Suspension for a surface maintenance appliance

Abstract

An improved suspension system for coupling a surface maintenance tool or appliance to a surface maintenance machine is disclosed. In preferred embodiment, the suspension system includes a 4 bar linkage which permits the surface maintenance tool to be raised and lowered relative to the surface maintenance machine into selective contact with the floor surface, a spring assembly transferring spring force to the surface maintenance tool, and a selectively controllable actuator connected to the spring assembly for controlling a level of the spring force so that a controlled level of surface maintenance tool work is performed upon the floor surface.

1 . A surface maintenance machine for operation upon a floor surface, said surface maintenance machine comprising: 
 a surface maintenance tool coupled to the machine through a plurality of linkages which permit the surface maintenance tool to be raised and lowered relative to the surface maintenance machine into selective contact with the floor surface;    a spring assembly including at least one adjustable spring, said spring assembly being coupled to the surface maintenance tool so that a spring force is transferred to the surface maintenance tool; and    a selectively controllable actuator coupled to the spring assembly, said actuator controlling a level of the spring force so that a controlled level of surface maintenance tool work is performed upon the floor surface.    
     
     
         2 . The surface maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linkages comprises a four bar linkage device.  
     
     
         3 . The surface maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the spring assembly is coupled to at least one of the plurality of linkages.  
     
     
         4 . The surface maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the spring assembly includes a spring retained within a spring housing.  
     
     
         5 . The surface maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is connected to the spring housing.  
     
     
         6 . The surface maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is an electric actuator.  
     
     
         7 . The surface maintenance machine of  claim 6 , wherein the actuator is an electric linear actuator.  
     
     
         8 . The surface maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic actuator.  
     
     
         9 . The surface maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the spring assembly is coupled to the surface maintenance machine in a generally parallel orientation relative to the ground surface.  
     
     
         10 . The surface maintenance machine of  claim 9 , wherein the spring assembly is generally elongated and is coupled to the surface maintenance machine so that an elongated dimension of the spring assembly is aligned generally in a direction of machine motion.  
     
     
         11 . The surface maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the spring force transferred to the surface maintenance tool tends to lift the surface maintenance tool away from the floor surface.  
     
     
         12 . A suspension device for coupling a surface maintenance appliance to a surface maintenance machine, said suspension device comprising: 
 a plurality of linkages coupled between the surface maintenance device and the surface maintenance machine, said plurality of linkages permitting the surface maintenance device to be selectively transitioned relative to the surface maintenance machine between a plurality of positions;    a spring assembly having at least one spring, said spring assembly transferring a spring force to at least one of the plurality of linkages and the surface maintenance device; and    a controllable spring actuator in engagement with the spring assembly for selectively controlling the spring force being transferred to the surface maintenance device during operation.    
     
     
         13 . The suspension device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of linkages comprises a four bar linkage device.  
     
     
         14 . The suspension device of  claim 12 , wherein the spring assembly is coupled to at least one of the plurality of linkages.  
     
     
         15 . The suspension device of  claim 12 , wherein the spring assembly includes a spring retained within a spring housing.  
     
     
         16 . The suspension device machine of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator is connected to the spring housing.  
     
     
         17 . The suspension device of  claim 12 , wherein the spring assembly is coupled to the surface maintenance machine in a generally parallel orientation relative to the ground surface.  
     
     
         18 . The suspension device of  claim 17 , wherein the spring assembly is generally elongated and is coupled to the surface maintenance machine so that an elongated dimension of the spring assembly is aligned generally in a direction of machine motion.  
     
     
         19 . The suspension device of  claim 12 , wherein the spring force transferred to the surface maintenance tool tends to lift the surface maintenance tool away from the floor surface.  
     
     
         20 . The suspension device of  claim 12 , wherein one of the plurality of positions of the surface maintenance device relative to the surface maintenance machine is a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to a normal operational position.  
     
     
         21 . A vehicle for burnishing a floor surface, said vehicle being transportable across the floor surface during a burnishing operation, said vehicle comprising: 
 a burnishing head including a motor driven burnishing pad;    a plurality of linkages coupled between the burnishing head and the vehicle, said plurality of linkages permitting the burnishing head to be selectively transitioned relative to the vehicle between a plurality of positions;    a spring assembly having at least one spring, said spring assembly transferring a spring force to the burnishing head; and    a controllable spring actuator in engagement with the spring assembly for selectively controlling a burnishing force being transferred to the surface during operation.    
     
     
         22 . The suspension device of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of linkages comprises a four bar linkage device.  
     
     
         23 . The suspension device of  claim 21 , wherein the spring assembly is coupled to at least one of the plurality of linkages.  
     
     
         24 . The vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the spring assembly is coupled to the vehicle in a generally parallel orientation relative to the ground surface.  
     
     
         25 . The vehicle of  claim 24 , wherein the spring assembly is generally elongated and is coupled to the vehicle so that an elongated dimension of the spring assembly is aligned generally in a direction of vehicle motion.  
     
     
         26 . The vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the spring force tends to lift the surface burnishing head away from the floor surface.  
     
     
         27 . The vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein one of the plurality of positions of the burnishing head relative to the vehicle is a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to a normal operational position.