Mobile vacuum sweeper

• US 20050097703A1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Madvac, Inc. (Allianz Madvac Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Madvac, Inc. (Allianz Madvac Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedard, Marc, Dubois, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 7,350,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/340.1
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0827 Dislodging by suction; Mechanical dislodging-cleaning apparatus with independent or dependent exhaust, e.g. dislodging-sweeping machines with independent suction nozzles combined with blowing E01H1/0872; Mechanical loosening devices working under vacuum

Abstract

A vacuum sweeper vehicle has a sweeper body including a frame. A pair of front wheels are supported by an axle apparatus at a forward end of the sweeper body. The axle apparatus is constructed to provide a space between the front wheels. A pair of rear wheels are supported at a rearward end of the sweeper body. A container is coupled to the sweeper body for receiving debris. A suction hose extends between the container and a vacuum nozzle proximal a forward end of the body. The suction hose extends through the space between the the front wheels. A suction device draws the debris from the nozzle, into the container, and a brush coupled to a forward end of the sweeper body sweeps debris from a ground surface.

Claims

1. A vacuum sweeper vehicle comprising:

a sweeper body including a frame;

a pair of front wheels supported by an axle apparatus at a forward end of said sweeper body, the axle apparatus being constructed to provide a space between said front wheels;

a pair of rear wheels supported at a rearward end of said sweeper body;

a container coupled to said sweeper body for receiving debris;

a suction hose extending between said container and a vacuum nozzle proximal a forward end of said body, said suction hose extending through said space between said front wheels;

a suction device for drawing said debris from said nozzle, into said container; and

at least one brush coupled to a forward end of said sweeper body for sweeping debris from a ground surface.

2. The vacuum sweeper vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said axle apparatus comprises at least a pair of axle members defining an elbow.

3. The vacuum sweeper vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said axle apparatus comprises at least a pair of axle members defining an elbow such that the axle members form an included angle with respect to each other.

4. The vacuum sweeper vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said axle apparatus comprises a pair of rear axle members and a pair of forward axle members, the pairs of axle members constructed to leave said space between the wheels.

5. The vacuum sweeper vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said axle members form a polygonal axle apparatus around said space between the wheels.

6. The vacuum sweeper vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said polygon is a quadrilateral.

7. The vacuum street sweeper vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle is supported on a roller apparatus for rolling said nozzle proximal a ground surface.

8. The vacuum street sweeper vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said roller apparatus extends forward of said sweeper body.

9. The vacuum street sweeper vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an operator'"'"'s cab at said forward end of said sweeper body.

10. The vacuum street sweeper vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising a leaf spring connected between a pair of forward axle members and a front portion of the sweeper vehicle.

11. The vacuum street sweeper vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said leaf spring is connected a center portion thereof to said forward axle members and is connected at each end to a front portion of the sweeper vehicle.

12. In a vacuum sweeper vehicle having a sweeper body, a container coupled to the sweeper body for receiving debris, a suction hose extending between a vacuum nozzle proximal a forward end of the body and said container, a suction device for drawing debris from the nozzle into the container, and at least one brush connected to a forward end of the sweeper for sweeping debris from a ground surface,

a pair of rear wheels supported at a rear end of said sweeper body;

a pair of front wheels; and

an axle apparatus supporting said pair of front wheels at a forward end of said sweeper body, the axle apparatus being constructed to provide a space between said front wheels whereby said suction hose extends through said space between said front wheels.

13. The vacuum sweeper vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said axle apparatus comprises at least a pair of axle members defining an elbow such that the axle members form an included angle with respect to each other.

14. The vacuum sweeper vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said axle apparatus comprises a pair of rear axle members and a pair of forward axle members, the pairs of axle members constructed to leave said space between the wheels.

15. The vacuum sweeper vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said axle members form a polygonal axle apparatus around said space between the wheels.

16. The vacuum sweeper vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising a leaf spring connected between a pair of forward axle members and a front portion of the sweeper vehicle.

17. The vacuum street sweeper vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said leaf spring is connected a center portion thereof to said forward axle members and is connected at each end to a front portion of the sweeper vehicle.

18. The vacuum street sweeper vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising an operator'"'"'s cab at said forward end of said sweeper body.