FR2703285A1 - Machine for repair and/or upkeep of flooring - Google Patents

Abstract

- The invention relates to a machine for the repair and/or upkeep of flooring, including a motor (2) capable of driving in rotation about its axis (X-X), at least one flooring-treatment rotary tool (3) by means of a driveshaft substantially orthogonal to the said tool, the said rotary tool being enveloped by a casing (4). - According to the invention, the said casing (4) is composite and consists of a rigid peripheral ring (4B) and of a central part (4A) of at least approximately discoid shape, at the periphery of which the said rigid ring (4B) is fixed, and the said central part (4A) is made of a material which is rigid in its plane but flexible orthogonally to its plane so that: . under the action of radial constraints, the said casing keeps a fixed immovable position relative to the said tool; . under the action of axial constraints, the said casing can move in a limited fashion along the said axis of the said tool; and . under the action of tilting constraints, the said tool can tilt in a limited fashion relative to the said rigid ring.

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for preparing and maintaining floors.

Such machines are already known, in particular by patents EP-AO 182,178, US-A-4,631,775, US-A-4,731,956 and
FR-A-2 644 370. They usually comprise a motor, generally electric, capable of rotating at least one rotary tool for treating the soil, by means of a substantially drive shaft. orthogonal to said tool. Depending on the nature of the soil and / or the treatments to be carried out, the rotary tool can be a brush, an abrasive disc, a pad, etc. In addition, a rigid shell envelops the rotary tool for protection purposes. 'on the one hand, vis-à-vis the user and, on the other hand, vis-à-vis the walls delimiting the floors to be treated or objects on them.

Furthermore, it is known that these machines can be equipped with a suction device opening into the hull and making it possible to suck up the dust generated during sanding operations for example, by the vacuum created in the internal volume of the hull . To guarantee maximum vacuum and therefore optimal dust extraction, the rigid shell then comprises sealing means which extend the shell laterally by surrounding the periphery of said tool and the edge of which comes to touch the ground. These sealing means are generally of the flexible skirt type or with concentric and sliding rigid sheets.

Although these machines give satisfactory results in terms of soil treatment proper, they nevertheless have drawbacks.

Indeed, it turns out in use that the flexible skirts, made of a synthetic material, fold and tend to cut and, therefore, to age prematurely, so that they must be changed regularly, if the 'We want to keep a sufficient vacuum inside the hull. Furthermore, the use of rigid sheets, acting as a side belt, is also found to be unsatisfactory, in particular because of the tedious assembly and disassembly operations. Indeed, because of fouling and / or under the action of successive shocks against the walls having caused deformations on the sheets, these are subsequently trapped by no longer locally ensuring contact with the ground and making their disassembly difficult.

In addition, these skirts, concentric or sliding, are the cause of vacuum pressure losses.

In addition, as the rigid shells, due to the addition of said skirts, have a dimension in plan much greater than that of the tools which they envelop, the external periphery of these tools cannot manage to treat the surface edges delimited by the walls, since the outer periphery of the skirts first touches the wall. Thus, a margin or border of several centimeters, corresponding to the difference between the external radii of the shell and of the tool, is not processed by the machine.

The present invention aims to improve these known machines, in particular by remedying the aforementioned drawbacks, caused by said shells.

To this end, according to the invention, the machine for preparing and / or maintaining the floors, comprising a motor capable of rotating, around its axis, at least one rotary soil treatment tool, by means of a drive shaft substantially orthogonal to said tool, said rotary tool being enveloped by a shell, is remarkable in that said shell is composite and is constituted by a rigid peripheral crown and by a central part, of shape at least approximately disc-shaped, at the periphery of which said rigid crown is fixed and in that said central part is made of a material which is rigid in its plane, but flexible orthogonally to its plane, so that - under the action of radial stresses , said shell keeps
an immutable fixed position relative to said tool - under the action of axial stresses, said shell can
move in a limited way along said axis of said
tool; and - under the action of tilting constraints, said tool
can tilt to a limited extent with respect to said
rigid crown.

In a preferred embodiment, said central part of the shell consists of a canvas of synthetic material composed of a fibrous reinforcement, for example of polyester, embedded in an elastomer. Such a fabric can be, for example, of the type used for the production of conveyor belts and whose mechanical strengths, in particular to shear, tensile, tear and aging, are high, which is suitable for all particularly for the central part of the shell of the machine according to the invention.

Thus, thanks to the properties of the central part of the composite shell according to the invention - since, due to the rigidity of its central part in
its plan, the hull keeps a fixed position relative to
the tool, when subjected to radia stresses
them, for example because said shell comes into abutment
against a wall, it is possible to provide, for
construction, that the outer periphery of said tool
approaches as close as possible to the internal periphery of said
crown, so that the machine equipped with such
composite shell allows the condition and / or maintenance
floors without leaving wide untreated edges or
at least minimizing the width of these - since the hull can move in a limited way along
of the tool axis, when subjected to
axial constraints, it applies spontaneously and
continuously by its bottom edge on the ground at
treat under the action of gravity acting on said
crown, so that the internal volume of the shell is
always closed by the ground and that the flexibility of the part
central shell allows continuous adaptation of the
height of the hull above the ground, for example for
take into account tool wear. I1 is therefore useless to
provide added sealing skirts; and - since the flexibility of the central part of the hull
transversely to its plane allows the tilting of
the tool in relation to the shell, it is possible to tilt
the tool to increase the effectiveness of treatment in
particular areas of the soil to be treated or the overshoot
multilateral.

Advantageously, said central part of the shell has the shape of a flattened Chinese hat, the cavity of which is directed towards said tool.

Since the composite shell of the machine according to the invention is in continuous abutment on the ground, it is advantageous to provide on said crown friction means ensuring appropriate sliding of the shell on the ground. Such friction means can be produced by an annular ring of plastic material (for example polytetra fluoroethylene) fixed on the lower edge of the crown.

However, it is preferable that said friction means also ensure the relative tightness of the interior volume of the shell relative to the ground. Also, in an advantageous embodiment, said friction and sealing means consist of a support linked to the rigid peripheral crown and provided with a dense network of bristles intended to come into contact with the soil to be treated, by their ends. free.

According to an additional feature of the machine, in said shell is formed an opening in which is engaged a tip of a suction device. Thus, as said friction and sealing means constitute a barrier between the exterior and the interior of the shell, a significant vacuum is always maintained, guaranteeing an effective suction of the dust generated by the treatment of the soil, for example a sanding. It will be noted that the deformable nature of the shell allows the friction and sealing means not to be stressed excessively.

In a first embodiment of said machine, said shell is fixed, by said central part, to said motor, which coaxially drives said rotary tool and to which a control handle is articulated. In a second embodiment, said hull is mounted, by said central part, under the front part of a chassis, to which a control handle is articulated and which supports, at its rear part, said motor, a transmission ensuring the connection between said motor and said rotary tool. In this case, in order to obtain a satisfactory vertical clearance of said hull, it is advantageous to provide a spacer between said central part of the hull and said chassis.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

Figure 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section, partially, of a first embodiment of the machine according to the invention.

Figures 2 to 4 respectively represent three working positions that can be occupied by the machine thanks to the composite shell of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic view in longitudinal section, partially, of a second embodiment of said machine.

The machine I for preparing and maintaining the floors, shown in FIG. 1, comprises an electric motor 2 capable of rotating a rotary tool 3 with a vertical axis XX, and a shell 4 surrounding said tool . The shell 4 is fixed by any suitable means 16 under the motor 2. The drive shaft 2A of the latter is substantially orthogonal to the plane of said rotary tool of circular shape and it is linked to the latter by any suitable connection means . In addition, the machine 1 comprises a control handle 5 which is connected by a hinge 6 to the motor, while its opposite end 5A is provided with the various handles and control members of the machine, not shown.

The rotary tool 3 consists for example of a circular base plate 3A, coaxially coupled to the drive shaft of the motor 2 by means of a reduction gear 17, and of an appropriate treatment element 3B, integral with the plate 3A and which may be a brush, a pad of fibrous material or the like, etc., to act on the ground S (in FIGS. 1 to 5, this tool is represented in the form of a brush ).

According to the invention, said shell 4 is made in a composite manner, comprising a central part 4A and a peripheral crown 4B. For this, the central part 4A of the shell 4 consists of a canvas of synthetic material of the type used for conveyor belts, the various mechanical resistance to shear, and to tearing in particular, are excellent. For example, it can advantageously be composed of a fibrous reinforcement (made of textile threads, such as polyester, or metallic) coated with an elastomer, such as polyvinyl chloride.

Thus, this central discoid part 4A is rigid in its plane, but flexible orthogonally to its plane.

This central part 4A has, in this embodiment, not the shape of a perfectly flat disc, but that of a flattened Chinese hat, the concavity of which is directed towards the tool 3. The internal periphery of the central part 4A is fixed under the motor 2, while, at the outer periphery of said central part 4A, the rigid peripheral ring 4B is fixed, for protection purposes. The central part 4A of the shell 4 can be obtained directly by molding, by prestressing or by cutting a corresponding developed strip and assembly, in particular by stapling, of the lateral edges thereof, or by successive folds to conform it according to the desired shape.

As mentioned above, at the outer periphery of the central part 4A, is fixed, by means of fixing members 7, a rigid crown 4B which extends laterally said central part and which is in turn extended by sealing means 8 intended to come into contact with the ground
S by surrounding the rotary tool 3. These means 8 are, for example, constituted (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) by a support in circular rod 8A, fixed peripherally to the rigid crown 4B by screws 9 or the like and provided with a dense network of short hairs 8B, the free ends of which 8B1 are applied against the ground S. Thus, an internal and sealed volume 10 is defined under the composite shell 4, equipped with the crown 4B and means 8, around the rotary tool 3. Advantageously, a suction device 11, which is for example mounted on the handle 5 of the machine, is connected, by means of a nozzle llA terminating its flexible pipe llB, to a opening 4C formed in the central part 4A of the shell 4 and communicating with the internal volume 10. It is then possible, when necessary depending on the type of soil treatment, to vacuum the dust generated during the operation soil treatment S.

A peripheral band 18, of rubber or the like, intended for protection against lateral impacts, can be fixed to the rigid crown 4B, which is for example made of aluminum.

The composite shell 4 can, depending on the constraints applied to it, either remain rigid or deform.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, if the shell 4 is brought into abutment, by its protective strip 18, against a wall M, then if it is pushed along the arrow F shown in the figure, so that said shell 4 undergoes radial stresses, the assembly constituted by the motor 2 and the rotary tool 3 cannot move radially, relative to the rigid ring 4B, because the central part 4A is rigid in its plane. Consequently, the peripheral edge of the rotary tool 3 can be structurally approached as close as possible to the internal periphery of the rigid ring 4B to treat almost all of the soil S, leaving only a minimum untreated margin.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the flexibility of the central part 4A, orthogonally to its plane, allows the shell 4 to deform vertically.

In FIG. 3 (to be compared with FIG. 2), the tool 3 is shown in an advanced state of wear of its processing element 3B. We can see that, under the action of gravity (axial stress), the shell 4 has deformed and moved in a limited way along the axis XX of the tool, to adapt to the difference in height of element 3B and maintain contact on the ground S.

In FIG. 4, another example of axial stress has been illustrated, showing that the composite shell 4 also authorizes the relative inclination of the axis XX of the motor 2 - tool 3 assembly relative to the vertical position VV that it usually occupies. Indeed, it may be advantageous to locally press the rotary tool on a determined location on the ground S. For this, as shown in FIG. 4, the motor 2 - tool 3 assembly can be tilted by an angle A relative to vertically, thanks to the deformation of the flexible central part 4A, following an action of the operator on the handle 5, so that the rear part of the rotary tool 3, and more particularly its brush 3B is applied energetically on the place to be treated of the soil S. The synthetic material fabric forming the central part 4A then takes the configuration shown in FIG. 4.

Simultaneously with the sanding and / or brushing operations of the floor S, in particular, the suction device 11 operates, so that the dust generated by these operations is sucked through the flexible pipe llB thanks to the vacuum created in the internal volume 10, sealed by the contact of the bristles 8B on the ground S. During the depression, the central part 4A tends to deform slightly by the suction created.

In the second exemplary embodiment illustrated with reference to FIG. 5, the machine 1 ′ comprises a rigid frame 12, under the front part 12A of which the internal periphery of the central part 4A of at least one shell 4 is fixed, while the motor 2 is then mounted on the rear part 12B of said chassis. In this case, the rotary tool 3, which is enveloped by the shell 4 provided with the rigid crown 4B and the sealing means 8, is offset parallel to the vertical drive shaft 2A of said motor. Also, a belt drive 14A 14A connects, via respective pulleys 14B and 14C, the drive shaft 2A to the rotary tool 3.

In order to be able to benefit from the full possibility of vertical displacement of the shell 4 (without coming into abutment against said chassis), a spacer 20 is advantageously provided between said central part 4A and said chassis.

The handle 5 is, in this case, articulated at 6 at the rear of the chassis and carries the suction device 11 which communicates with the interior of the shell 4 by its flexible pipe and its end piece. To facilitate movement of the machine on the ground, rear bearing means 15 linked to the chassis 12 are also provided.

Again, the arrangement of the shell in accordance with the present invention allows the rotary tool to best approach the edges of the soil to be treated and, to said shell, limited freedom of vertical movement. Although they are not shown in Figure 5, one could provide means for pivoting the rotary tool, as in the previous example, to exert pressure on a specific place on the ground. Such means can be substantially similar to those described and illustrated in the document
FR-A-2 644 370.

Claims (10)

1. Machine for preparing and / or maintaining floors, comprising a motor (2) capable of driving in rotation about its axis (XX), at least one rotary tool (3) for treating the soil , by means of a drive shaft substantially orthogonal to said tool, said rotary tool being enveloped by a shell (4), characterized in that said shell (4) is composite and is constituted by a rigid peripheral crown (4B ) and by a central part (4A), of at least approximately discoidal shape, at the periphery of which is fixed said rigid ring (4B) and in that said central part (4A) is made of a rigid material in its plane, but flexible orthogonally to its plane, so that - under the action of radial stresses, said shell keeps  an immutable fixed position relative to said tool - under the action of axial stresses, said shell can  move in a limited way along said axis of said  tool; and - under the action of tilting constraints, said tool  can tilt to a limited extent with respect to said  rigid crown. 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said central part (4A) of the shell consists of a canvas of synthetic material composed of a fibrous reinforcement embedded in an elastomer. 3. Machine according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the central part (4A) of the shell has the shape of a flattened Chinese hat, the cavity of which is directed towards said tool. 4. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that friction means (8) are provided for the support of said rigid peripheral ring (4B) on the ground. 5. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said friction means (8) seal the interior volume (10) of the shell relative to the ground. 6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said friction and sealing means (8) consist of a support (8A) linked to the rigid peripheral ring (4B) and provided with a dense network of bristles ( 8B) intended to come into contact with the soil to be treated, by their free ends. 7. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in said shell, is formed an opening (4C) in which is engaged a tip (liA) of a suction device (II). 8. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said shell (4) is fixed, by said central part (4A), to said motor (2), which coaxially drives said rotary tool (3) and to which is articulated a control handle (5). 9. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said shell (4) is mounted, by said central part (4A), under the front part of a frame (12), to which is articulated to its rear part a control handle (5) and which supports said motor (2), a transmission (14) ensuring the connection between said motor and said rotary tool. 10. Machine according to claim 9, characterized in that a spacer (20) is provided between the central part (4A) of said shell and said chassis (12).