Ultra high speed twin headed burnisher with pologanial pads and methods

Abstract

An ultra-high speed burnisher with a pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads creates less friction when burnishing a floor than a single circular burnishing pad or two circular burnishing pads. Less friction means that the polygonal pads rotate faster than circular burnishing pads and the polygonal pads create more heat on the floor finish than a single circular burnishing pad. The polygonal pads may be Y-shaped, flower-shaped, hexagonal-shaped, daisy-shaped, elongate like a lawnmower blade, triangular-shaped, square-shaped, pentagonal-shaped or cross-shaped. A method for producing polygonal pads and the resulting product of this method are also disclosed. A method for burnishing the floor of a store with at least 100,000 square feet of floor space on a single battery charge is also disclosed.

1 . In combination, a rechargeable, battery powered, walk-behind twin headed burnisher with a pair of drive pads adapted to receive and hold removable polygonal burnishing pads, the combination comprising:
 a body having a front and rear wherein the body is sized and arranged to hold at least three rechargeable batteries;   a traction motor operatively connected to at least one traction wheel, the traction motor and traction wheel sized and arranged to move the walk-behind twin headed burnisher across the floor while burnishing at a forward speed in the range of between approximately 2.8 MPH and approximately 3.6 MPH;   a moveable deck assembly supporting the pair of drive pads, the deck assembly diagonally positioned in front of the body to achieve a floor burnish width in the range of between approximately 29 inches to approximately 31 inches;   a pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads removably connected to each of the drive pads;   a burnish motor operatively connected to the pair of drive pads to impart rotational motion to the polygonal burnishing pads;   the burnish motor and the traction motor sized and arranged to run in the range of between approximately 2.5 hours and approximately 3.5 hours on a single charge of the rechargeable batteries;   means to raise and lower the deck assembly from a first position where the removable polygonal burnishing pads touch the floor to a second position where the removable polygonal pads do not touch the floor; and   a control panel mounted at the rear of the body to allow an operator to control at least the deck assembly, traction motor and the burnish motor.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein, the forward speed while burnishing is in the range of between approximately 3.0 MPH and approximately 3.4 MPH, the burnish width is in the range of between approximately 29.5 inches and approximately 30.5 inches, and the run time per charge of the batteries is in the range of between approximately 2.75 hours and approximately 3.25 hours. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein, the forward speed while burnishing is approximately 3.25 MPH, the burnish width is approximately 30 inches and the run time per charge of the batteries is approximately 3.0 hours. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads are flower-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads are Y-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads are hexagonal-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads are daisy-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads are generally blade-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads are generally triangular-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads are generally square-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads are generally pentagonal-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The combination  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads are generally cross-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . In combination a rechargeable battery powered walk behind headed burnisher with a pair of polygonal drive polygonal pads adapted to hold removable polygonal burnishing pads, the combination comprising:
 a battery pack having three rechargeable batteries;   a traction motor operatively connected to at least one traction wheel, the traction motor and traction wheel sized and arranged to move the walk-behind twin headed burnisher across the floor while burnishing at a forward speed at least approximately 3.25 MPH;   a moveable deck assembly supporting the pair of polygonal drive pads, the deck assembly diagonally positioned in front of the body to achieve a nominal floor burnish width of approximately 30 inches;   a pair of opposing Y-shaped polygonal burnishing pads removably connected to each of the drive pads;   a burnish motor operatively connected to the pair of opposing drive pads, the burnish motor and the traction motor sized and arranged to run for at least 3 hours on a single charge of the rechargeable batteries;   means to raise and lower the deck assembly to a first position where the polygonal burnishing pads are touching the floor and a second position where the polygonal burnishing pads are not touching the floor; and   a control panel to allow an operator to control at least the traction motor and the burnish motor.   
     
     
         14 . In combination, a rechargeable, battery powered, walk-behind twin headed burnisher with a pair of drive pads adapted to receive and hold removable polygonal burnishing pads, the combination comprising:
 a body having a front and rear wherein the body is sized and arranged to hold at least six rechargeable batteries;   a traction motor operatively connected to at least one traction wheel, the traction motor and traction wheel sized and arranged to move the walk-behind twin headed burnisher across the floor while burnishing at a forward speed in the range of between approximately 2.8 MPH and approximately 3.6 MPH;   a moveable deck assembly supporting the pair of drive pads, the deck assembly diagonally positioned in front of the body to achieve a floor burnish width in the range of between approximately 29 inches to approximately 31 inches;   a pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads removably connected to each of the drive pads;   a burnish motor operatively connected to the pair of drive pads to impart rotational motion to the polygonal burnishing pads;   the burnish motor and the traction motor sized and arranged to run in the range of between approximately 5.5 hours and approximately 6.5 hours on a single charge of the rechargeable batteries;   means to raise and lower the deck assembly from a first position where the removable polygonal burnishing pads touch the floor to a second position where the removable polygonal pads do not touch the floor; and   a control panel mounted at the rear of the body to allow an operator to control at least the deck assembly, traction motor and the burnish motor.   
     
     
         15 . In combination, a rechargeable, battery powered, walk-behind twin headed burnisher with a pair of drive pads adapted to receive and hold removable polygonal burnishing pads, the combination comprising:
 a body having a front and rear wherein the body is sized and arranged to hold at least three rechargeable batteries;   a traction motor operatively connected to at least one traction wheel, the traction motor and traction wheel sized and arranged to move the walk-behind twin headed burnisher across the floor while burnishing at a forward speed in the range of between approximately 2.8 MPH and approximately 3.6 MPH;   a moveable deck assembly supporting the pair of drive pads, the deck assembly diagonally positioned in front of the body to achieve a floor burnish width in the range of between approximately 25 inches to approximately 27 inches;   a pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads removably connected to each of the drive pads;   a burnish motor operatively connected to the pair of drive pads to impart rotational motion to the polygonal burnishing pads;   the burnish motor and the traction motor sized and arranged to run in the range of between approximately 3.0 hours and approximately 4.0 hours on a single charge of the rechargeable batteries;   means to raise and lower the deck assembly from a first position where the removable polygonal burnishing pads touch the floor to a second position where the removable polygonal pads do not touch the floor; and   a control panel mounted at the rear of the body to allow an operator to control at least the deck assembly, traction motor and the burnish motor.   
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein, the forward speed while burnishing is in the range of between approximately 3.0 MPH and approximately 3.4 MPH, the burnish width is in the range of between approximately 25.5 inches and approximately 26.5 inches, and the run time per charge of the batteries is in the range of between approximately 3.3 hours and approximately 3.7 hours. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein, the forward speed while burnishing is approximately 3.25 MPH, the burnish width is approximately 26 inches and the run time per charge of the batteries is approximately 3.5 hours. 
     
     
         18 . In combination, a rechargeable, battery powered, walk-behind twin headed burnisher with a pair of drive pads adapted to receive and hold removable polygonal burnishing pads, the combination comprising:
 a body having a front and rear wherein the body is sized and arranged to hold at least three rechargeable batteries;   a traction motor operatively connected to at least one traction wheel, the traction motor and traction wheel sized and arranged to move the walk-behind twin headed burnisher across the floor while burnishing at a forward speed in the range of between approximately 2.8 MPH and approximately 3.6 MPH;   a moveable deck assembly supporting the pair of drive pads, the deck assembly diagonally positioned in front of the body to achieve a floor burnish width in the range of between approximately 27 inches to approximately 29 inches;   a pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads removably connected to each of the drive pads;   a burnish motor operatively connected to the pair of drive pads to impart rotational motion to the polygonal burnishing pads;   the burnish motor and the traction motor sized and arranged to run in the range of between approximately 2.7 hours and approximately 3.7 hours on a single charge of the rechargeable batteries;   means to raise and lower the deck assembly from a first position where the removable polygonal burnishing pads touch the floor to a second position where the removable polygonal pads do not touch the floor; and   a control panel mounted at the rear of the body to allow an operator to control at least the deck assembly, traction motor and the burnish motor.   
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18  wherein, the forward speed while burnishing is in the range of between approximately 3.0 MPH and approximately 3.4 MPH, the burnish width is in the range of between approximately 27.5 inches and approximately 28.5 inches, and the run time per charge of the batteries is in the range of between approximately 3.0 hours and approximately 3.4 hours. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 18  wherein, the forward speed while burnishing is approximately 3.25 MPH, the burnish width is approximately 28 inches and the run time per charge of the batteries is approximately 3.2 hours. 
     
     
         21 . In combination, a rechargeable, battery powered, walk-behind twin headed burnisher with a pair of drive pads adapted to receive and hold removable polygonal burnishing pads, the combination comprising:
 a body having a front and rear wherein the body is sized and arranged to hold at least six rechargeable batteries;   a traction motor operatively connected to at least one traction wheel, the traction motor and traction wheel sized and arranged to move the walk-behind twin headed burnisher across the floor while burnishing at a forward speed in the range of between approximately 2.8 MPH and approximately 3.6 MPH;   a moveable deck assembly supporting the pair of drive pads, the deck assembly diagonally positioned in front of the body to achieve a floor burnish width in the range of between approximately 27 inches to approximately 29 inches;   a pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads removably connected to each of the drive pads;   a burnish motor operatively connected to the pair of drive pads to impart rotational motion to the polygonal burnishing pads;   the burnish motor and the traction motor sized and arranged to run in the range of between approximately 5.9 hours and approximately 6.9 hours on a single charge of the rechargeable batteries;   means to raise and lower the deck assembly from a first position where the removable polygonal burnishing pads touch the floor to a second position where the removable polygonal pads do not touch the floor; and   a control panel mounted at the rear of the body to allow an operator to control at least the deck assembly, traction motor and the burnish motor.   
     
     
         22 . In combination, a rechargeable, battery powered, walk-behind twin headed burnisher with a pair of drive pads adapted to receive and hold removable polygonal burnishing pads, the combination comprising:
 a body having a front and rear wherein the body is sized and arranged to hold at least three rechargeable batteries;   a traction motor operatively connected to at least one traction wheel, the traction motor and traction wheel sized and arranged to move the walk-behind twin headed burnisher across the floor while burnishing at a forward speed in the range of between approximately 2.8 MPH and approximately 3.6 MPH;   a moveable deck assembly supporting the pair of drive pads, the deck assembly diagonally positioned in front of the body to achieve a floor burnish width in the range of between approximately 31 inches to approximately 33 inches;   a pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads removably connected to each of the drive pads;   a burnish motor operatively connected to the pair of drive pads to impart rotational motion to the polygonal burnishing pads;   the burnish motor and the traction motor sized and arranged to run in the range of between approximately 2.3 hours and approximately 3.3 hours on a single charge of the rechargeable batteries;   means to raise and lower the deck assembly from a first position where the removable polygonal burnishing pads touch the floor to a second position where the removable polygonal pads do not touch the floor; and   a control panel mounted at the rear of the body to allow an operator to control at least the deck assembly, traction motor and the burnish motor.   
     
     
         23 . The combination of  claim 22  wherein, the forward speed while burnishing is in the range of between approximately 3.0 MPH and approximately 3.4 MPH, the burnish width is in the range of between approximately 31.5 inches and approximately 32.5 inches, and the run time per charge of the batteries is in the range of between approximately 2.6 hours and approximately 3.0 hours. 
     
     
         24 . The combination of  claim 22  wherein, the forward speed while burnishing is approximately 3.25 MPH, the burnish width is approximately 32 inches and the run time per charge of the batteries is approximately 2.8 hours. 
     
     
         25 . In combination, a rechargeable, battery powered, walk-behind twin headed burnisher with a pair of drive pads adapted to receive and hold removable polygonal burnishing pads, the combination comprising:
 a body having a front and rear wherein the body is sized and arranged to hold at least six rechargeable batteries;   a traction motor operatively connected to at least one traction wheel, the traction motor and traction wheel sized and arranged to move the walk-behind twin headed burnisher across the floor while burnishing at a forward speed in the range of between approximately 2.8 MPH and approximately 3.6 MPH;   a moveable deck assembly supporting the pair of drive pads, the deck assembly diagonally positioned in front of the body to achieve a floor burnish width in the range of between approximately 31 inches to approximately 33 inches;   a pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads removably connected to each of the drive pads;   a burnish motor operatively connected to the pair of drive pads to impart rotational motion to the polygonal burnishing pads;   the burnish motor and the traction motor sized and arranged to run in the range of between approximately 5.1 hours and approximately 6.1 hours on a single charge of the rechargeable batteries;   means to raise and lower the deck assembly from a first position where the removable polygonal burnishing pads touch the floor to a second position where the removable polygonal pads do not touch the floor; and   a control panel mounted at the rear of the body to allow an operator to control at least the deck assembly, traction motor and the burnish motor.   
     
     
         26 . In combination rechargeable battery powered walk-behind twin headed burnisher with a pair of pad drivers adapted to receive and hold a pair of polygonal burnishing pads, the combination comprising:
 a battery pack having at least three rechargeable batteries;   a traction motor operatively connected to at least one traction wheels for moving the walk-behind twin headed burnisher across the floor at a speed in the range of between approximately 2.8 MPH and approximately 3.6 MPH;   a deck assembly supporting a burnish motor operatively connected to a pair of opposing pad drivers; the deck assembly diagonally positioned to achieve a nominal burnish width in the range of between approximately 39 inches and approximately 41 inches;   a pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads removably connected to each of the drive pads;   a burnish motor operatively connected to the pair of opposing burnishing pads, the burnish motor and the traction motor sized and arranged to run in the range of approximately 2.0 hours and 3.0 hours on a single charge of the rechargeable batteries;   means to raise and lower the deck assembly to a first position where the polygonal pads are touching the floor and a second position where the polygonal pads are not touching the floor; and   a control panel to allow an operator to control at least the traction motor and the burnish motor.   
     
     
         27 . The combination of  claim 26  wherein, the forward speed while burnishing is in the range of between approximately 3.0 MPH and approximately 3.4 MPH, the burnish width is in the range of between approximately 39.5 inches and approximately 40.5 inches, and the run time per charge of the batteries is in the range of between approximately 2.3 hours and approximately 2.8 hours. 
     
     
         28 . The combination of  claim 26  wherein, the forward speed while burnishing is approximately 3.25 MPH, the burnish width is approximately 40 inches and the run time per charge of the batteries is approximately 2.5 hours. 
     
     
         29 . In combination rechargeable battery powered walk-behind twin headed burnisher with a pair of pad drivers adapted to receive and hold a pair of polygonal burnishing pads, the combination comprising:
 a battery pack having at least six rechargeable batteries;   a traction motor operatively connected to at least one traction wheels for moving the walk-behind twin headed burnisher across the floor at a speed in the range of between approximately 2.8 MPH and approximately 3.6 MPH;   a deck assembly supporting a burnish motor operatively connected to a pair of opposing pad drivers; the deck assembly diagonally positioned to achieve a nominal burnish width in the range of between approximately 39 inches and approximately 41 inches;   a pair of opposing polygonal burnishing pads removably connected to each of the drive pads;   a burnish motor operatively connected to the pair of opposing burnishing pads, the burnish motor and the traction motor sized and arranged to run in the range of approximately 4.0 hours and 5.0 hours on a single charge of the rechargeable batteries;   means to raise and lower the deck assembly to a first position where the polygonal pads are touching the floor and a second position where the polygonal pads are not touching the floor; and   a control panel to allow an operator to control at least the traction motor and the burnish motor.   
     
     
         30 . A method for burnishing the finish on a vinyl composite tile floor (VCTF) comprising the following steps:
 first, selecting a walk-behind battery powered floor scrubber, second, scrubbing the finish on the VCTF with the walk-behind battery powered floor scrubber;   third, selecting a walk-behind rechargeable battery powered twin headed floor burnisher with polygonal pads having at least three rechargeable DC batteries; and   fourth, burnishing the finish on at least 100,000 square feet of VCTF on a single battery charge using the walk-behind rechargeable battery powered twin headed floor burnisher with polygonal pads.