Abstract: An extraction machine of this invention comprises a main housing. A vacuum pump in the main housing operates to create a vacuum to extract liquid from the surface. A motor in the main housing drives the vacuum pump, the vacuum pump having an exhaust. An exhaust duct conducts exhaust air from the exhaust of the vacuum pump to an opening in the main housing for exhaust to the environment. A constriction in the exhaust duct reduces the pressure of exhaust air flowing through the exhaust duct from a first pressure upstream from the constriction to a second lower pressure in a low pressure zone adjacent the constriction. A compartment has an inlet for entry of ambient air into the compartment and an outlet for exit of air from the compartment. A second motor is located within the compartment. A cooling duct has an inlet communicating with the outlet of the compartment and an outlet communicating with the low pressure zone in the exhaust duct.

Abstract: An indicator junction module for connecting the electrical components of a pressure washer for dispensing a cleaning fluid under pressure. The indicator junction module includes terminal connectors for receiving leads from the components and indicator circuits corresponding to the components. At least one of the indicator circuits has one of its terminals electrically connected to an indicator device and the other of its terminals electrically connected to another indicator circuit. Each indicator device provides a visual indication of a condition of the corresponding component. The indicator junction module also includes an enclosure for enclosing the indicator circuits wherein the indicator devices are visible from outside the enclosure to an operator of the pressure washer and a portion of each terminal connector is external to the enclosure.

Abstract: A high pressure washer of this invention comprises a heat exchanger for heating a cleaning fluid, and a dispenser for dispensing heated cleaning fluid under pressure onto a surface to clean it. The heat exchanger comprises a tubular casing and a generally coaxial tubular heat shield inside the casing defining a combustion chamber. A burner is mounted adjacent a first end wall of the casing for discharging flames and hot combustion gases into the combustion chamber. A heating coil inside the casing extends longitudinally with respect to the casing for containing cleaning fluid to be heated. The heating coil comprises a length of unfinned tubing disposed in a gap between the heat shield and a second end wall of the casing, and a length of finned tubing in the annular space between the heat shield and the casing. The burner is operable to emit flame and hot gases of combustion into said combustion chamber in a direction toward the second end wall of the casing.

Abstract: A mobile surface scrubber for scrubbing a surface wetted with cleaning solution. The scrubber comprises a frame, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the frame, scrub brush means attached to the frame and positioned to scrub the wetted surface as the scrubber is transported over the surface, and a recovery system for recovering cleaning solution from the surface. The recovery system includes a return tank for retaining recovered cleaning solution, a rear squeegee pivotally connected to the frame, and left and right side squeegees mounted on the frame. The rear squeegee is positionable to contact the surface behind the scrub brush means when the scrubber is transported in the forward direction. The side squeegees are unvaryingly oriented with respect to the frame and positionable to contact the surface on opposite sides of the scrub brush means.

Abstract: A self-propelled battery operated stone floor polishing machine having dual rotating heads with detachable stone grinding, honing, and polishing pads. The polishing machine includes an integral solution tank for applying a liquid lubrication to the floor through the heads, a recovery tank for collecting the slurry generated by the grinding, honing, and polishing action, and an integral squeegee system that removes the liquid and particle slurry and thereafter transfers the slurry to the recovery tank. The grinding pads are integrated with metallic alloys, bonding industrial diamond abrasives for grinding marble, granite, poured terrazzo, precast terrazzo, cement, concrete, porcelain tile, ceramic tile, teracotta tile, but are not limited to these stone surfaces. A single operator may grind, hone, and polish up to 1,500 square feet of stone floors in a normal work day.

Abstract: A flap of an elastomeric material is disposed over an outlet opening in a dust box within a main hopper of an industrial-type sweeper, the outlet opening providing communication between the dust box and the main hopper for emptying of the contents accumulated within the dust box. The flap is positioned over the outlet opening and is operative to provide selective communication between the dust box and the main hopper. During dirt and debris collection, such is accumulated within the dust box, while during emptying the dirt and debris are allowed to fall into the main hopper for egress through the hopper inlet. In one embodiment, the main hopper door controls the selective communication of a slotted flap through connection of one end of the flap to the hopper door. In another embodiment, air pressure regulates the opening and closing of the flap.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a floor sander comprising a frame on wheels, a chassis carried by the frame, and a motor-driven sanding head mounted on the chassis generally adjacent the front of the chassis for rotation about an axis extending in side-to-side direction with respect to the chassis. The chassis is mounted on a pivot shaft extending in side-to-side direction with respect to the frame so that the sanding head can be raised and lowered relative to a surface to be sanded. The pivot shaft has first and second bearing assemblies at its ends. A first side of the chassis is movable up and down relative to the first bearing assembly, and a second side of the chassis is secured against up and down movement relative to the second bearing assembly. A guide system is provided for controlling the up and down movement of the first side of the chassis relative to the first bearing assembly so that the movement is in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A cylindrical brush of the type utilized in an industrial type sweeper is retained on one end by an idler broom arm. The idler broom arm is hingedly connected to a member transverse to the brush such that the broom arm swings outwardly from the brush to effect a brush change as the broom arm is pivotally retained. A latch retains the arm in its closed position. The hinge is located radially behind and axially outwardly relative to the brush. This offset location of the hinge creates an inward biasing of the broom arm during forward travel of the sweeper to retain the brush between the idler broom arm and the driven broom arm on the opposite side of the brush.

Abstract: A brush for a rotary floor machine is especially adapted to clean grout on tile floors. The brush includes a disk having a plurality of first and second bores arranged into a plurality of rings disposed about one face of the disk. Each ring defines an arcuate pattern of alternating first and second bores. The first bores are angled inwardly towards the center of the disk, preferably 5.degree. from a line normal to the plane of the disk. The second bores are angled outwardly toward the periphery of the disk, preferably 5.degree. from a line normal to the plane of the disk. Tufts of bristles disposed within the first and second bores thus form pairs of overlapping bristles.

Abstract: A self-propelled floor cleaning machine or scrubber of the walk-behind type includes a one-piece molded main body incorporating an integral solution tank. The main body includes a central cavity in which is received a one-piece molded secondary body defining a recovery tank. The main body receives the secondary body in an interlocking fashion such that the entire unit is self-supporting, such that the use of gaskets or sealers between the tanks and other components is eliminated. The main body is supported on a steel frame which also supports the batteries, cables, wheels, brushes, squeegee, and the like (frame components). The main body fits over the frame components and together with the secondary body provides a water shedding cover therefore.

Abstract: A sweeper hopper and associated filter assembly as illustrated and described. The filter assembly effectively divides the hopper into a particulate contaminant receiving chamber and a clean air exhaust chamber. The filter assembly includes at least a pair of particulate blocking filter means and means for selectively directing the transient air stream through one or the other or both of the filter means. The filter assembly further includes cleaning means for selectively imparting the filter means, typically during periods of quiescence, to physically loosen and remove particulate contaminants therefrom and direct such contaminants into the contaminant receiving chamber.

Abstract: The floor cleaning machine utilizes an integrated sound baffle to reduce the noise level of the machine during operation. The floor cleaning machine relies upon a vacuum motor to create a negative pressure in a recovery tank for operation of a vacuum squeegee. The integrated sound baffle is a hollow u-shaped body having an interior passageway through which the exhaust from the vacuum motor is directed. The noisy exhaust is required to turn four 90.degree. corners as it passes through the interior passageway of the baffle which reduces the noise level of the exhaust. The moist exhaust is also isolated from the brush motor and the vacuum motor while it passes through the hollow baffle. The baffle is an integrated component of the apparatus and is a load bearing member for the solution tank and the recovery tank. The baffle can be roto-molded using conventional techniques with a thermoplastic such as HDPE.