Walk behind cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A walk behind battery operated cleaning apparatus for scrubbing, cleaning and vacuuming surfaces such as floors and carpets, which is self propelled, includes a power base, which is driven from the rear in forward or reverse direction by rear wheels, and includes swivel wheels which are adjustable for height, which may have a detachable floating electric motor driven rear floor machine type cleaning assembly carried by and offset from the center of the power base, a detachable floating electric motor driven front floor machine type cleaning assembly carried by and offset from the center of the power base, and which has a reservoir tank for storing cleaning solution to be dispensed ahead of the cleaning assemblies.

1 . A walk behind cleaning apparatus which comprises; 
 a power base,    said power base having a frame,    front and rear wheels carried by said frame,    said rear wheels being mounted to transaxle means, which is attached to said frame,    said transaxle means including electric motor means for driving said rear wheels,    a pair of swivel wheels carried by said frame,    adjustment means to adjust the vertical height of said swivel wheels,    a steering column carried by said frame,    at least two handles carried by said steering column for controlling the direction of travel of said apparatus,    first attachment means connected to said frame,    an electric motor driven rear bonnet cleaning assembly mounted to said first attachment means,    positioning means connected to said attachment means and said rear bonnet cleaning assembly for positioning it for operation or for storage,    said rear bonnet cleaning assembly being offset from the center of said apparatus,    second attachment means extending forwardly from and connected to said frame,    an electric motor driven front bonnet cleaning assembly mounted to said second attachment means,    positioning means connected to said second attachment means and said front bonnet cleaning assembly for positioning it for operation and storage,    said front bonnet cleaning assembly being offset from the center of said apparatus opposite to said rear bonnet cleaning assembly,    pad means connected to said electric motors of said front and rear bonnet cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface,    electrical supply means carried by said frame to supply electrical energy to said electric motors,    and control means to control the electrical energy supplied to said electric motors.    
   
   
       2 . A walk behind cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which: 
 a reservoir tank is provided carried on said frame,    hose means connected to said tank,    pump means connected to said hose means, and    nozzle means connected to said hose means for delivering liquid to said floor ahead of said bonnet cleaning assemblies.    
   
   
       3 . A walk behind cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 2  in which; 
 said electrical supply means providing electrical energy to said cleaning assemblies, said drive system, and said pump means is at least one electric storage battery.    
   
   
       4 . A walk behind cleaning apparatus as defines in  claim 1  in which; 
 said cleaning assemblies include a deck,    an electric motor mounted to said deck,    a pad holder assembly connected to and driven by said motor, and wherein,    said attachment means suspend and permit said bonnet cleaning assemblies to float, or adjust left, right, forward, back, or up, to accommodate any imperfections in the surface being cleaned.    
   
   
       5 . A walk behind cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which; 
 said positioning means includes retainer assemblies carried on said frame, and    catch means on said cleaning assemblies to engage said retainer assemblies for positioning of said bonnet cleaning assemblies for operation and storage.    
   
   
       6 . A walk behind cleaning apparatus, which comprises; 
 a power base, 
 said power base having a frame,  
   front and rear wheels carried by said frame,    said rear wheels being mounted to transaxle means, which is attached to said frame,    said transaxle means including electric motor means for driving said rear wheels,    a pair of swivel wheels carried by said frame,    adjustment means to adjust the vertical height of said swivel wheels,    a steering column carried by said frame,    at least two handles carried by said steering column for controlling the direction of travel of said apparatus,    first attachment means connected to said frame,    vacuum means connected to said first attachment means, to vacuum water or debris from a surface to be cleaned.    
   
   
       7 . A walk behind cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which said electric motors are high-speed motors, and said pad means are for burnishing, or polishing a surface.