Adjustable steering systems and methods

Abstract

A steering adjustment assembly for use with a floor treatment machine. The steering adjustment assembly includes first and second lock/release devices (e.g., variable gas springs) that selectively permit adjustment of a tilt angle and/or telescoped position of a steering component relative to a chassis of the machine. An actuator is operable by an operator to simultaneously transition the lock/release devices from a locked state to a released state when the operator desires to adjust the steering component's orientation and/or position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steering adjustment assembly for use with a steering system of a floor treatment machine, the steering system including a steering component, the steering adjustment assembly comprising:
 a tilt sub-assembly configured to control a tilt angle of the steering component relative a chassis of the floor treatment machine, the tilt sub-assembly including a first frame and a first lock/release device;   wherein the first lock/release device provides a locked state in which a rotational orientation of the first frame is fixed and a released state in which the rotational orientation is adjustable;   a telescoping sub-assembly configured to control a distance between the steering component and the chassis, the telescoping sub-assembly including a second frame, a second lock/release device, and a coupling device configured to slidably maintain the second frame;   wherein the second lock/release device provides a locked state in which a linear distance between the second frame and the chassis is fixed and a released state in which the linear distance is adjustable; and   a control sub-assembly operably connecting an actuator to the first and second lock/release devices;   wherein the control sub-assembly is configured to simultaneously transition the first and second lock/release devices to the corresponding released state in response to user manipulation of the actuator;   and further wherein one of the first and second frames is connected to the chassis of the floor treatment machine and the other of the first and second frames supports the steering component.   
     
     
         2 . The steering adjustment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control sub-assembly is configured to simultaneously transition the first and second lock/release devices from the corresponding released state to the corresponding locked state in response to user manipulation of the actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The steering adjustment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a lever maintained by one of the first and second frames. 
     
     
         4 . The steering adjustment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first lock/release device includes a first piston-cylinder assembly and the second lock/release device includes a second piston-cylinder assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The steering adjustment assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first piston-cylinder assembly is a first variable gas spring and the second piston-cylinder assembly is a second variable gas spring. 
     
     
         6 . The steering adjustment assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the control sub-assembly is configured to operate a control device of each of the first and second variable gas springs based upon a position of the actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The steering adjustment assembly of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a first end of the first variable gas is pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end of the first variable gas spring is pivotably coupled to the first frame; and   a first end of the second variable gas spring is pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end of the second variable gas spring is pivotably coupled to the second frame.   
     
     
         8 . The steering adjustment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first frame is rotatably coupled to the chassis, and further wherein the second frame supports the steering component and is slidably connected to the first frame via the coupling device. 
     
     
         9 . The steering adjustment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the telescoping sub-assembly further includes a mechanical spring arranged to bias the second frame toward the first frame. 
     
     
         10 . A floor treatment machine comprising:
 a chassis;   at least one steered wheel rotatably coupled to the chassis;   at least one floor treating implement carried by the chassis; and   a steering system operable to steer the floor treatment machine, the steering system including:
 a steering component, 
 a steering transmission assembly configured to translate movements of the steering component to the at least one steered wheel, 
 a steering adjustment assembly supporting the steering component relative to the chassis, the steering adjustment assembly comprising:
 a tilt sub-assembly configured to control a tilt angle of the steering component relative the chassis, the tilt sub-assembly including a first frame and a first lock/release device, 
 wherein the first lock/release device provides a locked state in which a rotational orientation of the first frame is fixed and a released state in which the rotational orientation is adjustable, 
 a telescoping sub-assembly configured to control a distance between the steering component and the chassis, the telescoping sub-assembly including a second frame, a second lock/release device, and a coupling device configured to slidably maintain the second frame, 
 wherein the second lock/release device provides a locked state in which a linear distance between the second frame and the chassis is fixed and a released state in which the linear distance is adjustable, and 
 a control sub-assembly operably connecting an actuator to the first and second lock/release devices, 
 wherein the control sub-assembly is configured to simultaneously transition the first and second lock/release devices to the corresponding released state in response to user manipulation of the actuator, 
 and further wherein one of the first and second frames is connected to the chassis of the floor treatment machine and the other of the first and second frames supports the steering component. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The floor treatment machine of  claim 10 , wherein the control sub-assembly is configured to simultaneously transition the first and second lock/release devices from the corresponding released state to the corresponding locked state in response to user manipulation of the actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The floor treatment machine of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator includes a lever maintained by one of the first and second frames. 
     
     
         13 . The floor treatment machine of  claim 10 , wherein the first lock/release device includes a first variable gas spring and the second lock/release device includes a second variable gas spring. 
     
     
         14 . The floor treatment machine of  claim 13 , wherein the control sub-assembly is configured to operate a control device of each of the first and second variable gas springs based upon a position of the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The floor treatment machine of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a first end of the first variable gas is pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end of the first variable gas spring is pivotably coupled to the first frame; and   a first end of the second variable gas spring is pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end of the second variable gas spring is pivotably coupled to the second frame.   
     
     
         16 . The floor treatment machine of  claim 10 , wherein the first frame is rotatably coupled to the chassis, and further wherein the second frame supports the steering component and is slidably connected to the first frame via the coupling device. 
     
     
         17 . The floor treatment machine of  claim 16 , wherein the telescoping sub-assembly further includes a mechanical spring arranged to bias the second frame toward the first frame. 
     
     
         18 . The floor treatment machine of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one cleaning implement is selected from the group consisting of a scrubber, a sweeper, an extractor, and a squeegee. 
     
     
         19 . The floor treatment machine of  claim 10 , wherein the steering transmission assembly is a drive-by-wire steering transmission assembly including a shaft extending from the steering component. 
     
     
         20 . The floor treatment machine of  claim 10 , wherein the floor treatment machine is one of a ride-on floor treatment machine and a walk-behind floor treatment machine.