Method and apparatus for extended use of cleaning fluid in a floor cleaning machine
AssigneeKarcher N. America, Inc.
InventorsSteven W. Tucker, Daniel C. Venard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A floor cleaning machine is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element and a fluid collection assembly for pooling and retaining cleaning fluids proximate to the at least one cleaning element. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a floor cleaning machine that includes cleaning fluid dispension apparatus and a cleaning fluid collection assembly for efficiently dispensing fluid on a surface for cleaning the surface, and collecting the dispensed fluid to maximize the cleaning capacity of the fluid and extend the time of a cleaning cycle.
Claims23
A floor cleaning machine, comprising:
- a chassis that is supported by a plurality of wheels;
- at least one vessel for holding unused cleaning fluids and at least one vessel for holding spent cleaning fluids;
- at least one dispensing apparatus for dispensing unused cleaning fluid;
- at least one vacuum apparatus for retrieving spent cleaning fluids;
- and
- a floor cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a brush configured to rotate about an axis;
- a first squeegee proximate to said brush and having a generally arcuate shape which substantially conforms to an outer contour of said brush, said first squeegee comprising a plurality of apertures extending from a bottom edge of said first squeegee;
- a second squeegee having a generally arcuate shape and positioned on the opposite side of said first squeegee as said brush;
- wherein said first squeegee is positioned substantially flush to a floor surface to permit a pooling area of cleaning fluid thereon, said cleaning fluid at least partially overlapping the area of the floor surface in contact with said brush, so that at least a portion of said brush may continually pass through said pooling area, wherein said plurality of apertures in said first squeegee are positioned a distance away from each other to permit fluid to exit said pooling area by passing through said plurality of apertures, and wherein said pooling area of cleaning fluid maintains said brush in a substantially lubricated state.
A floor cleaning machine, comprising:
- a chassis connected to a plurality of wheels that supports at least one vessel for holding unused cleaning fluids and at least one vessel for holding spent cleaning fluids;
- a brush configured to rotate about an axis;
- a leading squeegee proximate to said brush and having a generally arcuate shape which substantially conforms to an outer contour of said brush, said leading squeegee having two apertures, each positioned a distance away from a radial midpoint of said leading squeegee to permit fluid to pass therethrough;
- and
- a trailing squeegee positioned adjacent said leading squeegee and on the opposite side of said leading squeegee as said brush;
- wherein, when said leading squeegee is positioned substantially flush to a floor surface and cleaning fluid is dispensed by the floor cleaning machine, an area of cleaning fluid becomes retained against said leading squeegee between said two apertures, said retained cleaning fluid at least partially overlapping said brush so that at least a portion of said brush passes through said retained cleaning fluid during rotation of said brush, and wherein said retained cleaning fluid maintains said brush in a substantially lubricated state during a cleaning cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.