Floor scrubber

• US 6,842,940 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2004
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minuteman International, Inc. (L. Possehl & Co. mit beschränkter Haftung)
• Original Assignee: Minuteman International, Inc. (L. Possehl & Co. mit beschränkter Haftung)
• Inventors: Strickland, Timothy A., Christopher, Ronald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/764,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/401, 153/402, 153/403, 153/404
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools

Abstract

A floor scrubber includes a forward cylindrical brush with adjustable down pressure. The cylindrical brush is sprayed uniformly with a controlled amount of water or solution and moves debris forward with a direct propelling action into a collection hopper. A set of three disc brushes is located behind the cylindrical brush, followed by a suction liquid recovery device for suctioning spent solution. A control system allows independent use of the forward cylindrical brush, or the rear disc brush set, or all brushes. A floor-engaging flap having a central opening extends transverse of the machine behind the cylindrical brush to channel water from the cylindrical brush to the disc brush set and then to the suction recovery device.

Claims

1. A machine for scrubbing floors, comprising:

a frame;

ground wheels supporting said frame;

a cylindrical brush carried by said frame for rotation about a horizontal axis extending transverse to a direction of travel of said machine and driven in rotation such that bristles of said cylindrical brush move forwardly and upwardly after engaging the floor to propel debris forwardly;

a hopper located in front of said cylindrical brush and having a pervious bottom wall permitting water to drain therethrough to the floor;

a sprayer for spraying water under force onto said bristles of said cylindrical brush;

a plurality of disc brushes carried by said frame and located to the rear of said cylindrical brush for scrubbing said floor;

a dispenser feeding water to said disc brushes; and

a squeegee carried by said frame coupled to a vacuum source to suction water from said floor behind disc brushes.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said sprayer comprises a plurality of nozzles for spraying water axially of said cylindrical brush.

3. The machine of claim 2 further comprising a first actuator;

a mounting plate connected to said cylindrical brush and pivotally mounted to said frame; and

connecting members connected between said first actuator and said mounting plate for adjusting the height of said cylindrical brush.

4. The machine of claim 3 further including a spring cushion mount mounting said actuator to said frame to cushion the action of said cylindrical brush.

5. The machine of claim 3 wherein said connecting members include a threaded rod pivotally coupled at a lower end to said mounting plate for said cylindrical brush and threadedly connected to a member attached to said first actuator;

and further including threaded locking members received on said threaded rod in opposing relation for adjustably securing said rod to said first actuator.

6. The machine of claim 1 wherein said disc brushes include three disc brushes mounted to a carrier frame;

and futher including a link having a first pivotal connection to said frame, a second pivotal connection to said carrier frame, and a third pivotal connection;

a second actuator having an arm pivotally connected to said third pivotal connection of said link, whereby said first and second actuators operate said cylindrical brush and said disc brushes independently of one another.

7. The machine of claim 6 further comprising a second cushion device for cushioning the mounting of said second actuator to said link.

8. The machine of claim 6 further comprising a sensor sensing the position of said link relative to said frame;

and a display responsive to said sensor for generating a signal representative of the pressure of said disc brushes on the floor.

9. The machine of claim 8 characterized in that said disc brushes may be used alone, or said cylindrical brush may be used alone, or said disc brushes and said cylindrical brush may be used together.

10. The machine of claim 1 further comprising an elongated flexible containment flap carried by said frame and extending axially of said cylindrical brush and located behind said cylindrical brush to collect water on the floor, said containment flap having an opening adjacent said floor to permit collected water to pass therethrough for recovery by said squeegee.

11. The machine of claim 10 further comprising an elongated recirculation flap mounted behind said cylindrical brush and engaging bristles of said cylindrical brush as they pass to cause said bristles to snap and dislodge debris from said bristles in a forward motion.

12. The machine of claim 11 further comprising a wall hinged to said bottom of said hopper and depending therefrom to provide a ramp from the floor to said hopper for guiding debris from said cylindrical brush to said hopper.