Articulated floor scrubber

Abstract

A rear-operated, articulated floor scrubber ( 24 ) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the scrubber ( 24 ) comprises a front portion ( 28 ), a rear portion ( 28 ) that is pivotally connected to the front portion ( 26 ), and an operator interface ( 38 ) associated with the rear portion ( 28 ). The scrubber ( 24 ) further comprises a solution tank ( 40 ) for hold cleaning solution and a recovery tank ( 42 ) for holding cleaning solution and entrained debris that is picked up from the floor after the floor has been scrubbed. In one embodiment, a portion ( 26, 28 ) of one of the tanks ( 40, 42 ) overlies a portion ( 26, 28 ) of the other tank ( 40, 42 ).

1 . An articulated floor scrubber comprising: 
 a front portion comprising a first pair of wheels and a scrub head;    a rear portion comprising a second pair of wheels and a vacuum squeegee;    a pivot mechanism for pivotally connecting said front portion and said rear portion, wherein said pivot mechanism has a vertical pivot axis;    a solution tank for holding a cleaning fluid and providing cleaning fluid for application to a floor;    a recovery tank for holding cleaning fluid and debris that is received from said vacuum squeegee;    a steering system that allows an operator to cause relative rotational movement between said front portion and said rear portion;    a motor system for driving one of said first and second pairs of wheels;    wherein said solution tank is associated with one of said front portion and said rear portion, and said recovery tank is associated with the other of said front portion and said rear portion; and    said vertical pivot axis passes through both of said solution tank and said recovery tank.    
   
   
       2 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said solution tank comprises a first solution tank portion and a second solution tank portion;    said recovery tank comprises a first recovery tank portion and a second recovery tank portion;    wherein said first solution tank portion and said first recovery tank portion overlap.    
   
   
       3 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said second solution tank portion and said second recovery tank portion do not overlap.    
   
   
       4 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said vertical pivot axis extends through said first solution tank portion and said first recovery tank portion.    
   
   
       5 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said solution tank comprises a curved surface with a center of curvature that is coincident with said vertical pivot axis.    
   
   
       6 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said recovery tank comprises a curved surface with a center of curvature that is coincident with said vertical pivot axis.    
   
   
       7 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said solution tank comprises a first curved surface and a second curved surface that is separated from said first curved surface;    wherein said first and second curved surfaces each have a center of curvature that is coincident with said vertical pivot axis.    
   
   
       8 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said recovery tank comprises a first curved surface and a second curved surface that is separated from said first curved surface;    wherein said first and second curved surfaces each have a center of curvature that is coincident with said vertical pivot axis.    
   
   
       9 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said steering system comprises a steering interface device that is associated with said rear portion.    
   
   
       10 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said steering system comprises a steering wheel and a steering wheel axle that lies within a substantially horizontal plane.    
   
   
       11 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said steering system comprises a steering linkage that does not comprise a dual groove pulley.    
   
   
       12 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said motor system comprises an electric motor and a power supply.    
   
   
       13 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said electric motor is associated with said front portion.    
   
   
       14 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said power supply is associated with said front portion.    
   
   
       15 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said electric motor is associated with said front portion; and    said power supply is associated with said front portion.    
   
   
       16 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said solution tank has a first curved surface with a first center of curvature;    said recovery tank has second curved surface with a second center of curvature;    wherein said first and second centers of curvature are coincident with said vertical pivot axis.    
   
   
       17 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said solution tank has a first and second curved surfaces, each with a first center of curvature;    said recovery tank has third and fourth curved surfaces, each with a second center of curvature;    wherein said first and second centers of curvature are coincident with said vertical pivot axis.    
   
   
       18 . An articulated floor scrubber comprising: 
 a front portion comprising a first pair of wheels and a scrub head;    a rear portion comprising a second pair of wheels and a vacuum squeegee;    a pivot mechanism for pivotally connecting said front portion and said rear portion, wherein said pivot mechanism has a vertical pivot axis;    a solution tank for holding a cleaning fluid and providing cleaning fluid for application to a floor;    a recovery tank for holding cleaning fluid and debris that is received from said vacuum squeegee;    a steering system that allows an operator to cause relative rotational movement between said front portion and said rear portion;    a motor system for driving one of said first and second pairs of wheels;    wherein said solution tank is associated with one of said front portion and said rear portion, and said recovery tank is associated with the other of said front portion and said rear portion;    wherein said solution tank has a first curved surface with a first center of curvature;    wherein said recovery tank has second curved surface with a second center of curvature;    wherein said first and second centers of curvature are coincident with said vertical pivot axis.    
   
   
       19 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said vertical pivot axis passes through one of said solution tank and said recovery tank.    
   
   
       20 . An articulated floor scrubber, as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said vertical pivot axis passes through both of said solution tank and said recovery tank.