Squeegee assembly having a non-destructive release mode
First Claim
1. A mechanical coupling comprising:
- a surface maintenance vehicle moving in a predetermined direction during operation;
a cleaning assembly in floor surface contact during said vehicle operation;
an open-ended mounting structure coupled to the surface maintenance vehicle and wherein the open-ended mounting structure has a major interior space adjacent a narrow opening, and wherein said narrow opening lies between a first end of said open-ended mounting structure spaced from and opposing a second end of said open-ended mounting structure, said major interior space opening through the narrow opening in a direction substantially opposite the predetermined direction of vehicle motion; and
, a deformable, resilient member at least partially disposed in said major interior space, wherein at least a portion of said deformable, resilient member passes through the narrow opening in a direction substantially opposite the predetermined direction of vehicle motion during a release event which separates the cleaning assembly from the surface maintenance vehicle, said release event resulting from a contact of the cleaning assembly with an obstruction on the floor surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wiper assembly for surface maintenance vehicles has a non-destructive failure mode when impacting stationary objects, or otherwise becoming subject to instantaneous or rapidly increasing resistance to forward movement, due to an improved mechanical coupling. The improved mechanical coupling for a wiper assembly absorbs some of the impact stresses imparted to the wiper assembly. Portions of each improved mechanical coupling designed to absorb the stress forces deforms most nearest the location of increasing resistance to forward movement, and may either become fully disconnected if the stress force reaches a threshold force value or recoils to the original mounting location after absorbing forces that are less that said threshold force value. The threshold value force at which a wiper assembly dislodges from its mounting location is designed to avoid damage to the wiper assembly, the articulated mounting member (if any), and the maintenance vehicle itself. The mechanical coupling provides independent range and precision of motion and mechanical tolerance with respect to discrete instantaneous forces affecting the wiper assembly so that the wiper blades exhibit an increased effectiveness in response to contact with diverse size obstacles present on, and obstacles adjacent to, a surface to be cleaned. The improved mechanical coupling utilizes a resilient, deformable member that adds a modicum of additional travel in response to stress forces imparted to a wiper assembly. Accordingly, the teaching of the present invention may be applied to previously manufactured surface maintenance equipment and vehicles in the form of retrofitted mechanical couplings, requiring modest engineering and re-installation efforts.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A mechanical coupling comprising:
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a surface maintenance vehicle moving in a predetermined direction during operation;
a cleaning assembly in floor surface contact during said vehicle operation;
an open-ended mounting structure coupled to the surface maintenance vehicle and wherein the open-ended mounting structure has a major interior space adjacent a narrow opening, and wherein said narrow opening lies between a first end of said open-ended mounting structure spaced from and opposing a second end of said open-ended mounting structure, said major interior space opening through the narrow opening in a direction substantially opposite the predetermined direction of vehicle motion; and
,a deformable, resilient member at least partially disposed in said major interior space, wherein at least a portion of said deformable, resilient member passes through the narrow opening in a direction substantially opposite the predetermined direction of vehicle motion during a release event which separates the cleaning assembly from the surface maintenance vehicle, said release event resulting from a contact of the cleaning assembly with an obstruction on the floor surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A mechanical coupling comprising:
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a surface maintenance vehicle moving in a predetermined direction during operation;
a cleaning assembly in floor surface contact during said vehicle operation;
a mounting structure having a coupling portion and a mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion mechanically attaches to a surface maintenance vehicle, said mounting structure defining an interior space adjacent a narrow opening, said major interior space opening through the narrow openeing in a direction substantially opposite the predetermined direction of vehicle motion; and
,a deformable, resilient coupling assembly disposed in the coupling portion and attached to the cleaning assembly and wherein the coupling portion and the deformable, resilient coupling assembly are elastically and frictionally coupled together unless completely dislodged by a sustained force of significant magnitude imparted to the cleaning assembly, at least a portion of said deformable, resilient coupling passing through the narrow opening in a direction substantially opposite the predetermined direction of vehicle motion during a release event which separates the cleaning assembly from the surface maintenance. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of selectively coupling and releasing a cleaning assembly from a surface maintenance vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing an open-ended mounting structure to the surface maintenance vehicle, wherein the open-ended mounting structure has a major interior space adjacent a narrow opening, said major interior space opening through the narrow opening in a direction substantially opposite a predetermined direction of vehicle motion;
engaging at least a portion of the open-ended mounting structure with a deformable, resilient member, wherein at least a portion of said deformable, resilient member is positioned within the major interior space;
operating the surface maintenance vehicle upon a floor surface;
contacting the cleaning assembly with an obstruction on the floor surface; and
releasing the cleaning assembly from the vehicle by passing the portion of the deformable, resilient member through the narrow opening in a direction substantially opposite the direction of vehicle motion.
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Specification