Collection system for a floor polishing machine

Abstract

A dust collection/control system is disclosed utilized in a floor polishing machine (10) in the most preferred form. A polishing member (16) for maintaining a floor surface as it is moved along the floor is located and rotated within a housing or shield (186) including a circular, planar portion (92) terminating at its periphery in a downwardly extending flange (94) including a flexible skirt (95) which engages the floor. The rotation of the polishing member (16) within the housing (186) passively generates an air current contained within the housing (186). The air current engages first and second air barriers (190, 191) which extend downwardly from the planar portion (92) and generally radially inwardly from the flange (94) to create high pressure areas upstream of the air barriers (190, 191) with high pressure air being allowed to escape through separate air outlets (188, 189) into a single filter and collection bag (148) and to create a vacuum inside of the housing (186) to draw air around the skirt (95) to entrain the dust and air in the circling air current. In the preferred form, the air barriers (190, 191) are circumferentially spaced at a angle in the order of 20.degree. from each other and are sized so that the flow rates through the air outlets (188, 189) are generally equal.