Zero Turning Radius Lane Maintenance Machine

Abstract

A bowling lane maintenance machine, after completing a maintenance operation on one lane, moves onto the approach behind the foul line, turns and indexes over to the next lane, then turns again and moves up to the foul line of the next lane. Preferably, the machine is self-indexing so that all operations are carried out without operator intervention. Left and right wheels that drive the machine on the approach can be driven at relatively different speeds and in opposite directions to enable the machine to turn about a zero radius.

1 . In a lane maintenance machine that is operable to travel up and down successive generally parallel, elongated bowling lanes performing a maintenance operation on each lane and to index between the lanes on a common approach that spans the lanes behind foul lines at one end of the lanes, the improvement comprising:
 a set of approach drive wheels for propelling the machine while the machine is on the approach; and   control mechanism operably coupled with the approach drive wheels in a manner to cause the approach drive wheels to propel the machine on the approach away from the foul line of one lane, turn the machine on the approach until the machine generally faces the next lane, propel the machine transversely on the approach to the next lane, turn the machine on the approach until the machine is lined up with the next lane, and propel the machine on the approach toward the foul line of the next lane for movement down the lane.   
   
   
       2 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said approach drive wheels being disposed to hang in gutters on opposite sides of each lane as the machine travels up and down the lane.   
   
   
       3 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 further comprising lane drive wheels disposed to engage the surface of the lane when the machine is disposed thereon for propelling the machine up and down the lane,   said approach drive wheels projecting downwardly beyond the lane drive wheels for maintaining the lane drive wheels disengaged from the approach and the approach drive wheels engaged with the approach when the machine is on the approach.   
   
   
       4 . In lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 3 ,
 said approach drive wheels including a left approach drive wheel and a right approach drive wheel spaced laterally from one another,   said control mechanism being operable to drive said left and right approach drive wheels at relatively different speeds and in mutually opposite directions for turning the machine about an upright axis located between said left and right approach drive wheels.   
   
   
       5 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 4 ,
 further comprising at least one free-swiveling caster wheel disposed to assist the approach drive wheels in supporting the machine when the machine is on the approach.   
   
   
       6 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 4 ,
 said control mechanism including spaced apart left and right sensors disposed to detect engagement of the machine with an obstruction and operable to provide an output in response to such detection for driving the left and right approach wheels accordingly.   
   
   
       7 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 each of said sensors including an elongated element projecting outwardly from the machine and mounted for operating movement upon engagement with an obstruction,   said operating movement of the element producing an electrical output signal,   said control mechanism further including a controller responsive to an electrical output signal from a sensor to operate the approach wheels in a manner to steer the machine.   
   
   
       8 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 4 ,
 said control mechanism being operable to render the machine self-indexing from lane-to-lane on the approach,   said control mechanism including a controller programmed to respond to inputs regarding distance traveled on the approach to operate the approach drive wheels.   
   
   
       9 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said control mechanism being operable to render the machine self-indexing from lane-to-lane on the approach,   said control mechanism including a controller programmed to respond to inputs regarding distance traveled on the approach to operate the approach drive wheels,   
   
   
       10 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 9 ,
 said approach drive wheels including a left approach drive wheel and a right approach drive wheel spaced laterally from one another,   said control mechanism being operable to drive said left and right approach drive wheels at relatively different speeds and in mutually opposite directions for turning the machine about an upright axis located between said left and right approach drive wheels.   
   
   
       11 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said approach drive wheels including a left approach drive wheel and a right approach drive wheel spaced laterally from one another,   said control mechanism being operable to drive said left and right approach drive wheels at relatively different speeds and in mutually opposite directions for turning the machine about an upright axis located between said left and right approach drive wheels.   
   
   
       12 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said machine being battery-operated.   
   
   
       13 . In a lane maintenance machine, the improvement comprising:
 a pair of rotatable, axially spaced apart approach drive wheels for propelling the machine while the machine is on an approach behind the foul lines of a set of bowling lanes; and   control mechanism operably coupled with said approach drive wheels in a manner for driving the approach drive wheels at relatively different speeds for turning the machine on the approach.   
   
   
       14 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 13 ,
 said control mechanism being operable to drive the approach drive wheels in mutually opposite directions for turning the machine about an upright axis located between the approach drive wheels.   
   
   
       15 . In lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 13 ,
 said control mechanism including a programmable controller responsive to inputs regarding distances traveled on the approach to operate the approach drive wheels.   
   
   
       16 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 further comprising lane drive wheels disposed to engage the surface of the lane when the machine is disposed thereon for propelling the machine up and down the lane,   said approach drive wheels being disposed to hang in gutters on opposite sides of each lane as the machine travels up and down the lane,   said approach drive wheels projecting downwardly beyond the lane drive wheels for maintaining the lane drive wheels disengaged from the approach and the approach drive wheels engaged with the approach when the machine is on the approach.   
   
   
       17 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 said machine being battery-operated.   
   
   
       18 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 13 ,
 said control mechanism including spaced apart left and right sensors disposed to detect engagement of the machine with an obstruction and operable to provide an output in response to such detection for driving the approach wheels accordingly.   
   
   
       19 . In a lane maintenance machine as claimed in  claim 18 ,
 each of said sensors including an elongated element projecting outwardly from the machine and mounted for operating movement upon engagement with an obstruction,   said operating movement of the element producing an electrical output signal,   said control mechanism further including a controller responsive to an electrical output signal from a sensor to operate the approach wheels in a manner to steer the machine.   
   
   
       20 . A self-propelled, self-steering machine adapted for traveling along a supporting surface, said machine comprising:
 a mobile chassis;   drive wheels supporting said chassis for movement along a supporting surface;   left and right steering sensors mounted on the chassis in position for detecting the presence of an obstruction; and   control mechanism operably coupled with said drive wheels and responsive to said sensors for driving the drive wheels at the same speed to propel the machine in a straight line path of travel when no obstruction is detected by the sensors and at different speeds relative to one another to turn the machine away from an obstruction when an obstruction is detected by a sensor.   
   
   
       21 . A machine as claimed in  claim 20 ,
 said drive wheels comprising a pair of left and right, mutually spaced apart drive wheels,   said control mechanism being operable to drive the drive wheels in mutually opposite directions for turning the machine about an upright axis located between said left and right drive wheels.   
   
   
       22 . A machine as claimed in  claim 21 ,
 said control mechanism including a controller programmed to respond to inputs regarding distance traveled on the surface to operate the drive wheels.   
   
   
       23 . A machine as claimed in  claim 20 ,
 each of said sensors including an elongated element projecting outwardly from the chassis and mounted for operating movement upon engagement with an obstruction,   said operating movement of the element producing an electrical output signal,   said control mechanism further including a controller responsive to an electrical output signal from a sensor to operate the drive wheels in a manner to steer the machine.   
   
   
       24 . A machine as claimed in  claim 20 ,
 said machine being battery-operated.