Patent Publication Number: US-8539635-B2

Title: Integrated vacuum wand and method of use

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/259,620, filed Nov. 9, 2009, and 61/303,219, filed Feb. 10, 2010, and each incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to debris collection vehicles and particularly to such vehicles utilizing a vacuum recovery system. More specifically, the invention is concerned with a portable removable wand for use by the vehicle operator to collect debris away from the vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Surface maintenance vehicles and cleaning devices have a long history subject to gradual innovation and improvement toward improved and oftentimes automated performance in removing debris and contamination from floors. These vehicles and devices may be self-powered, towed, or pushed, and/or manually powered and may carry a human operator during cleaning operations. Such vehicles and devices include scrubbers, extractors, sweepers and vacuums, as well as combinations thereof, intended for cleaning, scrubbing, wiping and/or drying a portion of a substantially flat surface both indoors and outdoors. Many such vehicles and devices employ a squeegee assembly for removing solution from a floor which has been cleaned by application of a cleaning solution of water and a detergent in conjunction with scrubbing action of one or more moving brushes. Accordingly, the squeegee assembly of such prior art cleaning vehicles often mounts at or near the rear of the surface maintenance vehicle to direct the solution to a removal location where the solution (including suspended dirt, particles and contaminants) is removed. The cleaning solution is typically supplied to the floor surface through or near rotary scrub brushes operating from a lower portion of the vehicle. The squeegee assembly may include a squeegee supporting member of generally arcuate configuration with two squeegee blades spaced apart and affixed to the supporting member to promote consistent contact with the surface to be cleaned and wiped. 
     The prior art includes surface maintenance vehicles having portable wands for debris collection away from the vehicle. Typically, the wands require the operator to connect the portable wand into a vacuum system via a stored hose. A valve is often used to control vacuum pickup via the portable wand. The valve is accessed to control vacuum supplied to the wand. 
     A drawback of the prior art systems includes the cumbersome and sometimes tedious procedure through which a portable vacuum wand is inserted into the vacuum system of the floor surface maintenance machine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mobile floor surface maintenance machine, such as a wet scrubber, of the type using a rear squeegee assembly for recovering soiled cleaning solution via a vacuum device which in addition includes a portable wand, mounted on the vehicle, but removable by the operator for collection of solution/debris away from the vehicle. 
     A primary purpose of the invention is a portable wand assembly as described in which the flexible vacuum hose connecting the wand assembly to the vehicle remains in use (activated) even when the wand is replaced upon the vehicle and not in use. A flexible vacuum conduit is adapted for use with the portable wand and for use with the rear squeegee assembly. 
     Another purpose of the invention is a debris collection vehicle as described in which the wand assembly includes a pivot adapter for adjusting the angular orientation of a debris wand head relative to a surface to be cleaned. 
     Another purpose of the invention is a vacuum operated debris collection wand assembly in which a handle permitting movement of the wand for debris collection collapses for storage. 
     Yet another purpose of the invention is a vacuum operated debris collection wand assembly wherein a wand head easily couples with a vacuum outlet of a rear squeegee assembly. 
     Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims. The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a prior art surface maintenance machine suitable for use with the wand assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of another prior art surface maintenance machine suitable for use with the wand assembly of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3-5  are perspective illustrations of a wand assembly of the present invention as attached to a rear squeegee assembly of a surface maintenance machine. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective illustration of a rear squeegee assembly of a surface maintenance machine suitable for use with the wand assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the rear squeegee assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the wand assembly and rear squeegee assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 9-11  are perspective illustrations of the wand assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the wand assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  are cross sectional views of the wand assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  are perspective illustrations of the telescoping handle of the wand assembly of  FIG. 3  as attached to a vacuum hose. 
         FIGS. 17 and 18  are perspective illustrations of a second embodiment of a wand assembly of the present invention, as attached to a rear squeegee assembly of a surface maintenance machine. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross sectional view of the wand assembly and rear squeegee assembly of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 20  is a cross sectional view of the wand assembly of  FIG. 17  supported within an adapter. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective illustration of the adapter of the rear squeegee assembly of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIGS. 22 and 23  are perspective illustrations of the wand assembly of  FIG. 17  as attached to a vacuum line. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Industrial sweeper-scrubbers which may utilize the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . These surface maintenance machines may be used for sweeping and/or scrubbing floors in factories, warehouses, and other industrial or commercial establishments. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a riding-type surface maintenance vehicle  120  has a frame  122 , and is supported on a plurality of front and rear wheels. Typically, such a surface maintenance vehicle  120  includes a variety of implements such as brushes and systems for dispensing cleaning solutions typically composed of detergent and water which suspend dirt. A rear squeegee assembly  190  is coupled to a vacuum system via vacuum line  192 . Herein, a cleaning solution containing suspended dirt and other particles shall be called a “loaded cleaning solution.” Loaded cleaning solution and other liquid material are usually removed by a wiper blade assembly, referred to as a squeegee assembly. One example of such a surface maintenance vehicle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,985, assigned to Tennant Company, the assignee herein, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively,  FIG. 2  illustrates a walk-behind surface maintenance vehicle, such as the floor scrubbing vehicle disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,718, assigned to Tennant Company, the assignee herein, and incorporated herein by reference. The vehicle  120  includes a frame  122 , rear squeegee assembly  190  and vacuum line  192 . The particular surface maintenance vehicles illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are relevant insofar as depicting the preferred environment with which the present invention is concerned. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3-16 , a first embodiment of wand assembly  24  of the present invention includes a wand head  40  connected to a tubular, telescoping handle  42 . The wand head  40  is coupled to flexible, collapsible vacuum hose  26 . As described hereinafter, wand head  40  is adapted to be removed from rear squeegee assembly  28  to allow for remote debris pickup. Vacuum hose  26  remains coupled to wand head  40  and extends in length during remote debris pickup. When the wand is not in use, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the vacuum hose  26  provides the vacuum to the rear squeegee assembly  28  via adapter  29 . The opposite end of vacuum hose  26  is operatively coupled to a vacuum fan which will supply vacuum to the hose  26 . 
     A debris collection vehicle may be a wet floor scrubbing machine having cleaning liquid dispensing systems, scrubbing pads, and a rear squeegee assembly  28 . Squeegee assembly  28  includes a front squeegee blade  32  and a rear squeegee blade  34 . Additional aspects of rear squeegee assembly  28  are disclosed in U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/259,421, entitled Squeegee Assembly, and incorporated by reference herein. The vehicle carrying the wand assembly includes a vacuum tank for receiving soiled cleaning solution via vacuum hose  26 . 
       FIG. 4  also shows the stored or captured position of wand assembly  24 . When stretched to its full extent by the operator&#39;s removal of the wand from the vehicle, the hose may permit the operator to collect debris at a distance as great as 15 feet from the vehicle. Wand assembly  24  includes a head  40  which defines a coupling  29  adapted to be secured onto the vacuum outlet  36  of the rear squeegee assembly  28  as shown in  FIG. 8 . In the illustrated embodiment, coupling  29  defines a female adapter for coupling with a vacuum outlet  36  of the rear squeegee assembly  28 . 
     Wand assembly  24  includes a swivel adapter  80  which is assembled into two sections, head member  81  and handle member  82 . These two sections  81 ,  82  are pivotally attached, and can pivot with respect to each other around a pivot axis. The pivot axis is angled off-axis with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle  42  to allow various angled positions for adapter  80 . Adapter  80  thus forms a pivot joint which allows the wand head  40  to change its angular orientation relative to handle  42 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the wand assembly  24  connected to rear squeegee assembly  28 .  FIG. 6  shows the rear squeegee assembly  28 . Coupling  29  is sized to receive a portion of vacuum outlet  36  in a substantially air tight manner. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken through rear squeegee assembly  28 , showing that vacuum outlet  36  is in communication with the region between the front and rear squeegee blades  32 ,  34 . 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken through rear squeegee assembly  28  and wand assembly  24  showing the connection between head  40  and squeegee vacuum outlet  36 . 
       FIG. 9  is a view of the wand assembly  24  depicted as removed away from squeegee assembly  28 , such as during remote use to remove spills or other debris. 
       FIG. 10  is another view of the wand assembly  24  showing a flexible plug  90  which pivots about point  92 . Plug  90  is opened and rotated to allow squeegee vacuum outlet  36  to be inserted into coupling  29  of head  40  as shown in  FIG. 5 . When wand assembly  24  is being used, plug  90  is rotated to seal the opening of coupling  29 . 
       FIG. 11  is another view of the wand assembly  24  showing a pair of squeegee blades  100  and a pair of rollers  102  for engaging a surface to be cleaned. The rollers  102  limit the degree of deflection of squeegee blades  100 . 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the wand assembly  24 , showing the relationship between squeegee blades  100  and rollers  102 .  FIGS. 13 and 14  are cross sectional views of the wand assembly  24  showing swivel adapter  80 . Head member  81  is secured to handle member  82  via ring  130 . Ring  130  is adapted to engage a groove  132  in head member  81 . A threaded ring  134  holds ring  130  in place and permits head member  81  to swivel relatively freely relative to handle member  82 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot axis between the head member  81  and handle member  82  is approximately 22.5 degrees. This allows the head  40  to roll along rollers  102  with handle  42  in a comfortable position for the user. When stored, head  40  is pivoted 180 degrees and handle  42  assumes a generally vertical orientation when not in use. 
       FIGS. 15-16  show a swivel retainer  64 , retainer stop  66  and flex retainer  68 . Swivel retainer  64  and retainer stop  66  permit handle  42  to rotate (along longitudinal axis) relatively independently relative to vacuum hose  26 . Flex retainer  68  couples the handle  42  to the vacuum hose  26 . When the handle is expanded in length, swivel retainer  64 , stop  66  and flex retainer  68  cooperate to expand a portion of the flexible vacuum tube  26 . 
     When the operator desires to use the wand for debris pickup, handle and pickup head  40  are removed from adapter  29 . The vacuum from the vacuum fan remains applied to the hose  26  and the operator need not open a valve so that the vacuum is applied to the hose  26 . The operator removes the wand head  40  via the wand coupling  29 , expands the collapsible handle to a desired length, and stretches the collapsible hose  26  to whatever length is desired in order to collect debris where it is located. After the operator has used the wand in this manner, the wand may be replaced on the vehicle by collapsing the handle and reinserting the wand head into the adapter  29 . 
     A vehicle incorporating aspects of the present invention thus provides different forms of debris collection including soiled solution recovery via rear squeegee assembly  28  and remote debris recovery via portable wand  24 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 17 , a second embodiment of a wand assembly  224  of the present invention is shown. Wand assembly  224  includes a wand head  240  connected to a tubular, telescoping handle  242  in fluid communication with a cleaning solution source to dispense cleaning solution from nozzle  244  (shown in  FIG. 19 ). Wand head  240  is also connected to vacuum line  226  in communication with a vacuum source. Wand head  240  includes a scrub pad  246  (shown in  FIG. 19 ) used during remote cleaning. Wand head  240  is operative coupled to rear squeegee assembly  228  to communicate a vacuum to rear squeegee assembly  228  to remove debris and soiled cleaning solution from a floor surface. 
     The wand head  240  is coupled to flexible, collapsible vacuum hose  226 .  FIG. 17  shows the stored or captured position of wand assembly  224 . When stretched to its full extent by the operator&#39;s removal of the wand from the vehicle, the hose may permit the operator to collect debris at a distance as great as 15 feet from the cleaning vehicle. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , wand head  240  is supported within adapter  229 .  FIG. 19  shows the wand assembly  224 , adapter  229  and rear squeegee assembly in cross section. Adapter  229  defines a coupling adapted to be secured onto the vacuum outlet  236  of the rear squeegee assembly  228 . Rear squeegee assembly  228  includes front blade  232  and rear blade  234 . Weep hole  270  allows liquid drops from scrub pad  246  and/or nozzle  240  to be contained by the vacuum system. Scrub pad  246  may be a variety of different scrubbing media. Scrub pad  246  is releasably secured to wand head  240  via a hook-type retainer  249 . 
       FIG. 20  shows the wand head  240  and adapter  229  in cross section. Adapter  229  defines a male adapter (extension  250 ) for coupling with a female receptacle (receiving portion  251 ) at an upper end and a female receptacle (coupling  252 ) at its lower end for receiving the vacuum outlet  236  of the rear squeegee assembly  228 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates adapter  229  as removed from rear squeegee assembly  228 .  FIG. 22  illustrates outer squeegee blade  247  and inner squeegee blade  248  of wand head  240 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 23 , vacuum wand assembly  224  includes a swivel coupling including swivel retainer  264 , retainer stop  266  and flex retainer  268 . The swivel coupling is used to connect the cleaning solution line to handle  242 . Swivel retainer  264  and retainer stop  266  permit handle  242  to rotate (along longitudinal axis) relatively independently relative to vacuum hose  226 . Flex retainer  268  couples the handle  242  to the vacuum hose  226 . When the handle is expanded in length, swivel retainer  264 , stop  266  and flex retainer  268  cooperate to expand a portion of the flexible vacuum tube  226 . Extension  50  of wand adapter  229  will be partially inserted within a receiving portion  251  of the wand head  240 . 
     When the operator desires to use the wand for debris pickup, handle and pickup head  240  are removed from adapter  229 . The vacuum from the vacuum fan remains applied to the hose  226  and the operator need not open a valve so that the vacuum is applied to the hose  226 . The operator removes the wand head  240  from the wand adapter  229 , expands the collapsible handle to a desired length, and stretches the collapsible hose  226  to whatever length is desired in order to collect debris where it is located. The operator may dispense cleaning solution via nozzle  244  to assist with debris collection. The operator may use scrub pad  246  to assist in debris removal from the floor surface. After the operator has used the wand in this manner, the wand may be replaced on the vehicle by collapsing the handle and reinserting the wand head into the adapter  229 . Cleaning solution is dispensed through nozzle  244  via an operator valve (not shown). Solution dripping from pickup head  240  or scrub pad  246  is captured within adapter  229 . A weep hole  270  is provided through adapter  229  to allow solution to escape adapter  229 . 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.