STEERING DEVICE FOR FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE

• US 20090020356A1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: JohnsonDiversey, Inc
• Inventors: Oberhaensli, Franz, Mayer, Heinrich-Tito, Staeger, Beat
• Granted Patent: US 7,730,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/446
• 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: B62D 1/02 vehicle-mounted

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine having a speed control and steering member which operates under operator-applied deformation thereof. The invention provides improved consumer convenience at steering and/or speed control.

Claims

1. A steering assembly for a floor cleaning machine having a pair of drive wheels powered by independent motors, the steering assembly comprising:

an elongated frame member;

a hand manipulable pivotal member coupled to the frame member and pivotable about an axis normal to the elongated frame member;

a spring extending between the frame member and the hand manipulable pivot member, the spring positioned and configured to exert a force on the frame member in response to pivotal movement of the hand manipulable pivotal member,

a sensor coupled to the elongated frame member to detect deformation of the frame member due to exerted forces by the spring; and

a controller coupled to the sensor and the motors of the drive wheels of the cleaning machine, the controller receives signals from the sensor and selectively powers each drive wheel motor in response to the signals from the sensor.

2. A steering assembly for a floor cleaning machine having a pair of drive wheels powered by independent motors, the steering assembly comprising:

a frame member;

a handle bar coupled to the frame member and positioned substantially normal to the frame member, the handle bar having cantilevered ends relative to the frame member, wherein an applied force to the cantilevered ends of the handle bar cause the frame member to deform,

a sensor coupled to the frame member to detect deformation of the frame member due to exerted force on the cantilevered ends of the handle bar; and

a controller coupled to the sensor and the motors of the drive wheels of the cleaning machine, the controller receives signals from the sensor and selectively powers each drive wheel motor in response to the signals from the sensor.

3. A steering and speed control assembly of a floor cleaning machine, the steering and speed control assembly comprising:

a frame member;

a hand manipulable speed control device coupled to the frame member;

a hand manipulable pivotal member coupled to the frame member and pivotable about an axis normal to the frame member;

a spring extending between the frame member and the hand manipulable pivot member, the spring positioned and configured to exert a force on the frame member in response to pivotal movement of the hand manipulable pivotal member,

a sensor coupled to the frame member to detect deformation of the frame member due to exerted forces by the spring; and

a controller coupled to the sensor, the hand manipulable speed control device, and the motors of the drive wheels of the cleaning machine, the controller receives signals from the sensor and selectively powers each drive wheel motor in response to the signals from the sensor;

the controller also receives signals from the hand manipulable speed control device and powers both drive wheel motors in response to the signals from the hand manipulable speed control device.

4. The steering and speed control assembly of claim 3, wherein the hand manipulable speed control device is directly coupled to the hand manipulable pivotal member.

5. A steering and speed control assembly of a floor cleaning machine, the steering and speed control assembly comprising:

a frame member;

a hand manipulable speed control device coupled to the frame member;

a handle bar coupled to the frame member and positioned substantially normal to the elongated frame member, the handle bar having cantilevered ends relative to the frame member, wherein an applied force to the cantilevered ends of the handle bar cause the frame member to deform,

a sensor coupled to the frame member to detect deformation of the frame member due to exerted force on the cantilevered ends of the handlebar; and

a controller coupled to the sensor and the motors of the drive wheels of the cleaning machine, the controller receives signals from the sensor and selectively powers each drive wheel motor in response to the signals from the sensor, the controller also receives signals from the hand manipulable speed control device and powers both drive wheel motors in response to the signals from the hand manipulable speed control device.

6. The steering and speed control assembly of claim 5, wherein the hand manipulable speed control device is directly coupled to the handle bar.