Floor treating machine

• US 4,633,541 A
• Filed: 09/06/1984
• Issued: 01/06/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Industries (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Block, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US06/647,914
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/49 R, 15/49 C, 15/50 R, 15/50 C, 15/319, 15/339
• US Class Current: 15/49.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices

Abstract

A floor treating machine adapted to operate as a floor scrubber and a floor polisher or buffer includes a main housing or support frame structure from which extends a brush housing assembly. The main housing contains a combined solution and recovery tank, a motive device to power the floor treating machine, a propulsion system to propel the floor treating machine along the floor, a pneumatic power system, a squeegee subassembly and electrical and pneumatic control systems therefor. The brush housing assembly is operatively connected to the main housing by a brush lifting mechanism such that two brushes selectively rotating in opposite directions in the brush housing assembly can be lifted away from the floor or moved toward the floor so that the brushes exert the correct amount of pressure against the floor depending on the job being done. The electrical and pneumatic control systems enable the floor treating machine to be selectively operated as a floor scrubber wherein the brushes in the brush housing assembly rotate at a relatively slow rotational speed and wherein the amount of pressure that the brushes exert against the floor is adjustable. The control systems also enable the floor treating machine to be selectively operated as a floor buffer or polisher wherein the brushes are rotated at a relatively high rotational speed and the brushes exert a relatively constant force or pressure against the floor. A high speed polisher is also disclosed capable of attaining rotational brush speeds of 2000 RPM and over. The polisher is controlled by an electric and pneumatic control system.

Claims

1. A floor treating machine, comprising:

a frame;

a brush housing operatively connected to said frame;

a rotatable brush for treating the floor; and

means for positioning said brush with respect to the floor, said means for positioning said brush with respect to the floor further including means for regulating the contact pressure of the brush with respect to the floor.

2. The floor treating machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for regulating the contact pressure of the brush with respect to the floor is adjustable dependent on brush speed.

3. A machine for treating a smooth surface such as a floor or the like, comprising:

a frame structure;

a housing operatively connected to said frame structure;

a brush, rotatably connected to said housing, for treating the floor;

means for positioning said housing, for lifting said housing away from the smooth surface to be treated and lowering said housing toward the smooth surface to be treated; and

means for controlling said means for positioning said housing, said means for controlling said means for positioning said housing constructed and arranged to provide a relatively constant contact pressure of said brush relative to said floor while said brush is rotated.

4. The machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for controlling said means for positioning said housing includes a manual control for adjusting the position of said brush relative to the smooth surface to be treated.

5. The machine as defined in claim 3, further including at least one brush motor having a predetermined coastdown time when electrical power is disconnected therefrom and said brush is moved out of contact with the smooth surface to be treated thereby removing the load on said motor, said motor being operatively connected to said brush for rotating said brush.

6. The machine as defined in claim 5, further including a dynamic brake for altering said predetermined coastdown time when said brush is moved out of contact with the surface to be treated.

7. The machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said brush is operatively connected to a first electric motor, said first electric motor having a predetermined motor coastdown time when the load is removed from said motor and when electrical power is disconnected therefrom, said predetermined motor coastdown time of said first electric motor being controlled by means for braking said first electric motor.

8. The machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for braking said first electric motor is provided by operatively connecting said first electric motor to a second electric motor after electrical power has been disconnected from said first motor and said second motor.

9. The machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for braking said first electric motor include at least one resistor operatively connected across said first electric motor.

10. The machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for controlling said means for positioning said housing includes:

a source of compressed air;

a first reservoir for accumulating compressed air, said first reservoir operatively connected to said source of compressed air;

means for controlling the flow of compressed air operatively connected to said first reservoir for controlling the release of compressed air from said first reservoir;

a first air cylinder operatively connected to said source of compressed air for receiving compressed air from said means for controlling the flow of compressed air so that said first cylinder may be used to raise or lower said housing relatively to said smooth surface to be treated based upon the pressure of the compressed air contained in said first cylinder;

a second reservoir for accumulating compressed air, said second reservoir operatively connected to said source of compressed air;

an air flow regulator operatively connected to said second reservoir for regulating the pressure of compressed air discharged form said second reservoir; and

a second air cylinder, operatively connected to said air flow regulator for receiving compressed air from the outlet of said air flow regulator, so that said second air cylinder may be used to vary the contact pressure of said brush relative to to smooth surface to be treated based upon the pressure of the compressed air contained therein.

11. The machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said air flow regulator is adjustable.

12. The machine as defined in claim 10, wherein said means for controlling the flow of compressed air is controlled by a manually operated lever.

13. A machine for treating a smooth surface such as a floor, comprising:

a frame;

a housing operatively connected to said frame;

at least one brush rotatably connected to said housing;

means for positioning said housing operatively connected to said housing for selectively lifting said housing away from the smooth surface and lowering said brush towards the smooth surface;

a source of compressed air, disposed in said frame; and

means for controlling said means for positioning said housing operatively connected to said source of compressed air to enable said means for positioning said housing to raise and lower said housing to maintain substantially constant pressure of the brush relative to the smooth surface while said brush is being operated.

14. The machine as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for controlling said means for positioning said housing permits adjustable positioning of said housing relative to said the smooth surface.

15. The machine as defined in claim 14, wherein said means for controlling said means for positioning said housing permits adjustable variation of the contact pressure of said brush relative to the smooth surface.

16. The machine as defined in claim 15, wherein the contact pressure of said brush relative to the smooth surface can be varied between 0 and 20 pounds.

17. A floor treating machine comprising:

a frame structure;

a housing operatively connected to said frame structure,

means for treating the floor operatively connected to said housing;

means for lifting and lowering said means for treating the floor operatively connected to said housing;

a source of pressurized fluid; and

means for controlling said means for selectively lifting and lowering said means for treating the floor operatively connected to said source of pressurized fluid to enable said means for lifting and lowering said means for treating said floor to position said means for treating the floor substantially vertically with respect to the floor and to regulate the contact pressure of said means to treat the floor against said floor to a substantially constant level while said means to treat the floor is operating.