Drivable wagon, in particular a processing or floor cleaning machine

• US 6,904,989 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Georg Hefter Maschinenbau
• Original Assignee: Georg Hefter Maschinenbau
• Inventors: Hefter, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/149,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 15/491, 153/20, 15/87, 15/98, 153/19, 153/402, 701/25, 701/26, 701/27, 701/93, 701/98
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/305 the tools being disc brushes
• 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 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection

Abstract

An improved drivable wagon is embodied as a processing or a cleaning device which is suitable in particular for independent driving by the provision of at least one sensor device. The device can be at least swung in unison with at least one steerable running wheel and/or a swingable floor processing or cleaning unit or head.

Claims

1. A mobile cleaning machine carriage comprising a chassis having at least one running wheel and a pivotable cleaning unit, said pivotable cleaning unit connected to said chassis by means of a vertical pivoting axis, said cleaning unit also including at least one sensor device, said sensor device arranged above a floor region, said sensor device firmly connected to the cleaning unit such that the sensor device is pivotable in unison at least in relative with the at least one running wheel.

2. The mobile cleaning machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor device is arranged level with at least one of the running wheel and the chassis.

3. The mobile cleaning machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor device is arranged above at least one of the pivotable wheel and the chassis.

4. A mobile cleaning machine comprising:

a pivotable cleaning unit;

at least one steerable wheel; and

a plurality of sensor devices arranged one above the other and laterally in relation to one another,

wherein the sensor devices are pivotable in unison with the pivotable cleaning unit and the steerable wheel, and wherein the sensor devices are arranged above the at least one steerable wheel.

5. A mobile carriage having at least one pivotable wheel and a pivotable unit, and having at least one sensor device, the sensor device being pivotable along the same deflection direction in unison at least in relative terms with the at least one pivotable wheel and pivotable unit wherein the sensor device is arranged above at least one of the pivotable wheel and a chassis, and wherein the sensor device comprises a plurality of individual sensors arranged one above the other and laterally in relation to one another.

6. The carriage as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensor device is arranged level with at least one of the running wheel and a chassis of the mobile carriage.

7. The carriage as claimed in claim 5, wherein when the carriage is traveling in a straight line or with the unit in a non-pivoted state, the plurality of sensors are arranged approximately symmetrically in relation to a vertical center longitudinal axis of the carriage.

8. The carriage as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged on a column-like carrying element which extends essentially with a vertical component and leads in the direction of travel.

9. The carriage as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sensors comprise ultrasonic sensors.

10. The carriage as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensor device comprises a bottom sensor device in the form of one of a laser or radar sensor acting in a certain lateral angle range.

11. The carriage as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensor device comprises at least one tactile sensor device.

12. The carriage as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tactile sensor device is provided with a second sensor device level with at least one of the pivotable wheel and with a third sensor device above the pivotable wheel and above a chassis and is coupled to said second and third sensor devices.

13. The carriage as claimed in claim 5, wherein a specific sensor device is provided for monitoring the floor surface.

14. The carriage as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensor device for monitoring the floor surface comprises a tactile sensor device.

15. The carriage as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sensor device for monitoring the floor surface acts in a front region of the carriage, in front of a foremost running wheel.

16. The carriage as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tactile sensor device is in contact with the floor surface by way of a contact section.