Collection system for a floor polishing machine
First Claim
1. In a machine for maintaining a work surface including a planar member for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the work surface in a plane substantially parallel to the work surface and a housing including a planar portion located on the opposite side of the planar member from the work surface and having a periphery, with the housing further including a flange extending from the periphery of the planar portion towards and adjacent to the work surface, with the planar member located within the planar portion and flange of the housing, an improved system comprising, in combination:
- first and second air barriers extending from the planar portion of the housing towards but spaced from the planar member, with the air barriers being circumferentially spaced from each other and extending from the periphery of the planar portion towards the axis of the planar member; and
an air outlet associated with each air barrier and extending from the housing adjacent the periphery of the planar portion and the air barrier, with the air outlet positioned on the side of the air barrier opposite to the direction of rotation of the planar member, with the air barriers being circumferentially adjacent at a relatively small acute angle from each other relative to the axis of the rotation of the planar member.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dust collection/control system is disclosed utilized in a floor polishing machine (10) in the most preferred form. A polishing member (16) for maintaining a floor surface as it is moved along the floor is located and rotated within a housing or shield (186) including a circular, planar portion (92) terminating at its periphery in a downwardly extending flange (94) including a flexible skirt (95) which engages the floor. The rotation of the polishing member (16) within the housing (186) passively generates an air current contained within the housing (186). The air current engages first and second air barriers (190, 191) which extend downwardly from the planar portion (92) and generally radially inwardly from the flange (94) to create high pressure areas upstream of the air barriers (190, 191) with high pressure air being allowed to escape through separate air outlets (188, 189) into a single filter and collection bag (148) and to create a vacuum inside of the housing (186) to draw air around the skirt (95) to entrain the dust and air in the circling air current. In the preferred form, the air barriers (190, 191) are circumferentially spaced at a angle in the order of 20° from each other and are sized so that the flow rates through the air outlets (188, 189) are generally equal.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a machine for maintaining a work surface including a planar member for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the work surface in a plane substantially parallel to the work surface and a housing including a planar portion located on the opposite side of the planar member from the work surface and having a periphery, with the housing further including a flange extending from the periphery of the planar portion towards and adjacent to the work surface, with the planar member located within the planar portion and flange of the housing, an improved system comprising, in combination:
- first and second air barriers extending from the planar portion of the housing towards but spaced from the planar member, with the air barriers being circumferentially spaced from each other and extending from the periphery of the planar portion towards the axis of the planar member; and
an air outlet associated with each air barrier and extending from the housing adjacent the periphery of the planar portion and the air barrier, with the air outlet positioned on the side of the air barrier opposite to the direction of rotation of the planar member, with the air barriers being circumferentially adjacent at a relatively small acute angle from each other relative to the axis of the rotation of the planar member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- first and second air barriers extending from the planar portion of the housing towards but spaced from the planar member, with the air barriers being circumferentially spaced from each other and extending from the periphery of the planar portion towards the axis of the planar member; and
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17. Device for filtering and collecting dust simultaneously from first and second, separate air streams comprising, in combination:
- a bag including a closed interior, with the bag being formed of filter material allowing the escape of pressurized air from the closed interior while generally preventing dust from passing from the closed interior to outside the bag;
first means for receiving the first air stream into the closed interior of the bag; and
second means for receiving the second air stream into the closed interior the bag, with the second receiving means being separate from the first receiving means, with the closed interior simultaneously receiving the first and second air streams;
wherein the first and second air streams pass through first and second spouts, respectively, with each of the spouts having a free end; and
wherein the bag includes a bottom, with the receiving means each comprising, in combination;
means for allowing the spout to be passed through the bottom of the bag in a sealing relation with the bag and with the free end located in the closed interior of the bag. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
- a bag including a closed interior, with the bag being formed of filter material allowing the escape of pressurized air from the closed interior while generally preventing dust from passing from the closed interior to outside the bag;
Specification