Low profile side squeegee assembly

• US 20050193518A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Shinler, Kevin Leroy
• Granted Patent: US 7,287,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/401
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool

Abstract

A low-profile side squeegee assembly for surface maintenance vehicles, capable of cleaning under so-called “toe kicks”. In contrast with typical suspensions that are mounted directly above the center of the squeegee assembly, and are therefore too tall to fit under toe kicks, a low-profile suspension attaches at the ends of a squeegee assembly, and uses torsion springs to provide a downward force on the squeegee assembly. In order to counteract any potential twisting effects that might result from suspending the squeegee from the ends rather than the center, the squeegee assembly is mounted at an angle.

Claims

1. A device for maintaining a ground surface, comprising:

a housing with a peripheral edge;

a squeegee assembly;

a plurality of torsion elements connected between said peripheral edge and said assembly, and configured to apply a downward biased force to maintain the squeegee assembly in contact with the ground.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each torsion element includes:

a link having first and second ends, one of said ends being attached to said housing and the other attached to said assembly; and

a bias element at one of said ends connected to said link to provide said downward force.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the bias element includes:

a torsion spring having ends;

a mandrel attachable to the housing or assembly, said mandrel securing one end of the torsion spring; and

at least one attachment point in said link for securing the other end of the torsion spring.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the torsion spring includes a spiral core and wherein said mandrel passes through said spiral core.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said mandrel includes a notch and wherein one end of said torsion spring is rotationally secured within said notch.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the link includes:

first and second apertures; and

first and second spacers sized to be received in said apertures and

wherein said mandrel passes at least in part through one of said spacers.

7. A device for maintaining a ground surface, comprising:

a housing having a front, rear and side peripheral edges;

at least one squeegee assembly having first and second longitudinal ends; and

a plurality of connecting elements connecting said first and second ends to said housing, said connecting elements providing a bias force between said housing and said assembly to urge said assembly into contact with said surface.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of connecting elements includes:

a first attachment end pivotally connected to said at least one squeegee assembly;

a second attachment end pivotally connected to said housing; and

a torsion spring that applies a biasing torque between said first attachment end and said second attachment end.

9. A device for maintaining a ground surface, comprising:

a housing; and

a squeegee assembly having a blade with an attachment edge and a ground contact edge, said ground contact edge being inclined inwardly toward said housing.

10. The device of claim 9, further including a torsion element connecting said assembly to said housing and configured to incline said contact edge.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said housing includes an inclined attachment point and wherein said assembly is attached to said housing through said attachment point.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said assembly includes an inclined attachment point and wherein said housing is attached to said assembly through said attachment point.

13. A device for maintaining a ground surface capable of accessing ground spaces substantially occluded by objects which are proximate the ground surface, comprising:

a first housing

a second low profile housing being attached to said first housing and having an upper surface defining an at least partially enclosed space and a maximum upper clearance distance between the upper surface and ground surfaces, said upper clearance distance being less than the distance of said object to the ground,

said second housing having a peripheral edge and a squeegee assembly at the peripheral edge thereof;

a plurality of torsion elements connected at one end to said second housing and said squeegee assembly, and located in said partially enclosed space, and configured to apply a downward biased force to maintain the squeegee assembly in contact with the ground.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said torsion elements include:

a link having first and second ends, one of said ends being attached to said one of said housing ands the other attached to said assembly; and

a bias element at one of said ends connected to said link to provide said downward force.