SUMMARY

[001] A floor stripping machine comprises a support frame with a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted thereto. A motor is connected to the support frame. The motor has a motor output shaft that is coupled to an input shaft on a gear reduction box. The input shaft of the gear reduction box is configured to engage and be driven by the motor output shaft. The gear reduction box has an output shaft. The floor stripping machine has a reciprocable drive plate. A bearing is configured to engage the reciprocable drive plate, and the output shaft of the gear box extends into bearing. A follower plate is connected to the drive plate and a plurality of stripping chisels are mounted to a forward end of the follower plate and configured to reciprocate therewith. The support frame may comprise first and second spaced apart side plates, with first and second slide rails connected to the first and second side plates. The follower plate is slidably and reciprocably received in the first and second slide rails.

[002] In one embodiment the plurality of chisels are loosely mounted to the follower plate and pivotable about an axis parallel to a direction of movement of the floor stripping machine. The floor stripping machine may comprise a tool bar connected to the drive plate, with a plurality of open ended mounting receptacles extending from the tool bar. In one embodiment the chisels comprise a chisel head and a chisel body, and the chisel body is configured to extend into and pivotally connect to the open ended mounting receptacle. A handle is mounted to the frame of the floor stripping machine and a forward support wheel is rotatably mounted to the frame and movable from an operating position in which the chisels engage a flooring material to a rolling position in which the support wheel engages a floor surface and the chisels are spaced upwardly from the floor.

[003] An eccentric sleeve may be disposed about the output shaft of the gear reduction box and received in the bearing. Rotation of the output shaft of the gear reduction box reciprocates the drive plate. The follower plate is fixed to the drive plate and reciprocates therewith. The chisels are fixed to the follower plate, and likewise reciprocate with the drive plate.

[004] In an embodiment a floor stripping machine comprises a support frame with a pair of floor engaging wheels rotatably mounted to the support frame. A motor comprises a motor output shaft that is coupled to an input shaft of a gear reduction box. The gear reduction box is mounted to the support frame. The input shaft of the gear reduction box is rotated by the motor output shaft. The gear reduction box has a rotatable output shaft. The floor stripping machine has a reciprocable drive plate defining an opening therein. The opening has a forward side and a rear side and has left and right sides. A bearing is positioned to engage the opening in the drive plate and will engage only the rear and forward sides of the opening. An eccentric sleeve is coupled to the output shaft of the gear reduction box. A follower plate is connected to and reciprocable with the drive plate and at least one chisel is mounted to a front end of the follower plate and reciprocably moveable therewith.

[005] In one embodiment the follower plate is parallel to and spaced from the drive plate. A pair of spaced apart opposed slide rails are connected to the support frame, and the follower plate is slidably received in the slide rails for reciprocal movement therein. A tool bar is removably connected to the follower plate, and the at least one chisel is nondestructively removably connected to the tool bar. The tool bar comprises a tool bar plate connected to the follower plate and at least one open ended receptacle extending in a forward direction from the toolbar plate. The at least one chisel is connected to the at least one open ended receptacle.

[006] In one embodiment the floor stripping machine comprises a plurality of open ended receptacles and a plurality of chisels connected to the plurality of open ended receptacles. The chisels may be loosely connected to the receptacles and configured to pivot relative thereto. The at least one chisel may be loosely mounted to the toolbar and configured to move relative to the toolbar as the chisel moves over imperfections in a floor surface from which flooring material is being stripped.

[007] In an embodiment the floor stripping machine comprises first and second spaced apart side plates with a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to the first and second spaced apart side plates. A support plate may be connected to the first and second side plates. A motor is coupled to a gear reducer mounted to the support plate. The gear reducer has a rotatable output shaft. An eccentric sleeve is coupled to the output shaft. The eccentric sleeve extends into an opening defined in a drive plate. The opening in the drive plate is configured to translate rotation of the eccentric sleeve into back and forth reciprocation of the drive plate. A follower plate with a plurality of floor engaging chisels mounted thereto is fixed to the drive plate and reciprocable therewith. [008] The floor stripping machine may comprise a slide rail defining a channel connected to each of the first and second side plates. The follower plate is configured to reciprocate in the channels defined by the slide rails. The floor chisels are removably connected to a tool bar that is connected to the drive plate. The floor chisels are loosely connected and configured to move relative to the tool bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the right side of the apparatus.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the left side of the apparatus.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom and the right side of the apparatus.

[0012] FIG. 4, 5, 6 are exploded views showing the reciprocating mechanism of the apparatus.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a front view of the apparatus in a traveling position.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the apparatus.

[0015] FIG 9 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

[0016] FIG 10 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus.

[0017] FIG. 11 is a side view of the apparatus in a traveling position.

[0018] FIG. 12 is a side view of the apparatus in an operating position.

[0019] FIG.13 is a perspective view of a chisel.

[0020] FIG. 14 is a top view of a chisel assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring to the figures, a walk behind flooring remover or floor stripping machine 10 is shown and described. Floor stripping machine 10 will remove flooring material 15 from a floor surface 20 and can generate an impact, or hammering effect on the flooring material 15 to be removed. Floor stripping machine 10 is designed to remove flooring material 15 which may be comprised of tile of any type for example ceramic, porcelain, or any other type of tile utilized on a floor surface. Floor stripping machine 10 may also be used to remove carpet, linoleum, or other floor coverings. [0022] Floor stripping machine 10 comprises a support frame 25 with a pair of wheels 30 rotatable connected thereto. A handle 32 is pivotably mounted to support frame 25 and more specifically is pivotably mounted to the side plates of support frame 25 to provide for comfortable positioning of the handle. Floor stripping machine 10 further comprises at least one and in the embodiment shown a plurality of chisels 34 for removing flooring material 15 from floor surface 20. The embodiment described utilizes four chisels 34, but it is understood that more or less chisels may be used to remove flooring material 15. A motor 36 is coupled to a gear reduction box 38 that is mounted to support frame 25. Motor 36 is mounted to the support frame 25 with gear reduction box 38.

[0023] Floor stripping machine 10 is switchable between a traveling position and an operating position. The operating position of the floor stripping machine 10 is shown in FIG. 12, and the traveling position is shown in FIG. 1 1. In the traveling position a traveling wheel as described herein is lowered to engage the floor surface 20 so that is shown in FIG. 1 1 chisels 34 are spaced therefrom so that floor stripping machine 15 can travel easily thereover.

[0024] Support frame 25 comprises a pair of side plates 40, which comprise a left side plate 42 and a right side plate 44. Each of side plates 40 has a forward edge 46, a rear edge 48, a top edge 50 and a bottom edge 52. A plurality of reinforcing bars 56 may be connected to and extend between left and right side plates 42 and 44 to provide strength. Reinforcing bars 56 may be tapped at both ends and connected with a bolt that extends through the side plates 42 and 44 into the tapped ends of each of the reinforcing bars 56. Frame 25 may further include outer weighted plates 60. Outer weighted plates 60 may be connected to side plates 42 and 44 with a plurality of bolts. In the embodiment described, three bolts 62 extend from outer weighted plates 60 through side plates 42 and 44 and are connected with nuts on the inner side of side plates 42 and 44. Spacers may be placed between the outer weighted plates 60 and side plate 42 and 44 and the bolt shaft may extend therethrough to connect the outer weighted plates 60 to the side plate, 42 and 44. Outer weighted plates 60 will be of a sufficient weigh to prevent or at least alleviate any backward push as a result of the reciprocating motion generated by the motor 36.

[0025] Handle 32 includes arms 68 which comprise left arm 70 and right arm 72. Lower ends 74 of arms 68 are pivotably connected to support frame 25 and more specifically to left and right side plates 42 and 44 thereof. Arms 68 may be sectioned arms that include an upper section 76 that is pivotably connected to a lower section 78 thereof. Side plates 42 and 44 may have a plurality of openings 80 and 82 therein. Each of openings 80 and 82 are utilized to allow positioning of the handle 32. Upper section 76 may pivot about a pin 77 and a pull pin 84 may be utilized to hold the upper section 76 in a desired position by extending through one of holes 82. Likewise, a pull pin may be utilized to extend into one of openings 80 to lock arm 68 in preferred position at the lower end 74 of arms 68. Arms 68 will pivot about a pin 81 extending through each of side plates 42 and 44. Hand grips 88 may be attached to a shaft 90 extending from arms 68. Shaft 90 may rotate in a bearing 92 which will allow for a comfortable grasp and comfortable positioning of the handle 32 for operation of floor stripping machine 10.

[0026] A traveling wheel assembly 100 is mounted to support frame 25. Traveling wheel assembly 100 is pivotably connected to support frame 25 for movement between a traveling position shown in FIG. 1 1 and an operating position in which the traveling wheel assembly 140 is pivoted to the upper position shown in Fig. 12. In the traveling position chisels 34 are raised from floor surface 20 so that the floor stripping machine 10 may roll easily thereover. In the operating position the weight of the chisels 34 and the forward portion of the floor stripping machine 10 will cause the support frame 25 to tilt about wheels 30 and chisels 34will engage floor surface 20 to strip a flooring material 15 therefrom.

[0027] Traveling wheel assembly 100 comprises a wheel 102 attached to a frame 104.

Frame 104 has side arms 106 that are pivotably mounted at a lower end 108 thereof. Pull pin 1 10 may be utilized to lock the traveling wheel assembly 100 in its traveling position or operating position. Traveling wheel assembly 100 will rotate about a pin 1 12 that extends through side plates 42 and 44 and through the lower end of arms 106.

[0028] An output shaft 130 extends from motor 36 and engages an input shaft 132 on gear reduction box 38 mounted to support plate 136. Support plate 136 is a part of frame 25 and is connected to and extends between left and right side plates 42 and 44. Support plate 136 may be connected to side plates 24 and 44 with bolts 137 that extend through the side plates into tapped holes in the support plate 136. Motor 36 in the embodiment described is an electric motor, and may be for example a Baldor® 1725 RPM single phase motor. Gear reduction box 38 has an output shaft 134. Gear reduction box 38 may be for example a Hub City ® model ARM 1 XQ. It is understood that the motor may be any electric motor capable of supplying the amount of power needed and the gear reducer can be any capable of providing the appropriate reduction and those cited are merely examples. The gear reduction box 138 is designed to reduce the RPM on the output shaft 134 from that delivered by the motor output shaft 130. Gear reduction box may generate, for example, a 2/1 reduction. The reduction in rotation generates torque that will provide a greater force applied to chisel 34. In this way a hammering or chiseling force will be created to remove flooring material 15. While in one embodiment the gear reduction box may be a 2 to 1 gear reduction box it is understood that a greater or smaller reduction can be used to generate the desired force.

[0029] Support plate 136 has top surface 138, a bottom surface 140, a left edge 142, a right edge 144, a forward edge 146 and a rear edge 148. A drive plate 150 is positioned below support plate 136 and is driven in reciprocating fashion by motor 36 through output shaft 134 of gear reduction box 38. Drive plate 150 has top surface 152, bottom surface 154, forward end 156 and a rear end 158. Drive plate 150 has an opening 160 therein with forward edge 162, rear edge 164, left edge 166 and right edge 168. A bearing 170 of a type known in the art, for example a roller bearing may be received in opening 160. Opening 160 has a length 171 that is greater than a width 173. Bearing 170 engages only the forward and rear edges 162 and 164 respectively of opening 160 and does not contact the left and right edges 166 and 168 thereof.

[0030] An eccentric sleeve or eccentric bushing 172 is disposed about and is coupled to the output shaft 134 of gear reduction box 38 with a key or other known means. As a result, eccentric bushing 172 will eccentrically rotate as output shaft 134 rotates. Bushing 172 is fixed in a manner known in the art to an eccentric locking collar 176 of bearing 170.

[0031] A follower plate 180 is mounted to drive plate 150 and is movable therewith.

Follower plate 180 has a forward edge 182, a rear edge 184, a left edge 186, a right edge 188, a top surface 190 and a bottom surface 192. Follower plate 180 is spaced from drive plate 150 and has spacers 194 therebetween. Bolts 196, and in the embodiment shown four bolts 196 extend through openings in follower plate 180 and are threaded into tapped openings in drive plate 150. Thus, follower plate 180 is moveable with drive plate 150 and will reciprocate as drive plate 150 is reciprocated by output shaft 134 as described herein.

[0032] Follower plate 180 is mounted in rail assemblies 200 which may comprise a left rail assembly 202 and a right rail assembly 204. Rail assemblies 200 define a channel 206. Channel 206 is defined by an upper rail 208 and a lower rail 210. A spacer bar 212 is connected to side plates 42 and 44 with bolts 214 therethrough. Rails 208 and 210 are connected to and spaced apart by spacer bar 212 with bolts 216. Follower plate 180 is slidable in left and right rail assemblies 202 and 204 and specifically reciprocates in channels 206 in the left and right rail assemblies 202 and 204.

[0033] A toolbar 220 is removably connected to the forward edge 182 of follower plate

180. Toolbar 220 includes a toolbar plate 224 with a plurality of open ended receptacles 226, each having an open forward end 228. Toolbar 220 is non-destructively removable and replaceable and is connected with bolts that extend into tapped holes in follower plate 180. Receptacles 226 will have openings on the top and bottom thereof to receive pins or bolts 230 that connect chisels 34 thereto.

[0034] Chisels 34 are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 10 and 1 1. Chisels 34 include a chisel head 240 with a chisel body 242. In the embodiment shown chisel body 242 is a cylindrical chisel body extending from chisel head 240. Chisel head 240 may comprise a steel upper segment 242 with a carbide impact segment 244 fixed thereto in a manner known in the art, for example by soldering. Chisel head 240 has forward or cutting edge 248 which is defined on impact portion 246.

[0035] Chisel body 242 has an opening 252 extending therethrough from a top to the bottom thereof and also has an opening extending through the side thereof that is generally perpendicular to opening 252. Opening 252 is an oversized opening such that the bolt 253 that extends therethrough will not be closely received therein. As a result, chisels 34 are loosely connected or mounted to tool bar 220 and will move relative thereto and to support frame 25 as they move over floor surfaces from which floor materials being removed. Chisels 34 will pivot about an axis generally parallel to the direction of movement of the floor stripping machine 15 as it moves over imperfections such as bumps and raised portion in floor surface 20. Chisels 34 will likewise move up and down independent of the tool bar for the same purpose.

[0036] In operation floor stripping machine 15 will be moved to the operating position shown in 12. A switch 262 located on handle 32 will be connected to the motor 36 in a manner known in the art. In the embodiment shown motor 36 is an electric motor so that an electrical cord will extend from switch 262 and will be plugged into an outlet to provide power.

[0037] When the switch is turned to the“on” position motor output shaft 130 will rotate as well as input shaft 132 on gear reducer box 38. Gear reducer box 138 to generate will reduce the rotation of the output shaft 134 relative to the input shaft 132 to provide more power to the hammering impact desired. The rotation of the output shaft 134 will cause eccentric sleeve 172 to rotate in eccentric fashion. As described herein bearing 170 engages only the forward and rear edges 162 and 164 of opening 160 with drive plate 150. Drive plate 150 will therefore reciprocate in the forward and backward direction only. There will be no rotational or orbital motion translated to the chisels 34. In other words the drive plate 150, follower plate 180, and chisels 34 will reciprocate generally parallel to the direction of travel direction of floor stripping machine 10. As drive plate 150 reciprocates relative to frame 25 follower plate 180 will likewise reciprocate and will slide in rails 200. The reciprocating motion will be delivered to toolbar 220 and chisels 34. Because of the reduction provided by gear reduction box 38 chisels 34 will hammer or chisel flooring material 15 as opposed to simply scraping it. In other words chisels 34 will deliver a force sufficient to crack or break tile that is fixed to a floor and is also effective to remove carpet and other materials.

[0038] In the embodiment described four chisels 34 are utilized. However, it will be understood that depending upon the circumstances one, two, three, four chisels or more chisels may be used. The number of chisels 34 will depend on the type of flooring material 15 being removed, and how the flooring material 15 is adhered to the floor 20. A protective shield 258 can be mounted to tool bar 220. Protective shield 258 will block chips and other debus from flying backwards toward an operator as floor stripping machine 10 is being operated.

[0039] Thus, it is seen that the apparatus and methods of the present invention readily achieve the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described for purposes of the present disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts and steps may be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention.