Floor cleaning machine

• US 7,185,397 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nilfisk A/S (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: ALTO US Incorporated (ALTO U.S.)
• Inventors: Stuchlik, William R., Bukowski, William J., Rowan, Leonard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US10/709,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20050223514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 15/401
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/305 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• 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 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine is provided with at least two movable squeegees to provide coverage of the liquid applied to the floor in a path with the squeegees extending beyond the outer perimeter sides of the liquid path both during straight ahead movement and during turning maneuvers. The squeegee assemblies are carried by a chassis. A floor scrubbing device is provided to apply liquid to the floor and to mix dirt on the floor with the applied liquid. A liquid pickup device is also provided to remove the applied liquid from the floor at a position adjacent to each of the squeegee assemblies.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning machine comprising:

a chassis having a leading portion and a trailing portion and first and second side portions;

a plurality of wheels associated with the chassis, at least one of the wheels being pivotal for steering the cleaning machine;

a scrubber assembly operable to scrub a floor, said scrubber assembly positioned at the leading portion, said scrubber assembly being operable to apply a liquid to a floor in a path having a perimeter with first and second sides;

a first squeegee assembly with a first squeegee having first and second ends, said first squeegee being positioned at the trailing portion and being selectively movable between first and second positions, said first end extending beyond the first side of the path during a turning maneuver of the machine in a direction of the first side portion and the first squeegee is moved from its first position to its second position; and

a second squeegee assembly with a second squeegee having first and second ends and being selectively movable between first and second positions, said second squeegee having its second end extend beyond the second side of the perimeter of the path when the second squeegee is in its second position during a turning maneuver of the machine in a direction toward the first side portion of the chassis and wherein, when the machine is not making a turning maneuver, the first and second squeegees are each in their respective first position.

2. A cleaning machine as set further in claim 1 wherein the second squeegee assembly including a pivot member connected to the second squeegee and pivotally carried by the chassis.

3. A cleaning machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second squeegee is positioned forwardly of a turning pivot point of the machine.

4. A cleaning machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the scrubber assembly includes at least one brush and said second squeegee trails the least one said brush and the pivot point of the pivot member is normally forward of a central axis of the at least one brush the second squeegee trails.

5. A cleaning machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the machine has a generally central longitudinal axis, dividing the machine into first and second sides.

6. A cleaning machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first end of the second squeegee extends normally inwardly of the second end of the first squeegee to provide overlap on the liquid path.

7. A cleaning machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein the path of movement of the first end of the second squeegee is inwardly of the path of movement of the second end of the first squeegee during a substantial portion of movement of the machine during a turning maneuver.

8. A scrubbing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of wheels includes a forward wheel and at least two rear wheels, said forward wheel being pivotally associated with the chassis, said at least two rearward wheels being in spaced relationship to one another with at least one rearward wheel being positioned on each of opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the machine, at least one of the wheels being a power driven wheel.

9. A cleaning machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein the machine turns about a machine pivot point during a turning maneuver, a portion of the first squeegee assembly pivots about a first pivot point positioned rearward of an axis of rotation of the rearward wheels and the second squeegee assembly pivots about a second pivot point positioned forward of the axis of rotation of the rearward wheels.

10. A cleaning machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein the at least two rearward wheels rotate about the axis of rotation and the machine pivot point is positioned generally along the axis of rotation.

11. A cleaning machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said scrubber assembly includes at least one brush operable to rotate in a generally horizontal plane about a brush axis, said second pivot being normally forward of the at least one brush axis.

12. A scrubbing machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein the scrubber assembly including at least one additional brush with an axis of rotation with one brush axis of rotation being on each side of a longitudinal axis of the scrubbing machine.

13. A scrubbing machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein one of said brushes is a leading brush and the second pivot point is pivoted on the side of the longitudinal axis the leading brush is located on.