US1969674A - Scrubbing and mopping device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1934. c. ojANDERsoN-sMEDBr-:s 1,969,674

SCRUBBING AND MOPPING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l /f V2/[jf: OscarAnderson-#edbera Aug. 7, 1934. c. o. ANDERSON-SMEDBERG A 1,969,674

SCRUBBING AND MOPPING DEVICE FiledMay 1B, 1931 4 sheets-sheet 2 y 77 zwerf: Caxl Oscar Andersom Smea'berg lyw.

Aug- 7', 1934- c. o..MIDERsoN-sll-:Imaamh 1,969,674

`SCRU'BBING AND MOPPING, DEVICE Filed May 18, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug 7,' 1934- c. o. ANDERsoN-sMl-:DBERG 1,969,674V

SCRUBBING `AND MOPPING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T4 57 I I j 'Y 57 n 'n |l 65 uw www CcufL Ocar Anderson -mecerg Patented ug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES SCRUBBING AND MOPPING DEVICE Carl Oscar Anderson-Smedberg, Chicago, Ill., as-

sgnor to Lincoln-Schlueter Floor-Machinery Co., Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application May 18, 1931, Serial No. 538,086

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a scrubbing and mopping machine and particularly to such a machine in which the scrubbing and mopping portions may be separated and used as independent units.

An object of the invention is to provide a new .and improved scrubbing and mopping machine.

A further object is to provide a mopping malchine which is so` constructed that it may be used as an independent unit or attached to a scrubbing machine without making the combination too awkward or cumbersome to handle.

A further object is to provide a mopping ma- 'chine which will not leave tracks on the oor.

A further object is to provide a squeegee having means for regulating the pressure thereof against thefloor.

A further object is to provide readily removable "tanks for the carriage which have flush bottoms so that they may be set level on the floor when removed from the carriage.

Other objects and advantages will appearas the description proceeds.

-iReferring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a scrubbing and mopping machine embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a front 'elevation partly in section of the mopping machine detached from the scrubbing machine,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side mopping machine,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the mopping machine taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the mopping machine, Y

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the carriage of the mopping machine with the tanks removed,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the mopping ma'- chine taken on line 74-7 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7a is a fragmentary View of the coupling means for removably supporting a wheel axle and wheels for the mopping unit, or coupling the mopping unit to a scrubbing unit.

Fig..8 is a bottom view of a portion of the scrubbing machine. K

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the scrubbing and mopping machine is shown as a single unit in Fig. 1. The scrubbing machine comprises a frame 11l supported on wheels 12, a pair of brushes 13 are vcarried by the frame and are driven by a motor 14. The upper portion of frame 11 lcarries a reel 15 upon which the cord 16 is wound. The end of the cord isrpro'vided with a plug 17 and when the plug is inserted in *electric socket, the machine mayY bemoved lelevation Aof the over the floor, while the reel winds and unwinds the cord 16 as the machine is moved toward or awayfrom the plug. For this purpose the reel has a spring box 18 mounted on the shaft of the reel to maintain a constant tension on the cord. In order to prevent the scrubbing machine from scratching or marring the wall along which it is moved, a roller 19 is mounted on each side of the gear housing 21 for the brushes.

The mopping machine comprises a carriage which consists of a rectangular frame 22 having side angle bars 23, a rear angle bar 24, and front angle bars 25 and 26. These angle bars have a portion lying in a horizontal plane, and an upturned portion forming a iiange surrounding the frame. The iront side of the bar, which is made of two pieces 25 and 26 has these pieces connected by a U shaped support 27 secured to each of the pieces. Two angle rbars 28 and 29 are connected between the rear bar 24 and the front bars 25 and 26, dividing the frame into two parts, one of which is adapted to support a tank31 for holding clean water and the other of which supports a tank 32 for receiving used water. The frame 22 is mounted upon a number of wheels. Secured tothe front bars 25 and 26 of the frame are downwardly extending arms 33 "and 34. These arms havevlongitudinal slots 35 .(Fig. 7a) in their lower ends to t over `an axle as 38 and each arm has a latch 36 vwith a transverse slot 37, said latch 36 being pivotally mounted on the arm so that the slot 37 swings over the axle 38 to hold-it with its wheels 39 Von the arms 3334. When the mopping machine is used as a separate unit as shown in Figs. 2 to 7, the wheels 39 and axle 38 are applied as a separate unit to the arms 33-34 as shown in Fig. 2. However, when using the mopping machine with the scrubbing machine, as shown in Fig. l, the arms 33-34 are connected to the axle 41 of the scrubbing machine which axle carries the wheels 12, and

in the latter case the axles 38 together with the wheels 39, of course, are not used.v Thus the mopping machine may be detachably coupled directly behind the scrubbing machine with the arms and latches locked over the axle 41 allowing for vertical pivotal movement of the scrubbing unit in relation to the mopping unit as the combined apparatus is pushed along over uneven floors, ridges, etc.

In addition to the wheels 39, the machine has a wheel 42 located substantially centrally of the mopping unit, but back of the center of gravity of the mopping unit, due to the fact that the motor Vof the scrubbing machine is locatedy 4forlseo wardly of this wheel. Wheel 42 has a caster bearing 43, which is connected to a plate 44 so as to permit rotation of the wheel about a vertical axis. The plate 44 is secured to the crossbars 28 and 29.

The mopping of the floor is accomplished by means of'a V shaped squeegee which is shown as having three plys oi resilient material such as rubber and is secured to a V shaped reinforcing frame 46. The frame 22 is provided with four supports 47 (Fig. 6) which carry down; wardly extending threaded pins 48. These' pins extend through four supports 49 carried 4by the squeegeeframe 46. Each of the pins 48 has a knurled nut 51Y and between this nut and a s upfport 49 is a spring 52 for urging'the squeegee downwardly against the iloor. tension of the squeegee may be y.adiusted by the nuts 51. It will be seen that this connection o f the squeegee with the frame causes thesdueegee to move horizontally with the floor .but .permits vertical movement' with resp/ ect to the frame and licor, When the mopping device is not being used it is desirable to raise the squeegee from the floor. In Vorder to elevate the squeegee, the frame 46 is provided with two upwardly extending arms 50 which are attached to the frame subtantially nudway .along ythe Sides of the frame- A U shaped lever. 5,3 is pivotally connected to the upper ends of .these arms Vand is fulcrumed on a pivot pin- 54 which is journaled in downwardly extending arms 55 carried by the frame. The rear bar 2 4 of the frame carries a latch 56 which maybe depressed with the foot to hold the lever in a position in which the squeegee is elevated from the floor.

InV addition to .the wheels 3 9 and wheel 4 2, the carriage of the mopping device is Yprovided with wheels 57. TheSe wheels are mounted in caster arms 58 and the'wheels are rotatable about vertie cal pins 59. These wheels are used chiefly when the mopping machine is transported with the squeegee in elevated position. Y

When the machine is .used for mopping, these Wheels 57`are`elevated from th,e901,'b3u5 it has been found that they invariably leave tracks on the iioor whenleft in Contact with the floor. In order to .elevatethese wheels,the bearings 61 for pins '59 are provided withv a helicalslot 62, ,Ex-

tending through this slotand into pin 59 `is a lever `63. Byshifting this lever through an kangle of lSOdegrees, the-wheels 57 may be raised or lowered from theflooli The `carriage is Aadapted to support two Atanks 31 .and 32; The tank 31 isa cleanwater tank and has 'a valve 64 for regulating the flow 4of water from the outlet 65 of the tank. 'This outlet issubstantially iiush with the bottom of the tank and/fits into 4the inlet 66 of a conduit-67. `The'end of thisconduit is reduced as .Shown-at 68"-'andlts into aconduit 69 on the scrubbingmachine, which leads to an outletg71 carrying the-water to the -iront of the .rotating brushes. The connection between conduits 68 and 69 may -fbe rather loose, since there'is no appreciable pressure on the Water therein, anda The downwardV stantially iiush with the bottom of the tank, ts frictionally into the inlet 66 of conduit 67.

The tank 32 is designed to receive the used or waste water. Secured to the frame of the carriage is a pipe 76 which has a resilient hose of rubber or the like 77, secured thereto so as to form an` extension which `reaches into close proximity to the oor. The upper end of the pipe 76 is secured to 'a plate 78 attached to the crossbars 28 and 29, and a rubber washer 79 is placed over the plate and around the pipe. The tank 32 has a downwardly extending pipe or conduit 8l running along the outside of the tank and tting over the opening of pipe 76 when the tank is in position onthe carriage. The upper end of the pipe,as lshown at 82, extends into the tank and is 'at such an angle'as to direct the Water downyWardlyfdn order to prevent splashing of the water the tank, the lateral side of the pipe is formed at an angle as shown at 84 in Fig. 4 to direct the Water against the side of the thereby preyeetirsss. estates ,of theiweter- In order for the Water to hedrwli into the .benk 3.2, the 11d e5 of .theieok is provided with a vacuum pump 86 operated by a motor 87. This pump and motor are mounted on the .lid in Sueh a Way as to hold the lid in position .by gravity, and in order to -emptythe tankthe motor and pump well as the lid may be removed-therefrom. and the tank may .then be liftediromthe carriage and emptied. The inlet 8S to this pump `.iepositioned on the opnostesde of .the tank as the ,inlet of pipe 81 so that no water will ,be drown into the pump. The exhaust Sideof the Dump prefere ably provided with a muffler 39 .for deseemos the soundof the pump. Y Y Y f The motor 87 may be operated from a plugY 91 on the Switch yloos .9 2 on the .scrubbing machine from which a ,conductor 93 also 4leeds to motor 14 of kthe scrubbing machine. .In onerating the ,apr paratus. the latch 561s :movedilsterally the foot ,to allow the springs 5.2 to engage Saueegee with the oor. The motors for the and the vacuum tank arethen `started ,and the :valve 64 is adjusted to supply the proper ampuntof waterto the brushes. ,brushes rotate in Such a direction ,that .the .Water supplied forwardly of the brushes is-washed rearwardly between the brushes as the machine is pushed forwardly over the water, vand athusthewaheris brushed toward the squeegee of the mopping device. The squee-l gee .on'acount of its 1V shane .collects the water at the apex of the V, .Where it v is picked` up by the sleeve 77,*Whichis v'1n'closeeploximity to `the floor and is drawn into the vacuum tank.

The :combined scrubbing and mopping rmachine maybe propelledlby means ,of @handle 94, which is pivotally connected ,to-the bottom of the frame :at 95, .(Fig. 1) and a pair of arms 96 are pivotally connected .to the upper `p drtion of the frame 11. .'Ihesearms are .adjustablyoonnected to handle-94 by a .clamp and Screw 97 so that the height ofthe handle .bars v98 ,be ad:- justed to Vany Ldesired position. When jthe mopping machine is used separately',: a pair of handles 99 ,are provided, which are attached-mathe side bars 23 -of the Icarriage frame. y n

bIn order. toy prevent ,the monninsma. ine IL-rom scratching or mailingv the wall, ,a pair of IOIIerS .101 are rotatably mounted@ the sie@ bersgsgq;

In ,addition to these rollers, .af-pair. ofrollers m2-are mounted on :theendsfof'thesgueegee support frame 46. 'I {hesergll u v. exte d vlaterally sugnuybeyens ,the ends yofi the. :Sseeeseeiewe to prevent the frame from scraping against the wall. Ihe squeegee itself extends beyond the end of the frame so that the machine may be moved along a wall with the squeegee in contact with the wall to insure that no water will be left on the oor in the corner along the wall.

It will be understood that the nature and embodiment of the invention herein described and illustrated is merely a convenient and useful form of the invention, and that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is to be limited only by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a mopping device including a carriage, a squeegee carried by said carriage, Wheels for supporting the carriage and spacing it from the floor, some of said wheels being in advance of the squeegee and some being to the rear of the squeegee, and means for elevating the wheels to the rear of the squeegee, while the device is in operation to prevent the leaving of tracks'.

2. The combination with an independently operable scrubbing unit including a carriage and a motor driven brush rotatably mounted thereon, an independently operable mopping unit including a carriage with squeegee and water collecting means supported thereon, means for readily removably attaching said mopping unit carriage to the frame of the scrubbing unit whereby said units may be operated individually and separately, said means including a separable pivotal connection between the units to permit independent pivotal movement of the units. f

3. The combination with an independently operable scrubbing unit including a carriage and a motor driven brush rotatably mounted thereon and an axle carried rearwardly of said carriage, an independently operable mopping unit including a carriage with a squeegee and water collecting means supported thereon, means for readily removably connecting the mopping unit to the scrubbing unit whereby said units may be operated individually and separately, said means including a coupling assembly carried on the mopping unit adapted for detachably locking on said axle of the mopping machine to provide a pivotal connection between the units to permit relative pivotal movement thereof.

4. A mopping device for use as an independent unit or in combination with a scrubbing machine, comprising a frame with a V-shaped squeegee mounted beneath said frame and a guiding wheel mounted beneath the frame inside the apex of the squeegee, a pair of wheels mounted at the rear of the frame adapted to be raised and lowered, means for raising and lowering the latter wheels for use independent of the guiding wheel Y Y frame, and means for receiving an axle with additional supporting wheels when the device is used as an independent mopping unit and for detachably connecting the mopping device to a scrubbing device when used in combination with the latter, said means including notched arms and latches pivotally secured thereto cooperable to detachably carry the Wheel supporting axle, when the mopping device is used as an independent unit, and to detachably couple the lnopping and scrubbing devices when these units are used in combination.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a mopping device including a carriage, a water receiving tank having an opening in the bottom thereof mounted on said carriage, a suction tube secured to said carriage and extending downwardly into close proximity to the floor, a suction tube mounted in said ltank terminating one end at the bottom of said tank, means for receiving the tank on the carriage to position said tank tube in abutting alignment with the suction tube on the carriage withA the upper end of the tank tube terminating within said tank, a removable lid for said tank and a suction pump mounted on said lid and communicating through said lid with the ,water receiving tank when the lid is in position on the tank with said suction pump adapted to draw the water from the oor through the suction tube and tank tube into said tank.

'7. In a oor mopping machine of the class described, a rectangular frame for supporting a water'collecting tank, oor rollers for supporting the frame a predetermined distance above the floor, a squeegee positioned beneath the frame, means for yieldingly suspending the squeegee from the frame whereby the squeegee is maintained in contact with undulating or flat surfaced iioors, said means comprising a plurality of studs xedly depending from the frame and slidably extending through openings in the squeegee with a spring surrounding each stud and positioned between the frame and squeegee to yieldingly press the squeegee against the oor, and a treadle extending from the squeegee to the rear of the frame to lift the squeegee independently of the movement of the frame and studs and maintain the squeegee out of-contact with the oor.

l CARL OSCAR ANDERSON-SMEDBERG.

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