Rotary work head assembly

Abstract

A rotary work head assembly is provided suitable for connecting the drive hub of a rotary floor cleaning machine to a working head. The coupling comprises latching features associated with the hub and working head. The latching features engage to retain the working head on the hub in a coaxial arrangement suitable for operation of the machine. To remove the working head, the operator tilts the working head away from the coaxial position, which permits disengagement of the working head from the hub.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A rotary work head assembly, comprising:
 a hub carried by a drive shaft;   a working head; and   means for coupling the working head to the hub for co-axial rotation therewith, the means for coupling comprising latching features associated with the hub and working head respectively that are configured to inter-engage to retain the working head on the hub,   wherein the means for coupling is configured to permit tilting of the working head out of coaxial alignment with the hub, and wherein the latching features are configured so that sufficient tilt serves to disengage a latching feature associated with the hub from a corresponding latching feature associated with working head so as to permit selective demounting of the working head from the hub.   
     
     
         32 . The assembly of claim  1 , wherein the means for coupling is configured to tilt by the provision of a gimbal means that is operative between the hub and work head. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly of claim  1 , wherein the means for coupling between the hub and work head comprises positioning of the hub in a corresponding female seat provided in an upper surface of the work head. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly of claim  1 , wherein the hub has a shaft end and a distal end, wherein the distal end a surface portion that is at least partially-domed to facilitate tilting of the work head on the hub for demounting. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly of claim  1 , wherein an outer circumferential surface of the hub is provided with tangentially extending facets so that the hub has a polygonal cross-section. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein a female seat defined in the work head has a corresponding polygonal perimeter in which the hub can cooperatively nest, thereby permitting rotation of the working head by the hub. 
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein one or more of the work head facets has a recess defined therein, and wherein each recess is configured for seating of a latching spigot provided on a corresponding hub facet. 
     
     
         38 . The assembly of  claim 37 , wherein each recess is defined by an inwardly directed lip feature at an upper end region of each facet. 
     
     
         39 . The assembly of claim  1 , wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of latching spigots and corresponding and cooperating recesses. 
     
     
         40 . The assembly of  claim 37 , wherein each spigot is selectively biased into a latching engagement configuration when the working head is coupled to the hub. 
     
     
         41 . The assembly of  claim 37 , wherein each spigot is biasably mounted on the hub. 
     
     
         42 . The assembly of  claim 41 , wherein each spigot is configured to bias ably project radially outwards from an associated hub facet. 
     
     
         43 . The assembly of claim  1 , wherein the coupling means comprises at least one lip feature that is configured to constrain a corresponding spigot. 
     
     
         44 . The assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one lip feature is provided on the working head. 
     
     
         45 . A rotary work head assembly comprising:
 a hub carried by a drive shaft;   a working head; and   means for coupling the working head to the hub for co-axial rotation therewith, the means for coupling comprising latching features associated with the hub and working head respectively that are configured to inter-engage to retain the working head on the hub, wherein the means for coupling comprises at least one spigot associated with the hub and at least one lip feature associated with the work head, the respective at least one spigot and lip feature being arranged so that coupling of the hub with the work head involves sliding travel of each spigot past a corresponding lip feature into an engaged configuration in which the lip retains the spigot, wherein the means for coupling is configured to permit tilting of the working head out of coaxial alignment with the hub, and wherein the latching features are configured so that sufficient tilt serves to disengage a latching feature associated with the hub from a corresponding latching feature associated with working head so as to permit selective demounting of the working head from the hub.   
     
     
         46 . The assembly of  claim 45 , wherein the spigot is formed with a cammed outer surface portion which facilitates sliding travel of each spigot past the lip. 
     
     
         47 . The assembly of  claim 45 , wherein the at least one spigot is providing with biasing means so as to permit retraction of the spigot so as to allow travel of the spigot past the lip. 
     
     
         48 . The assembly of  claim 45 , wherein the hub nests in a hub seat provided in the working head and each lip feature is defined on a respective upper inner wall portion of the hub seat. 
     
     
         49 . The assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the at least one spigot comprises two retractable spigots, each spigot provided on a respective hub, and where two corresponding recesses are each defined in the inner wall of the seat, each recess having an upper edge region which defines an associated lip feature. 
     
     
         50 . The assembly of  claim 49 , wherein the hub is polygonal in cross section so that the perimeter of the hub comprises a plurality of facets and wherein the two spigots are positioned on opposite facets of the hub, so that tilting of the work head for demounting thereof causes one spigot to be displaced past out of the recess and past the corresponding lip feature in the work head seat wall, while the other spigot is retained hooked in its associated recess until further tilting allows complete release of the work head. 
     
     
         51 . The assembly of  claim 45 , wherein a portion of the hub has an octagonal cross-section which defines eight circumferential facets on the hub. 
     
     
         52 . A rotary work head assembly comprising:
 a hub carried by a drive shaft;   a working head is generally disc shaped and has a lower working face configured to treat a floor surface when the work head is rotated; and   means for coupling the working head to the hub for co-axial rotation therewith, the means for coupling comprising latching features associated with the hub and working head respectively that are configured to inter-engage to retain the working head on the hub,   wherein the means for coupling is configured to permit tilting of the working head out of coaxial alignment with the hub, and wherein the latching features are configured so that sufficient tilt serves to disengage a latching feature associated with the hub from a corresponding latching feature associated with working head so as to permit selective demounting of the working head from the hub.   
     
     
         53 . A floor treatment machine comprising one or more a rotary work head assemblies as claimed in  claim 52 . 
     
     
         54 . A rotary work head assembly comprising:
 a hub carried by a drive shaft;   a working head is generally disc shaped and has a lower working face configured to treat a floor surface when the work head is rotated; and   means for coupling the working head to the hub for co-axial rotation therewith, the means for coupling comprising latching features associated with the hub and working head respectively that are configured to inter-engage to retain the working head on the hub, wherein the means for coupling comprises at least one spigot associated with the hub and at least one lip feature associated with the work head, the respective at least one spigot and lip feature being arranged so that coupling of the hub with the work head involves sliding travel of each spigot past a corresponding lip feature into an engaged configuration in which the lip retains the spigot, wherein the means for coupling is configured to permit tilting of the working head out of coaxial alignment with the hub, and wherein the latching features are configured so that sufficient tilt serves to disengage a latching feature associated with the hub from a corresponding latching feature associated with working head so as to permit selective demounting of the working head from the hub.   
     
     
         55 . A floor treatment machine comprising one or more a rotary work head assemblies as claimed in  claim 54 . 
     
     
         56 . A work head for a floor treatment machine comprising:
 a generally annular or disc-shaped member having an underside provided with a floor treatment surface and an upper side provided with a polygonal hub seat for coupling with a corresponding drive hub of a treatment machine, the hub seat having a polygonal inner wall surface comprising a plurality of facets, each facet being formed with a recess for receiving a hub spigot, wherein each recess is defined by an inwardly facing lip formed at an upper edge region of each inner wall.   
     
     
         57 . The work head of  claim 56 , wherein an upper edge region of each lip is tapered to facilitate travel of a hub spigot past the lip and into the recess during attachment of the work head to the hub. 
     
     
         58 . The work head of  claim 56 , wherein an upper edge region of each recess is provided with a lip feature which constrains the spigot against travel out of the seat recess. 
     
     
         59 . The work head of  claim 56 , wherein the hub seat has a generally octagonal form.