housing sides, and the squeegee ends are butted flush against the end guides. Each end guide has a flat edge to be fitted flush against one of the respective surfaces to be cleaned, and the squeegees then are flexed then against the surfaces to be cleaned. This communicates the chambers together in the region adjacent the surfaces to be cleaned, but isolates this region from the tool exterior.

Abstract: A suction cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose debris therefrom and for use in a system including a suction duct leading to a source of high velocity air vacuum. A frame defines a housing having a substantially closed top. A plurality of elongated rollers are journalled on the frame within the housing and extending generally perpendicular to a forward direction of travel of the device for sealing as the device moves over the surface. Upper seals extend lengthwise between adjacent rollers and spaced from the surface. Surface seals extend between adjacent ends of selected pairs of the elongated rollers, whereby the rollers, the upper seals, the surface seals and the surface itself substantially define the bounds of a tortuous air flow path generally parallel to and over the surface in a circuitous route between the rollers. An air inlet is located forwardly of the housing at one end of the tortuous air flow path.

Abstract: A universal nozzle which has a tubular body with a coupling end that fits on the hose of a vacuum cleaner and an inlet end distal from the coupling end. The nozzle has a smooth bore and is made from a resilient material which is manually deformable such that the inlet opening and configuration can be altered by the operator to suit operating conditions. The nuzzle material has sufficient resiliency to regain its original configuration after being manually deformed and to resist collapse because of suction pressures whether in a deformed or undeformed condition. A synthetic organic compound such as plastic resin or a natural material alloyed with fillers or reinforcing agents to produce a formulation having a Shore-A hardness of 60-95, preferably 80.+-.10, is a particularly suitable nozzle material.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner structure arranged to provide front edge cleaning fully to the intersection of a floor surface and an upright wall surface by a forward movement of the vacuum cleaner nozzle thereto. The vacuum cleaner structure includes a front wall of the nozzle having openings and associated structure for selectively closing the openings when the nozzle is spaced remotely from the upright wall surface and automatically causing the openings to be opened when the nozzle front wall is closely juxtaposed to the upright wall surface. The closure member, in the illustrated embodiment is pivotally mounted to the front wall and movement thereof is effected by an actuator sensor button slidably mounted in the front wall to overcome the gravity biasing and suction biasing of the closure member to the closed position, as an incident of the front wall of the nozzle being juxtaposed to the upright wall surface.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner nozzle has a suction passage with a central suction opening, at least one rear support part arranged rearwardly of the central suction opening with an intermediate passage between the suction passage and the rear support part, a connecting suction member communicating with the suction passage, and at least one front support part arranged forwardly of the suction passage and having a surface area corresponding to that of the central suction opening.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner intake device formed of a V-shaped housing widening in the direction of working. The housing has a funnel shape nozzle, a fitting at the apex of the nozzle for connection to a source of suction and a pair of arms extending in a V-shape respectively forwardly and laterally of the nozzle. A pair of side walls are provided each having a skid at its lower edge elevating said housing above the floor. A hood covers and defines with the arms and the side walls a collection chamber open at the forward and rear edges. Each of the arms are provided on their bottom surface with a pair of spaced battens defining between them an elongated suction groove open to the collection chamber and extending outwardly through the side wall.

Abstract: A refuse collection device comprises a refuse inlet for connection to a suction duct of a refuse collecting container mounted on a vehicle. Resilient elements surround the periphery of the refuse inlet and form a seal between the refuse inlet and a surface over which the inlet is travelling. A roller froms one of the resilient elements and is mounted across a front portion of the periphery of the refuse inlet. The roller has a resilient surface which deforms to allow objects to pass beneath the roller without reducing substantially the seal provided by the roller.

Abstract: Liquid is removed from a pile face of an elongated web and the pile is simultaneously oriented so that its lateral edges are folded inwardly and the remainder of the pile is rendered flat and unidirectional by advancing the web over a suction head having a suction port which extends transversely at least across the full width of the advancing web; the suction head also having passageways at transversely opposite ends of the suction port communicating with the exterior of the suction head.

Abstract: A brush assembly is fixedly mounted to each side wall of a vacuum cleaner head closely adjacent the axis of a rotary brush. The brush bristles of each assembly are directed so as to brushingly engage the wall-floor corner. The brushes are aligned in the direction of longitudinal movement of the vacuum cleaner. A guide slot is formed in the head adjacent the end of each brush assembly, with each slot providing communication between the outside of the head and the vacuum chamber containing the rotary brush. Dirt and debris loosened by the brush assemblies is sucked through the channels formed by the slots and the floor, and then into the path of the rotary brush and into the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for cleaning sewers, catch basins and the like includes a debris collection chamber mounted on the rear of a vehicular chassis. A vacuum conduit communicates with the chamber and is adapted to be lowered into the sewer. A vacuum fan also communicates with the chamber and draws air through the conduit and chamber thereby picking up debris from the sewer. As the debris enters the chamber, the configuration thereof creates a rapid decrease in the air flow velocity and otherwise interrupts the flow so that material entrained in the air is deposited in the chamber. The configuration of the chamber also permits facile discharge of the debris out of the bottom of the chamber in that one end wall of the chamber is swingable to open the bottom thereof. This same end wall also carries a hose reel for use in flushing the sewer. Because the debris which is picked up may well include water, means are provided to drain the water from the chamber.

Abstract: A movable brake dust recovery unit that may be disposed adjacent an automotive shaft after the wheel has been removed therefrom, and thereafter subject the backing plate and associated brake shoe assemblies to a current of air to remove particled foreign material therefrom.The current of air with entrained dust and particled foreign material is directed into a confined space where the air is washed and then subjected to the action of a filter. The washed and filtered air may then be safely discharged to the ambient atmosphere without danger of contaminating the same. During the above-described operation the brake shoe assemblies and the interior of the brake drum are subjected to a rotating blast of air to separate dust and foreign material therefrom, with the separated dust and foreign material being subsequently entrained with a current of air and carried into the confined space.

Abstract: This invention provides improvements to apparatus for automatically cleaning surfaces submerged in a liquid. Thus, there is provided an apparatus having a pivotally displaceable float by means of which the apparatus is caused to turn around when migrating up an upright surface so as not to break the surface of the liquid. The pivotal axis of the float is further tiltable, a tilting float being provided to tilt the pivotal axis to assist in displacing the float. The apparatus further has a sealing flange which has perimetral concertina-like folds so as to be resiliently extensible. Still further, the apparatus has a cleaning head, the region thereof that engages the surface to be cleaned having zones with differing frictional characteristics to cater for various surfaces. In a preferred embodiment this is effected by providing sockets in the cleaning head in which studs having the required frictional characteristics are secured.

Abstract: The invention relates to floor polishing machines comprising a rotary brush drive means for the brush and means, such as a fan, for producing an updraught around the periphery of the brush to assist in removing particulate matter from a floor being polished.

Abstract: A mobile street sweeper of the air recirculation pickup hood type has a hopper and a dust filter chamber. A main blower exhausts air from the hopper and introduces it into one end of the hood and air is returned to the hopper from the other end of the hood. An auxiliary blower withdraws air from the filter chamber and exhausts it to atmosphere. The hood is provided with an unobstructed front window and angled deflectors which windrow large objects into the window. The upstream end of the window is disposed at a zone wherein the static pressure of the air stream circulating along the hood is at atmospheric pressure and the downstream end of the window is disposed at a zone wherein the static pressure is only slightly less than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a carpet using a cleaning fluid and a reciprocating head member that contacts the carpet. The cleaning fluid is applied to the carpet through a slot in the reciprocating head member. The head member further includes scrubbing means and vacuum means that are reciprocated with the cleaning fluid slot. The drive means for the reciprocating head member moves the head member back and forth along the same path at a rate of about 125 to about 585 cycles per minute. The slot for the cleaning fluid is fixedly spaced from the inlet to the vacuum means and the head member is reciprocated a distance greater than the spacing between the slot and the inlet to the vacuum means. The drive means in this embodiment is part of a body member whose mass is sufficiently greater than that of the head member so that when the drive means reciprocates the head member at a high rate, the distance moved by the head member is greater than the distance moved by the body member.

Abstract: In abstract, a preferred embodiment of this invention is a device for cleaning gutters without having to use stepladders or other elevating means. This invention is in the form of a novel nozzle used in conjunction with wet/dry vacuum systems.

Abstract: A new vacuum cleaning nozzle described includes a conventional vacuum cleaner suction nozzle typically used for cleaning streets or carpets and in addition short airfoils at incidence or vortex generating air nozzles supported from the nozzle and directed downward ahead of the suction nozzle to form a series of vortices for providing very high local velocities effective in dislodging debris while avoiding propelling the particles dislodged far from the suction zone.

Abstract: A suction nozzle device for a cleanser foam suction apparatus or a vacuum cleaner. The suction nozzle device comprises an intake and a suction duct. The intake has therein a guide wall means completely partitioning the hollow space of the intake into a plurality of flow passages. The guide wall means projects at its leading edge substantially beyond the lower end of the peripheral wall of the intake so as to leave one of the flow passages open to the atomosphere when the suction nozzle device is placed on a surface to be treated. The suction duct extends from the intake, and has a throttle portion formed just behind the trailing edge of the guide wall means and a diffuser succeeding the throttle portion so as to cause ejection effect at the throttle portion by the jet flow of air, which the air enters from one of the flow passages open to the atmosphere.

Abstract: This application discloses "wiping" of a liquid, molten zinc, for example, across the surface of a strip to which it adheres. A wiping fluid, such as steam, is directed from an orifice at the strip. A valve, preferably an elongated relieved bar is positioned adjacent and behind the orifice, and flow of wiping fluid is controlled by rotation of an elongated valve in the form of a relieved bar or cam.