Abstract: A cleaning head assembly for a surface maintenance machine comprising a cleaning tool having a tool adapter, a driver adapted to provide a generally rotational motion to the cleaning tool to clean the floor surface, the driver being releasably connected to the tool adapter of the cleaning tool by a hub, and an aligning receptacle coupled to the tool adapter of the cleaning tool and positioned between the hub and the tool adapter, the aligning receptacle having an receptacle opening for receiving the hub, wherein the aligning receptacle is adapted to guide and matingly seat the hub into the receptacle opening and thereby engage the cleaning tool to the driver such that the cleaning tool and the driver are rotationally aligned and a rotational motion of the driver is transferred to the cleaning tool by the hub.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine comprising two front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a motive source for providing motive force to at least one front wheel to drive the machine on a surface. Embodiments also include an operator platform allowing an operator to stand thereon extending at least partly around the rear wheel, for supporting an operator in a standing position with the operator's feet on either side of the rear wheel.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine comprising two front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a motive source for providing motive force to at least one front wheel to drive the machine on a surface. Embodiments also include an operator platform allowing an operator to stand thereon extending at least partly around the rear wheel, for supporting an operator in a standing position with the operator's feet on either side of the rear wheel.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine comprising a body having a forward section, a middle section and a rearward section, wherein the forward section is positioned to the front of a transverse centerline of the machine, the middle section is generally centered on the transverse centerline and a rearward section positioned to the rear of the transverse centerline. A storage chamber can be defined in the middle section and enclosed by a front wall, a rear wall, lateral walls, a generally planar top surface, and a generally planar lower surface, such that the storage chamber is generally isolated from components of the surface maintenance machine. The storage chamber can have a storage chamber bottom surface with or below a top surface of at least one battery positioned in the forward section.

Abstract: A cleaning head assembly for a surface maintenance machine comprising a cleaning tool having a tool adapter, a driver adapted to provide a generally rotational motion to the cleaning tool to clean the floor surface, the driver being releasably connected to the tool adapter of the cleaning tool by a hub, and an aligning receptacle coupled to the tool adapter of the cleaning tool and positioned between the hub and the tool adapter, the aligning receptacle having an receptacle opening for receiving the hub, wherein the aligning receptacle is adapted to guide and matingly seat the hub into the receptacle opening and thereby engage the cleaning tool to the driver such that the cleaning tool and the driver are rotationally aligned and a rotational motion of the driver is transferred to the cleaning tool by the hub.

Abstract: A cleaning head assembly for a surface maintenance machine comprising a cleaning tool having a tool adapter, a driver adapted to provide a generally rotational motion to the cleaning tool to clean the floor surface, the driver being releasably connected to the tool adapter of the cleaning tool by a hub, and an aligning receptacle coupled to the tool adapter of the cleaning tool and positioned between the hub and the tool adapter, the aligning receptacle having an receptacle opening for receiving the hub, wherein the aligning receptacle is adapted to guide and matingly seat the hub into the receptacle opening and thereby engage the cleaning tool to the driver such that the cleaning tool and the driver are rotationally aligned and a rotational motion of the driver is transferred to the cleaning tool by the hub.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine comprising two front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a motive source for providing motive force to at least one front wheel to drive the machine on a surface. Embodiments also include an operator platform allowing an operator to stand thereon extending at least partly around the rear wheel, for supporting an operator in a standing position with the operator's feet on either side of the rear wheel.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine comprising two front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a motive source for providing motive force to at least one front wheel to drive the machine on a surface. Embodiments also include an operator platform allowing an operator to stand thereon extending at least partly around the rear wheel, for supporting an operator in a standing position with the operator's feet on either side of the rear wheel.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine comprising a body having a forward section, a middle section and a rearward section, wherein the forward section is positioned to the front of a transverse centerline of the machine, the middle section is generally centered on the transverse centerline and a rearward section positioned to the rear of the transverse centerline. A storage chamber can be defined in the middle section and enclosed by a front wall, a rear wall, lateral walls, a generally planar top surface, and a generally planar lower surface, such that the storage chamber is generally isolated from components of the surface maintenance machine. The storage chamber can have a storage chamber bottom surface with or below a top surface of at least one battery positioned in the forward section.

Abstract: A cleaning head assembly for a surface maintenance machine comprising a cleaning tool having a tool adapter, a driver adapted to provide a generally rotational motion to the cleaning tool to clean the floor surface, the driver being releasably connected to the tool adapter of the cleaning tool by a hub, and an aligning receptacle coupled to the tool adapter of the cleaning tool and positioned between the hub and the tool adapter, the aligning receptacle having an receptacle opening for receiving the hub, wherein the aligning receptacle is adapted to guide and matingly seat the hub into the receptacle opening and thereby engage the cleaning tool to the driver such that the cleaning tool and the driver are rotationally aligned and a rotational motion of the driver is transferred to the cleaning tool by the hub.

Abstract: A gutter broom assembly for a street sweeper and method of use are disclosed. The invention relates to street sweeper having a vacuum system for moving air through a portion thereof and having a gutter broom assembly. The gutter broom assembly includes housing, a gutter broom being movable between an operational orientation and a transport orientation relative to the housing, and a skirt assembly attached to the housing. A sweeping chamber is defined within the housing and the skirt assembly which substantially encloses the gutter broom. A vacuum connection between the sweeping chamber and the vacuum system is provided for removing dust within the sweeping chamber when the gutter broom frame is in its operational orientation.

Abstract: A gutter broom assembly for a street sweeper and method of use are disclosed. The invention relates to street sweeper having a vacuum system for moving air through a portion thereof and having a gutter broom assembly. The gutter broom assembly includes housing, a gutter broom being movable between an operational orientation and a transport orientation relative to the housing, and a skirt assembly attached to the housing. A sweeping chamber is defined within the housing and the skirt assembly which substantially encloses the gutter broom. A vacuum connection between the sweeping chamber and the vacuum system is provided for removing dust within the sweeping chamber when the gutter broom frame is in its operational orientation.

Abstract: A mobile debris collection machine which has an improved filter system includes a chassis, wheels for supporting the chassis, an operator controlled debris pickup on the chassis and a debris container on the chassis. There is a vacuum system for carrying debris from the pickup to the container, with the vacuum system including a vacuum fan located above the debris container for creating an air stream that moves dust and debris from the pickup toward the container. A filter system for removing dust and debris from the airstream includes a first filter stage formed of a rotating perforated member, a second filter stage that is located downstream of the vacuum fan and includes a mesh filter bag, and a third filter stage, located downstream from the second filter stage and including a pleated panel filter.

Abstract: A vacuum trash collection vehicle includes a frame with facilities for debris collection mounted on the frame which include a debris canister. There is a cover for the canister and there is a vacuum fan in the cover. A debris collection hose is connected to the cover and is in communication with the vacuum fan whereby vacuum is applied to the hose. There is a boom for supporting the hose and a driver control for manipulating the hose for debris collection. The debris canister is pivotally mounted on the frame and there are side-by-side debris collection containers positioned within the canister. A deflector plate is mounted above the debris canister to direct debris passing from the hose and into the cover toward both of the side-by-side debris collection containers.

Abstract: An improved scrub head for a cleaning wand to be used with a floor cleaning machine. The scrub head is supplied with vacuumized air and pressurized cleaning solution through the wand from the machine. The scrub head has a nozzle for applying cleaning solution to the floor, a powered rotating tool such as a brush or a pad for scrubbing the floor, and a vacuum pickup shoe or squeegee for picking up soiled cleaning solution. The squeegee, when used, has flexible lips of a novel and improved design. The rotating tool is driven by an air turbine which takes in its air from essentially clean ambient atmosphere, and a valve selectively and automatically connects the vacuumized air to either the turbine outlet, thus causing the turbine and tool to rotate for scrubbing the floor, or to the pickup shoe or squeegee for picking up soiled cleaning solution and debris.