Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02317841 2009-01-23
1
A SWEEPER
The invention relates to a movable sweeper for cleaning
large flat areas such as airport runways. The sweeper has a
broad cylindrical brush which is rotated its axis, a flap
arrangement for leading loose water, snow and particles to
the side and supporting wheels by means of which the
working height of the brush is adjusted.
Known sweepers have separate adjustable support wheels and
separate adjustable flap constructions in front of the
rotatable brush. The height of the brush from the cleaned
surface is adjusted and maintained by means of the support
wheels. The position of said wheels in relation to the
frame of the machine can be changed. Height adjustment
allows different contact areas to be achieved i.e. the
length of the contact surface in the working direction of
the brush can be adjusted to be larger or smaller.
The rotating brush in use may carry with it light particles
that are returned to the cleaned surface. In order to
prevent this, the flap arrangement in front of the brush is
used to dislodge loose material from the brush. A similar
arrangement may be used behind the brush. When the brush
wears, the separate brush wires becomes shorter and thus
the brush diameter becomes smaller. It follows that the
support wheels have to be lifted in relation to the frame
and the flap arrangements have to be moved nearer the
brush. The sweepers of earlier known types have separate
adjustments for the support wheels and flaps which is
inconvenient.
CA 02317841 2009-01-23
2
According to the invention there is provided a movable
sweeper which includes a frame, and a rotatable cylindrical
brush coupled to the frame. A flap arrangement is
adjustably attached to the frame so that the distance
between the flap arrangement and the brush is adjustable.
The flap arrangement is located at least in front of the
rotatable brush and leads brushed loose water, snow and
particles to one side of the frame. A support wheel is
adjustably attached to the frame so that the working height
of the frame is adjustable and an adjustment mechanism is
provided by which the distance and working height are
adjusted. The adjustment mechanism includes a rotatable
axle and respective flap and wheel fixing arms attached to
an outer surface of the axle. Respective flap and wheel
connection rods are fixed at proximal ends thereof to the
flap and wheel arms respectively, whereby the flap and
wheel rods respectively transmit. an adjusting motion
respectively for the support wheel and the flap arrangement
when the axle is rotated. An activator is provided and has
a distal end fixed to the frame and a proximal end coupled
to the axle such that activation of the activator causes
rotation of the axle and hence adjustment of the distance
and working height simultaneousl.y.
By means of this invention, all adjustments can be carried
out at the same time using only one activator which
preferably is a hydraulic cylinder. The support wheel is
lifted, i.e. the brush is lowered and the flap arrangements
are moved towards the brush simultaneously. The adjustment
is easy and fast to use.
CA 02317841 2009-01-23
3
In the following the invention is explained by referring to
the enclosed drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a sweeper.
FIG. 2a is a side view of an adjusting axle having
arms for a plurality of connection rods fixed to
said arms.
FIG. 2b is a side view of an adjusting axle having
arms.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the brush machine.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a brush with an alternative
flap construction.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the figure 1 there is shown a sweeper having a frame 7,
a rotatable brush 1 mounted in bearings on the frame, a
hydraulic motor 31 to rotate said brush and a support wheel
2 coupled to the frame. The support wheel can be lifted
and lowered in relation to the frame 7. A sleeve 19 is
fixed to the frame 7 and a vertical axle 24 of the support
wheel assembly is movable vertically within the sleeve at
the lower end of the vertical axle are bearing 20 that
allow the wheel 2 to turn. Spring 21 keeps the wheel in
the intended direction of travel.
The frame 7 includes a horizontal axle 3, the outer surface
of which carries an arm 18. A connection rod 17 to the
support wheel height adjustment system connected to the arm
18 at a joint 16. By rotation of the axle 3, the support
wheel 2 can be lifted and lowered.
CA 02317841 2009-01-23
4
Rotation of the axle is effected by an activator, which in
this case is a hydraulic cylinder 4. The upper end of the
cylinder is fixed to said frame 7 and the lower end is
fixed at a joint 5 to an arm 6 fixed on the axle 3.
In front of the brush there is a flap arrangement 11 which
can be moved horizontally forward and backwards. The frame
7 has guiding means, rails or similar gliding bars 27 on
which the flap 11 can be moved. A gliding sleeve 29 is
mounted on the bar 27 and fixed to the flap 11. Motion is
transmitted to the flap by a rod 12 from an arm 15 fixed to
the outer surface of the axle 3. Between arm 15 and rod 12
there is a joint 14. By turning of the axle 3 the flap
arrangement 11 is moved towards or away from the brush.
The flap arrangement comprises the front flap 11 and a
shield 23 extending over the brush and partly to the side.
Behind the brush 1 there is a rear flap arrangement which
can collect loose particles and water, and which comprises
a channel 8 and a shield 22. The shield 22 extends over
the brush. The flap arrangement 8,22 can be moved towards
the brush axle by means of an arm 30 which is articulated
to the frame by a joint 28. The motion for the flap 8,22
is transmitted by a rod 9 from the arm 13 to which arm the
rod 9 is fixed by a joint 10. The arm 13 is fixed to the
outer surface of the axle 3.
As an alternative embodiment the rear flap arrangement 8,22
can also be fixed on the gliding bar 27 through another
sleeve 29 instead of arm 30 and joint 28, so that linear
motion of the rear flap is possible.
CA 02317841 2009-01-23
When the adjusting axle 3 is rotated by=the cylinder 4 and
arm 6, the arm 13,15,18 (Fig. 2a) move simultaneously. By
the lengths of said arms the motion distances of the wheel
and the flaps can be adjusted. Preferably, the motion
distances of the flaps 11,8 towards the brush centre are
the same as the adjusted distance by which the support
wheel 2 moves upwardly. The motion distances of the flaps
11,8 depend on the distance the wheel 2 moves in the
vertical direction. It is advantageous if the lengths of
each connection rods 9,12 and 17 is also adjustable for
example by equipping at least one end of each connection
rod with a thread 35 and providing a screwed threaded
coupling sleeve 36 on the thread (Fig. 1).
Fig. 2a shows the rotatable adjusting axle 3, arms 6,13,15
and 18 thereon and connection rods 9,12,17 connected by
joints 5,10,14 to the arms and cylinder 4. In the figure
2b the connection rods are removed.
In Fig. 3 there is shown as a top view the whole sweeper.
The adjusting axle 3 has bearings on its both ends and is
rotatably coupled to the frame 7 by the bearings. The
sweeper can be very wide, for example 4 - 6 meters. It is
therefore advantageous to use two or more parallel mounted
rods for the flaps and two activators 4 as shown in Fig. 3.
Figure 4 shows a flap construction system comprising hinged
front flap 11 which is moved by means of the rod 12. The
hinge point 32 is on the flap top and said flap 11 is
turned by means of the rod 12. In order to assure reliable
operation the system may comprise, as shown, auxiliary
CA 02317841 2009-01-23
6
articulated arms 33 and 34. The flap 11 can be raised for
facilitating removal of the brush.
As an activator, a screw system producing linear motion can
be used. Also an embodiment is possible in which the
activator 4 is first connected to move for example the
vertical axle 24 of the wheel 2 to adjust the brush height.
In this case, the rod 17 rotates the axle 3. Also the
activator 4 can be connected first to move one of the flap
arrangements, in which case the rod 9 or 12 can be used to
turn the axle 3.
