US3124911A

US3124911A - Floor finishing machines

Info

Publication number: US3124911A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-17

Description

March 17, 1964 P vlNELLA 3,124,911

. FLOOR FINISHING MACHINES Filed July 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

FRANK I? WNELLA I? 5 J 4770mm March 17, 1964 F. P. VINELLA FLOOR FINISHING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1962 INVENTOR. Flame 1? WNELZA flwfl United States Patent 3,124,911 FLOOR FWISHENG MACHINES Frank P. Vinella, 2536 24th Ave. 5., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed July 17, 1962, Ser. No. 210,354 7 Claims. (Cl. 51-177) This invention relates broadly to floor finishing machines, more particularly to a machine for finishing terrazzo, stone, concrete, and like floor surfaces, and more specifically to a floor finishing machine of the class described having an adjustable operating handle, interchangeable weight means, and an electrical power system embodying a phase converter whereby the machine may be selectively operated on three phase or single phase electrical power.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a floor machine having an adjustable operating guide handle, wherein said handle may be readily adjustable to an eflicent openating position for any given operator, and further to facilitate storage of the machine and to improve maneuverability of the same in confined areas.

A further object of this invention is to provide a floor machine having removable interlocking weight members whereby grinding stone pressures on a work surface may be easily varied by the simple expedient of merely adding or removing certain of said weight members from the floor machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a floor machine embodying the use of a phase converter whereby three phase power may be converted to single phase power.

Another object of this invention is to provide a floor machine having means indicating that the machine is not level relative to its work surface due to grinding stone wear, and means whereby the said machine may be adjusted for level operation relative to said work surface.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application, and in which drawings, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the following devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention as an entirety also showing a conventional phase converter unit independent of the machine itself.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly in section some parts being shown in a dotted position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view partly in section taken on the line 3-4; of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is also an enlarged detail view partly in section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3, some parts being broken away.

The present application is to be generally directed to a floor machine having an adjustable operating and guide handle means; adjustable weight means; and the combination of a phase converter with the regular electrical power system of the floor machine whereby the standard three phase power system may be temporarily adapted for use with single phase electrical current. Accordingly, it is not thought to be necessary for the purpose of this application, to describe in detail, all component parts of the machine hereinafter identified and described. In this connection however, it is important to note: the electric motor 6 which is connected to a suitable power source, not shown, whereby the machine is energized; the water tank 7 which acts as a reservoir for water used to lubricate the work surfaces; the gear case cover 8 or housing;

3,124,911 Patented Mar. 17, 1964 the front splash guard 9; and the rear splash guard 10; the driven spider 11; the driving spider 12; the flexible coupling 13; the grinding stones 14; and the truck wheel unit, affording a running gear, assembly as an entirety 15. The foregoing components are all disclosed on the drawings as essential features of the structure of the machine as an entirety, but as stated, no inventive concept is involved in these components and hence they are only referred to in a general way.

The numeral 16 is directed to a plurality of interlocking Weight members that are removably mounted on a pair of laterally spaced weight rods 17, secured to a pair of bearing caps 18 which are formed on the upper surface of the gear case cover or housing 8. These weight rods 17 extend upwardly from the said bearing caps 18 and are dimensioned to engage cooperating bores 19 formed in the weight members 6 with a relatively loose working fit to thus facilitate the removal or addition of said weight members 16 as required.

A guide and operating handle assembly is mounted at its inner end portion to a pair of right and left hand han dle brackets 29 that also serve as a mounting station for the water tank 7 The lower end portions of the handle mounting brackets 29 are secured to the gear case cover or housing 8 by means of screw threaded studs 21, said handle mounting brackets 2%) being provided with upper and lower pairs of outwardly projecting bosses 22 having screw threaded bores. The lowermost of said bosses 22 aiford a mount for the inner end portion of a pair of handle side members 23 which are secured to said lowermost bosses 22 by means of studs 24, said studs having screw threaded engagement with the threaded bores in the said bosses 22. The uppermost bosses 22 on the handle mounting brackets 29 afford a mounting station for the inner end portion of a pair of stop side bars 25 which are pivotally secured thereto for purposes that will presently appear.

A handle bar 26 having outwardly projecting grip sections 27 connects the handle side members 2-3 at their respective upper end portions. It is important to note for purposes that will also presently appear, that the underside of the handle side members 23, at substantially the longitudinal centers thereof, are provided with a plurality of semi-c rcular notches 28.

A positioning shaft 29 is journaled at its respective outer end portions in bores formed adjacent the outer end portion of the stop side bars 25. These stop side bars 25 are mounted outwardly of the handle side members 23 and a pair of stop collar members 39 having pins 31 are provided to secure the positioning shaft 29 and the stop side bars 25 against endwise movements on the said positioning shaft. The said positioning shaft 29 is dimensioned to engage any one of the plurality of semi-circular notches 28 formed in the underside of the handle side members 23, and as will presently appear, the same may be held locked in any of such predetermined positions.

A pair of sliding blocks 32 are constructed and arranged to run on each of the said handle side members 23 and are provided with bores 33 through which the positioning shaft 29 passes and is thereby supported relative to the said handle side members 23, and the stop side bars 25. The said sliding blocks 32 are held positioned against longitudinal endwise movements on the positioning shaft 29 by means of a stop collar 34 having a pin 35 to lock the same to the said positioning shaft 29.

The entire handle assembly, com-prising the right and left handle side members 23, the handle bar 26, and the operating elements, the upper hydraulic unit 35 and the electric switch box 36 are vertically supported by the engagement of the handle side members 23 and the handle stop side bars 25 and is adjustable to provide a comfortable and efficient position relative to the operator and to facilitate storage and transport together with improved maneuverability in confined areas.

As stated, the outer end portions of the positioning shaft 29 are journaled in the outer end portions of the stop side bars 25 and the stop collar members 36* are locked to the positioning shaft 29' by pins 31 to prevent endwise lateral movement of the stop side bars 25 relative to the position-ing shaft 29. The sliding blocks 32 are constructed and arranged for longitudinal sliding movements on the respective handle side members 23 and are provided with transverse bores 33 to receive the positioning shaft 29 with a close Working fit and thereby hold the said stop side bars 25 and the handle side members 23 in working arrangement.

An adjusting notch 38 is formed in each end portion of the positioning shaft 29, said notches being in alignment with the respective handle side members 23 and the respective semi-circular notches 28 formed in the underside of the said handle side members. A stop pin 39 is fitted into the inner face of the left hand sliding block 32 and projects inwardly thereof for engagement with an indexing stop collar 40 mounted on the left hand side of the positioning shaft 29 and locked thereto against axial movement by a pin 41. The stop collar 34 is mounted to afford endwise abutting engagement with the indexing stop collar 40 and as stated is also pinned to the positioning shaft 29.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that to change the elevation or position of the handle assembly as an entirety, the control handle 43 actuating the positioning shaft 29 is moved into a position wherein the adjustment notches 38 in said positioning shaft are positioned to face the underside of the handle side members 23 in which position, the entire positioning shaft assembly is free for longitudinal sliding movements on the said handle side members 23 and supported thereon by the sliding blocks 32. Selectively, this entire assembly may be moved up or down along the said handle side members 23 into register with any one of the plurality of the semi-circular notches 28 in the underside of the said handle side members. When so positioned and adjusted according to the operator, the control handle 43 is again moved 180 degrees about its horizontal axis and thus rotate the full round surface of the positioning shaft 29, diametrically opposite the adjustment notches 38 into register and interlocking engagement with any pair of opposed semi-circular notches 28 in the respective right and left hand handle side members 23. In this position, with positioning shaft 29 in engagement with the adjustment notches 38, the entire handle assembly is rigidly locked in a position for most eflicient operation by any given operator.

It will be understood, that the indexing stop collar 4%, cooperating with the fixed stop pin 39 in the sliding blocks 32, will limit and control the axial rotation of the positioning shaft 29, actuated by the control handle 43, to provide that the movement of the said control, acting on the positioning shaft 29, will move the adjustment notches 38, into or out of engagement with the respective cooperating semi-circular notches 28 on the right and left hand side members 23'. This control is normally so adjusted that the said control handle 4-3 must be moved through its entire arc of movement to engage and/ or release the positioning shaft 23 from engagement with the adjustment notches 38 on the handle side members 23. It will be understood that the control handle assembly is held against axial rotation on the positioning shaft 2-9 by means of a pin 45.

The subject floor machine described herein is constructed and designed to operate on either three phase or single phase electric current selectively by embodying the use of a conventional phase converter 46 and conventional connections 47 therefor on the floor machine. As shown on the drawings the phase converter 46 is a i separate commercial unit and the numeral 47 is directed to the phase switch and lock unit.

While there are herein disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the structure, process and product of the invention herein presented, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated herein or required by the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. A floor finishing machine comprising in combination, a running gear including at least one supporting Wheel, a spider alfording a mounting station for a plurality of grinding stones, an electric motor supported by the running gear and adapted to be energized by a source of electric current, gearing and flexible driving connections between the electric motor and the spider whereby said spider is rotated about a vertical axis, a housing surrounding said spider and its driving connections, adjustable weight means mounted on the housing whereby the engagement of the grinding stones with work surfaces may be varied, an improved handle assembly for guiding the machine at its work said handle assembly further affording a mounting station for electrical and hydraulic control components, said improved handle assembly providing adjusting means therefor and comprising, a handle bar having grip sections, a pair of opposed handle brackets mounted on the housing and a pair of rearwardly projecting handle stop side bars pivotally mounted at their respective inner end portions to the said handle brackets, a pair of handle side members pivotally mounted at their respective inner end portions on the said handle brackets at a point beneath the mounting position of the said handle stop side bars, the outer end portion of the handle stop side bars being provided with transverse bores to receive a positioning shaft and the outer end portion of the handle side members being terminated and secured to the handle bar, said positioning shaft being mounted in the said handle stop bars for limited rotation about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of longitudinally spaced positions defined in the underside of the respective handle side members aifording means for engagement with the positioning shaft and adjustable means carried by the said handle side members for connecting and locking the handle side members and the handle stop side bars in engagement, the one with the other.

2. A floor finishing machine comprising in combination, a running gear including a pair of rearwardly mounted supporting truck wheels and a spider mounted forwardly of said pair of truck wheels, said spider aifordmg a mounting station for a plurality of grinding stones having work engaging surfaces, an electric motor supported by the running gear and the grinding stones when the latter are in engagement with the said work surface, said electric motor adapted to be selectively energized by three phase or single phase electric current, gearing and flexible driving connections between the electric motor and the spider whereby said spider and its mounted grinding stones is rotated about a vertical axis, a housing surrounding the spider and its driving connections, a plurality of interchangeable, removable weight members mounted in stacked arrangement on the housing whereby the engagement of the grinding stones with the work surface may be varied as required, an improved handle assembly for guiding the floor machine at its work said improved handle assembly being vertically adjustable and comprising a handle bar having grip sections, a pair of handle brackets mounted on the housing and a pair of rearwardly projecting handle stop side bars pivotally mounted at their respective inner end portions to the said handle brackets, a pair of handle side members pivotally mounted at their respective inner end portions to the said handle brackets at a position beneath the mounting station for the said handle stop side bars, the outer end portion of the handle side members being secured to the handle bar, a positioning shaft journaled in the outer end portion of the handle stop side bars for limited rotation about its longitudinal axis, said positioning shaft having a pair of longitudinally spaced adjusting notches formed therein adjacent the outer end portions thereof and in substantially vertical alignment with the lower edge portions of the handle side members, a plurality of longitudinally disposed semi-circular notches formed in the underside of the said handle side members substantially at the longitudinal center thereof, a sliding block mounted for longitudinal sliding movements on each handle side member said sliding blocks having a transverse bore through which the positioning shaft extends, means integral with said sliding blocks whereby the same engage and are supported by the respective handle side members, stop means mounted on the positioning shaft whereby the sliding blocks are held against endwise movements on the positioning shaft and indexing means mounted on the positioning shaft whereby the said positioning shaft may be rotated about its longitudinal axis to manually and selectively engage the positioning shaft with the semi-circular notches on the underside of the handle side members and thereby lock the handle assembly in a predetermined position.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the said semicircular notches on the underside of each handle side memher, and the longitudinally spaced notches adjacent the end portions of the positioning shaft are in alignment to afiord cooperation therebetween, whereby, when the said positioning shaft is rotated about its longitudinal axis and the notches thereof in alignment with the semicircular notches on the handle side members, the entire handle assembly and its mounted components is free to slide, supported by the sliding blocks, on the respective handle side members and conversely, when the said positioning shaft is rotated about its longitudinal axis to position its full round portion diametrically opposite the said notches, in engagement with a pair of opposed semicircular notches on the handle side members, the entire handle assembly is rigidly locked in its predetermined position.

4. The structure defined in claim 2 further including a horizontally disposed, inwardly projecting stop pin mounted in one of said sliding blocks and indexing stop collar mounted on the positioning shaft adjacent one of said sliding blocks, having means cooperating with the said stop pin whereby the rotating axial movements of the positioning shaft is limited to thus engage or disengage the said positioning shaft from the semi-circular notches on the handle side members.

5. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein the positioning shaft is rotated about a degree axis by a manually manipulated handle member rigidly secured against axial movement on the positioning shaft, said handle member being located at substantially the longitudinal center of the said positioning shaft.

6. The structure of claim 2 further including a pair of spaced, upwardly projecting weight rods rigidly secured in the housing substantially overlying the grinding stones, a plurality of interchangeable and removable weight members having aligned bores dimensioned to coincide with the said weight rods, said weight members being constructed to nest, one on another in stacked arrangement and be held so positioned by the said weight rods, to aiford means whereby the weight or pressure of the grinding stones may be varied.

7. The structure of claim 2 further including a pair of stop collars on the outer end portions of the positioning shaft whereby the respective handle stop side bars are held positioned on said positioning shaft and in relatively close fitting abutting engagement with the handle side members and the sliding blocks mounted thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,126,615 Cavicchi Jan. 26, 1915 1,635,000 Lennox July 5, 1927 1,901,681 Vicenzi Mar. 14, 1933 1,958,071 Vinel la May 8, 1934 2,205,492 Reid June 25, 1940 2,242,229 Curleigh May 20, 1941 2,731,590 Smith Jan. 17, 1956 2,793,476 Lombardo May 28, 1957 2,923,107 Biasoni Feb. 2, 1960 2,967,314 Kowalewski Jan. 10, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 846,054 Great Britain Aug. 24, 1960

Claims

1. A FLOOR FINISHING MACHINE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A RUNNING GEAR INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE SUPPORTING WHEEL, A SPIDER AFFORDING A MOUNTING STATION FOR A PLURALITY OF GRINDING STONES, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR SUPPORTED BY THE RUNNING GEAR AND ADAPTED TO BE ENERGIZED BY A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT, GEARING AND FLEXIBLE DRIVING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND THE SPIDER WHEREBY SAID SPIDER IS ROTATED ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, A HOUSING SURROUNDING SAID SPIDER AND ITS DRIVING CONNECTIONS, ADJUSTABLE WEIGHT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE HOUSING WHEREBY THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE GRINDING STONES WITH WORK SURFACES MAY BE VARIED, AN IMPROVED HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR GUIDING THE MACHINE AT ITS WORK SAID HANDLE ASSEMBLY FURTHER AFFORDING A MOUNTING STATION FOR ELECTRICAL AND HYDRAULIC CONTROL COMPONENTS, SAID IMPROVED HANDLE ASSEMBLY PROVIDING ADJUSTING MEANS THEREFOR AND COMPRISING, A HANDLE BAR HAVING GRIP SECTIONS, A PAIR OF OPPOSED HANDLE BRACKETS MOUNTED ON THE HOUSING AND A PAIR OF REARWARDLY PROJECTING HANDLE STOP SIDE BARS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THEIR RESPECTIVE INNER END PORTIONS TO THE SAID HANDLE BRACKETS, A PAIR OF HANDLE SIDE MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THEIR RESPECTIVE INNER END PORTIONS ON THE SAID HANDLE BRACKETS AT A POINT BENEATH THE MOUNTING POSITION OF THE SAID HANDLE STOP SIDE BARS, THE OUTER END PORTION OF THE HANDLE STOP SIDE BARS BEING PROVIDED WITH TRANSVERSE BORES TO RECEIVE A POSITIONING SHAFT AND THE OUTER END PORTION OF THE HANDLE SIDE MEMBERS BEING TERMINATED AND SECURED TO THE HANDLE BAR, SAID POSITIONING SHAFT BEING MOUNTED IN THE SAID HANDLE STOP BARS FOR LIMITED ROTATION ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED POSITIONS DEFINED IN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RESPECTIVE HANDLE SIDE MEMBERS AFFORDING MEANS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE POSITIONING SHAFT AND ADJUSTABLE MEANS CARRIED BY THE SAID HANDLE SIDE MEMBERS FOR CONNECTING AND LOCKING THE HANDLE SIDE MEMBERS AND THE HANDLE STOP SIDE BARS IN ENGAGEMENT, THE ONE WITH THE OTHER.