Front-heavy dust cleaning vehicle
First Claim
1. A cleaning vehicle for cleaning a surface of an object comprising:
- first and second carriages;
first and second wheels coupled to the first and second carriages, respectively, for placement along a top surface of the object;
at least one motor operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second wheels to define a drive assembly;
a cleaning element extending between and being supported by the first and second carriages;
third and fourth wheels; and
a first adjustable couple that is coupled to the first carriage and a second adjustable couple that is coupled to the second carriage, wherein the first adjustable couple defines a first spacing between the first carriage and the third wheel and the second adjustable couple defines a second spacing between the second carriage and the fourth wheel, the first and second spacings being sized to receive at least a portion of the object to position the vehicle on the surface to be cleaned;
wherein the cleaning element is disposed on one side of an axis passing centrally through the first and second wheels and spaced therefrom by a first distance;
wherein the third and fourth wheels are disposed on an opposite side of the axis and spaced therefrom by a second distance; and
wherein the first and second adjustable couples each comprises a support member configured to move the third and fourth wheels vertically with respect to the first and second wheels, respectively, such that the vertical movement of the third and fourth wheels results in the raising or lowering of the cleaning element with respect to the surface of the object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a cleaning vehicle for cleaning a surface of an object includes first and second carriages (that define a frame). The vehicle also includes first and second wheels coupled to the first and second carriages to form a drive assembly and at least one motor is operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second wheels. A cleaning element extends between and is supported by the first and second carriages at a location forward of the first and second wheels. The vehicle also includes third and fourth wheels. The third wheel is adjustably mounted relative to the first wheel and the second traveler wheel is adjustably mounted relative to the second wheel. The third and fourth wheels are configured such that the object is received between the third and fourth wheels and the respective first and second carriages.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A cleaning vehicle for cleaning a surface of an object comprising:
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first and second carriages; first and second wheels coupled to the first and second carriages, respectively, for placement along a top surface of the object; at least one motor operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second wheels to define a drive assembly; a cleaning element extending between and being supported by the first and second carriages; third and fourth wheels; and a first adjustable couple that is coupled to the first carriage and a second adjustable couple that is coupled to the second carriage, wherein the first adjustable couple defines a first spacing between the first carriage and the third wheel and the second adjustable couple defines a second spacing between the second carriage and the fourth wheel, the first and second spacings being sized to receive at least a portion of the object to position the vehicle on the surface to be cleaned; wherein the cleaning element is disposed on one side of an axis passing centrally through the first and second wheels and spaced therefrom by a first distance; wherein the third and fourth wheels are disposed on an opposite side of the axis and spaced therefrom by a second distance; and wherein the first and second adjustable couples each comprises a support member configured to move the third and fourth wheels vertically with respect to the first and second wheels, respectively, such that the vertical movement of the third and fourth wheels results in the raising or lowering of the cleaning element with respect to the surface of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A cleaning vehicle for cleaning a surface of an object comprising:
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first and second carriages; first and second wheels coupled to the first and second carriages, respectively, for placement along a top surface of the object; at least one motor operatively coupled to one of the first and second wheels to define a drive assembly; a cleaning element extending between and being supported by the first and second carriages at a location forward of the first and second wheels; and third and fourth wheels, the third wheel being adjustably mounted relative to the first wheel and the fourth wheel being adjustably mounted relative to the second wheel, the third and fourth wheels being configured such that the object is received between the third and fourth wheels and the respective first and second carriages; wherein the first wheel is disposed between the cleaning element and the third wheel; wherein the second wheel is disposed between the cleaning element and the fourth wheel; and wherein the cleaning element is mounted in a cantilevered orientation relative to a front side of the vehicle with respect to an axle connecting the first and second wheels and the first and second wheels, causing the vehicle to be front heavy, and the third and fourth wheels are positioned to counteract a force generated by the cantilevered mounting of the cleaning element such that adjustment of the third and fourth wheels relative to the first and second wheels causes repositioning of the cleaning element relative to the surface to be cleaned. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A cleaning vehicle for cleaning a surface of an object having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface comprising:
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first and second carriages; an axle extending between the first and second carriages; first and second drive wheels coupled to the axle to form a drive assembly, the first and second drive wheels for placement on the top surface; at least one motor operatively coupled to the drive assembly; a cleaning element extending between and being supported by the first and second carriages, the cleaning element for placement along the top surface; and first and second traveler wheels for placement along at least a portion of the bottom surface, the first traveler wheel being adjustably mounted relative to the first drive wheel such that a distance therebetween can be adjusted and the second traveler wheel being adjustably mounted relative to the second drive wheel such that a distance therebetween can be adjusted; wherein the cleaning element is disposed on one side of the axle, and the first and second traveler wheels are disposed on an opposite side of the axle such that the first and second traveler wheels serve to counteract a force generated by the cleaning element in a direction toward the top surface; wherein rotation of the first and second carriages about an axis of the axle through adjustment of the distance between the first and second traveler wheels and the first and second drive wheels causes a raising or lowering of the cleaning element relative to the top surface. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method for cleaning a top surface of an object comprising the steps of:
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positioning a vehicle on the top surface of the object and alongside edges of the object such that first and second drive wheels of the vehicle seat against the top surface and a cleaning element is positioned also along the top surface; adjusting first and second traveler wheels of the vehicle so as to be in contact with at least one of a side surface and bottom surface of the object, the first and second traveler wheels being mounted to a frame to which;
(1) an axle supporting the first and second drive wheels is mounted, wherein the cleaning element is disposed on one side of the axle and (2) the cleaning element is rotatably mounted, whereby adjustment of the first and second traveler wheels through adjustment of a distance between the first and second traveler wheels and the first and second drive wheels, respectively, causes the vehicle to rotate about an axis of the axle resulting in either the cleaning element being lowered or raised relative to the top surface; anddriving the vehicle along the top surface by causing rotation of the axle. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification