Abstract: The present invention is floor conditioning system. The floor conditioning system improves the ease of use as compared to currently available sanding or polishing devices. Thereby, allowing the unsophisticated do-it-yourselfers to use a floor conditioning system. The floor conditioning system provides a random rotating orbital action which greatly improves the ability to control a floor conditioning system as well as providing a much nicer job of conditioning a floor. The floor conditioning system includes a main housing, wheel assembly, a handle assembly, a motor, a belt cover, a belt, a dust recovery system and orbital head assemblies.

Abstract: A tool for the removal of paint and putty includes a semi-circular assembly housing including a semi-circular rigid collar. The tool also includes a disk-like abrading assembly rotatably and co-axially mounted within the semi-circular collar of the housing, the assembly including rigidly disposed abrading elements projecting both axially and radially, the assembly defining a plane of rotation. The tool further includes a motor for high speed rotation of the assembly, the motor located externally of the housing. The tool also includes bearings for establishing a fixed axial cutting depth relative to a primary work surface positioned thereagainst, in which the bearings function as a buffer between the abrading assembly and the work surface to thereby improve control and mobility of the assembly relative to the primary work surface. A platform is disposed between the assembly housing and the motor, in which the platform is preferably co-planer with the plane of rotation of the abrading assembly.

Abstract: The orbital sander of the present invention eliminates many of the disadvantages of the prior art sanders by providing a compact, lightweight, and economical sander having a body and shroud formed from an injection-molded synthetic polymeric material. The head is replaced using a built-in plunger which engages notches in the spindle, without the need for tools. The built-in plunger enables the flexible shroud of the prior art to be replaced with a rigid polymeric shroud positioned with a minimal gap between the shroud and the head or shoe. The polymeric shroud is attached to the rest of the polymeric body structure by three screws and two pins. The pins project upwardly from the polymeric shroud and into precise engagement with the polymeric body structure, thus reducing the required drilling and tapping, providing rotational stability, and increasing the strength of the connection between the two parts.

Abstract: A riding machine (10) includes a battery pack positioned as low as possible in the chassis (12) between the front and rear wheels (14, 15) and removable in a horizontal movement direction while supported by the bottom by a pallet jack. A steering system includes steering shafts (58, 76) which are rotatable together while allowing relative pivotable movement therebetween and which are rotatably connected to the spindle (38) of the steerable rear wheels (15) through a jack shaft (44). In one preferred form, the burnishing head of the machine (10) is raised and lowered relative to the floor surface by an electric actuator (104) which pivots a linkage (92) through a connection allowing floating travel. The pressure which the treating member (16) engages the floor surface is controlled in response to the current level of the electric motor (86) which rotates the treating member (16).

Abstract: A clamping assembly adjustable from a first position with a first stack height to a second position with a second stack height less than the first stack height, whereby said clamping force is substantially released, said clamping assembly comprising: a flange nut; a clamp flange connected to the flange nut; a thrust plate having a plurality of axial penetrations and rotatably mounted between the flange nut and clamp flange; a first roller cage having a plurality of penetrations; a first plurality of rolling elements rotatably mounted in the penetrations of the first roller cage; a second roller cage having a plurality of penetrations; a second plurality of rolling elements rotatably mounted in the penetrations of the second roller cage; a ring collar having rotatably mounted between the clamp flange and the flange nut and surrounding and rotationally engageable to the thrust plate, whereby rotation of the ring collar rotates the thrust plate relative to the first and second roller cages from the first positio

Abstract: A tool for the removal of paint and putty includes a semi-circular assembly housing including a semi-circular rigid collar. The tool also includes a disk-like abrading assembly rotatably and co-axially mounted within the semi-circular collar of the housing, the assembly including rigidly disposed abrading elements projecting both axially and radially, the assembly defining a plane of rotation. The tool further includes a motor for high speed rotation of the assembly, the motor located externally of the housing. The tool also includes bearings for establishing a fixed axial cutting depth relative to a primary work surface positioned thereagainst, in which the bearings function as a buffer between the abrading assembly and the work surface to thereby improve control and mobility of the assembly relative to the primary work surface. A platform is disposed between the assembly housing and the motor, in which the platform is preferably co-planer with the plane of rotation of the abrading assembly.

Abstract: A four in one tool kit device for the stripping of coatings, sanding, grinding, and wire-brushing of surfaces. A rotating assembly housing with one of four different tool accessories is mounted onto an electric powered, air powered or gasoline powered motor drive. The tool kit is also adapted with a dust and debris collection assembly to provide environmentally safe working conditions. The first tool accessory is a stripper having a cutting blade guard for guiding the cutting stripping action, a blade housing with cutting blades screwed to the rotating assembly housing. The second tool accessory has a flexible-backing pad, sanding pad, a sander spacer bushing held onto the rotating assembly housing by means of a lock nut. The third tool accessory has a grinder guard, backer shield, and grinder disc, held onto rotating assembly housing by a locking nut. The fourth tool accessory has a wire cup brush screwed onto the rotating assembly housing for wire brushing metal surfaces.

Abstract: A machine for sanding a floor for use with sandpaper having a smooth side and an abrasive side is disclosed and comprises a platform having a rearward end and a forward end, wheels mounted on the platform to support the rearward end for rolling movement, a sanding head, a motor and a handle. The sanding head defines a sanding face and is mounted on the platform for rotation about a vertical axis with the sanding face oriented normal to the vertical axis. The motor is mounted on the platform for driving said rotation. The handle is rigidly mounted to the platform, adjacent the rearward end, and extends substantially upwardly and rearwardly. An attachment means is also provided for selectively, releasably attaching said sandpaper to the sanding head, with the smooth side in underlying contactable relation to the sanding face and the abrasive side in contactable relation to the floor.

Abstract: A system and method for converting a conventional hand-held belt sander tool to a walk-behind unit. The design reduces labor for floor sanding operations while utilizing an economical sander tool. The conversion system includes dual handle elements and a variable ballast or weight system to account for differing sanding requirements. A remote operating power switch and stabilizing bars are also included in the overall system.

Abstract: A grinder support apparatus for supporting a grinder on a railroad rail. The apparatus comprises a support wheel adapted to roll on a top surface of the rail, and a frame having the support wheel connected thereto. The frame comprises a handle for a user to move the support wheel and frame along the rail and a support section for removably connecting the grinder to the frame. A grinding wheel of the grinder can contact a surface of the rail as the support wheel contacts the top surface.

Abstract: A vehicle for scraping a floor has an adjustable blade with various widths mountable thereon and is an appropriate vehicle size for moving through a standard door.

Abstract: A floor sander is disclosed that includes a drum having an outer surface formed from a number of units shaped like the frustrum of a sector, each having a first end receivable in a groove on the outer surface of an inner drum member so that, if the surface of the drum is damaged, one or more units can be replaced individually instead of replacing the entire drum or outer drum surface.

Abstract: A grinding machine comprises a frame having a rotary casing that bears rotary holders for grinding discs, as well as a drive motor which is mounted on the frame and interacts with the casing and the holders to drive the machine. The drive motor is connected by means of a continuous flexible or articulated element to the holders for driving the latter in the direction of rotation, wherein at least one of the holders is coupled to the frame by means of a gear transmission, in order to bring the casing into rotation when said holder is driven.

Abstract: A polishing head comprises a casing with abrasive segments attached thereto made to oscillate on radial shafts driven by a ring with vertical eccentric rotary motion. The ring is coupled to a first eccentric and to a crown gear is fixed to the casing while a pinion is coupled with rotational motion to a second eccentric connected to the structure of the machine. A plurality of pins are mounted on eccentric planetary gears coupled with rotational motion to the ring and to the body of the head with a further pair of crown and pinion gears provided in which the first crown gear is rigidly connected to a second pinion and rotates with it on the second eccentric. The first pinion is rigidly connected to the said first eccentric, concentrically with the axis of the head and the second crown gear is rigidly connected to the housing of the polishing head concentrically with the axis of the head.

Abstract: A trowel blade assembly for use with a rotary surfacing machine with the assembly consisting of a relatively thick, inflexible trowel blade and a relatively thin, flexible finish blade, wherein the latter is secured with respect to the former such that when in operation on a substantially horizontal working surface, with the blade assembly selectively rotated about a horizontal axis, the finish blade is continuously in contact with the working surface regardless of the consequent variable degrees of tilting of the trowel blade with respect to the working surface.

Abstract: A cleaning and restoration system 10 for floors 11 and other hard surfaces is disclosed. The system 10 has an cleaning head 12 which can be moved across a floor 11 or other hard surface. The cleaning head 12 impinges particulate media upon the floor 11 to remove soils and provide a slip-resistant surface. The media is entrained into the air by a pressure tank 17 which includes a classifier 18 for reclaiming a portion of the media for reuse. The pressure tank 17 has a series of dispersion bars 68 for separating the heavy particles to be re-used. The dust, soils, and other undesirable materials are filtered in a dust collector 57 having a cyclonic filter 71. A compressor 20, a vacuum/blower 22, and other components of the system are mounted on a truck 19. A method for utilizing the restoration system 10 is also disclosed.

Abstract: A floor treatment machine with a torque limiter assembly between a rotating drive linkage and a rotating head for treating a floor surface. The torque limiter assembly includes engaged plates that disengage upon the application of a predetermined torque created when the head slows or stops rotating because of a floor obstruction. Upon the disengagement of the plates, the drive linkage continues to rotate and is less likely to sustain damage from the effect of the floor obstruction on the rotation of the head. The plates may engage each other through a configuration of cooperating teeth and notches. Alternatively, a rotating head can be provided with a built-in torque limiter assembly. This head can be attached to various floor treatment machines. The amount of predetermined torque that causes the plates to disengage may be adjusted as needed for varied floor conditions.

Abstract: A riding burnishing machine (10) includes a battery pack positioned as low as possible in the chassis (12) between the front and rear wheels (14, 15) and removable in a horizontal movement direction while supported by the bottom by a pallet jack. A steering system includes steering shafts (58, 76) which are rotatable together while allowing relative pivotable movement therebetween and which are rotatably connected to the spindle (38) of the steerable rear wheels (15) through a jack shaft (44). The burnishing head is raised and lowered relative to the floor surface by an electric actuator (104) which pivots a linkage (92) through a connection allowing floating travel. The pressure which the treating member (16) engages the floor surface is controlled in response to the current level of the electric motor (86) which rotates the treating member (16).

Abstract: A belt sander for sanding a work piece with a sanding belt and having, a housing, a main roll mounted in the housing and a motor for rotating the main roll, an extension roll located adjacent to the main roll for extending a sanding belt from the main roll substantially parallel to a plane of the work piece, and, a control bar located between the extension roll and the main roll for controlling the sanding belt and defining a contact area for the sanding belt.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an attachment to a trowel machine. The trowel machine attachment converts the trowel machine blade to a grinding blade and allows the trowel machine to become a grinding machine in order to smooth the concrete surface. If the concrete surface has dried to such an extent that a trowel machine will not adequately smooth the concrete surface, the attachment converts the trowel blades to grinding blades and allows the concrete to be smoothed even though it has hardened. The attachment depends directly below the trowel blade and has a grinding stone which extends directly therebelow. The attachment securely attaches to the trowel blade by receiving the blade within a reservoir and additionally has an attachment clip in order to maintain the grinding blade attachment directly to the trowel blade. The attachment of the present invention allows a trowel machine to easily and quickly be converted to a grinding machine.

Abstract: A motorized finishing machine has a rotatable guard system enabling it to finish concrete surfaces next to walls, posts, conduits, or other obstacles. Deployed as a concrete trowel, the machine comprises an internal combustion motor that powers a gearbox to revolve a downwardly projecting rotor. Numerous radially spaced-apart finishing blades controlled by the rotor frictionally contact the concrete surface being treated. A protective guard, which circumscribes the rotor, is rotatably suspended by a plurality of rollers. The guard, which is shaped somewhat like a truncated cone, comprises an inner ring coaxially secured above a larger diameter, outer ring. Radially spaced apart spokes extend between the upper and lower rings and brace the guard. The bearing-equipped rollers mounted by radially, spaced-apart arms have upper and lower flanges. The inner guard ring is captivated between the rollers, and it is vertically constrained between the roller flanges.

Abstract: A blast head for abrasive blasting has a nozzle for directing a blast media at a surface being treated and a housing for containing the blast media after it passes through the nozzle and for facilitating recirculation of the blast media. An adjustment mechanism facilitates varying of the orientation of the nozzle with respect to the surface being treated, so as to facilitate enhanced blasting thereof.

Abstract: An improvement to a rotary floor edger/sander machine for eliminating the tracks caused by the castors on the back edge of the edger when working on softer floors. Castors are replaced or supplemented with a float member assembly that provides a relatively larger area of smooth surface support. The rotating disc reduces friction between the float member and the floor, facilitating the manual guidance of the machine over the floor. The float member assembly can also be configured so as to reduce the overall opening between the machine's bellhousing and the floor, increasing the effectiveness of the machine's vacuum action for picking up loosened particles of floor material.

Abstract: A floor sander having a number of interchangeable sanding head assemblies for sanding a surface such as a hardwood floor. Each of the interchangeable sanding head assemblies includes a sanding implement which may provide differing levels of sanding or other surface action. The desired sanding head assembly is attached with a main housing of the floor sander using a connect assembly attached to each of the sanding head assemblies. A plurality of locking devices mounted within each connect assembly engages an equal number of locking pins extending from the main housing to secure the sanding head assembly to the main housing. An alignment device is provided on the main housing to insure proper alignment of each sanding head assembly with both the drive motor and the surface to be sanded.

Abstract: A handheld and readily maneuverable apparatus for grinding floor surfaces and/or cutting grooves in a floor formed of a hard material such as concrete, stone or the like is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongated tube having a motor mounted at its upper end and a special rotatable abrasive head at its lower end. Rotation of the motor is coupled to the rotatable abrasive head via a flexible shaft that extends longitudinally through the elongated tube. In one form of the invention, the abrasive head includes a grinding disk that is oriented generally horizontally relative to the floor when the apparatus is in its operating orientation, and the operator can manually maneuver the apparatus so as to grind the floor surface.

Abstract: A motor is disposed above the protective covering or chassis of a movable surface treatment device. Via its vertically arranged power take-off shaft, the motor drives the horizontally extending rotor shafts, on which respectively one rotor cage is disposed on both sides of a gear housing. The rotor shafts are driven in opposite directions, so that one drum mills in the same direction and the other drum mills with opposite horizontal rotary movement. The gear housing is driven in a stepped-down manner via a two-stage transmission by a power take-off pulley disposed on the power take-off shaft. The rotor cages make two superimposed rotary movements. Thus, the treated surface no longer has a grooved appearance, the surface is treated more evenly and better, and finally, no self-driving force acts on the movable surface treatment device. Work safety is thus increased in addition to work quality.

Abstract: A moveable device for finishing surfaces, in particular curved vertical surfaces. The device includes a moveable support structure for supporting a finishing apparatus, rollers and a motor for moving the device, and a finishing apparatus.

Abstract: A rotary floor machine having a base, a pole handle, a pole structure, a handlebar, a trigger bar, and a lock-out device. The pole handle is pivotally secured to the base and is movable between a vertical position and a rear angular position. The pole structure is secured to the pole handle. The handlebar is secured to the pole structure so as to be substantially perpendicular to the pole handle. The trigger bar controls the starting and stopping of the rotary floor machine and is mounted to the handlebar so as to be movable between proximate and distal positions relative to the handlebar. The trigger bar starts the rotary floor machine when in the proximate position and stops the rotary floor machine when in the distal position. The lock-out device has an element that is movable between a blocking position and an un-blocking position in response to movement of the pole handle between the vertical position and the rear angular position.

Abstract: A cleaning and restoration system 10 for floors 11 and other hard surfaces is disclosed. The system 10 has an cleaning head 12 which can be moved across a floor 11 or other hard surface. The cleaning head 12 impinges particulate media upon the floor 11 to remove soils and provide a slip-resistant surface. The media is entrained into the air by a pressure tank 18. The media is reclaimed in a classifier 17; and the dust, soils, and other undesirable materials are filtered in a dust collector 57. A compressor 20 and a vacuum blower 22, and other components of the system are mounted on a truck 19. A method for utilizing the restoration system 10 is also disclosed.

Abstract: A blasting device for directed air with entrained blast media at a work surface includes a frame supporting a reciprocal valve, and an adjustable valve limit switch. A shaft is attached to the reciprocal valve at one end, and is supported via a bearing assembly at the other end with a blast nozzle mounted thereto. Rotation of the reciprocal valve causes rotation of the interconnected blast nozzle such that air with entrained blast media exiting the blast nozzle travels along a path beneath the frame. The frame is supported on wheels, and is moved along a work surface by an operator. A vacuum port is positioned adjacent the work surface for removing spent blast media with entrained debris from beneath the blasting device. The handle may be rotated from end to end for ease of operation to assure that the user may move the blasting device in either the forward or rearward direction along a work surface.

Abstract: A floor polishing machine (10) according to the preferred form of the teachings of the present invention includes a body portion (12) having a platform (20), and a handle (16) pivotally mounted to the platform (20). First and second sets of wheels (68, 70) are provided adjacent the rear of the platform (20) and on opposite sides of the handle pivot (50). For coupling the handle (16) and the platform (20) together, a gas spring (53) is provided having a first end pivotally connected to the platform (20) and having a second end pivotally connected to the handle (16). The gas spring (53) urges the platform to pivot about the first set of wheels (68) downwardly in the rear and upwardly in the front. The motor (24) for rotating the polishing member (14) is pivotally mounted to the platform (20) by ears (23) so that the polishing member (14) can flushly abut the floor surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for a mobile surfacing machine, preferably for the surfacing of stone floors. A frame supports a drive motor with a motor shaft. A planet disc is rotatably mounted in the fame, with three surfacing discs arranged on shafts rotatably mounted on the planet disc. The surfacing discs are in operative connection with a belt pulley arranged on the drive shaft of the motor via a drive belt running around first belt pulleys arranged on the aforementioned shafts. The shafts of the surfacing discs are so arranged, for the purpose of controlling the rotation of the planet disc, as to be in operative connection with the frame. The operative connection comprises, for example, a belt pulley attached to the frame, second belt pulleys arranged on the shafts of the surfacing discs, and a second belt running around these and the belt pulley attached to the frame.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a floor sander comprising a frame on wheels, a chassis carried by the frame, and a motor-driven sanding head mounted on the chassis generally adjacent the front of the chassis for rotation about an axis extending in side-to-side direction with respect to the chassis. The chassis is mounted on a pivot shaft extending in side-to-side direction with respect to the frame so that the sanding head can be raised and lowered relative to a surface to be sanded. The pivot shaft has first and second bearing assemblies at its ends. A first side of the chassis is movable up and down relative to the first bearing assembly, and a second side of the chassis is secured against up and down movement relative to the second bearing assembly. A guide system is provided for controlling the up and down movement of the first side of the chassis relative to the first bearing assembly so that the movement is in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A sanding head for a rotary sanding machine. The sanding head includes a rotatable disk and a plurality of abraders. The disk has a bottom surface and an outer circumferential edge. The bottom surface of the disk has uniformly distributed topographical variations that extend radially inwardly from the outer edge of the disk. A plurality of conformly distributed abraders project from the bottom surface of the disk to contact the surface to be sanded.

Abstract: There are disclosed, in combination, a resiliently compressive, porous rotary buffing pad and a pad holder adapted for use in floor polishing machines. The pad holder is of one piece construction and is formed about its perimeter and toward its center with areas which compress the pad to increase friction with a floor during polishing while reducing overall energy requirements. Immediately adjacent to each such compression area the pad holder defines an area which does not contact the pad and which promotes filtering and storage of particulates. This combination, with adjacent integrally connected compression, non-compression areas promotes efficient polishing with reduced energy resulting from the use of discreet compression areas; and dust or particulate absorption and storage within the non-compression areas.

Abstract: A belt sander is constructed of a housing with a base, cylindrical drums disposed parallel to each other at opposite ends of the base and a foot pad positioned between the cylindrical drums whereby the area of the sanding surface of a sanding belt bearing against the foot pad during rotation of the sanding belt defines a sanding footprint. The improvement comprises a structural element secured to the foot pad for extending the sanding foot print beyond the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle having a length, a front end and a substantially opposing rear end useful for propelling an implement pivotably coupled thereto at or near the front end. The vehicle comprises two driven wheels located at or near the rear end and positioned to rotate in a direction generally parallel to the length of the vehicle; a power system acting to provide power to rotate the two driven wheels; at least one non-steered wheel located at or near the front end, the non-steered wheel being rotatable about an axis which axis is at least partially rotatable; and a seat acting to provide a location at which a human being can sit on the vehicle and control the vehicle. The vehicle is sized so that the human being sitting in the seat is capable of directly steering the pivotably coupled implement.