FLOOR SURFACE CLEANING AND POLISHING MACHINE

• US 3,761,987 A
• Filed: 05/28/1971
• Issued: 10/02/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andrew D. Stanley, James E. Nayfa
• Original Assignee: Andrew D. Stanley, James E. Nayfa
• Inventors: Nayfa, James E., Stanley, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Petrakes, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moore, C. K.
• Application Number:
  US05/147,866
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 15/5R,380,5C,320
• US Class Current: 15/50.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/205 for reciprocating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/307 having reciprocating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/408 Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/06 with wire brushes or wire meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/34 Scouring implements for hearths or metal objects

Abstract

A self-propelled machine includes a main housing supported on front and rear drive rollers and has an operator control handle extending from the rear. Front and rear elongated working brushes are driven in orbital movement in horizontal planes, with the front brush being positioned ahead of the front roller and the rear brush positioned behind the rear roller. A supply tank for the working solution includes agitating and aerating means for creating a foam dispensed from a pressurized tank through a flow control gate, and applied to the floor surface ahead of the front brush. The drive rollers act as squeegees; and vacuum pickup nozzles adjacent each of the drive rollers pickup excess material from the floor surface which is collected in a collection tank.

Claims

1. A machine for treating floor surfaces comprising a housing having front and rear ends in relation to normal movement over a floor surface in one direction;

front and rear traction means for supporting and driving said housing along the floor surface;

solution supply means in said housing including means for dispensing solution to the floor surface at the front thereof uniformly across the path of the machine;

brush means extending transversely across said housing between said dispensing means and said front traction means and supported in a plane parallel to the floor surface;

brush drive means including a brush support plate supported beneath said housing in a plane parallel to the floor surface;

a drive motor mounted in said housing driving a single eccentric cam means having a central axis;

rotary bearing means coupling said eccentric cam means and said brush plate to produce an orbital movement of said brush plate; and

at least two spring means laterally coupling said brush plate to said housing, and so arranged that they exert opposite moments about said central axis in response to orbital movement of the brush plate to produce vibratory oscillations of said brush plate relative to said central axis.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a floor generally parallel to the floor surface;

a continuous dependent skirt on said housing defining, with said housing floor and with said floor surface, a bottom enclosure for said traction means, said dispensing means, and said brush means;

means for circulating air through said enclosure comprising a pump unit, air supply conduit means communicating said pump unit with said enclosure, air outlet conduit means communicating with said enclosure.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said solution supply means includes a sealed supply tank in said housing for containing a liquid solution, a source of compressed air communicating with said tank for pressurizing said tank and for producing a foam of the solution thereon, means in said supply tank for agitating and mixing the solution therein, and adjustable gate means for regulating the flow of solution foam from said supply tank to said dispensing means.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said agitating and mixing means includes an agitating pump in said supply tank.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said foam producing means includes air nozzle means communicating with said compressed aiR source.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 3 elongated transverse trough means in the upper portion of said supply tank;

a plurality of vertical conduits defining said dispensing means for directing foam from said trough means to the floor surface at the front of said housing; and

said adjustable gate means comprising an adjustable weir gate for controlling the flow of solution foam from the main supply tank chamber into said trough.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 1 said rotary bearing means including thrust bearing means providing vertical support for said brush plate relative to said housing.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 1 second brush means extending transversely across said housing behind said rear traction means, supported on said brush support plate on a plane parallel to the floor surface.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 1 said eccentric cam means being coupled to said plate adjacent to the center thereof;

and said spring means comprising four springs coupled to said plate at four points symmetrical to the eccentric drive coupling, and acting in different directions relative thereto.