SELF-PROPELLED SURFACE CLEANING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SELF-PROPELLED SURFACE CLEANING MACHINE

• US 20140090664A1
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Walz, Juergen, Hofner, Christian
• Application Number:
  US14/100,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20140090664A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/28 Floor-scrubbing machines, motor-driven A47L11/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/40 Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
• 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 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools

Abstract

Provided is a self-propelled surface cleaning machine including a front wheel device, a steering device associated therewith, a steering angle sensor device capable of detecting a steering angle at the front wheel device, a rear wheel device having a left rear wheel and a right rear wheel, an electromotive drive device associated with each of the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel, a cleaning liquid application device by which cleaning liquid is applicable to a floor/ground in an application area arranged between the front wheel device and the rear wheel device, and a control device operatively connected for signal communication with the steering angle sensor device and the electromotive drive devices, wherein each electromotive drive device is controllable individually depending on signals from the steering angle sensor device.

Claims

1. A self-propelled surface cleaning machine, comprising:

a front wheel device;

a steering device associated with the front wheel device;

a steering angle sensor device by which a steering angle at the front wheel device is detectable;

a rear wheel device having at least one left rear wheel and at least one right rear wheel;

a first electromotive drive device associated with the at least one left rear wheel;

a second electromotive drive device associated with the at least one right rear wheel;

a cleaning liquid application device by which cleaning liquid is applicable to a floor/ground in an application area that is arranged between the front wheel device and the rear wheel device; and

a control device operatively connected for signal communication with the steering angle sensor device, the first electromotive drive device and the second electromotive drive device,

wherein each of the first electromotive drive device and the second electromotive drive device is controllable individually depending on signals from the steering angle sensor device.

2. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control device comprises an electronic differential device for the at least left rear wheel and the at least one right rear wheel.

3. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the front wheel device comprises one or more steering rollers.

4. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a speed limiting device, wherein a maximum speed is dependent on the steering angle.

5. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein control parameters of the control device for the first electromotive drive device and the second electromotive drive device comprise rotational speed and direction of rotation.

6. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rear wheel device has a sensor device associated with it, said sensor device sensing wheel parameters, and wherein the sensor device is operatively connected for signal communication with the control device.

7. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 6, wherein the control device comprises an anti-slip control.

8. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more nozzles for cleaning liquid are provided, said nozzles being arranged between the front wheel device and the rear wheel device.

9. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein in forward travel, applying cleaning liquid to the floor/ground is behind the front wheel device and in front of the rear wheel device.

10. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more scrubbing elements are provided.

11. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said self-propelled surface cleaning machine is configured as a scrubbing machine.

12. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said self-propelled surface cleaning machine is attendant-controlled.

13. A self-propelled surface cleaning machine, comprising:

a front wheel device;

a steering device associated with the front wheel device;

a steering angle sensor device by which a steering angle at the front wheel device is detectable;

a rear wheel device having at least one left rear wheel and at least one right rear wheel;

a first electromotive drive device associated with the at least one left rear wheel;

a second electromotive drive device associated with the at least one right rear wheel; and

a control device operatively connected for signal communication with the steering angle sensor device, the first electromotive drive device and the second electromotive drive device,

wherein each of the first electromotive drive device and the second electromotive drive device are controllable individually depending on signals from the steering angle sensor device.

14. The self-propelled surface cleaning machine in accordance with claim 13, wherein the cleaning machine is a sweeping machine.

15. A method for operating a self-propelled surface cleaning machine, said cleaning machine having a steered front wheel device and a driven rear wheel device;

comprising;

applying a cleaning liquid to a floor/ground to be cleaned, with an application area being located between the front wheel device and the rear wheel device; and

controlling individually a first drive device associated with a left rear wheel and a second drive device associated with a right rear wheel, depending on a steering angle at the front wheel device.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the rear wheel device is electromotively driven, with an electronic differential device being used for the first drive device and the second drive device.

17. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the first drive device and the second drive device are controlled in respect of rotational speed and direction of rotation.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein a maximum speed is predetermined, said maximum speed depending on the steering angle.

19. A method for operating a self-propelled surface cleaning machine, said cleaning machine having a steered front wheel device and a driven rear wheel device;

comprising;

controlling individually a first drive device associated with a left rear wheel and a second drive device associated with a right rear wheel, depending on a steering angle at the front wheel device.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the cleaning machine is a sweeping machine.