Suspension for a surface maintenance appliance
First Claim
1. A surface maintenance machine for operation upon a floor surface, said surface maintenance machine comprising:
- a surface maintenance tool coupled to the machine through a plurality of linkages which permit the surface maintenance tool to be raised and lowered relative to the surface maintenance machine into selective contact with the floor surface;
a spring assembly including at least one adjustable spring, said spring assembly being coupled to the surface maintenance tool so that a spring force is transferred to the surface maintenance tool; and
a selectively controllable actuator coupled to the spring assembly, said actuator controlling a level of the spring force so that a controlled level of surface maintenance tool work is performed upon the floor surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved suspension system for coupling a surface maintenance tool or appliance to a surface maintenance machine is disclosed. In preferred embodiment, the suspension system includes a 4 bar linkage which permits the surface maintenance tool to be raised and lowered relative to the surface maintenance machine into selective contact with the floor surface, a spring assembly transferring spring force to the surface maintenance tool, and a selectively controllable actuator connected to the spring assembly for controlling a level of the spring force so that a controlled level of surface maintenance tool work is performed upon the floor surface.
41 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A surface maintenance machine for operation upon a floor surface, said surface maintenance machine comprising:
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a surface maintenance tool coupled to the machine through a plurality of linkages which permit the surface maintenance tool to be raised and lowered relative to the surface maintenance machine into selective contact with the floor surface;
a spring assembly including at least one adjustable spring, said spring assembly being coupled to the surface maintenance tool so that a spring force is transferred to the surface maintenance tool; and
a selectively controllable actuator coupled to the spring assembly, said actuator controlling a level of the spring force so that a controlled level of surface maintenance tool work is performed upon the floor surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. A suspension device for coupling a surface maintenance appliance to a surface maintenance machine, said suspension device comprising:
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a plurality of linkages coupled between the surface maintenance device and the surface maintenance machine, said plurality of linkages permitting the surface maintenance device to be selectively transitioned relative to the surface maintenance machine between a plurality of positions;
a spring assembly having at least one spring, said spring assembly transferring a spring force to at least one of the plurality of linkages and the surface maintenance device; and
a controllable spring actuator in engagement with the spring assembly for selectively controlling the spring force being transferred to the surface maintenance device during operation.
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21. A vehicle for burnishing a floor surface, said vehicle being transportable across the floor surface during a burnishing operation, said vehicle comprising:
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a burnishing head including a motor driven burnishing pad;
a plurality of linkages coupled between the burnishing head and the vehicle, said plurality of linkages permitting the burnishing head to be selectively transitioned relative to the vehicle between a plurality of positions;
a spring assembly having at least one spring, said spring assembly transferring a spring force to the burnishing head; and
a controllable spring actuator in engagement with the spring assembly for selectively controlling a burnishing force being transferred to the surface during operation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification