US2246111A

US2246111A - Scrubbing machine for floors and floor coverings

Info

Publication number: US2246111A
Application number: US222658A
Authority: US
Inventors: Victor C Snyder
Original assignee: FRENCH RENOVATING Co
Current assignee: FRENCH RENOVATING Co
Priority date: 1938-08-02
Filing date: 1938-08-02
Publication date: 1941-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1958-06-17

Description

June 17 1941.- v, c, NY 2,246,111

SCRUBBING MACHINE FOR FLOORS AND FLOOR GOVERINGS I Filed Aug. 2, 1938 2 Shets-S'neet 1 1 N (:1 1 N IQ N Q q BY 5% Zia? June 17, 1941. v. Q SNYDER 2,246,111

SCRUBBING MACHINE FOR moons AND FLOOR GOVERINGS Filed Aug. 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY (fzbfor CJflya/er v; g v

ATTORNEYS Patented June 17, 1941 SCRUBBING MACHINE FOR FLOORS AND FLOOR COVERINGS Victor C. Snyder, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The French, Renovating Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 2, 1938, Serial No. 222,658

4 Claims.

This invention relates as indicated to scrubbing machines for floors and floor coverings, but has reference more particularly to a machine which is especially adapted for the cleaning of carpets, rugs and similar floor coverings, and for sanding, polishing and other floor treatment operations.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which is of a compact, sturdy construction and of well balanced design, and which can be easily operated.

Another object of the invention i to provide a machine of the character described in which a desired reciprocatory movement is imparted to the scrubbing brush of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the character described means for distributing a cleaning fluid uniformly over the entire length of the brush.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the character described a highly efficient arrangement of the brush, suction fan and motor for driving the brush and fan, as well as a highly desirable arrangement of the fluid tank and waste receptacle.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particular- 1y pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the machine taken on the line 3-3 of Figs- 1 and 4; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View of the machine taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3 and showing the brush mounting; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and showing the adjustment for taking up the slack in the brush driving chain; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 1, and showing the manner in which the waste receptacle is secured to the machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the machine comprises a frame consisting of side members I and 2 and a cross member 3.. Ex-

the handle by means of nuts 7 which are thread- I ed onto a cross rod 8 which extends through the handle 6. The

handle members

4 and 5 .are reinforced by means of frame members 8 which extend between the rear extremities of the frame members i and 2 and points intermediate the ends of the

handle members

4 and 5.

The frame cross member 3 is removably secured to the side members i and 2 by means of bolts ill and ii and has end flanges l2 which lie adjacent the side members and support a cross rod i3. As shown in Fig. 5, the cross rod 13 has journaled thereon a. tubular shaft i l to which is rigidly secured a cylindrical brush it which constitutes the main cleaning element of the machine. Rigidly'secured to the shaft i4 adjacent one end of the brush this a camllt having a. spiral groove i'i therein. A pin or stud l8 extends from the cross member 3 and into the cam groove ll, as best shown in Fig. 4, so that when the brush it is rotated, as by suitable mechanism to be presently described, a highly desirable reciprocatory movement is imparted to the brush, which, in combination with the rotary movement, has been foundcxtremely effective for the cleaning of carpets and rugs.

Secured to the frame'members i and 2, as by means of bolts l9, are angles 20 which support a cross bar 2i. The cross bar 2| has rigidly mounted thereon, centrally thereof, an electric motor 2.2, the drive shaft of which extends in a direction substantially normal to the axis of the brush it. The forward end of the drive shaft to the motor extends into a. snail shell housing 23 in which is enclosed a suction fan which is driven by the motor. Removably secured to the housing 23 is a vacuum nozzle 24, the mouth of which is disposed rearwardly of the brush H: as shown in Fig. 3, so as to receive the fluid and dirt thrown rearwardly by the brush as it rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow.

For the purpose of driving the brush IS, the drive shaft of the motor 22 has secured to the rear end thereof a worm 25 which is in driving engagement with a worm wheel 26, the worm and worm wheel being enclosed in a box or housing 2'! which is rigidly attached to'the motor housing. The worm wheel 26 in turn drives a stub shaft 21a whichsextends transversely of the ma- I chine and is journalled in a pedestal bearing 28 secured to the cross bar 2|. The shaft 210 drives an endless chain 23 which in turn drives a sprocket 30 rigidly secured to one end of the shaft l4 adjacent the brush I5. By means of this driving arrangement, a high speed motor may be employed for the suction unit and the speed of such motor desirably reduced for the purpose of driving the brush l5.

For the purpose of taking up any slack in the chain 28, the cross bar 2| has elongated slots 3| (Fig. 6) through which the bolts 3|a which secure the cross bar 2| to the angles 28 extend, so that by loosening the bolts and shifting the bar 2| longitudinally of the machine, the slack in the chain may be readily taken up.

For the purpose of distributing a cleaning fluid to the brush I5, a fluid supply tank 32 is mounted on

cross rods

33 and 34 which extend between the

handle members

4 and 5, such tank having an inlet 340,, closed by a cap 34b, and an outlet 35 in its bottom through which fluid flows into a fllter 36. This fllter has a strainer in its upper portion and the fluid, after passing upwardly through this strainer, flows into a conduit 31, through a valve 38,

branch conduits

39 and 40, and into the ends of a tube 4| which extends parallel with the axis of the brush l and has a series of perforations therein through which the cleaning fluid flows onto the upper portion of the brush, as best shown in Fig. 3. The tube 41 is mounted in a hood or guard 42 which in turn is secured to side guards Ma and 4Ib, secured to the frame of the machine. The hood 42 is curved and extends substantially over the entire surface of the brush l5 with the exception of the lower portion of the brush which projects below the frame of the machine. The valve 38 is controlled by a rod 43, the upper end of which lies adjacent the front of the tank 32 in a position which is readily accessible to the operator of the machine.

Removably secured to the outlet 44 of the fan housing 23 is an inclined conduit 45 which extends rearwardly of the machine and has an outlet portion 46 extending into an opening in the front wall of a waste receptacle 41 removably secured to the frame members 9. The receptacle 41 is provided with a pair of pins 48, which, as shown in Fig. '7, extend through ears 49 on the frame members 9. Cotter pins 50,which pass through the ends of the pins 48, normally hold the receptacle 41 in its operative position on the machine. The receptacle 41 has a handle 5| whereby it may be removed from the machine for the purpose of disposing of the contents of the receptacle, after the cotter pins 50 have been withdrawn from the pins 48. v

The machine is movably mounted upon wheels 52 which are journalled on longitudinally spaced cross shafts 53 mounted in the side members I and 2 of the frame.

In the operation of the machine, the tank 32 is first filled with cleaning fluid, the valve 38 opened and the motor 22 started. The machine is then propelled along the carpet or rug to be cleaned. During such movement, the cleaning fluid is dropped onto the brush l5 and as the brush rotates, this cleaning fluid is transferred to the rug or carpet, the dirty fluid being thrown rearwardly by the brush, sucked up by the nozzle 24, and then blown into the waste receptacle 41. Due to the extremely low mounting of the housing 23, the dirty fluid can be readily removed by suction, with a rather low degree of vacuum.

Due to the low mounting of the vacuum unit, the motor and the various driving connections, the center of gravity of the machine as a whole is very low, and the machine can be easily operated and handled with a minimum of effort. The

various units and parts are so mounted as to be easily removable for inspection, cleaning and repair, and all parts of the machine are readily accessible.

Due to the removability of the frame cross member 3, the brush may, if desired, be removed from the machine, and replaced by a cylindrical sander, polisher or other element for sanding, polishing and other floor treatment operations, it being understood that the cleaning fluid is not used in such event.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a scrubbing machine for floors and floor coverings, a frame of generally rectangular configuration, a rotatable brush journalled in the forward portion of said frame, a hood over said brush, fluid distributing means mounted over said brush and within said hood, a suction nozzle immediately to the rear of said hood, a suction fan in communication with said nozzle, 9. motor having its drive shaft connected at one side to said fan and having the other side of said drive shaft connected to reduction gearing, said reduction gearing being connected to a chain sprocket, said nozzle, fan, motor, gearing and sprocket being mounted upon a bar extending transversely of said frame, said bar being adjustably mounted with respect to said frame.

2. In a scrubbing machine for floors and floor coverings, a frame of generally rectangular configuration, a rotatable brush journalled in the forward portion of said frame, a hood over said brush, fluid distributing means mounted over said brush and within said hood, a suction nozzle immediately to the rear of said hood, a suction fan in communication with said nozzle, a motor having its drive shaft connected at one side to said fan and having the other side of said drive shaft connected to reduction gearing, said reduction gearing being connected to a chain sprocket, said brush having a sprocket on its shaft, there being a drive chain connecting said last named sprocket and said chain sprocket.

3. In a scrubbing machine for floors and floor coverings, a frame of generally rectangular configuration, a rotatable brush journalled in the forward portion of said frame, a hood over said brush, fluid distributing means mounted over said brush and within said hood, a suction nozzle immediately to the rear of said hood, a suction fan in communication with said nozzle, 9.

motor having its drive shaft connected at one side to said fan and having the other side of said drive shaft connected to reduction gearing, said reduction gearing being connected to a chain sprocket, a conduit leading from said fan to a waste receptacle, said waste receptacle being mounted at a level slightly above and to the rear of said fan, said conduit being disposed in a substantially flat horizontally inclined plane.

4. In a scrubbing machine for floors and floor coverings, a frame of generally rectangular configuration, a rotatable brush journalled in the forward portion of said frame, a hood over said brush, fluid distributing means mounted over said brush and within said hood, a suction nozzle immediately to the rear of said hood, a suction fan in communication with said nozzle, a motor having its drive shaft connected at one side to said fan and having the other side of said drive shaft connected to reduction gearing, said reduction gearing being connected to a chain sprocket, a conduit leading from said fan to a 10 waste receptacle, said waste receptacle being mounted at a level slightly above and to the rear of said fan, said conduit being disposed in a substantially fiat horizontally inclined plane, said waste receptacle being detachably secured to said frame and being easily removed therefrom, the conduit extending into said receptacle beyond the interior wall thereof.

VICTOR C. SNYDER.