EP1715103B1 - Ground cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a movable over the floor to be cleaned floor cleaning machine with a cleaning device for receiving dirt from the floor and with at least one rotatably driven side brush to promote dirt in the receiving area of the cleaning device, which is supported on a Haltearmanordnung, pivotally mounted on a attached via a pivotal connection with the machine frame, held in a normal position in a starting position of the coupling member and on which an actuating device for positioning the Haltearmanordnung between an inner end position and an outer end position with respect to the machine frame engages the Haltearmanordnung to bring in an operating position in which the side brush is in a desired lateral position with respect to the scope of the floor cleaning device, wherein the Haltearmanordnung is displaceable upon impact of the side brush on an obstacle under displacement of the coupling member from its initial position from the operating position.

Such floor cleaning machines are known in the form of self-propelled sweepers, in which the cleaning device comprises, for example, a suction mouth or a rotatably driven roller brush, which carry the recorded dirt with the assistance of generated by a blower vacuum in a dirt receptacle of the sweeper, the one or more side brush outside Effective range of the cleaning device, ie outside of the area in which this dirt picks up from the ground, displace dirt located inwardly toward the area of action, so that it can be absorbed by the cleaning device during the sweeping machine.

In operation, it can happen that the lateral broom, which is adjustable in its lateral position relative to the cleaning mirror, encounters an obstacle, such as a raised manhole cover, a curb, a park bench or the like. In order to prevent the support of the side broom from being permanently deformed or broken in such impact, and to give the operator the opportunity to stop the machine before damage occurs, it is also known that some deflection of the side broom over his set operating position to allow addition. For this purpose, for example, in the floor cleaning machine Citymaster 1800 of the applicant, the holding arm arrangement of the side brush is pivotally attached to a coupling member to which also the adjusting device which acts on the Haltearmanordnung is attached. The Coupling member is pivotally mounted on the machine frame and is held in its normal position by spring force in its initial position. The setting of the desired operating position of the side broom takes place in that by actuating the adjusting device, which consists of a hydraulic cylinder, the holding arm assembly is pivoted relative to the coupling member so that the side brush enters the desired operating position.

However, if the side brush encounters an obstacle in the cleaning operation, the unit of side brush, arm assembly and coupling member is pivoted against spring force around the articulation point of the coupling member on the machine frame, so that the side brush following the system pressure on a circular path to the point of articulation of the coupling member on the machine frame displaced rear until a further displacement movement is prevented by a stop. This shifting or evasive movement of the side broom gives the operator of the floor cleaning machine a certain amount of time to stop the machine.

The known structure fulfills the desired function, but has the disadvantage that the side brush moves immediately after hitting the obstacle on a side brushes outward, namely on a circular arc away from the longitudinal center plane of the floor cleaning machine, so that he continues in the direction shifted to the lateral obstacle. As a result, its point of attack shifts further on the side brush to its more inner area, so that an initially perhaps just possible "slipping" of the outer circumference of the side brush on the obstacle can no longer occur.

Since the relatively long unit of Haltearmanordnung and coupling member to the pivot point of the coupling member displaced on the machine frame, thereby leading into the front outer edge region of the body of the floor cleaning machine sections of the holding arm assembly and / or coupling member perform a relatively large displacement movement. As a result, they arrive relatively soon in the body area, so that an early limitation of the displacement movement is required by a stop.

The document GB 22 44 741 discloses a floor cleaning machine having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

It is an object of the invention to improve a floor cleaning machine to the effect that in a compact structure, the sliding past the side broom on an obstacle coming into contact with it and the largest possible displacement of the side broom is achieved when hitting an obstacle.

To solve this problem, a floor cleaning machine of the type mentioned is inventively designed such that the adjusting device is mounted on a frame-fixed point, which is closer to the longitudinal center plane of the floor cleaning machine than the pivotal connection of the coupling member to the machine frame, and that the Haltearmanordnung at least when pivoting over their outer end position also pivots about the articulation of the adjusting device and this around which they are coupled to the machine frame frame fixed point, whereby the Haltearmanordnung and coupling member connecting pivot axis is displaced opposite to the direction of displacement movement of the side brush carrying end of the Haltearmanordnung.

Thus, while adjusting the desired operating position, the side brush holder holding arm assembly, as in the prior art floor cleaning machine, is pivoted relative to the coupling member in the desired position, the attacking on the Haltearmanordnung actuator is not, as in the known floor cleaning machine, on the coupling member, but held on a farther inside than the pivotal connection of coupling member and machine frame, frame-fixed point. Therefore, when the side brush encounters an obstacle, the actuator counteracts a displacement of its pivot point on the Haltearmanordnung. Here, the actuator prevents such a shift from the operating position when it has a predetermined, unchangeable length, such as if it consists of a hydraulic cylinder with hydraulically releasable check valve, which ensures that the piston rod of the working cylinder is not extended by loading beyond the set position can be. However, if, for example, an adjusting device in the form of a working cylinder is used without such a slide lock and this is not yet in its fully extended position, there is first a displacement of the point of application of the working cylinder on the Haltearmanordnung until the working cylinder is maximally stretched, so the Haltearmanordnung located in its outer end position. Upon further loading of the side brush by the engagement with the obstacle now pivots the Haltearmanordnung to the point of the actuator, ie the Haltearmanordnung acts as a two-armed lever and caused by the pivotal connection with the coupling member that this pivots about its pivotal connection with the machine frame, wherein the Setting device pivots about its connection point with the machine frame. In this case, the pivot axis connecting the holding arm assembly and the coupling member moves in the direction opposite to the displacement movement of the outer arm of a two-armed lever forming Haltearmanordnung and possibly. About the defined by the connecting line of articulation of the adjusting device and the frame-fixed point dead center.

By the construction according to the invention it is achieved that in case of hitting the side brush on an obstacle one Part of the Haltearmanordnung, which lies between the coupling member and articulation of the actuator, and also the coupling member opposite to the approach movement of the outer part of the Haltearmanordnung move to the body of the floor cleaning machine. As a result, the coupling member and inner part of the retaining arm assembly move away from the body portion, while the outer portion of the retaining arm assembly, including the side brush pivots about its machine fixed point about the articulation of the actuator and not about the pivotal connection of the coupling member with the machine frame pivoting the actuator. In this way, the size of the displacement movement is not limited, as in the prior art, by an approach movement of the coupling member and inner part of the Haltearmanordnung to the body portion of the floor cleaning machine, but it is a larger Verlagerungsbwegung the Seitenbesens possible. However, this gives the operator more time to stop the floor cleaning machine to avoid damaging the side broom suspension.

In particular, when the actuator is in the outer end position of the support arm assembly, the corresponding displacement movement of the support arm assembly and link connecting pivot axis causes the support arm assembly, in addition to the rearward movement relative to the normal travel motion of the floor cleaning machine, to also inwardly toward the longitudinal center plane of the floor cleaning machine is moved. Due to the corresponding displacement of the side broom, therefore, it can in some cases slide past an obstacle that touches it only in the outer edge area.

The coupling member can be held by a predetermined breaking element in its initial position, which then breaks when the holding arm as a result of hitting the side broom on an obstacle is charged. However, this requires that the operator replace the destroyed breakaway member before the cleaning operation can continue. In a preferred embodiment, therefore, the coupling member is held by spring force in its initial position. This spring force can be generated by a spring acting in the region of the pivot axis connecting the coupling member and the machine frame, for example by a corresponding torsion spring arrangement. This can then also allow the evasive movement of the coupling member, which is required to move the toggle device through the dead position.

The displacement area of the coupling member is expediently limited by stops interacting with the latter and thereby defined precisely.

In a known manner, the Haltearmanordnung can be formed telescopically and compressible against spring pressure, so that the side brush can also avoid an obstacle to some extent when the Haltearmanordnung is aligned substantially in the direction of travel.

Fig. 1

zeigt in perspektivischer Darstellung eine Bodenreinigungsmaschine.

Fig. 2

zeigt in einer schematischen Teildarstellung einen Seitenbesen mit seiner Halterung in einer nach innen geschwenkten Stellung.

Fig. 3

zeigt in einer Teildarstellung den Aufbau der Anordnung aus Fig. 1 in einer Seitenansicht.

Fig. 4

zeigt in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 2 den Seitenbesen in seiner äußeren Endstellung.

Fig. 5

zeigt in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 2 und 4 den Seitenbesen in einer über die äußere Endstellung hinaus verlagerten Stellung.

Fig. 6

zeigt in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 5 den Seitenbesen bei über den Totpunkt hinaus verlagerter Haltearmanordnung und Kopplungsglied verbindender Schwenkachse.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures schematically showing an embodiment.

Fig. 1

shows a perspective view of a floor cleaning machine.

Fig. 2

shows in a schematic partial representation of a side brush with its holder in an inwardly pivoted position.

Fig. 3

shows in a partial view of the structure of the arrangement Fig. 1 in a side view.

Fig. 4

shows in a representation accordingly Fig. 2 the side brush in its outer end position.

Fig. 5

shows in a representation accordingly Fig. 2 and 4 the side brush in a displaced beyond the outer end position position.

Fig. 6

shows in a representation accordingly Fig. 5 the side brush at over the dead point of addition displaced Haltearmanordnung and coupling member connecting pivot axis.

In the Fig. 1 shown floor cleaning machine 1 in the form of a street sweeper has a conventional basic structure with a machine frame on which the front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3 are supported and which carries a body, which forms the driver's cab 4, inter alia. Structure of the drive, which consists of driven brushes and cooperating with a negative pressure blower cleaning device and provided in the body dirt holding container including the various filter devices are well known as the placing of directly driven by a motor side brush 20, 21, whose location of the Operator between an inner end position, as in Fig. 1 is shown for the side brush 21, and an outer end position are adjustable, as in Fig. 1 for the side brush 20 is shown. In that regard, for example, refer to the construction of the floor cleaning machine Citymaster 1800 of the Applicant.

In Fig. 1 is indicated by the arrow A, the normal Vorwärtsverfahrrichtung the floor cleaning machine 1: This arrow A is also found in the Fig. 2 . 4 . 5 and 6 to clarify the alignment of the various components.

The construction and operation of the holders of the side brushes 20, 21 are the same, and will be explained below only with reference to the support of the side brush 20.

From the machine frame, not shown, two support members 10, 11 extend forward beyond the body portion, which are part of a suspension for a cross member, which is displaceable by means of this suspension between a raised position and a lowered position. In each of these positions, the cross member is held substantially non-displaceable and can therefore be considered as part of the machine frame. From the cross member extends an arm-shaped portion 12 laterally outwardly, which has an approximately 45 ° angled end portion 12 '. Retaining plates 44 ', 44 "are secured spaced therefrom, between which a conventional torsion spring assembly 42 of a plurality of rubber or plastic bumpers is secured, forming a coupling member 30 at the upper and lower ends of the torsion spring assembly 42 engaging coupling plates 30 ', 30 "connected so that between the holding plates 44', 44" and the coupling plates 30 ', 30 "is formed approximately centrally through the torsion spring assembly 42 extending, substantially vertical axis of rotation 40 to the coupling member 30 against the force of the torsion spring assembly from an inner end position in which the coupling member 30 with projections 46 provided on the holding plate 44 'stops 48 (FIG. Fig. 5 ) is present ( Figures 2 and 4 ) can be pivoted to a position in which a further pivoting movement by conditioning the side edges of the coupling plates 30 ', 30 "to stops 50 (FIG. Figures 2 and 4 ) of the holding plate 44 "is prevented ( Fig. 5 ).

At a distance from the axis of rotation 40, in the outer end region of the coupling member 30 between the coupling plates 30 ', 30 ", a connection part 24 is pivotally supported with respect to the coupling member by means of a screw pin 28 forming a pivot axis .This connection part 24 together with a pivotable about a horizontal axis a support arm assembly connected thereto at the forward end of the outer portion 22. The side brush 20, which is directly driven by a motor, is pivotally mounted at the front end of the outer portion 22. The support arm assembly 22, 24 is telescopically configured in a likewise conventional manner can be to allow a limited compression due to shock loads of the side brush 20, by means of a hydraulic working cylinder 26 which is articulated on the one hand on the outer portion 22 and on the other hand on the connecting part 24, between a raised displacement position and a lowered n work position are pivoted.

At the upper end of the connecting part 24, the piston of a hydraulic working cylinder 32 forming an adjusting device is fastened pivotably about a pin 34. Its cylinder part is hinged about a pin 36 pivotally on a portion 14 of the cross member, which is held by the suspension elements containing the support elements 10, 11, i. the working cylinder 32 is articulated on the machine frame. This articulation is closer to the longitudinal center plane of the floor cleaning machine, ie further inside than the axis of rotation 40 '.

In normal operation of the floor cleaning machine 1, the side brush 20 by pivoting its Haltearmanordnung 22, 24 by means of the working cylinder 32 to the bolt 28 between an inner end position, that of the side brush 21 in FIG. 1 corresponds, and an outer end position according to Fig. 4 be relocated. In this pivoting movement by extending the piston of the working cylinder 32 moves the holding arm assembly 22, 24 by an intermediate position according to Fig. 2 to the end position according to Fig. 4 , However, it can be stopped to form an operating position in each intermediate position, then to perform with the thus positioned side brush 20 the cleaning operation. In the displacements of the support arm assembly 22, 24 between the inner end position and the outer end position pivots the support arm assembly about the axis 28 and therefore with respect to the coupling member 30 which is held in these movements of the Torsionsfederanordnung, 42 in its position, so no pivotal movement about the Axis 40 and thus performs with respect to the machine frame.

In normal cleaning operation, the side brush 20 is in a position in which it covers only a small extent or not at all the scope of the cleaning device of the floor cleaning machine, ie it is based on the median plane of the floor cleaning machine laterally pivoted outwards, so that the holding arm assembly 22nd , 24 points obliquely outward from the median plane of the floor cleaning machine. Therefore, when the side brush encounters an obstacle in this position, the holding arm assembly 22, 24 - in Fig. 1 seen from above - loaded in the direction of a counterclockwise pivoting. Since the working cylinder 32 is secured against extension under such load, the following will be described with reference to FIGS 4 to 6 described displacement movement from each intermediate operating position, ie also from a position according to Fig. 2 ,

In the obtained by full extension of the working cylinder 32 outer end position of the side brush 20 has, as a comparison of Fig. 2 and 4 shows, the pivot axis 28, through which the Haltearmanordnung 22, 24 is connected to the coupling member 30, the connecting line formed by the pin 34 articulation of the working cylinder 32 to the Haltearmanordnung 22, 24 and approximated by pivot axis 40 of the pivotal connection of coupling member 30 and arm-shaped portion 12 of the machine frame. Attacks a corresponding load in this position by approaching an obstacle, so the Haltearmanordnung 22, 24 can pivot only about its articulation 34 because of the no longer enlargeable length of the machine frame held on the machine frame 32, ie the Haltearmanordnung 22, 24 is a two-armed Lever, and its inner portion formed by the connecting part 24 causes a pivoting of the coupling member 30 against the force of the torsion spring assembly 42 about its frame-fixed axis 40 and thereby a displacement of the pivotal connection 28 between the coupling member 30 and support arm assembly 22, 24 in the direction of a through the line connecting the Axes 34 and 36, so the longitudinal axis of the working cylinder 32 defined dead position and possibly beyond this dead position out to a position according to Fig. 6 , As already mentioned, this displacement of the coupling member 30 and thus of the retaining arm assembly 22 including side brush 20 is limited by the abutment of the coupling member 30 against the stops 50 of the retaining plates 44 ', 44 ".

When relocating the Haltearmanordnung 22, 24 to the articulation 34 of the working cylinder 32 thus takes place, as a comparison of FIGS. 4 . 5 and 6 1, a movement of the pivotal connection 28 of coupling member 30 and connecting part 24 of the support arm assembly 22, 24 in a direction opposite to the displacement movement of the outer portion 22 of the support arm assembly 22, 24 and the side brush 20 and thus away from the front edge region of the body of the floor cleaning machine 1, the the outer portion 22 of the retaining arm assembly 22, 24 and the side brush 20 approach in this movement. In addition, the pivotal connection 28 moves toward the longitudinal center plane of the floor cleaning machine, whereby Also, the side brush 20 is pulled inwards and thereby can slide past in some cases on a relatively far outward attacking obstacle. Since only the outer portion 22 of the support arm assembly 22, 24 approximates the front side body portion of the floor cleaning machine 1, a relatively large area can be swept over before the displacement movement must be limited. This gives the operator an extended time to respond to the approach of an obstacle.

The return of the retaining arm assembly 22, 24 including side brush 20 from the position according to Fig. 6 in the position according to Fig. 4 must be made by the operator by hand, while for the return from the position according to Fig. 5 the restoring force of the torsion spring assembly 42 is sufficient.

Claims (10)

1. Floor cleaning machine which can be driven over the floor to be cleaned with a cleaning device for picking up dirt from the floor and with at least one rotary driven side brush (20; 21) for conveying dirt into the pick-up section of the cleaning device, which pick-up section is secured onto a holding arm arrangement (22, 24), which is attached pivotably onto a coupling member (30) connected via a pivot connection to the machine frame (10, 11, 12, 14) and held in a starting position in normal operation, and to which holding arm arrangement an adjusting device (32) connects for positioning the holding arm arrangement (22, 24) between an inner end position and an outer end position with respect to the machine frame (10, 11, 12, 14), in order to move the holding arm arrangement (22, 24) into an operating position, in which the side brush (20) is located in a desired lateral position with respect to the effective range of the cleaning device, whereby the holding arm arrangement (22, 24) can be displaced when the side brush (20) hits an obstacle with the displacement of the coupling member (30) out of its starting position from the operating position, whereby the adjusting device (32) is secured onto a frame-anchored point (36), which is closer to the longitudinal middle plane of the floor cleaning machine than the pivot connection of the coupling member (30) with the machine frame (10, 11, 12, 14), characterised in that the holding arm arrangement (22, 24) pivots at least on pivoting beyond its outer end position about the linkage (34) of the adjusting device (32) and pivots the latter about the frame-anchored point (36) coupling it to the machine frame (10, 11, 12, 14), whereby the pivot axis (28) connecting the holding arm arrangement (22, 24) and coupling member (30) is moved opposite the direction of the displacement movement of the end of the holding arm arrangement (22, 24) supporting the side brush (20).
2. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the holding arm arrangement (22, 24) can be positioned in a desired operating position in the area between the two end positions.
3. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the adjusting device is a working cylinder (32).
4. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 3, characterised in that the working cylinder is a hydraulic working cylinder (32).
5. Floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the coupling member (30) is pivoted against spring force out of its initial position.
6. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 5, characterised in that the spring force is produced by a spring (42) engaging in the region of the pivot axis (40) connecting the coupling member (30) and the machine frame (10, 11, 12, 14).
7. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 6, characterised in that the spring is formed by a torsion spring arrangement (42).
8. Floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the pivot axis (28) connecting the holding arm arrangement (22, 24) and coupling member (30) can be displaced beyond the dead centre defined by the connecting line of the linkage (34) of the adjusting device (32) and its frame-anchored point (36).
9. Floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the displacement area of the coupling member (30) is delimited by stops (48; 50) cooperating with the latter.
10. Floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the holding arm arrangement (22, 24) is designed to be telescopic and compressible against spring pressure.

Images