Chemical distribution system for floor cleaning machine

Abstract

A chemical distribution system for a floor cleaning machine is described. The system utilizes at least one container that is selectively connected to a pump that pumps a cleaning chemical solution from the container into a tee for combining with a fluid from an onboard fluid tank at a rate determined by a machine operator. Chemical containers may be readily and interchangeably connected to the pump to permit various solutions to be selectively utilized to optimize floor cleaning.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A chemical distribution system for an automatic floor scrubber having a body portion mounted on a set of wheels comprising:
 a fluid tank containing a fluid solution and having a fluid tank line;   a valve control having a valve control line;   an adjustment valve connected to said fluid tank line and connected to said valve control line, said adjustment valve having a valve fluid line;   at least one removable chemical container on a floor scrubber body portion, said removable chemical container containing a cleaning chemical solution and having a chemical container line connected at one end to said chemical container;   a chemical pump connected at another end of said chemical container line and having a chemical pump line;   a pump control having a pump control line electrically connected to said chemical pump and having a flow meter feedback line;   a tee having a first port connected to said valve fluid line, a second port connected to said chemical pump line and a third port connected to a tee line;   a flow meter connected to said tee line and connected to said flow meter feedback line so as to be connected in a closed feedback loop to said pump control and to said chemical pump, and said flow meter connected to at least one outlet line to distribute a combination of said fluid solution and said cleaning chemical solution to pads and/or a floor.   
     
     
         2 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said chemical container line is removably connected by a quick-connect connection at said one end to said chemical container. 
     
     
         3 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said valve control line is electrically, mechanically, or manually controlling. 
     
     
         4 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising a container receptacle wherein said removable chemical container is located within said container receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 4 , wherein said container receptacle is integrally formed, one-piece and unitary with said body portion of an automatic floor scrubber. 
     
     
         6 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 4 , wherein said container receptacle is a separate component attached to said body portion of said automatic floor scrubber with mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         7 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising multiple container receptacles each having a removable chemical container located therein. 
     
     
         8 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said pump control communicates a ratio of chemical solution over fluid solution and a pumping rate to said chemical pump by way of said flow meter and wherein said chemical pump is located on a rear portion said floor scrubber body portion. 
     
     
         9 . A chemical distribution system for an automatic floor scrubber having a body portion mounted on a set of wheels comprising:
 a fluid tank containing a fluid solution and having a fluid tank line;   a valve control having a valve control line;   an adjustment valve connected to said fluid tank line and connected to said valve control line, said adjustment valve having a valve fluid tank line;   at least two internal chemical containers in a floor scrubber body portion, said internal chemical containers connected to separate chemical container lines and containing separate cleaning chemical solutions;   a chemical pump connected to each of said separate chemical container lines and having a chemical pump line;   a pump control having a pump control line electrically connected to said chemical pump and having a flow meter feedback line;   a tee having a first port connected to said valve fluid line, a second port connected to said chemical pump line and a third port connected to a tee line;   a flow meter connected to said tee line and connected to said flow meter feedback line so as to be connected in a closed feedback loop to said pump control and to said chemical pump, and said flow meter connected to at least one outlet line to distribute a combination of the fluid solution and said cleaning chemical solution to pads and/or a floor.   
     
     
         10 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 9 , wherein said valve control line is electrical, mechanical, or manual. 
     
     
         11 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least two container receptacles wherein said chemical containers are located within respective said container receptacles. 
     
     
         12 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 11 , wherein said container receptacles are integrally formed, one-piece and unitary with a body portion of an automatic floor scrubber. 
     
     
         13 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 11 , wherein said container receptacles are separate components attached to a body portion of an automatic floor scrubber with mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         14 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 9 , wherein each of said container receptacles has a removable chemical container located therein. 
     
     
         15 . The chemical distribution system of  claim 9 , wherein said pump control communicates a ratio of chemical solutions over fluid solution and a pumping rate to said chemical pump by way of said flow meter and wherein said chemical pump is located on a rear portion said floor scrubber body portion.