A work machine includes microphones inside the housing. The microphones are configured to collect sound inside the housing, and output sound signals that are electrical signals corresponding to the collected sound. The sound includes an operating noise generated inside the housing due to motion of a machine. The microphones are arranged at different locations inside the housing. The work machine is configured to execute a process related to the operating noise based on the sound signals from the microphones.

A separating device that is connectable to a vacuuming device for separating dirt particles from an air stream drawn in by the vacuuming device, containing at least one separator. The at least one separator contains an inlet opening for the air stream and a first and second outlet opening, wherein the first outlet opening serves for the exit of drawn-in dirt particles from the separator and the second outlet opening serves for the exit of the drawn-in air stream and of the drawn-in dirt particles from the separator, and wherein a first and second collection vessel for collecting the dirt particles separated from the separator is contained, and wherein the first collection vessel is positioned in a direction beneath the first outlet opening and the second collection vessel is positioned in a direction beneath the second outlet opening.

A wet surface cleaner operable in an upright cleaning mode, an auxiliary cleaning mode, and a lift-off cleaning mode. The surface cleaner has a canister assembly that is coupled to a body in the upright cleaning mode and removed from the body in the auxiliary cleaning mode and the lift-off cleaning mode.

A vacuum assembly includes a vacuum portion having a vacuum source with an inlet and an outlet and a tank portion. A three-way inlet valve fluidly connects the inlet to the vacuum source with the tank portion when in a first position and fluidly connects the inlet to the vacuum source with an inlet to a surrounding environment when in a second position. A three-way outlet valve fluidly connects the outlet of the vacuum source with an outlet to the surrounding environment when in a first position and the outlet of the vacuum source with the tank portion when in a second position.

A harness assembly for an electrical appliance includes an upper support assembly and a lower support assembly. The upper support assembly includes an upper back pad and at least one shoulder strap emanating from the upper back pad. The upper back pad includes an upper pocket that receives an upper mounting plate of the electrical appliance therein, and an upper flap selectively connectable to the upper pocket to close the upper pocket and retain the upper mounting plate within the upper pocket. The lower support assembly includes a lower back pad and a waist belt emanating from the lower back pad. The lower back pad includes a lower pocket that receives a lower mounting plate of the electrical appliance therein, and a lower flap selectively connectable to the lower pocket to close the lower pocket and retain the lower mounting plate within the lower pocket.

A harness assembly for an electrical appliance includes an upper support assembly and a lower support assembly. The upper support assembly includes an upper back pad and at least one shoulder strap emanating from the upper back pad. The upper back pad includes an upper pocket that receives an upper mounting plate of the electrical appliance therein, and an upper flap selectively connectable to the upper pocket to close the upper pocket and retain the upper mounting plate within the upper pocket. The lower support assembly includes a lower back pad and a waist belt emanating from the lower back pad. The lower back pad includes a lower pocket that receives a lower mounting plate of the electrical appliance therein, and a lower flap selectively connectable to the lower pocket to close the lower pocket and retain the lower mounting plate within the lower pocket.

A connector assembly includes an electrical plug connectable to an electrical outlet, an inner collar, and an outer collar disposed radially outward from the inner collar. The inner collar includes a plurality of jaws disposed circumferentially about the electrical plug. Each jaw of the plurality of jaws includes threads defined along an outer surface of each jaw. The outer collar includes at least one thread defined along an inner surface of the outer collar. Rotation of the outer collar relative to the inner collar causes the at least one outer collar thread to rotatably engage the inner collar threads and the plurality of jaws to deflect inward such that the plurality of jaws engages and compresses the electrical outlet when the electrical outlet is connected to the electrical plug.

A reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus may include a wand and a pod removably coupled to the wand. The wand may have a first distal end that is configured to couple to a surface cleaning head and a second distal end that is configured to couple to a handle. The pod may include a suction motor assembly cavity, a battery cavity, and a dust cup cavity. The suction motor assembly cavity and the battery cavity may be disposed on opposing sides of a vertical plane, wherein the vertical plane extends along a central longitudinal axis of the pod. The dust cup cavity may be disposed between the suction motor assembly cavity and the battery cavity such that at least a portion of the dust cup cavity is disposed on each side of the vertical plane.

A reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus may include a wand and a pod removably coupled to the wand. The wand may have a first distal end that is configured to couple to a surface cleaning head and a second distal end that is configured to couple to a handle. The pod may include a suction motor assembly cavity, a battery cavity, and a dust cup cavity. The suction motor assembly cavity and the battery cavity may be disposed on opposing sides of a vertical plane, wherein the vertical plane extends along a central longitudinal axis of the pod. The dust cup cavity may be disposed between the suction motor assembly cavity and the battery cavity such that at least a portion of the dust cup cavity is disposed on each side of the vertical plane.

Applicant has created vacuum apparatuses with improved stability and methods for improving the stability of a wet/dry vacuum. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a motor, a removable drum adapted to store debris collected by the apparatus, and a base that can be adapted to receive the removable drum. The motor can be adapted to be interposed between the removable drum and the base. The methods can include the step of providing a base, the step of providing a removable drum adapted to be coupled to the base, and the step of coupling a vacuum motor to the base such that the vacuum motor is adapted to be disposed beneath the removable drum when the drum is coupled to the base. By relocating the motor of vacuum apparatus beneath the drum, the vacuum's center of gravity can be lowered significantly and, thus, its propensity to tip over is minimized.