Riding floor polishing machine

Abstract

A riding floor polishing machine with dust and exhaust filtering apparatus is disclosed. The riding floor polishing machine provides a vehicle-driven surface processing apparatus capable of performing a large scale surface polishing operation in an indoor setting with reduced dust accumulation and reduced exhaust emission to the working environment. The riding floor polishing machine includes generally a grinder assembly, an exhaust control device, and a dust collection device, each carried by a vehicle. The grinder assembly includes a plurality of planetary polishing heads carried by a frame. The frame is movably attached to the vehicle such that the planetary polishing heads can be moved in either lateral or vertical directions proximate the vehicle. The vehicle provides mobility to the riding floor polishing machine and includes a power source to provide power for operating the various functions of the grinder assembly, the exhaust control device, and the dust collection device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of Invention [0004] This invention pertains to surface polishing machines. More particularly, this invention pertains to a riding surface polishing vehicle for conducting various surface polishing operations such as scrubbing, buffing, grinding, or other polishing of floor surfaces or similar, essentially continuous surfaces. [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art [0006] It is often necessary to grind, polish, or otherwise refinish large areas of flooring surface, such as basketball gyms, warehouses, or other such structures. The conventional tool used in performing this type of surface polishing is a hand operated polishing machine. This type of machine typically utilizes surface processing apparatus including at least one planetary frictional surface rotated by an electric motor, a combusti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] A riding floor polishing machine with dust and exhaust filtering apparatus is disclosed. The riding floor polishing machine provides a vehicle-driven surface processing apparatus capable of performing a large scale surface polishing operation in an indoor setting with reduced dust accumulation and reduced exhaust emission to the working environment. The riding floor polishing machine includes generally a grinder assembly, an exhaust control device, and a dust collection device, each carried by a vehicle. The vehicle includes a chassis, a combustion engine mounted on the chassis, and an exhaust port for releasing exhaust from the combustion engine. The vehicle provides mobility to the riding floor polishing machine and includes an electric generator to provide power for operating the various functions of the grinder assembly, the exhaust control device, and the dust collection device. The exhaust control device has a catalytic converter which receives exhaust from the exhaust port and subjects the exhaust to at least one chemical reaction to reduce the hydrocarbon content of the exhaust from the combustion engine. The grinder assembly includes a plurality of planetary polishing heads carried by a frame. The frame is movably attached to the vehicle such that the planetary polishing heads can be moved in either lateral or vertical directions proximate the vehicle. The dust collection device includes a dust shroud substantially covering the planetary polishing heads and a vacuum cleaner configured to draw dust and air from beneath the dust shroud. The vacuum cleaner then directs the dust and air into a filter apparatus, which separates the dust from the air and direct the dust to a storage vessel.

Problems solved by technology

A large scale surface polishing operation is often time consuming, labor intensive, and tiresome.

However, use of a conventional combustion engine vehicle results in the emission of exhaust fumes.

When working indoors, this exhaust typically accumulates within the room housing the working surface, often resulting in significantly increased concentrations of toxins immediately surrounding the working surface.

The excessive presence of combustion-engine exhaust leads to an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous work environment for the user of the surface polishing machine.

Therefore, such use of a vehicle in assisting with large scale surface polishing has been previously limited to outdoor operations or other significantly well ventilated environments.

Furthermore, there has been a perennial problem associated with most surface polishing operations, and even more so with surface polishing operations that are conducted using high speed mechanical equipment.

Frequently, this dust is so light that it hangs in the air for a period of time before settling.

In large scale surface polishing operations, using high speed mechanical equipment, a large quantity of dust is generated which creates uncomfortable working conditions for the user.

Furthermore, the dust settles on the user's clothing, as well as all exposed surfaces surrounding the surface polishing operation.

However, this system, while it keeps dust to a minimum, often necessitates that the user wear waterproof clothing to ensure that the user remains dry.

This often creates an uncomfortable working environment for the user.

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