HK1235998B - Riding floor cleaning machines having intelligent systems - Google Patents

Description

Ride-on floor cleaning machine with intelligent system

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/969,559, filed on March 24, 2014, entitled “Floor Cleaning Machine Assemblies Having Intelligent Systems, Associated Sub-Assemblies Incorporating Intelligent Systems, And Associated Methods Of Use,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, including all references and appendices cited therein.

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to ride-on floor cleaning machines, and more particularly, to ride-on floor cleaning machines having an intelligent system having the ability to selectively collect, acquire, monitor, store, record, and analyze data associated with components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine and controllably communicate and disseminate such data to other systems and users. The present invention also relates to ride-on floor cleaning machine subassemblies, including, but not limited to, secondary electrochemical batteries having the intelligent system, and to associated methods for using the intelligent system.

Background Art

Floor cleaning machines and their associated systems have been known in the art for many years and are the subject of numerous patents and/or publications, including: U.S. Patent No. 8,584,294, entitled “Floor Cleaner Scrub Head Having a Movable Disc Scrub Member,” U.S. Patent No. 7,448,114, entitled “Floor Sweeping and Scrubbing Machine,” U.S. Patent No. 7,269,877, entitled “Floor Care Appliance with Network Connectivity,” U.S. Patent No. 7,199,711, entitled “Mobile FloorCleaner Data Communication,” U.S. Patent No. 5,265,300, entitled “Floor Scrubber,” U.S. Patent No. 5,239,720, entitled “Mobile Surface Cleaning Machine,” U.S. Patent No. 5,239,720, entitled “Combined Sweeper and No. 5,093,955 entitled “Scrubber,” U.S. Patent No. 4,831,684 entitled “Cleaning Vehicles,” U.S. Patent No. 4,819,676 entitled “Combination Sweeping and Scrubbing System and Method,” U.S. Patent No. 4,716,621 entitled “Floor and Bounded Surface Sweeper Machine,” U.S. Patent No. 4,667,364 entitled “Floor-Cleaning Machine,” U.S. Patent No. 4,580,313 entitled “Walk Behind Floor Maintenance Machine,” and European Patent No. 2,628,427 A2 entitled “Suction Device with a Suction Device Transmitter and External Communication Device Thereof,” all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, including all references cited therein.

U.S. Patent No. 8,584,294 discloses a scrubbing head comprising a first disc scrubbing member, a movable support, and the movable disc scrubbing member, the movable support having a first position and a second position. The first disc scrubbing member is rotatable about a first vertical axis. The movable disc scrubbing member is rotatable about a second vertical axis and is connected to the movable support. The movable disc scrubbing member is configured to move relative to the first disc scrubbing member along first and second orthogonal axes in a horizontal plane transverse to the first and second vertical axes between first and second positions, respectively corresponding to the first and second positions of the movable support.

U.S. Patent No. 7,448,114 apparently discloses a hard floor sweeping and scrubbing machine comprising: a mobile body including a frame supported on wheels for traveling over a surface; a motorized cleaning head; a waste hopper; a hopper lifter, and a vacuum cleaner. The motorized cleaning head is attached to the mobile body and is configured to perform sweeping and scrubbing operations on a surface. The waste hopper is positioned on a rear side of the cleaning head and is configured to receive waste discharged from the cleaning head during surface sweeping operations. The hopper lifter is configured to raise the waste hopper from an operating position, in which the waste hopper is positioned adjacent to the cleaning head, to a dumping position, in which the waste hopper is positioned to dump waste collected in the waste hopper. In one embodiment, a vacuum cleaner is attached to the hopper lifter. Also disclosed is a method of cleaning a surface using an embodiment of the machine.

U.S. Patent No. 7,269,877 apparently discloses a floor care appliance including a microprocessor-based control arrangement having a communication port for connecting to a computer. Once connected to the computer, software updates for the microprocessor can be downloaded, or diagnostic information stored in the microprocessor's memory can be uploaded for diagnostic purposes. In one embodiment of the present invention, the communication port is configured to connect to a local computer for further connection to a remote computer via a computer or telephone network. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the communication port is configured to connect to and dial up a remote computer via a telephone network.

US Patent No. 7,199,711 apparently discloses a method of communicating data from a mobile floor cleaning machine to a remote receiver, in which data communication is initiated from a communicator of the mobile floor cleaning machine to the remote receiver, and the data is communicated to the remote receiver via the communicator.

U.S. Patent No. 5,265,300 apparently discloses a floor scrubbing vehicle having a scrubbing brush mounted at the rear of the vehicle via a mechanism that allows both the scrubbing brush and a cleaning device to be extended and retracted laterally relative to the vehicle. The mechanism is resilient and allows the scrubbing brush and cleaning device to automatically retract inward upon contact with an immovable obstacle, and also causes the scrubbing brush and cleaning device to automatically extend after passing the obstacle. The scrubbing brush and cleaning device are mounted in a scrubbing pod frame that can rotate about a vertical axis relative to the vehicle to prevent damage or facilitate access for repair and maintenance.

U.S. Patent No. 5,239,720 apparently discloses a surface cleaning machine as a combined sweeping and scrubbing device, comprising a sweeping brush for sweeping debris into a hopper and a one-piece cleaner for picking up solution behind four staggered disc brushes. The cleaner is U-shaped, having a longitudinal extent greater than that of the disc brushes located between the legs of the cleaner. Drive wheels are arranged in front of the disc brushes, cleaner, and solution applicator. The cleaner is raised and lowered relative to the frame by an actuator that pivots an L-shaped member, the legs of which abut against and pivot levers, which are connected to the base or cleaner via turnbuckles. The hopper is raised and tilted simultaneously by a single cylinder that pivots an upper arm of a parallelogram, including a lower arm. The hopper is pivotally mounted to the end of the hopper arm. The end opposite the end of the hopper arm is pivotally mounted to the end of the upper arm, and the hopper is also pivotally mounted to the end of the lower arm. As the hopper is raised from a lower position in which the hopper is in a horizontal debris collecting state to a raised position in which the hopper is in a dumping state, the hopper simultaneously tilts at a substantially constant dumping angle.

U.S. Patent No. 5,093,955 apparently discloses a combination floor sweeping and scrubbing machine that is as compact and maneuverable as an equivalent machine that only sweeps or scrubs, while maintaining typical hopper and tank volumes. The operator of the machine can change the machine from sweeping to scrubbing or vice versa at any time by moving a few controls without adding or removing any parts. The machine has a debris hopper and a horizontal cylindrical rotating brush and they function in both sweeping mode and scrubbing mode. A vacuum system provides dust control during sweeping and vacuum pickup of dirty solution during scrubbing. In scrubbing mode, a single tank supplies scrubbing solution and receives dirty solution picked up from the floor.

U.S. Patent No. 4,831,684 apparently discloses a self-propelled sweeping vehicle having steerable front wheels mounted on a central pivot shaft assembly which also carries a nozzle and a brush gear whereby these components steer in unison with the vehicle. The nozzle front edge is convex and promotes non-turbulent air intake. The nozzle is formed as a hollow rotationally molded structure of a plastic material having inherent structural strength and hardness. The brush gear is mounted on a linkage comprising an inner portion and an outer portion which are pivotally connected for folding motion to elastically yield under impact. The brush shroud is formed as a component of a hollow plastic molding and a brush support structure.

U.S. Patent No. 4,819,676 discloses a machine and/or system and method of operation and assembly whereby a sweeping unit can be quickly converted to a scrubbing unit and vice versa. The system is capable of operating in either a sweeping mode or a scrubbing mode and may also be adapted to include a vacuum wand assembly when the unit is to be operated in its sweeping mode.

U.S. Patent No. 4,716,621 apparently discloses a cleaning machine for floors and bounded surfaces, such as floors of workshops, warehouses, and courtyards, having a removable container engaged with the machine frame, the removable container being used to collect the cleaned garbage, the removable container being supported by a pivotally mounted guide, the pivotally mounted guide being engaged by a swivel member, the swivel member extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the machine and cooperating to define a smaller frame, the smaller frame being sealingly interposed between a suction assembly in the frame and a suction nozzle of the container, and a snap-action hooking element being provided between the frame and the pivotally mounted guide, and a spring member protruding from the frame and acting on the container via a spring contact.

U.S. Patent No. 4,667,364 discloses a ride-on floor cleaning machine in which fresh water and product dosing operations are controlled based on the operation of a drive motor so as to maintain the dosing per unit floor area at a level controllable by the operator, thereby achieving improved water, product, and energy economy.

U.S. Patent No. 4,580,313 apparently discloses a self-propelled floor repair machine including a filter and a filter housing that can be pivoted open to allow removal of a debris hopper. The filter can be cleaned by vibrating the filter and filter housing. Dust vibrated from the filter slides into the hopper. The hopper can be manually removed for emptying.

European Patent No. 2,628,427 A2 discloses a device comprising a suction motor and a dust collection chamber, which is arranged in a suction housing. A suction device communication unit communicates with an external communication unit, which is part of a handheld power tool. The external communication unit operates at a distance from the housing to which the tool is connected. The suction device communication unit includes a suction device transmitter for transmitting control signals and/or status signals to the external communication unit. An independent claim also includes an external communication unit for cooperating with the handheld power tool.

While the above-identified patents and/or publications do clearly disclose various ride-on floor cleaning machines and their associated systems, their configurations remain undesirable, incompatible, and/or problematic because, among other things, none of the above-identified ride-on floor cleaning machines and their associated systems clearly include components having an intelligent system capable of selectively collecting, acquiring, monitoring, storing, recording, and analyzing data associated with components of the ride-on floor cleaning machines and controllably communicating and disseminating such data to other systems and users. Furthermore, none of the above-identified ride-on floor cleaning machines and their associated systems clearly utilizes and/or is compatible with an intelligent system associated with a secondary electrochemical battery subassembly.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a ride-on floor cleaning machine having an intelligent system, wherein the intelligent system has the ability to selectively collect, acquire, monitor, store, record and analyze data associated with components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine and to controllably communicate and disseminate such data to other systems and users, and the present invention provides a ride-on floor cleaning machine compatible with a secondary electrochemical battery, wherein the secondary electrochemical battery has an intelligent system associated with the ride-on floor cleaning machine.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent in view of the specification, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that details that are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It will be further understood that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the specific embodiments shown herein.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG1 is a right front perspective view of a riding floor cleaning machine made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG2 is a left front perspective view of a riding floor cleaning machine made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG3 is a rear perspective view of a riding floor cleaning machine made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG4 is an exploded isometric view of a main frame subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG5 is an exploded isometric view of a steering and drive wheel assembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG6 is an exploded isometric view of a solution tank subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG7 is an exploded isometric view of a recovery tank assembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG8 is an exploded isometric view of a recovery tank cover subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG9 is an exploded isometric view of a control panel subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG10 is an exploded isometric view of a main controller subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG11 is an exploded isometric view of a seat and detergent system subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG12 is an exploded isometric view of a battery subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG13 is an exploded isometric view of a scrub head subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG14 is an exploded isometric view of a scrub head lift subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG15 is an exploded isometric view of a cleaner subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG16 is an exploded isometric view of a solution and detergent subassembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG17 is a wiring diagram of a riding floor cleaning machine manufactured in accordance with the present invention;

FIG18 is a schematic diagram of a circuit diagram of a ride-on floor cleaning machine manufactured in accordance with the present invention;

FIG19 is an illustrative example of a network system for a ride-on floor cleaning machine;

FIG20 is a flow chart of a method according to the present invention;

FIG21 is a flow chart of another method according to the present invention; and

FIG22 is a diagrammatic view of a machine in the form of a computer system.

Summary of the Invention

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a ride-on floor cleaning machine with an intelligent system, wherein the ride-on floor cleaning machine includes, consists essentially of, and/or consists of: (1) a main frame subassembly; (2) a steering and drive wheel assembly; (3) a solution tank subassembly; (4) a recovery tank assembly; (5) a recovery tank cover subassembly; (6) a control panel subassembly; (7) a main controller subassembly; (8) a seat and detergent system subassembly; (9) a battery subassembly; (10) a scrub head subassembly; (11) a scrub head lift subassembly; (12) a cleaner subassembly; (13) a solution and detergent subassembly; and (14) an intelligent system associated with at least one of the above-identified subassemblies, wherein the intelligent system selectively collects, acquires, monitors, stores, records, and analyzes data associated with components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine and controllably communicates and disseminates such data to at least one of other systems and users.

In one embodiment, the present invention also relates to a subassembly having an intelligent system for a ride-on floor cleaning machine, the subassembly comprising, consisting essentially of, and/or consisting of: (1) primary and/or secondary electrochemical batteries; and (2) an intelligent system, wherein the intelligent system selectively collects, acquires, monitors, stores, records, and analyzes data associated with components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine and controllably communicates and disseminates such data to at least one of other systems and users.

Additionally, in one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for using an intelligent system with a riding floor cleaning machine assembly, the method comprising, consisting essentially of, and/or consisting of: (1) providing a riding floor cleaning machine assembly having an intelligent system; (2) selectively collecting, acquiring, monitoring, storing, recording, and/or analyzing data associated with components of the riding floor cleaning machine; and (3) controllably communicating and/or disseminating the data to at least one of other systems and users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, one or more specific embodiments are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, it being understood that this disclosure is to be considered illustrative of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments shown.

It will be understood that throughout the drawings, the same or similar elements and/or components referred to herein may be indicated by the same reference numerals.

It will be further understood that Figures 1 to 22 are merely representative and/or illustrative views of a ride-on floor cleaning machine and its associated subassemblies. As such, some of the components may be distorted from their actual scale for drawing clarity and/or image enhancement.

Unless otherwise specified, the machines, subassemblies, components and/or parts provided herein below are commercially available from Guobang Cleaning Equipment (ICE) (Guangdong, China) or its subsidiaries.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to 16, perspective views of a ride-on floor cleaning machine 100 with an intelligent system are shown. Preferably, the ride-on floor cleaning machine 100 includes a main frame subassembly 101 (Figure 4), a steering and drive wheel assembly 102 (Figure 5), a solution tank subassembly 103 (Figure 6), a recovery tank assembly 104 (Figure 7), a recovery tank cover subassembly 105 (Figure 8), a control panel subassembly 106 (Figure 9), a main controller subassembly 107 (Figure 10), a seat and detergent system subassembly 108 (Figure 11), a battery subassembly 109 (Figure 12), and a scrubbing head subassembly 110 (Figure 13). 14 ), a cleaner subassembly 112 ( FIG. 15 ), a solution and detergent subassembly 113 ( FIG. 16 ), and an intelligent system associated with one or more of the above-identified subassemblies as will be discussed in greater detail herein below, wherein the intelligent system selectively collects, acquires, monitors, stores, records and/or analyzes data associated with the components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine 100 and controllably communicates and/or disseminates such data to other systems and/or users.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main frame subassembly 101 generally includes a welded main frame 120 , rubber grommets 122 , tires 124 , wheel covers 126 , standoffs 128 , horns 130 , and static straps 132 .

As also shown in FIG. 4 , the main frame subassembly 101 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , nuts 21 , washers 22 , clamps 26 , screws 36 , and retaining rings 65 for assembly and use of the main frame subassembly 101 .

5 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering and drive wheel assembly 102 generally includes a steering wheel 134 , a bellows 136 , a steering axle 138 , a universal joint 140 , a steering support bracket 142 , a brake pedal accelerator 144 , a steering control assembly 146 and a drive wheel 148 .

As also shown in FIG. 5 , the steering and drive wheel assembly 102 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , nuts 21 , washers 22 , clamps 26 , bearings 31 , screws 36 , and keys 67 for assembling and using the steering and drive wheel assembly 102 .

6 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the solution tank subassembly 103 generally includes a solution tank 150 , a non-slip mat 152 , an elbow 154 , a seal 156 , a solution level sensor 158 , a solution tank cover 160 , a recovery tank support arm 162 , a hose assembly 164 , a filter adapter assembly 166 , and a filter assembly 168 .

As also shown in FIG. 6 , the solution tank subassembly 103 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , nuts 21 , washers 22 , clamps 26 , brackets 30 , sleeves 32 , plates 34 , and screws 36 for assembling and using the solution tank subassembly 103 .

7 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the recovery tank subassembly 104 generally includes a solution level sensor 170 , a recovery tank 172 , a dust filter 174 , a welded hinge 176 , a hinge piece 178 , a discharge hose 180 , a hinge assembly 182 , a solution tank cover 184 , a sealing strip 186 , a recovery tank support arm 188 , and a rubber gasket 190 .

7 , the recovery tank assembly 104 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , nuts 21 , washers 22 , clamps 26 , brackets 30 , sleeves 32 , springs 33 , screws 36 , labels 38 and spacers 49 for assembling and using the recovery tank assembly 104 .

8 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the recovery tank cover subassembly 105 generally includes a warning light 192 , a recovery tank cover 194 , a vacuum motor 196 , a vacuum hose 198 , a vacuum hose adapter 200 , a recovery tank cover support 202 , a sealing strip 204 , an isolator 206 , an insulator 208 , and a fan seal 210 .

8 , the recovery tank cover subassembly 105 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , nuts 21 , washers 22 , clamps 26 , brackets 30 , sleeves 32 , plates 34 , screws 36 , washers 47 and spacers 49 for assembling and using the recovery tank cover subassembly 105 .

Now referring to Figure 9, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control panel subassembly 106 generally includes a control panel sticker 212, a control panel PCB 214, a control housing 216, an LED lamp 218, an LED lamp holder 220, an LED lamp cover 222, a switch panel sticker 224, a main key switch 226, an emergency stop switch 228 and a rocker switch 230.

As also shown in FIG. 9 , the control panel subassembly 106 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , washers 22 , plates 34 , screws 36 , labels 38 , and gaskets 47 for assembly and use of the control panel subassembly 106 .

Referring now to FIG. 10 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main controller subassembly 107 generally includes a fuse 232 , an insulator 234 , a main controller 236 , a rubber grommet 238 , a microswitch 240 , a connector 242 , and an onboard battery charger 244 .

As also shown in FIG. 10 , the main controller subassembly 107 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , nuts 21 , washers 22 , brackets 30 , and screws 36 for assembling and using the main controller subassembly 107 .

Referring now to FIG. 11 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the seat and detergent system subassembly 108 generally includes a cargo net 246 , a seat support 248 , a rubber grommet 250 , a seat 252 , a cup holder 254 , a key adapter 256 , a lock insert 258 , a detergent bottle 260 , a bottle cap 262 , a detergent bottle container 264 , a pump 266 , a check valve 268 , and accessories 270 .

As also shown in Figure 11, the seat and detergent system subassembly 108 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20, nuts 21, washers 22, clamps 26, brackets 30, sleeves 32, springs 33, plates 34, screws 36 and washers 49 for assembling and using the seat and detergent system subassembly 108.

Now referring to Figure 12, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the battery subassembly 109 generally includes a battery box 272, a rear battery support 274, a battery 276, a battery tray 278, a front battery support 280, a red battery connection cable 282, a connector 284, a first black battery connection cable 286, a second black battery connection cable 288, a first cover 290, a second cover 292, a rivet 294, a hinge assembly 296 and a third cover 298.

As also shown in FIG. 12 , the battery subassembly 109 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , washers 22 , plates 34 , and screws 36 for assembling and using the battery subassembly 109 .

According to the present invention, the battery 276 preferably comprises a secondary electrochemical cell, such as a lead-acid, NiCad, NiMH, _and /or lithium-ion battery. Preferred examples of lithium-ion batteries include lithium cobalt oxide ( _LiCoO2 ) batteries, lithium manganese oxide ( _LiMn2O4 ) batteries, lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide ( _LiNiMnCoO2 ) batteries, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, lithium nickel cobalt aluminum ( _LiNiCoAlO2 ) batteries, and lithium titanate ( _Li4Ti5O12 ) batteries. In one embodiment, each battery 276 comprises an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, wherein _at least one of _the anode, cathode, and electrolyte is monitored by an intelligent system of the ride-on floor cleaning machine. Such monitoring includes evaluating the structural integrity of the anode, cathode, and/or electrolyte and/or the cycle life of each component, including the electrolyte level.

13 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scrub head subassembly 110 generally includes a brush motor 300 , a key 302 , a scrub head housing 304 , side skirt blades 306 , a brush drive hub 308 , a clutch 310 , a brush 312 , a center lock 314 , a disk drive 316 , a skirt 318 , and a guard wheel 320 .

As also shown in FIG. 13 , the scrub head subassembly 110 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , nuts 21 , washers 22 , knobs 25 , clamps 26 , brackets 30 , sleeves 32 , and spacers 49 for assembling and using the scrub head subassembly 110 .

Referring now to FIG. 14 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scrub head lift subassembly 111 generally includes a linear actuator 322 and a scrub head lift arm 324 .

14 , the scrub head lift subassembly 111 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , nuts 21 , washers 22 , bushings 29 , brackets 30 , sleeves 32 , springs 33 , plates 34 , pegs 53 and pins 55 for assembling and using the scrub head lift subassembly 111 .

Referring now to FIG. 15 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cleaner subassembly 112 generally includes a linear actuator 326 , a vacuum hose 328 , a caster 330 , a cleaner lift arm 332 , a rear blade 334 , a cleaner housing 336 , a cleaner holder 338 , a front blade 340 , a protection wheel 342 , and an adapter 344 .

15 , the cleaner subassembly 112 utilizes a plurality of conventional bolts 20 , nuts 21 , washers 22 , knobs 25 , clamps 26 , bushings 29 , brackets 30 , sleeves 32 , springs 33 , screws 36 and pins 55 for assembling and using the cleaner subassembly 112 .

Referring now to FIG. 16 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the solution and detergent subassembly 113 generally includes a solenoid valve 346 , a pump 348 , a plastic fitting 350 , a fitting 352 , and a one-way valve 354 .

As also shown in FIG. 16 , the solution and detergent subassembly 113 utilizes a plurality of conventional washers 22 , clamps 26 , ties 27 , screws 36 , elbows 45 , and tubing 58 for assembly and use of the solution and detergent subassembly 113 .

Referring now to FIG. 17 , a wiring diagram for the ride-on floor cleaning machine 100 is provided.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a subassembly having an intelligent system for a ride-on floor cleaning machine is provided, and the subassembly generally includes primary and/or secondary electrochemical batteries and an intelligent system, wherein the intelligent system selectively collects, acquires, monitors, stores, records, and analyzes data associated with components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine and controllably communicates and disseminates such data to at least one of other systems and users.

According to the present invention, a method for using an intelligent system with a ride-on floor cleaning machine is provided, and the method generally includes the following steps: (1) providing a ride-on floor cleaning machine having an intelligent system; (2) selectively collecting, acquiring, monitoring, storing, recording, and/or analyzing data associated with components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine; and (3) controllably communicating and/or disseminating the data to at least one of another system and a user. Specifically, and as collectively illustrated in Figures 1-22, the intelligent system enables the ride-on floor cleaning machine to transmit data acquired from components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine to, for example, a storage or data server, which in turn transmits the selected data to, for example, an end user via email and/or text message.

FIG18 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary circuit diagram 500 of a ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly of the present technology. Generally, the circuit diagram 500 includes a control panel 501 that provides a user interface for controlling the various components and features of the machine assembly; and a PCB (scrubber master controller) 502, which in turn includes a traction motor interface 504, a battery interface 506, a brush motor interface 508, and a vacuum motor interface 510. The circuit diagram 500 also includes a traction speed and brake controller 512, a scrub head lift actuator 514, a cleaner head lift actuator 516, a power key switch 518, a seat switch 520, a brake coil 522, one or more charger interfaces 524, and an emergency switch 526.

PCB 502 (for example, controller) plays the function of main controller board, and described main controller board is used for controlling and communicating the various parts of riding type floor cleaning machine assembly.User utilizes control panel 501 to interact with the various characteristic parts of assembly and control the various characteristic parts of assembly, and the various characteristic parts of described assembly are for example brush and cleaner.In certain embodiments, PCB 502 may comprise one or more characteristic parts of the example computing machine shown and described with respect to Figure 22. PCB 502 comprises at least a processor and memory for storing executable instructions. Processor can execute instruction to provide any one of data sensing, collection, processing, conversion and/or communication feature described herein. In some other embodiments, intelligent system may comprise PCB 502, and it is configured to remotely open/close (for example, open and close) riding type floor cleaning machine 100 via for example power key switch 518 or other circuit embodiments.

It will be appreciated that the PCB 502 may be generally referred to as an intelligent system or component that is configured to provide data collection, recording, logging, transmission, and analysis functions. In other embodiments, the intelligent system may include the PCB 502 operating in conjunction with a management server, wherein the PCB 502 collects and acquires operational data for components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine, and the management server performs data analysis functions on the operational data.

Typically, the PCB 502 is communicatively coupled, directly or indirectly, to each of the other components of the aforementioned circuits. For example, the PCB 502 communicates directly with the battery of the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly via the battery interface 506, while the PCB 502 is indirectly coupled to the traction speed and control pedals via the traction speed and control pedal controller 512.

The traction motor interface 504 allows the PCB 502 to communicate with the traction motor that drives the components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine. The PCB 502 can also collect information about the operating characteristics of the traction motor through the traction motor interface 504. The battery interface 506 allows the PCB 502 to communicate with the ion battery to receive feedback, including charge level, average usage and current consumption, and other metrics about the battery.

One or more charger interfaces 524 allow PCB 502 to determine charging metrics, such as the average charging time for a component's battery.

The main power key switch 518 is controlled by the PCB 502 to allow the ride-on floor cleaning machine components to be turned on and off. Key metrics associated with the main power key switch 518 may include start and stop times. The PCB 502 may time-stamp each operation, such as a device-on instance and a device-off instance, and record the metrics for statistical and reporting purposes. Other statistics may include the duration between a device-on operation and a device-off operation, which indicates the age of the ride-on floor cleaning machine components.

The seat switch 520 is controlled by the PCB 502 to provide various seat configurations and/or seat safety features, such as engaging or disengaging a motor when the seat of the assembly is unoccupied.

The brush motor interface 508 can be controlled by the PCB 502 to selectively control the engagement or disengagement of the brush motor of the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly. The PCB 502 can track the brush motor usage time by measuring the engagement and disengagement of the brush motor. These statistics can be compared to the device on time period and the device off time period to determine how long the brush was engaged compared to the total time frame of the device on time period. For example, the PCB 502 may measure that the device was in the device on state for two hours, but the brush motor was only in use for 15 minutes.

The vacuum motor interface 510 may be used by the PCB 502 to control the operation of the vacuum motor 44 of the riding floor cleaning machine assembly.

The emergency control switch 526 is controlled by the PCB 502 to control the operation of the emergency switch of the riding floor cleaning machine assembly. A user can stop the operation of the riding floor cleaning machine assembly by actuating the emergency switch. The detection of the emergency switch is sensed by the PCB 502, causing the PCB 502 to selectively stop the brush motor 300 and the vacuum motor 44.

In one embodiment, the emergency control switch 526 may be used to selectively interrupt power provided to the traction motor via the traction motor interface 504 .

PCB 502 may also control brush motor 184 and vacuum motor 44 through their respective interfaces, such as brush motor interface 508 and vacuum motor interface 510. As with the other components, PCB 502 may be configured to sense and capture operational details of these devices.

The scrub head lift actuator 514 and the cleaner lift actuator 516 are also controlled by the PCB 502 to raise the scrub head or cleaner, respectively, in response to user commands received at the control panel 501. The PCB 502 can also control the scrub head and/or cleaner in response to other system feedback, such as activation of the emergency stop switch 526. For example, if the emergency stop switch 526 is engaged, the PCB 502 can automatically engage the scrub head or cleaner to raise the scrub head or cleaner using the scrub head lift actuator 514 and the cleaner lift actuator 516.

The brake coil 522 may be coupled to an emergency stop switch 526. If the emergency stop switch 526 is engaged, the brake coil 522 is activated to stop the assembly.

The traction speed and brake control pedal controller 512 is configured to receive signals from the traction speed and brake control pedal to selectively cause the assembly to translate at various speeds through movement of the traction speed and brake control pedal. The PCB 502 can receive signals from the traction speed and brake control pedal controller 512 to track and monitor the movement and translation of the assembly.

In certain embodiments, PCB 502 communicates within smart system 600, as shown in greater detail in FIG19 . PCB 502 can include any wired or wireless communication means, such as a wireless communication interface. The wireless communication interface can utilize any protocol for network communication, including short-range protocols such as Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), infrared, and the like. The wireless communication interface can also include utilizing Wi-Fi, cellular networks, or other similar networks using other protocols.

19 illustrates an example network system of devices. Networked system 600 includes multiple devices 605 , 610 , and 615 , which may all be communicatively coupled to a management server 620 via a network 625 .

Each of the plurality of devices 605 to 615 may be controlled in the same facility, such as a building, factory, school, or other location. In other embodiments, one or more (or all) devices 605 to 615 may be remotely located from one another.

Each of the plurality of devices 605 - 615 may collect and report its operational metrics to a management server 620 via a network 625 , as will be discussed in greater detail below.

Exemplary networks such as network 625 may include any one or more of the following, for example, a local area network, a PAN (personal area network), a LAN (local area network), a WAN (wide area network), a MAN (metropolitan area network), a virtual private network (VPN), a storage area network (SAN), a frame relay connection, an advanced intelligent network (AIN) connection, a synchronous optical network (SONET) connection, a digital T1, T3, E1 or E3 line, a digital data service (DDS) connection, a DSL (digital subscriber line) connection, an Ethernet connection, an ISDN (integrated services digital network) line, a dial-up port such as V.90, a V.34 or V.34 dual analog modem connection, a cable modem, an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) connection, or an FDDI (fiber distributed data interface) or CDDI (copper distributed data interface) connection. In addition, communications may also include links to any of a variety of wireless networks, including 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution), 3GPP (3G Radio Access Network), WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) or TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), a cellular telephone network, GPS (Global Positioning System), CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data), RIM (Research in Motion Ltd.) two-way paging network, Bluetooth radio frequency, or IEEE 802.11-based wireless radio frequency network. Network 620 may also include or be connected to any one or more of the following: an RS-232 serial connection, an IEEE-1394 (FireWire) connection, a Fibre Channel connection, an IrDA (Infrared) port, a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) connection, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection, or other wired or wireless, digital or analog interface or connection, mesh or networking.

Management server 620 is preferably implemented in a cloud computing environment. Typically, a cloud-based computing environment is a resource that typically combines the computing power of a larger group of processors and/or the storage capacity of a larger group of computer memory or storage devices. For example, systems that provide cloud resources can be used exclusively by their owners, such as Google ^™ or Yahoo! ^™ ; or such systems can be accessible to external users who deploy applications within the computing infrastructure to gain the benefits of large computing or storage resources. A cloud can be formed, for example, by a network of web servers, each of which (or at least a plurality of web servers) provides processors and/or storage resources. These servers can manage workloads provided by multiple users (e.g., cloud resource clients or other users). Typically, each user places workload requirements on the cloud, which changes in real time, sometimes dramatically. The nature and scope of these changes typically depend on the type of business associated with the user.

In operation, each of the plurality of devices 605 to 615 can communicate with a management server 620, with each of the plurality of devices 605 to 615 acting as a node within the network. The management server 620 can track metrics about each of the plurality of devices 605 to 615 by communicating with the PCB on each of the plurality of devices 605 to 615.

In certain embodiments, data acquired by the PCB of each of the plurality of devices 605 - 615 is selectively collected, acquired, monitored, stored, recorded, and/or analyzed by the management system 620 .

According to certain embodiments, the data that is selectively collected, acquired, monitored, stored, recorded, and/or analyzed preferably includes, for example, operating time, current, voltage, power, and the like from, for example, the vacuum motor, lithium-ion battery, traction motor, brush motor, and other components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine. This data or information is preferably received at PCB 502 ( FIG. 18 ), which may be associated with the lithium-ion battery located in the ride-on floor cleaning machine 100. That is, PCB 502 controls the operation of each of the components of the device. As described above, operational data for each of these components can be captured and logged by PCB 502 and stored in a memory on PCB 502. In other embodiments, the operational data can be stored in a memory on PCB 502 and asynchronously sent in batches (depending on the memory size) to the management server 620. In certain embodiments, the operational data can be synchronously streamed from PCB 502 to the management server 620.

Each device can be managed by the management system through the assignment of a device ID. The device ID can be an allocation number, SIM card number, IMEI, MAC address, IP address, or other similar unique identifier. The device ID can be attached to each communication sent by PCB 502 to the management server 620.

The stored data or information is preferably analyzed by the management server 620 for parameter compliance and, if necessary, communicated to, for example, the end user, service personnel, and/or the owner. For example, the owner of a ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly can set a threshold for the number of hours of operation required for the device per week. If the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly has not been operated for a period of time that meets or exceeds the threshold, the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly is identified by the management system 620.

The data transfer about each individual machine will help the end user to better plan the number of machines and employees at each individual work site. Companies with a considerable number of cleaning staff (e.g., contact cleaning companies) will find this relevant and useful.

In one embodiment, data or information regarding the usage of each individual machine is collected and transmitted, for example, to a management server at specific times. This allows end users, as well as distributors and dealers, to access the information they need to monitor the usage of these machines and maximize their efficiency during operation. In another embodiment of the present invention, in addition to information for each day, cumulative totals and averages are also readily available, and this information is preferably updated based on the lifespan of the ride-on floor cleaning machine components. Examples of data or information uploaded daily include the number of hours and specific times the machine was operated during the previous 24-hour period, the total monthly hours of machine usage, and the total hours of machine usage. Furthermore, the present invention enables the recording and analysis of cumulative totals for operating components such as batteries, vacuum motors, drive/traction motors, and brush motors. Since each component has a lifespan, this helps distributors, dealers, and owners selectively monitor the precise time when these components (e.g., vacuum motors, brush motors, and batteries) need replacement, rather than waiting for failures, which impacts end-user productivity. Another important advantage of having this data or information transmission is that if a machine malfunctions (for example, a vacuum motor, brush motor, etc. stops working), the details of the malfunction will be selectively sent to the appropriate maintenance personnel via email and/or mobile phone text message, and the email and/or mobile phone text message will assume responsibility for the repair and maintenance of the machine, management of the end user, etc.

20 is a flow chart of an example method of the present technology. The method includes acquiring 702 operational data for a ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly, generating operational data for any of a battery, a vacuum motor, a drive/traction motor, and a brush motor of the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly.

As described above, this operational data may be collected by a PCB (eg, PCB 502 of FIG. 18 ) during operation of the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly.

The method also includes communicatively coupling the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly to the management server 704. As described above, this step may include coupling the wireless communication module of the PCB 502 to the management server via a network connection.

Once the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly and the management server are communicatively coupled, the method may further include the management server querying 706 the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly for operational data for any of the battery, vacuum motor, traction motor, and brush motor. For example, the management server may request operational data regarding the battery from the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly. As described above, this operational data may be stored in a memory on a PCB on the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly. In another example, the management server may request operational data for both the vacuum motor and the brush motor.

In another embodiment, the PCB can upload all operational data collected since the last communication session with the management server. The operational data can include operational data for each of the battery, vacuum motor, traction motor, and brush motor.

In certain embodiments, the management server performs 708 at least one operational data analysis process on the acquired operational data.

In one example, operational data analysis involves comparing the operating time frame for a ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly with an expected operating time frame. For example, a building owner may determine the operating time frame in which the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly should be utilized. This operating time frame can be calculated based on an expected time based on area or any other quantifiable metric that can be used to set an operating time frame threshold. Once this threshold is established, the management server can compare the actual operating time frame for a given time period with the operating time frame threshold. If the actual time does not meet or exceed the operating time frame threshold, the management server can alert the owner.

Thus, in certain embodiments, the method includes, if the operational analysis indicates that a threshold violation event has occurred, sending a warning message 710 to the owner of the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly. Indeed, a threshold violation event is any event in which operational data for one or more components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly is inappropriately compared to an operational threshold value.

In another example, the operating threshold may include a minimum charging time frame for the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly. If the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly is not charged for an appropriate amount of time, the battery operation of the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly may be jeopardized.

In another example, an operating threshold can be set for the brush motor, which can include a comparison to other operating metrics such as total operating time. Assuming the total operating time (e.g., power on to power off) for the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly is one hour, but the brush motor is only operated for fifteen minutes of the hour, it can be inferred that the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly was not actually used for the entire hour.

Additional metrics can be collected by tracking the number of revolutions of the drive/traction motor, which can be extrapolated to the square footage of coverage of the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly. Ideally, the drive/traction motor revolutions should be compared to the total operating time to ensure that the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly is moving during the power-on period. If the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly is left running when there is no work to be done, this can result in unnecessary battery usage.

Knowledge of the approximate area of the cleaning zone can also be used to determine whether the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly is being properly utilized. For example, if the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly has only cleaned approximately 400 square feet, as determined by counting the drive/traction motor revolutions, when the total desired area for the cleaning zone is 2,000 square feet, the management server can detect the discrepancy and send a warning message to the owner or other interested parties.

FIG21 is another flow chart of an exemplary method of the present technology. The method includes the following steps: detecting 802 a fault in a component of a riding floor cleaning machine assembly during operation, detecting 802 a fault in a component of a riding floor cleaning machine assembly during operation or startup of the riding floor cleaning machine assembly. For example, a PCB may maintain a set of operating thresholds for each component of the riding floor cleaning machine assembly, such as a battery, a vacuum motor, a drive/traction motor, and a brush motor. Whenever any of these components operates below the desired operating threshold, a fault is generated.

When a fault is detected, the method includes the steps of establishing 804 communication between the PCB and a management server and sending 806 a fault message to the management server. The fault message may include an indication of the failed component, such as a battery, a vacuum motor, a drive/traction motor, and a brush motor.

If the fault involves a component of the riding floor cleaning machine assembly that causes the riding floor cleaning machine assembly to become a safety hazard, the method may include the riding floor cleaning machine assembly receiving an emergency stop signal from the management server at 808. The method also includes executing an emergency stop upon receiving the emergency stop signal from the management server at 810. An example of an emergency stop procedure is described in more detail above.

In one embodiment, the method includes the optional step of automatically ordering 812 a replacement part for the identified failed component. The ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly can communicate directly with a third-party system via a network to order the replacement part. In another embodiment, a management server can identify the failed component, query the manufacturer of the failed component, and forward the request to the third-party system or a local inventory system. As the fault message is received, the management server can automatically order the part. In another example, the replacement part in inventory can be identified in a repair ticket sent to a service technician.

In certain embodiments, the present invention enables updates to software currently being used by end users, such as to resolve compatibility issues or to facilitate other necessary upgrades. In one embodiment, a management server can push updates to the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly during operational data transfer operations or when the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly is powered on. For example, each time the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly is powered on, the PCB can connect to the management server and query the management server for updates. This can all be easily perceived by the end user, unless a brief pause in the operation of the ride-on floor cleaning machine assembly is required to implement the update or for safety reasons.

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic view of an example machine in the form of a computer system 900, in which a group of instructions can be executed, which is used to prompt a machine to perform any one or more of the methods described herein. In various exemplary embodiments, the machine is operated as an independent device or can be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine can operate in the capacity of a server or client in a server-client network environment or operate as a peer in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine can be a personal computer (PC), tablet PC, set-top box (STB), personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular phone, portable music player (e.g., mobile hard disk audio equipment, e.g., Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer 3 (MP3) player), web application, network server, switch or bridge or any machine, any machine can perform a group of instructions (sequential or otherwise) specifying the effect to be taken by the machine. In addition, although only a single machine is shown, the term "machine" should also be considered to include any set of machines that individually or jointly perform a group (or multiple groups) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methods described herein.

The example computer system 900 includes a processor or multiple processors 905 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), as well as a main memory 910 and a static memory 915, which communicate with each other via a bus 920. The computer system 900 may also include a video display 935 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD)). The computer system 900 may also include one or more alphanumeric input devices 930 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), a voice recognition or biometric authentication unit (not shown), a drive unit 937 (also known as a disk drive unit), a signal generating device 940 (e.g., a speaker), and a network interface device 945. The computer system 900 may also include a data encryption module (not shown) to encrypt data.

The disk drive unit 937 includes a computer or machine readable medium 950 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., instructions 955) that embody or utilize any one or more of the methods or functions described herein. The instructions 955 may also reside completely or at least partially within the main memory 910 and/or within the processor 905 during execution of the instructions by the computer system 900. The main memory 910 and the processor 905 may also constitute machine readable media.

The instructions 955 may also be sent or received over a network via the network interface device 945 using any of a number of well-known transmission protocols (e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)). Although the machine-readable medium 950 is shown as a single medium in the example embodiment, the term "machine-readable medium" should be considered to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., centralized or distributed databases and/or associated caches and servers) that store one or more sets of instructions. The term "machine-readable medium" should also be considered to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a machine and causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methods of the present application, or that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with the set of instructions. The term "machine-readable medium" should therefore be considered to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memory, optical and magnetic media, and carrier signals. Such media may also include, but are not limited to, hard disks, floppy disks, flash memory cards, digital video disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), and the like. The example embodiments described herein may be implemented in an operating environment comprising software installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination of software and hardware.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that an Internet service can be configured to provide Internet access to one or more computing devices connected to the Internet service, and that the computing devices can include one or more processors, buses, storage devices, display devices, input/output devices, and the like. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that an Internet service can be connected to one or more databases, repositories, servers, and the like, which can be utilized to implement any of the embodiments of the present disclosure as described herein.

The corresponding structures, materials, functions, and equivalents of all means or steps plus function elements in the following claims are intended to include any structure, material, or function for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically set forth. The description of the present technology has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the technology in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the technology. The exemplary embodiments are selected and described in order to best explain the principles of the technology and its practical application, and to enable others in the art to understand the technology for various embodiments with various modifications as are suitable for the specific usage contemplated.

Aspects of the present technology are described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present technology. It will be understood that each block in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine so that the instructions, when executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device, produce means for implementing the functions/actions specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The foregoing description merely illustrates and illustrates the present invention and the present invention is not limited thereby, as those skilled in the art would be able to make modifications without departing from the present invention prior to the disclosure of the present invention, except as the appended claims are so limited.

Claims (1)

1. A ride-on floor cleaning machine with an intelligent system, the ride-on floor cleaning machine comprising: - Main frame sub-assembly; steering and drive wheel assembly; solution tank assembly; recycling tank assembly; recycling tank cover assembly; control panel sub-assembly; main controller sub-assembly; seat and detergent system sub-assembly; battery sub-assembly including a secondary electrolytic battery; scrubbing head sub-assembly; scrubbing head lifting sub-assembly; cleaner sub-assembly; solution and detergent sub-assembly; and an intelligent system, wherein the intelligent system includes a controller associated with at least one of the sub-assemblies, wherein the controller is configured to selectively collect, acquire, monitor, store, and record at least one of data associated with components of the ride-on floor cleaning machine, and wherein the controller communicatively connects the ride-on floor cleaning machine to a management server via a network and sends data to the management server for analysis, and wherein the secondary electrolytic battery includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, wherein the structural integrity of the anode and cathode is monitored by the intelligent system, and the electrolyte level is monitored by the intelligent system.