Floor cleaning machines having intelligent systems, associated sub-assemblies incorporating intelligent systems, and associated methods of use

• US 10,016,112 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2016
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Cleaning Equipment Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: International Cleaning Equipment Holdings Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Nai Pong Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US15/152,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20160249781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/283 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4055 for lifting the tools to a non-working position
• 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 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine having an intelligent system including a recovery tank sub-assembly, a vacuum fan sub-assembly, a solution tank sub-assembly, wherein the solution tank sub-assembly preferably includes a secondary electrochemical cell, a solution flow sub-assembly, a control console sub-assembly, a frame and wheel sub-assembly and/or a frame and transaxle sub-assembly, a scrub head sub-assembly, a scrub head lift sub-assembly, a squeegee sub-assembly, a solution flow sub-assembly, and an intelligent system associated with at least one of the above-identified sub-assemblies, wherein the intelligent system at least one of selectively gathers, obtains, monitors, stores, records, and analyzes data associated with components of the floor cleaning machine assembly, and at least one of controllably communicates and disseminates such data with at least one of another system and user.

Claims

1. A method for using an intelligent system with a floor cleaning machine, comprising the steps of:

providing a floor cleaning machine having a recovery tank sub-assembly, a vacuum fan sub-assembly, a solution tank sub-assembly, wherein a secondary electrochemical cell is positioned within the solution tank sub-assembly, and further wherein the secondary electrochemical cell is positioned adjacent to a reservoir of the solution tank sub-assembly, a solution flow sub-assembly, wherein the solution flow sub-assembly is positioned proximate a lower portion of the solution tank sub-assembly, a control console sub-assembly, at least one of a frame and wheel sub-assembly and a frame and transaxle sub-assembly, a scrub head sub-assembly, a scrub head lift sub-assembly, a squeegee sub-assembly, and an intelligent system comprising the secondary electrochemical cell in electrical communication with a controller;

selectively gathering, obtaining, monitoring, storing, recording, and/or analyzing data associated with at least one of the recovery tank sub-assembly, the vacuum fan sub-assembly, the solution tank sub-assembly, the solution flow sub-assembly, the control console sub-assembly, at least one of the frame and wheel sub-assembly and the frame and transaxle sub-assembly, the scrub head sub-assembly, the scrub head lift sub-assembly, and the squeegee sub-assembly of the floor cleaning machine; and

controllably communicating and/or disseminating data with at least one of another system and user.

2. A method for using an intelligent system with a floor cleaning machine, comprising the steps of:

obtaining operational data for a floor cleaning machine having a recovery tank sub-assembly, a vacuum fan sub-assembly, a solution tank sub-assembly, wherein a secondary electrochemical cell is positioned within the solution tank sub-assembly, and further wherein the secondary electrochemical cell is positioned adjacent to a reservoir of the solution tank sub-assembly, a solution flow sub-assembly, wherein the solution flow sub-assembly is positioned proximate a lower portion of the solution tank sub-assembly, a control console sub-assembly, at least one of a frame and wheel sub-assembly and a frame and transaxle sub-assembly, a scrub head sub-assembly, a scrub head lift sub-assembly, a squeegee sub-assembly, and an intelligent system comprising the secondary electrochemical cell in electrical communication with a controller, the operational data being generated for any of the secondary electrochemical cell, a vacuum motor, a transaxle, and a brush motor of the floor cleaning machine;

communicatively coupling the floor cleaning machine with a management server;

querying the floor cleaning machine for operational data for any of the secondary electrochemical cell, the vacuum motor, the transaxle, and the brush motor;

performing at least one operational data analysis process on the obtained operational data; and

transmitting an alert message to an owner of the floor cleaning machine assembly if the operational analysis indicates that a threshold violating event has occurred.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one operational data analysis process comprises comparing an actual operational time to an operational time threshold, wherein the threshold violating event includes the actual operational time not meeting the operational time threshold.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the actual operational time relates to any of the secondary electrochemical cell, the vacuum motor, the transaxle, the brush motor, and the floor cleaning machine.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one operational data analysis process comprises comparing an actual charging time to a charging time threshold, wherein the threshold violating event includes the actual charging time not meeting the charging time threshold.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one operational data analysis process comprises comparing actual square footage covered by the floor cleaning machine assembly to an expected square footage.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the actual square footage is calculated by counting transaxle revolutions of the transaxle of the floor cleaning machine assembly.

8. A method for using an intelligent system with a floor cleaning machine, comprising the steps of:

detecting a failure of a component of a floor cleaning machine assembly having a recovery tank sub-assembly, a vacuum fan sub-assembly, a solution tank sub-assembly, wherein a secondary electrochemical cell is positioned within the solution tank sub-assembly, and further wherein the secondary electrochemical cell is positioned adjacent to a reservoir of the solution tank sub-assembly, a solution flow sub-assembly, wherein the solution flow sub-assembly is positioned proximate a lower portion of the solution tank sub-assembly, a control console sub-assembly, at least one of a frame and wheel sub-assembly and a frame and transaxle sub-assembly, a scrub head sub-assembly, a scrub head lift sub-assembly, a squeegee sub-assembly, and an intelligent system comprising the secondary electrochemical cell in electrical communication with a controller during operation or startup of the floor cleaning machine assembly;

establishing communication with a management server; and

transmitting a fault message to the management server, the fault message comprising an indication as to the component that failed, wherein the component includes any of the secondary electrochemical cell, a vacuum motor, a transaxle, and a brush motor.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising receiving an emergency shut down signal from the management server;

and performing an emergency shut down upon receiving the emergency shut down signal from the management server.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising automatically ordering a replacement part for an identified failed component upon detection of the failure.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising pushing an update to the floor cleaning machine assembly upon establishing communication with the management server.