U.S. patent number 3,663,985 [Application Number 05/054,991] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-23 for floor scrubbing machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Scott & Fetzer Company. Invention is credited to Jack L. Burgoon.
United States Patent |
3,663,985 |
Burgoon |
May 23, 1972 |
FLOOR SCRUBBING MACHINE
Abstract
A compact floor scrubbing machine is provided. The floor
scrubbing machine is relatively small, with a short length
rendering the machine more easily manipulated or maneuverable than
floor scrubbing machines heretofore known. A cleaning solution
supply tank is mounted on a rear portion of the machine and motors
are located forwardly thereof for driving the brushes of the
machine and an exhaust blower. A removable recovery tank is located
adjacent the two motors and partly thereabove, between the supply
tank and the motors, so that maximum compactness is achieved for
the machine. The recovery tank is easily separable from the rest of
the machine and yet automatically seals with air passages for the
exhaust blower and for a rear squeegee when placed on the
machine.
Inventors: |
Burgoon; Jack L. (Toledo,
OH) |
Assignee: |
The Scott & Fetzer Company
(Lakewood, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
21994864 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/054,991 |
Filed: |
July 15, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/353; 15/377;
15/401; 15/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
11/4055 (20130101); A47L 11/4016 (20130101); A47L
11/30 (20130101); A47L 11/4044 (20130101); A47L
11/4025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
11/30 (20060101); A47L 11/29 (20060101); A47l
011/202 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/320,321,327,353 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Scheel; Walter A.
Assistant Examiner: Moore; C. K.
Claims
I claim:
1. A floor scrubbing machine comprising supporting means, rotatable
brush means at a forward portion of said supporting means, a first
motor mounted on a forward portion of said supporting means, means
connecting said rotatable brush means and said first motor for
driving said brush means, a second motor located at the forward
portion of said supporting means, an exhaust blower driven by said
second motor, said blower having means forming an air inlet, a
squeegee, means connecting said squeegee to a portion of said
supporting means, means forming an air passage connected to said
squeegee and terminating at a surface of said supporting means, a
removable tank supported by said supporting means, said second
motor and said exhaust blower being located outside said tank, said
tank having a first opening in a lower portion thereof
communicating with said blower air inlet and having a second
opening communicating with said air passage means when supported on
said supporting means.
2. A floor scrubbing machine according to claim 1 characterized by
said second motor being beside said first motor, said exhaust
blower being above said second motor, and said blower air inlet
means being above said blower.
3. A floor scrubbing machine according to claim 1 characterized by
both of said openings of said tank being formed in bottom walls
thereof, and an air tube communicating with each of said openings
and extending upwardly therefrom.
4. A floor scrubbing machine according to claim 3 characterized
further by sealing rings located adjacent said tank openings at
outer surfaces of said tank.
5. A floor scrubbing machine according to claim 3 characterized by
means forming a baffle between upper ends of said air tubes.
6. A floor scrubbing machine according to claim 5 characterized by
a lid on said tank and said baffle depends from said lid.
7. A floor scrubbing machine according to claim 3 characterized by
means forming a vertically extending cylindrical baffle around an
upper end of one of said tubes and spaced therefrom.
8. A floor scrubbing machine according to claim 7 characterized by
a lid on said tank and said baffle depends from said lid.
9. A floor scrubbing machine according to claim 1 characterized
further by said squeegee having pivot arms pivotally connected to
said supporting means through a rear axle of wheels for said
machine and having portions extending beyond the pivots, and an
over-center spring connecting at least one of said arm portions and
said supporting means to urge said squeegee beyond an upper,
retracted position when in that position or a lower, floor-engaging
position when in that position.
10. A floor scrubbing machine according to claim 9 characterized
further by a latch engageable with one of said pivot arms to aid in
holding the squeegee in the retracted position.
11. A removable tank for a floor scrubbing machine including a
lower bottom wall having an air tube extending upwardly therefrom,
said tube communicating with a first opening in said bottom wall,
first sealing means associated with said opening, said tank having
an upper bottom wall spaced to one side of and above said lower
bottom wall, said upper bottom wall having a second air tube
extending upwardly therefrom, said second air tube communicating
with a second opening formed in said upper bottom wall, and second
sealing means associated with said second opening.
12. A tank according to claim 11 wherein said first sealing means
comprises a first sealing ring located around said first opening
adjacent the lower surface of said lower bottom wall.
13. A tank according to claim 11 wherein said second sealing means
comprises a second sealing ring located around said second opening
adjacent the lower surface of said upper bottom wall.
14. A removable tank according to claim 11 characterized by both of
said air tubes terminating at about the same level.
15. A removable tank according to claim 11 characterized further by
a handle rod extending across said tank between two opposite walls
thereof and below the upper edges of said tank, said handle rod
also being in a vertical plane located between said two air tubes.
Description
This invention relates to a floor scrubbing machine and
particularly to a floor scrubbing machine with a separable recovery
tank.
Various floor scrubbing machines of the type having rotatable scrub
brushes and a water pick-up squeegee are known in the art. Such
machines have tended to be expensive, cumbersome, heavy, and hard
to manipulate. The present invention provides a compact, smaller,
and lightweight floor scrubbing machine which is also less
expensive and is easier to manipulate or operate. The new floor
scrubbing machine has a water supply tank mounted adjacent the
handle and a water recovery tank supported near the handle and
located partly above motors which are used to drive the rotatable
scrub brushes and an exhaust blower. Part of the recovery tank is
also between the motors and the supply tank. The recovery tank has
an opening communicating with an air inlet for the exhaust blower
and another opening communicating with an air passage for a
rear-mounted squeegee. The tank further has seals associated with
the openings which automatically seal when the recovery tank is
positioned on the machine. The recovery tank also can be removed
simply by raising a hinged lid, without any fasteners or clamps for
the tank being required. Further, any baffles desired to direct air
in the tank can be carried by the lid.
The floor scrubbing machine also has a unique mounting arrangement
for the squeegee which can be readily manipulated by the operator's
foot between a retracted position and a floor-engaging position.
This arrangement also enables the pressure of the squeegee on the
floor to be readily adjusted.
It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an
improved floor scrubbing machine which is shorter and more compact
than those heretofore known.
Another object of the invention is to provide a floor scrubbing
machine with an improved separable water recovery tank.
A further object of the invention is to provide a floor scrubbing
machine which is more easily manipulated and operated than those
heretofore known.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a floor
scrubbing machine with an improved squeegee mounting
arrangement.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from
the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment
thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic view in perspective of a floor
scrubbing machine embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view in elevation of the floor scrubbing
machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, exploded view in perspective of a water
recovery tank and associated components of the floor scrubbing
machine;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, rear view in perspective of a squeegee
mounting arrangement for the floor scrubbing machine, with parts
broken away; and
FIG. 5 is a somewhat schematic side view in elevation of a rear
portion of the machine, showing the squeegee in the retracted
position.
Many floor scrubbing machines are known in the art in which
cleaning solution is supplied through one or more rotatable brushes
located at the front of the machine. The brushes scrub the floor
with the cleaning solution and, as the machine moves forwardly, the
cleaning solution remaining on the floor behind the brushes is
picked up by a squeegee, with the aid of a vacuum, at the rear of
the machine. These machines heretofore known have usually been of
large, boxy construction and usually supported on four wheels. The
machines were hard to manipulate, costly, and difficult to move
from one location to another because of their size and weight.
Referring to the drawings, a compact floor scrubbing machine
according to the invention is indicated at 10. This machine is
shorter and lighter than those heretofore known and is relatively
easy to manipulate on two rear wheels and a caster. The machine
includes a supporting frame generally indicated at 12 (FIG. 2)
including a rear supporting member 14 and a forward supporting
member 16. The rear member 14 has an upper wall 18 forming a
supporting platform and side walls 20 which receive an axle 22 for
wheels 24 at a lower portion thereof. The front supporting member
16 has an upper wall 26 forming a supporting platform and has a
flexible splash skirt 28 depending therefrom around the sides and
front of the platform 26. A front caster 29 also is pivotally
supported from the upper wall 26.
A handle post 30 (FIG. 4) extends through the upper wall 18 of the
rear supporting member 14 and is received on the axle 22. At the
upper end of the handle post 30 is a panel 32 carrying a switch 34
(FIG. 1) for a brush motor and a switch 36 or an exhaust blower
motor. Two handles 38 extend outwardly from the panel 32 with a
valve control lever 40 mounted under one of the handles 38.
As shown in FIG. 1, a link 42 extends downwardly from the handle 40
and connects with a lever 44 of a supply valve 46. The supply valve
46 is mounted below the wall 18 of the rear supporting member 14
and has a pipe extending thereabove into communication with a
supply tank 48 which is supported on the member 14 and is also
partly supported by the handle post 30. The supply tank 48 in this
instance has a capacity of 31/2 gallons of cleaning solution. As
shown schematically in FIG. 1, a supply tube 50 extends from the
valve 46 downwardly below the platform 26 and to branch tubes 52
and 54 terminating above rotatable scrub brushes 56 and 58. The
cleaning solution supplied to the brushes 56 and 58 is readily
controlled by the operator through the handle 40, the link 42, and
the control lever 44 which opens and closes the valve 46.
The brushes 56 and 58 are driven through an electric motor 60
(FIGS. 2 and 3) which is mounted on a gear reduction box 62. The
gear reduction box 62 in turn is supported on the platform 26 and
has drive shafts (not shown) extending therebelow which are
suitably connected to the brushes 56 and 58 in a conventional
manner. The specific drive for the brushes 56 and 58 does not
constitute part of the instant invention.
The cleaning solution supplied from the supply tank 48 is applied
to the surface by the brushes 56 and 58 and remains behind the
brushes as the machine 10 moves forwardly. Substantially all of the
cleaning solution is then picked up from the surface by a rear
squeegee 64. The construction of the squeegee, per se, is known in
the art. It includes a long mounting member 66 (FIG. 4) from which
a forward flexible blade 68 and a rear squeegee blade 70 depend.
The member 66 and the blades 68 and 70 form a partially enclosed
chamber but with the ends of the squeegee open between the blades
68 and 70 to enable air to be drawn longitudinally therethrough
into a central manifold portion 71. From the manifold 71, the air
is exhausted through a spout or nipple 72 which, in turn, is
connected to a flexible hose 74 and to an additional nipple 76
(FIG. 3) mounted on the forward supporting member 16. The nipple 76
communicates with a passage 78 formed by a sheet metal member in
cooperation with the supporting member 16, the passage 78
connecting the nipple 76 with an opening 80 in the platform 26 of
the supporting member 16.
The air and cleaning solution are drawn into a recovery tank
indicated at 82 and to an exhaust blower 84 driven by a motor 86
which is located to one side of the brush motor 60. The cleaning
solution is retained in the recovery tank 82 and the air is
expelled downwardly from the blower 84 and dissipates from the
machine. The blower 84, of a known design, is supported on a front
supporting member 88 with a gasket 90 therebetween, the member 88
having an upper wall 92 with an opening 94 through which the blower
motor 86 extends. The blower 84 further has a central upper inlet
opening 96 which receives the air from the recovery tank 82.
Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the recovery tank 82 has a lower
bottom wall 98 and an upper bottom wall 100 which are connected by
a slanted wall 102. The tank further has side walls 104 and 106
between which extends a handle rod 108 which facilitates carrying
and emptying of the tank 82. The bottom wall 98 has an opening 110
therein upwardly from which extends an inlet air tube 112
terminating in an upper slanted end 114 near the upper edges of the
side walls 104 and 106 of the tank. The opening 110 is in alignment
with the opening 80 in the platform 26 when the tank 82 is mounted
on the machine. A gasket 116 is located around the openings 80 and
110 and provides an air-tight connection therebetween.
The upper bottom wall 100 is located above the motors and has a
lower outlet opening 118 therein, upwardly from which extends an
air outlet tube 120 terminating near the upper edges of the side
walls 104 and 106 and generally at the level of the upper end of
the air inlet tube 112. With the tank on the machine, the outlet
opening 118 is aligned with the blower inlet opening 96, with a
gasket or sealing ring 122 therebetween to provide an air-tight
connection. The sealing rings 116 and 122 are compressed somewhat
under the weight of the tank 82 when placed thereon to provide more
effective seals.
A front cover or hood 124 extends around the forward portions of
the side of the machine and the front thereof to enclose the motors
60 and 86 and the blower 84, along with a front portion of the
recovery tank 82. A lid 126 is connected to the upper front edge of
the cover 124 by a piano-type hinge 128. The lid 126 includes a top
130 which prevents the possibility of splashing of the recovery
solution in the tank 82 and has a gasket (not shown) sealing with
the edges of the tank to provide an air-tight chamber in the tank.
The lid also has side flanges 132 which extend over the side walls
104 and 106 of the tank to aid in retaining the tank 82 in position
on the machine, in cooperation with the cover 124. A rear baffle
134 is affixed to the lid top 130 and extends downwardly in front
of the upper slanted end 114 of the air inlet tube 112. A
cylindrical baffle 136 also extends downwardly from the lid top 130
around the upper end of the air outlet tube 120 and terminates
short of a planar annular baffle 138 affixed to the tube 120 toward
the upper end thereof. The baffles 134, 136, and 138 provide a
circuitous path for the air and suspended recovery solution as the
air travels from the slanted end 114 of the tube 112 to the upper
end of the outlet tube 120, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2. This
path assures that substantially all of the recovery solution
suspended in the air will drop out and be collected in the recovery
tank 82, along with the fact that the air velocity decreases
substantially as it moves through the tank 82 from the tube 112 to
the tube 120.
The lid 126 is held downwardly by a pair of resilient hooks 140
pivotally connected to the side walls 20 of the rear supporting
member 12 and are releasably attached to rear edge portions of the
lid top 130.
From the above, it will be seen that the configuration of the tank
82 and its position primarily between the supply tank 48 and the
motors 60 and 86 provides an extremely compact design for the
machine 10. Further, with the recovery tank 82 being readily
removable from the machine when the lid 126 is raised, the contents
of the tank 82 can be readily disposed of. Also, when the tank is
replaced, there are no fittings which have to be connected and
dis-connected.
The squeegee 64 is mounted on the machine 10 in a manner such that
it can be easily moved between an operating or ground-engaging
position and an upper or retracted position by the operator's toe.
Further, the amount of pressure applied by the squeegee blade 70 on
the floor can be readily adjusted with the mounting arrangement.
This includes a pair of lever arms 142 (FIGS. 4 and 5) affixed to a
central portion of the squeegee mounting member 66 and having
intermediate openings 144 receiving the axle 22. At the opposite
ends of the arms are openings 146 receiving ends of curved rods
148, the opposite ends of which are connected to springs 150. The
upper ends of the springs 150 are attached to threaded rods 152
extending through tab 154 projecting rearwardly from the upper wall
18 of the rear supporting member 14. The rods 152 are threadedly
engaged by nuts 156 above the tabs 154.
The springs 150 are under tension and urge the forward portions of
the lever arms 42 upwardly when the squeegee 64 is in the operating
position, as shown in FIG. 4. The rear of the arms 142 are thereby
urged downwardly, pivoting about the axle 22. The degree of tension
on the springs 150, as controlled by the wing nuts 156, thereby can
determine the extent of pressure of the squeegee blade on the
surface.
When the squeegee 64 is raised to the retracted position, which can
be accomplished easily by the operator's toe, the springs 150 are
still under tension and the end openings 146 are actually moved
downwardly to the point where the tension of the springs 150 acts
on a line below the axle 22 (FIG. 5). This is made possible by the
curved rods 148 which clear the axle 22 when the squeegee is raised
so that lines extending between the end openings 146 and the tabs
154 pass slightly below the axle 22. Consequently, the spring
tension in this instance tends to move the lever arm 142 further in
a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, and maintains the
squeegee 64 in the upper position.
A latch 158 can be employed to engage one of the lever arms 142
when the squeegee is in the upper position to further assure
maintenance of the squeegee in that position, if desired. The
operator can then easily move the squeegee to the operating
position by downward pressure on the squeegee with the springs 150
then aiding to move the squeegee downwardly as the lines between
the openings 146 and the tabs 154 pass once again above the axle
22.
Various modifications of the above described embodiment of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to
be understood that such modifications can be made without departing
from the scope of the invention, if they are within the spirit and
the tenor of the accompanying claims.
* * * * *