Scrubber squeegee apparatus

• US 4,037,289 A
• Filed: 11/19/1975
• Issued: 07/26/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Dojan, Harold D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aegerter, Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shepperd, John W.
• Application Number:
  US05/633,265
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 15/50 R, 15/50 C, 15/51, 15/245, 15/320, 15/340, 15/98, 15/359
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4055 for lifting the tools to a non-working position

Abstract

Apparatus for maintaining surfaces that includes a powered mobile machine having a frame, a scrubbing tool, a liquid distributor ahead of the scrubbing tool, a clean solution tank for supplying liquid to the liquid distributor, a housing mounting the tool, a rear squeegee assembly and side squeegee assemblies, a dirty solution tank on the frame, and a vacuumized system for withdrawing liquid collected by the rear squeegee assembly and transferring it to the dirty solution tank. The rear squeegee assembly is preferably parabolic in plan view. Scissor type linkages are connected to the housing or other parts of the machine and each of the rear and side squeegee assemblies and are spring urged to urge the respective assembly downwardly with nearly constant pressure. Further, in each of the first and second embodiments of the rear squeegee assembly, parallel linkages mount the rear squeegee assembly for limited vertical movement relative the housing. Additionally, each of the squeegee assemblies, other than the one for the front squeegee of the third embodiment, includes quick release mechanism for removably retaining the squeegee on the respective squeegee frame, the quick release mechanism including an arcuately curved band for applying a squeegee clamping pressure. For the front squeegee of the third embodiment there is provided release mechanism that includes such a band and locking mechanism for releasably retaining the band in a clamping position that requires the turning of only a single bolt for releasing the clamping pressure applied by the band.

Claims

1. For a surface maintenance machine, a squeegee assembly comprising an elongated flexible squeegee, an elongated squeegee frame having a first terminal end portion, a second terminal end portion and an elongated arcuately curved backing surface intermediate portion between said end portions, and operable quick release means for clamping the squeegee against the backing surface and retaining the squeegee in a squeegee working position on the frame and alternately for releasing the squeegee, said quick release means including an over center locking device that is operable between a squeegee clamping position and a squeegee release position, an elongated band having a first end portion, an intermediate portion and a second end portion, said band first end portion and squeegee frame first end portion having cooperating means for transmitting a force from the band to the squeegee frame to move the band intermediate portion toward the backing surface intermediate portion when the locking device is operated from its release position toward its clamping position, means for connecting the device to the band second end portion, and means for connecting the locking device to the squeegee frame second end portion, the last mentioned means including an elongated second band having a first end portion connected to the locking device, and a second end portion, said second band second end portion and squeegee frame second end portion having cooperating means for transmitting a force from the second band to the squeegee frame when the locking device is operated from its release position toward its clamping position, the locking device comprising means for forcing the bands to exert a force on their second end portions to move them away from one another when the locking means is moved from its release position toward its clamping position, and the cooperating means including squeegee frame portions to limit the movement of the band second end portions away from one another.

2. For a surface maintenance machine, a squeegee assembly comprising an elongated flexible squeegee, an elongated squeegee frame having an elongated backing surface, elongated clamp means operable between a first condition to cooperate with the squeegee frame for clampingly engaging the squeegee to hold the squeegee against the backing surface and alternately to a second condition for releasing the clamping engagement, the clamp means including elongated band means for engaging the squeegee opposite the backing surface, each of said band means, squeegee frame and squeegee having a first end portion and a second end portion, said squeegee frame and band means first end portions having cooperating means for supportingly retaining the band means first end portion on frame when the clamp means is in its clamping condition, said clamp means including operable means acting against the frame second end portion and the band means second end portion for moving the band means relative the backing surface to clamp the squeegee between the band means and the backing surface, including clamping the squeegee first end portion between the band means and squeegee frame first end portions, the means acting against the frame second end portion including an over center locking device, the backing surface along at least the squeegee frame first end portion being arcuately curved, the backing surface having an elongated intermediate portion that at the intersection with a horizontal plane extends in a straight line, said band means comprising an elongated band having said band means first and second end portion and an elongated intermediate portion between said band means first and second end portions, said band means in a clamp means clamping condition including a clamp member having an elongated, squeegee engaging surface portion for engaging the side of the squeegee opposite the backing surface intermediate portion and a plurality of spaced spacer members joined to the clamp member surface portion to extend outward therefrom in a direction away from the squeegee, said spacer members having vertical terminal edges remote from the clamp member surface portion that are located along a circle having a radius of curvature on the opposite side of the backing surface intermediate portion from the band intermediate portion.

3. The squeegee assembly, of claim 2 wherein it is a side squeegee assembly, that the first end portions comprise rear end portions, that the second end portions comprise front portions, and that said backing surface in a forward direction from a location forwardly of its first end portion is progressively inclined in a vertical direction to be at a larger angle relative to the vertical.

4. For a surface maintenance machine, a squeegee assembly comprising an elongated flexible squeegee, an enlongated squeegee frame having an elongated arcuately concavely curved backing surface, elongated clamp means operable between a first condition to cooperate with the squeegee frame for clampingly engaging the squeegee to hold the squeegee against the backing surface and alternately to a second condition for releasing the clamping engagement, the clamp means including elongated band means for engaging the squeegee opposite the backing surface, each of said band means, squeegee frame and squeegee having a first end portion and a second end portion, said squeegee frame and band means first end portions having cooperating means for supportingly retaining the band means first end portion on frame when the clamp means is in its clamping condition, said clamp means including operable means acting against the frame second end portion and the band means second end portion for moving the band means relative the backing surface to clamp the squeegee between the band means and the backing surface, including clamping the squeegee first end portion between the band means and squeegee frame first end portions, said cooperating means including a squeegee frame surface portion that extends away from said backing surface in a direction generally toward the squeegee frame second end portion and a band means hooked end portion to engage said surface portion between said surface portion and the backing surface.

5. The squeegee assembly of claim 4 further characterized in that the operable means includes adjustment bolt means acting between band means second end portion and the squeegee frame second end portion for selectively moving the band means to clamp the squeegee between the band means and the backing surface.

6. The squeegee assembly of claim 4 further characterized in that said band means comprise a band having said hooked portion, said band means second end portion and a main body portion between said hooked portion and said band means second end portion, said main body portion having an elongated convex surface for abutting against the squeegee, and that the last mentioned operable means includes means for forcing the band second end portion toward said hooked portion to place the main body portion in compression.

7. The squeegee assembly of claim 6 further characterized in that said squeegee frame includes a top wall, a back wall dependingly joined to the top wall, a front wall dependingly joined to the top wall in spaced relationship to the back wall to, in conjunction with said top wall and back wall, form a vacuum channel portion, and an outlet opening to the vacuum channel portion for applying a vacuum thereto, said front wall having the above mentioned backing surface remote from said back wall and said back wall having an elongated convexly curved backing surface remote from the front wall, an elongated flexible second squeegee, elongated second band means for applying a clamping pressure to the second squeegee to hold it against the back wall backing surface, said second band means having a main body portion that has an elongated concavely curved surface portion for abutting against the second squeegee, a first end portion to hookingly engage the squeegee frame first end portion and joined to the second band means main body portion, and a second end portion, and means for acting against the squeegee frame second end portion and the second band means second end portion for placing second band means main body portion in tension to clamp the second squeegee between the second band means concavely curved surface portion and the back wall backing surface.

8. The squeegee assembly of claim 6 further characterized in that means for forcing the second band portion comprises adjustment bolt means for acting against the squeegee frame and the band first end portion for selectively placing the main body portion in compression.

9. A surface maintenance machine comprising a mobile vehicle having a normal forward direction of movement, a vehicle frame, a downwardly opening brush housing, means for mounting the housing on the vehicle frame, a power driven scrubbing tool rotatably mounted in the housing, a transversely elongated rear squeegee assembly extending rearwardly of the tool and having a first end portion, a central portion and a second end portion, parallel arm means connected to each of the rear squeegee assembly end portions and the housing to mount the assembly for vertical movement, while permitting one of the rear squeegee assembly end portions moving to a higher elevation than the other, means for selectively retaining the rear squeegee assembly in an elevated travel position and alternately lowering the rear squeegee assembly, and in the squeegee assembly lowered position, limit the downward movement of the central portion while permitting the central portion to move freely upwardly, first spring urged arm means connected to the housing, and to the squeegee assembly between its first end portion and the central portion for constantly exerting a downward force on the squeegee assembly, and second spring urged arm means connected to the housing and to the squeegee assembly between the second end portion and the central portion for constantly exerting a downward force on the squeegee assembly, a pair of longitudinally elongated side squeegee assemblies extending transversely inwardly of the rear squeegee assembly end portions and forwardly of the rear squeegee assembly, one on either transverse side of the tool, spring urged means for each side squeegee assembly mounted on the housing for mounting the respective side squeegee assembly for limited vertical movement relative the housing and constantly resiliently urging it downwardly relative the housing, the rear squeegee assembly spring urging means, and each of the side squeegee assembly mounting means comprising means for urging the respective assembly downwardly under nearly constant pressure within the limits of the vertical movement of the assembly relative to the housing, the last mentioned urging means including a first and a second arm that each have a first end portion and a second end portion, first means for pivotally connecting the first arm first end portion to the housing, second pivot means for pivotally connecting the second arm second end portion to the respective squeegee assembly, means for pivotally connecting the arms second end portions together at an elevation between the first and second pivot means, and spring means acting through the second end portion connecting means and the arms for resiliently urging the second pivot means downwardly, each side squeegee assembly urging means including a third arm having one end pivotally connected to the housing and an opposite end pivotally connected to the respective side squeegee assembly, each squeegee assembly including an elongated squeege frame having a first end portion, a second portion and an elongated squeegee backing surface, an elongated squeegee, and elongated band means operable between a squeegee release position and a position clamping the squeegee against the squeegee backing surface, the band means including an elongated band having a hooked end portion for hookingly engaging the squeegee frame first end portion, and an opposite end portion, and operable means for acting against the band end portion and the squeegee frame second end portion for clamping the squeegee against the squeegee frame, and alternately release the clamping engagement.

10. A surface maintenance machine comprising a mobile vehicle having a normal forward direction of travel, a vehicle frame, a longitudinally elongated side squeegee assembly, and means for mounting the squeegee assembly on the frame, the squeegee assembly including a squeegee frame having a backing surface portion that has a longitudinally elongated convoluted backing surface, said backing surface having a rear portion extending substantially parallel to the vertical, a front portion extending transversely outwardly in a downward direction and predominantly vertically, and an elongated intermediate portion extending between the front and rear portions, an elongated squeegee, and means for retaining the squeegee on the squeegee frame in engagement with the backing surface and in depending relationship thereto, the squeegee frame backing surface portion having a rear section extending rearwardly of the convoluted portion, said rear section having a squeegee backing surface that is arcuately curved to extend rearwardly and transversely inwardly, the rear section having a rear end portion, the squeegee retaining means including elongated band means operable between a release position and a clamping position to clamp the squeegee against the backing surface, said band means in a clamping position having a first end portion connected to the squeegee frame forwardly of the squeegee and a second end portion connected to the rear section rear end portion, the band means in the clamp position including a longitudinally elongated flexible band section on the opposite side of the squeegee from convoluted backing surface, and a clamp member between the band section and squeegee that has a longitudinally elongated squeegee engaging surface that is concoluted, and longitudinally spaced band section engaging surfaces that in a rearward direction are progressively more transversely remote from the clamp member squeegee engaging surface and thence are progressively more closely adjacent the clamp member squeegee engaging surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that the clamp member has longitudinally spaced spacer members that extend rearwardly and transversely rearwardly of the clamp member squeegee engaging surface, each spacer member having a terminal band section engaging edge that provides one of the band section engaging surfaces.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that the squeegee has a plurality of longitudinally spaced stud apertures extending transversely therethrough, that the clamp member has a plurality of longitudinally spaced stud apertures and that there are provided a plurality of longitudinally spaced studs mounted on the squeegee frame to extend transversely outwardly for extension through the squeegee apertures and into the clamp member apertures to support the squeegee and clamp member on the squeegee frame in the band means release position, and that one of the band means end portions has a hooked end portion and that the squeegee frame has a band hooked end portion engaging surface portion to cooperate with the band means hooked portion to retain it in clamping engagement with the squeegee frame when the band means is in the clamping position.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that the clamp member has a rear terminal end portion, that the arcuately curved backing surface extends rearwardly of the clamp member terminal end portion, and that the band means includes an elongated flexible band section for clampingly engaging the squeegee opposite the arcuately curved section.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that in a band means clamping position the clamp member squeegee engaging surface extends forwardly and transversely outwardly at an angle of about 3°

to the normal direction of travel of the machine.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that the squeegee assembly has a front end portion and a rear end portion, that the squeegee assembly mounting means includes a longitudinally elongated squeegee frame mounting member and means mounting the squeegee frame on the mounting member for limited vertical movement between a datum position and positions the squeegee assembly front and rear end portions are at varying vertical elevations relative their positions in a datum position, the squeegee frame mounting means in a datum position including a first, a second and a third arm each having a first end portion and a second end portion, first pivot means for pivotally connecting the first arm first end portion to the squeegee frame mounting member, second pivot means for pivotally connecting the first arm second end portion to the squeegee frame at a lower elevation and rearwardly of the first pivot means, third pivot means for pivotally connecting the second arm first end portion to the squeegee frame mounting member, fourth means for pivotally connecting the third arm first end portion to the squeegee frame a substantial distance rearwardly of the second pivot means, and means for pivotally connecting the second and third arms together rearwardly of the third and fourth pivot means and vertical therebetween, resiliently urging the second and third arms second end portion forwardly, and limiting the forward movement of the second and third arm second end portions.

16. A surface maintenance machine comprising a mobile vehicle having a normal forward direction of movement, a vehicle frame, a downwardly opening brush housing, means for mounting the housing on the vehicle frame, a power driven scrubbing tool rotatably mounted in the housing, a transversely elongated rear squeegee assembly extending rearwardly of the tool and having a first end portion, a central portion and a second end portion, parallel arm means connected to each of the rear squeegee assembly end portions and the housing to mount the assembly for vertical movement, while permitting portion for of the rear squeegee assembly end portions moving to a higher elevation than the other, means for selectively retaining the rear squeegee assembly in an elevated travel position and alternately lowering the rear squeegee assembly, and in the squeegee assembly lowered position, limit the downward movement of the central portion while permitting the central portion to move freely upwardly, first spring urged arm means connected to the housing, and to the squeegee assembly between its first end portion and the central for constantly exerting a downward force on the squeegee assembly, and second spring urged arm means connected to the housing and to the squeegee assembly between the second end portion and the central portion for constantly exerting a downward force on the squeegee assembly, each of the spring urged arm means including first, second, third and fourth arms that each have a first end portion and a second end portion, first pivot means for pivotally connecting the first and second arms first end portions and pivotally attaching said first and second arms first end portions to the housing, second pivot means for pivotally connecting the third and fourth arms first end portions together below the first pivot means and pivotally attaching the third and fourth arms first end portions to the squeegee assembly, third pivot means for pivotally connecting the first and third arms second end portions, fourth pivot means for pivotally connecting the second and fourth arms second end portions and means for resiliently urging the first and second arm second end portions toward the third and fourth arms second end portions, the last mentioned means being connected to the third and fourth pivot means.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that the pivot means have parallel pivot axes and that the third pivot means is on the opposite side of the plane of the first and second pivot axes from the fourth pivot axis.

18. For a surface maintenance machine, a squeegee assembly comprising an elongated flexible squeegee, an elongated squeegee frame having a first terminal end portion, a second terminal end portion remote from the first terminal end portion and an elongated backing surface intermediate portion having an elongated backing surface between said end portions, and quick release means mountable on the frame for clamping the squeegee against the backing surface and retaining the squeegee in a squeegee working position on the frame and alternately for releasing the squeegee, said quick release means including an over center locking device that is operable between a squeegee clamping position and a squeegee release position, an elongated band having a first end portion, an intermediate portion and a second end portion, said band first end portion and squeegee frame first end portion having cooperating means for transmitting a force from the band to the squeegee frame to move the band intermediate portion toward the backing surface intermediate portion when the locking device is operated from its release position toward its clamping position, means for connecting the device to the band second end portion, and means for connecting the locking device to the squeegee frame second end portion, said squeegee frame including an elongated backing surface portion having a surface forming at least part of the backing surface and an upper elongated linear edge, and the quick release means including a clamp member having an elongated squeegee engaging section having a squeegee engageable surface, a plurality of protrusions spaced along the length of the squeegee engaging section and extending outwardly from the squeegee engaging section on the side thereof opposite the squeegee engageable surface thereof, said protrusions having band engaging edges remote from the squeegee engaging section, said band engaging edges being located on the arc of a circle having a center of curvation on the opposition side of said squeegee engaging section from said band engaging edges.

19. A surface maintenance machine comprising a mobile vehicle having a vehicle frame, a squeegee assembly mounting member, means for mounting the mounting member on the vehicle frame, an elongated squeegee assembly having a squeegee frame, a squeegee, and means for securing the squeegee to the squeegee frame to extend to a lower elevation than the squeegee frame, and spring urged means connected between the squeegee assembly mounting member and the squeegee frame to permit limited vertical movement of the squeegee frame relative the squeegee assembly mounting member and constantly urge the squeegee frame downwardly under nearly constant pressure within the range of limited vertical movement, the above mentioned spring urged means including a mechanical arm having a first end portion and a second end portion, means having a generally horizontal first pivot axis for pivotally connecting the arm first end portion to the squeegee assembly mounting member, and spring urged means for connecting the arm second end portion to the squeegee assembly to resiliently urge the squeegee assembly to move downwardly, the second mentioned spring urged means including a second arm having a first end portion and a second end portion, means having a generally horizontal second pivot axis for pivotally connecting the first and second arms second end portions together, means having a generally horizontal third pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis for connecting the second arm first end portion to the squeegee frame, and means connected to the second pivot axis means for resiliently urging the second pivot axis means in a direction to move the second pivot axis toward the plane of the first and third pivot axes, the last mentioned resilient urging means including a third arm, a fourth arm, each of the third and fourth arms having a first end portion and a second end portion, the third arm first end portion being pivotally mounted by the first pivot axis means, the fourth arm first end portion being pivotally mounted by the third pivot axis means, means having a generally horizontal fourth pivot axis parallel to the third pivot axis for pivotally connecting the third and fourth arm second end portions and means connected between the second and fourth pivot axis means for resiliently urging the second and fourth pivot axis means toward one another.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further characterized in that the last mentioned resilient urging means includes a coil spring having a first end portion and a second end portion, means pivotally mounted on the second pivot axis means for mounting the spring first end portion in various selected adjusted positions at varying spacings from the second pivot axis.

21. A surface maintenance machine having a normal forward direction of motion comprising a mobile vehicle having a vehicle frame, a transversely elongated rear squeegee assembly that includes a squeegee that is generally parabolic in plan view, a squeegee assembly mounting member mounted on the vehicle frame, and means for mounting the squeegee assembly on the mounting member for limited vertical movement including first and second spring urged means connected to the squeegee assembly in transverse spaced relationship closely adjacent positions that are in longitudinal alignment with the intersections of the center axis of squeegee deflection with the squeegee and connected to the mounting member for maintaining the downward force exerted by the squeegee assembly on the surface being cleaned nearly constant even with limited vertical movement of the mounting member relative the surface, each of the above spring urged means including a first and a second elongated arm that each have a front end portion and a rear end portion, first pivot means having a generally horizontal pivot axis for pivotally connecting the first arm front end portion to the squeegee assembly, second pivot means having a generally horizontal pivot axis a substantial distance forwardly of the first pivot axis for pivotally connecting the second arm rear end portion to the squeegee assembly, third pivot means having a generally horizontal pivot axis a substantial distance forwardly of the second pivot axis for pivotally connecting the second arm front end portion to the mounting member, a crank arm having a first end portion and a mid portion, fourth pivot means having a pivot axis for pivotally connecting the crank arm mid portion to the mounting member, spring means connected to the mounting member and the crank arm for constantly urging the crank arm to pivot about the fourth pivot means pivot axis in a direction to move the crank arm first end portion downwardly, and fifth pivot means for pivotally connecting the first arm rear end position to the crank arm first end portion, the first and second arms of each of the first and second spring urged means extending in directions relative one another that the lines of downward directed force exerted by them intersect the surface being squeegeed closely adjacent the center axis of squeegee deflection when the squeegee assembly is in a normal position of use.