Floor cleaning machine and method

• US 6,088,873 A
• Filed: 10/20/1997
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American National Bank And Trust Company Of Chicago
• Original Assignee: Breuer Electric Mfg., Co.
• Inventors: Potter, Matthew B., Pacchini, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALDAG, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US08/954,598
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/368, 15/385, 15/412, 15/340.3, 15/371
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine having a body in which the body cover assembly is hollow and serves as the recovery solution reservoir; while the lower body assembly, which is also hollow, serves as the cleaning solution tank or reservoir. In addition, the lower body has a recessed area proportioned to receive and secure the batteries required for driving the motors involved in the floor cleaning machine. A trans-axle drive supports the lower body and has a drive wheel at each end powered by a motor differential engaging the axles coupled to the wheels. Together the body and trans-axle drive comprise a modular power unit. Mounting means are provided on the forward portion of the lower body of the power unit for lift arms to be secured to various power floor scrubbers for use on hard floors or a carpet extractor for cleaning carpeted floors. The linkage for the floor scrubber mode and carpet cleaning mode is the same. Such linkage also uses a maximum number of resiliently mounted bushings which, along with the monocoque body and retained fluid movement, cushion against damage by impact under power.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning machine having a body and a wheel supporting assembly, comprising, in combination,

a hollow body portion having means for securement to a trans-axle power unit and casters at the rear of the hollow body portion,

said hollow body having a hollow body lower solution tank and a hollow body cover solution tank for the lower solution tank,

a trans-axle power unit secured transversely to the hollow body lower solution tank perpendicular to the direction of movement of the floor cleaning machine,

coupling means, including impact cushioning means, at a forward portion of the lower solution tank and forward of the trans-axial power unit for interchangeable securement to a floor scrubbing head or a carpet cleaning head,

whereby a single floor cleaning machine body can be used selectively as a floor cleaner for scrubbing hard floors or as a carpet extractor for covering carpeted floors,

said coupling means comprising

a head angle control having one end secured to the forward portion of the trans-axle power unit and another end removably secured to the floor cleaning head or carpet cleaning head to be employed,

pivotal lift arms secured at one end to the trans-axle power unit and removably secured at the other end to the floor scrubbing head or carpet cleaning head,

and a height control actuator removably secured at one end to the floor scrubbing head or carpet cleaning head and secured at the other end to the lower solution tank,

whereby the floor cleaning head or carpet cleaning head is removably secured to the floor cleaning machine and is capable of being raised or lowered by the height control actuator toward or away from a floor surface to be cleaned.

2. For use with a power drive of a floor cleaning machine, a floor scrubbing head, said scrubber head comprising, in combination,

a pair of spaced motors,

a floor scrubber housing securing said motors in position for driving brushes there beneath,

a rotating scrub brush secured to each respective spaced motor,

pivotal lift arms and a head angle control removably and pivotally secured at first ends to the scrubber housing,

wherein second ends of the pivotal lift arms and head angle control pivotally engage the power drive,

a scrubber powered lift link removably secured to a mid-portion of the scrubber housing,

and means for securement of the lift link to a lower body portion of the floor cleaning machine such that the lift link is capable of raising and lowering the scrubber head into and out of contact with a hard surface floor when the lift link is secured to the lower body portion.

3. For use with a floor cleaning machine having a height control actuator and a power drive with forward extending pivotal links and a head angle control, a carpet extractor head, said carpet extractor head comprising, in combination,

a power driven rotary brush for removable securement to the forward extending pivotal links,

a manifold for distributing cleaning fluid above the power driven rotary brush,

means on said carpet extractor head for pivotal engagement with the pivotal links and the head angle control of the power drive,

and means for securement of the carpet extractor head to the height control actuator such that, when the carpet extractor head is secured to the floor cleaning machine by the pivotal links, head angle control and height control actuator, the carpet extractor head is capable of being raised and lowered into and out of contact with a carpet surface.

4. A floor cleaning power unit propulsion pod comprising, in combination,

a trans-axle drive means,

a monocoque body portion formed by a cover and a lower housing, whereby the cover and lower housing form a frameless propulsion pod,

each of said cover and lower housing being hollow fluid retaining tanks for holding a cleaning solution or a recovered solution,

said lower housing being secured to the trans-axle drive means,

and means for securing a floor engaging cleaning unit to a forward portion of said power unit propulsion pod,

said means for securing a floor engaging cleaning unit comprising

a head angle control having one end secured to a forward portion of the trans-axle drive means and the other end removably secured to the floor engaging cleaning unit,

pivotal lift arms secured at one end to the trans-axle drive means and removably secured at the other end to the floor engaging cleaning unit,

and a height control actuator removably secured at one end to the floor engaging cleaning unit and secured at the other end to the lower housings,

whereby the floor engaging cleaning unit is removably secured to the floor cleaning power unit propulsion pod and is capable of being raised or lowered by the height control actuator toward or away from a floor surface to be cleaned.

5. The floor cleaning power unit propulsion pod of claim 4, further comprising:

a cradle area in the lower housing for supporting batteries which provide power for the trans-axle drive means.

6. The floor cleaning power unit propulsion pod of claim 4 in which:

resilient bushings are provided at connection points between the other end of the pivotal lift arms and the floor engaging cleaning unit and the other end of the head angle control and the floor engaging cleaning unit,

whereby upon impact of the propulsion pod with an obstruction the resilient bushings will absorb kinetic energy at the connection points.

7. A floor cleaning machine having a hollow body portion, a lower body assembly, a body cover assembly, a wheel assembly, a trans-axial power drive for the wheel assembly, a battery box, a floor engaging cleaning member, and a plurality of batteries housed in the battery box, the improvement comprising:

the foregoing items all being formed, proportioned and positioned so that their combined center of gravity at all times will be positioned rearwardly of the trans-axial drive and wheel assembly, whereby tipping forwardly is inhibited during movement of the floor cleaning machine when fluid is held within the hollow body portion,

said floor engaging cleaning member extending forwardly of the lower body assembly, and

coupling means, including impact cushioning means, for securing the floor engaging cleaning member to the floor cleaning machine,

said coupling means comprising

a head angle control having one end secured to a forward portion of the trans-axle power drive and the other end removably secured to the floor engaging cleaning member,

pivotal lift arms secured at one end to the trans-axle power drive and removably secured at the other end to the floor engaging cleaning member,

and a height control actuator removably secured at one end to the floor engaging cleaning member and secured at the other end to the lower body assembly,

whereby the floor engaging cleaning member is removably secured to the floor cleaning machine and is capable of being raised or lowered by the height control actuator toward or away from a floor surface to be cleaned.