Riding floor scrubber

• US 6,442,789 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nilfisk A/S (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: Nilfisk-Advance Incorporated (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Mueller, Paul T., Legatt, Donald J., Lehmann, Wolfgang C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/034,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20020050020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 249 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/401, 153/403, 153/53
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Abstract

A riding floor scrubber (10) is disclosed having a relatively narrow cleaning width for passing through relatively narrow passages such as conventional doorways. The riding floor scrubber (10) includes a recovery tank (16) that is vertically and laterally arranged and removably attached to the back of a clean solution tank (14). The clean solution tank (14) includes spaced parallel side portions (26, 28) and the recovery tank (16) extends between the rear ends of the side portions (26, 28). The recovery tank (16) is secured by first and second brackets (42) that extend into recesses (44) on the clean solution tank (14), with the bottom of the recovery tank (16) including a lip portion (46) resting on a metal plate (20) of a chassis (18), with a battery pack (52) being supported on the plate (20) between the side portions (26, 28) of the clean solution tank (14). The clean solution tank (14) includes a middle portion (29) and a lower portion (24) integrally extending forwardly of the middle portion (29), with the left side portion (26) extending to the same longitudinal extent as the lower portion (24). The clean solution tank (14) is molded into a complex shape to maximize capacity, with the bottom of the clean solution tank (14) being recessed to receive the chassis (18) of a tricycle type to define triangular-shaped volumes (88).

Claims

1. A machine for cleaning floor surfaces comprising, in combination:

a chassis movably supported on the floor surface, with the chassis including a chassis plate spaced from and generally parallel to the floor surface and having left and right sides and a rear edge;

a scrubbing member mounted to the chassis for agitating the floor surface;

a first solution tank carried by the chassis and including left and right side portions extending on opposite sides of the chassis plate adjacent to the left and right sides and having rear ends adjacent to the rear edge of the chassis plate; and

a second solution tank carried by the chassis and removably attached to the first solution tank and extending between the rear ends of the left and right side portions of the first solution tank.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the left and right side portions include upper surfaces;

and wherein the second solution tank includes first and second projections which abut with the upper surfaces of the left and right side portions of the first solution tank.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein one of the projections and the upper surfaces includes recesses and the other of the projections and the upper surfaces includes brackets slideably received in the recesses.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein the second solution tank includes a lip portion which rests upon the chassis plate adjacent to the rear edge of the chassis plate.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein the first solution tank further includes a middle portion

extending between the left and right side portions and spaced from the rear ends, with the middle portion including an upper surface;

and wherein the machine includes an operator seat supported on the left and right side portions and the middle portion of the first solution tank.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein one of the left and right side portions includes an expansion extending longitudinally past the middle portion and the other of the left and right side portions terminates in the middle portion.

7. The machine of claim 6 wherein the first solution tank further includes a lower portion extending from the middle portion generally parallel to the floor surface, and wherein the chassis is of a tricycle type and includes right and left rail portions extending at an acute angle inwardly from the left and right sides of the chassis plate;

and

wherein the first solution tank includes a bottom having a recessed portion formed therein which receives the chassis defining first and second volumes having generally triangular shapes in cross sections parallel to the floor surface and having inside walls generally corresponding to the right and left rail portions.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the lower portion extends from the expansion.

9. The machine of claim 7 wherein the lower portion includes an upper wall generally parallel to the floor surface and being generally free of obstruction from the middle portion to a front edge and from the expansion to an opposite side edge.

10. The machine of claim 6 wherein the expansion includes recesses for receipt of electrical components.

11. The machine of claim 1 further comprising, in combination:

at least a first recess formed in one of the left and right side portions for receipt of components.

12. The machine of claim 1 further comprising, in combination:

a battery pack for providing power to the machine and supported on the chassis plate between the left and right side portions and in front of the second solution tank.

13. The machine of claim 12 further comprising, in combination:

a squeegee assembly mounted to the chassis for purposes of wiping the floor surface and collecting dirty solution for vacuum pickup.

14. The machine of claim 1 wherein the first solution tank further includes a middle portion extending between the left and right side portions and spaced from the rear ends, with the middle portion including an upper surface;

and wherein the machine includes an operator seat supported on the left and right side portions and the middle portion of the first solution tank.

15. The machine of claim 1 wherein the chassis is of a tricycle type and includes right and left rail portions extending at an acute angle inwardly from the left and right sides of the chassis plate;

and wherein the first solution tank includes a bottom extending generally parallel to the floor surface and having a recessed portion formed therein which receives the chassis and defining first and second volumes having generally triangular shapes in cross sections parallel to the floor surface and having inside walls generally corresponding to the right and left rail portions.

16. A machine for cleaning a floor surface comprising, in combination:

a chassis movably supported on the floor surface, with the chassis being of a tricycle type and including right and left rail portions extending inwardly at an acute angle;

a scrubbing member mounted to the chassis for agitating the floor surface; and

a first solution tank carried by the chassis and including a bottom extending generally parallel to the floor surface and having a recessed portion formed therein which receives the chassis and defining first and second volumes having generally triangular shapes in cross sections parallel to the floor surface and having inside walls generally corresponding to the right and left rail portions.

17. The machine of claim 16 wherein the first solution tank includes an upper wall generally parallel to the floor surface and being generally free of obstruction upon which an operator'"'"'s feet can be supported.

18. The machine of claim 16 wherein the chassis further includes a chassis plate spaced from and generally parallel to the floor surface and having left and right sides, with the right and left rail portions extending from the left and right sides of the chassis plate, with the recessed portion receiving the left and right sides of the chassis plate and with the first solution tank extending outside of the left and right sides of the chassis plate.

19. The machine of claim 18 wherein the first solution tank further includes right and left edges, a front and a depending skirt portion of a generally U-shape and having a central member extending along the front and first and second leg members extending from the central member and along the right and left edges.

20. The machine of claim 18 further comprising, in combination:

a second solution tank carried by the chassis and attached to the first solution tank.

21. The machine of claim 20 wherein the second solution tank is removably attached to the first solution tank and is carried directly by the chassis rather than through the first solution tank.

22. The machine of claim 16 wherein the first solution tank further includes a lower portion having the bottom and having an upper wall generally parallel to the floor surface upon which an operator'"'"'s feet can be supported;

and wherein the first solution tank further includes at least one vertical, longitudinally extending side portion having a lower end, with the lower portion integrally extending from the lower end of the side portion.