GB2612350A

GB2612350A - Floor treatment machine

Info

Publication number: GB2612350A
Application number: GB2115604.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dobrev Kiril
Original assignee: Numatic International Ltd
Current assignee: Numatic International Ltd
Priority date: 2021-10-29
Filing date: 2021-10-29
Publication date: 2023-05-03
Also published as: GB202115604D0

Abstract

A floor treatment machine comprises a handle portion movably connected to a base portion such that the handle portion is arranged to guide movement of the base portion. The base portion is provided with at least one floor treatment workhead, a cleaning fluid outlet for selective delivery of cleaning fluid to the floor treatment workhead, and a suction collector assembly 23 arranged to suction waste fluid from the workhead in use. The floor treatment machine further comprises a waste fluid conduit 35 fluidly connected to the suction collector assembly via a waste fluid trap 80. The trap may form part of a squeegee 23. The waste fluid conduit is arranged to receive and transport waste fluid in use. The waste fluid trap is configured to substantially collect and retain fluid from the waste fluid conduit on removal of suction from the suction collector assembly. Thus, the waste fluid trap substantially restricts spillage of waste fluid when the machine transitions from an operational to a non-working configuration.

Description

FLOOR TREATMENT MACHINE

The present invention relates to a floor treatment machine, such as a floor scrubber drier. Particularly, though not exclusively, the invention relates to a wet floor treatment machine having a waste fluid trap to substantially restrict spillage of waste fluid on removal of suction from the machine.

Known floor scrubbers typically have at least one workhead formed from an annular rotatable scrubbing portion including bristles or a polishing pad. The workhead(s) are driven by electric motors via a battery or mains electric power.Typical scrubbers have a cleaning fluid dispenser from which detergent or dilute cleaning solution can be distributed over the surface to be cleaned, in advance of, or through the workhead(s). A squeegee suction collector trails behind the workhead(s) to entrain and collect dirty liquid from the floor surface, The dirty liquid is sucked through a waste fluid return hose and is collected and stored in a separate waste fluid tank within the machine.

When the machine is switched off and suction removed from squeegee collector, the column of dirty fluid in transit to the waste fluid tank runs down the waste fluid return hose under gravity and can leak out from the machine onto the floor.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a floor treatment machine which substantially restricts spillage of dirty fluid from the waste fluid return hose when the machine is switched off.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a floor treatment machine for cleaning and/or treating a floor surface, the floor treatment machine comprising: a handle portion movably connected to a base portion such that the handle portion is arranged to guide movement of the base portion; wherein the base portion is provided with at least one floor treatment workhead, a cleaning fluid outlet for selective delivery of cleaning fluid to the floor treatment workhead, and a suction collector assembly arranged to suction waste fluid proximate the workhead in use and a waste fluid conduit, fluidly connected to the suction collector assembly via a waste fluid trap, wherein the waste fluid conduit is arranged to receive and transport waste fluid therefrom in use, and wherein the waste fluid trap is configured to substantially collect and retain fluid from the waste fluid conduit on removal of suction from the suction collector assembly.

The waste fluid trap may be provided to substantially restrict spillage of waste fluid when the machine transitions from an operational to a non-working configuration. Advantageously, the waste fluid trap of the invention enables the column of waste fluid within the return conduit to be captured and retained once the machine is turned off and suction removed from the suction collector assembly.

The fluid trap may comprise a body having first and second openings enabling fluid communication therethrough. The fluid trap may further comprise a waste fluid collector portion located between the first and second openings for the collection of waste fluid.

The waste fluid collector portion may comprise a cup portion, fluid receptacle or U-shaped portion.

The body of the fluid trap may further comprise a retaining member located between the fluid collector portion and the first opening, wherein the retaining member substantially retains waste fluid within the fluid collector portion of the water trap. Thus, the retaining member acts to restrict spillage of waste fluid out of the opening by retaining fluid within the fluid collector portion.

The retaining member may comprise a retaining wall, hump, hollow mound, or n-shaped portion.

The first opening may be a lower opening.The first opening of the fluid trap may be connectable to the suction collector assembly. The first opening of the fluid trap may fprm a fluid inlet for the suction collector assembly.

The waste fluid trap may be attachable to the suction collector assembly. The suction collector assembly may comprise a centrally located receiving aperture for receiving the first opening of the waste fluid trap.

The waste fluid trap and the suction collector assembly may comprise complementary inter-engaging portions such that the fluid trap is engageable with the fluid collector assembly. The complementary inter-engaging portions may comprise moulded plastic components enabling the juxtaposition and/or securing of the waste fluid trap and the suction collector assembly.

The second opening of the waste fluid trap may be connected to the waste fluid conduit. The second opening of the fluid tap may be vertically spaced from the first opening relative to a working orientation of the fluid trap. Thus, the second opening may be higher in use than the first opening to create the waste fluid collector portion between the second opening anc the retaining member.

The second opening of the waste fluid trap may be attachable to the waste fluid conduit at the rear of the floor treatment machine with respect to a forward direction of travel. Thus, the waste fluid trap may be conveniently located at the back of the floor treatment machine close to the floor to substantially restrict spillage of waste fluid trapped in the waste fluid conduit on the removal of suction.

The waste fluid collector portion may be located beneath a connecting end of the waste fluid conduit in use. Thus, the waste fluid collector portion may lie below the end of the waste fluid conduit such that a column of waste fluid within the conduit falls under gravity into the waste fluid collector portion on removal of suction or power to the machine.

The waste fluid collector portion may have a capacity that is greater than the volume of the column of fluid in the waste fluid conduit between the waste fluid collector portion and the waste fluid tank.

The waste fluid trap may be a lightweight rigid component. The body of the waste fluid trap may be hollow. The body of the waste fluid trap may comprise an integrally moulded plastic component.

The waste fluid trap may comprise a lid.The body of the waste fluid trap may be an open body and the lid may be shaped and arranged to close over the open body. The lid may be an interference fit over the open body.

The lid may be detachable from the body of the water trap on application of a force thereto. Advantageously a detachable lid enables access to the waste fluid collector portion, retaining member, first and second openings of the body to enable an operator to clean and unblock the fluid trap as required.

The lid may be sealed against the body to substantially restrict egress of liquid therebetween. The water trap may comprise a shaped seal configured to match the perimeter of the lid and body in the region of the join therebetween to substantially seal the lid and the body portion.

The waste fluid trap may be attached to the suction collector assembly by fixing means. The fixing means may include screws or bolts.

Preferably, the waste fluid conduit may comprise a flexible conduit. The waste fluid conduit may comprise a waste fluid hose or pipe. The waste fluid conduit may comprise a corrugated plastic tube.

The machine may further comprise a tank module having a clean fluid reservoir and a waste fluid tank. The tank module may be selectively detachable from the machine. The tank module may be located on the handle portion.

Electric drive motors may be included in the base portion to rotate the vvorkheads in an operational configuration. The floor treatment machine may comprise a cleaning fluid conduit for selective fluid communication between the clean fluid reservoir and the cleaning fluid outlet. The cleaning fluid outlet may be located in advance of the workhead(s) or in the region of the workhead(s) to deliver cleaning fluid thereto in the operational configuration.

The waste fluid collection tank may be fed by the suction collector assembly which may be towed behind the workhead(s).The suction collector assembly may be provided with a conduit to a suction generator for drawing up waste fluid from the collector.

The suction collector assembly may comprise a squeegee collector shaped to assist the feed of waste fluid into the waste fluid conduit and collection tank. The squeegee co lector may be disposed behind the base portion with respect to a rorward direction of travel. The squeegee collector may comprise at least one squeegee blade.

The suction collector assembly may be provided with a tilt mechanism and latch, which latch is activated automatically when the suction collector assembly is tilted up from the floor by more than a predetermined amount. This allows unhindered transport between work tasks, and storage of the machine without the squeegee blades being deformed under the weight of the collector assembly.

The handle portion may be movably connected to the base portion such that the handle portion may be angled with respect to the base portion to aid guiding and movement of the machine in an operational configuration when the machine is in use, The handle portion may be reclinable with respect to the base portion in the operational configuration.

The handle portion may be positioned in an upright configuration that is substantially perpendicular relative to the base portion in a non-working configuration. The base portion and the handle portion may be lockable in a substantially vertical position with respect to the base portion when in the non-working configuration.

The floor treatment machine as hereinbefore described may be configured as a walk-behind wet floor scrubber drier. The floor treatment machine may be a compact floor scrubber drier machine.

The handle portion may be connected to the base portion via an articulation which permits reclining of the handle portion. The articulation preferably comprises a twin axis universal joint arrangement which permits movement of the handle portion in multiple directions, while permitting torque to be applied via the handle portion to the base portion for swivel steering.

The first aspect of the invention may be combined with any other feature or embodiment described in the specification or shown in the figures.

One embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of a suction collector assembly, waste fluid trap and return conduit according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded isometric view of the waste fluid trap of figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the waste fluid trap and return conduit of figure 1; Figures 4,5,6,7 and 8 are upper and lower isometric, rear, front and side views respectively, of the waste fluid trap of Figure 1; and Figures 9a to 9f are isometric, front, rear and side views of the suction collector assembly waste fluid trap and return fluid conduit.

According to the present embodiment of the invention a floor treatment machine is provided in the form of a walk-behind compact wet floor scrubber drier. The machine has an upright handle portion and a base portion. The handle portion is connected to the base portion via an articulation which permits reclining of the handle portion. The articulation comprises a twin axis universal joint arrangement which permits movement of the handle portion up and down and side to side, while permitting torque to be applied via the handle portion to the base portion for swivel steering. This makes the machine highly manoeuvrable and easy to steer and swivel around a primary wheel means. One machine of this type is disclosed in W0201 9207290A2 (Numatic International).

The base portion carries a motor housing which houses drive motors arranged to rotatably drive respective disc-shaped workheads. A pair of primary support wheels are provided at a rear end region of the base portion. A squeegee suction collector assembly 23 (shown in figures 1 and 9a-f) is attached to the rear end region of the base portion. The suction collector assembly 23 comprises a squeegee blade 24, and is connected to a waste fluid conduit 35 in the form of a flexible plastic corrugated return hose that acts as a fluid communication line from a fluid collector inlet into a waste fluid collection tank. A pair of support wheels 38 and a centrally disposed support wheel 27 are used to support the collector assembly 23 when the squeegee blade 24 is brought into contact with a floor surface in use.

The floor treatment machine further includes a cleaning fluid reservoir for delivering cleaning fluid to the workheads in use via a cleaning fluid connecting hose. The machine also includes a waste fluid collection tank for collecting waste fluid from a region behind the workheads in use via the waste fluid collection hose 35.

In the non-working configuration, the hancle portion is lockable in a vertical or substantially vertical position (perpendicular) with respect to the base portion. Such a locking mechanism is shown in W0201 9207289A1 (Numatic I nternational),The floor treatment machine is transportable in the nonworking configuration, in which the squeegee suction collector assembly 23 is in its resting configuration, tilted upwards away from the floor behind the machine. The primary wheels support the machine for transport, with the user steering the machine using the handle portion. The handle portion may be tilted back during transport so that the workheads are lifted from the floor surface.

A waste fluid trap 80 is shown in more detail in figures 2 to 8. The waste fluid trap 80 is a rigid moulded lightweight plastic component having a hollow open body 88 covered with a lid 82. A shaped rubber seal 79 is inserted between the interface with the lid 82 and the body 88 such that the join betvveen the lid 82 and the body 88 is sealed against the egress of liquid.

The body 88 has a first lower opening 83 and a second upper opening 84. The first lower opening 83 comprises an elongate aperture and a lower depending lip 87. The squeegee suction collector assembly 23 has a centrally disposed receiving aperture 33 with complementary inter-engaging portions to form an interference fit with the lower depending lip 87 of the first opening 83. Thus, when the first opening 83 of the waste fluid trap 80 is inserted into the receiving aperture 33, the lower depending lip 87 abuts part of the squeegee suction collector assembly 23 such that the first opening 83 becomes the return fluid inlet of the suction collector assembly 23. Two threaded fixing holes 34 are provided on either side of the centrally disposed receiving aperture 33 (figure 1). The fixing holes 34 each receive a flat head screw 39 that engages with threaded fixing holes 85 on the underside of the waste fluid trap 80 (seen in figure 5) to secure the waste fluid trap 80 to the squeegee suction collector assembly 23.

The second opening 84 is vertically spaced from the first opening 83 such that the second opening 84 is higher than the first opening 83 in use, The second opening 84 connects with an end connector 37 of the fluid return hose 35.

The second opening 84 of the waste fluid trap 80 leads into a waste fluid collector portion 86 formed in the body 88. The waste fluid collector portion 86 is shaped to act as a receptacle to collect a column of waste fluid from the return hose 35 under the action of gravity. The body 88 also has a retaining member 81 in the form of a steeply inclined rounded wall adjacent the first opening 83 to substantially retain fluid within the waste fluid collector portion 86.

The squeegee suction collector assembly 23 is shown in more detail in figures 9a to 9f The waste fluid trap 80 is located to the rear of the machine vvith respect to the direction of travel and is positioned close to the floor in the operational configuration. The capacity of the waste fluid collector portion 86 is selected to ensure that the waste fluid collector portion 86 can retain the full volume of waste fluid located in the column between the base of the waste fluid collector portion 86 and the waste fluid tank such that all waste fluid entrained in the return conduit 35 is retained by the machine vvhen suction is removed to prevent spillage.

In use, the floor treatment machine is moved into the operational configuration where the workheads contact the floor and take the weight of the motor units so as to provide a good scrubbing force. In the cleaning or operational configuration, the handle portion is reclined and the workheads are in working contact with the floor surface. Cleaning fluid is fed from the clean fluid reservoir to the clean fluid outlet ahead of the workheads such that the workheads scrub the floor surface with cleaning solution. Dirty water is deposited behind the workheads to be retrieved by the suction collector assembly 23. The collector assembly 23 uses the combined action of the squeegee blade 24 and suction to collect dirty fluid through the first opening 83, into the waste fluid trap 80 and into the return fluid hose 35 via the second opening 84. The waste fluid hose 35 transfers the dirty fluid to the waste fluid tank located on the handle portion 40.

The function of the waste fluid trap 80 is to catch dirty fluid 36 that is entrained in the hose 35 on removal of the suction. In normal use of the machine, waste fluid travels through the waste fluid trap 80 under action of the suction force and is extracted via the return hose 35.

When the cleaning session has finished, anc an operator switches off the machine. The suction force applied to the squeegee suction collector assembly 23 is removed meaning that the column of waste fluid already in the return hose 35 is no longer drawn to the waste fluid tank and drops towards the floor under the action of gravity. The waste fluid trap 80 prevents spillage by catching and retaining the waste fluid 36 vvithin the waste fluid collector portion 86. When suction is removed the waste fluid collector portion 86 acts to collect dirty fluid 36, which is retained within the waste fluid collector portion 86 by the retaining member 81. Thus, the waste fluid trap 80 prevents dirty fluid from spilling onto the floor when the suction force is removed frcm the floor treatment machine and the waste fluid column falls down the return hose 35 under the action of gravity.

Should an operator wish to flush, clean and/or remove a blockage form the waste fluid trap 80, the lid 82 is easily detachable from the body 88 by applying a pulling force thereto. Since the waste fluid trap is a separate component that is not integrally formed with either the hose 35 or the squeegee suction collector assembly 23, advantageously it may be easily separated to facilitate cleaning, draining and removal of blockages.

Modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Relative terms such as "upper", "lower", "base", and/or "rear" are used for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

The machine may be powered via a mains electricity supply or a battery. According to other embodiments, the waste fluid trap 80 can be used in conjunction with any alternative arrangement of components (workheads, motors, power source, tanks, support mechanisms and the like) within a floor treatment machine or compact scrubber drier to prevent spillage of dirty liquid once the machine is stopped and suction to the squeegee collector assembly 23 is lost.

Claims

Claims 1. A floor treatment machine for cleaning and/or treating a floor surface, the floor treatment machine comprising: a handle portion movably connected to a base portion such that the handle portion is arranged to guide movement of the base portion; wherein the base portion is provided with at least one floor treatment workhead, a cleaning fluid outlet for selective delivery of cleaning fluid to the floor treatment workhead, and a suction collector assembly arranged to suction waste fluid proximate the workhead in use and a waste fluid conduit fluidly connected to the suction collector assembly via a waste fluid trap disposed therebetween, wherein the waste fluid conch...it is arranged to receive and transport waste fluid in use, and wherein the waste fluid trap is configured to substantially collect and retain fluid from the waste fluid conduit on removal of suction from the suction collector assembly.
2. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waste fluid trap comprises a body having first and second openings enabling fluid communication therethrough, and a waste fluid collector portion between the first and second openings for the collection of waste fluid.
3. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body of the fluid trap further comprises a retaining member located between the fluid collector portion and the first opening, wherein the retaining member substantially retains waste fluid within the fluid collector portion of the water trap.
4. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the waste fluid trap and the suction collector assembly comprise complementary inter-engaging portions such that the fluid trap is engageable with the fluid collector assembly.
5. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first opening of the waste fluid trap is connectable to the suction collector assembly to form a fluid inlet for the suction collector assembly.
6. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the second opening of the waste fluid trap is connected to the waste fluid conduit such that fluid collector portion is located beneath a connecting end of the waste fluid conduit in use.
7. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the second opening of the waste fluid trap is vertically spaced from the first opening relative to a working orientation of the fluid trap and floor treatment machine.
8. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the waste fluid collector portion has a capacity that is greater than the volume of the column of fluid in the waste fluid conduit between the waste fluid collector portion and the waste fluid tank.
9. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the waste fluid trap is a lightweight rigid moulded plastic component.
10. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the waste fluid trap comprises a hollow body closed by a sealed lid wherein the lid is an interference fit over the open body of the fluid trap.
11. A floor treatment machine as clamed in any preceding claim, further comprising a tank module having a clean fluid reservoir and a waste fluid tank., wherein the tank module is selectively detachable from the machine.
12. A floor treatment machine according to claim 11, wherein the tank module is located on the handle portion.
13. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the suction collector assembly comprises a squeegee collector shaped to assist the feed of waste fluid into the waste fluid conduit and provided with a connection to a suction generator for drawing up waste fluid from the collector.
14. A floor treatment machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the suction collector assembly is provided with a tilt mechanism and latch, which latch is activated automatically when the squeegee collector is tilted up from the floor by more than a predetermined amount.
15. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle portion is connected to the base portion via an articulation which permits reclining of the handle portion and wherein the articulation comprises a twin axis universal joint arrangement.
16. A floor treatment machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the floor treatment machine comprises a compact floor scrubber drier machine.
17. A kit of parts comprising components of a floor treatment machine as claimed in any preceding claim.