GB2035066A - Improvements relating to cleaning or polishing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A brush or pad (1) for a floor or other surface cleaning or polishing machine comprises a backing (2) having at least two sockets in each of which an elastomeric grommet (3) is mounted. The grommets (3) each include at least one inwardly facing rib (13), the arrangement being such that, in use, driving pins (6) of the cleaning or polishing machine are inserted into the grommets (3) and the ribs engage with recesses (8) of the driving pins whereby the brush or pad (1) is arranged to snap-fit onto the driving pins (6). Preferably each grommet (3) includes two chordal ribs (13) and the portion (14) of the grommet (3) carrying the ribs (13) includes slots (16) extending axially of the grommet (3) and a clearance is provided between the grommet (3) and a clearance is provided between the outside of the portion (14) of the grommet and the socket in the backing (2) of the brush or pad (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to cleaning or polishing machines This invention relates to machines for cleaning or polishing floors or other surfaces and having at least one rotary brush or pad which is arranged to contact a floor or other surface to be cleaned and which is attached to a rotary carrier member by means of at least two parallel pins which project from the carrier member into sockets correspondingly located in the backing of the brush or pad.

In existing machines of this kind the pins include a recess and the backing of the brush or pad includes a spring retaining element which is biased into engagement with the recess of one or more of the pins. To enable the brush to be removed from the machine it is necessary manually to disengage the retaining element from the pin or pins before pulling the brush or pad away from the machine.

According to this invention a brush or pad for a floor or other surface cleaning or polishing machine comprises a backing having at least two sockets in each of which an elastomeric grommet is mounted, the grommets each including at least one inwardly facing rib, the arrangement being such that, in use, the driving pins of the cleaning or polishing machine are inserted into the grommets and the ribs engage with recesses of the driving pins whereby the brush or pad is arranged to snapfit onto the driving pins.

Preferably the grommets are made from a synthetic rubber, for example neoprene having a Shore hardness of approximately 60 . In this case it is preferred that clearance is provided between the outside of the portion of the grommet carrying the rib and the backing of the brush or pad. As the pin is pushed past the rib the side wall of the grommet deforms to allow the pin to pass the rib and then the side wall of the grommet returns to urge the rib into contact with the recess in the pin.

With the grommet arranged in this way the inwardly facing rib can be made sufficiently strong and robust that a positive attachment can be achieved between the brush or pad and the driving pins of the machine. This positive attachment can be made so strong that the brush or pad never becomes disconnected from the machine inadvertantly but it can be readily disconnected by an operator directly pulling the brush or pad away from the driving pins of the machine. The brush or pad may be merely pulled off without any prior unlatching operation.

Preferably the aperture through the grommet includes a substantially cylindrical portion which is a close fit on a corresponding cylindrical portion of the driving pins of the machine and it is preferred that the portion of the grommet outside this cylindrical portion is closely supported by the backing of the brush or pad to ensure that the torque and weight of the machine is transferred to the brush or pad.

The rib in each grommet may be formed as an annular rib extending inwards into the aperture of the grommet but preferably each grommet includes two chordal ribs which are parallel and extend into the aperture of the grommet. The edges of the ribs are preferably chamfered. The portion of the grommet carrying the two ribs may be tubular but preferably it includes slots extending axially of the grommet between the two ribs so that the two ribs are formed on a pair of limbs upstanding axially from the remainder of the grommet.

This enables the two ribs to flex apart from one another more readily. In this case the outer surface of the two limbs is preferably relieved to provide the clearance between the outside of the portion of the grommet carrying the ribs and the backing of the brush or pad.

Preferably the brush or pad also includes a cover plate to cover the sockets in the backing of the brush or pad and clamp the grommets in place in the sockets. Preferably the grommets include a reduced diameter portion which extends through apertures in the cover plate so that the connection between the brush or pad and the machine is cushioned.

Preferably the recesses in the driving pins are formed by annular, parallel sided grooves.

The provision of the paralled sided grooves assists the positive attachment between the rib or ribs in the grommets and the recess in the pins. Preferably the lead-in portion of the pins is bevelled to facilitate the insertion of the pins into the grommets and facilitate the interconnection between the machine and the brush or pad.

A further advantage of this form of interconnection is that it is reversible and enables the brush or pad to be driven in either direction of rotation. This contrasts other forms of interconnection where keyhole, or wedge shaped slots are used in the backing of the brush or pad.

A particular example of a brush for a floor cleaning machine in accordance with this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 is a cross section showing the interconnection of a brush and the rotary carrier member of a floor cleaning machine; Figure 2 is a plan of the brush; Figure 3 is an underplan ot a grommet incorporated in the brush; and Figure 4 is an axial section through the grommet.

A brush 1 of a floor cleaning machine includes a backing 2 with grommets 3 which are held in sockets by a cover plate 4. Fig. 1 shows the brush 1 located on the rotary carrier member 5 of a floor cleaning machine, the remainder of which is not shown. The rotary carrier member 5 includes two or four driving pins 6 (only one of which is shown), which are inserted into the grommets 3. The driving pins 6 include a cylindrical portion 7 with a parallel sided annular groove 8 and a bevelled leading portion 9. The brush 1 is manually pushed onto, or manually pulled away from, the driving pins 6 to connect or disconnect the brush from the cleaning machine.

The grommet 3 is shown in more detail if Figs. 3 and 4 and comprises a generally annular body having a cylindrical hole 10 with a radiused lead-in portion 11. The outside of the grommet adjacent the radiused lead-in portion 11 includes a reduced diameter portion 12. A pair of inwardly directed chordal ribs 13 are formed on a pair of axially extending limbs 14 at the other end of the grommet. The outside surface of the limbs 14 is relieved at 15 and slots extend between the limbs 15. The grommet is made from neoprene rubber having a 60 Shore hardness.

The grommets are received in the sockets in the backing 2 of the brush with their reduced diameter portions 12 extending through apertures in the cover plate 4. The reduced diameter portions 12 extend above the surface of the cover plate 3 to provide some cushioning between the brush 1 and the rotary carrier member 5.

The relieved portions 14 provide clearance between the backing 2 of the brush 1 and the limbs 14 of the grommet 3 to enable the ribs 13 to splay apart as the bevelled leading end of the driving pin 6 is inserted into the grommet 3. The ribs 13 then snap back towards one another and are received in the annular groove 8 of the driving pin.

Claims (15)

1. A brush or pad for a floor or other surface cleaning or polishimg machine comprising a backing having at least two sockets in each of which an elastomeric grommet is mounted, the grommets each including at least one inwardly facing rib, the arrangement being such that, in use, the driving pins of the cleaning or polishing machine are inserted into the grommets and the ribs engage with recesses of the driving pins whereby the brush or pad is arranged to snap-fit onto the driving pins.

2. A brush or pad according to claim 1, in which the grommets are made from a synthetic rubber, having a Shore hardness of substantially 60 .

3. A brush or pad according to claim 1 or 2, in which a clearance is provided between the outside of the portion of the grommet carrying the rib and the backing of the brush or pad.

4. A brush or pad according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the aperture through the grommet includes a substantially cylindrical portion which is a close fit on a corresponding cylindrical portion of the driv ing pins of the machine.

5. A brush or pad according to claim 4, in which the portion of the grommet outside the cylindrical portion is closely supported by the backing of the of the brush or pad to ensure that the torque and weight of the machine is transferred to the brush or pad.

6. A brush or pad according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each grommet includes two chordal ribs which are parallel and extend into the aperture of the grommet.

7. A brush or pad according to claim 6, in which the portion of the grommet carrying the two ribs includes slots extending axially of the grommet between the two ribs so that the two ribs are formed on a pair of limbs upstanding axially from the remainder of the grommet.

8. A brush or pad according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the edges of the ribs are chamfered.

9. A brush or pad according to any one of the preceding claims which includes a cover plate to cover the sockets in the backing of the brush or pad and to clamp the grommets in place in the sockets.

10. A brush or pad according to claim 9, in which the grommets include a reduced diameter portion which extends through apertures in the cover plate so that the connection between the brush or pad and the machine is cushioned.

11. A brush or pad according to claim 1, constructed substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A floor or other surface cleaning or polishing machine including a brush or pad in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

13. A floor or other surface cleaning or polishing machine in accordance with claim 12, having driving pins including recesses formed by annular, parallel-sided grooves.

14. A floor or other surface cleaning or polishing machine in accordance with claim 12 or 13, having driving pins with beveled lead-in portions to facilitate the insertion of the pins into the grommets and hence facilitate the interconnection between the machine and the brush or pad.

15. A floor or other surface cleaning or polishing machine in accordance with claim 12, constructed substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.