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Riding floor polishing machineRelated Patent Categories: Abrading, Precision Device Or Process - Or With Condition Responsive Control, Computer ControlledRiding floor polishing machine description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070155285, Riding floor polishing machine. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
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 combustion engine, or similar power means. Conventionally, the machine includes a handle, and a user operates the machine by walking behind the machine, pushing the handle and manually directing the surface processing apparatus across the flooring surface. [0007] A large scale surface polishing operation is often time consuming, labor intensive, and tiresome. In order to make such a surface processing job easier and less time consuming, the use of riding vehicles has been employed. Thus, a traditional surface processing apparatus is coupled to a vehicle. A user, sitting atop the vehicle, controls both the vehicle and the surface processing apparatus and, overall, gets the job done faster than if the user had to walk behind a traditional surface processing machine. [0008] 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. [0009] 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. The material that is removed from the finished surface is given off in the form of dust. 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. The dust floats in the air for a considerable amount of time and is breathed in by the user. Furthermore, the dust settles on the user's clothing, as well as all exposed surfaces surrounding the surface polishing operation. [0010] Many attempts have been made to reduce the dusting problem associated with high speed, large scale surface polishing operations. One method of reducing the dusting problem is to continuously bathe the working surface with a moving film of liquid that carries away the dust. 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. [0011] Other devices have been developed to overcome these and similar problems associated with surface polishing machines. Typical of the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. patents: TABLE-US-00001 U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) Issue Date 3,701,221 Frank P. Vinella Oct. 31, 1972 3,936,212 Orvill H. Holz, Sr. et. al. Feb. 3, 1976 4,058,936 Miksa Marton Nov. 22, 1977 5.253,384 Charles W. Joines et. al. Oct. 19, 1993 Re. 34,822 Bryan Mattson Jan. 10, 1995 6,540,305 Edward W. Phillips Apr. 1, 2003 [0012] Of these patents, U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,221, issued to Vinella, discloses a machine for the dry grinding of terrazzo floors which utilizes a vaccum cleaner attachment for the collection of dust raised during the grinding operation. The machine includes a chamber which houses multiple grinding stones. This chamber has a vacuum pick-up head and the chamber is formed in part by a loose fitting skirt assembly. The skirt assembly is resiliently biased in a downwardly direction. A wear shroud forming the lower part of the skirt assembly is biased into firm engagement with the floor and adjustable vent plates are provided for controlling the flow of air through the chamber. The vacuum unit comprises a drum mounted on a wheeled cart which is closely coupled to the machine so that the drum is within the lateral confines of the handle of the machine. [0013] U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,212 ('212), issued to Holz, discloses a vehicle used for troweling large areas of concrete. The '212 patent includes a frame supported by a plurality of troweling rotors. Each troweling rotor has three or four troweling blades, the pitch of which is controlled by the user. The pitch control is extended from all rotors to be separately accessible to the user in the user's seat. The user can steer the vehicle by applying a tilting pressure to one or more rotors with selectivity as to the points along the rotor paths at which the increased downward pressure is applied. [0014] Marton, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,936, discloses a vacuum sanding device that has one or more vacuum openings in the central area of the sanding disc, or, one or more vacuum openings about the periphery of the sanding disc. As the sanding disc is rotated, a vacuum pump applies suction through the vacuum openings. Sanding dust is therefore collected by the vacuum system as the rotating sanding disc makes contact with the sanding surface. [0015] An electric buffing machine and method of buffing waxed floors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,384, issued to Joines, et. al. The buffing machine comprises a molded plastic housing, a foldable handle and a DC drive motor directly driving a buffing pad holder. The pad is movable into and out of engagement with the floor by a pad lifter mechanism which raises and lowers the pad holder along a splined drive shaft of the drive motor. The pad lifter mechanism comprises a reversible motor mounted to the housing and connected to the pad holder. Rotation of the threaded shaft in one direction or the other moves the lifter arm into which the shaft is threaded together with the pad holder and pad up or down relative to the floor. By observing the current draw of the drive motor, control of pad pressure is achieved. The pad holder design provides a directed air flow into the housing to collect dust, dirt and debris generated by the buffing operation. [0016] U.S. Pat. No. Re. 34,822, issued to Mattson, discloses a power riding trailer for an implement. The power riding trailer includes a vehicle having two driven wheels disposed at or near the vehicle rear end and positioned to rotate parallel to the length of the vehicle. A power system provides power to rotate the two driven wheels. At least one non-steered wheel is located at or near the front end, the non-steered wheel being rotatable about an axis, which axis is at least partially rotatable. A seat is affixed to the trailer to provide access for a user to sit on the vehicle and control the vehicle. The power riding trailer is capable of being attached to a standard walk-behind implement, such as a drum sander. The user steers the vehicle by applying lateral pressure to the handle of the walk-behind implement, upon which the power riding trailer follows behind the implement. [0017] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,305 ('305), issued to Phillips, discloses an electric floor covering removal apparatus. The '305 invention includes an electric motor fitted in a frame for driving a fan, a pair of hydrostatic pumps hydraulically connected to independent, hydraulically-operated wheel motors and a hydraulic gear pump. The hydraulic gear pump raises and lowers a landing gear with respect to the frame, deploys the floor covering engaging-implements of the apparatus, and drives the apparatus to remove the floor covering. A pair of control-arm levers is spring-loaded to neutral and serves to independently operate the hydrostatic pumps and the wheel motors in infinitely variable fashion, in both the forward and reverse directions. The driver's seat is mounted on an insulated cover or shroud that covers the electric motor, hydrostatic pumps and the hydraulic gear pump, as well as electrical gear and a hydraulic fluid reservoir located beneath these operating components. An electric cord handling system, pneumatic rear tires and accessory equipment complete the electric floor covering removal apparatus. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [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. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which: Continue reading about Riding floor polishing machine... Full patent description for Riding floor polishing machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Riding floor polishing machine patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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