Arrangement and material selection of sweeping bristles or brushes for sweeping brooms for carrier vehicles (block brooms) to optimize sweeping efficiency and set movement impulses

Abstract

Sweeping brushes for carrier vehicles (block brushes), which have an elongated body shape, forming a rectangle when viewed from above, and which move sweeping material forward with fixed, longitudinally arranged strip brush rows attached to a metal brush housing, are designed with strip brushes in such a way that the arrangement of the strip brushes enables optimal sweeping efficiency. This is achieved by defining 7 sweeping material categories on the task side, for which two adapted different bristle diameters and two hardness grades are available on the solution side, resulting in a total of three bristle types of different properties or diameters: Thick: 3x5 mm / harder, Standard: 2.4×3.4mm / harder, Standard: 2.4×3.4mm / softer.

Description

[0001] Arrangement and material selection of sweeping bristles or brushes for sweeping brooms for carrier vehicles (block brooms) to optimize sweeping efficiency and set movement impulses.

[0002] Sweeping brushes for conventional carrier vehicles generally consist of rotating, brush-equipped sweeping devices or block brushes. Block brushes have an elongated shape, typically forming a rectangle when viewed from above. They do not use the usual rotating brushes, but rather stationary, longitudinally arranged rows of strip brushes mounted beneath a metal brush housing. The sweeping brushes are moved forward in the sweeping direction by the carrier vehicle, with the broad rectangular side facing forward. Block brushes with parallel brush arrangements can also be moved backward in the direction of travel with the same sweeping effect.

[0003] Effective sweeping with a block broom depends on the optimal combination of all components that determine the specific sweeping process, taking into account the wide variety of debris and surfaces to be swept. Optimizing all these factors offers enormous potential for savings in labor, time, costs, and energy consumption. Ultimately, this optimization also determines the level of cleanliness achieved on the swept surfaces.

[0004] Block brooms are typically made using strip brushes, which are attached to the broom body (also called the broom casing) by means of C-shaped rails. These C-rails provide a secure hold for the strip brushes, which can be easily replaced when worn, as they can be pulled out or pushed in from the side. The arrangement of the strip brushes thus corresponds to the arrangement, or "pattern," of the C-rails.

[0005] The arrangement of the strip brushes (i.e., the strip pattern), the number of bristles per unit area, the elasticity of the individual bristles, and their diameter, on the one hand, and the different sizes, shapes, and weights of the debris, as well as the varying consistencies and elasticities of the debris (swept pieces or particles), on the other, determine the fundamental possibilities for the debris or particles to be carried along by the bristles in the sweeping direction or to slip between or under the bristles at varying speeds. The resistance of the bristle network to the debris determines the sweeping capacity of the block broom and thus its sweeping power or sweeping ability.

[0006] If this "slippage effect" did not exist, no further rows of strip brushes behind the first row would be necessary. This process is then repeated in the second row and subsequently in the following rows. It is functionally comparable to sweeping with street brooms or other types of brooms, which must be manually repositioned after each pass. With block brooms, the second and subsequent rows of strip brushes take over the manual pushing required for street brooms. At the end of the first sweeping process, the first sweeping sequence, the debris or particles are gathered in a normal distribution in front of the block broom from a top-down perspective, and newly added debris begins to emerge from the broom area both laterally and in the sweeping direction at the rear center. The normal distribution is determined by the pressure exerted on the debris from the two side zones towards the center ( Fig. 1).

[0007] The heavier the debris and the larger the pieces or particles, the greater the pressure on the center of the broom's width. Conversely, the lighter and finer the debris, the more of it can be pushed ahead of the broom because the slippage is reduced. This allows a larger volume of debris to be pushed forward without it passing through the center to the rear.

[0008] The optimal sweeping performance of a block broom depends primarily on how many sweeping cycles are required to collect the typical debris and whether as much of the debris in the sweeping corridor as possible is captured. All influencing factors should be considered with appropriate weighting. Ideally, the broom would need to be re-bristed with adapted bristles or strip brushes for each sweeping task if a 100% sweeping effect is to be achieved. This would mean that, depending on the size, weight, and composition of the debris and the condition of the surface to be swept, the block broom would have to be re-bristed accordingly. However, this would be too complex, too time-consuming, and too uneconomical.

[0009] Another factor influencing sweeping efficiency is the bending moment of the bristles. This factor must also be considered to achieve optimal sweeping results. If the bristles bend too much backward relative to the sweeping direction, more debris can slip underneath them. If several brushes with the same bending moment are connected in series, excessive bending can occur if the ratio of the weight and size of the debris to the resistance of the bristles is unfavorable. As systematic sweeping tests show, more debris then slips under the bristles. These tests have also shown that the heavier and more compact the debris, e.g., sand, fine gravel, etc., the more pronounced this phenomenon becomes.

[0010] So far, considerations regarding improving sweeping performance through the combination of different bristles have only included the observation of a "sequence in the direction of movement from front to back," a generally formulated principle of "reducing the bristle diameter." However, this consideration only addresses one general aspect. Another relevant aspect is overlooked. For the purposes of this invention, a further relevant influencing factor must be included in the analysis: the elasticity of the bristles. The different bristle diameters have a significantly greater effect on sweeping performance when they are combined with the properties of being "softer" or "harder."

[0011] The arrangement of brushes in the direction of movement, from front to back, progressing from thicker and stiffer to thinner and more elastic, creates, among other effects, a sorting of the sweepings from larger to finer. This is evident when the broom is lifted during sweeping. It follows that, in order to prevent excessive bending, after every, every second, or every third row of thinner or more elastic brushes, a row of brushes with thicker or less elastic bristles stabilizes the preceding row. This principle of placing the brush rows in descending order of bristle diameter in the direction of movement is a helpful step towards improving sweeping efficiency. It has also been used in practice with two different diameters, which helps to loosen and then pick up stubborn dirt.However, this effect can be significantly increased by taking into account the different bending behavior of the bristles due to their chemical composition (harder, i.e. stiffer versus softer, i.e. more elastic).

[0012] In the context of this invention, it follows that two principles optimize the sweeping effect. The assumption that the sweeping effect can be sufficiently improved solely by reducing the bristle diameter in relation to the direction of movement overlooks the fact that this is only a helpful first principle, which must be complemented by a second principle: the consideration of the bristle elasticity. It must also be taken into account that the bristle density is higher in brushes with smaller diameter bristles. This means there are more thin bristles per square centimeter compared to thicker bristles. Fine and heavy debris, such as damp sand or fine grit, cannot be efficiently swept with thick, hard bristles because the slippage between the bristles is too strong. Thinner bristles, which are more densely arranged, must be used.In accordance with this invention, the greater degree of bending of the thinner bristles is counteracted by thicker and harder bristles behind these rows of brushes, thus reducing the bending moment. Therefore, due to the higher bristle density, fewer debris particles can slip through the brush head, and at the same time, the penetration of particles under the brushes is reduced by decreasing their flexibility.

[0013] A further, or third, influencing factor is the effect of larger debris pushing smaller pieces or particles along. Larger debris pushes smaller debris. As explained, if the brush rows are arranged from thicker and stiffer to thinner and more flexible, a sorting effect is achieved under the brush. The larger / heavier pieces / particles are at the front in the direction of travel, the medium-sized pieces in the middle, and the smaller / lighter pieces at the rear. This effect prevents larger pieces, which have now been sorted out, from pushing smaller / lighter pieces along. Therefore, this effect must also be taken into account for optimal sweeping efficiency.

[0014] Standardization based on typical dirt conditions at the work site seems sensible. If the sweeping tasks, due to the nature of the surface or the material being swept, significantly exceed the standardization requirements, a specific solution can be found instead of a standardized one. A standardization is proposed that is optimal for the work site and the specific sweeping tasks on site. To this end, The task page includes a classification into 7 sweeping categories: A: coarse and heavy (e.g.: gravel, coarse and medium-fine chippings, metal shavings, compacted soil, mud, liquid manure, dung, snow, etc.) B: fine and heavy (e.g.: sand, especially moist sand, fine gravel, small metal shavings, mineral fertilizers, etc.) C: medium-coarse and medium-heavy (e.g.: medium-fine gravel, corn, silage, mineral fertilizer (CAN), powdered snow, paper, dry sand, grass, clover, beet pulp, carrots, rapeseed or soybean meal, etc.) D: mixed coarse and fine heavy E. light and fine (e.g. rapeseed or soybean meal, dry wood sawdust, etc.) F: light and coarse (e.g. dry wood shavings, hay, straw, dry leaves, etc.) G: mixed sweepings

[0015] Two solution categories are formed for the standard configuration of the block brushes with 12 rows of brushes in a row: a): two different bristle diameters (The diameter values ​​assumed here are typical examples. They can differ by tenths or a few millimeters while maintaining similar efficiency in sweeping efficiency.) Thickness: 3x5 mm (D) Standard: 2.4x3.4 mm (s / s) b): two bristle hardness grades, which have correspondingly different elasticities; harder: homopolymer bristles (h) softer: copolymer bristles (w) Therefore, three bristles of different properties or diameters are available: Thick: 3x5 mm / harder (D) Standard: 2.4x3.4mm / harder (S) Standard: 2.4x3.4mm / softer (S) Brush rows antegrade 1-12 (1 = first brush row from the front in the direction of reversal) Table A: Order of brush rows for coarse and heavy sweepings brush row bristle diameter hardness level 1 D h 2 D h 3 s h 4 S h 5 D h 6 S h 7 S h 8 S w 9 D h 10 S w 11 S w 12 S h Table B: Order of brush rows for fine and heavy sweepings brush row bristle diameter hardness level 1 S h 2 S h 3 D h 4 s h 5 S h 6 D h 7 S w 8 S w 9 D h 10 S w 11 S w 12 D h Table C: Order of brush rows for medium-coarse and medium-heavy sweepings brush row bristle diameter hardness level 1 D h 2 S h 3 S h 4 S h 5 D h 6 S w 7 S w 8 S w 9 D h 10 S w 11 s w 12 S h Table D: Order of brush rows for mixed coarse and fine sweepings brush row bristle diameter hardness level 1 D h 2 S h 3 S h 4 S h 5 D h 6 S w 7 S w 8 S w 9 D h 10 S w 11 S w 12 s w Table E: Order of brush rows for light and fine sweepings brush row bristle diameter hardness level 1 S w 2 S w 3 S w 4 S h 5 S w 6 S w 7 S w 8 S h 9 S w 10 S w 11 S w 12 S h Table F: Order of brush rows for light and coarse sweepings brush row bristle diameter hardness level 1 D h 2 S h 3 D h 4 S h 5 D h 6 s h 7 D h 8 s h 9 D h 10 S h 11 D h 12 S h Table G: Order of brush rows for mixed sweepings brush row bristle diameter hardness level 1 S h 2 S h 3 D h 4 S w 5 S w 6 D h 7 S w 8 S w 9 S w 10 S h 11 S w 12 S w

[0016] Another phenomenon observed during practical field tests of block brooms is the varying mobility of different brushes. Different bristle thicknesses, the associated varying bristle densities, and different degrees of stiffness cause the bristles to move differently during forward or backward movement, depending on the surface and the material being swept. If the bristle arrangement is varied at short intervals, e.g., 10 cm apart, both side-by-side and one behind the other, the movement of all the block broom's bristles is increased. This creates more "sweeping dynamics," not only anterograde and retrograde, but also transversely. In this way, an additional positive sweeping effect is generated. For this to work, the brushes, which are typically manufactured in 1-meter lengths, must be cut into sections, e.g.,The bristles are cut into ten ten-centimeter pieces and arranged in the broom so that as many differences in diameter and hardness as possible are positioned side-by-side and one behind the other to form the broom's underside, i.e., the contact surface. The different bristles move differently on the same surface and with virtually the same debris, thus creating greater sweeping dynamics by transferring an additional mobilizing impulse to the debris.

[0017] If the debris or particles adhere firmly to the ground, which often occurs on farms when, for example, damp or wet organic material sticks to the soil, metal brushes are suitable for loosening and scraping this debris before it can be further loosened and then pushed forward by plastic brushes, usually made of polypropylene. Depending on the degree of soiling or adhesion, one to three rows of brushes on a standard 12-row broom made of metal bristles can achieve optimal sweeping performance adapted to the conditions.

Claims

[1] Sweeping brushes for carrier vehicles (block brushes), which have an elongated body shape, forming a rectangle when viewed from above, which move sweeping material forward with fixed, longitudinally arranged strip brush rows attached to a metal brush body, are designed with strip brushes in such a way that the arrangement of the strip brushes enables optimal sweeping efficiency, achieved by defining 7 sweeping material categories on the task side, for which two adapted different bristle diameters and two hardness grades, a total of three bristles of different properties or with different diameters, are available on the solution side: Thick: 3x5 mm / harder, Standard: 2.4×3.4mm / harder, Standard: 2.4×3.4mm / softer. [2] The seven sweepings categories according to claim 1 are characterized by, that they standardize the complex sweeping material so that the best possible sweeping properties of the block broom can be achieved, since the different bristles thick / harder, standard / harder and standard / softer are joined together to form strip brushes, tailored to the sweeping material categories, and develop different sweeping effects with different sweeping material. [3] The first sweepings category according to claims 1 and 2 is characterized by , that it is suitable for coarse and heavy use and has the following brush sequence: first thick / harder, second thick / harder, third standard / harder, fourth standard / harder, fifth thick / harder, sixth standard / harder, seventh standard / harder, eighth standard / softer, ninth thick / harder, tenth standard / softer, eleventh standard / softer, twelfth standard / harder. [4] The second sweepings category according to claims 1 to 3 is characterized by, that it is suitable for fine and heavy sweepings and has the following brush sequence: first standard / harder, second standard / harder, third thick / harder, fourth standard / harder, fifth standard / harder, sixth thick / harder, seventh standard / softer, eighth standard / softer, ninth thick / harder, tenth standard softer, eleventh standard / softer, twelfth thick / harder. [5] The third sweepings category according to claims 1 to 4 is characterized by , that it is suitable for mixed coarse and heavy as well as fine and heavy sweepings and has the following brush sequence of rows: first thick / harder, second standard / harder, third standard / harder, fourth standard / harder, fifth thick / harder, sixth standard / softer, seventh standard / softer, eighth standard softer, ninth thick / harder, tenth standard / softer, eleventh standard / softer, twelfth standard / softer. [6] The fourth sweepings category according to claims 1 to 5 is characterized by, that it is suitable for medium-coarse or medium-fine and medium-heavy sweepings and has the following brush sequence of rows: first thick / harder, second standard / harder, third standard / harder, fourth standard / harder, fifth thick / harder, sixth standard / softer, seventh standard / softer, eighth standard / softer, ninth thick / harder, tenth standard / softer, eleventh standard / softer, twelfth standard / harder. [7] The fifth sweepings category according to claims 1 to 6 is characterized by , that it is suitable for light and fine sweepings and has the following brush sequence: first standard / softer, second standard / softer, third standard / softer, fourth standard / harder, fifth standard / softer, sixth standard / softer, seventh standard / softer, eighth standard / harder, ninth standard / softer, tenth standard / softer, eleventh standard / softer, twelfth standard / harder. [8] The sixth sweepings category according to claims 1 to 7 is characterized by, that it is suitable for generally mixed sweepings and has the following brush sequence of rows: first standard / harder, second standard / harder, third thick / harder, fourth standard / softer, fifth standard / softer, sixth thick / harder, seventh standard / softer, eighth standard / softer, ninth standard / softer, tenth standard harder, eleventh standard softer, twelfth standard softer. [9] The seventh sweepings category according to claims 1 to 8 is characterized by , that it is suitable for light and coarse sweepings and has the following brush sequence: first thick / harder, second standard / harder, third thick / harder, fourth standard / harder, fifth thick / harder, sixth standard / harder, seventh thick / harder, eighth standard / harder, ninth thick / harder, tenth standard / harder, eleventh thick / harder, twelfth standard / harder. [10] A further improvement of the sweeping effect according to claims 1 to 9 can be achieved by increasing the sweeping dynamics, effected by arranging the brooms with small brush parts differing in hardness and diameter next to and behind each other, which move differently when in contact with the surface being swept, e.g. in 10 cm lengths or in 20 cm lengths, instead of the usual meter or half-meter lengths. [11] For sweepings that adhere extremely firmly to the surface, e.g. wet organic material, one, two, or three rows of brushes, with a total number of rows of, for example, 12, can be used to scrape the material from the floor, according to claims 1 to 10. The rows of brushes located behind these in the direction of movement are to be arranged so that they comply with the rules specified in claims 1 to 9.

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