US3884250A - Cleaning structure for revolvable pads of floor maintenance equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning unit for the revolvable pads of floor maintenance equipment. Partitions maintain pads in predetermined positions in an appropriate fluid medium. An agitation unit in the form of an aerator, a circulating fluid pump, or an impeller is used to maintain fluid medium in some degree of agitation, and likewise to maintain in suspension the particulate matter, both dirt, waxes, chemicals, and other ingredients in suspension. In this way, the maximum cleaning power of the solution, such as a conventional floor-stripper-type cleaning solution, is utilized. The unit optionally includes a pad drying unit by which vertically constrained pads are allowed to drip dry, with or without the use of air-drying equipment. A suitable drain structure is provided.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Beesley 1 May 20, 1975 CLEANING STRUCTURE FOR REVOLVABLE PADS OF FLOOR MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT [76] inventor: Merrill P. Beesley, 50 East 300 North, Salt Lake City, Utah 84054 [22] Filed: Aug. 2, I973 21 Appl. No.: 384,967

2,651,191 9/1953 Barnes 68/183 2,663,178 12/1953 Schwartz.... 68/183 2,713,347 7/1955 Hazy 134/186 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 14,190 6/1911 United Kingdom 68/183 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. lHomsby Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore [57] ABSTRACT A cleaning unit for the revolvable pads of floor maintenance equipment. Partitions maintain pads in predetermined positions in an appropriate fluid medium. An agitation unit in the form of an aerator, a circulating fluid pump, or an impeller is used to maintain fluid medium in some degree of agitation, and likewise to maintain in suspension the particulate matter, both dirt, waxes, chemicals, and other ingredients in suspension. In this way, the maximum cleaning power of the solution, such as a conventional floor-stripper-type cleaning solution, is utilized. The unit optionally includes a pad drying unit by which vertically constrained pads are allowed to drip dry, with or without the use of air-drying equipment. A suitable drain structure is provided.

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEDmzmws R 884, 250

SHEET 2 0F 2 m m m m m m m m mom m m m CLEANING STRUCTURE FOR REVOLVABLE PADS OF FLOOR MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT The present invention relates to floor maintenance equipment and, more particularly, to structure for cleaning floor pads of any degree of coarseness and intended use, this is an appropriate chemical medium.

In the invention, the chemical medium utilized is maintained in suspension, together with any dirt or other particulate matter, such that the maximum cleaning power of the cleaning solution is agitated may comprise a pump, an impeller unit, or more desirably, an aerator similar to those used in marine tanks such as aquariums.

The cleaning unit may optionally be provided with a pad drying unit which receives the cleaning pads once they have been cleansed in the tank and properly rinsed: The drying unit may optionally include a blower or fan so as to aid the gravity drip-dry function.

The unit is designed for ease of use and satisfaction such that the pads may be used over considerable peri. ods of time without replacement.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to providea unit designed to suitably receive and cleanse the cleaning and stripping pads, for example, associated with floor maintenance equipment.

An additional object of to provide tank structure suitable for receiving cleaning structure, such tank structure including cleansing fluid agitation means.

A further object is to provide floor pad cleaning structure, this in combination with a drying structure of cleaned pads after these are rinsed.

An additional object is to provide pad cleaning structure for floor maintenance pads wherein cleaning solutions to be contained therein will be aerated or otherwise agitated so that a maximum cleaning power is effected in conjunction with optimum suspension of materials therein.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view, partially broken away for convenience of illustration, illustrating a pad cleaning structure as well as a drying structure incorporating the basic principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view of a certain corner structure of the tank in FIG. 1 wherein the same incorporates air passageway means for an aerator unit, when used.

FIG. 3 is a transverse, horizontal section taken on the line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevation taking the form of a vertical longitudinal section of the equipment of FIG. I, illustrating implacement of pads within the unit for cleaning I and drying purposes.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan taken on the line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 1, illustrating a representative attachment of the agitation unit to the tank, this where the unit comprises an aerator.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrates the unit attaching to the tank as comprising a fluid pump, having inlets and outlets as indicated by the arrow shown.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 but illustrates the unit attaching to the tank as comprising an impeller unit having a conventional propeller type impeller.

In FIG. 1, tank 10 is shown to include four vertical corners C a pair of sides 11 and 12, likewise a pair of ends 13 and 14. The tank, of course, includes a bottom 15, the latter being provided with drain 16 that is connected by a conduit 17 and through manual drain valve 18 to drain tube 19.

The tank 10 includes a series of vertical, horizontally spaced partitions 20 defining receiving slots or spaces 21. These are for the purpose of receiving a series of vertically disposed pads P which are to be subject to cleaning.

Partitions 20 may be disposed in corresponding slots 22 and 23, arranged in respective multiplicities as shown in FIG. 1. Circulating or agitating unit'24 is attached to tank 10 by brackets, screws, or other suitable means and includes electrical conduit 25. Agitating unit 24 may take the form of a circulating water pump, an impeller unit, or more generally, an aerator similar to aerators used in aquariums. Where agitating unit 24 comprises an aerator, then the same may, of course, include the usual tube that descends over the top of the tank, such that the air-emitting end is disposed at the bottom of the tank. To facilitate an integral design not requiring a tube, there may be provided an integral partition 26, see FIG. -2, as well as a cross-partition 27 forming passageways 28 and 29. Thus, air from unit 24 will proceed upwardly in the direction of arrows A by a passageway 28 and descend by arrows B by a passageway 29 such that the air will come out into the tank at aperature '30. Where the aerator has sufficient, airexpulsion power, then bubbles will proceed through the entire tank area so as to tend to keep the cleaning medium, as welljasany entrained solids, in suspension. This materially aids the cleaning of pads P. So far as a solution of cleaning the floor pads P, the same may comprise any floor stripper solution such as manufactured under the name Scotc'hbright by the 3 M Company of the United States, or by other domestic companies such as Madison Corporation and Magic Chemical Company. The type of stripping or cleaning solution used forms no part of the present invention. What is important is that the fluid medium be circulated as by a pump, or aeration of the solution so as to keep dirt and other entrained solids in suspension, this as well as chemicals within the solution. To achieve the same, the pads may either be suspended above the bottom 15, of tank 10, see FIG. 4, or the individual partitions 20 may be provided with multiplicities of apertures 31 serving as passageways for the circulating medium as the same is circulated by the pumping means or agitated an impeller or by the aeration means comprising unit 24 in FIG. 1.

To complete the air circulation path, there may be provided a gasket 32 and a cover 33, these being securely in place by machine screws 34.

Optionally disposed meaning the tank 10, is a drying unit 35. The same includes sides 36 and 37 and mutually spaced partitions 38, two of which are respectively identified. These partitions may rest or nestle in slots 39 and 40 provided therefore.

The bottom of drawing unit 35 comprises a tray 41 having a series of legs 42 as indicated. The tray 41 includes, of course, includes the sides 43 and ends 44 as well as bottom 45. Dispose over the tray is a screen 46 upon which pads to be dried rest.

Drawing unit 35 may be connected to tank by a series of spacer legs 49, and back 50 may be provided unit 35 so as to retain pads to be dried in place.

Pan 41 includes a drain valve 52 as well as drain 53.

If desired, a drying fan 54, shown in dotted line configuration in FIG. 1 may be mounted to the underside of tank 10 such that a downdraft stream of air will be generated relative to the drying pads P. In lieu of this downdraft-producing structure, there may be provided a fan and motor combination 56, mounted by attachments 57 as seen in FIG. 4, for providing an essentially horizontal drying pattern relative to pads P.

Partitions 38 need only extend part way relative to the girth of the individual pads, see FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged fragmentary view. The circulating unit 24. Again, this may be used for'supplying air as indicated in FIG. 1, or may simply comprise a pump 24A as shown in FIG. 7, or simply a power driven impeller 24B as seen in FIG. 8. The essential point is that the fluid medium M be either circulated, agitated, or conditioned as by aeration such that the particular matter may be held in suspension and a slight agitation produced.

Of course, in lieu of the integral, air passageway structure is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there may be provided a conventional aerator tube in connection with unit 24in FIG. 1.

In operation, the tank 10 is pre-filled with water with suitable chemicals and/or solution suitable for cleansing or stripping the pads to be vertically inserted in the tank. Maintenance personnel may use their floor waxing, scrubbing, and polishing machines until the same become clogged, at which time the pads are inserted vertically into the tank between partitions 20, that is, in the spaces 21. Once the pads are inserted, the agitation unit 24 is turned on so as toprovide the requisite agitation to effect an optimum cleansing of the pads by the solution. This is produced not only by a tendency of the solution to circulate, but, more importantly, retains the chemicals in the solution and/or suspension, together with other particulate matter, such that a maximum flaking or disolving off of particulate matter from the pads P is achieved. Again, this can be done either by incorporating the impeller unit in FIG. 8, of the circulating pump of FIG. 7, or simply the aerator of FIGS. 1 and 6. Thus, unit 24 may take anyone of these three forms. Preferably, however, the aerator unit will be used since pumps of the inexpensive variety tend to clog in the presence of large percentages of particulate matter in solutions; furthermore, should an impeller be used rather large size would be required in order to effect the requisite agitation needed for all compartments.

In any event, whatever unit is used, the pads remain until they are essentially cleansed, at which time they are withdrawn vertically from the tank and rinsed in a conventional tub. At this point the pads are inserted horizontally into drying unit 35 so as to drip dryinto a pan 41. Where desired, an air stream may provide as by fan unit 54 in FIG. 1 or fan unit'56 in FIG. 4. It is noted that the screen provides for the support of the pads, see screen 48 in FIGS. 1 and 5, while allowing water to drip from the pads and collect into the pan and be dispensed by drain 53.

The present invention satisfies a marked need in the maintenance industry to have the unit for cleaning these pads so that they can be reused, whether for waxing, scrubbing, stripping, or for other purposes.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for washing the pads of floor maintenanceequipment, said apparatus including, in combination, a rectangular tank having an enclosure providetl with a bottom, four vertical corners, and constructed to receive a cleaning liquid, a selected corner of said tank having a diagonal corner partition and a cross partition essentially normal thereto and defining an inverted U air passageway terminating in a bottom air outlet orifice, and a plate sealed over said corner partition and spaced from said cross partition to complete medially such inverted U air passageway, said passageway including upward initial and downward final legs, a plurality of horizontally spaced, vertical I partitions disposed within said enclosure and defining thereto.

Claims (1)

1. Apparatus for washing the pads of floor maintenance equipment, said apparatus including, in combination, a rectangular tank having an enclosure provided with a bottom, four vertical corners, and constructed to receive a cleaning liquid, a selected corner of said tank having a diagonal corner partition and a cross partition essentially normal thereto and defining an inverted U air passageway terminating in a bottom air outlet orifice, and a plate sealed over said corner partition and spaced from said cross partition to complete medially such inverted U air passageway, said passageway including upward initial and downward final legs, a plurality of horizontally spaced, vertical partitions disposed within said enclosure and defining padreceiving spaces, aerator means, coupled to a side of said tank proximate said selected corner and communicating with said passageway at said initial leg, to introduce pressured air proximate the bottom of said tank at said downward leg, for producing air-bubble turbulence within said tank at said padreceiving spaces to thereby maintain in solution and suspension any cleaning agent and particulate matter in said liquid, and means for draining liquid from said tank coupled thereto.

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