Patents Assigned to Tennant
  • Patent number: 8539635
    Abstract: A portable vacuum wand for use with a surface maintenance machine, for collection of debris remote from the machine. The vacuum wand is detachable from a rear squeegee assembly of the surface maintenance machine, and includes a handle and a wand head. A vacuum conduit of the vacuum wand is adapted to be coupled to the rear squeegee assembly when not in use so as to provide vacuum to the rear squeegee assembly. A method of cleaning a floor surface with a surface maintenance machine and a portable vacuum wand is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Kevin L. Shinler, John C. Ickes, Matthew Betteker, Bruce M. Becker
  • Publication number: 20130231034
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided to clean and sanitize livestock carcasses. The apparatus includes a livestock carcass travel path, at least one liquid dispenser configured to dispense liquid to the carcass travel path, and at least one treatment electrode. A control circuit is configured to cause an alternating electric field to be generated between the electrode and a surface of a carcass along the travel path, through the dispensed liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles W. O'Neil, Peter A. Swenson, Bruce F. Field, Larry D. Orstad, Karen R. Wasiluk
  • Publication number: 20130212819
    Abstract: A surface maintenance vehicle with a compact cleaning head lift mechanism and suspension. The cleaning head lift mechanism and suspension adjust a scrub head to an operational mode and a transport mode, yet remain compact such that they are confined to specific areas of the surface maintenance vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Tennant Company
  • Publication number: 20130212814
    Abstract: A surface maintenance vehicle with a compact side brush assembly. The side brush assembly includes a brush deck, a parallel linkage assembly, a swing arm, and an actuator assembly. The brush deck carries a floor-engaging brush. The parallel linkage assembly permits pivoting of the brush deck about a lift axis to raise and lower the brush deck. The swing arm is adapted to rotates to swing the brush deck towards and away from the floor surface maintenance machine. The actuator assembly includes a linear actuator and a slip link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: TENNANT COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20130212813
    Abstract: A surface maintenance vehicle with quick release squeegee assembly and a method of connecting a squeegee assembly to the brush deck of a floor surface maintenance vehicle. A single release latch may be used to connect and disconnect the squeegee assembly and the brush deck. When engaged, corresponding locating structures on the brush deck and a frame of the squeegee assembly align the brush deck and the frame and provide points where the relative movement between the brush deck and frame are restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: TENNANT COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20130193001
    Abstract: A cleaning system comprising a liquid source configured to provide a feed liquid, an electrolysis cell configured to receive the feed liquid and to electrochemically activate the feed liquid to provide an electrochemically-activated liquid, where the electrochemical activation also heats the feed liquid such that the electrochemically-activated liquid is heated, and a dispenser configured to dispense the electrochemically-activated liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Tennant Company
  • Patent number: 8458855
    Abstract: A mobile surface maintenance machine with a debris hopper and a filter module providing at least two filter stages for separating dust and debris within the debris hopper, the filter module including a filter shaking mechanism and a housing adapted to seal against the upper opening of the debris hopper, and wherein the debris hopper is removed from air communication with the exhaust fan when the debris hopper is in a debris dump configuration and is returned to air communication with the exhaust fan when the debris hopper is lowered into an operational configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Michael Stewart Wilmo
  • Publication number: 20130116868
    Abstract: A battery-powered vehicle and a vehicle battery maintenance system that includes a battery charger that monitors energy consumption data from the vehicle battery to generate charging instructions to a charger. A central data unit (CDU) can determine whether if a vehicle electrical load is consuming too much energy and then generate instructions to the vehicle controller to limit the energy consumption. The CDU can notify an offsite central computer if the battery has not been charged according to charging instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Erko, Paul L. Groschen
  • Patent number: 8381353
    Abstract: A surface maintenance vehicle having a low profile recessed cavity in the side of the vehicle beneath the driver's seat which can be used for transporting items. The vehicle includes a vehicle shroud containing operational components of the vehicle, a driver's seat, and a seat shroud. A recessed cavity is formed in the side surface of the seat shroud and includes a vertically oriented anterior surface, a vertically oriented posterior surface opposing the anterior surface, a horizontally oriented bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is generally perpendicular to the anterior and posterior surfaces, and a vertically oriented inner surface, wherein the inner surface is generally perpendicular to the anterior surface, posterior surface and bottom surface. The recessed cavity is open on the side and the top and can be used for transporting items while not increasing the overall size or footprint of the surface maintenance machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: John C. Ickes, III, Margaret L. Bogren
  • Patent number: 8371315
    Abstract: A washing system comprising a washing machine vessel, a fluid-treatment component for activating a liquid, a dispenser for dispensing the activated liquid to the washing machine vessel, an electrode in electrical contact with the activated liquid, and at least one control circuit configured to generate an alternating electrical field through the dispensed activated liquid between the electrode and the washing machine vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Denison, Bruce F. Field, Jonathan A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8337690
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of an electrochemically activated liquid. The ORP is reduced by emitting ions from an ion generator into the electrochemically activated liquid, wherein the ions have a charge polarity that is opposite to the ORP of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Patent number: 8319654
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, which includes an electrolysis cell, a liquid flow path that passes through the electrolysis cell, and an indicator light. The indicator light is illuminated as a function of an operating characteristic of the electrolysis cell and luminous flux radiated from the light illuminates liquid along at least a portion of the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Todd R. Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20120228145
    Abstract: A cleaning solution generator comprising a housing with an interior reservoir and a brine tank, the cleaning solution generator being configured to generate an alkaline solution from a mixed solution and to operably direct the generated alkaline solution to the interior reservoir of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert James Guastella, Daniel L. Joynt
  • Patent number: 8256061
    Abstract: A filter shaking assembly for a floor surface maintenance machine including a filter assembly in fluid communication with the debris hopper and having a cylindrical filter held against a shaker plate. The shaker plate is vibrated by a shaker motor at least partially positioned within an interior of the filter and eccentric mass to remove an accumulation of debris from the surface of the filter. The eccentric mass may include two eccentric masses positioned on a common shaft of the shaker motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Michael Stewart Wilmo, Michael Thomas Basham, Michael Shawn Ardito, Richard W. Wellens
  • Patent number: 8236147
    Abstract: An electrolysis cell is provided, which includes an inlet, an outlet, and coaxial, cylindrical inner and outer electrodes. A cylindrical ion-selective membrane is located between the inner and outer electrodes and forms respective first and second electrolysis reaction chambers on opposing sides of the membrane. Fluid flow paths along the first and second chambers join together as a combined inlet flow path through the inlet and a combined outlet flow path through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20120112493
    Abstract: A surface maintenance vehicle having a low profile recessed cavity in the side of the vehicle beneath the driver's seat which can be used for transporting items. The vehicle includes a vehicle shroud containing operational components of the vehicle, a driver's seat, and a seat shroud. A recessed cavity is formed in the side surface of the seat shroud and includes a vertically oriented anterior surface, a vertically oriented posterior surface opposing the anterior surface, a horizontally oriented bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is generally perpendicular to the anterior and posterior surfaces, and a vertically oriented inner surface, wherein the inner surface is generally perpendicular to the anterior surface, posterior surface and bottom surface. The recessed cavity is open on the side and the top and can be used for transporting items while not increasing the overall size or footprint of the surface maintenance machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: John C. Ickes, III, Margaret L. Bogren
  • Publication number: 20120097201
    Abstract: A mobile surface cleaner includes a mobile body, a least one wheel, a source of a fluid, a pump, a sprayer hose connectable to a fitting on the mobile body, a high pressure spray gun connectable to the sprayer hose, and a functional generator. The functional generator includes first and second electrode chambers, which are separated by an ion exchange membrane. A flow path extends from the fluid source to the fitting and passes through the functional generator. The flow path is configured to combine all the fluid produced in the first and second electrode chambers to form a combined fluid on the cleaner. A control circuit is coupled to the pump and the functional generator and is configured to energize the pump to pump the fluid along the flow path and energize the functional generator to electrochemically activate the liquid that is passed through the functional generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Patent number: 8156608
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, which includes a mobile body configured to travel over a surface, a source of a liquid, a liquid dispenser and a flow path from the liquid source to the liquid dispenser. A functional generator is coupled in the flow path, which comprises an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane and which electrochemically activates the liquid from the liquid source which is passed through the functional generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Patent number: D674405
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Guastella, Jeffrey A. Johnson, David J. Copeland, Michael A. Andreini
  • Patent number: D674462
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Robert James Guastella, Michael Alexander Andreini, Daniel Paul Longhenry, Jeffrey Allen Johnson, Allen John Rapatz, Joseph Lewis Pouliot, David John Copeland, Daniel L. Joynt, Richard Mark Pierce, Reid Philip Rabon