Tennant Company

Laurence A Jensen

Adam J C Runnoe

Erik M Weatherly

Bruce F Field

Michael Thomas Basham

John C Ickes

Kevin Leroy Shinler

Robert A Geyer

Charles W Bricher

Brett J Carlson

Jacob L Stock

Peter Alexander Loring

Martin L Dickrell

Steven A Burke

Michael M Dimovski

Justin I Dancs

Derek R Younggren

Matthew Ryan Baldwin

Stefan Sehmke

Gregory P Gallea

Brett Jason Carlson

Adam JC Runnoe

A coupling mechanism for removably coupling a storage cart to a surface maintenance machine includes a cart-side connector connectable to the storage cart and a machine-side connector connectable to the surface maintenance machine. The coupling mechanism includes a connecting rod engageable with the machine-side connector. The coupling mechanism includes a bracket assembly positioned between the cart-side connector and the machine-side connector. The bracket assembly can receive the connecting rod to engage therewith to facilitate a first relative movement between the connecting rod and a portion of the bracket assembly in a direction perpendicular to a floor surface on which the surface maintenance machine is traveling, and a pivoting of the bracket assembly about a pivot axis passing through the connecting rod.

Surface maintenance machine with removable storage

Embodiments include a surface maintenance machine, comprising a maintenance tool chamber comprising a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. A rotary broom is housed in the maintenance tool chamber and substantially enclosed by the first, second, third and fourth sides thereof. The rotary broom sweeps particulate from the surface. A vacuum system generates vacuum for drawing particulate swept by the rotary broom. The vacuum system is positioned proximal to the first side. A skirt assembly extends substantially around the second, third and fourth sides of the maintenance tool chamber. The skirt assembly has a vacuum passage defined therein and in fluid communication with the vacuum system to direct air flow into the vacuum passage, thereby drawing particulate into the vacuum passage and preventing particulate accumulation at portions of the second, third and fourth sides that are distal to the vacuum system.

Surface maintenance machine with skirting to allow particulate pickup

An auxiliary waste removal system for a surface maintenance machine, having a vacuum wand for removing waste from the floor surface, a reusable bagless waste collection container removably coupled to the vacuum wand, and a vacuum source fluidly coupled to the bagless waste collection container, the vacuum source generating a vacuum flow from an inlet of the vacuum wand to a vacuum outlet, the vacuum outlet being positioned downstream of the bagless waste collection container and the vacuum source such that the waste suctioned from the floor surface by the vacuum wand travels along the vacuum flow path and is directly received in the bagless waste collection container.

Surface maintenance machine with an auxiliary waste removal system

A debris collection system for a floor cleaning machine includes a motorized cleaning head attached to a frame of the floor cleaning machine, a carriage attached to the frame, a debris tray, and a de-watering system. The debris tray is removably receivable within the carriage and is positioned to receive debris thrown from the motorized cleaning head. The de-watering system includes a liquid extracting component, a tray tubing section, a main tubing section, a waste recovery tank supported on the frame and a vacuum in vacuum communication with the main tubing section. The liquid extracting component is attached to the debris tray and is configured to extract liquid from within the debris tray. The tray tubing section has a first end that is coupled to the liquid extracting component and a second end that is mounted in fixed relation to the debris tray. The a main tubing section has a first end that is connected to the waste collection tank and a second end that is positioned to automatically couple to the second end of the tray tubing section upon installation of the debris tray.

Floor cleaning machine debris collection system

A battery powered floor maintenance machine is alignable with a battery docking station that can slidably receive a spent battery assembly from the floor maintenance machine. The floor maintenance machine includes locking and aligning mechanisms to safely attach the machine to the docking station. Once attached, the battery assembly is slid onto the docking station for recharge. The floor machine can be removed from the docking station and attached to a second charging station with a fully charged battery assembly thereon. The battery assembly can be slid from the second charging station to the floor maintenance machine, allowing the machine to be returned to service.

Battery interchange system for battery powered floor maintenance equipment

A collectorless vacuum fan for floor maintenance machines has a backplate with an inlet plate attached thereto in spaced relationship, and an impeller between the backplate and inlet plate. Both the backplate and the inlet plate extend radially beyond the periphery of the impeller. A shaft mounts the impeller for rotation. The inlet plate has a central opening providing air to the hub of the impeller. Vanes on the impeller discharge air out through a diffuser channel defined by the space between the inlet plate and the backplate outside the periphery of the impeller. Attachment elements for mounting the inlet plate on the backplate leave the diffuser channel substantially unobstructed so that air is discharged about the entire periphery of the impeller. The fan has increased air flow compared to a conventional fan having an integral collector housing and decreased noise compared to a fan having a 360 degree discharge and no diffuser.

Low noise fan

A sweeping machine has a housing, wheels for moving the housing, a sweeping brush mounted on the housing, a hopper positioned adjacent the brush to receive dust and debris therefrom, a dust collection chamber on the housing, and a vacuum fan mounted on the housing and creating an air flow path from the brush through the hopper and to the dust collection chamber. There is a filter element in the air flow path, with the filter element including a plurality of generally parallel pleats having folds extending in a direction transverse to the air flow path. There is a pleat moving element extending generally transverse to the pleats and engaged with the pleats. An electric actuator is mounted on top of the pleats and a bar is associated with the actuator and movable upon actuation thereof. There is a spring connected between the pleat moving element and the filter frame. The application of pulsed electric power to the actuator with the electromagnetic field caused thereby moving the pleat moving element and the pleats associated therewith in a first direction, with the spring moving the pleat moving element and the pleats associated therewith in a second direction, with movement in said first and second directions imparting a shaking, cleaning movement to the pleats.

Sweeper with electromagnetic filter cleaning

Growing community of inventors

Oakdale, MN, United States of America

Laurence A Jensen