GB687107A - Improvements in floor-conditioning machines - Google Patents

Abstract

687,107. Floor cleaning and treating machines. FRASER, R., and TUSON, V. H. May 25, 1950 [March 4, 1949], No. 6018/49. Classes 60 and 138 (i). Relates to a floor conditioning machine of the kind in which a floor conditioning member such as a scrubbing brush or brush assembly is rotatable by a motor about a substantially vertical axis when the machine is in use and having an elongated handle by the manipulation of which the said axis may be slightly inclined to cause the machine to move itself bodily across the floor, wherein the handle is connected to the body of the machine by resilient coupling means. The machine, Fig. 1, comprises a body 10 and electric motor 28 which through gearing drives an inner brush holder 33 and an outer brush holder 35 in opposite directions. A circular plate 40 is fixed to the holder 33 and an annular plate 41 is fixed to the holder 35 and these plates may be loaded with bristles of fibre, whalebone or wire or with abrasive stones (not shown). Mounted at the back of the body 10 on a horizontal facing 12 is a bracket comprising two vertical and parallel plates 13. Pivotally mounted on the bracket are a pair of spaced trailing links 24 which support a shaft 23 for running wheels 22. The wheels can be raised or lowered relative to the body, by a link 25 fitted between the shaft 23 and a cross bar 26 pivoted between the plates 13, by means of an adjusting screw 27. A socket 15 for the handle 14 is mounted between the plates 13, Fig. 4, by means of a radially compressed rubber bush 16 fitted between outer and inner metal bushes 17, 18. The bush 17 is a force fit in the socket 15 and the bush 18 fits between the plates 13 and is locked by a key 19A to a bolt 19, the ends of the key engaging in keyways in the plates 13. A strut 20 pivoted to the socket is movable between two fixed positions by means of a spring catch arranged on the socket. In the position of the strut 20 shown in Fig. 1 the bush 16 is not subjected to any torque. Before operation the link 25 is adjusted so that the brush bristles or the stones rest squarely on the floor with the machine axis vertical. If the handle 14 is raised (the motor rotating clockwise) the bush 16 imparts a torque to the body to incline the brush axis forwardly and more pressure is exerted on the front bristles of the annular plate and since this plate is arranged to rotate anticlockwise the machine will be moved bodily to the right of the operator with the wheels 22 skidding to the right. If the handle is lowered (with the strut 20 released) more pressure will be exerted on the rear bristles of the annular plate so that the machine then moves bodily to the left of the operator. Since substantial movement of the handle is required to cause, through the brush 16, appreciable variation in weight distribution on the bristles the machine is not over-sensitive to slight unintentional movements of the handle.