Steering mechanism for a cleaning vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A powered cleaning vehicle for moving in a longitudinal direction and cleaning a surface, comprising:
- a steering wheel being mounted to said vehicle such that said steering wheel is selectively turned about a generally vertical axis for steering said vehicle;
a steering mechanism for turning said steering wheel having a steering input member being connected to an input gear, said input gear being in meshing engagement with an output gear, said output gear being connected to a first end of a rocker arm, a second end of the rocker arm being operatively connected to said steering wheel, whereby turning said steering input member a specific angular magnitude in one direction causes said steering wheel to turn a greater angular magnitude in an opposite direction;
cleaning means connected to said vehicle and for engaging said surface for cleaning said surface;
a plurality of wheels mounted to said vehicle and engaging said surface; and
driving means mounted to said vehicle and engaging at least one of said wheels for propelling said vehicle in said longitudinal direction;
at least one of said wheels being a steering wheel.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle for moving in a longitudinal direction and cleaning a surface has a scrub brush, a cleaning fluid dispenser, a squeegee, drive means, and at least one steering wheel which is mounted to the vehicle such that it may be selectively turned for steering the vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a steering mechanism for turning the steering wheel, whereby turning a steering input member a specific angular magnitude in one direction causes the steering wheel to turn a greater angular magnitude in the opposite direction.
55 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A powered cleaning vehicle for moving in a longitudinal direction and cleaning a surface, comprising:
-
a steering wheel being mounted to said vehicle such that said steering wheel is selectively turned about a generally vertical axis for steering said vehicle; a steering mechanism for turning said steering wheel having a steering input member being connected to an input gear, said input gear being in meshing engagement with an output gear, said output gear being connected to a first end of a rocker arm, a second end of the rocker arm being operatively connected to said steering wheel, whereby turning said steering input member a specific angular magnitude in one direction causes said steering wheel to turn a greater angular magnitude in an opposite direction; cleaning means connected to said vehicle and for engaging said surface for cleaning said surface; a plurality of wheels mounted to said vehicle and engaging said surface; and driving means mounted to said vehicle and engaging at least one of said wheels for propelling said vehicle in said longitudinal direction; at least one of said wheels being a steering wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A cleaning vehicle for moving in a longitudinal direction and cleaning a surface, comprising:
-
a steering wheel being mounted to said vehicle such that said steering wheel is selectively turned about a generally vertical axis for steering said vehicle; and a steering mechanism for turning said steering wheel having a steering input member, a torque transmission bar having a first and second end, said first end being affixed to said steering input member and said second end being affixed to an input gear, said input gear being in meshing engagement with an output gear having a smaller radius than said input gear, said output gear being affixed to a first end of a rocker arm, a second end of which is operatively connected to said steering wheel, whereby turning said steering input member a specific angular magnitude in one direction causes said steering wheel to turn a greater angular magnitude in an opposite direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
-
-
19. A battery powered cleaning vehicle, comprising:
-
scrubbing means mounted to said vehicle and adapted for rotation around a generally vertical axis; fluid dispensing means mounted to said vehicle for dispensing a cleaning fluid onto said surface; a squeegee means mounted to said vehicle and for picking up said fluid from said surface; multiple wheel means mounted to said vehicle and engaging said surface; drive means mounted to said vehicle and engaging one of said wheel means for propelling said vehicle in a longitudinal direction; steering wheel means being mounted to said vehicle such that said steering wheel is selectively turned about a generally vertical axis for steering said vehicle; and steering mechanical means mounted to said vehicle for turning said steering wheel, said steering mechanism means comprising; a steering input number; a torque transmission bar having a first and second end, said first end being affixed to said steering input member and said second end being affixed to an input gear; said input gear being in meshing engagement with an output gear having a smaller radius than said input gear; said output gear being affixed to a first end of a rocker arm, a second end of which is operatively connected to said steering wheel, whereby turning said steering input member a specific angular magnitude in one direction causes said steering wheel to turn a greater angular magnitude in an opposite direction.
-
Specification