Automatic Side Broom Strike Pattern Control on Irregular Roads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing street/roadway sweeping vehicles face inefficiencies when dealing with irregular road surfaces, as traditional tube brooms are less effective in depressed areas and can wear unevenly, leading to reduced sweeping performance.
Innovation Solution
A system for controlling the strike pattern of side broom assemblies on a sweeper vehicle, allowing for individual control of the lateral extent and peripheral engagement of the broom bristles to enhance sweeping efficiency, particularly on irregular surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional tube brooms are used on irregular road surfaces, then sweeping performance on flat portions is adequate, but sweeping effectiveness in depressed areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The side broom assembly is made dynamically adjustable through actuators that can change the strike pattern position and broom angle in real-time. This allows the broom to adapt its configuration to match the varying road surface conditions, transitioning from a static tube broom design to a dynamic system that can optimize performance across different surface types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters of the broom assembly including the strike pattern position (controlled by first actuator), broom angle (controlled by second actuator), and lateral extent (controlled by third actuator). These parameter adjustments enable the broom to effectively engage with both flat and depressed road surfaces by modifying its geometric and operational characteristics.
2Productivity
If side brooms are forcibly depressed to aggressively engage the surface, then debris removal from packed areas improves, but the complexity of the actuation system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The broom assembly is segmented into multiple independently controllable components: the strike pattern position (first actuator), broom angle (second actuator), and lateral extent (third actuator). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and controlled separately, managing system complexity through modular control while achieving superior debris removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The side broom assembly is designed as a multi-functional system that can perform multiple sweeping functions through a single integrated structure. The actuators enable the same broom assembly to aggressively engage packed debris when needed while maintaining normal sweeping operation, eliminating the need for separate specialized brooms for different conditions.
3Productivity
If the strike pattern is manually adjusted for different sweeping conditions, then sweeping effectiveness improves, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect road surface conditions and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic or semi-automatic adjustment of the strike pattern and broom configuration, reducing the manual control effort required while maintaining optimal sweeping effectiveness across varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The broom assembly is designed to automatically adjust its own configuration through the actuation system in response to detected conditions. The system serves itself by autonomously optimizing the strike pattern position, broom angle, and lateral extent based on sensor input, minimizing the need for continuous manual intervention while maintaining high sweeping effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A sweeper vehicle may have an automatic side broom strike pattern positioning system including a plurality of actuators (e.g., pneumatic, hydraulic, and/or powered leadscrew) and a plurality of sensors (e.g., inclinometers and position sensors). The strike pattern may be maintained at a desired position as the side broom moves to different positions in a range of movement between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position. The system may have an override feature by which a vehicle operator may interrupt the automatic side broom positioning to allow the vehicle operator to take direct control of one or more side brooms, including the broom deployment angle and broom pitch and roll to create desired strike patterns for the side brooms. Related methods are also described.