Surface tracking sweeping broom apparatus for use with a vehicle

Abstract

A sweeping broom apparatus comprises a main body having a debris receiving inlet, and connecting arms for operatively connecting the main body to a vehicle. A broom shroud has a forwardly facing debris outlet for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris. There are arms for mounting the broom shroud on the main body, for free vertical movement of the broom shroud with respect to the main body. A main sweeping broom is operatively mounted free vertical movement within the broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from a surface being cleaned, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet to a the debris receiving inlet of the vehicle. A dust-containing pliable cover is connected in substantially sealed relation to the broom shroud at the forwardly facing debris outlet and connected in substantially sealed relation to the vehicle at the debris receiving inlet for containing dust from the stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet.

Description

[0001]This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 975,029 filed on Sep. 25, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to street sweeping vehicles, and more particularly to dustless street sweeping vehicles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Conventional street sweepers have a main vehicle body and a hopper supported by the main vehicle body. In mechanical type street sweepers, there is a debris elevator at the back end of the vehicle. A large cylindrically shaped rotating sweeping broom is disposed immediately behind the elevator. The large cylindrically shaped sweeping broom contacts the surface being cleaned so as to propel debris forwardly to the elevator. The debris elevator receives debris from a main sweeping broom and deposits the debris into the hopper.[0004]Similarly, for re-circulating types street sweepers and vacuum type street sweepe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel main body having a debris receiving inlet, and connecting means for operatively connecting the main body to a vehicle. A broom shroud has a front end, a back end, an open bottom defined by a bottom edge, and a forwardly facing debris outlet for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris. There is means for mounting the broom shroud on the main body, for free vertical movement of the broom shroud with respect to the main body. An airflow obstructing means is disposed around the bottom edge of the broom shroud for substantially obstructing the egress of air from between the bottom edge of the broom shroud and the surface being cleaned. A main sweeping broom is operatively mounted within the broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from a surface being cleaned, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet to the hopper. A dust-containing pliable cover is connected in substantially sealed relation to the broom shroud at the forwardly facing debris outlet and connected in substantially sealed relation to the vehicle at the debris receiving inlet for containing dust from the stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet.

[0016]In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel main body having a debris receiving inlet, and connecting means for operatively connecting the main body to a vehicle. A broom shroud has a front end, a back end, an open bottom defined by a bottom edge, and a forwardly facing debris outlet for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris. There is means for mounting the broom shroud on the main body, for free vertical movement of the broom shroud with respect to the main body. An airflow obstructing means is disposed around the bottom edge of the broom shroud for substantially obstructing the egress of air from between the bottom edge of the broom shroud and the surface being cleaned. A main sweeping broom is operatively mounted within the broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from a surface being cleaned, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet to the hopper. There is also means for mounting the main sweeping broom on one of the broom shroud and the vehicle, for free vertical movement of the main sweeping broom with respect to the broom shroud and the vehicle.

Problems solved by technology

Inevitably, the action of the rotating sweeping broom causes a large volume and flow of air laden with dust and other fine particulate material.

This fine particulate material is generally considered as a health risk to humans.

It is well known that this fine particulate material can cause breathing problems, especially to more susceptible individuals, and the long term affects of breathing this fine particulate material can seriously affect one's health.

However, there is still a serious problem with prior art street sweepers and factors sweepers, due to the fundamental nature of their construction.

Accordingly, the various flaps at the bottom edge of the broom shroud may separate from the surface being swept, thus permitting dust and other fine particulate material to be forcefully expelled from the sweeping apparatus in an undesirable manner, which is unacceptable, but until now unavoidable.

Further exacerbating the problem of dust and other fine particulate material being forcefully emanated from the sweeping apparatus, in some street sweepers, is the inclusion of an air blast nozzle immediately behind the broom.

The air expelled from the air blast nozzle increases the overall air pressure and air motion in the broom shroud, thus increasing the amount of dust and other fine particulate material that might be forcefully expelled from the sweeping apparatus.

Accordingly, the air laden with dust and other fine particulate material can escape from between the broom shroud and the hopper or debris elevator, which is unacceptable, or possibly even in contravention of legislation in many jurisdictions.

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