Floor finishing and dust collection apparatus

• US 20050060836A1
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry Nielsen, Randy Rowley
• Original Assignee: Larry Nielsen, Randy Rowley
• Inventors: Nielsen, Larry, Rowley, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 7,297,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/20 combined with vacuum cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4027 Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/102 Dust separators cyclones A47L9/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/181 Separating by passing the air through a liquid bath
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 55/102 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 7/186 with disc-type tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

Sanding and screening are steps in floor finishing that produce large quantities of fine dust which is difficult to remove and which plugs porous filter elements of dust collection systems. Dust collection is enhanced with a floor screening attachment for a floor machine. A vacuum system with a liquid filtering medium is provided to collect dust produced during screening. A dust collection unit is also disclosed to collect and separate sawdust produced by sanding which can cause foaming of a liquid filter medium.

Claims

1. A floor screening system for use with a floor machine having a powered drive, said floor screening system comprising:

(a) a pad driver including a power transfer interface to said powered drive and a facing having a periphery and arranged to move an abrasive element on a surface in response to motion of said powered drive;

(b) a dust collection plenum adjacent to said periphery of said pad driver;

(c) a cannister;

(d) a volume of liquid having a level in said cannister;

(e) a passageway for movement of air and a plurality of entrained particles from said dust collection plenum to a passageway outlet below said level of said liquid;

(f) a mixer for mixing said liquid with said air and said particles from said passageway outlet to facilitate wetting of said particles with said liquid;

(g) a separator receiving said mixture of said air, particles, and liquid from said mixer and extracting liquid and wetted particles from said air for return to said volume of liquid; and

(h) a vacuum source creating a pressure differential between said dust collection plenum and an air outlet from said cannister.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said facing of said pad driver includes at least two spaced apart first surfaces for contact with said abrasive element and another surface connecting said spaced apart first surfaces and having a portion in relief of said first surfaces.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said facing comprises an non-porous material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dust collection plenum comprises:

(a) a shroud substantially encompassing said periphery of said pad driver and defining therewith an aperture approximating an annulus; and

(b) a seal arranged to permit relative motion between said shroud and said pad driver and substantially limiting an air flow to said passageway to air passing through said aperture.

5. A floor screening attachment for a floor machine having a drive shaft powered for rotation comprising:

(a) a pad driver shaft having an interface end for connection to said drive shaft of said floor machine;

(b) a sanding block having a periphery and a facing and connected to said pad driver shaft for rotation therewith;

(c) a shroud substantially encompassing said periphery of said sanding block and defining therewith an aperture approximating an annulus, said shroud including a connection for a vacuum source; and

(d) a seal permitting relative rotation said shroud and said sanding block and substantially limiting an air flow to said vacuum connection to air passing through said aperture.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said facing of said sanding block comprises at least two spaced apart first surfaces separated by another surface having a portion in relief of said first surfaces.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said facing comprises a non-porous material.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said facing comprises at least one of:

(a) a rubber compound;

(b) a synthetic rubber compound; and

(c) a plastic.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a flexible skirt extending from a portion of said shroud in a direction of said facing.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a wheel for supporting said floor machine affixed to said shroud and arranged for rotation.

11. A sanding block for a screening apparatus including a facing comprising:

(a) at least two spaced apart first surfaces for contact with an abrasive element; and

(b) another surface separating said at least two first surfaces and having a portion in relief of said first surfaces.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said facing comprises a non-porous material.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said facing comprises at least one of:

(a) a rubber compound;

(b) a synthetic rubber compound; and

(c) a plastic.