Self-Propelled Mechanical Sweeper with Deployable Conveyor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional mechanical sweepers face inefficiencies due to limited debris reservoir sizes, requiring frequent travel to landfills, and are hindered by jamming issues with larger debris and slow transportation between cleaning sites.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled mechanical sweeper with a deployable conveyor assembly that allows debris to be conveyed directly to an auxiliary vehicle, featuring a pickup broom, first belt conveyor, and a deployable conveyor system with a coupling mechanism for extending and folding, enabling efficient debris transfer and independent travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional self-propelled sweeper with a fixed-size debris reservoir is used, then the cleaning quality is satisfactory, but the operational efficiency is greatly reduced due to frequent travel to landfills
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the debris transfer function from the traditional reservoir-emptying cycle by introducing a deployable conveyor assembly that directly transfers debris from the pickup broom to an auxiliary vehicle, eliminating the need for the sweeper to travel to landfills and significantly reducing operational interruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The deployable conveyor assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the pickup broom and the auxiliary vehicle, enabling direct debris transfer without requiring the sweeper to transport debris itself, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning quality and operational efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical sweeper with an auger is used to handle debris, then debris can be conveyed, but larger debris becomes jammed in the auger and impairs proper functioning
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the auger mechanical system with a belt conveyor system that has no central rotating component, allowing larger debris to be conveyed without jamming while maintaining reliable sweeper functioning throughout the cleaning operation
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system is segmented into multiple belt conveyors working in sequence, each handling debris in a specific zone, which prevents the jamming issues associated with centralized auger systems while maintaining versatile debris handling capability
3Speed
If a mechanical sweeper is towed by a vehicle to reduce travel time, then cleaning site mobility is improved, but the sweeper must be detached when the vehicle is full or brought to disposal site
Solution Approach 1:
The sweeper is equipped with self-propulsion capability, allowing it to independently travel between cleaning sites without being towed, eliminating the operational complexity of detachment and reattachment while maintaining high travel speed and site mobility
4Productivity
If a deployable conveyor assembly is added to convey debris directly to an auxiliary vehicle, then operational efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor assembly is designed with deployable and foldable sections that can be dynamically configured during operation and compacted during transport, managing device complexity by allowing the system to adapt its configuration to operational and transit requirements
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally pertains to a self-propelled mechanical sweeper. The mechanical sweeper comprises a pickup broom for lifting debris toward a first belt conveyor. The sweeper further comprises a second deployable conveyor assembly mounted on a turntable and adapted for conveying the debris from the first conveyor to an auxiliary vehicle such as a dump truck.