Abstract: A drive actuator for a self-propelled sweeper is disclosed including a wheel shaft supported on the frame of the sweeper for at least limited rotation and having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted thereon. A powered jackshaft is rotatably mounted on a frame and carries a drive member positioned to operatively engage the ground engaging wheel when the jackshaft is moved towards the wheel. A link connects the wheel shaft to the jackshaft and an actuator including a rod shifted by a pivotable handle rotates the wheel shaft thereby moving the drive member into engagement with the ground engaging wheel through movement of the link.

Abstract: A floor scrubber solution valve for dividing and metering a supply of cleaning solution to a pair of scrubbing brushes includes a generally cylindrical housing having an inlet port formed in one end and a pair of circumferentially spaced outlet ports formed in the wall of the housing. A generally circular valve or gate element is rotatably disposed in the housing. The valve element includes an inlet bore alignable with the housing inlet port upon rotation of the valve element. A transversely extending flow divider passage intersects the valve inlet bore and defines at each end valve element outlet ports. Diametrically opposed, narrow grooves formed in the valve element communicate with the flow divider passage and initiate flow from the inlet bore to the housing outlet ports as the inlet bore is aligned with the inlet port and maintain the flow to each of the outlet ports substantially equal.

Abstract: The specification discloses a sweeper in which a combined tubular frame and handle member comprising a generally U-shaped forward frame portion which is continuous with an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion serves as the focal point of the sweeper design. The combined tubular frame and handle member is mounted on a brush housing, serves to facilitate support of a dust bin, and serves as the focal point for additional design features such as a body cradling upper handle portion, a hand hold at the front of the dust bin and a pivotal side brush mount.

Abstract: This specification discloses a roller-type dust seal for use in a sweeper of a type including a dust receiver or bin having an open end spaced from a brush and from the surface being swept. A generally U-shaped axle having an elongated base is positioned transversely of the brush and supported adjacent the inlet opening of the dust receiver. The legs of the axle are secured to the bin so that the base portion is generally free floating. A plurality of generally hollow, cylindrically shaped, abutting roller segments are received on the axle. The roller segments have a relatively hard inner peripheral surface and a relatively soft outer peripheral surface.

Abstract: A mobile sweeper includes an air blast pickup head having air intake and exhaust ports communicating with the exhaust of a blower and the input of a debris plenum, respectively, for suctioning debris from a surface being cleaned and depositing the debris in the debris plenum. In order to control the dust caused by the air movement, a source of pressurized water is injected in the form of minute droplets into the air stream in advance of the pickup head air intake and in advance of the debris plenum input.

Abstract: The specification discloses a surface cleaning apparatus having a molded plastic housing and an upwardly and rearwardly projecting casing terminating at a handle, the lower portion of the housing including a forward suction nozzle, opening into a recovery chamber. Suction is generated by a blower at the rear of the recovery chamber and a shield positioned in front of the blower prevents liquid from being drawn from the recovery chamber into the blower. A pump removes liquid in the recovery chamber through a hose which empties into a remote drain. A parallel pump tubing causes recycle of liquid through the pump whenever liquid in the recovery chamber is depleted to prevent dry running of the pump. A set of spray nozzles located in the apparatus just behind the suction nozzle is connected through a hose to a faucet which acts as a remote source of clean water. The clean water supply tubing connects to the nozzles through a positive flow additive injector.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus having a molded plastic housing and an upwardly and rearwardly projecting casing terminating at a handle. The lower portion of the housing includes a forward suction nozzle with an opening into a recovery tank and a molded plastic cover hingedly mounted over the recovery tank. The cover includes a downwardly projecting baffle adjacent the suction nozzle opening into the recovery tank. Suction is generated by a blower at the rear of the recovery chamber and a shield positioned in front of the blower prevents liquid flow from the recovery chamber into the blower. The cover includes a raised portion extending out over the top of the shield and downwardly to a juncture with the forward baffle, the raised portion thereby defining a passageway around and over the shield whereby air is free to flow from the recovery chamber over the shield and into the blower.

Abstract: A floor treatment machine including a squeegee assembly having a squeegee blade adjustable for a desired angle of incidience between the blade and the floor. The squeegee assembly is pivotally mounted to a bracket for limited rotation about the longitudinal axis of the machine for tracking variations of the floor surface. The bracket to which the squeegee assembly is pivotally coupled in turn is swivel-coupled to a lifting platform by a pair of spaced support arms, each pivotally coupled between the lifting platform and the bracket to permit the squeegee assembly to follow behind the floor treatment machine as it changes direction. The lifting bracket is pivotally coupled to the machine frame and is coupled to squeegee elevating and lowering means including a compressible linkage for holding the squeegee in an operating position with a predetermined adjustable pressure of the squeegee blade against the floor surface while permitting rearward tilting of the machine with the squeegee in the operating position.

Abstract: The specification discloses a surface cleaning apparatus having an air blast pickup head in which the suction in the exhaust chamber can be increased by the operator during operation of the apparatus to facilitate the ingestion of larger objects of debris and litter.