Selectively adjustable steering mechanism for use on a floor cleaning machine

• US 8,397,333 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Tucker, Steven W., Venard, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/589,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20120306175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: 15 491- 522, 15/79, 15/791, 15/792
• US Class Current: 15/49.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of wheels, one which is steerable via a steering wheel that is interconnected to a housing also associated with the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of which is associated with the steering wheel. To access the internal components of the floor cleaning machine, the front housing is rotated or moved away from the other housings wherein the steering wheel does not require disconnection to allow this movement.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning machine, comprising:

a primary housing;

a front housing associated with the primary housing by way of a first hinge such that the front housing is capable of moving away from primary housing;

a rear housing associated with the primary housing by way of a second hinge such that the rear housing is capable of moving away from primary housing;

a steering mechanism associated with the front housing;

a steering shaft interconnected between a steering wheel and a chassis, wherein when the front housing is moved from the primary housing, the steering shaft flexes and moves coincident with the movement of the front housing such that the steering wheel remains associated with the chassis;

the steering shaft is comprised of;

an elongated rigid portion that is interconnected to a steering wheel on a first end and to a flexible portion on a second end, the flexible portion having a first end that is interconnected to the elongated rigid portion and a second end;

a shaft with a hexagonal outer surface and having a first end associated with the steering mechanism and a second end operably interconnected to the second end of the flexible portion;

wherein the steering shaft extends between a first length and a second length, the first length is wherein the second end of the shaft and the second end of the flexible portion are positioned adjacent to each other and the second length wherein the first end of the shaft and the second end of the flexible portion are positioned adjacent to each other; and

wherein the flexible portion has a slip fitting on the second end thereof that is slidingly interconnected to the shaft, said slip fitting having a hexagonal opening that engages the hexagonal outer surface of said shaft.

2. The floor cleaning machine of claim 1, further comprising a floor cleaning apparatus associated with the chassis.

3. The floor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the second hinge is located closer to a rear wheel of the floor cleaning machine than a front wheel of the floor cleaning machine.

4. A floor cleaning machine, comprising:

a primary housing;

a front housing rotatably interconnected to the primary housing by way of a first hinge such that the front housing is capable of rotating relative to the primary housing;

a rear housing rotatably interconnected to the primary housing by way of a first hinge such that the rear housing is capable of rotating relative to the primary housing;

a means for steering associated with the front housing;

an interconnecting member associating the means for steering with a chassis, wherein when the front housing is rotated from the primary housing, the interconnecting member flexes and moves coincident with the movement of the front housing such that the means for steering remains associated with the chassis;

the interconnecting member includes a means for steering comprising an elongated rigid portion that is interconnected to a steering wheel on a first end and to a flexible portion on a second end;

the flexible portion having a first end that is interconnected to the elongated rigid portion an a second end;

a shaft having a first end associated with the steering mechanism and a second end operably interconnected to the second end of the flexible portion;

wherein the steering shaft extends between a first length and a second length, the first length is wherein the second end of the shaft and the second end of the flexible portion are positioned adjacent to each other and the second length is wherein the first end of the shaft and the second end of the flexible portion are positioned adjacent to each other;

wherein the flexible portion has a slip fitting on the second end thereof that is slidingly interconnected to the shaft; and

wherein the shaft of the steering mechanism interacts with a hexagonal hole in the slip fitting.

5. The floor cleaning machine of claim 4, wherein the front housing is rotatably interconnected to the primary housing.

6. The floor cleaning machine of claim 4, further comprising a floor cleaning apparatus associated with the chassis.