Abstract: A floor scrubber which is operated by a person walking behind it has two drive wheels individually powered by two reversible electric motors. The rotational speeds and directions of these motors determine forward or reverse travel, the travel speed and the steering of the scrubber, all of which are controlled by the operator through a straight transverse handlebar attached to the rear of the scrubber frame. The handlebar can be twisted to control travel speed in forward or reverse and tilted to control steering right or left while still allowing manual force to be applied directly to the scrubber frame through the handlebar independently of the speed and steering control movements. Travel speed and sharpness of steering are proportional to the magnitude of handlebar movements. Steering can be accomplished at any travel speed including zero, and can be as sharp as turning about the centerline of the machine.

Abstract: This is concerned with a surface cleaning machine such as a burnisher or scrubber and is more particularly concerned with a quick connect/disconnect holding and centering structure for high speed brush and pad use which is specifically constructed to accurately center a brush or pad and dampen any vibration so that the brush or pad may be operated at a high speed without special balancing, as well as to allow for each and quick connect or disconnect. The holding and centering structure comprises an opening in the center of a surface cleaning element adapted to receive a driven hub fitted down in the opening. A circumferential formation in the opening is adapted to interferingly bypass a complementary circumferential formation on the hub. One of the circumferential formations is uniformly distortable.

Abstract: An improved support (48) for mounting a crescent shaped squeegee assembly (46) on the body (18) of a self propelled walk behind floor scrubbing machine (10) of the type which deposits cleaning fluid on a hard surfaced floor, scrubs the floor, and then squeegees and vacuums the dirty cleaning fluid from the floor. The squeegee supporting means (48) includes first and second intermediate members (84, 98) and first, second, and third pivot means (68, 70, 72). The first pivot means (68) secures the first intermediate member (84) to the body (18) for swinging movement about a generally vertically extending axis (Z). The second pivot means (70) secures a forward portion of a downwardly and rearwardly extending arm (90) to the first intermediate member for swinging movement about a generally transversely extending axis (Y). The second intermediate member is secured to a rear portion of the arm, the securing means including an attitude adjusting member (102).

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the speed and direction of a self-propelled machine, such as, for example, a floor cleaning machine, or the like. A rotatable control handle is provided and includes a speed control cam which moves a variable resistor slide member by means of a speed control arm connected to the cam follower. The variable resistor is connected between a battery power source and a propulsion motor to control the voltage to a speed control. The handle has a neutral position at which the machine is stationary, and rotation of the handle about its own axis in either direction will cause the motor to move the machine, the direction of rotation determining the direction of movement. The control handle carries a series of direction control cams which operate switches to control the direction of flow of current to the motor and thereby the direction in which the machine moves.

Abstract: A floor cleaning machine having drive wheels, scrub brushes, and cleaning liquid applying and pick-up means. The machine has a drive train including a drive motor, a drive axle assembly and the drive wheels. The drive train is mounted on a removable carriage which is slidable laterally of the machine while the latter is in operating position, to provide access to the drive train for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A squeegee support assembly for automatic floor cleaning machines of the type having a housing, drive wheels, spaced holders for floor cleaning members mounted for powered rotation about a vertically disposed axis and a substantially crescent-shaped vacuum housing and squeegee blade carrying assembly mounted to the housing for articulated movement about a vertical axis which is located at the midpoint between a diametral line passing through the axis of the holding members.