US2544862A - Rotary floor polishing machine having horizontally positioned motor - Google Patents

Description

J. P. STEIBEL ROTARY FLOOR POLISHING MACHINE HAVING HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED MOTOR March 13, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1946 MEIIHIIIWJMHHIII!lllllIllHlllllllliillilIlllllI\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\W Y mveu'roz Jaws: P. Jre /asz I 61 W P ATTORNEY J. P. STEIBEL ROTARY FLOOR POLISHING MACHINE HAVING HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED MOTOR March 13, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, 1946 mum-roe James F. 57257554 March 13, 1951 J. P. STEIBEL 2,544,862

ROTARY FLOOR POLISHING MACHINE HAVING HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED MOTOR Filed April 24, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet s I usm-oe. JAMES 1'. 575/854.

'r-rolzu EV Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY FLOOR POLISHING MACHINE HAV- ING HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED MOTOR James P. Steibel, Racine, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, to S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 24, 1946, Serial No. 664,503

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a floor polishing machine. More particularly, it relates to a novel electric floor polisher, adapted for household use, which employs a rotary brush;

Heretofore small machines of this type used a cylindrical brush, for example, as illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 1,588,157 to Beach. While large floor polishing machines have been designed using a rotary brush, as far as known, no machine using a small rotary brush, such as an eight inch diameter brush, has been used commercially. Former attempts to design a small rotary brush floor polisher were unsuccessful because when the brush was driven, a gyrating motion developed, with a build up of an oscillating movement so that difficulty was experienced keeping the brush on the floor and in operating the machine. It was found that the higher the motor was mounted or positioned above the floor, the more severe was the gyrating and oscillating motion.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide an improved light weight rotary brush polisher wherein the bottom of the motor is positioned below the top of the brush so that the center of gravity is lowered sufiiciently close to th floor to minimize the gyrating and oscillating movement of the machine during operation.

Another object of myinvention is to provide a light weight rotary brush floor polisher provided with an automatic tensioning means capable of automatically adjusting the tension of the drive belt, keeping it taut.

Another object of my invention is to provide an efiicient light weight rotary brush polisher which can be manufactured economically.

A further object is generally to Simplify and improve the construction, arrangement and operation of polishers for one or more of the purposes mentioned, and still other objects will be apparent from the specification.

The invention includes the construction and arrangement of parts as herein illustrated, described and claimed and, since various modifications thereof are contemplated, it will be understood that the invention also includes such modifications as are equivalent to the claims.

The same reference characters have been used for the designation of like parts throughout the specification and in the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the rotary floor polisher. v

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the bail.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the rotary floor polisher.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the casing and gear housing in section.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing the motor in side elevation. I

Fig. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 4 showing gear housing.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 'l-'! of Fig. 4 showing the motor in elevation.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the motor housing showing the means for attaching the casing.

Fig. 9 is a detailed perspective view of brush, motor support, pivot plug, bearing and motor housing shown in szparated relation to illustrate method of assembly.

Fig. 10 is a detailed perspective view of coupling together with gear and motor shafts with part broken away, shown in separated relation to illustrate method of assembly.

Fig. 11 is a modified form of the invention and is a detailed perspective view of a combined brush and motor support with part broken away, showing method of afiixing the bristles.

Discussing now in detail the novel combina-' tion which makes up the improved rotary brush polisher, the center of a small rotary brush it, for example, a rotary brush with an 8" outside diameter is cut out to about a 6" inside diameter, leaving 2" of bristles around the outside diameter. A motor support II, which may conveniently be made in the shape of a cup with flanged outside diameter I2, having a plurality of screw holes l3 in the flanged part for securing the motor support II to the rotary brush in by means of a plurality of wood screws M, or other suitable means. is preferably made of metal because of the importance of obtaining weight at that point in the polisher which helps stabilize the machine. The motor support ll acts both as a support for the motor l5 and as a base for the brush It. The bottom of the motor support II is positioned as close to the floor as practical, but is preferabl to leave at least one-half inch to allow for wearing of the brush bristles l6 before replacement of the rotary brush is necessary. It is to be understood that this describes only one form of the combined brush and motor support, as this complete element may also be made in one piece, if desired,'as shown in Fig. 11.

In Fig. 11 the brush Ill is made from a motor support ll, having a flanged outside diameter [2, except that the screw holes [3 are replaced by a plurality of bristle holes 49, and a flanged portion 50 is aflixed to the flanged outside diameter I 2, for example, by welding. This flanged portion 50 is so shaped as to form a U-shaped pulley groove 40 on the outside periphery 39 of the brush [0, and to assist in holding the bristles The motor support ll 3 1B in position. The bristles (5 are doubledand inserted into the bristle holes 49 so as to form a plurality or eyelets 5| through which is threadedaplurality-of wires 52.

A pivot plug 11, preferably of steel, having a spun or flanged end (8 is centered and aflixed the inside of the motor support H, for example,- by means of a plurality of screws [9. If desired; a small knob 20 may be impressed-i irthe center of the motor support II to act as a convenient centering means for easy a sem ly-oi phe pivst plug H. The outer race of ball bearing 21 ;is secured to the motor housing 22 by any suitable means, such as by pressing or riveting, ahd the motor housing 22 and bearing 2| are fitted over the pivot plug 11 with the inner race of the bearing embracing the mu ll. Thus the motor is is centered and held army in jpo'sition fby means of tne'pivct plug l1" and bearing'2lfand rests on the bottom of the motor'support' l l with. in preferably one-half inch of the floor.

The method of assembling these parts is'shown ind'etail in Fig. 9. "The pivot plug 11 is fitted into the ball bearing 21, with the burred endil ti securely resting against the inner race of the ball bearing2l. The ball bearing Zlfwithithe pivot plug l! in position is secured'firmly to theinotor housing 22, forexample, by pressing it'into the housing. "The motor housing 22, with ball hearing '2| and pivot plug 1'1 imposition i's'then securely afixedto-the motor support i tby means of-=a plurality of screws Hengaging the plug ll.

i A worm gear-housing 25 is slidably mounted on the motor housing' 2 2 and guided by a plurality oil-pins 24. Thepi'ns 24 areas'lidingr fit in the gear housing -25 and pressed tightly into the motor housing 22. This; allows the gear housing 25 to slide backand forth, being urged irione direetion'by acompression-spring 2B, but-prevents the gear housing 25 from rotating. The compres sion spring 26 is fitted against-the motor housing Nanci-against the bearing 2! in the gear-housing 25. This acts thereforeas an automatic tension ing means-ancl-alsoserves to holdthebearin 21 int-hegear housing 25 securely in place. The-assembly ofthe driving oonnectioneis illustratedin detail in Fig. 10, The-ends of the gear shaft 23 and motor shaft 39 maybe slotted. A coupling 3 i; preferably ofsteel, having a tongue 32 is-posi;tioned-over the outside diameter-oi the gear shaft 29 and motor shaft 3!] and thetongue 32- is positioned within the slots oft-he gear shaft- 29 and mot0r-shaft-3ll, and the coupling is positioned as'shownat 33. The tongue- 32 may be made of one piece of metal or material; of sufficient structural strength, but is preferably constructed of a plurality of pieces of spring steelpositioned within the coupling 3L The driving means 3 is a conventional; right angle wormgear I 35 and worm wheel 35 with:

pulley-31. A belt 38 is afiixed around the pulley 31 and around the outside periphery 39 of the rotary brush [0. If desired, the outsideperiph'ery 39 of the brushl'o may be shaped to form-a U -shaped pulley groove MI. The belt is kept automatically tautby the compression spring 26.

A bail it-may be attached to'pivot 'trunnions 42 which are preferably positioned offthe center lineof the motor ifr-in order to bring the handle 43 in line with 'machine symmetry. :However the pivot-trunnions 42 may be. positioned else- Where in the assembly if desired.

The assembly is provided with axcasing'or hood 44 havinga bottom apron' 45:and fastener springs or clamps 46 which are secured to the tfiebasing .Miin :positiomwith the clamps 46 ahiired to the motor lugs 4'1, and also shows the ball {I attached to the pivot trunnions 42.

3 shows that the bottom of the motor su port ll maybe ribbed, as at 48, if desired to strengthen the motor support I I.

From the foregoing description, it can thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been accomplished in this novel rotary brush polisher. By providing means for mounting the motor wherebythe'bottom is closer to the floor than the :top of the rotary brush, a means has been provided for minimizing and practically eliminating the heretofore excessive-gyrating and oscillating "movements which occur, during the operation of small rotary polisher. "This machine'has provided a long felt need in the art of floor polishing machines providing the housewife with .a compact, attractive and erficient rotaryfloor' polisher.

Man lapparen'tly widely different embodimentso'f this'invention may be made without departing from thefprinciple, breadth. and spirit thereof, and it is tobe understood, therefore, that thisinventioin'is not limited to'thespecific embodiments thereof except as encompassed by the following claims.

I claim:

i. A rotary floor polishing machine comprising, a ino'tor having ,a housin an aho'riz ontally. extending. shaft, a support-member joui nalled on said motor housing atith'ebott'omthereof at iotation on a 'vrticalaxis, saidsuppoftmember having portions extending upwardly putwardly of the sides of said motor .housing to a level above th-e' -bottoin of said .metdrziipusni an annular brush arranged concentrically about i said axis' andsecuredv to said upwardly extending-portions above the bottom of said -motor'housing, said brush having bristles extending downwardly from an upper level:- above the bottom of saidsupport member to a level below said motor housing and support member and outwardly of the latter-,and drive means coi'inectingsaid horizontal shaftand brush radiallyoutwardly of said-motor and above the saidbottomof said :motor housing.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises. a pulleycarried by said motor housingand driverrby-said' shaft to rotate on a vertical axi's, saidapulley being supported radially outwardly of said brush, and .a' belt trained over said pulley and around the. outer periphery-of said annular brush at substantially-the level-of the tops of said bristles.

3. A machine as defined: in claimJZ wherein said brush is provided" with a peripheralqbelt-Teceiving groove about its upper portion; aid: groove lying substantially co -planar; With' sai'di-pulley.

4. A machine as definedin claim: 2 wherein said -pulle :is=mounted for radial movement on said motor housing; and means normallyurging saidpulley radially outwardly to maintairp :s'a'id belt taut. g g

5. A machine as defined in olaim'; l wherein said support member: comprisesfia dish-shaped element having an outwardly eXtending p'erip'h-' eral flange a-tiitsuppe'r edge; said flange overlying and'beingfastened toitthe upper surface "ct -said annular brush.

6-..:;.A-.-mabhin-asdefinbd in claim l inchidirig a handle pivoted to said motor housingpn aihori zontal axis below the top of said annular brush.

7. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said support member is provided with an upwardly extending and centrally located boss, a downwardly facing recess in the bottom of said motor housing, said boss extending into said recess to journal said support member to said motor housing.

8. A machine as defined in claim 7, including a handle pivoted to said motor housing on a horizontal axis, said axis being substantially at the level of said boss and recess.

9. A rotary floor polishing machine comprising, a motor having a housing and a horizontally extending shaft, a rotary structure journalled on said motor housing at the bottom thereof for rotation on a vertical axis, said rotary structure having an upper portion extending upwardly outwardly of the sides of said motor housing to a level above the bottom thereof, said rotary structure supporting an annulus of bristles extending from a level above the bottom of the motor housing downwardly beyond said motor housing and rotary structure and arranged concentrically therearound, and drive means connecting said horizontal shaft and rotary structure radially outwardly of said motor and above the said bottom of said motor housing.

10. A machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said rotary structure comprises a dish-shaped element having an outwardly extending peripheral flange at its upper edge, said flange having said bristles fixed directly thereto.

11. A machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said drive means includes an endless belt and wherein an annular element is fixed to the bottom of said flange, said annular element having a downwardly directed portion engaging said annulus of bristles throughout the outer periphery thereof and an outwardly directed portion spaced downwardly from said flange, said outwardly directed portion defining, with said flange, a belt groove to receive said endless belt.

JAMES P. STEIBEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS, Number Name Date 968,934 Goughnour Aug. 30, 1910 1,011,954 Herr Dec. 19, 1911 1,387,285 Maire Aug. 9, 1921 1,424,879 Carlstedt Aug. 8, 1922 1,588,157 Beach June 8, 1926 1,609,508 Cavicchi Dec. 7, 1926 1,650,690 Cavicchi Nov. 29, 1927 1,829,132 Finnell Oct. 27, 1931 1,934,088 Ponselle Nov. 7, 1933 2,079,946 Myers May 11, 1937 2,113,475 Faber Apr. 5, 1938 2,142,697 Myers Jan. 3, 1939 2,252,269 McQuown Aug. 12, 1941 2,268,015 Broberg Dec. 30, 1941 2,316,805 Overholser Apr. 20, 1943 2,359,223 Kitto Sept. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 268,221 Great Britain Mar. 31, 1927 254,041 Italy July 11, 1927 12,410 Australia Mar. 20, 1928 285,489

Great Britain June 21, 1938

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