Removable brush coupling

A brush for being removably affixed to a drive hub on a rotatable drive shaft, comprising:

• a brush head defining a substantially circular recess for receiving a drive hub, said recess having a plurality of circumferentially spaced splineways for receiving and engaging a corresponding plurality of circumferentially spaced splines formed on the drive hub to prevent relative rotation between said brush head and the hub;
• a plurality of bristles affixed to said brush head;
• a spring retainer having first and second legs and tabs;
• an anchor for mounting a portion of said retainer to said brush head so that said legs cover a diametrically opposed pair of said splineways when said legs are in an initial position;
• and
• a laterally extending channel defined by said brush head through which said legs extend for restricting axial motion of said legs with respect to said brush head;..
• wherein said legs are adapted to be elastically spread by one of said spaced splines that are formed on the drive hub so that it may be inserted within said recess, said legs being adapted to thereafter engage the drive hub to hold it within said recess, said tabs being manually actuable to elastically spread said legs to an open position in which said legs uncover said opposed pair of splineways, to allow said brush to be easily removed from the hub.

A vehicle for cleaning a surface, comprising:

• a plurality of wheels;
• powered means for driving said wheels to move said vehicle on said surface;
• controls for operating said vehicle;
• a removable brush having a brush head and a plurality of bristles;
• rotating means,having a drive shaft and a drive hub for rotating said brush;
• wherein said brush head is adapted to be removably affixed to said drive hub;
• one of said drive hub and said brush having an axially extending projection defining a shelf surface and a cam surface;
• a recess defined by the other of said drive hub and said brush head adapted to accept said projection;
• said recess and said projection having a plurality of interfitting splines and splineways to prevent relative rotation between said brush head and said drive hub;
• a spring retainer, affixed to the other of said drive hub and said brush head having first and second legs and tabs, said legs covering a radially opposed pair of said splineways when said legs are in an initial position;
• and
• wherein said cam surface is adapt,ed to elastically spread said legs to allow said projection to be inserted within said recess, said legs thereafter engaging said shelf surface to prevent removal of said projection from said recess, said tabs being manually actuable to elastically spread said legs to an open position in which said legs uncover said opposed pair of splineways, to allow said projection to be easily removed from said recess, said brush being adapted to be similarly reattached to said hub in like manner.