Patent ID: 6675424
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: E01H

Abstract:
In a mobile vehicle adapted for cleaning a surface having a plurality of support wheels, the improvement comprising:a frame; first and second ground-engaging brushes driven in rotation about generally, upright axes and located respectively at a front left corner and a front right corner of said vehicle; first and second articulated mechanisms carried by said frame for mounting said first and second ground engaging brushes adapted to engage the ground respectively for independent movement in response to contact with an object, each articulated mechanism comprising: a first arm mounted for rotation about a first vertical axis from a position wherein an associated one of said first and second ground engaging brushes is located at a use position to a second position inboard of said use position; and a second arm pivotally carried by said first arm at a forward position thereof and mounted for rotation about a vertical axis from said use position in counter rotation to the rotation of said first arm, thereby to permit said associated brush to move laterally of said first arm in a direction counter to the direction of movement of said first arm when said first arm moves away from said use position, whereby when both of said first and second arms are actuated by engagement of the associated brush with an object, said associated brush moves both inwardly and rearwardly of said frame.