U.S. patent application number 10/153405 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-21 for suspension for a surface maintenance appliance.
Invention is credited to Shinler, Kevin.
Application Number | 20020170130 10/153405 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23125694 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020170130 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shinler, Kevin |
November 21, 2002 |
Suspension for a surface maintenance appliance
Abstract
An improved suspension system for coupling a surface maintenance
tool or appliance to a surface maintenance machine is disclosed. In
preferred embodiment, the suspension system includes a 4 bar
linkage which permits the surface maintenance tool to be raised and
lowered relative to the surface maintenance machine into selective
contact with the floor surface, a spring assembly transferring
spring force to the surface maintenance tool, and a selectively
controllable actuator connected to the spring assembly for
controlling a level of the spring force so that a controlled level
of surface maintenance tool work is performed upon the floor
surface.
Inventors: |
Shinler, Kevin; (North
Branch, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.
225 South Sixth Street, Suite 4850
Minneapolis
MN
55402-4320
US
|
Family ID: |
23125694 |
Appl. No.: |
10/153405 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60292675 |
May 21, 2001 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/49.1 ; 15/98;
451/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/283 20130101;
A47L 11/4011 20130101; A47L 11/4058 20130101; A47L 11/16
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/49.1 ; 15/98;
451/353 |
International
Class: |
A47L 011/14 |
Claims
1. A surface maintenance machine for operation upon a floor
surface, said surface maintenance machine comprising: a surface
maintenance tool coupled to the machine through a plurality of
linkages which permit the surface maintenance tool to be raised and
lowered relative to the surface maintenance machine into selective
contact with the floor surface; a spring assembly including at
least one adjustable spring, said spring assembly being coupled to
the surface maintenance tool so that a spring force is transferred
to the surface maintenance tool; and a selectively controllable
actuator coupled to the spring assembly, said actuator controlling
a level of the spring force so that a controlled level of surface
maintenance tool work is performed upon the floor surface.
2. The surface maintenance machine of claim 1, wherein the
plurality of linkages comprises a four bar linkage device.
3. The surface maintenance machine of claim 1, wherein the spring
assembly is coupled to at least one of the plurality of
linkages.
4. The surface maintenance machine of claim 1, wherein the spring
assembly includes a spring retained within a spring housing.
5. The surface maintenance machine of claim 1, wherein the actuator
is connected to the spring housing.
6. The surface maintenance machine of claim 1, wherein the actuator
is an electric actuator.
7. The surface maintenance machine of claim 6, wherein the actuator
is an electric linear actuator.
8. The surface maintenance machine of claim 1, wherein the actuator
is a hydraulic actuator.
9. The surface maintenance machine of claim 1, wherein the spring
assembly is coupled to the surface maintenance machine in a
generally parallel orientation relative to the ground surface.
10. The surface maintenance machine of claim 9, wherein the spring
assembly is generally elongated and is coupled to the surface
maintenance machine so that an elongated dimension of the spring
assembly is aligned generally in a direction of machine motion.
11. The surface maintenance machine of claim 1, wherein the spring
force transferred to the surface maintenance tool tends to lift the
surface maintenance tool away from the floor surface.
12. A suspension device for coupling a surface maintenance
appliance to a surface maintenance machine, said suspension device
comprising: a plurality of linkages coupled between the surface
maintenance device and the surface maintenance machine, said
plurality of linkages permitting the surface maintenance device to
be selectively transitioned relative to the surface maintenance
machine between a plurality of positions; a spring assembly having
at least one spring, said spring assembly transferring a spring
force to at least one of the plurality of linkages and the surface
maintenance device; and a controllable spring actuator in
engagement with the spring assembly for selectively controlling the
spring force being transferred to the surface maintenance device
during operation.
13. The suspension device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of
linkages comprises a four bar linkage device.
14. The suspension device of claim 12, wherein the spring assembly
is coupled to at least one of the plurality of linkages.
15. The suspension device of claim 12, wherein the spring assembly
includes a spring retained within a spring housing.
16. The suspension device machine of claim 12, wherein the actuator
is connected to the spring housing.
17. The suspension device of claim 12, wherein the spring assembly
is coupled to the surface maintenance machine in a generally
parallel orientation relative to the ground surface.
18. The suspension device of claim 17, wherein the spring assembly
is generally elongated and is coupled to the surface maintenance
machine so that an elongated dimension of the spring assembly is
aligned generally in a direction of machine motion.
19. The suspension device of claim 12, wherein the spring force
transferred to the surface maintenance tool tends to lift the
surface maintenance tool away from the floor surface.
20. The suspension device of claim 12, wherein one of the plurality
of positions of the surface maintenance device relative to the
surface maintenance machine is a substantially perpendicular
orientation relative to a normal operational position.
21. A vehicle for burnishing a floor surface, said vehicle being
transportable across the floor surface during a burnishing
operation, said vehicle comprising: a burnishing head including a
motor driven burnishing pad; a plurality of linkages coupled
between the burnishing head and the vehicle, said plurality of
linkages permitting the burnishing head to be selectively
transitioned relative to the vehicle between a plurality of
positions; a spring assembly having at least one spring, said
spring assembly transferring a spring force to the burnishing head;
and a controllable spring actuator in engagement with the spring
assembly for selectively controlling a burnishing force being
transferred to the surface during operation.
22. The suspension device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of
linkages comprises a four bar linkage device.
23. The suspension device of claim 21, wherein the spring assembly
is coupled to at least one of the plurality of linkages.
24. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the spring assembly is coupled
to the vehicle in a generally parallel orientation relative to the
ground surface.
25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the spring assembly is
generally elongated and is coupled to the vehicle so that an
elongated dimension of the spring assembly is aligned generally in
a direction of vehicle motion.
26. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the spring force tends to lift
the surface burnishing head away from the floor surface.
27. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein one of the plurality of
positions of the burnishing head relative to the vehicle is a
substantially perpendicular orientation relative to a normal
operational position.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/292,675, filed on May 21,
2001, the disclosure of said application being incorporated by
reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to surface
maintenance or conditioning machines, and particularly those
machines employing one or more surface maintenance or conditioning
appliances or tools that perform one or more tasks including, among
others, scrubbing, sweeping, and polishing or burnishing. The more
specifically, the present invention is particularly directed to a
suspension system for a surface maintenance appliance, and
specifically a burnishing assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Surface maintenance machines that perform a single surface
maintenance or surface conditioning task are, of course, well
known. Surface maintenance machines are generally directed to
applications such as floor surfaces, or simply floors. The term
floor, as used herein, refers to any support surface, such as,
among others, floors, pavements, road surfaces, ship decks, and the
like.
[0004] Commonly floor or surface maintenance machines are
constructed having a single surface conditioning appliance or
system so as to only sweep, others to scrub, while still others
only to polish or burnish. It is of course possible to construct a
single surface maintenance machine to perform one or more of the
aforementioned surface maintenance tasks.
[0005] One example of a multi-task floor conditioning machine is
disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,280, entitled, "Floor Cleaning
& Waxing Machine," issued to Campbell, the enter disclosure of
which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for any
and all purposes. Another is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,002,
entitled, "Floor Cleaning Machine," by inventors Waldhauser, et al,
the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein
in its entirety for any and all purposes. Disclosed therein is a
forward sweeper assembly followed by a scrubber assembly that is
followed by a squeegee assembly.
[0006] Yet, another example of a multi-task floor conditioning
machine is disclosed in a PCT application having publication WO
00/74549, published Dec. 14, 2000, entitled, "Floor Cleaning
Machine," by inventors Thomas, et al, the entire disclosure of
which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for any
and all purposes. The machine disclosed therein performs the task
of sweeping, scrubbing, and burnishing, and includes a squeegee
assembly in combination with a vacuum system for removing cleaning
solution from a floor subsequent to a cleaning and scrubbing
operation.
[0007] As illustrated in WO 00/74549, thereshown is a single
unitary walk-behind machine that is transportable across a floor.
Successively attached to the machine, from front to back, are
independent floor maintenance systems. At the forward section of
the machine is a sweeping system. At the rearward section of the
machine--machine steering control--is a burnishing system. In
between the sweeping system and the burnishing system is a
scrubbing system including forward scrubbing brushes coupled to a
cleaning solution dispensing system and rearward following
squeegees coupled to a liquid vacuum system for recovering expended
cleaning solution.
[0008] Burnishing systems generally include a scheme for
controlling the degree of burnishing applied to a floor surface
depending upon the type of floor surface intended to be burnished.
Burnishing systems well known in the art commonly include a driver
assembly which includes a working appliance or tool such as a pad
or brush affixed to a driver that is rotatably driven by a driver
motor. The driver assembly of the burnishing systems of the prior
art have been selectively raised and lowered by an actuator so as
to achieve an intended force or pressure against a floor surface
intended to be polished or burnished.
[0009] Scrubbing systems are analogous to burnishing systems, and
are also well known in the art. Scrubbing systems commonly include
a driver assembly including rotatable scrubber in the form of a
brush, pad, or the like, and a scheme for controlling the degree of
scrubbing applied to a floor surface depending upon the type of
floor surface intended to be scrubbed. Too much scrubbing of course
may deleteriously affect the floor surface requiring further
maintenance. The scrubber driver assemblies for scrubbing systems,
like burnishing systems, are of course well known in the art and
commonly include one or more rotatable brushes driven by a driver
motor affixed to a scrubber head. Scrubber heads of the prior art
have been selectively raised and lowered by an actuator coupled to
the driver so as to achieve an intended force or pressure of the
brush against a floor surface intended to be scrubbed. Examples of
the latter are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,566; 4,769,271;
5,481,776; 5,615,437; 5,943,724; and 6,163,915, the entire
disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety for any and all purposes.
[0010] Common to some control systems of the aforementioned prior
art patents is the employment of a current sensor that monitors the
current drawn by the driver motor. In some of the aforementioned
systems of the prior art a "pressure sensor" is employed that is
representative of the pressure of the scrubber head against the
floor. Still others attempt to control torque load on the motor
indicated by the sensed motor current.
[0011] Sweeper systems are also analogous to burnishing systems.
Sweeper systems commonly include a rotatable sweeper system brush
driven by a driver motor. Like burnishing and scrubbing systems the
sweeper system brush may be lowered and raised relative to a floor,
which may more or less affect the floor surface.
[0012] Commonly, floor conditioning machines are powered by a
rechargeable battery supply. Of course, the battery voltage applied
to the various floor conditioning systems or appliances, and
particularly to the driver motor, will decay in relation to the
energy discharged by the battery and the total time of discharge.
With respect to burnishing systems, the mechanical burnishing power
delivered to the floor is therefore dependent upon the voltage and
current delivered to the driver motor.
[0013] Burnishing appliances or systems on such floor maintenance
machines have several factors that place design demands on the
suspension system from the floor maintenance machine that are
suspended. This is so since commonly the burnishing pad is somewhat
surrounded in part by peripheral portion of the driver and is
surrounded by an attached skirt extending from peripheral portions
of the driver--the skirt preventing dust and debris from being
injected into the environment. In operation, upon powering of the
burnishing assembly driver motor, a vacuum is established within
the chamber formed by the burnishing system driver and skirt. This
in turn causes a vacuum which tends to pull the burnishing assembly
toward the floor. This vacuum may be controlled by way of providing
breather vents or ports in the skirt.
[0014] It should be understood that as the burnishing assembly
suspended from the frame of a floor maintenance machine is pulled
toward the floor by the aforesaid vacuum greater load upon the
driver motor results as well increased working power or force
against the floor results, the magnitude of which is dependent upon
the type of floor surface intended to be burnished or polished.
Driver motor load current controllers known in the prior art
burnishing systems or scrubber systems, may of course be employed
to more or less yield substantially controlled working power or
force against the floor surface, as well as prevent drive motor
burn out.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide a
suspension system for a floor maintenance appliance suspended from
a frame associated with a floor maintenance machine.
[0016] An object of the present invention is to provide a
suspension system for burnishing appliance or assembly suspended
from a frame associated with a floor maintenance machine.
[0017] A variable load suspension system has been disclosed for
varying the work force of a surface maintenance appliance upon a
surface intended to be affected. In one exemplary embodiment, a
series combination of an actuator and a spring assembly is coupled
to a frame at one end, and the other end thereof is coupled to the
surface maintenance appliance by way of an appropriate linkage. In
the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring assembly, and
specifically the spring, generally extends in the direction of
transport of the surface maintenance machine 10, and the actuator
causes motion transverse to the surface intended to be
affected.
[0018] The actuator and driver motor of the surface maintenance
appliance are intended to be controlled by any of the
aforementioned control systems known in the art as well as others
without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of a walk behind surface maintenance
machine employing a suspension system in accordance with the
present invention for suspending a burnishing system.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the suspension
system assembly in accordance with the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view showing further details of the
suspension system assembly illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0022] FIG. 4 is top plan view illustrating suspension system
components in accordance with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary
embodiment of a control system for a floor maintenance appliance
for controlling the work output delivered to a floor surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Illustrated in FIG. 1 is walk behind surface conditioning
machine 10 in accordance with the present invention. A burnishing
assembly generally indicated by numeral 100 is suspended from a
frame 20 by way of a suspension system assembly in accordance with
the present invention generally indicated by numeral 200, and
particularly illustrated in FIG. 2 as will be described in further
detail herein. FIG. 1 graphically depicts the available range of
motion of the burnishing head or assembly 100 when coupled to the
frame in accordance with the present invention. Namely, a transport
position 101, lowered operating position 102, and pad changing
position 103.
[0025] Illustrated in FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the
suspension system 200 in accordance with the present invention. In
FIG. 2, burnishing assembly 100 has been omitted. Suspension system
200 includes an actuator 220 pivotally coupled to frame 20 through
coupling member 224, and having an actuator rod 222 pivotally
coupled to a spring assembly 400 (not shown in FIG. 2, shown in
FIG. 4). Spring assembly 400 is coupled to a 4-point or four
parallel bar linkage system 215 through coupling brackets 250L and
250R.
[0026] A pair of mounting bracket 210L and 210R is intended to be
rigidly attached to the burnishing assembly driver member 110 upon
which a driver motor is generally mounted.
[0027] Burnishing assembly 100 is coupled to frame 20 by way of the
4-point or 4-bar linkage 215 including bars 230L, 230R, 240L, and
240R. Ends 232L, 232R, 242L, and 242R are pivotally coupled to
frame 20 (not shown) by way rotatable mounted pins, bolts, or the
like mounted through apertures 234L, 234R, 244L, and 244R,
respectively. The four point linkage system is of course well known
for generally lifting and lowering an assembly with generally
transverse movement relative to the ground plane upon which the
assembly may rest. In other words, permits vertical movement while
fixed in a lateral position relative to a reference frame, namely
the frame 20 of the surface maintenance machine 10.
[0028] Suspension coupling bracket 250L has a first end 252L
rigidly secured to bar 240L by way mounting bolts 253, welding, or
the like. The other end of bracket 250L is pivotally coupled to one
end of spring assembly 400 as will subsequently be described in
detail below. Similarly, bracket 250R has a first end 252R rigidly
secured to bar 240R by way mounting bolts 253 (not shown) or the
like. The other end of bracket 250R is also pivotally coupled to
one end 410 of spring assembly 400, and is substantially identical
to suspension coupling bracket 250L but is substantially hidden
from view in the figures.
[0029] Spring assembly 400 is further described in FIG. 4. As
illustrated in FIG. 4, spring assembly is essentially a preloaded
draw spring well known in the art having a helical spring housing
420 enclosing, in part, helical spring 410 with rod 430 passing
therethrough. One end 423 of housing 420 is pivotally coupled to
actuator rod 222. The opposite end of rod 430 is affixed to pin
assembly member 440 by way of a threaded bolt 443, or the like. One
end of spring 410 is coupled to an anti-rotation plate 445 having
extending tabs 447 protruding through slots 446 of housing 420. The
other end of spring 410 engages housing end member 441 of housing
420 through which rod 430 passes therethrough.
[0030] Pin assembly member 440 includes a pair of pins or rod shape
members 43 IL and 43 IR intended to be pivotally coupled to
suspension coupling bracket end members 253L and 253R of suspension
coupling brackets 250L and 250R, respectively. As illustrated in
the figures, rod shaped members 431 pass through, in part, arcuate
slots 255L (255R not shown). These slots may be omitted as their
function provides for obtaining the appliance assembly position
identified as numeral 103 in FIG. 1 while maintaining pivotal
coupling. It should also be noted that suspension coupling brackets
250L and 250R are somewhat "s-shaped" so as to permit unobstructed
movement of the 4-point suspension system, while at the same time
permit 4-point suspension system to be affected, in part, by the
combination spring assembly 400 and actuator 220.
[0031] Actuator 220 includes a mounting member 224 for pivotally
coupling actuator 220 to frame 20. Similarly end member 223 of
actuator rod 222 is pivotally coupled to housing end member 423 by
way of any suitable pivotal coupling, for example a travis pin
assembly or the like as indicated by numeral 425.
[0032] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, draw spring
assembly may have a free length spring of 29 inches, an installed
length of 15 inches (compressed spring) with a 20 lbs.-inch rate of
spring force. It is of course should be understood by those skilled
in the art that the size of draw spring assembly 400 may be
embodied by way of a wide array of physical sizes depending upon
the weight of the burnishing assembly, and the available room and
cost considerations associated with the surface maintenance machine
10.
[0033] In operation of the suspension system of the present
invention, in the actuator retracted position, the burnishing
assembly is the machine transport position indicated by numeral 101
in FIG. 1 and the assembly is away from the floor surface.
[0034] In the "operate position," the actuator is extended a
predetermined amount until the burnishing head makes contact with
the floor surface while under the influence of the draw spring
assembly 400. In turn the actuator 220 and burnishing head driver
110 motor may be controlled to achieve regulated work force upon
the surface intended to be affected. Actuator 220 is selectively
controlled during operation to adjust the degree of spring
compression, and hence the degree of spring force transferred by
spring assembly 400 to burnishing assembly 100. Actuator 220 may be
a hydraulic actuator (not shown) or other known actuation device
appreciated by those skilled in the relevant arts.
[0035] The present invention provides a horizontal packaging
technique for achieving variable spring load in the vertical
direction of a surface maintenance assembly or appliance, for
example burnishing, scrubbing, waxing assemblies, and the like.
[0036] A variable load suspension system has been disclosed for
varying the work force of a surface maintenance appliance upon a
surface. A series combination of an actuator and a spring assembly
is coupled to a frame at one end, and the other end thereof is
coupled to the surface maintenance appliance by way of an
appropriate linkage. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,
the spring assembly 400 generally extends in the direction of
transport of the surface maintenance machine 10 (generally parallel
with the surface), and the actuator causes motion transverse to the
surface intended to be affected.
[0037] It should be recognized that alternatively, the positions of
actuator 220 and draw spring assembly 400 could be interchanged as
should be recognized by those skilled in the art.
[0038] In accordance with another aspects of the present invention,
brackets 210L and 210R are provided with arcuate slots 577 whereby
pins coupling bar members 230L and 230R may be lifted upward from
points 213L and 213R. With the arcuate slots 577 and corresponding
slots 255L and 255R in coupling brackets 250L and 250R
respectively, the entire mechanism may be lifted. Locking members
280L and 280R are provided with a slot so that bar members 250L and
250R may be pivotally coupled to members 280L and 289,
respectively, permitting the assembly 100 to be raised to pad
changing position as indicated by numeral 103 in FIG. 1.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 5, a schematic block diagram is
illustrated representing one exemplary embodiment of a control
system for a floor maintenance appliance that controls the work
output delivered to a floor by a rotatable work tool, such as a
polishing pad, a scrubber, a brush, etc. Such a control system may
be utilized in conjunction with embodiments of the present
invention to control linear actuator 220. Additional aspects of
this control system are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser.
No. ______, filed on May 21, 2002, entitled "Control System for a
Floor Maintenance Appliance," having a common assignee with the
present application, and being incorporated in its entirety by
reference herein. In FIG. 5, a floor maintenance assembly 10 is
configured as a burnishing system suspended from a frame 22
associated with a floor maintenance machine (not shown) by way of
an actuator 20. The actuator 20 is configured to raise and lower
the maintenance assembly 10 relative to the floor 24. Although a
burnishing tool is illustrated in the Figures, it should be
understood that the maintenance assembly 10 may be configured to
perform other types of maintenance tasks, such as sweeping and
scrubbing, or a combination of maintenance tasks. As shown in FIG.
5, the maintenance assembly 10 includes a rotatable driver 12
having a rotatable shaft 14 coupled to a driver motor 16. The
rotatable work tool for performing the work task is a burnishing
pad 18 that is coupled to a rotatable driver 12. The maintenance
assembly 10 and the actuator 20 may be implemented by way of a wide
array of components and techniques, many of which have been
described in the aforementioned published patents and publications,
among others.
[0040] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is
not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the
process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means,
methods and steps described in the specification. As one of
ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the
disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines,
manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps,
presently existing or later to be developed that perform
substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same
result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be
utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the
appended claims are intended to include within their scope such
processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,
methods, or steps.
* * * * *