Side sweeping brushing vacuum machine

• US 4,654,927 A
• Filed: 12/05/1984
• Issued: 04/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novinger, Harry E.
• Original Assignee: Novinger, Harry E.
• Inventors: Novinger, Harry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US06/678,346
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 15/384, 15/340, 15/50 C, 15/49 C
• US Class Current: 15/340.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes

Abstract

Semi-automatic self-propelled side sweeping mode of operation is provided by any of three forms of rotating members supporting and propelling a nozzle body over a work surface. Two of these members are designed as load bearing brush rolls while cleaning or polishing, one is a smooth cylinder and brush, the other is a dense brush-covered roll. These nozzle propelling members are arranged as pairs in tandem or in dual to their direction of travel over a work surface. The third form may operate in additional modes. Its propelling members comprise at least one pair of wheels. Each wheel is coaxial to a brush roll and may rotate with the brush roll or may free-wheel until clutched to rotate with the brush roll through linkage responsive to operator urging.

An elongated handle is on the nozzle pointed in substantially the same direction as the nozzle propelling members. Operator urging of the handle, in a twisting action, will tilt the nozzle to increase the friction of one propelling member over that of the other on the work surface. This results in nozzle travel in the direction of rotation of the propelling member, in circular sweeps about the operator. Urging of the handle by twisting also may increase the speed of rotation of one nozzle propelling member by variable electrical switch to effect side sweeps in two directions when each propelling member is individually driven by an electrical motor.

Claims

1. Brushing apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle;

at least one brush;

means rotatably connected to the nozzle, comprising cylindrical members with axes substantially parallel to a work surface, for propelling the nozzle over the work surface and for mounting the at least one brush;

the rotatable members including at least one brush roll for mounting the at least one brush and further including at least one wheel type propelling member coaxial to the at least one brush roll;

power means for rotating the rotatable means;

control means for controlling the nozzle and the rotatable means over the work surface including means forming an elongated handle on the nozzle with its longitudinal axis aligned with a plane perpendicular to the work surface, and the handle axis further aligned about 45 degrees to the axes of the rotatable means, and the plane aligned substantially parallel to the axes of the rotatable means; and

,

the control means responsive to operator urging so as to effect powered side sweeps of the nozzle over the work surface in directions perpendicular to the axes of the rotatable means and to the plane of the elongated handle means.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein;

the rotatable members include twin brush rolls with the at least one brush including two brushes one being mounted on each of the twin brush rolls, and the at least one wheel type propelling member includes two wheel type propelling members one being coaxial to each brush roll.

3. The invention of claim 2, including;

vacuum means for providing suction and debris removal.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein;

the power means includes at least one motor located approximate the nozzle, the twin brush rolls are in tandem, the elongated handle is hinged to the nozzle, the rotatable means includes at least two wheel type propelling members, and the power means further includes clutch means operatively associated with the control means for clutch rotation of the propelling members at variable speeds for the powered side sweeps.

5. Brushing apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle;

at least one brush;

means rotatably connected to the nozzle, comprising cylindrical members with axes substantially parallel to a work surface, for propelling the nozzle over the work surface and for mounting the at least one brush;

power means for rotating the rotatable means;

control means for controlling the nozzle and the rotatable means over the work surface including means forming an elongated handle on the nozzle with its longitudinal axis aligned with a plane perpendicular to the work surface, the handle axis further aligned about 45 degrees to the axes of the rotatable means, and the plane aligned substantially parallel to the axes to the rotatable means;

the control means responsive to operator urging so as to effect powered side sweeps of the nozzle over the work surface in directions perpendicular to the axes of the rotatable means and to the plane of the elongated handle;

the rotatable members including twin brush rolls with the at least one brush including two brushes, one being mounted on each of the twin brush rolls;

vacuum means for providing suction and debris removal; and

,

the power means including at least one motor on the nozzle, the twin brush rolls being in tandem, the elongated handle is hinged to the nozzle, the rotatable means further including at least one wheel type propelling member fixed to rotate with each of the brush rolls, and the power means further includes electrical switch means operatively associated with the control means for differential speed control of the rotatable means.

6. Brushing apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle;

at least one brush;

rotatable means for supporting and propelling the nozzle over a work surface and for mounting the at least one brush, rotatably connected to the nozzle and comprising cylindrical members with axes substantially parallel to the work surface;

the rotatable members include at least one brush roll for mounting the at least one brush and further includes at least one wheel type propelling member coaxial to the at least one brush roll;

power means for rotating the rotatable means;

an elongated handle member on the nozzle, having its longitudinal axis disposed in alignment with a plane perpendicular to the work surface and at about 45 degrees to the axes of the rotatable members and the plane aligned substantially parallel to the axes of the rotatable members, for control of the nozzle and the rotatable means; and

,

the nozzle and the rotatable means responsive to operator urging of the elongated handle members for self propulsion in path directions over the work surface perpendicular to the axes of the rotatable member and plane of the elongated handle member.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein;

the at least one brush roll includes twin brush rolls with the at least one brush including two brushes one being on each of the brush rolls, and the at least one wheel type propelling member includes two wheeltype propelling members one being coaxial to each brush roll.

8. The invention of claim 7, including;

vacuum means for providing suction and debris removal and the brush rolls rotatable in opposite directions in respect to each other.

9. The invention of claim 8, wherein;

the power means includes at least one motor located approximate the nozzle, the twin brush rolls are in tandem, the elongated handle members is hinged to the nozzle, and the power means further includes clutch means operatively associated with the elongated handle members for clutch rotation of the wheel type propelling members.

10. The invention of claim 7, wherein;

the power means includes at least one motor on the nozzle, the twin brush rolls are in tandem and rotatable in opposite directions, the elongated handle means is hinged to the nozzle, and the elongated handle means includes hand grip means on the elongated handle means rotatable to the elongated handle means and operatively associated with the power means for rotation of the wheel type propelling members at variable speeds for the self propulsion.

11. Brushing apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle;

at least one brush;

rotatable means for supporting and propelling the nozzle over a work surface and for mounting the at least one brush, rotatably connected to the nozzle and comprising cylindrical members with axes substantially parallel to the work surface;

power means for rotating the rotatable means;

an elongated handle member on the nozzle, having its axis disposed in alignment with a plane perpendicular to the work surface and at about 45 degrees to the axes of the rotatable members and the plane aligned substantially parallel to the axes of the rotatable members, for control of the nozzle and the rotatable means;

the nozzle and the rotatable means responsive to operator urging of the elongated handle member for self propulsion in path directions over the work surface perpendicular to the axes of the rotatable members and plane of the elongated handle member;

the rotatable members includes twin brush rolls with the at least one brush including two brushes one being mounted on each of the brush rolls;

vacuum means for providing suction and debris removal and the brush rolls rotatable in opposite directions in respect to each other; and

,

the power means includes at least one motor on the nozzle, the twin brush rolls are in tandem, the elongated handle member is hinged to the nozzle, the rotatable members includes at least one wheel type propelling member fixed to rotate with each of the brush rolls, and the power means further includes electrical switch means operatively associated with the elongated handle member for differential speed control of the rotatable means.

12. Brushing apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle;

at least one brush;

means rotatably connected to the nozzle comprising cylindrical members with axes substantially parallel to a work surface, for propelling the nozzle over the work surface and for mounting the at least one brush;

power means for rotating the rotatable means;

control means for controlling the nozzle and the rotatable means over the work surface including means forming an elongated handle member on the nozzle with its longitudinal axis aligned with a plane perpendicular to the work surface, the handle axis further aligned about 45 degrees to the axes of the rotatable members, and the plane aligned substantially parallel to the axes of the rotatable members;

the control means responsive to operator urging so as to effect powered side sweeps of the nozzle over the work surface in directions perpendicular to the axes of the rotatable members and to the plane of the elongated handle member; and

,

the power means includes at least one motor located approximate the nozzle, the rotatable members includes twin brush rolls in tandem and rotatable in opposite directions, the at least one brush including two brushes one being mounted on each of the twin brush rolls, and the power means further includes belt means for belt transmission of power to rotate the rotatable members.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein;

the elongated handle member is hinged to the nozzle, the rotatable members including at least one wheel type propelling member coaxial with each of the twin brush rolls, and the control means includes hand grip means on the elongated handle member rotatable with respect to the elongated handle member and operatively associated with the rotatable members to vary the speed of the at least one wheel type propelling member for enabling the operator urging.

14. Brushing apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle;

at least one brush;

rotatable means for supporting and propelling the nozzle over a work surface and for mounting the at least one brush, rotatably connected to the nozzle and comprising cylindrical members with axes substantially parallel to the work surface;

power means for rotating the rotatable means;

an elongated handle member on the nozzle, having its longitudinal axis disposed in alignment with a plane perpendicular to the work surface and at about 45 degrees to the axes of the rotatable members and the plane aligned substantially parallel to the axes of the rotatable members, for control of the nozzle and the rotatable means;

the nozzle and the rotatable means responsive to operator urging of the elongated handle members for self propulsion in path directions over the work surface perpendicular to the axes of the rotatable member and plane of the elongated handle member;

the rotatable members includes twin brush rolls with the at least one brush including two brushes, one being mounted on each of the brush rolls;

the power means includes at least one motor on the nozzle, and the twin brush rolls are in tandem and rotatable in opposite directions;

the elongated handle member is hinged to the nozzle, the rotatable members including at least one wheel type propelling member coaxial with each brush roll, and the elongated handle member includes hand grip means on the elongated handle member rotatable with respect to the elongated handle member and operatively associated with the hand grip rotatable means for clutch rotation of the wheel type propelling members at variable speeds for self propulsion.