FLOOR CLEANING DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE AGITATORS

• US 20090265878A1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Thomas, Kevin, Cotsmire, David, Louis, Jeff, Bilek, Greg, Kintz, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/006 formed by winding a strip tuft in a helix about the body
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices

Abstract

An agitator arrangement for a floor cleaning machine is disclosed including various multi-agitator configurations or one agitator configuration with a plurality of brushes with bristle bundles for rotation of the brushes about an approximate vertical axis with a plurality of stationary downwardly projecting, bristle bundles arranged in at least one row approximately side by side with or without an offset. In particular, agitator assemblies having multiple brushes that rotate in approximately a horizontal and approximately a vertical axis or that rotate at different speeds and torque. Other configurations may include multi-row multiple vertical axis agitators.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning machine comprising:

a vacuum source;

a base module;

a suction inlet mounted to the base module and in fluid communication with vacuum source;

a motor mounted to the base module;

at least one first agitator brush supported by the base module and operably connected with the motor, the at least one first agitator brush rotating about a first axis; and

at least one second agitator brush supported by the base module and operably connected with the motor, the at least one second agitator brush rotating about a second axis, which is oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis.

2. The floor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one first agitator brush is rearwardly spaced from the suction inlet.

3. The floor cleaning machine of claim 2, wherein the at least one second agitator brush is rearwardly spaced from the suction inlet.

4. The floor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one first agitator brush is forwardly spaced from the at least one second agitator brush.

5. The floor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the suction inlet is defined by a first lateral end and a second lateral end spaced from the first lateral end in a direction generally parallel to the first axis, and the at least one second agitator brush is rearwardly disposed from the suction inlet and is positioned between a first vertical plane that intersects the first lateral end and a second vertical plane that intersects the second lateral end.

6. The floor cleaning machine of claim 5, wherein the at least one first agitator brush is rearwardly disposed from the suction inlet and is positioned between the first and the second vertical planes.

7. The floor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein operation of the at least one second agitator brush is independent of a direction of movement of the base housing.

8. The floor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one second agitator brush includes a plurality of operatively interconnected second agitator brushes.

9. The floor cleaning machine of claim 1, further comprising a gear reduction transmission, wherein the gear reduction transmission operatively connects the at least one second agitator brush to the motor.

10. The floor cleaning machine of claim 9, further comprising a belt, wherein the belt operatively connects the at least one first agitator brush with the motor.

11. The floor cleaning machine of claim 10, wherein the motor drives both the at least one first agitator brush and the at least one second agitator brush, and the floor cleaning machine further comprises a worm gear and a spur gear, the worm gear being a component of the gear reduction transmission and the spur gear connecting with the belt.

12. The floor cleaning machine of claim 11, wherein the worm gear is located on a first side of the motor and the spur gear is located on a second side of the motor.

13. The floor cleaning machine of claim 11, wherein the worm gear and the spur gear are located on a same side of the motor.

14. The floor cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the motor drives both the at least one first agitator brush and the at least one second agitator brush, and the floor cleaning machine further includes a first transmission on a first side of the motor operatively connecting the motor to the at least one first agitator brush and a second transmission on a second side of the motor operatively connecting the motor to the at least one second agitator brush.

15. A floor cleaning machine comprising:

a vacuum source;

a suction nozzle including a suction inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum source;

a base housing supporting the suction nozzle;

a motor mounted to the base housing;

at least one first agitator brush disposed in the base housing and operably connected with the motor for rotation at a first speed; and

at least one second agitator brush disposed in the base housing and operably connected with the motor for rotation at a second speed, which is less than the first speed.

16. The floor cleaning machine of claim 15, wherein the at least one first agitator brush is driven at a first torque and the at least one second agitator brush is driven at a second torque, which is greater than the first torque.

17. The floor cleaning machine of claim 15, wherein the at least one first agitator brush is driven for rotation about an approximately horizontal axis and the at least one second agitator brush is driven for rotation about an approximately vertical axis.

18. The floor cleaning machine of claim 15, wherein the at least one first agitator brush is disposed forwardly with respect to the at least one second agitator brush.

19. The floor cleaning machine of claim 15, wherein the suction inlet is disposed forwardly with respect to the at least one first agitator brush and the at least one second agitator brush.

20. The floor cleaning machine of claim 15, further comprising a first retaining member releasably connected with the base housing and a second retaining member releasably connected with the base housing, the at least one first agitator brush being rotatably connected to the first retaining member and the second agitator brush being rotatably connected to the second retaining member.

21. The floor cleaning machine of claim 15, wherein the at least one second agitator brush includes a plurality of operatively interconnected second agitator brushes.

22. A carpet extractor comprising:

a vacuum source;

a base housing;

a suction inlet supported by the base housing and in fluid communication with vacuum source;

a recovery tank supported by the base housing and in fluid communication with the vacuum source;

a motor mounted to the base housing;

a first agitator brush operably connected with the motor and supported by the base housing at a location rearward from the suction inlet, the first agitator brush rotating about an approximately horizontal axis; and

a plurality of second agitator brushes operably connected with the motor and supported by the base housing at a location rearward from the suction inlet, the plurality of second agitator brushes each rotating about an approximately vertical axis.

23. The carpet extractor of claim 22, wherein the first agitator brush rotates at a first speed with a first torque and the plurality of second agitator brushes rotate at a second speed and with a second torque, wherein the second speed is slower that the first speed and the second torque is greater than the first torque.

24. A floor cleaning machine comprising:

a vacuum source;

a base module;

a suction inlet mounted to the base housing and in fluid communication with vacuum source;

a motor mounted to the base module;

at least one agitator brush assembly supported by the base module and operably connected with the motor for rotation about at least an approximate vertical axis along with additional brushes with bristle bundles arranged in at least one row.