Floor maintenance machine deck assembly

A floor maintenance machine has an adjustable deck assembly. The floor maintenance machine includes a deck supporting a floor cleaning implement. A lifting arm extends away from a frame of the floor maintenance machine and is rotatably coupled to the deck. The lifting arm is rotatably actuatable to adjust a position of the deck relative to the frame. A support member is rotatably coupled to the frame and movably coupled to the deck. A stop member is supported by the deck and extends toward the lifting arm for selective engagement therewith. When the lifting arm is rotated relative to the frame to lift the deck, the stop member is driven into the lifting arm to limit relative rotation between the lifting arm and the deck beyond a set angle.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates, in general, to floor maintenance machines. More particularly, this disclosure relates to systems and methods of adjusting a position of a scrub deck on a floor maintenance machine.

Floor maintenance machines or scrubbers provide a way to clean dirty floor surfaces. Typically, an operator directs a floor maintenance machine over the surface to be cleaned by steering or guiding the floor maintenance machine. With the help of a supplied cleaning fluid, an oscillating pad or rotating brushes contained within a scrub deck of the floor maintenance machine can directly contact the floor surface to loosen debris on a surface of the floor. A variety of pads and suction devices on the floor maintenance machine can be used to then remove the loosened debris from the floor surface to clean the floor.

In some situations, floor maintenance machines are used to clean floor surfaces at different locations. Accordingly, floor maintenance machines are often transported to separate buildings or sites by truck, trailer bed, or other types of transportation devices. The floor maintenance machines are generally loaded and unloaded from the transportation device using a ramp, allowing the floor maintenance machine to transition from the ground to the transportation device, and vice versa.

Ramps are proven effective at moving floor maintenance machines on and off a transportation device, although the scrub deck (and cleaning implements) of a floor maintenance machine may be damaged by the ramp or the ground during loading and unloading. When the floor maintenance machine transitions between the ground and the ramp, the positioning of the scrub deck (e.g., forward of the front wheels and parallel to the ground) and the relatively low clearance with the ground may cause the scrub deck to contact or impact the ramp or ground before the floor maintenance machine adjusts to the gradient of the ramp or ground. These impacts and contacts can damage the scrub deck and can eventually lead to component failure.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for adjusting a position of a scrub deck on a floor maintenance machine. Using embodiments of the disclosure, scrub decks can be tilted upward to reduce any damage caused by sudden elevational changes in the floor maintenance machine travel path. For example, the scrub deck can be tilted upward in an improved way to limit contact with a ramp or ground when the floor maintenance machine transitions between the ground and the ramp. Using the disclosed systems and methods, impacts and other undesired contact to the scrub deck is greatly limited, which can lead to longer component and machine life.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a floor maintenance machine having an adjustable deck assembly. The floor maintenance machine comprises a deck supporting a floor cleaning implement, a lifting arm, a support member, and a stop member. The lifting arm extends away from a frame of the floor maintenance machine and is rotatably coupled to the deck. The lifting arm is rotatably actuatable to adjust a position of the deck relative to the frame. The support member is rotatably coupled to the frame and movably coupled to the deck. The stop member is supported by the deck and extends toward the lifting arm for selective engagement with the lifting arm. When the lifting arm is rotated relative to the frame to lift the deck, the stop member is driven into the lifting arm to limit relative rotation between the lifting arm and the deck beyond a set angle.

These and still other advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely a description of some preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. To assess the full scope of the disclosure, the claims should be looked to as these preferred embodiments are not intended to be the only embodiments within the scope of the claims.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to a number of illustrative embodiments shown in the attached drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.

FIG. 1illustrates a floor maintenance machine10according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The floor maintenance machine has a front end12and a rear end14along which a frame16of the floor maintenance machine10extends. A set of wheels18are mounted to the frame16and are positioned to engage and drive the floor maintenance machine10upon a floor surface. A housing20extends over a portion of the frame16to enclose various fluid handling and power systems used by the floor maintenance machine10. An adjustable deck assembly22including a scrub deck24is positioned near the front end12of the floor maintenance machine10. The scrub deck24includes a floor cleaning implement26that is adapted for engagement with the floor surface. The floor cleaning implement can be a scrubber, a rotating brush, an oscillating pad, or other types of implements capable of mechanically altering debris present upon the floor surface. A control panel28can be positioned near the rear end14of the floor maintenance machine10to provide user access and control of the various fluid handling and power systems on the floor maintenance machine10.

With further reference toFIGS. 2-7, the adjustable deck assembly22is shown in detail. The adjustable deck assembly22can adjust a position of the scrub deck24relative to the frame16and can be used to level the scrub deck24over the floor surface. For example, the adjustable deck assembly22can tilt the scrub deck24upward (as shown inFIG. 6) when the floor maintenance machine is being loaded onto a ramp for transport. When the floor maintenance machine10is being used to clean a floor surface, the adjustable deck assembly22can maintain the scrub deck24approximately level to the floor surface (as shown inFIG. 2) to promote even floor surface cleaning and even wearing of the floor cleaning implement(s)26supported by the scrub deck.

With specific reference now toFIGS. 2 and 3, the adjustable deck assembly22is shown in a lowered, or “working” position. The adjustable deck assembly22includes one or more lifting arms30(e.g., a first and a second lifting arm having identical components and functions as described below with regard to lifting arms30) rotatably coupled to and extending away from the frame16. The lifting arms30can be formed of a rigid material, such as plate steel, and can be rotatably actuatable by a lifting mechanism32coupled to the frame16. In some examples, the lifting mechanism32is hydraulic and can be actuated using the control panel28. In other embodiments, the lifting mechanism32can include a gear drive (not shown) that rotates to alter the rotational orientation of the lifting arms30. The lifting arms30can rotate about pivots34that are coupled to the frame16.

In some embodiments, the lifting arms30have a major axis X-X extending along a length of the lifting arm30. An arcuate section36extends away from the major axis X-X at a distal end of the lifting arm30, and can be used to adjust an angle of the scrub deck24relative to the frame16, as explained in further detail below. The arcuate section36can gradually curve away from the major axis X-X of the lifting arm30to define a stop engaging surface38. In some embodiments, the arcuate section has its own axis Y-Y that forms an angle with the major axis X-X between about 30 degrees and about 150 degrees.

The lifting arms30can be rotatably coupled to one or more lifting flanges40formed on the scrub deck24. The lifting flanges40can extend upwardly away from the floor cleaning implement(s)26and can provide a leverage point for the lifting arms30as they position (e.g., a height or angle) the scrub deck24. The lifting arms30can be rotatably coupled to a pivot42(e.g., a pin or bolt) that extends through the lifting flange40. The rotatable coupling between the lifting arms30and the lifting flanges40of the scrub deck24allows the lifting arms30to raise and lower the scrub deck24based upon the commands of a user.

One or more support members44can also be coupled to the scrub deck24and the frame16. In some embodiments, the support members44are rotatably coupled to the frame16by a pivot46. The support members44extend away from the frame16and can be movably coupled to the lifting flanges40of the scrub deck24. For example, an elongate slot48can be formed in the lifting flange40above the pivot42, and can receive a bolt50that allows both rotational and translational motion of the support member44relative to the lifting flange40. The bolt50extends through the slot48and through the support member44, and can receive nuts52to couple and secure the lifting flange40to the support member44, as illustrated inFIG. 3.

The support members44can extend approximately parallel (i.e., within about 10 degrees) to the major axis X-X of the lifting arms30, and can be used to help control the rotation of the scrub deck24as the lifting arms30rotate during a lifting or lowering process, as well as during normal cleaning operation. Due to the placement of the pivot42on the lifting flange40relative to the scrub deck24center of gravity, the position of the bolt50within the slot48(corresponding to the length of the support member44) controls the tilt angle of the scrub deck24. The slot48can be oriented so that when the bolt50and pivot42are vertically aligned, the scrub deck24is level to the floor surface below.

The tilt angle of the scrub deck can be controlled by adjusting a length of the support members44in the fully lowered position. In some embodiments, the support members44include a threaded rod portion54on each side that receives adjustable head assemblies56. The threaded rod portions54can be threaded differently on each side (e.g., right-handed and left-handed threads) of the support member44. A length adjustment nut58coupled to the adjustable head assembly56can be rotated about the threaded rod portion54to lengthen or shorten the support member44, based upon the desired orientation of the scrub deck24relative to the floor surface below. For example, it may be advantageous to adjust a length of the support members44before initial use of the floor maintenance machine10to ensure that the scrub deck24is at least about parallel to the floor surface below. This can help ensure even floor cleaning implement wear during use.

A stop member60supported by the scrub deck24extends toward the arcuate section36or doglegged portion of the lifting arm30. As shown inFIG. 3, the stop member60can be a hex bolt extending through a hole in a tab62formed in the lifting flange40of the scrub deck24. The stop member60can be axially adjustable toward or away from the lifting arm30using a nut64that can be mounted to the tab62, for example. In some embodiments, the hole in the tab62can be threaded to positionally lock the stop member60in place. As will be explained, the stop member60can be used to support the scrub deck24in an upwardly tilted position relative to the frame16.

The stop member60is used to limit a degree of tilt of the scrub deck, as demonstrated byFIGS. 2-7. When the scrub deck24is positioned in the lowered “working” position ofFIG. 2, the rotational orientation of the scrub deck24relative to the frame16is controlled by the positions of the pivot42and the bolt50. As can be seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, the stop member60is not engaging the arcuate section36of the lifting arm30when the scrub deck is in the lowered “working” position. Further lowering of the lifting arms30will maintain the scrub deck24level to, and possibly contacting, the floor.

When the floor maintenance machine receives a command to raise the adjustable deck assembly22(e.g., from the control panel28), the lifting mechanism32rotatably actuates the lifting arms30, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. As the lifting arms30rotate upward (e.g., in a clockwise direction relative to the view inFIG. 6), the pivot42extending through the lifting flange40rotates upward to lift the scrub deck24. The positioning of the pivot42rearward of the scrub deck24center of gravity causes the scrub deck24to tilt forward relative to the lifting arms30as the lifting arms30are raised.

The forward tilting of the scrub deck24causes the stop member60to engage the arcuate section36to limit relative rotation between the lifting arm30and the scrub deck24beyond a set angle. As the scrub deck24rotates forward, the stop member60(which is supported by the scrub deck) rotates into engagement with the stop engaging surface38of the lifting arm30. The stop member60then drives into the lifting arm30and prevents further forward rotation of the scrub deck24relative to the lifting arm30as they continue to rise. This constrains the scrub deck24relative to the lifting arm30, and allows the scrub deck24to be lifted and tilted backward to provide a larger approach angle for a ramp (not shown) that might be used to transport the floor maintenance machine10.

Once the stop member60has engaged the lifting arm30, the scrub deck24can be lifted while maintaining a constant angle relative to the lifting arms30. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the scrub deck24can be lifted and tilted backward simultaneously by the upward rotation of the lifting arms30. As the scrub deck24continues to tilt and raise, the bolt50travels within the slot48so as to allow the scrub deck24to maintain a constant angle with the lifting arms30. The stop member60continues to restrict the scrub deck24from forward rotation relative to the lifting arms30.

The axial position of the stop member60relative to the arcuate section36of the lifting arm30can determine the maximum allowable rotation (i.e., the set angle) between the lifting arm30and the scrub deck24before the lifting arm30engages the stop member60. The stop member60can be axially adjustable relative to the lifting arm30to change the tilt angle of the scrub deck24, which may be advantageous depending upon a ramp gradient that the floor maintenance machine10is to be driven over. In some examples, the stop member60may limit the allowable rotation between the lifting arm30and the scrub deck24to between about 0 and about 30 degrees. In some examples, the stop member60limits the allowable rotation between the lifting arm30and the scrub deck24to between about 0 and about 10 degrees, or less.

Rotation of the scrub deck24relative to the lifting arms30can still occur to a limited extent when the scrub deck is in a lowered position. For example, considering the lowered configuration inFIG. 4, given the placement of the stop member60and the arcuate sections36of the lifting arms30, nothing precludes the scrub deck24from rotating in a clockwise direction so the front or nose of the scrub deck24can be forced upwards relative to the rear side. This can allow the scrub deck24to tilt upward and follow a ramp, should the floor maintenance machine board a ramp without first raising and tilting the scrub deck24as discussed above. This can provide additional safeguarding against component bending or failure.

It should be appreciated that various other modifications and variations to the preferred embodiments can be made within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure should not be limited to the described embodiments. To ascertain the full scope of the disclosure, the following claims should be referenced.