Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the height above the floor of a plate to which is attached a pad in a rotary floor machine to accommodate pads having a range of thicknesses includes a yoke disposed about the generally vertical support shaft of a caster positioned within a centrally-located aperture in the pad in contact with the floor. The yoke is also disposed about and supports a rotational drive arrangement coupled to the plate and includes a ring bearing to facilitate rotational displacement of the drive arrangement within the yoke. One end of the yoke is pivotally coupled to the machine's housing, while a manually adjustable coupler attaches a second, opposed end of the yoke to the housing to permit raising and lowering of the yoke in a pivoting manner.

Abstract: A vacuum motor and fan are mounted within a housing, the lower end of which receives a high efficiency particle filter. The bottom of the housing includes a series of projections adapted to be received in corresponding apertures on an upper flange of the filter to prevent replacing the filter with an improper one. The projection/apertures also promote proper seating of the seal between the filter canister and the housing. A separate projection on the filter engages and actuates a lock-out switch carried by the housing to permit the machine to operate only when the filter is of proper size and capacity and it is properly seated on the housing.

Abstract: A structure is disclosed for receiving and securing one or more vacuum motors in the motor housing of a vacuum suction machine. The structure acts as an adapter to permit vacuum motors of different circumferential, as well as axial dimensions to fit into, and be secured in a housing of one shape and design. The same housing can be used with many different motor configurations and thus provide a wider range of static lift pressures and air volumes at reduced manufacturing cost.

Abstract: An adapter, mounted on the cylindrical sidewall of the vacuum cleaner tank, provides a receptacle for a rigid connector on which a flexible vacuum hose is sealingly mounted. The leading edge of the connector insert is beveled. A corresponding beveled surface is formed on the inner wall of the receptacle to engage and seal with the beveled leading edge of the connector to form a continuous, peripheral seal immediately adjacent to the wall of the tank so that when the vacuum motor is turned on, a positive force is generated to increase the effectiveness of the seal.

Abstract: A vacuum machine for collecting hazardous materials is adapted for wet or dry applications without diminishing the storage capacity of the reservoir.

Abstract: A portable floor scrubbing machine, which preferably is battery-powered, may operate in two distinct modes: either as a walk-behind floor scrubber or as a manually-operated, scrub-and-recover system using a floor wand having a cleaning solution dispenser and convertible brush/squeegee at the working end of the wand for use in locations with difficult access.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a pad to a rotary floor machine includes an internally threaded drive collar mounted in coaxial relation with a drive shaft. The teeth of the thread on the collar have a sawtooth profile with an inclined lead-in surface and a holding surface. A retainer member in the form of a flanged collar has a cylindrical insert with a plurality of tabs capable of flexing inwardly. The flex tabs are spaced about the insert and have external thread segments, the teeth of which also have a sawtooth profile, for matching engagement with the internal threads of the drive collar. The retainer insert is assembled by pushing it into the drive collar. The lead-in surfaces of the matching threads cam the flex tabs inwardly during assembly so that the sawtooth threads ride over one another. The radial holding surfaces engage to provide substantial holding force for the center of the pad which is clamped between the flanges of the drive collar and the retainer member.

Abstract: A self-propelled carpet scrubbing machine includes a solution tank for storing cleaning solution and a recovery tank for storing the dirty recovered solution. The machine is front-wheel driven and includes a rear axle which is mounted by means of a resilient member which permits it to rock about a central axis extending in the direction of travel to insure that all four wheels, and principally the drive wheels, are in contact at all times with the surface being cleaned. A vacuum recovery assembly is mounted by cushioned spring assemblies which permit the vacuum recovery assembly to rock upwardly thereby permitting the machine to be operated in reverse, without having to raise the assembly. When the machine is then returned to forward motion, the vacuum recovery assembly rotates back to the normal use position.

Abstract: A carpet scrubbing machine includes a solution tank for storing cleaning solution and a recovery tank for storing the dirty recovered solution. A molded, shaped flexible pocket is mounted between the tanks and adapted for movement between a normal position in which the pocket extends into the recovery tank and an inverted position in which the pocket extends into the solution tank, thereby providing more room for cleaning solution at the start of a cycle and greater room for recovered solution at the end of a cycle.

Abstract: A pad driver assembly for a high speed floor burnishing machine includes a flexible or semi-rigid backing member with a pad beneath it and gripping projections for holding the pad in place. The backing member is provided with apertures so that when the pad assembly is driven at high rotational velocities beneath a shroud, air is drawn in through the apertures and forced radially outward in the pad, increasing the gripping action between the gripping projections and the pad, and also increasing the downward atmospheric pressure on the peripheral portion of the pad to promote increased polishing effectiveness.

Abstract: A high speed floor burnisher has a pad assembly rotating at high speed in a vacuum shroud which is evacuated by forced air without a separate vacuum motor. The evacuated air and entrained dust and debris are routed to a filter assembly with a replaceable filter and a removeable receptacle provided with a trap for larger particles so that they do not plug the filter, and thereby prolong its useful life.

Abstract: A driver assembly for the burnishing pad of a high speed floor burnishing machine includes a rotatably driven hub having spaced-apart recesses in its outer surface. The hub is fixed to a flexible backing plate having inner and outer depending cylindrical retaining flanges defining a channel in which the burnishing pad is received for attachment to the backing plate by a gripper pad. The inner edge of the burnishing pad is clamped against the gripper pad by an inner clamping cup which is received within the inner retaining flange in an interference fit therewith. The driver assembly is supported on a center caster, the wheel of which is disposed in the clamping cup. The burnishing pad and driver assembly are surrounded by a vacuum shroud which is continuously evacuated by radial air flow generated by the motion of the driver assembly.

Abstract: A brake drum encapsulator includes a wire frame in a generally cylindrical shape with a cover surrounding the frame and having a closed end and an open end. The brake drum assembly is received in the open end of the cover which is then closed about the brake drum and evacuated. The cover is made of a material which is light weight, flexible, transparent and gas impermeable to give the operator full visibility to the interior. The cover has a pair of gloves integrally formed in it to permit the operator to have access to the interior. A hand-operated air gun for cleaning the brake drums is also attached to the closed end of the cover. The closed end of the cover preferrably has a frustoconical portion which allows the operator to move his hands and the air gun back and forth as well as laterally within the encapsulator for servicing the brake drum.

Abstract: A driver assembly for the pad of a high speed floor burnishing machine includes a flexible backing plate having a peripheral retaining skirt which centers the pad on the driver assembly and also prevents the edges of the pad from growing or expanding to a larger circumference during high speed rotary burnishing action. The backing plate adds stiffness to the pad when rotating at high speed, and it promotes uniform contact of the pad with the floor at the outer radial extremities of the pad where the velocity is greatest and the polishing is most effective. In the illustrated embodiment, the pad and driver assembly are surrounded by a shroud which is continuously evacuated by radial air flow generated by the motion of the driver assembly which includes a finned hub. The air flow carries debris generated by the burnisher to a collection bag or filter without leaving the machine.

Abstract: A driver assembly for the pad of a high speed floor burnishing machine includes a flexible backing plate having a peripheral retaining skirt which centers the pad on the driver assembly and also prevents the edges of the pad from growing or expanding to a larger circumference during high speed rotary burnishing action. The backing plate adds stiffness to the pad when rotating at high speed, and it promotes uniform contact of the pad with the floor at the outer radial extremities of the pad where the velocity is greatest and the polishing is most effective. In the illustrated embodiment, the pad and driver assembly are surrounded by a shroud which is continuously evacuated by radial air flow generated by the motion of the driver assembly which includes a finned hub. The air flow carries debris generated by the burnisher to a collection bag or filter without leaving the machine.

Abstract: An adapter, mounted on the cylindrical sidewall of the vacuum cleaner tank, provides a receptacle for a rigid connector on which a flexible vacuum hose is sealingly mounted. The leading edge of the connector insert is beveled. A corresponding beveled surface is formed on the inner wall of the receptacle to engage and seal with the beveled leading edge of the connector to form a continuous, peripheral seal immediately adjacent to the wall of the tank so that when the vacuum motor is turned on, a positive force is generated to increase the effectiveness of the seal.