Floor stripping machine, blade assembly for use therewith, and methods
A floor stripping machine for removing floor covering from a floor surface includes a base, a motor secured to the base, a rear wheel arrangement driven by the motor, and a blade assembly. The blade assembly is secured to a remaining portion of the machine and has a removable clamp with a cutter. The machine has a forward downward sloping angle, a low center of gravity, and is obstruction free for mounting by an operator. The blade assembly may include a dovetail for a variety of tool heads. One example of a blade has a base flange, a pair of side flanges with forward leaning angles, and a hook in between each side flange and the base flange.
1. A ride-on floor stripping machine for removing floor covering from a floor surface; the floor stripping machine comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) a motor secured to the base;
(c) a rear wheel arrangement driven by the motor;
(d) a seat for an operator mounted on the base;
(e) a blade assembly secured to a remaining portion of the machine;
(f) a caster wheel supporting the base and positioned between the rear wheel arrangement and the blade assembly; and
(g) a blade adjustment arrangement secured to the base and holding the blade assembly in position; the blade adjustment arrangement including a vertically adjustable slide plate, whereby the slide plate is adjustable from the seat by the operator;
wherein the base slopes at a downward angle extending from forward of the rear wheel arrangement to the caster wheel, as measured from the floor surface.
2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the base slopes at the downward angle from the floor surface of at least 10°.
3. The machine of claim 2 wherein the base slopes at the downward angle from the floor surface of no greater than 22°.
4. The machine of claim 1 wherein the base slopes at the downward angle from the floor surface of 12-15°.
5. The machine of claim 1 wherein the base is spaced from the floor surface to provide an open volume between the base and floor surface of 5-10 inches.
6. The machine of claim 1 wherein the base is spaced from the floor surface no closer than 5 inches to provide an open volume between the base and floor surface.
7. The machine of claim 1 wherein an operator leg region is defined between a front edge of the seat and the blade adjustment arrangement, wherein the operator leg region is an obstruction-free open volume, whereby the operator can mount the machine and sit in the seat without having to straddle obstructions between legs and without having to move a leg over any obstructions and without having to use parts of the machine as a ladder to mount the machine.
8. The machine of claim 1 wherein the machine has a center of gravity that is spaced from the floor surface no more than 40% of an overall height of the machine.
9. A ride-on floor stripping machine for removing floor covering from a floor surface; the floor stripping machine comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) a motor secured to the base;
(c) a rear wheel arrangement driven by the motor;
(d) a seat for an operator mounted on the base;
(e) a blade assembly secured to a remaining portion of the machine; and
(f) a blade adjustment arrangement secured to the base and holding the blade assembly in position; the blade adjustment arrangement including a vertically adjustable slide plate, whereby the slide plate is adjustable from the seat by the operator;
wherein the base slopes at a downward angle extending from forward of the rear wheel arrangement in a direction toward the blade assembly, as measured from the floor surface; the base being spaced from the floor surface no closer than 5 inches to provide an open volume between the base and floor surface.
10. The machine of claim 9 wherein the base slopes at the downward angle from the floor surface of at least 10°.
11. The machine of claim 10 wherein the base slopes at the downward angle from the floor surface of no greater than 22°.
12. The machine of claim 9 wherein the base slopes at the downward angle from the floor surface of 12-15°.
13. The machine of claim 9 wherein an operator leg region is defined between a front edge of the seat and the blade adjustment arrangement, wherein the operator leg region is an obstruction-free open volume, whereby the operator can mount the machine and sit in the seat without having to straddle obstructions between legs and without having to move a leg over any obstructions and without having to use parts of the machine as a ladder to mount the machine.
14. The machine of claim 9 wherein the machine has a center of gravity that is spaced from the floor surface no more than 40% of an overall height of the machine.