Abstract: The gutter debris-grinding device attaches to a rain gutter directly above a downspout. A float switch attached to a float in the gutter senses when water is collecting in the gutter instead of draining through the downspout. The float switch may trigger a grinder motor to turn on, causing rotation of a grinder blade at the end of a grinder shaft located above the downspout. The float switch may also trigger an elevation motor to lower the grinder motor by rotating a leadscrew, causing the grinder blade to cut and/or break debris that may be blocking the entrance to the downspout. Upon sensing that the water level has gone down, or after a predetermined time interval, the grinder motor may be raised and the grinder blade may be stopped.

Abstract: A roadway or pavement sweeper with multiple sweeping modes for the removal of debris from a swept surface may, in some embodiments, include a sweeper vehicle having a pair of side-brooms independently movable between a retracted and extended position for sweeping debris into an area therebetween and at least one material-transfer broom to sweep a portion of the debris accumulated between the side-brooms as the vehicle moves in its direction of travel. A fan-driven suction-inlet may be provided at or adjacent each side of the vehicle. The at least one material-transfer broom may rotate in a first or other direction to transfer debris for entrainment into a selected suction-inlet for transfer to a debris hopper. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A vehicular sweeping machine includes a frame and a broom assembly that is mounted to the frame. The broom assembly includes a broom enclosure and a broom having a generally cylindrical tube with attached bristles that is mounted in the broom enclosure and adapted to rotate about a generally horizontal axis. The broom assembly also includes a material presentation system that is adapted to move material on the roadway into contact with the broom in the form of a windrow that is located generally in front of the center of the broom assembly. The sweeping machine also includes a broom conveyor having a lower end that is disposed within the broom enclosure.

Abstract: The road milling machine according to the invention comprises a cleaning device which has a cleaning unit arranged in front of the work roller in the working direction. The cleaning unit ensures that the surface of the terrain over which the wheels or running gears travel is clear of material. As a result, an optimum milling result is always achieved. The invention takes effect in particular when using small millers which have at least one rear wheel or running gear which can be moved into an inner working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame and into an outer working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame. In this preferred embodiment, the cleaning device comprises a pivot device which is designed in such a way that the cleaning unit can be moved into an inner working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame and into an outer working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame.

Abstract: A lift device is provided which allows a surface-contacting feature to articulate. The device raises and lowers a squeegee regardless of its lateral location. An actuator arm is provided on one end of a pivot arm channel such that when the actuator arm fully extends it disengages from the one end of the pivot arm channel. An actuator cable remains in tension such that it may be raised or lowered regardless of whether the surface-contacting feature's lateral position.

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.

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.

Abstract: An exchangeable sweeping brush device for a carrier vehicle is provided. The device has at least one sweeping brush which is rotationally drivable about an almost vertically oriented axis of rotation of the brush and is held on a supporting frame, the supporting frame being detachably connectable to a supporting fork of the carrier vehicle, which is pivotable about a first horizontal pivot axis oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The supporting frame comprises a first supporting assembly on which the at least one sweeping brush is rotatably mounted, and a second supporting assembly which is detachably connectable to the supporting fork, the first supporting assembly being connected to the second supporting assembly for pivotal movement about a second horizontal pivot axis and being detachably connectable to the carrier vehicle by at least one tension member. A sweeper having such a sweeping brush device is also proposed.

Abstract: A side brush assembly mechanism for a floor surface maintenance vehicle including a linkage assembly supporting a brush deck, a pivot assembly and a cable connected to the linkage assembly, and a cable tensioning device for retracting the cable. The cable tensioning device is capable of lifting and retracting the brush deck. The side brush assembly mechanism may include a biasing mechanism for lowering and extending the brush deck.

Abstract: A sweeping vehicle is provided including a disc brush and a holding device for the disc brush, the holding device having a holding part and a holding arm pivotably connected to the holding part, the holding device held on the vehicle by the holding part, and the disc brush held on the holding arm. The vehicle includes an adjusting device having an adjustment member of variable length engaging the holding arm, the holding arm being pivotable relative to the holding part upon change in length of the adjustment member. The holding device includes a brush carrier pivotably mounted on the holding arm and a coupling device coupling the brush carrier to the adjusting device, the brush carrier being pivotable relative to the holding arm upon change in length of the adjustment member for pivoting the disc brush about a pivot axis aligned at a slant to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A rotating brush assembly for a street sweeper utilizes a hub to connect a hydraulic pump to a rotatable brush plate. A collar on the hub extends upwardly from a base flange and a tapered bore extends through the collar and the base flange and receives a mating tapered portion of a rotatable shaft of the pump. A downwardly extending rim on the bottom of the base flange locates the hub relative to a central aperture in the brush plate. The bottom of the base flange includes a recess which extends upwardly from the rim. The tapered bore communicates with the recess. The recess receives a threaded bottom portion of the rotatable shaft of the pump and a nut which is disposed on the threaded portion of the pump shaft.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to debris collection devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a debris collection vehicle utilizing a side broom having memory recall functionality.

Abstract: An electrically driven single-drive-axis vehicle with a platform for a driver, driven about a common wheel axis, which provides the single-drive-axis to improve its handling and its range of uses. The vehicle includes at least one attachment, the attachment being connected to the single-axle vehicle pivotably about at least one first attachment axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning tool for a cleaning device, the cleaning tool being subject to wear during operation. In order to make it easier to identify wear, the invention proposes that the cleaning tool comprise a sensor device with a sensor element which has a physical characteristic variable which changes as a function of the degree of wear of the cleaning tool. The invention also proposes a cleaning device having such a cleaning tool, the cleaning device having a detector device which is coupled to the sensor device for the purpose of sensing the change in the physical characteristic variable of the sensor element, and having an indicator device which is connected to the detector device.

Abstract: An apparatus for material handling that is connected to a prime mover and preferably located forward of the mover, includes a plurality of rotary brushes with each of the rotary brushes being independently suspended and having their axes substantially normal to a surface and rotating in the same direction. The rotary brushes, when moving along the surface, tend to cause any material on the surface to be moved from one brush to another brush until the material on the surface is delivered to one side of the apparatus.

Abstract: Side brushes adapted to be mounted on a sweeping machine and operative as a brush about a rotation axis are disclose herein. The side brushes include a base element and a bristle segment. According to one embodiment, the base element has at least one outer edge and an elongate channel extending inwardly from a respective outer edge. The bristle segment has a plurality of bristles and a frame member. The frame member has a configuration complementary to a configuration of the elongate channel such that interaction between the frame member and the base element adjacent the elongate channel couples the bristle segment to the base element. Each bristle has a top end, and all of the bristle top ends are fused together to define the frame member.

Abstract: A low-profile sweeper that employs rotary brushes. The low-profile sweeper is especially suited for low overhead clearance applications, as typically found in nut harvesting. The low-profile sweeper has an armature for locating one or more brushes in an array, or attached to a conventional agricultural sweeper. The armature attaches to a chassis or frame of a steerable drive. When used in a parallel oriented array, the brushes rotate in the same, common direction and in substantially the same, common plane of rotation, slightly skewed to avoid contact between the brushes. The bristles of the radial brushes are emanate fro a central hub and are approximately parallel to the plane of rotation. A fan can be utilized to aid the pick-up action of the brushes. The fan is preferably mounted to direct an airstream to the area to be swept. Also, a spray-bar can be attached to the armature or alternatively to the chassis, to aid in dust abatement.

Abstract: A compact sweeping vehicle has steerable front wheels of variable track with a minimum track dimension for sweeping and a maximum track dimension for travel to and from the workplace. The front wheels are steerable and independently driven by hydraulic motors and are each supported on extendable parts of a telescopic axle beam which is supported on trailing arms supported by ball joints from the chassis of the vehicle. The extendable parts are extended and retracted by track change cylinders and steering is by a hydraulic cylinder extending between the axle beam and a steering arm of a bell crank lever for one of the wheels, which is connected by a forwardly extending drag link to a bell crank forming part of a steering relay mechanism which is connected by a cross link to a second bell crank lever, one arm of which is connected to a rearwardly extending drag link to a steering arm of the other wheel.

Abstract: The invention relates a protective structure for brushes of sweeping machines (30) having a frame (31) and at least one cup-shaped brush (20) supported protruding from the frame (31), said structure (1) comprising a flexible membrane (2), positioned near the cup-shaped brush (20) and suitable to prevent the diffusion of dust in the environment, and a supporting system (3) for the flexible membrane (2), the supporting system (3) being movably connected to the sweeping machine and comprising a movable portion (6) which shapes the flexible membrane (2) and elastically deforms near the frame (31) counter to elastic means (9).

Abstract: A plate for a brush apparatus for a street sweeper has an alignment hole which is used to align a brush segment for securing the brush segment to the plate. A clamp assembly moves downwardly to allow a used brush segment to be removed and moves upwardly to secure a brush segment to the plate. Rotation of a bolt, the head of which is on the top of the plate, moves the clamp assembly upwardly and downwardly. An alignment hole in the brush segment is aligned with the alignment hole in the plate. A pin on the clamp assembly extends into the alignment hole in the brush segment. Shelf elements on the bottom of the plate help hold brush segments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile floor-cleaning machine having a rotationally drivable, disk-like cleaning tool which is detachably held on a tool holder, the tool holder being connected to a drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. In order to develop the floor-cleaning machine in such a way that the cleaning tool can be easily replaced, the invention proposes that said cleaning tool is adapted to be detachably latched to the tool holder and to be disconnected from the tool holder in the axial direction by means of an unlatching mechanism which is adapted to be operated by the user.

Abstract: A mechanical sweeper is disclosed. The mechanical sweeper includes a front housing and a rotating brush secured to the front housing having tangentially extending bristles adapted to engage a surface at an oblique angle. The mechanical sweeper further includes a frame secured to a lower portion of the front housing and a height adjustment column rising from the rear of the frame. The mechanical sweeper still further includes dirt receptacle removably positional on an upper surface of the frame. The front housing and column serve to orient the dirt receptacle in a position relative to the frame.

Abstract: A surface maintenance apparatus is described, having a sweeping system positioned near the front or leading edge of the apparatus. The sweeping system includes a plurality of brushes and a removable hopper for collecting debris. The sweeping system is capable of being raised off the surface being maintained when the sweeping system encounters an obstacle or irregularity on the surface. The brushes are pivotally mounted to the surface maintenance apparatus to allow the brushes to be rotated away from each other, providing access to the removable hopper from the front end of the surface maintenance apparatus.

Abstract: A side brush, which is adapted to be mounted on the body of a sweeping machine, for use as a brush rotatable about a rotation axis, and which includes a base and a plurality of individual bristle segments detachably mountable thereto, having bristles included therein integrated for a solid unit with a frame member joining the same. The base includes a substantially planar disc assembly which is provided integrally with a coupling system for coupling the bristle segments therewith on a snap fit principle. The coupling system includes elongated channels disposed in the base in a substantially radial direction and extending through the base, opening all the way to the edge thereof, which enable coupling the bristle segments immovably to the engagement with the body of a sweeping machine by means of the base with fasteners interconnecting the same.

Abstract: A lint removal system includes a housing that has a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. Each of the front and back walls has an elongated opening therein. The openings are aligned. A clothes moving apparatus is positioned in the housing and is adapted for moving clothes into the opening in the front wall and outwardly of the opening in the back wall. A plurality of motors is mechanically coupled to the moving apparatus for selectively actuating the moving apparatus. A pair of lint rollers is rotatably mounted in the housing and is positioned adjacent to the back wall. The lint rollers are positioned above and below the opening in the back wall.

Abstract: An industrial brush to remove material, of the type known as bowl headed, consisting of a rotating tool which is connected by means of an upper nut (3) to pins or bolts protruding from portable machines . This brush has a bowl shaped head (2) connected o the said nut (3) and a set of metal wire s or bristles (8) that come from the interior of the bowl shaped head and extend to form a hollow tubular space, either cylindrical or trunco-conical, which open out as a form of barrier when the brush rotates.

Abstract: A hand-operated sweeping machine having two circular brooms mounted in the front area, a motor drive which rotates the circular brooms, a drive mechanism which transfers a driving force derived from the forward motion of the sweeping machine to drive the circular brooms when the motor drive is not operating, and an interrupting mechanism which automatically interrupts a connection between the motor drive and the driving mechanism when the motor drive can rotate the circular brooms faster than the driving mechanism. When the motor drive of the sweeping machine is inoperative, as when there is no electricity available to operate an electric motor drive, the sweeping machine may be operated by the driving mechanism driving the circular brooms. The interrupting mechanism automatically prevents the motor drive when operating from transferring driving force to the driving mechanism and thereby undesirably driving forward motion of the sweeping machine.

Abstract: A vacuum sweeper is cantilevered to a hinged bracket mounted to the front of a conventional automatic floor scrubber. The sweeper includes a vacuum head, an overlying debris ramp, and two vertically rotating, conical brushes having their base ends in contact with the floor. The base end of the conical brushes sweep a path at the edge of the vacuum sweeper in excess of the width of the scrubber. The entire vacuum sweeper apparatus is mounted for vertical excursion relative to the cantilevered mount to the hinge bracket to enable up and down excursion of the sweeper and vacuum responsive to either scrubber motion or inevitable floor irregularities encountered during floor scrubbing. Where vacuuming is not required in advance of scrubbing, such as during double scrubbing or floor stripping cycles, provision is made to hinge the vacuum sweeper upwardly away from floor engagement. A ramp is used in conjunction with the vacuum for collecting large debris.

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 sweeping machine of the type having two rotating brushes which in operation sweep material into a sweeping lip assembly is provided. In order to prevent damages to the sweeping lip, the forward area which in use contacts the ground during sweeping operations is configured upwardly elasticly deformable by weakening slots provided in reinforcement structure thereof and/or by different elastic characteristics of molded plastic material forming the sweeping lip.

Abstract: A mobile litter pickup vehicle has a pair of forward corner brushes independently mounted on articulated arms so that the brushes may be moved in the event an obstacle is encountered to avoid damage to the brushes or to the object. An air recirculating system is employed for prolonging the life of the final outlet filter, and an impermeable trash bag may be used for disposing of the contents of a primary scrim collection bag.

Abstract: Curb Brush is an implement for displacing debris from the top and bottom of rounded curbs with a steel scraper cut to the shape of the curb to remove large debris; a gutter broom mounted behind the steel scraper spinning counter clockwise to displace debris from the top of the curb onto the edge of the street; a second gutter broom mounted behind the first and offset from the curb to displace debris from the bottom of the curb onto the edge of the street. A preferred embodiment includes a water tank with two water nozzles mounted in front of each gutter broom to lower amount of airborne dust. A safe embodiment includes rubber shields mounted at front and along side of implement and a carpenter mesh shield above gutter brooms to stop any loose or dangerous debris. A preferred embodiment includes wherein said steel scraper, gutter brooms, and universal backing plate are welded to steel tubing frame for use with a skid steer.

Abstract: A street sweeper for cleaning municipal streets and commercial parking lots uses a single engine with a modified torque converter on the automatic transmission. The torque converter is designed to lock up or engage higher than on a standard torque converter. This increases the horsepower and torque output of the engine for driving the sweeping apparatus without propelling the vehicle at speeds too high for the sweeping function. As engine rotational speeds increase further, the modified torque converter engages fully and drives the vehicle at desired road speeds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surface-cleaning device (61, 63) which has a base part (69) and a cleaning part (67) having a substantially flat contact surface (71) for contact with a surface (41) to be cleaned and which is rotatable relative to the base part about an axis of rotation (77) extending substantially perpendicularly to the contact surface. According to the invention, the cleaning part is pivotable relative to the base part about a pivot axis (105) which extends transversely to the axis of rotation, and the base part is so constructed that a component (93) is present and exerts a pre-tension force, preferably a pre-tension torque (Mp) on the cleaning part about said pivot axis.

Abstract: A device for picking-up small-sized litter from floor and other surfaces is generally disclosed comprising a remote-controlled electric motor with power supply (3) located inside a case (1) standing on supporting wheels (2), and attached rolling litter collector (5) with sticky, bristly, magnetic, or any other surface capable of collecting small-sized litter.

Abstract: A surface maintenance apparatus is described, having a sweeping system positioned near the front or leading edge of the apparatus. The sweeping system includes a plurality of brushes and a removable hopper for collecting debris. The sweeping system is capable of being raised off the surface being maintained when the sweeping system encounters an obstacle or irregularity on the surface. The brushes are pivotally mounted to the surface maintenance apparatus to allow the brushes to be rotated away from each other, providing access to the removable hopper from the front end of the surface maintenance apparatus.

Abstract: A suspension device for coupling a surface maintenance appliance to a surface maintenance machine is disclosed. The suspension device includes a carriage member movably supported upon the maintenance machine through a plurality of linkages coupled to the carriage member. Together the plurality of linkages permit the carriage and surface maintenance appliance to follow undulations in the floor surface during operation of the surface maintenance machine. An actuator engages a lost motion device to lift the carriage member away from the ground surface. A variety of different floor surface maintenance appliances may be coupled to surface maintenance vehicles according to aspects of the present invention.

Abstract: A mobile litter pickup vehicle has a pair of forward corner brushes independently mounted on articulated arms so that the brushes may be moved in the event an obstacle is encountered to avoid damage to the brushes or to the object. An air recirculating system is employed for prolonging the life of the final outlet filter, and an impermeable trash bag may be used for disposing of the contents of a primary scrim collection bag.

Abstract: An improved brush assembly for mounting on horizontally rotating brushes on street sweeping machines. A circular disk carries brush holders holding bristles in the desired configuration. The brush holders are clamped to the disk by a clamp having a clamp bar that engages the brush holder and is maintained parallel to the brush holder with an offset support. A bolt and nut combination between the brush holder and disk presses the clamp bar firmly against the brush holder to hold it in place. Alignment holes in the brush holder cooperate with pins on the clamp bar to maintain the brush holder in the proper position. Holes through the brush holder have transverse walls so that U-shaped bristles can be extended through the holes with legs of the U-shape on opposite sides of the transverse walls. The brush holder can be configured with a reinforced strip area for extra strength and a pair of reinforced tabs to provide further strength to resist cracking and fatigue failure during use.

Abstract: A surface working apparatus includes a surface working head arrangement having a frame member and a plurality of surface working members arranged to depend therefrom in the direction of the surface to be worked, each of the plurality of surface working members being mounted resiliently relative to the frame member by one of a plurality of respective resilient mounting arrangements having a resilient member; and a surface working device with a support plate from which a surface working element is to depend from a lower surface thereof, the support plate includes an upper surface which has a central region with a recess provided for the receipt of a drive member for rotating the device, the recess including a formation for receiving a resilient member for engagement by the drive member.

Abstract: A utility type surface cleaning vehicle comprising a unitary frame utility type tractor defining a longitudinal axis and having left and right driven rear wheels and at least one steerable front wheel and a trailer connecting mechanism. A debris hopper is removably connectable to the utility type tractor via the trailer connecting mechanism. A surface cleaning apparatus is operatively connectable to the utility type tractor and connected in debris depositing relation via a debris transfer means to the debris hopper. At least one gutter broom is included, with each gutter broom being mounted on the utility type tractor for rotation about a respective substantially vertical gutter broom axis disposed rearwardly of the foremost portion of said at least one steerable front wheel and disposed forwardly of said left and right driven rear wheels.

Abstract: A sweeping machine of the type having two rotating brushes which in operation sweep material into a sweeping lip assembly is provided. In order to prevent damages to the sweeping lip, the forward area which in use contacts the ground during sweeping operations is configured upwardly elasticly deformable by weakening slots provided in reinforcement structure thereof and/or by different elastic characteristics of molded plastic material forming the sweeping lip.

Abstract: A floor care machine such as a burnisher may operate in a manual or automatic mode for controlling the operating pressure of the working unit, such as a brush or pad. The illustrated machine has a motor and pad driver assembly mounted for height adjustment by an actuator. In the automatic mode, a transducer senses motor current (i.e., load) and generates a signal representative of the actual operating pressure exerted by the pad on the floor. A microprocessor-based controller controls the actuator to adjust the height of the pad relative to the floor, and thus adjusts the pad pressure on the floor, according to a setting selected by the operator. The controller is programmed to reduce the effect of "hunting" by entering a Lock Mode after operation has achieved predetermined conditions. System operation remains in the Lock Mode as long as other criteria are met, and operation returns to a Hunt Mode if these other criteria are not met.

Abstract: A floor scrubber (10) is disclosed including a drive lug (62) for removably connecting a scrubbing member (64) to a drive (60) and having a trough for receipt and catching of solution for passage to the surface. The mount (58) for the drive (60) is biased by a spring (67) to pivot relative to a linkage plate (46) in turn pivotably mounted to the chassis (12) at an acute angle to the forward movement direction. The vacuum assembly (92) is sandwiched in a socket (100) formed in the bottom wall of a recovery tank (90) by a mount (106) to deaden the sound generated thereby and to allow air communication inside of the socket (100) but generally preventing entry of solution therein. The squeegee assembly (152) is biased by a gas spring (150) to engage the surface at a constant force independent of the pivotal position of the squeegee mount (148).

Abstract: An improved brush assembly for horizontally rotating brushes on street sweeping machines. A circular disk carries brush holders for holding bristles in the desired configuration. The brush holders are clamped to the disk by a clamp having a clamp bar that engages the brush holder and is maintained parallel to the brush holder with an offset support. A bolt between the brush holder and offset support presses the clamp bar firmly against the brush holder to hold it in place. Alignment holes in the brush holder cooperate with pins on the clamp bar to maintain the brush holder in the proper position. Holes through the brush holder have transverse walls so that U-shaped bristles can be extended through the holes with legs of the U-shape on opposite sides of the transverse walls. Preferably, the holes position the bristles outwardly of the disk at about 62.degree. to the disk.

Abstract: A gutter broom (8) for a pavement sweeper is defined by an annular brush disc (24) having a central opening and from which a series of equi-spaced conventional bristle blocks (11) are removably secured. A downwardly depending air foil (18) is secured to the underside of the annular brush disc (24) between each bristle block (11). A series of equi-spaced radially aligned fan blades (17) are secured to the opposite side of the annular brush disc (24) and function to define a radial flow fan. A stationary fan scroll (20) is formed over and contains the radial flow fan and includes an air flow outlet (23). When the gutter broom (8) is rotated, the air foils (18) function to draw ambient air and any entrained dust/debris into the brush structure with the resultant air streams directed to the radial fan structure, which, in turn, directs the dust/debris laden air stream to the outlet (23).

Abstract: Rotary brush apparatus usable in the environment of a street sweeper includes a generally circular plate to which are secured brush segments. The brush segments are secured to the plate by pins and lock plates movable vertically upwardly in response to rotation of a bolt. The use of the pin and bolt elements allow for the quick change of the brush segments. The lock plates move vertically upwardly and downwardly and are locked in place to keep from rotating by guide elements used for alignment purposes. Apertures in the plate allow for the visual alignment of the brush segments. Pins extend through apertures in the brush segments. The pins may be secured to the lock plates or may be free pins insertable through both the brush segments and apertures in the lock plates.

Abstract: A combined floor scrubbing/floor burnishing apparatus comprises a machine frame (16) supporting a motor-driven surface-working head arrangement (27), a device (10) for selectively varying the pressure exerted by the head arrangement on the surface, and a unit means (40) for selectively varying the speed at which the head arrangement is driven by the motor so that the higher operational speeds required of the surface-working head arrangement can be readily achieved at the reburied lower application pressures and vice versa.

Abstract: A running and working robot for performing a prescribed work while it runs includes a body with a running unit, and a working unit for working, and the body is coupled to the working unit by means of a coupling member with a buffer member. As a result, even when an excessive force or shock is given to the coupling portion between the working unit and the body, damage to the coupling portion can be prevented.

Abstract: A floor cleaning machine of the type having a fluid driven scrub brush utilizes fluid pressure for applying down force on the scrub brush to a floor surface being cleaned. The fluid pressure applied is controlled by a fluid pressure regulator which has a movable valve element and an electrical coil for controlling the position of the movable valve element. There is a feedback circuit for controlling current through the coil which includes a source of power and a pulse width modulation switching device. The switching device in turn is controlled by a comparison between the current sensed in the coil circuit and an operator set value for the desired current to provide a desired down force on the cleaning brush.