Abstract:
A lift device is provided which allows a surface-contacting feature to articulate. The device raises and lowers a squeegee regardless of its lateral location. An actuator arm is provided on one end of a pivot arm channel such that when the actuator arm fully extends it disengages from the one end of the pivot arm channel. An actuator cable remains in tension such that it may be raised or lowered regardless of whether the surface-contacting feature&#39;s lateral position.

Description:
This U.S. Non-Provisional patent application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/699,155, filed Sep. 10, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to apparatuses for treating surfaces. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a lift device for vertical manipulation of various components, including a squeegee system for ride-on, self-propelled cleaning machines. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many industries use cleaning machines to clean a wide variety of surfaces. The sophistication of cleaning machines has evolved at a rapid pace over time. An older form of cleaning machine is the basic mop-and-bucket device, which still has viability in some contexts. However, such a device is labor-intensive and time consuming. Further, dirt cleaned from a surface accumulates in the bucket, rendering the mop-and-bucket device inefficient. 
     The next iteration of cleaning machine is the manually-propelled cleaning machine. This type of cleaning machine has an unspent treatment fluid reservoir and a spent treatment fluid reservoir, which solves the mop-and-bucket&#39;s problem of accumulated dirt. Also, a manually-propelled cleaning machine combines many aspects of cleaning a floor such that a user may clean a floor as he or she propels the cleaning machine forward. Thus, the manually-propelled cleaning machine is not as labor-intensive as the mop-and-bucket device. Yet, the user of a manually-propelled cleaning machine is still exerting effort to move the machine around. 
     Finally, the latest class of cleaning machine is the self-propelled cleaning machine, which can either be walk-behind or ride-on. The self-propulsion aspect of this type of cleaning machine offers an improvement over the more labor-intensive, manually-propelled type of cleaning machine. As a result, a self-propelled cleaning machine may clean larger surface areas more quickly. 
     A common component of the manually-propelled and self-propelled cleaning machines is the vacuum squeegee. The vacuum-enabled squeegee collects the spent treatment fluid and particulate matter on the floor and places them into a spent treatment fluid reservoir. The vacuum squeegee is usually affixed behind the cleaning machine such that it is the last component of the machine that contacts the surface. Usually, the vacuum squeegee is interconnected to a vacuum pump or fan in order to provide the suction necessary to remove spent treatment fluid and particulate matter off of the floor and into the spent treatment fluid reservoir. 
     One issue with vacuum squeegees is that they are somewhat delicate. For example, some vacuum squeegees may be damaged if the cleaning machine travels in reverse. To this point, U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,335 to Brown et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a hydraulic system which raises and lowers a vacuum squeegee. The hydraulic system will automatically raise the vacuum squeegee if the cleaning machine is traveling in reverse and lower the vacuum squeegee if the cleaning machine is traveling forward. 
     In a similar vein, vacuum squeegees may also be damaged by obstacles on the cleaning machine&#39;s path. A modern solution to this issue is to interconnect the vacuum squeegee to a lift device which raises and lowers the vacuum squeegee on the user&#39;s command. U.S. Pat. No. 7,448,114 to Basham et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, utilizes a lift device which comprises a lift cylinder, a pivot arm, and a cable. The lift cylinder actuates the pivot arm which is connected to the cable such that the cable raises and lowers the vacuum squeegee on the user&#39;s command. 
     A further issue with vacuum squeegees is performance-related. Namely, a squeegee which is in a fixed position against the floor, or even one that simply raises up and down, will miss collecting spent fluid and particulate matter when making a tight turn. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,435 to Pedlar et al., which is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety, discloses a device which allows a vacuum squeegee to swing out to either side of the cleaning machine as it cleaning machine executes a turn. The vacuum squeegee is interconnected to a linkage arm which is interconnected to the main body of the cleaning machine at a single point. Further, the vacuum squeegee is selectively interconnected to a roller track which allows the vacuum squeegee to swing to either side of the cleaning machine, pivoting in an arc about the point where the linkage arm interconnects to the main body of cleaning machine. When the cleaning machine turns, the friction between the vacuum squeegee and the floor pulls the vacuum squeegee to the side of the cleaning machine, and the vacuum squeegee collects more spent treatment fluid and particulate matter. However, this particular vacuum squeegee is located underneath the cleaning machine, not trailing behind. Thus, the raising and lifting capability of this particular invention is limited. 
     Beyond, the aforementioned references, cleaning machines still retain a litany of deficiencies. For example, some cleaning machines have a vacuum squeegee which is able to swing to either side of the cleaning machine as well a lift capability to raise and lower the vacuum squeegee. However, the squeegee must be directly behind the cleaning machine before it may be raised off of the floor. This deficiency prevents the cleaning machine from avoiding obstacles while making turns with the vacuum squeegee swung out to either side of the cleaning machine. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide the ability to raise or lower a vacuum squeegee or similar component of a cleaning machine. It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide such a feature that allows movement of the component while the machine executes a turn, and further allows the component to swing out to either side of the machine. 
     It is also an object of the present disclosure to provide a cable actuated system for retracting system components that minimizes the amount of space or volume required for the system. As devices of the present disclosure are typically incorporated into larger devices and systems, it is advantageous to provide features of the present disclosure in a generally compact fashion. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a cable-actuated system adapted to transmit a force and adjust at least a vertical position of components, such as a floor squeegee device. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a cable actuated lift device comprising a cable having a predetermined length, a first end of the predetermined length of cable provided in force transmitting communication with a linear actuator. The cable is connected to the linear actuated by way of a rotatable linkage member (e.g. rotatable plate) and a substantially horizontal pulley, the substantially horizontal pulley being translatable within a predetermined path to extend the cable. A second end of the predetermined length of cable is provided in force transmitting communication with a surface cleaning device, such as a squeegee. The linear actuator comprises an extended and retracted position, and is adapted to extend and retract the length of cable by imparting force to the rotatable linkage member and the substantially horizontal pulley such that the extended position of the linear actuator corresponds to the surface cleaning device being provided in contact with a surface and the retracted position corresponds to the surface cleaning device being provided in a raised position with respect to the surface. This actuation may be controlled by a user, including user-operation of a console switch, lever, or similar feature. The predetermined length of cable extends from the horizontal pulley in a horizontal direction, so as to reduce the required vertical height or space required of the mechanism. The cable is further provided in contact with a second pulley, the second pulley comprising a transition point between the horizontal direction of the cable and a direction comprising at least a downward component. The second pulley is rotatable about a first axis as is standard among pulley, and also pivotable about a second axis, the second axis such that the pulley and cable may be angled at various downward angles and allow the cable to pivot, thus allowing the interconnected cleaning device to translate or pivot in a generally side-to-side manner. Pivoting of the second pulley about the second axis permits translation of the surface cleaning device at least when the surface cleaning device is provided in contact with a surface. Cable lift devices of the present invention are contemplated for use within floor cleaning devices including, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,245,345, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     In various embodiments, a cable actuated system allows cable to deploy and an associated squeegee or surface-contacting device to extend, track, or travel in a substantially unrestricted path. The system is further capable of retracting the surface-contacting device by applying a linear force upon system components as shown and described herein. Various articulating and translatable features of the present disclosure provide for extension and retraction of a cable and associated device, while minimizing required space for the system and accounting for slack and travel of the cable such that overall system wear and required maintenance is minimized. 
     The present disclosure contemplates providing a cable actuated lifting system for transmitting at least a vertical force to a component, the system comprising a first guide pulley rotatable about an axis, a translatable pulley, and an actuator. Devices and systems of the present disclosure provide for a compact system that accommodates for slack and stress of a cable or wire and preserves the usable lifespan of system components. 
     In various embodiments, an actuator is provided in connection with a pivot arm. The actuator comprises an elongate arm in communication with a lift cylinder. When the lift cylinder generates a force, the actuator arm extends or retracts linearly. One end of the actuator arm comprises an upwardly extending protrusion and a downwardly extending protrusion. These protrusions selectively interconnect with a channel in the pivot arm and a notch in a support bar. When the actuator arm is retracted, the weight of the vacuum squeegee secures one end of the pivot arm channel and the notch in the support bar against the protrusion on the end of the actuator arm. As the actuator arm extends and lowers the squeegee, the protrusions of the actuator arm disengage from the pivot arm channel and support bar notch. 
     In one embodiment, the pivot arm is secured to the frame of the cleaning machine at a single point such that the motion of the pivot arm is in the horizontal plane. The end of the pivot arm is interconnected to a first pulley. As the actuator moves the pivot arm, this pulley travels in an arc about the pivot point of the pivot arm. 
     A third component, the lifting frame, has an arc-shaped channel that the first pulley travels in as the pivot arm moves. At one end of the lifting frame is a second pulley. The vertical pulley is interconnected an axle which is in turn selectively interconnected to the lifting frame. The axle allows the vertical pulley to gimbal or rotate about an axis (e.g. towards the left and right sides of the cleaning machine). 
     A single cable interfaces with the pulleys. This cable terminates at the horizontal pulley and then travels horizontally to the vertical pulley. The vertical pulley allows the horizontal cable to then run downwards to a vacuum squeegee. The gimbal action of the vertical pulley allows the squeegee to swing out to either side of the cleaning machine. 
     Therefore, as the actuator arm extends, the protrusions allow the pivot arm to rotate forward. As a result, the horizontal pulley on the end of the pivot arm also travels forward in the lifting frame channel, and the horizontal pulley lets the cable travel to the vertical pulley. Here, the vertical pulley converts the horizontal travel of the cable to vertical travel and lowers the vacuum squeegee to the floor. The gimbal action of the vertical pulley allows the squeegee to swing out to the left and right side of the cleaning machine, and the actuator may retract the squeegee off of the floor even if it has swung left or right. 
     The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. Moreover, references made herein to “the present invention” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the vacuum squeegee assembly of one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the vacuum squeegee assembly of one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a further isometric view of the vacuum squeegee assembly of one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the vacuum squeegee assembly attached to a cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, a cable lift device  101  is provided in a lifted or raised position where an associated feature  12  (e.g. a vacuum squeegee) is raised with respect to an associated surface. The lift device  101  comprises a linear actuator device. In various embodiments, the linear actuator device comprises a lift cylinder  102  and a piston  103 . A linkage  106 , a first pulley  108 , a lift frame  110 , and a second pulley  112  are provided in communication with a linear actuator device for actuating movement of a cable  10 . In various embodiments, the first pulley comprises a first pulley wherein rotation of the pulley member is provided about a substantially vertical axis, and the second pulley comprises a pulley member with rotation provided about a substantially horizontal axis at least in one position of use. The lift cylinder  102  is in communication with the piston  103 , which has a moveable actuator arm  116  (see  FIG. 2 ). The lifting cylinder  102  generates a force and communicates this force to the piston  103  where the force drives the actuator arm  116  linearly. The lift cylinder is provided as, for example, a hydraulic user-operated device for applying the required force. In various embodiments, the linear actuator comprises at least one of a hydraulic cylinder, a servo-motor, a geared system, and a rack and pinion system. As shown, the actuator arm  116  comprises protrusions  104   a ,  104   b . These protrusions  104   a ,  104   b  selectively interface with a support bar  105  and a linkage  106 , respectively. 
     The linkage  106  is interconnected to the floor cleaning machine at least at a pivot point  109 . Various additional fasteners  50  or points of connection are provided for securing the lift system  101  to, for example, an underside of a chassis of a cleaning machine. A first pulley  108  is interconnected to the linkage  106 . The linkage  106  has a pivot arm channel  107 , and the support bar  105  has a notch  115  where both the channel  107  and the notch  115  selectively interface with the two protrusions  104   a  and  104   b.    
     In various embodiments, the pivot arm channel  107  is uniquely shaped such that the piston  103  extends linearly as the linkage  106  rotates. A point on the linkage  106  travels in an arc about the pivot point  109  as the linkage  106  rotates forward. However, the actuator arm  116  and the protrusions  104   a  and  104   b  connected to it extend linearly from the piston  103 . 
     In one embodiment, the different motions of the linkage  106  and the actuator arm  116  are accommodated by an ovoid-shaped pivot arm channel  107 . When the actuator arm  116  is retracted, the ovoid-shaped pivot arm channel  107  allows the notch  115  in the support bar  105  and the channel  107  to rest against the two protrusions  104   a  and  104   b . As the actuator arm  116  extends, and the linkage  106  rotates, the ovoid shape allows the two protrusions  104   a  and  104   b  to selectively interface to the pivot arm channel  107  and the notch  115  in the support bar  105  until the vacuum squeegee contacts a surface. At this point, the ovoid-shaped pivot arm channel  107  provides space for the two protrusions  104   a  and  104   b  to continue to extend and disengage from the linkage  106 . 
     The first pulley  108  is provided with a lift frame  110 . The lift frame  110  has an arcuate-shaped channel  113  which is generally curved about the pivot point  109 . The horizontal pulley  108  travels within the path of the lift frame channel  113  as the vacuum squeegee is raised and lowered. Further, the lift frame has a horizontally extending tongue  117  which supports the piston  103 . 
     Pulley  108  travels relative to pulley  112  which is substantially fixed in its position but capable of rotating about an axis defined by an axle  111 . Pulley  108  and provides for amplification of cable motion and/or translation. For example, in certain embodiments, rotation of pulley  108  and corresponding coiling of the cable increases the amount of cable than can be translated as compared with purely translational movement of the pulley and thus increases squeegee translation. 
     Two upwardly extending flanges  114   a  and  114   b  extend above the lift frame  110 . An axle  111  is disposed between the two flanges  114   a  and  114   b , and a second pulley  112  interfaces with the axle  111  such that the second pulley  112  rotates about an axis defined by the axle  111 . In one embodiment, a cable comprises a first terminus at the first pulley  108 , the cable being threaded through the second pulley  112 , and extending downwardly to interconnect to a vacuum squeegee, for example. The cable is secured to the vacuum squeegee or other associated device by any number of known fasteners. In one embodiment, the cable is secured to the device to be lifted or controlled by standard rigging hardware such as an eye splice provided in a steel cable sometimes referred to as a “molly hogan” or “dutch” eye. Such a feature may be wrapped around a protrusion on a device to be lifted, thereby providing for force-transmitting communication between the two features. 
     As the cleaning machine executes a turn, machine components such as a squeegee deck rotate or swing so as to accommodate the arc of the turn and collect a trail of liquid that would otherwise be left behind. Such rotation may be a natural consequence of the friction and momentum of the component, or the machine may be provided with features to facilitate such motions. The pivoting action of the vertical pulley  112  as shown and described herein allows the cable to extend and the vacuum squeegee to swing out to either side of the cleaning machine. Additionally, rotation of the first pulley about a substantially vertical axis additionally helps to accommodate such cable movement. When the squeegee is extended or provided off-center, rotation of the pulley  112  about the axis  111  allows the cable  10  to extend at various downward angles. A further advantage of the present invention is that the squeegee or component  12  may be simultaneously raised and centered by the actuator regardless of the position of the component  12  relative to the lift system  101  or machine  14 . 
     When the lifting device is in the raised position, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the weight of the attached component applies a force to the horizontal pulley  108  via the cable. The support bar notch  115  and rear end of the pivot arm channel  107  are thus biased against the protrusions  104   a  and  104   b . When the vacuum squeegee is lowered to the floor, as seen in  FIG. 2 , the actuator arm  116  extends and allows the linkage  106  to rotate. The unique shape of the pivot arm channel  107  allows the actuator arm  116  to extend outward even though the linkage  106  is rotating. When the squeegee contacts the floor, its weight is no longer acting on the horizontal pulley  108  and in turn biasing the support bar notch  115  and rear end of the pivot arm channel  106  firmly against the protrusions  104   a  and  104   b . The actuator arm  116  continues to extend such that it disengages the support bar notch  115  and rear end of the pivot arm channel  107 . 
     The fact that the actuation aspect of the device disengages from the lifting aspect of the device is an advantage since the vacuum squeegee swings outside of the floor cleaning machine and draws extra cable line. If the actuation aspect did not disengage from the linkage  106  and support bar  105 , then the cable may become slack, and its behavior would be unpredictable and destructive. A slack cable may push off of a pulley and twist, bind or rub on nearby components. 
       FIG. 4  depicts one embodiment of the present invention wherein a floor cleaning device  14  comprises a cable lift system in accordance with the present disclosure, the cable lift system operable to raise and lower components of the device  14 , such as a squeegee  12  and/or cleaning pad  20 . The floor cleaning device  14  comprises a chassis  16  movable on a plurality of wheels  18   a ,  18   b . In certain embodiments, the squeegee assembly (which may comprise more than one squeegee blade) is a separate component from the cleaning device  20  and the squeegee assembly  12  is in operable association with a cable lift system as shown and described herein. The cable lift system  101  is thus operable to raise and lower the squeegee assembly  12  based on user preference. The system  101  may be activated by a switch  22  or control provided on a user-interface panel  24 . The user-interface panel  24  comprises various user-operated controls, including a steering wheel  26  for manipulating the device  14 . In certain embodiments, various features including the squeegee assembly  12  and cleaning devices  20  are combined or integrated onto a single “deck,” wherein the deck is vertically translatable by a cable lift system  101  between a raised position and a lowered position, the lowered position characterized in that at least one component is in contact with a surface or floor upon which the device  14  is situated. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Further, the invention(s) described herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.