Nilfisk-advance, Inc.

Galen M Swenson

Donald Joseph Legatt

Kurt M Vetse

Paul T Mueller

Wolfgang C Lehmann

Patrick Enzler

A squeegee assembly is allowed to float on the floor surface by first, second and third linkage arms having first ends pivotably mounted to the chassis and second ends pivotably mounted to a mount for the squeegee assembly and allowing movement in more than one plane. The squeegee assembly is maintained at a generally constant angle independent of the pivotable movement of the linkage arms, with the generally constant angle being variable by adjusting the length of the third linkage arm. First and second extension springs have first ends attached to the chassis and have second ends attached to the mount at differing spacing than the first ends to cause the squeegee assembly to center the squeegee assembly relative to the chassis. In the preferred form, the ends of the extension springs attached to the chassis are vertically below the ends of the extension springs attached to the mount of the squeegee assembly to bias the squeegee assembly towards the floor surface. A T-shaped bracket is provided having a head for abutting with the first and second linkage arms to limit the upward extent of pivotable movement of the squeegee assembly and having a leg centered between and for abutting with the first and second linkage arms to limit the horizontal extent of pivotable movement of the squeegee assembly.

Squeegee mounting assembly for a floor scrubber

A floor scrubber ( ) is disclosed including a drive lug ( ) for removably connecting a scrubbing member ( ) to a drive ( ) and having a trough for receipt and catching of solution for passage to the surface. The mount ( ) for the drive ( ) is biased by a spring ( ) to pivot relative to a linkage plate ( ) in turn pivotably mounted to the chassis ( ) at an acute angle to the forward movement direction. The vacuum assembly ( ) is sandwiched in a socket ( ) formed in the bottom wall of a recovery tank ( ) by a mount ( ) to deaden the sound generated thereby and to allow air communication is inside of the socket ( ) but generally preventing entry of solution therein. The squeegee assembly ( ) is biased by a gas spring ( ) to engage the surface at a constant force independent of the pivotal position of the squeegee mount ( ). The batteries ( ) can be easily electrically connected and disconnected to each other in series and to the scrubber ( ) by polarity type connectors ( ) for ease of removal, replacement, and interchange of the batteries ( ) in the scrubber ( ) without requiring the use of tools. The bumper wheels ( ) are secured to a first plate ( ) of a pocket ( ) by a pin connector ( ) passing therethrough and through the legs of a U-shaped bracket ( ) having a central portion flushly abutting with a second plate ( ) of the pocket ( ) for transferring forces thereto.

Floor surface cleaning machine

A riding floor scrubber ( ) is disclosed having a relatively narrow cleaning width for passing through relatively narrow passages such as conventional doorways. The riding floor scrubber ( ) includes a recovery tank ( ) that is vertically and laterally arranged and removably attached to the back of a clean solution tank ( ). The clean solution tank ( ) includes spaced parallel side portions ( ) and the recovery tank ( ) extends between the rear ends of the side portions ( ). The recovery tank ( ) is secured by first and second brackets ( ) that extend into recesses ( ) on the clean solution tank ( ), with the bottom of the recovery tank ( ) including a lip portion ( ) resting on a metal plate ( ) of a chassis ( ), with a battery pack ( ) being supported on the plate ( ) between the side portions ( ) of the clean solution tank ( ). The clean solution tank ( ) includes a middle portion ( ) and a lower portion ( ) integrally extending forwardly of the middle portion ( ), with the left side portion ( ) extending to the same longitudinal extent as the lower portion ( ). The clean solution tank ( ) is molded into a complex shape to maximize capacity, with the bottom of the clean solution tank ( ) being recessed to receive the chassis ( ) of a tricycle type to define triangular-shaped volumes ( ).

Riding floor scrubber

A floor scrubber (10) is disclosed including a drive lug (62) for removably connecting a scrubbing member (64) to a drive (60) and having a trough for receipt and catching of solution for passage to the surface. The mount (58) for the drive (60) is biased by a spring (67) to pivot relative to a linkage plate (46) in turn pivotably mounted to the chassis (12) at an acute angle to the forward movement direction. The vacuum assembly (92) is sandwiched in a socket (100) formed in the bottom wall of a recovery tank (90) by a mount (106) to deaden the sound generated thereby and to allow air communication inside of the socket (100) but generally preventing entry of solution therein. The squeegee assembly (152) is biased by a gas spring (150) to engage the surface at a constant force independent of the pivotal position of the squeegee mount (148). The batteries (68, 70) can be easily electrically connected and disconnected to each other in series and to the scrubber (10) by polarity type connectors (80, 82, 84, 86) for ease of removal, replacement, and interchange of the batteries (68, 70) in the scrubber (10) without requiring the use of tools. The bumper wheels (30) are secured to a first plate (32) of a pocket (28) by a pin connector (36) passing therethrough and through the legs of a U-shaped bracket (42) having a central portion flushly abutting with a second plate (38) of the pocket (28) for transferring forces thereto.

Growing community of inventors

Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Galen M Swenson