Floor surface cleaning machine

• US 6,427,285 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nilfisk-Advance Incorporated (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: Nilfisk-Advance Incorporated (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Swenson, Galen M., Vetse, Kurt M., Legatt, Donald Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US09/702,408
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 154/01, 153/39, 153/25
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/283 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk 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 11/4097 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Exhaust-air treatment, e.g. air purification; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A floor scrubber (10) is disclosed including a drive lug (62) for removably connecting a scrubbing member (64) to a drive (60) and having a trough for receipt and catching of solution for passage to the surface. The mount (58) for the drive (60) is biased by a spring (67) to pivot relative to a linkage plate (46) in turn pivotably mounted to the chassis (12) at an acute angle to the forward movement direction. The vacuum assembly (92) is sandwiched in a socket (100) formed in the bottom wall of a recovery tank (90) by a mount (106) to deaden the sound generated thereby and to allow air communication is inside of the socket (100) but generally preventing entry of solution therein. The squeegee assembly (152) is biased by a gas spring (150) to engage the surface at a constant force independent of the pivotal position of the squeegee mount (148). The batteries (68, 70) can be easily electrically connected and disconnected to each other in series and to the scrubber (10) by polarity type connectors (80, 82, 84, 86) for ease of removal, replacement, and interchange of the batteries (68, 70) in the scrubber (10) without requiring the use of tools. The bumper wheels (30) are secured to a first plate (32) of a pocket (28) by a pin connector (36) passing therethrough and through the legs of a U-shaped bracket (42) having a central portion flushly abutting with a second plate (38) of the pocket (28) for transferring forces thereto.

Claims

1. A mechanism for a surface cleaning machine comprising, in combination:

a bracket for mounting to the surface cleaning machine;

a mount pivotably mounted to the bracket about a mount axis generally parallel to the surface;

means secured to the mount for picking up solution from the surface;

a gas spring having a first end pivotably mounted about a first axis relative to the bracket and a second end pivotably mounted about a second axis relative to the mount, with the first and second axes being parallel to and spaced from the mount axis to thereby engage the picking up means with the surface at a force which is constant independent of the pivotal position of the mount about the mount axis.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the picking up means comprises a squeegee assembly;

and wherein the bracket is pivotably mounted to the surface cleaning machine about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the surface.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the bracket is pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning machine about an axis which is perpendicular to the surface.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein the first end of the gas spring is pivotally connected to the bracket;

and wherein the picking up means comprises means secured to the mount with a removable and breakaway manner for picking up solution from the floor surface.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 further comprising, in combination:

means for raising and holding the picking up means away from the surface.

6. The mechanism of claim 5 with the raising and holding means comprising, in combination:

an over center, pivotable handle; and

a cable having a first end removably connected to the mount and a second end connected to the over center, pivotable handle for raising and holding the picking up means away from the surface.

7. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein the picking up means wipes the surface.

8. A mechanism for a surface cleaning machine comprising, in combination:

a bracket adapted to be mounted to the surface cleaning machine;

a mount pivotably mounted to the bracket about a mount axis generally parallel to the surface;

an assembly for collecting solution and debris from the surface, with the assembly being secured to the mount;

a gas spring having a first end pivotably mounted about a first axis relative to the bracket and a second end pivotably mounted about a second axis relative to the mount, with the first and second axes being parallel to and spaced from the mount axis to thereby engage the assembly with the surface at a force which is constant independent of the pivotal position of the mount about the mount axis.

9. The mechanism of claim 8 wherein the assembly also wipes the surface and is in the form of a squeegee assembly.

10. The mechanism of claim 9 wherein the first end of the gas spring is pivotably connected to the bracket;

and wherein the assembly comprises an assembly for collecting solution and debris from the surface secured to the mount with a removable and breakaway manner.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 further comprising, in combination:

means for raising and holding the assembly away from the surface.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 with the raising and holding means comprising, in combination:

an over center, pivotable handle; and

a cable having a first end removably connected to the mount and a second end connected to the over center, pivotable handle for raising and holding the assembly away from the surface.

13. The mechanism of claim 8 further comprising, in combination:

a drive lug for removably connecting a surface scrubbing member to a drive of the surface cleaning machine, with the drive lug comprising, in combination;

a hub portion for receipt on and for rotation with the drive;

a cylindrical portion of a diametric size larger than the hub portion;

means for securing the cylindrical portion to the hub portion concentric to the drive and defining at least one opening;

an annular flange extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical portion and rotatable therewith; and

a plurality of ears integrally extending radially from the cylindrical portion and axially spaced from the flange.

14. The mechanism of claim 13 wherein the hub portion includes an outer surface and the cylindrical portion includes an inner surface of a size larger than the outer surface;

and wherein the securing means integrally extends between the inner surface and the outer surface and axially spaced from the flange, with the inner and outer surfaces and the securing means defining a trough for receipt and holding Of solution for passage through the opening.

15. The mechanism of claim 8 wherein the surface cleaning machine is powered by first and second batteries each having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, with the surface cleaning machine including a harness connector, with the mechanism further comprising, in combination:

a first connector having a first terminal connected to the positive terminal of the first battery and having a second terminal connected to the negative terminal of the first battery;

a second connector for removable electrical connection to the first connector without the use of tools and having a first terminal connected to the negative terminal of the second battery and having a second terminal; and

a third connector for removable electrical connection to the harness connector without the use of tools and having a first terminal connected to the positive terminal of the second battery and having a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second connector.

16. The mechanism of claim 8 further comprising, in combination:

a wheel having a periphery and an axis;

a U-shaped bracket having first and second legs extending parallel to each other and from a central portion, with the surface cleaning machine including at least a first wall and a pocket extending from the first wall, with the pocket including a first plate extending parallel to the surface and a second plate extending generally perpendicular to the surface; and

a fastener extending through the first leg, the axis of the wheel, and the second leg and secured to the first plate, with the central portion having a shape for flushly abutting with the second plate, with the periphery of the wheel extending beyond the first wall, with the central portion transferring forces to the second plate in the event that the periphery of the wheel engages an obstacle.