Scrubbing machine with selective recycle

Claim 2

A scrubbing machine comprising: body means supported on a plurality of wheels; power means for rotatably driving at least one of said wheels; a pair of tanks adapted to contain scrubbing solution; means associated with one of said tanks for applying scrubbing solution from said one tank to a surface to be scrubbed; means for working said solution on said surface; means associated with the other of said tanks for picking up said solution from said surface to said other tank, said pick up means including a vacuum squeegee and pump means for lifting said solution from said squeegee to said other tank; selective means, said selective means being adapted to selectively retain said solution in said other tank during scrubbing thereby providing single cycle scrubbing, said selective means being adapted to selectively pump said solution from said other tank to said one tank thereby providing recycle scrubbing, said selective means further being adapted to selectively pump said solution from said other tank to a discharge thereby providing rapid discharge of used scrubbing solution.

Claim 3

The scrubbing machine of claim 1 wherein said basket filter means is removable from said other tank.

Claim 4

The scrubbing machine of claim 2 wherein said selective means further include filter means for removing particulate matter from said solution as said solution is moved from said other tank to said one tank.

Claim 5

The scrubbing machine of claim 3 wherein said filter means comprise a vertically disposed tubular filter element, said filter element being located in the lower portion of said other tank.

Claim 6

The scrubbing machine of claim 4 wherein said machine has a float switch to assure a solution level at least as high as the upper end of said filter.

Claim 7

A scrubbing machine comprising body structure supported on a plurality of wheels, power means for driving at least one of said wheels, first and second scrubbing solution tanks carried by said body structure, conduit means providing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank, pump means associated with said conduit means for selectively moving scrubbing solution from said second tank through said conduit to said first tank, said pump means providing for selecting between single cycle scrubbing and recycle scrubbing, basket filter means associated with said second tank to remove debris from said solution, means for moving scrubbing solution from said first tank to a surface, means for agitating said scrubbing solution on said surface, and squeegee means and second pump means for lifting said scrubbing solution from said surface to said second tank.

Claim 8

A scrubbing machine comprising body structure supported on a plurality of wheels, power means for driving at least one of said wheels, first and second scrubbing solution tanks carried by said body structure, conduit means providing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank, pump means associated with said conduit means for selectively moving scrubbing solution from said second tank through said conduit to said first tank, said pump means providing for selecting between single cycle scrubbing and recycle scrubbing, basket filter means associated with said second tank to remove debris from said solution, means for moving scrubbing solution from said first tank to a surface, means for agitating said scrubbing solution on said surface, and squeegee means and second pump means for lifting said scrubbing solution from said surface to said second tank.

Claim 9

The scrubbing machine of claim 6 wherein said basket means comprises a strainer basket for removing larger pieces of debris from said scrubbing solution as said solution enters said second tank.

Claim 10

The scrubbing machine of claim 7 wherein said machine includes a tubular filter, said filter being disposed with a vertical axis.

Claim 11

The scrubbing machine of claim 7 wherein said second tank includes a flexible outlet conduit which lies within said second tank, said outlet conduit having a filter disposed at one end to remove particulate matter from said solution as said solution is moved from said second tank to said first tank.

Claim 12

A scrubbing machine comprising body structure supported on a plurality of wheels, first and second scrubbing solution tanks carried by said body structure, conduit means providing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank, pump means associated with said conduit means for selectively moving scrubbing solution from said second tank through said conduit to said first tank, a flexible outlet pipe disposed in said first tank means and in association with said communication conduit, a filter element engaged with the free end of said flexible outlet pipe to remove particulate matter from said solution as the solution is drawn from said second tank, means for moving scrubbing solution from said first tank to a surface, means for agitating said scrubbing solution on said surface, and squeegee means for lifting said scrubbing solution from said surface to said second tank.

Claim 13

A scrubbing machine comprising body structure supported on a plurality of wheels, first and second scrubbing solution tanks carried by said body structure, conduit means providing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank, pump means associated with said conduit means for selectively moving scrubbing solution from said second tank through said conduit to said first tank, a flexible outlet pipe disposed in said first tank means and in association with said communication conduit, a filter element engaged with the free end of said flexible outlet pipe to remove particulate matter from said solution as the solution is drawn from said second tank, means for moving scrubbing solution from said first tank to a surface, means for agitating said scrubbing solution on said surface, and squeegee means for lifting said scrubbing solution from said surface to said second tank.

Claim 14

A scrubbing machine comprising: body means supported on a plurality of wheels; power means for rotatably driving at least one of said wheels; a pair of tanks adapted to contain scrubbing solution; means associated with one of said tanks for applying scrubbing solution from said one tank to a surface to be scrubbed; means for working said solution on said surface; means associated with the other of said tanks for picking up said solution from said surface to said other tank; means for selectively moving said solution from said other tank to said one tank thereby selectively recycling said solution or retaining said solution in said other tank to provide single cycle scrubbing; and said selective means including filter means for removing particulate matter from said solution as said solution is moved from said other tank to said one tank, said filter means including a filter element and a flexible outlet conduit disposed in said other tank, said filter element being disposed at one end of the flexible outlet conduit, said filter means further including float means for positioning said filter element in said other tank.

Claim 15

A scrubbing machine comprising: body means supported on a plurality of wheels; power means for rotatably driving at least one of said wheels; a pair of tanks adapted to contain scrubbing solution; means associated with one of said tanks for applying scrubbing solution from said one tank to a surface to be scrubbed; means for working said solution on said surface; means associated with the other of said tanks for picking up said solution from said surface to said other tank; means for selectively moving said solution from said other tank to said one tank thereby selectively recycling said solution or retaining said solution in said other tank to provide single cycle scrubbing; and said selective means including filter means for removing particulate matter from said solution as said solution is moved from said other tank to said one tank, said filter means including a filter element and a flexible outlet conduit disposed in said other tank, said filter element being disposed at one end of the flexible outlet conduit, said filter means further including float means for positioning said filter element in said other tank.

Claim 16

A scrubbing machine comprising body structure supported on a plurality of wheels, power means for driving at least one of said wheels, first and second scrubbing solution tanks carried by said body structure, conduit means providing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank, pump means associated with said conduit means for selectively moving scrubbing solution from said second tank through said conduit to said first tank, basket filter means associated with said second tank to remove debris from said solution, means for moving scrubbing solution from said first tank to a surface, means for agitating said scrubbing solution on said surface, squeegee means for lifting said scrubbing solution from said surface to said second tank, and a discharge hose associated with said pump means for auxiliary cleaning.

Claim 17

A scrubbing machine comprising body structure supported on a plurality of wheels, power means for driving at least one of said wheels, first and second scrubbing solution tanks carried by said body structure, conduit means providing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank, pump means associated with said conduit means for selectively moving scrubbing solution from said second tank through said conduit to said first tank, basket filter means associated with said second tank to remove debris from said solution, means for moving scrubbing solution from said first tank to a surface, means for agitating said scrubbing solution on said surface, squeegee means for lifting said scrubbing solution from said surface to said second tank, and a discharge hose associated with said pump means for auxiliary cleaning.

Claim 18

A scrubbing machine comprising body structure supported on a plurality of wheels, first and second scrubbing solution tanks carried by said body structure, conduit means providing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank, pump means associated with said conduit means for selectively moving scrubbing solution from said second tank through said conduit to said first tank, a flexible outlet pipe disposed in said first tank means and in association with said communication conduit, a filter element engaged with the free end of said flexible outlet pipe to remove particulate matter from said solution as the solution is drawn from said second tank, means for moving scrubbing solution from said first tankto a surface, means for agitating said scrubbing solution on said surface, squeegee means for lifting said scrubbing solution from said surface to said second tank, said machine further including a flexible discharge hose and nozzle associated with said pump means, said discharge hose and nozzle being adapted for auxiliary cleaning of surfaces.

Claim 19

A scrubbing machine comprising body structure supported on a plurality of wheels, first and second scrubbing solution tanks carried by said body structure, conduit means providing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank, pump means associated with said conduit means for selectively moving scrubbing solution from said second tank through said conduit to said first tank, a flexible outlet pipe disposed in said first tank means and in association with said communication conduit, a filter element engaged with the free end of said flexible outlet pipe to remove particulate matter from said solution as the solution is drawn from said second tank, means for moving scrubbing solution from said first tankto a surface, means for agitating said scrubbing solution on said surface, squeegee means for lifting said scrubbing solution from said surface to said second tank, said machine further including a flexible discharge hose and nozzle associated with said pump means, said discharge hose and nozzle being adapted for auxiliary cleaning of surfaces.

Claim 20

A scrubbing machine comprising: body means supported on a plurality of wheels; power means for rotatably driving at least one of said wheels; a pair of tanks adapted to contain scrubbing solution; means associated with one of said tanks for applying scrubbing solution from said one tank to a surface to be scrubbed; means for working said solution on said surface; means for picking up said solution from said surface for deposit in said other tank; said pickup means including a vacuum squeegee and a first pump, said pump being disposed between said vacuum squeegee and said other tank and serving to lift said solution from said squeegee to said other tank, said other tank being at ambient pressure during operation and including an access opening therein; and selective means, said selective means including a second pump and control mechanism, said selective means being adapted to selectively retain said solution in said other tank during scrubbing thereby providing single cycle scrubbing and said selective means being adapted to selectively pump said solution from said other tank to said one tank thereby providing recycle scrubbing.

Claim 21

A scrubbing machine comprising: body means supported on a plurality of wheels; power means for rotatably driving at least one of said wheels; a pair of tanks adapted to contain scrubbing solution; means associated with one of said tanks for applying scrubbing solution from said one tank to a surface to be scrubbed; means for working said solution on said surface; means for picking up said solution from said surface for deposit in said other tank; said pickup means including a vacuum squeegee and a first pump, said pump being disposed between said vacuum squeegee and said other tank and serving to lift said solution from said squeegee to said other tank, said other tank being at ambient pressure during operation and including an access opening therein; and selective means, said selective means including a second pump and control mechanism, said selective means being adapted to selectively retain said solution in said other tank during scrubbing thereby providing single cycle scrubbing and said selective means being adapted to selectively pump said solution from said other tank to said one tank thereby providing recycle scrubbing.