Scrubbing machine

• US 3,942,218 A
• Filed: 06/19/1974
• Issued: 03/09/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Waldhauser, Steven J. A., Brown, Neil F., Krier, Keith N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aegerter, Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Larry
• Application Number:
  US05/480,973
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 15/340, 15/49 C, 15/50 C, 15/50 R, 15/78, 15/82, 15/83, 15/349, 15/353
• US Class Current: 15/340.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/103 in which the soiled loosening or washing liquid is removed, e.g. by suction removing liquids in general E01H1/108

Abstract

A scrubbing machine that includes an articulated vehicle having a power unit and a trailer unit coupled thereto, said trailer unit having cleaning and dirty solution tanks thereon, a squeegee assembly on the power unit having a central liquid take-up tube and a second take-up tube at one end portion thereof, controls operated by turning the vehicle in the appropriate direction for switching the application of vacuum from the central tube to the second tube, a scrubber head unit and an assembly for mounting and carrying the scrubber unit on the vehicle and raising and lowering the scrubber unit including an articulated joint to permit limited pivotal movement of the scrubber head about a generally vertical axis and an axis perpendicular thereto.

Claims

1. A maintenance machine for surfaces such as a floor or the like comprising a vehicle having a frame, ground engaging wheels and a dirty scrubbing liquid collection tank, a power driven brush, first means for mounting the brush on the frame, squeegee means mounted on at least one of the frame and the first means for collecting scrubbing liquid from the surface over which the brush is moved, said squeegee means including a squeegee assembly having a central portion, and forwardly and transversely extending elongated portions joined to the central portion and extending outwardly on either transverse side thereof, said squeegee assembly being of a transverse width of at least about as great as said brush and extending transversely rearwardly of the brush, a first liquid collection member having an inlet located adjacent the squeegee assembly central portion for withdrawing liquid from the surface between the central portion and the brush, a second liquid collection member having an inlet located adjacent one of the forwardly and transversely extending elongated portions, remote from the squeegee assembly central portion and transversely offset from the first collection member inlet for withdrawing liquid from the surface between the squeegee assembly and the brush, and second means connected to the tank and to each of said collection members for drawing liquid from the surface and through the collection members and transferring the liquid to the tank.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the vehicle has means for steering the vehicle to turn the vehicle, and that the second means includes operable means for blocking fluid flow from the second collection member to the tank and alternately fluidly connecting the second collection member to the tank for transferring liquid to the tank and means operated by the turning of the vehicle from a straight ahead direction of travel in a direction opposite that from which the second collection member is transversely offset from the first collection member for operating said operable means from its fluid flow blocking condition to its fluidly connecting condition for transferring liquid from the second collection member to the tank.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said squeegee means includes side squeegees mounted adjacent and on transverse opposite sides of the brush and having rearward end portions adjacent the squeegee assembly and transversely inwardly of the terminal ends of the squeegee assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that the vehicle has means for steering the vehicle to turn the vehicle, and that the second means includes operable means for blocking fluid flow from the second collection member to the tank and alternately fluidly connecting the second collection member to the tank for transferring liquid to the tank and means operated by the turning of the vehicle from a straight ahead direction of travel in a direction opposite that from which the second collection member is transversely offset from the first collection member for operating said operable means from its fluid flow blocking condition to its fluidly connecting condition for transferring liquid to the tank.

5. A maintenance machine for surfaces such as a floor or the like comprising a power unit having a main frame, and power driven wheels mounted on the main frame, a trailer unit having a trailer frame, a dirty scrubbing liquid tank, and surface engaging wheels mounted on the trailer frame, first means for towingly connecting the trailer unit to the power unit, said first means including a tow member attached to the trailer frame, a mounting member attached to main frame to extend rearwardly thereof and joint means for connecting the tow member to the mounting member for relative pivotal movement about a generally vertical first axis and a second axis parallel to a straight ahead direction of movement of the power and trailer units, said joint means including a shaft mounted by the tow member for pivotal movement about the second axis and having a first end portion extending forwardly of the tow member, and a second pivot member fixedly attached to the first end portion, said second pivot member being pivotally mounted by the mounting member for pivotal movement about the first axis, a steering member on the power unit, an arm fixedly joined to at least one of the pivot members and means actuated by moving the steering member to exert a steering force on said arm, a maintenance unit including a maintenance unit frame having a downwardly opening enclosure, a power driven first brush and second means for rotatably mounting the brush on the maintenance frame to extend within the enclosure, third means for mounting the maintenance unit on the power unit to at least in part be supportingly carried by the power unit, means for collecting dirty scrubbing liquid from the surface over which said brush is moved, said collecting means being mounted on at least one of said power unit and maintenance unit, and means for transferring liquid from the collecting means to said tank, said collecting means including a squeegee assembly mounted on one of said power and maintenance units, having a transverse width at least about as great as said brush, and being located rearwardly of said brush, said squeegee assembly having a transverse central portion and a forwardly extending end portion transversely remote from the central portion, the means for transferring liquid including a first pickup member adjacent the central portion for withdrawing liquid from the surface adjacent said central portion, a second liquid pickup member adjacent said forwardly extending end portion for withdrawing liquid from the surface adjacent said end portion, and fourth means for drawing liquid from said pickup members and conducting the liquid to the tank, said fourth means including operable fifth means for selectively conducting liquid from the first pickup member and from the second pickup member to the tank, and sixth means fixedly attached to one of the pivot members and operatively connected to the fifth means for operating the fifth means to fluidly connect the first pickup member to the tank to conduct liquid to the tank when the power unit and trailer unit are traveling straight ahead and alternately the second pickup member to the tank to conduct liquid to the tank when the power unit is turning from a straight ahead direction of travel in a direction opposite that which said end portion is transversely offset from the central portion.

6. A maintenance machine for surfaces such as a floor or the like comprising a power unit having a main frame, and power driven wheels mounted on the main frame, a trailer unit havng a trailer frame, a dirty scrubbing liquid tank, and surface engaging wheels mounted on the trailer frame, first means for towingly connecting the trailer unit to the power unit, said first means including a tow member attached to the trailer frame, a mounting member attached to main frame to extend rearwardly thereof and joint means for connecting the tow member to the mounting member for relative pivotal movement about a generally vertical first axis and a second axis parallel to a straight ahead direction of movement of the power and trailer units, said joint means including a shaft mounted by the tow member for pivotal movement about the second axis and having a first end portion extending forwardly of the tow member, and a second pivot member fixedly attached to the first end portion, said second pivot member being pivotally mounted by the mounting member for pivotal movement about the first axis, a steering member on the power unit, an arm fixedly joined to at least one of the pivot members and means actuated by moving the steering member to exert a steering force on said arm, a maintenance unit including a maintenance unit frame having a downwardly opening enclosure, a power driven first brush and second means for rotatably mounting the brush on the maintenance frame to extend within the enclosure, third means for mounting the maintenance unit on the power unit to at least in part be supportingly carried by the power unit, means for collecting dirty scrubbing liquid from the surface over which said brush is moved, said collecting means being mounted on at least one of said power unit and maintenance unit and including a vacuum source connectd to the tank for applying a vacuum thereto, and means for transferring liquid from the collecting means to said tank, said collecting means including a squeegee assembly mounted on one of said power and maintenance units, having a transverse width at least about as great as said brush, and being located rearwardly of said brush, said squeegee assembly having a transverse central portion and a forwardly extending end portion transversely remote from the central portion, the means for transferring liquid including a first liquid pickup member adjacent the central portion for withdrawing liquid from the surface adjacent said central portion, a second liquid pickup member adjacent said forwardly extending end portion for withdrawing liquid from the surface adjacent said end portion, and fourth means for drawing liquid from said pickup members and conducting the liquid to the tank, said fourth means including fifth means for selectively conducting liquid from the first pickup member to the tank, said fifth means including a valve housing and a valve member rotatably mounted in the housing, and sixth means fixedly attached to one of the pivot members and operatively connected to the fifth means for operating the fifth means to fluidly connect the first pickup member to the tank when the power unit and trailer unit are traveling straight ahead and alternately the second pickup member to the tank when the power unit is turning from a straight ahead direction of travel in a direction opposite that from which said end portion is transversely offset from the central portion, said sixth means being connected to the valve member for rotating it as the power unit in moving forwardly turns relative the trailer unit.

7. A maintenance machine for surfaces such as a floor or the like comprising a power unit havng a main frame, and power driven wheels mounted on the main frame, a trailer unit having a trailer frame, a dirty scrubbing liquid tank, and surface engaging wheels mounted on the trailer frame, first means for towingly connecting the trailer unit to the power unit, said first means including a tow member attached to the trailer frame, a mounting attached to main frame to extend rearwardly thereof and joint means for connecting the tow member to the mounting member for relative pivotal movement about a generally vertical first axis and a second axis parallel to a straight ahead direction of movement of the power and trailer units, said joint means including a shaft mounted by the tow member for pivotal movement about the second axis and having a first end portion extending forwardly of the tow member, and a second pivot member fixedly attached to the first end portion, said second pivot member being pivotally mounted by the mounting member for pivotal movement about the first axis, a steering member on the power unit, an arm fixedly joined to at least one of the pivot members and means actuated by moving the steering member to exert a steering force on said arm, a maintenance unit including a maintenance unit frame having a downwardly opening enclosure, a power driven first brush and second means for rotatably mounting the brush on the maintenance frame to extend within the enclosure, third means for mounting the maintenance unit on the power unit to extend forwardly of the power unit and at least in part be supportingly carried by the power unit, means for collecting dirty scrubbing liquid from the surface over which said brush is moved, said collecting means being mounted on at least one of said power unit and maintenance unit, and means for transferring liquid from the collecting means to said tank, said collecting means including a squeegee assembly mounted on the power unit between said wheels and said brush, having a transverse width at least about as great as said brush, and being located rearwardly of said brush, said squeegee assembly having a transverse central portion and a forwardly extending end portion transversely remote from the central portion, the means for transferring liquid including a first liquid pickup member adjacent the central portion for withdrawing liquid from the surface adjacent said central portion, a second liquid pickup member adjacent said forwardly extending end portion for withdrawing liquid from the surface adjacent said end portion, and fourth means for drawing liquid from said pickup members and conducting the liquid to the tank, said fourth means including fifth means for selectively conducting liquid from the first pickup member to the tank, and sixth means fixedly attached to one of the pivot members and operatively connected to the fifth means for operating the fifth means to fluidly connect the first pickup member to the tank when the power unit and trailer unit are traveling straight ahead and alternately the second pickup member to the tank when the power unit is turning from a straight ahead direction to travel in a direction opposite that which said end portion is transversely offset from the central portion, the maintenance unit including side squeegees mounted on the maintenance frame adjacent the opposite ends of the brush and having rearward end portions adjacent the squeegee assembly and transversely inwardly of the terminal ends of squeegee assembly.

8. A maintenance machine for surfaces such as a floor or the like comprising a vehicle having a frame, ground engaging wheels and a dirty scrubbing liquid collection tank, a power driven brush, first means for mounting the brush on the frame, squeegee means mounted on at least one of the frame and the first means for collecting scrubbing liquid from the surface over which the brush is moved, said squeegee means including a squeegee assembly having a central portion, forwardly and predominantly transversely extending elongated portions joined to the central portion and extending outwardly on either transverse side thereof, and a generally forwardly extending end portion joined to one of the transverse portions transversely remote from the central portion, said squeegee assembly being of a transverse width of at least about as great as said brush and extending transversely rearwardly of the brush, a first liquid collection member having an inlet located adjacent the squeegee assembly central portion for withdrawing liquid from the surface between the central portion and the brush when a liquid withdrawing force is applied thereto, a second liquid collection member having an inlet located adjacent the juncture of the generally forwardly extending end portion to the transversely extending portion to which it is joined for withdrawing liquid from the surface between the squeegee assembly and the brush, and second means connected to the tank and to each of said collection members for drawing liquid through the collection members and transferring the liquid to the tank, said second means including a first conduit having one end fluidly connected to the first collection member and an opposite end, a second conduit having one end fluidly connected to the second collection member and an opposite end and third means connected to the tank and the first and second conduit opposite ends for selectively fluidly connecting the first and second conduits respectively to the tank.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that said vehicle has means for steering the vehicle to turn the vehicle, that the third means includes a valve housing having spaced first, second and third ports, a valve member in the housing movable between a first position permitting fluid flow from the third to the second port and blocking fluid flow from the third to the first port and a second position permitting fluid flow from the third to the first port and blocking fluid flow from the third to the second port, means operated by the turning of the vehicle from a straight ahead direction of travel in a direction opposite that from which the second collection member is transversely offset from the first collection member for moving the valve member from its second positions to its first position, and a third conduit for fluidly connecting the tank to the third port, said first line opposite end being fluidly connected to the first port and said second line opposite end being fluidly connected to the second port.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that said vehicle comprises a power unit having some of said engaging wheels, a trailer unit having some of said ground engaging wheels and fourth means for towingly connecting the trailer unit to the power unit, said fourth means including a mounting member fixedly attached to the power unit to extend rearwardly thereof, a tow device connected to the trailer unit to extend forwardly thereof and fifth means mounted by the mounting member for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis for towingly connecting the towing device to the mounting member, said fifth means being attached to the towing device to be translated therewith as the device moves in a plane parallel to the surface and that the steering means comprises power operated means mounted on the power unit and connected to the fifth means for selectively exerting a force on the fifth means to turn the power unit relative the trailer unit about said axis as said vehicle is moving over the surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that the means operated by the turning of the vehicle includes an arm fixedly attached to said fifth means and linkage means connecting said arm to the valve member for moving the valve member between its positions as the power unit turns about said axis relative the trailer frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that there is provided a scrubber unit, sixth means for mounting the scrubber unit on the front end of the power unit, said scrubber unit including a frame having a downwardly opening enclosure, a power driven rotary brush, means mounting the brush on the scrubber unit frame to extend within said enclosure for rotation about an axis transverse to the normal forward direction of movement of the vehicle and longitudinally elongated side squeegees mounted by the scrubber unit frame to extend along either transverse side thereof and both forwardly and rearwardly of the brush, said squeegee assembly being mounted on the power unit rearwardly of the brush and the side squeegees and extending adjacent to and transversely outwardly beyond the adjacent side squeegee portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that the sixth means includes a mounting device attached to the scrubber unit frame, a pivot device for mounting the mounting device and having a predominately vertical pivot axis, and seventh means for mounting the pivot device on the power unit for pivotal movement about the last mentioned pivot axis and that there is provided means connected to the scrubber unit for adjustably retaining the scrubber unit in selected angular positions relative said last mentioned pivot axis.