Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority
from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/975,052
filed on September 25, 2007, which is herein incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to factory and sidewalk
sweepers, and more particularly to pick-up heads for factory and
sidewalk sweepers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Sidewalk sweepers and factory floor sweepers of various
types are used to sweep debris in many different types of
locations. Sidewalk sweepers are typically used to sweep dust,
dirt and debris from sidewalks, parking lots, and so on. Often,
the dust, dirt and debris has accumulated significantly on a
surface that is to be swept, and when swept by a sidewalk sweeper,
the dust, dirt and debris can accumulate in front of a pick-up head
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or gutter broom high enough that the dust, dirt and debris actually
travel over the pickup head or gutter broom. Accordingly, this
dust, dirt and debris again end up on the surface being swept,
which is completely unacceptable. This situation is especially
common during spring cleanup, and especially in climates where
large amounts of leaves from deciduous trees remain on the ground
until spring time, and also where sand is used on roads during the
winter.
[0003] It should be noted that the above described situation of
having debris pass over the pick-up head is exacerbated by the fact
that the outer ends of some pick-up heads are lower than the
central portion. Such lowering of the outer ends of the pick-up
head is due to the need to reduce the cross-sectional area of the
pick-up head at its outer ends, in order to maintain airflow, and
therefore suctioning, towards the outer ends of the pick-up head.
Unfortunately, the lower outer ends of the pick-up heads tends to
permit debris to readily pass over the outer end portions of the
pickup head, which is unacceptable.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
pick-up head for use with a factory floor sweeper and especially a
sidewalk sweeper.
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[0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide
a pick-up head for use with a factory floor sweeper and especially
a sidewalk sweeper, wherein dirt and debris are precluded from
passing over the top of a pick-up head or gutter broom.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide
a pick-up head for use with a factory floor sweeper and especially
a sidewalk sweeper, wherein dirt and debris are precluded from
passing over the top of a pick-up head or gutter broom, and
airflow, and therefore suctioning, is maintained within the pick-up
head towards the outer ends of the pick-up head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention
there is disclosed a novel debris-plowing pick-up head for a mobile
sweeper. The debris plowing pick-up head comprises a housing
defining a substantially hollow interior and having a front, a
back, a left end and a right end, a top and a bottom, and a
suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into
the substantially hollow interior of the housing. There is a dust
and debris outlet in the housing for permitting dust and debris to
be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior of the housing
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into a hopper. A barrier is disposed on the top of the housing for
substantially precluding the passage of large debris over the
housing.
[0008] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the
present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of
the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts
and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description and the
appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
latter of which is briefly described herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The novel features which are believed to be
characteristic of the debris-plowing pick-up head for a mobile
sweeper according to the present invention, as to its structure,
organization, use and method of operation, together with further
objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from
the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of
the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is
expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the
purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended
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as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the
accompanying drawings:
[00010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of the debris-plowing pick-up head according to the
present invention, in use on a mobile sweeper vehicle;
[00011] Figure 2 is a top plan view of the first preferred
embodiment debris-plowing pick-up head of Figure 1;
[00012] Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the first
preferred embodiment debris-plowing pick-up head of Figure 1;
[00013] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the first
preferred embodiment debris-plowing pick-up head of Figure 1;
[00014] Figure 5 is a partially cut-away side elevational view of
the second preferred embodiment debris-plowing pick-up head
according to the present invention, in use on a mobile sweeper
vehicle; and,
[00015] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the second
preferred embodiment debris-plowing pick-up head of Figure 5.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[00016] Referring to Figures 1 through 6 of the drawings, it will
be noted that Figures 1 through 4 illustrate a first preferred
embodiment of the debris-plowing pick-up head of the present
invention, and Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a second preferred
embodiment of the debris-plowing pick-up head of the present
invention.
[00017] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 4, which
show a first preferred embodiment of the debris plowing pick-up
head for a mobile sweeper 22 according to the present invention, as
indicated by general reference numeral 20. The pick-up head 20 for
a mobile sweeper 22 comprises a housing 30 defining a substantially
hollow interior 31 and having a front 32, a back 33, a left end 34
and a right end 35, a top 36 and a bottom 37. There is also a
suctioning bottom opening 38 for suctioning dust and small debris,
such as dirt and small stones, and the like, into the substantially
hollow interior 31 of the housing 30. A dust and debris outlet 39
in the housing 30 permits dust and debris to be suctioned from the
substantially hollow interior 31 of the housing 30 into a hopper 23
that is mounted at the back of the mobile sweeper 22, via a duct
26. The dust and debris outlet 39 is preferably disposed in the
back 33 of the housing 30, so as to take advantage of the relative
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travel of debris with respect to the pick-up head 20 as the mobile
sweeper 22 travels forwardly.
[00018] As can readily be seen in the figures, the housing 30 is
tapered from a higher central portion 29 to a lower outer left
portion 291 and a lower outer right portion 29r. Tapering the
housing 30 in this manner permits sufficient air flow at the left
and right ends 34,35 respectively, of the housing 30 to be
sufficient enough to suction dust and debris from the left and
right ends 34,35 of the housing 30.
[00019] The pick-up head of the present invention also comprises
a barrier 40 disposed on the top of the housing 30. The barrier 40
preferably comprises at least one substantially vertically disposed
plate, and even more preferably, left and right substantially
vertically disposed plates 421, 42r. Each plate elongate, and
tapers from its widest at its outer ends 431,43r, corresponding to
the left and right outer ends 34,35 of the housing 30, to the
central portion 29. Preferably, the barrier 40 comprises a pliable
material to thereby permit some physical flexibilty of the barrier
40. Accordingly, in the event that the barrier 40 impacts against
solid object, the barrier 40 will bend somewhat, thus minimizing
the chance of breakage or other damage.
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[00020] Also, the barrier 40 is removably and replaceably mounted
on the housing 30 within a slot 72 defined by two rails 70 by means
of threaded fasteners 49 extending through co-operating apertures
in the left and right substantially vertically disposed plates
421,42r, and in the rails 70. Use of such threaded fasteners
permits the barrier 40 to be readily replaced if it is broken or if
a specific type of barrier 40 is desired to be used.
[00021] Alternatively, the barrier could comprise one continuous
barrier that spans across the entire housing 30.
[00022] The barrier 40 is for substantially precluding the
passage of large debris over the housing, so that large debris,
such as leaves, bottles, cans, and so on do not end up behind the
pick-up head 20 as the mobile sweeper 22 travels forwardly.
[00023] The pick-up head 20 further comprises a suctioning front
opening 60 disposed in the front of the housing 30 for receiving
debris into the substantially hollow interior 31 of the housing 30,
and in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface being
cleaned. Preferably, the suctioning front opening 60 is disposed
generally centrally in the front of the housing 30. It will also
be noted that the dust and debris outlet 39 is generally centrally
disposed in the back of the housing 30, so as to be generally
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laterally aligned with the suctioning front opening 60. The
suctioning front opening 60 needs to be large enough to accept
large debris, such as most sizes of cans and bottles therethrough.
[00024] A selectively openable and closable door means 70 is
operatively mounted on the pick-up head 20, at the suctioning front
opening 60, for selectively opening and closing the suctioning
front opening 60. The openable and closeable door means 70
comprises at least one door member mounted in hinged relation on
the housing 30. In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated,
the openable and closeable door means 70 comprises a single door 70
mounted by means of a horizontally oriented top hinge 72.
Preferably, the at least one door member 70 is mounted so as to
open inwardly into the substantially hollow interior 31 of the
housing 30. In this manner, the door member 70 opens in the same
direction as the relative travel of debris with respect to the
pick-up head 20 as the mobile sweeper 22 travels forwardly.
[00025] The pick-up head 20 further comprises means for urging
large debris towards the suctioning front opening 60. In the first
preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the means for urging debris
towards the suctioning front opening 60 comprises a "V"-shaped
front wall portion 32w of the housing 30. The suctioning front
opening 60 is disposed at the vertex of the "V"-shaped front wall
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portion 32w, so as to receive large debris that is pushed along the
left and right front walls of the housing 30, as the mobile sweeper
22 travels forwardly.
[00026] In use, as the mobile sweeper 22 travels forwardly, dust
and debris on the surface being cleaned are encountered by the
pick-up head 20. Dust and small debris near or against a generally
vertically disposed surface, such as a curb, are encountered by a
gutter broom (not shown). The dust and debris encountered by the
gutter broom are swept inwardly away from the left end 34 of the
housing 30. Most of the debris, except very small debris, is
encountered by the left and right front walls 32w of housing 30,
and is moved to the suctioning front opening 60, due to slope of
the "V"-shaped front wall portion 32w of the housing 30. The
debris that tries to pass over the housing 30 is precluded from
doing so by the barrier 40.
[00027] As can readily be seen, with the pick-up head 20
according to the present invention, dust and very small debris that
pass under the pick-up head 20 enter the substantially hollow
interior 31 of the pick-up head 20 through the suctioning bottom
opening 38. In essence, the pickup head 20 according to the
present invention separates the dust and very small debris from the
larger debris, and causes them to take their separate routes in
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order to ultimately be suctioned up. This particular structure and
function allows the pick-up head 20 to maintain proper and
sufficient suctioning across the width of the housing 30.
[00028] It should also be noted that the pick-up head 20 for a
mobile sweeper 22 according to the present invention can be used as
part of a vacuum type system on a sidewalk sweeper or a factory
floor sweeper, or as part of a re-circulating type system on a
sidewalk sweeper or a factory floor sweeper, as will now be
discussed.
[00029] Reference will now be made to Figures 5 and 6, which show
a second preferred embodiment of the debris-plowing pick-up head
according to the present invention, as indicated by reference
numeral 220. The second preferred embodiment debris-plowing pick-
up head 220 is similar to the first preferred embodiment debris-
plowing pick-up head 20, except that it is used in a re-circulating
type system on a sidewalk sweeper or a factory floor sweeper. The
right substantially vertically disposed plate 242r and the left
substantially vertically disposed plate are the same as those
described in the first preferred embodiment. In addition to the
elements and features described in the first preferred embodiment,
the second preferred embodiment debris-plowing pick-up head
comprises a top covering 280 of the hopper 223 has a built in panel
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filter 282 at the back, and unfiltered direct opening 284 to the
ambient surroundings adjacent the panel filter 282. A
recirculating air hose 286 has its inlet 287 at the top covering
280 of the hopper 223 and its outlet 288 in the pickup head to form
a "closed loop" system with the fan 224. The fan 224 blows
unfiltered air into the inlet 287 of the recirculating air hose
286, as indicated by arrow "A". This air is introduced into the
pick-up head 220, as indicated by arrow "B", in order to help
capture dust and debris within the pick-up head 220. The
recirculating air, including the dust and debris, circulate through
the duct 226, as indicated by arrow "C", and returned to the hopper
223, as indicated by arrow "D", as drawn in by the fan 224.
[00030] A portion of the air from the fan 224 is bled off to the
atmosphere, as controlled by flap valve 290, either through the
panel filter 282, as is shown in Figure 5, or through the direct
opening 284, as is shown in Figure 6. A large gate valve 292 is
mounted in hinged relation at the junction between the panel filter
282 and a direct opening 284 for movement between a first position,
as shown in Figure 5, whereat all of the air flow that is bled off
is directed through the panel filter 282. The large gate valve 292
seals against the slanted wall 294 in order to preclude air from
escaping through the direct opening 284. This mode is used during
dry sweeping in order to preclude dust from escaping to the
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atmosphere. There were circulation of a substantial portion of the
airflow significantly reduces the volume of air that must be
filtered per unit time, which is a significant problem with vacuum
type sweepers.
[00031] In the event that sweeping must be performed in wet or
damp conditions, there is no actual dust generated that needs to be
controlled and captured; however, there is a wet airborne
particulate that must be dealt with. It is well known that this
wet airborne particulate can readily clog a panel filter 282.
Accordingly, the large gate valve 292 can be moved to the position
as shown in Figure 6, whereat the panel filter 282 is covered, and
there is a direct path for the flow of air that is bled off to the
direct opening 284 to the ambient surroundings, thus precluding the
panel filter 282 from becoming clogged.
[00032] As can be understood from the above description and from
the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a pick-up
head for use with a factory floor sweeper and especially a sidewalk
sweeper, wherein dust, dirt and debris is precluded from passing
over the top of a pick-up head or gutter broom, and airflow, and
therefore suctioning, is maintained within the pick-up head towards
the outer ends of the pick-up head, all of which features are
unknown in the prior art.
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[00033] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent
to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and
such variations are considered to be within the scope of the
present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations
may be used in the design and manufacture of the debris plowing
pick-up head for a mobile sweeper of the present invention without
departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.
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