Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
LEAF LOADING METHOD
This is related to United States Patent No. 4,771,504
which issued on September 20, 1980.
The present invention provides a leaf loading method
including the steps of picking up material from the ground by
operating a rotary beater having a plurality of lifting elements
and a rotary broom having a plurality of bristles, delivering
material between the beater and the broom in opposite directions,
guiding material from between the beater and the broom toward an
auger disposed rearwardly of the broom, transferring material from
the auger into a thrower by rotating the auger, and discharging
material by operating the thrower. The guiding step may include
utilizing a shroud which full~ covers an upper side of the beater
and partially covers an upper side of the broom. The guiding step
may further include utilizing a housing which overlies an upper
side of the auger and part of the upper side of the broo~. The
picking up step may include arranging the beater and the broom so
that each has a lower ~ide thereof disposed adjacent the ground,
and the transferring step may include utilizing an opening in a
side wall of the housing to provide communication between the
auger and the thrower.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the course of the following detailed description,
reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a top plan view, with portions broken away,
of a leaf loading machine embodying the principles of the present
invention; - ~,
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Figure 2 is a right side elevational view of the machine
of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a left side elevational view of the machine
of Figure l;
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Fig. ~ is an enlarged sectional view taken along
]ine ~ of Fig. l;
Fig. 5 is a left side elevational view of the leaf
loading machine with the machine being shown in a transport
position in solid line form and an operating position in
dashed line form;
Fig. 6 is a left side elevational view of the leaf
loading machine with its rotary pickup beater being shown at
its minimum displacement above the ground in solid line form
and at its maximum displacement above the ground in das'ned
line form;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of one
of the sweeping elements in a rotary pickup broom of the leaf
loading machine;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of
Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view of one
o the lifting elements in the pickup broom of the leaf
loading machine;
Fig~ 10 is an end elevational view as seen along
line 10--10 of Flg. 9;
Flg. 11 is an enlarged side elevational view of a
central spider support structure in the pickup broom of the
leaf loading machlne;
Fi~. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12--12
of Fig. 11; and
' Fig. 13 is an exploded view of one of ten groupings
of sweeping and lifting elements in the pickup broom of the
leaf harvesting machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following description, right hand and left
hand references are determined by standing at the rear of the
machine and facing in the direction of forward travel. Also
in the following description, it is to be understood that such
terms as "forward", "left", "upwardly", etc., are words of
convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.
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In General
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to
Figs. 1-3, there is shown an improved leaf loading machine,
being indicated generally by numeral 10 and comprising the
preEerred embodiment of the present invention (the right side
of the machine being shown in Fig. 2 and the left side in Fig,
3 when one is standing to the rear of the machine and facing
in the dlrection of forward travel).
The machine 10 is provided with a mobile frame,
generally indicated at 12, which includes a left longitudinal
frame member 14 and a pair of laterally spaced inner and outer
right longitudinal frame members 16,18 which members 14,16,18
all extend fore-and-aft and are interconnected by forward and
rearward transverse frame members 20,22. The longitudinal
frame members 14,16,18 are respectively supported by left and
right ground wheels 24,26 being rotatably mounted by an
elongated axle 28 extending between and mounted at its
opposite ends to left and right bracket plates 30,32 fixed in
upright orientations to the rear portions of the left and
outer right longitudinal members 14,18.
At the right Eront portion of the mobile frame 12, a
pair o inner and outer beams 34,36 are fixed upstanding on
the front ends of respective inner and outer longitudinal
Erame members 16,18. ~ tongue assembly 38 is pivotally
mounted at lts rear portion by an elongated pivot pin 40
connected to and extending between the upper ends of the beams
34,36~ The tongue assembly 38 extends forward from the beams
34,36 and has a hitching means 42 on its forward end adapting
the machine 10 to be secured to a drawbar 44 (Fig. 5) of a
towing vehicle (not shown), such as a truck located at the
front of the machine 10, for towing the machine 10 along
surfaces of streets, roadways, parks or other areas to be
cleaned.
In addition to the mobile frame 12, the leaf loading
machine 10 basically includes a rotary beater 46 on the frame
12 extending transversely of the direction of travel and a
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main rotary pickup broom 48 on the frame 12 also extending
transversely of the direction of travel and disposed
rearwardly of and in tandem relation to the beater 46.
Covering the upper side of the beater 46 is a shroud 50 open
at its front and rear ends and composed of a pair of spaced
left and right side walls 52,54 interconnected by a top wall
56. Overlying and enclosin~ the upper side of the main pickup
broom 48 is a housing 58 open at its front end and composed of
a pair of spaced left and right side walls 60,62
interconnected by a top wall 64 and closed at the rear end of
the housing 58 by a rear wall 66. The housing 58 is fixed on
and extends between and above the left and inner right
longitudinal frame members 14,16 of the mobile frame 12.
Thus, the beater 46 and main pickup broom 48 are
disposed with their lower sides adjacent to the ground and
-their upper sides spaced below respective top walls 56,64 of
the shroud and housing 50,58. The auxiliary beater 46 and
main broom 48 have respective elongated central tubular
members 68 and 70 rotatably mounted at their respective
opposite ends to and extending between respective side walls
52,54 and 60,62 oE the shroud 50 and housing 58 by which the
beater 46 and broom 48 can counterrotate relative to one
another so as to deliver leaves from the ground upwardly
therebetween. The leaves are then deflected rearwardly over
the main broom 48 by the respective top walls 56 and 64 of the
shroud 50 and housing 58.
Also, the leaf loading machine 10 includes means on
the mobile frame 12 Eor receiving the leaves delivered from
the ground by the beater 46 and main pickup broom 48 and
deflected rearwardly over the broom 48 -toward the rear wall 66
of the housing 58. The receiving means preferab].y takes the
form of a transfer auger 72 disposed transversly on the mobile
frame 12 rearwardly of and in tandem with the broom 48 and a
discharge blower 74 coaxially aligned with and disposed at a
discharge end of a central shaft 76 of the auger 72. The
auger 72 at the left end of its shaft 76 is rotatably mounted
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to the le~t side wall 60 of the housing 58. The thrower 74 is
mounted on the inner and outer right longitudinal frame
members 16,18 adjacent the right side wall 62 of the housing
58.
An opening 78 in the housing right side wall 62
provides communication of the auger 72 with an impeller 80
rotatably mounted between the housing right side wall 62 and
an outer side wall 82 of a casing 84 of the blower 74. The
auger 72 rotates and coacts with a stationary arcuate shaped
trough 86, which underlies the auger 72 and is fixed between
the housing side and rear walls 60,62,64, to transfer the
leaves laterally from leEt to right in Fig. 1 to the thrower
impeller 80. The impeller 80 rotating at high speed in the
blower casing 84 propels the leaves through the casing 84 and
out a discharge spout 88 extending upwardly from the casing 84
to a storage location, such as the truck which tows the
machine 10.
The motive power for the beater 46, main pickup
broom 48, transfer auger 72 and discharge thrower 74 of the
leaf loadingmachine 10 is derived from an engine 90 mounted on
a rear superstructure 92 fixed to the ].ongitudinal frame
members 14,16,18 of the mobile frame 12 and overlying the
ground wheels 24,26 thereo. A power train leading from a
rotating drive shaft 94 of the engine which mounts a flywheel
96 provides rotary driving power to the above-described
operating components oE the machine 10.
More particularly, the power train includes drive
and driven sheaves 98,100 respectively mounted on the engine
drive shaft 94 and the thrower impeller 80 and a continuous
belt 102 extending between an drivingly entrained about the
sheaves 98,100. A belt tightener mechanism 104 is disposed
adjacent the belt 102 and actuatable by a handle 106 pivotally
mounted on the superstructure 92. The power train also
includes a jack shaft 108 rotatably mounted a bracket 110
fixed upright on the outer right longitudinal frame member 18
and having a large diameter sprocket 112 and a pair of small
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diame~er sprockets 114 attached respectively on outer and
inner ends of the jack shaft 108. Another small diameter
sprocket 116 is attached on the outer end of the impeller 80
adjacent the sheave 110 thereon with a drive chain 118
extending between and drivingly entrained about the sprockets
112,116.
For powering the main pickup broom, the dual
sprockets 114 on the inner end of the jack shaft 108 are
drivingly coupled to dual sprockets 120 on the right end of
the broom central tubular member 70 by a pair of continuous
drive chains 122. For powering the beater 46 and the transfer
auger 72, a pair of inner and outer sprockets 124,126 are
attached side-by-side to the left end of the broom central
tubular member 70. Respective drive chains 128,130 extend
ketween and drivingly couple the outer and inner sprockets
126,124 with sprockets 132,134 respectively attached on the
left ends of the beater central tubular member 68 and the
auger shaft 76. A pair of drive chain take-up idler sprockets
136 are rotatably mounted on the left side wall 60 of the
housing 58 adjacent the outer sprocket 126 on the broom
central tubular member 70. The idler sprockets 136 allow
adjustable movement of the beater 46 toward and away from the
broom 48 while still providing drive coupling therebetween by
the chain 128 and also provide Eor counterrotation of the
beater 46 and broom 48 such that they move toward one another,
as depicted by the arrows in Fig. 4, at their respective lower
sides.
The machine 10 also has a brush stripper 138 with an
elongated shaEt 140 and diametrically opposed radially
projecting combs 142. The shaft 140 is rotatably mounted
between the leEt and right housing side walls 60,62 so as to
locate its combs 142 rearwardly and tangentially to the main
pickup broom 48. The power train also includes a large
diameter sprocket 144 attached on the left end of the auger
shaft 76 and a small diameter sprocket 146 attached to the
left end of the brush stripper shaft 140. A drive chain 148
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extends between and drivingly couples the sprockets 144,146
The relative speeds of the operating components of the machine
10 can readily be determined by comparing the relative sizes
of the respective sheaves and sprockets of the power train
associated therewith.
Rotary Beater and Plckup Broom
One important feature of the improved leaf
harvesting machine 10 relates to the composition of, and
cooperation which occurs between, the beater 46 and main
pickup broom 48. As best seen in Fig. 4, in addition to its
central tubular member 68, the pickup beater 46 includes a
number of elongated angle members 150 being L-shaped in cross
section and a plurality of elongated liftiny elements 152
attached in spaced relation along each of the angle members
150. The angle members 150 are circumferentially spaced about
and rigidly fixed to the central tubular member 68 so as to
extend tangentially therefrom. The lifting elements 152 are
angularly spaced about and generally extend in swept back
radial fashion from a central mounting structure 154 formed by
the angle members 150 and central tubular member 68 of the
beater.
Also, the beater 46 includes a stripper assembly 156
composed o a plurality of spaced apart U-shaped stripper
segments 158 which extend parallel to one another and
downwardly around the lower side of the central mounting
structure 154 and are attached at their upper ends by bolts
160 to flanges 162 fixed on the underside of the top wall 56
of the beater shroud 50. The lifting elements 152 are aligned
with the spaces between the stripper segments 158 so as to
extend through the spaces and beyond the stripper segments 158
during travel through the lower portion of an endless path of
travel P(l) as the beater central mounting structure 154 is
rotated counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 4. During travel
through the upper portion of the endless path P(l), the
lifting elements 152 withdraw inside of the stripper segments
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158 whereby the segments 158 cause stripping of any material
clinging to the lifting elements 152. Preferably, the lifting
elements 152 take the form of resiliently yieldable, semi-
rigid spring type fingers or tines which move in the endless
path P(l) and are capable of engaging and loosening up densely
packed piles of leaves and of lifting the leaves upwardly from
the ground.
As best seen in Figs. 1, ~, and 7-13, in addition to
its central tubular member 70, the pickup broom 48 includes a
spider 164, and pluralities of brushing or sweeping elements
166 and liEting elements 168 axlally slidably ~ounted on the
spider 164. The spider 164 is composed of three bars 170
spaced radially from and extending generally parallel to the
central tubular member 70 by a plurality of triangular-shaped
plates 172. The plates 172 are axially spaced from one
another along the central tubular member 70 ancl attached
thereto and to the bars 170 so as to define with the central
tubular member 70 and bars 170 a central spider support
structure 174 having an overall equilateral triangular
configuration.
As best seen in Figs. 4, 7, 8 and 13, each of the
brushing or sweeping elements 166 of the broom 48 is composed
oE a central ring 176 having a multiplicity of resiliently
~lexible elongated fiber brlstles 178 arranged in a row,
anchored thereto ancl extending radially therefrom. The
central ring 176 has a wavy, undulating or convolu-ted shape
defining three pairs of alternating, axially spaced lobes A
and B which, depending upon the angular orientation of one
ring 176 relative to an adjacently positioned ring 176, allow
placement of the rings 176 either in sync or out of sync with
one another. In other words, when the rings are "in sync"
with one another, the three pairs (or six) lobes A,B of each
ring are nested together in close packed contacting relation
with their rows of bristles 178 disposed adjacent one
another. After rotation o~ one ring 176 sixty degrees
relative to the adjacent ring 176, the rings are "out of sync"
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such that only three lobes A displaced one hundred twenty
degrees apart are contacting and their rows of bristles 178
are axially spaced at the locations of the other three spaced
apart lobes. sOth the "in sync" and "out of sync"
relationships of the sweeping elements 166 can be seen in FigO
1. Two pairs of radially inwardly extending spaced drive pins
180, 182 fixed on the ring 176 of each sweeping element 166
and circumferentially spaced from one another by approximately
one inch interfit with any of the bars 170 of the spider
support structure 174 to prevent the sweeping element 166 from
rotating relative thereto once the ring 176 has been slidably
installed over the spider support structure 174. Rotation of
the spider support structure 174 thus causes rotation of the
plurality of sweeping elements 166 therewith in an endless
path P(2) in which the outer tips of the fiber bristles 178
engage and sweep the loosened leaves across the ground.
As best seen in Figs. 4, 9, 10 and 13, each oE the
lif-ting elements 168 of the broom 48 is composed of a
triangular shaped plate 184 and a plurality of resiliently-
yieldable, semi ri.gid spring type fingers or tines 186
angularly-spaced thereabout one hundred twenty degrees from
one another. The tines 186 are mounted by bolts 188 to each
of three angular brackets 190 Ei.xed on the respective three
segments 192 of the plate 184. Installation of the lifting
element 168 over the spider support structure 174 of the broom
48, as best seen in Fig. 4, involves aligning the bars 170 of
the spider support structure 174 with the interior corners
formed by the plate segments 192 and then sliding the plate
184 on the bars 170.
As shown in Flg. 13, one lifting element 168 is
grouped with six sweeping elements 166 with a subgroup of
three sweeping elements 166 on each opposite side of the
lifting element 168. Ten of such groups are positioned along
the spider support structure 174 of the broom 48. The
sweeping and lifting elements 166,168 are installed from the
right end of the structure 174 as viewed in Fig. 11. A stop
plate 194 is provided on the left end of the structure 174.
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The three sweeping elements 166 of each subgroup on
each side of the lifting element 168 are oriented to assume an
"in sync" or nesting relation to one another. However, the
inner ones of the sweeping elements l66 of the two subgroups
are oriented "out of sync" with each other, allowing the
lifting element 168 to be positioned therebetween ~Jith its
corners 196 formed by the plate segments 192 being disposed
between the three spaced lobes B of the sweeping element rings
176. In such manner, the lifting element tlnes 186 are
interspersed with the fiber bristles 178 of the sweeping
elements 166 and, upon rotation of the spider support
structure 174, move in an endless path P(3) to engage and lift
upwardly from the ground the leaves being swept by the
sweeping elements 166. It will be observed in Fig. 4 that the
tines 186 of the liEting elements 168 are slightly shorter in
length than the bristles 178 of the sweeping elements 1660
Thus, the diameter of endless path P(3) is less than that of
endless path P(2).
Therefore, upon counterrotation of the beater 46 and
main pickup broom ~18 such that the beater and broom rotate
toward one another at their respective lower sides which are
located adjacent the ground, the respective sweeping elements
166 and lifting elements 152,168 thereof cooperate to
positively and consistently deliver leaves from the ground
upwardly between the beater and broom 46,48 to the transfer
auger 72, Because of the interspersed relationship of the
tines 186 within the mass of bristles 178, when the load
becomes heavy the more rigid tines 186 take over the load
carrying function from the fiber bristles 1781 If the tines
186 were not present, the bristles 178 would merely deflect
and not lift the load. The tines 186 by being spring-type are
forgiving and so will resilient yield when passing over rocks
and other immovable objects.
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Adjustable Mounting o~ Rotary Beater
Another important Eeature of the improved leaf
harvesting machlne 10 relates to means mounted on the mobile
frame ]2 which, in turn, adjustably mounts the beater 46 for
movement along a linear path toward and away from the main
pickup broom 48 Eor presetting the positional relationship of
the beater 46 relative to the broom 48~ Mo~e specifically,
the adjusting means includes a releasable and slidably
adjustable attachment arrangement, generally designated 198,
for presetting the position of the endless path P(l) of the
beater liEting elements ]52 relative to the endless paths
P(2),P(3) of the pickup broom sweeping and lifting elements
166,168. As seen in Fig. 4, the slightly overlapping relation
between the peripheries of the respective endless paths P(l)
and P(2) of the beater lifting elements 152 and pickup broom
sweeping elements 166 is preferred. Also, a substantially
tangential relation between the peripheries oE the respective
endless paths P(l) and P(2) of the pickup beater lifting
elements 152 and pickup broom lifting elements 168 is
preferred.
As best seen in Figs. 1-6, the adjustable beater
attachment arrangement 198 includes a pair of leEt and right
elongated arms 200,202 pivotally mounted at their rear end
portions to the outer left and right ends of the broom central
tubular member 70 and slidably coupled via elongated slots 204
defined in their front end portions to outer left and right
ends of the beater central tubular member 68. Left and right
plates 206,208 are fixed to the front portions of the
respective left and right arms 200,202 and extend above and
below the arms. A pair of spaced slots 210 are formed in each
of the plates 206,208 above and below the arms 200,202. The
slots 210 receive releasable fasteners 212 which extend
through holes in the left and right shroud side walls 52,54
being alignable with the respective slots 210. Thus, the
position of the beater 46 relative to the broom 48 is adjusted
by first unloosening the fasteners 212. Next, the beater 46
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and shroud 50 therewith are slid toward the broom 48 (with the
outer ends of the beater central tubular member 68 sliding
along the slots ~04 in arms 200,202) until the desired
position is reached. Then, the fasteners 212 are retightened.
Still another important feature of the improved leaf
loading machine 10 re]ates to means pivotally mounted on the
mobile frame 12 and mounting the beater 46 for swinging
movement toward and away from the ground about the main pickup
broom center 48. In particular, the beater mounting means
takes the form of the above-described beater support and
attachment arrangement 198 which pivotally mounts the beater
46 to the axis of the broom 48 and a height adjustment
mechanism 214 coupled between the beater shroud 50 and the
mobile frame 12. Particularly, the height adjustment
mechanism 214 includes a bracket 216 fixed on the top wall 56
of the shroud 50 having an elongated lost motion slot 218, a
cylinder 220 having a central threaded bore 222 pivotally
mounted by a bracket 224 fixed on the front edge of the
housing top wall 64, and an elongated threaded rod 226
extending through the cylinder 220 with a handle 228 defined
on the upper end thereof. The height adjustment mechanism 214
is actuatable by rotating the handle 228 to preset a minimum
displaceMent of the beater above the ground, as seen in Fig.
6. The presence of the slot 218 permits a lost motion type
pivotal movement of the beater shroud 50 and the beater 46
therewith to a maximum displacement above the ground (as seen
in dashed line form in Fig. 6) to allow the beater 46 to rise
up over immovable obstacles encountered on the ground.
Conversion Between Transport and Operating Positions
Yet another feature of the improved machine relates
to a conversion arrangement 230 for raising and lowering the
beater 46 and main pickup broom 48 between operating and
transport positions shown respectively in dashed and solid
line forms in Fig. 5. Specifically, as best seen in Figs. 1-
6, the tongue assembly 38 of the machine 10 which is pivotally
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mounted by the pin 40 about a generally horizonta:l axis to the
upri~ht beams 34,36 inc].udes a lever member 232 of the
conversion arranyement 230 extending rearwardly from the
beams. The arrangement 230 also includes a conversion
mechanism 234 coupled between the rear end of the lever member
232 and a bracket 236 attached on the right longitudinal
members 16,18 of the mobile frame 12.
The handle 238 on a threaded rod 240 of the
conversion mechanism 230 being threaded through a coupler 242
pivotally attached at 244 to the rear end of the lever member
232 is turned to rotate the rod 240 and causing pivoting of
the tongue assembly 3~ about the axis defined by pivot pin 40
and relative to the mobile frame 12 between first and second
articulated conditions seen in Fig. 5. When the tongue
assembly clevis 42 is attached to the drawbar 44 of a towing
vehicle, selected actuation of the conversion mechanism 230
will respectively lower and raise the mobile frame 12 and the
auxiliary pickup beater 46 and main pickup broom 48 mounted
thereon between the operating and transport positions.
Other Features
In addition to the rotary brush cleaner 140
described earlier, the leaf loading machine 10 also
incorporates an arcuate shaped carryover recovery plate or
chute 246 fixed to and extending between the housing side
walls 60,62 rearwardly of the lower side of the main pickup
broom 48. The function o:E the chute 246 is to facilitate
return of carried over material along the endless path P(2) of
the broom 4~ so that another attempt can be made at removing
it from the street surface. Further, as an option a rotary
curb brush ~48 mounted to the beater left support arm 200 by a
swing arm 250 and powered by a hydraulic motor 252 can be used
on the machine 10.
It is thought that the present invention and many of
its attendant advantages will be understood Erom the foregoing
description and it will be apparent that various changes may
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be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts
thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the
form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred or
e~emplary embodiment thereof.
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