Floor scrubber machine with enhanced steering and solution flow functionality

Abstract

A motive machine can be selectively operable in a plurality of functional modes. The motive machine can include a drive wheel, a steering assembly, and a controller. The drive wheel can be rotatably secured to a body of the motive machine. The steering assembly can be operable to steer the motive machine. The controller can be in communication with a steering sensor, a steering motor, and a limit sensor, where the controller can be configured to synchronize the steering motor to the steering sensor as a function of a limit signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A motive machine selectively operable in a plurality of functional modes, the motive machine comprising:
 a drive wheel rotatably secured to a body of the motive machine;   a steering assembly operable to steer the motive machine, the steering assembly comprising:
 a steering wheel operable to steer the drive wheel, the steering wheel including a steering shaft; 
 a steering sensor coupled to the steering shaft to produce a steering signal as a function of sensed rotation of the steering shaft; 
 a steering drive coupled to the drive wheel and rotatable with the drive wheel; 
 a steering motor operably engaged with the steering drive to rotate the steering drive and drive wheel; and 
 a limit sensor engaged with the steering drive to produce a limit signal as a function of rotation of the steering drive to a maximum rotation; and 
   a controller in communication with the steering sensor, the steering motor, and the limit sensor, the controller configured to synchronize the steering motor to the steering sensor as a function of the limit signal.   
     
     
         2 . The motive machine of  claim 1 , wherein the limit sensor further comprises a first limit sensor and a second limit sensor, each of the first limit sensor and second limit sensor engaged with the steering drive, the first limit sensor configured to produce a limit signal as a function of rotation of the steering drive to a left maximum rotation and the second limit sensor configured to produce a limit signal as a function of rotation of the steering drive to a right maximum rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The motive machine of  claim 2 , wherein the first limit sensor and the second limit sensor are reed sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The motive machine of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the first limit signal and the second limit signal and synchronize the steering sensor with the steering motor as a function of the first limit signal and the second limit signal. 
     
     
         5 . The motive machine of  claim 2 , wherein, at startup of the motive machine, the controller is configured to drive the steering motor to rotate the steering drive in a first direction until the first limit sensor is engaged by the steering drive and produces the first limit signal and is configured to drive the steering motor to rotate the steering drive in a second direction until the second limit sensor is engaged by the steering drive and produces the second limit signal. 
     
     
         6 . The motive machine of  claim 1 , the steering assembly further comprising:
 a torque feedback device coupled to the steering shaft, the torque feedback device in communication with the controller and configured to apply a torque to the shaft as a function of the steering signal.   
     
     
         7 . The motive machine of  claim 6 , the wherein the torque feedback device further comprises:
 a first collar coupled to the steering shaft;   a second collar coupled to the body; and   a magnetorheological fluid disposed between the first collar and the second collar, the magnetorheological fluid responsive to the steering signal.   
     
     
         8 . A motive machine selectively operable in a plurality of functional modes, the motive machine comprising:
 a drive wheel rotatably secured to a body of the motive machine;   a steering wheel operable to steer the drive wheel, the steering wheel including a steering shaft;   a steering sensor coupled to the steering shaft to produce a steering signal as a function of sensed rotation of the steering shaft;   a fluid dispenser secured to the body and configured to variably dispense a fluid from the motive machine to a ground surface; and   a controller in communication with the steering sensor, the steering motor, and the fluid dispenser, the controller configured to determine a steering angle as a function of the steering sensor and configured to operate the fluid dispenser to variably dispense the fluid as a function of the steering angle.   
     
     
         9 . The motive machine of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the fluid dispenser is configured to variably dispense the fluid from the motive machine as a function of a speed of the motive machine, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the speed of the motive machine as a function of steering angle to adjust fluid output.   
     
     
         10 . The motive machine of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a drive motor coupled to the drive wheel to impel the drive wheel, the controller in communication with the drive motor to control the speed of the motive machine as a function of the steering angle.   
     
     
         11 . The motive machine of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a vacuum system secured to the body and configured to recover fluid dispensed by the fluid dispenser, wherein the controller is configured to vary a vacuum speed as a function of the steering angle.   
     
     
         12 . The motive machine of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 wherein a flow rate of the dispensed fluid is proportional to steering angle such that the flow rate of fluid dispensed is reduced as the steering angle increases and is increased as the steering angle decreases.   
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a multi-function motive machine, the method comprising:
 producing a steering signal as a function of a position of a steering wheel shaft;   rotating a steering drive as a function of the steering signal using a steering motor that drives a steering drive;   producing a limit signal as a function of rotation of the steering drive to a maximum rotation; and   synchronizing the steering motor to the steering sensor as a function of the limit signal.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 driving the steering drive to a first maximum to produce a first limit signal;   driving the steering drive to a second maximum to produce a second limit signal; and   determining a zero position of the drive wheel as a function of the first limit signal and the second limit signal.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining the zero position of the drive wheel as a function of the first limit signal, the second limit signal, and stored positional data of at least one of a first limit sensor, a second limit sensor, and the steering drive.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 synchronizing the steering sensor to the steering motor as a function of the first limit signal and the second limit signal.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 initializing a shipping mode to prevent the controller from automatically driving the steering drive to a maximum at startup.   
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a multi-function motive machine, the method comprising:
 driving a drive wheel rotatably secured to a body of the motive machine using a drive motor;   producing a steering signal as function of rotation of a steering shaft;   transmitting the steering signal to a steering motor to rotate a drive wheel as a function of the steering signal;   producing a limit signal as a function of a position of the steering drive;   determining a steering angle as a function of the limit signal and the steering signal; and   dispensing variably, a fluid from the motive machine to a ground surface as a function of the steering angle.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 dispensing variably, the fluid from the motive machine as a function of a speed of the motive machine; and   adjusting the speed of the motive machine using the drive motor as a function of steering angle to adjust fluid output.   
     
     
         20 . The motive machine of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 recovering fluid dispensed by the fluid dispenser using a vacuum system of the motive machine; and   varying a vacuum rate as a function of the steering angle.   
     
     
         21 . The motive machine of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 dispensing fluid proportional to the steering angle such that a flow rate of fluid dispensed is reduced as the steering angle increases and the flow rate of fluid dispensed is increased as the steering angle decreases.