Abstract: A sweeper/vacuum ride-on cleaning system includes a vacuum and sweeping mechanism using a sweeper brush and vacuum brush in one cleaning head. A caster leveling system is used for setting the level of the head above the floor. A single motor drive system using a two-sided belt is used for driving the sweeper brush and vacuum brush. A dust management system using holes adjacent to a debris try for holding debris in the tray. A pivoting door access assembly is used for allowing the sweeper brush and vacuum brush to be accessed and removed from the side of the cleaning head. Finally, a bag cage with holes throughout each of its supporting surfaces is used for holding the vacuum bag and allowing air to escape from all sides of the bag to increase vacuum efficiency.

Abstract: An industrial floor scrubber includes a solution tank and delivery system for applying the solution to the floor, and one or more rotating brushes for removing dust and debris from the floor and respectively directing same to a squeegee and to a debris hopper. The trailing squeegee removes the remaining solution from the floor and, in combination with a vacuum system, directs the recovered solution to a cleaning solution recovery tank in the scrubbing mode of operation. In a sweeping mode of operation, the use of a dust filter is eliminated as the dust-laden air is directed past the debris hopper and onto the upraised squeegee which confines and directs the dust-laden air into a spray of fine water particles which adhere to and transport the dust-bearing water particles to the recovery tank via an applied vacuum. The heavy dust-bearing water particles drop into the recovery tank, while a demister removes the remaining water vapor with the dry air discharged to the atmosphere via a vacuum impeller.

Abstract: A mobile floor scrubber sweeper includes operator and engine compartments, clean solution and reclaimed dirty solution tanks, and a clean solution delivery system for applying clean solution to a floor ahead of a pair of counter-rotating cylindrical scrub/sweep brushes. Also included are a debris hopper coupled to a first lift system for moving the debris hopper between an operating position within the scrubber sweeper and an elevated aft position for discharging debris/dirty solution into an external debris container, and a rear squeegee coupled to a second lift system for independently moving the rear squeegee from a lowered, floor engaging, operating position to an elevated non-use position to facilitate squeegee inspection, adjustment, maintenance or replacement, without moving the debris hopper. The hopper and squeegee lift systems operate independently of one another, and the hopper lift system is compatible with standard high, i.e., sixty (60) inch, debris containers.

Abstract: A mobile floor cleaning machine has a clean water system with a reservoir for applying water to a floor during cleaning. The floor cleaning machine includes an ozone source which generates ozone in liquid form and introduces the liquid ozone directly into the circulating water for eliminating pathogens in the circulating water. The ozone is generated continuously and essentially instantaneously by the ozone source and destroys most bacteria, virus, fungus and mold in the circulating water at room temperature, while decaying harmlessly to oxygen within the water and producing fewer by-products than chemical sanitizers and having essentially no environmental impact.

Abstract: An arrangement for removing dust from the atmosphere during cleaning of a generally flat surface, such as floor, includes a reservoir for providing water to a nozzle. Also included is an air compressor and a compressed air tank. Compressed air is provided in a controlled manner at an elevated pressure to the nozzle to reduce the water to minute droplets which absorb/encapsulate the dust particles and deposit them on the floor surface under the influence of gravity. A manual or automatic pressure regulator coupled to the outlet of the compressed air tank allows for selecting the air velocity and the size of the water droplets to match the size of the dust particles to increase the extent of dust removal. This dust removal approach can be used with virtually any type of generally flat surface and the compressed air has a siphoning effect to increase the water droplets produced and the dust particles removed.

Abstract: In a mobile floor sweeper/scrubber, a closed hydraulic system directs hydraulic fluid, or oil, to power various subsystems, such as the drive, steering, sweeping, scrubbing, etc., subsystems, which results in heating of the hydraulic fluid to an elevated temperature. The heated hydraulic fluid is provided to a heat exchanger, to which is also providing the scrub water for heating the water prior to application to the floor for improved, more efficient cleaning of the floor. This arrangement allows for the use of higher scrub water temperatures without using a dedicated system limited to the generation of higher scrub water temperatures, or without operating the sweeper/scrubber's drive motor at elevated temperatures higher than its specified normal operating temperature. The use of heated or ambient scrub water can be selected as desired by the sweeper/scrubber operator.

Abstract: A method for treating flooring not designed for sanding and having a multi-layer wax finish reduces the frequency of stripping the wax layers down to the flooring and recoating the flooring in carrying out periodic maintenance on the flooring. A mobile floor treating machine includes at least one rotating brush which is driven at a first circular speed x for cleaning the flooring and is driven at a second circular speed y for removing the two uppermost layers of wax, where y?2x. The top remaining wax layer is then cleaned with the brush operating at the original circular speed x. Two layers of wax are then sequentially applied to the top remaining wax layer in replacing the two removed layers of wax on the floor and restoring the flooring to its original finish. The brush may be operated at 800-1500 RPM for burnishing and polishing.

Abstract: An arrangement for removing dust from the atmosphere during cleaning of a generally flat surface, such as floor, includes a reservoir for providing water to a nozzle. Also included is an air compressor and a compressed air tank. Compressed air is provided in a controlled manner at an elevated pressure to the nozzle to reduce the water to minute droplets which absorb/encapsulate the dust particles and deposit them on the floor surface under the influence of gravity. A manual or automatic pressure regulator coupled to the outlet of the compressed air tank allows for selecting the air velocity and the size of the water droplets to match the size of the dust particles to increase the extent of dust removal. This dust removal approach can be used with virtually any type of generally flat surface and the compressed air has a siphoning effect to increase the water droplets produced and the dust particles removed.

Abstract: A method for treating flooring not designed for sanding and having a multi-layer wax finish reduces the frequency of stripping the wax layers down to the flooring and recoating the flooring in carrying out periodic maintenance on the flooring. A mobile floor treating machine includes at least one rotating brush which is driven at a first circular speed x for cleaning the flooring and is driven at a second circular speed y for removing the two uppermost layers of wax, where y?2x. The top remaining wax layer is then cleaned with the brush operating at the original circular speed x. Two layers of wax are then sequentially applied to the top remaining wax layer in replacing the two removed layers of wax on the floor and restoring the flooring to its original finish. The brush may be operated at 800-1500 RPM for burnishing and polishing.

Abstract: A mobile floor cleaning machine has a clean water system with a reservoir for applying water to a floor during cleaning. The floor cleaning machine includes an ozone source which generates ozone in liquid form and introduces the liquid ozone directly into the circulating water for eliminating pathogens in the circulating water. The ozone is generated continuously and essentially instantaneously by the ozone source and destroys most bacteria, virus, fungus and mold in the circulating water at room temperature, while decaying harmlessly to oxygen within the water and producing fewer by-products than chemical sanitizers and having essentially no environmental impact.

Abstract: A plastic container includes a squeezable bottle providing a lower main liquid reservoir for storing a cleaning solution, an upper dispensing receptacle for measuring and dispensing a measured quantity of liquid, and a transfer duct communicating a lower portion of the main liquid reservoir with an upper portion of the dispensing receptacle for transferring liquid from the main liquid reservoir to the upper dispensing receptacle. After the main liquid reservoir is filled through an opening at the base of the dispensing receptacle, the opening is closed with an insert equipped with a check valve. This same container is adapted to a single flow or double-flow proportioning container by providing a drop tube which opens the check valve and permits liquid to pass from the main reservoir through a check valve housed in a cap assembly, thence through a metering tip to a delivery tube which is in fluid communication with a proportioning device.

Abstract: A cleaning machine for floors and carpets includes a vacuum pick-up in front of the machine for suctioning loose material and debris off the floor. A microfiber cleaning assembly is mounted beneath the machine for cleaning the floor following the vacuum pick-up. The microfiber cleaning element may be motor driven. A source of solution delivers a controlled amount of solution or water to moisten the microfiber cloth. A vacuum motor provides suction to the forward vacuum pick-up, routes the suctioned air through a filter, and the filtered air is then delivered to an air diffuser to dry any residual moisture behind the microfiber cleaning assembly. The microfiber cleaning assembly may have two offset pads driven by a reciprocating or oscillating drive, or one or two cylindrical rollers for receiving and securing the microfiber fabric in the form of a sleeve.

Abstract: A motor-driven outdoor vacuum has a ground level intake and a hose intake. When a hand-operable actuator moves a first or main door into a ground pick-up position, the ground level intake, which is carried by the first door is in direct air-flow communication with the impeller and the hose intake, which is carried by the first door is closed by a spring-actuated second door carried by the main door. When the actuator is moved to a hose intake position, the main door is moved to a second position in which the hose is in air-flow communication with the impeller and the ground level intake is closed.

Abstract: A plastic container includes a squeezable bottle providing a lower main liquid reservoir for storing a cleaning solution, an upper dispensing receptacle for measuring and dispensing a measured quantity of liquid, and a transfer duct communicating a lower portion of the main liquid reservoir with an upper portion of the dispensing receptacle for transferring liquid from the main liquid reservoir to the upper dispensing receptacle. After the main liquid reservoir is filled through an opening at the base of the dispensing receptacle, the opening is closed with an insert equipped with a check valve. This same container is adapted to a single flow or double-flow proportioning container by providing a drop tube which opens the check valve and permits liquid to pass from the main reservoir through a check valve housed in a cap assembly, thence through a metering tip to a delivery tube which is in fluid communication with a proportioning device.

Abstract: A cleaning machine for floors and carpets includes a vacuum pick-up in front of the machine for suctioning loose material and debris off the floor. A microfiber cleaning assembly is mounted beneath the machine for cleaning the floor following the vacuum pick-up. The microfiber cleaning element may be motor driven. A source of solution delivers a controlled amount of solution or water to moisten the microfiber cloth. A vacuum motor provides suction to the forward vacuum pick-up, routes the suctioned air through a filter, and the filtered air is then delivered to an air diffuser to dry any residual moisture behind the microfiber cleaning assembly. The microfiber cleaning assembly may have two offset pads driven by a reciprocating or oscillating drive, or one or two cylindrical rollers for receiving and securing the microfiber fabric in the form of a sleeve.

Abstract: A floor scrubber includes a forward cylindrical brush with adjustable down pressure. The cylindrical brush is sprayed uniformly with a controlled amount of water or solution and moves debris forward with a direct propelling action into a collection hopper. A set of three disc brushes is located behind the cylindrical brush, followed by a suction liquid recovery device for suctioning spent solution. A control system allows independent use of the forward cylindrical brush, or the rear disc brush set, or all brushes. A floor-engaging flap having a central opening extends transverse of the machine behind the cylindrical brush to channel water from the cylindrical brush to the disc brush set and then to the suction recovery device.

Abstract: A floor cleaning machine includes a vacuum pick-up in front of the machine for suctioning loose material and debris off the floor. A micro fiber pad assembly is mounted beneath the machine for cleaning the floor following the vacuum pick-up. The micro fiber pad may be motor driven. A source of solution delivers a controlled amount of solution or water to moisten the micro fiber pad. A vacuum motor provides suction to the forward vacuum pick-up, routes the suctioned air through filter, and the filtered air is then delivered to an air diffuser at the rear of the machine to dry any residual moisture behind the micro fiber pad.

Abstract: A mobile floor or ground cleaning machine includes a hydraulic motor for propulsion and/or operating a cleaning brush. Airflow produced by a fan is directed through a housing located adjacent the cleaning brush for creating an area of low pressure adjacent the brush. The housing includes a filter system through which the airflow is directed. Under the influence of the airflow, the closed housing, which preferably is a unitary structure, directs dirt directly into a receptacle and directs dust through the filter system for subsequent deposit in the receptacle. The housing forms a reservoir for oil which drives the hydraulic motor, with the airflow within the housing serving to cool the oil.