Patent GB-685715-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to mobile appliances for treating floors, carpets and the like
IPC: A47L11/30
Filed: 1950-05-01
Abstract: 685,715. Cleaning floors and floor coverings. TAYLOR, F. W. P. March 27, 1951 [May 1, 1950], No. 10706/50. Class 138 (i). Relates to a mobile appliance for treating floors, floor coverings and carpets and the like, of the type comprising a frame provided with wheels or the like and carrying a motor or motors, a movably mounted scrubber or scrubbers which perform a to-and-fro or orbital movement over the surface to be treated, a treating liquid container, a waste liquid container, and a fan for delivering, by suction, used treating liquid to the waste container, wherein the appliance is supported when in use partly by a transversely extending thick metal support casting which presses directly on the surface and is provided in its front face with suction channels connected to the face. The appliance, Figs. 3 and 4, comprises front and rear pairs of angle iron uprights 11, 12 and three pairs of horizontal angle iron connecting members 13, 14, 15, two propelling wheels 16, and a casing formed of sheet metal members 72, 67, 66, 68 and a heavy head-casting 76 which acts as a weight, secured to the frame. An electric motor 25 is mounted on top of a centrifugal fan casing 55 secured on top of the trapezoidal shaped support-casting 20 which bears on the surface to be cleaned at 63. The motor 25 drives a fan 56 a shaft 37, a speed reduction slip clutch 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 in known manner and thus a shaft 32 connected to two eccentrics 33, 34 working in eccentric straps 35, 36 formed in scrubber arms 26, 27 carrying brushes 22, 23, of rubber with rubber bristles urged downwardly by springs 46, 47. The brushes 22, 23 are carried on box-like holders 43. 44. Openings are provided in the holders 43, 44 and in the brushes 22, 23 to allow passage of cleaning liquid. The arms 26, 27 pass through an opening 21 in the casting 20 and the shaft 32 and the eccentrics are mounted within this opening. The arms are pivotally supported at the rear on cross links 29, 30 pivoted to cross members 28 secured to the members 13. The member 20 is formed with ducts 57 communicating with the fan chamber and with an opening 58 forming a suction inlet extending transversely of the machine immediately behind the scrubbers. The ducts 57 are covered by a plate 61. The cleaning liquid tank 48 is supported on members 14 and secured in its forward position by pivoted lugs 54 on the members 15. This tank has a cock 49 connectible to a pipe 50 which supplies a bifurcated distributer 51 to lead liquid to the brushes. The cock 49 is controlled by a rod 79 having a knob 82. A slotted adaptor 83 on the lower end of the rod is urged into engagement with a turnkey 84 by a spring 85. The adaptor may be disengaged from the turnkey to facilitate removal of the tank 48 and the arrangement of a pip 86 on the rod and slot 87 in a bush 80 is such that the rod 79 can only be raised after being turned to close the cock 49. The waste tank 60 is fitted with anti surge baffles. This tank is secured in place by lugs 65 and connects with the fan chamber through a rubber jointing pad 64. Mounted on a bracket 90 on the frame and passing through the top of the casting 76 is a lubricating oil pump 88 operable manually at 93 to deliver oil through a stem 89, oil meter 91 and narrow bore tubes 92 to the moving parts of the appliance. A removable drip tray 94 is provided underneath the appliance. The appliance is propelled by the aid of a handle (not shown) of the type described in Specification 685,713 which fits into a socket 17 on a fork member 18 hinged to the frame at 19. A demountable portion of the handle (not shown) is securable in split ring brackets 95 on top of the frame, to provide a handle for lifting purposes also as disclosed in the Specification '685,713. Specifications 398,852, 399,174 and 451,704 are referred to.