Steerable side squeegees
First Claim
1. An improved mobile surface cleaning machine comprising a frame to which are attached a steerable wheel with steering means therefore, floor treating members, a vacuum pickup squeegee behind the floor treating members, first and second side squeegees laterally outside of the floor treating members, one on each side of the floor treating members, the improvement characterized by:
- (a) mounting the side squeegees so that each of them can pivot about a vertical axis unique to that side squeegee,(b) means interconnecting the two side squeegees whereby if either of them pivots about its vertical axis the other one will also pivot about its vertical axis, and(c) means to apply a lateral force to at least one of said side squeegees when the machine turns from a straight course of travel whereby both side squeegees move about their respective vertical axes and both tend to align generally in the same direction as the direction of movement of that portion of the machine frame in the vicinity of the side squeegees.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a floor scrubbing machine, side squeegees for control of water on the floor are mounted with linkages that include vertical pivots so the squeegees can swing from side to side. They are interconnected with a tie rod so they swing in unison. A rear squeegee swings to one side or the other when the machine turns due to friction with the floor. A push-pull cable is connected between the rear squeegee mounting linkage and the linkage of a side squeegee to cause the side squeegees to swing or steer during turns. This positions them to effectively control water on the floor during a turn, and reduces squeegee wear. An alternative to steering them with the rear squeegee is to steer them with a hydraulic cylinder plumbed into the machine'"'"'s power steering system.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An improved mobile surface cleaning machine comprising a frame to which are attached a steerable wheel with steering means therefore, floor treating members, a vacuum pickup squeegee behind the floor treating members, first and second side squeegees laterally outside of the floor treating members, one on each side of the floor treating members, the improvement characterized by:
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(a) mounting the side squeegees so that each of them can pivot about a vertical axis unique to that side squeegee, (b) means interconnecting the two side squeegees whereby if either of them pivots about its vertical axis the other one will also pivot about its vertical axis, and (c) means to apply a lateral force to at least one of said side squeegees when the machine turns from a straight course of travel whereby both side squeegees move about their respective vertical axes and both tend to align generally in the same direction as the direction of movement of that portion of the machine frame in the vicinity of the side squeegees. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A mobile surface cleaning machine including a frame, a steerable rear wheel mounted to said frame, surface treating members supported on said frame and positioned forward of said steerable rear wheel, said surface treating members, during use, creating a path of soiled liquid, a vacuum pickup squeegee supported on the frame and positioned behind said steerable rear wheel and said surface treating members for removing said soiled liquid from a surface being cleaned, a pair of side squeegees, one on each side of the machine, said side squeegees being positioned laterally outside of the surface treating members and forwardly of the vacuum pickup squeegee, each of said side squeegees being supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means interconnecting said side squeegees for conjoint pivotal movement about their respective axes,
means responsive to turning movement of said machine for applying a force to rotate said side squeegees about their respective vertical axes whereby, during turning movement, said vacuum pickup squeegee and the side squeegee on the side of the turning machine toward the center of the turn, in combination, overlap the path of soiled liquid.
- 12. A mobile surface cleaning machine including a frame, a steerable wheel mounted to said frame, surface treating members supported on said frame, said surface treating members, during use, creating a path of soiled liquid, a vacuum pickup squeegee supported on the frame and positioned behind said surface treating members for removing said soiled liquid from a surface, a pair of side squeegees, one on each side of the machine, said side squeegees being positioned laterally outside of the surface treating members and forwardly of the vacuum pickup squeegee, each of said side squeegees being supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, said vacuum pickup squeegee being mounted for pivotal movement on said frame, an interconnection between said vacuum pickup squeegee and said side squeegees, frictional force developed between said vacuum pickup squeegee and the surface being cleaned during turning movement of the machine applying a force during a turn to rotate the side squeegee on the side of the machine toward the center of the turn so that the vacuum pickup squeegee and said side squeegee toward the center of the turn, in combination, overlap the path of soiled liquid.
Specification