Automatic surface-treating apparatus

• US 4,782,550 A
• Filed: 02/12/1988
• Issued: 11/08/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Von Schrader Manufacturing Company LLP
• Original Assignee: Von Schrader Company
• Inventors: Jacobs, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US07/155,312
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/340, 15/339, 15/319, 180/7.2, 180/79, 180/199, 180/203
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection

Abstract

Improved automatic surface-treating apparatus of the type supported by and traversing a horizontal surface unattended. The apparatus includes mobility members for movement in a principal direction and side-step members having rotational axes a given distance above the surface. Each side-step member has a first sector with a far periphery spaced from its axis by more than the given distance, and a second sector with a near periphery spaced from its axis by less than the given distance. This arrangement allows a single rotation of the side-step members to accurately lift and move the apparatus laterally through a predetermined distance, to a new surface-treatment path.

Claims

1. Automatic surface-treating apparatus of the type supported by and traversing a horizontal surface unattended, comprising:

a frame;

mobility members on the frame rotatable about axes extending in a first horizontal direction;

means on the frame fo treating the surface as the apparatus traverses the surface;

side-step members on the frame rotatable about horizontal axes transverse to the first direction and a given distance above the surface, each side-step member having;

a first sector with a far periphery spaced from its axis by more than the given distance, and

a second sector with a near periphery spaced from its axis by less than the given distance;

whereby rotation of the side-step members will lift and move the apparatus laterally a predetermined distance.

2. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axes of side-step member rotation are perpendicular to the rotation axes of the mobility members.

3. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are four side-step members in a substantially rectangular arrangement.

4. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the side-step members have congruent profiles and center points, whereby the directional orientation of the apparatus is maintained during lateral movement caused by rotation of such members.

5. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 4 further including a single side-step drive unit and means connecting such drive unit to all side-step members, whereby the directional orientation of the apparatus is maintained during laterl movement caused by rotation of such members.

6. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 4 wherein, in the side-step member profile, the first sector far periphery extends along a substantially circular path and the second sector near periphery departs from such circular path.

7. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 6 wherein, in profile, the near periphery follows a chord to close the substantially circular path such that the near periphery is substantially flat and, when the side-step members are not in use, substantially parallel to the surface.

8. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 6 wherein the far periphery extends along an arc of at least 180 degrees.

9. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the surface-treating means includes surface-contact members of a first width such that a path of first width is treated as the apparatus traverses the surface on its mobility members; and

the side-step members have far peripheries of length less than said first width,

whereby one rotation of the side-step members moves the apparatus laterally to a parallel position not beyond the path already treated.

10. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein mobility members are wheels, including at least one drive wheel.

11. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a reversible first drive means linked to at least one of the mobility members;

a second drive means linked to the side-step members; and

means to control operation of the drive means thereby to control straight and lateral movements of the apparatus.

12. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control means comprises programmable control means.

13. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a control panel including means for digital programming of the apparatus prior to operation.

14. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second drive means include geared motors.

15. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-treating means comprises means for cleaning carpets.

16. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 15 wherein the carpet-cleaning means comprises:

means on the frame for applying foam to carpet on the surface;

a brush movably mounted with respect to the frame in position to stroke the foam through the carpet to loosen carpet soil;

means secured to the frame in position adjacent to the brush to vacuum the foam and loosened carpet soil from the carpet; and

at least one cleaning drive means to drive one or more of the foam applying means, brush and vacuum means.

17. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 16 further including:

a reversible first drive means linked to at least one of the mobility members;

a second drive means linked to the side-step members; and

means to control operation of the plural drive means thereby to control straight and lateral movements of the apparatus and its cleaning operations.

18. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 17 wherein the control means comprises programmable control means.

19. The automatic surface-treating apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a control panel including means for digital programming of the apparatus prior to operation.