Surface sweeper with floating broom chamber
First Claim
1. A mobile sweeper for cleaning an underlying surface including a framework, a hopper mounted on the framework to receive dust and debris, a broom chamber adjacent said underlying surface and in communication with said hopper for transferring said dust and debris from said surface to said hopper, means mounting said broom chamber to said framework to permit relative vertical movement therebetween, a broom within said broom chamber, means for rotating said broom, and means for mounting said broom to said broom chamber so as to permit relative vertical motion therebetween whereby said broom chamber may be elevated to permit the sweeper to traverse obstacles on said underlying surface while said broom is retained in sweeping contact with said underlying surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A maneuverable surface sweeper has a framework supporting a hopper configured to receive dust and debris swept from an underlying surface. A broom chamber is mounted within the framework overlying the surface to be swept and in communication with the hopper. The broom chamber may move vertically relative to the framework. A rotary driven broom is mounted in the broom chamber and has limited vertical movement capability relative to the chamber. A resilient tubular seal is disposed between the broom chamber and the hopper so that dust control is obtained therebetween while the broom chamber undergoes vertical movement. A bump encountered on the underlying surface elevates the broom chamber permitting the sweeper to pass thereover while allowing the broom to descend and continue in sweeping contact with the surface.
45 Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A mobile sweeper for cleaning an underlying surface including a framework, a hopper mounted on the framework to receive dust and debris, a broom chamber adjacent said underlying surface and in communication with said hopper for transferring said dust and debris from said surface to said hopper, means mounting said broom chamber to said framework to permit relative vertical movement therebetween, a broom within said broom chamber, means for rotating said broom, and means for mounting said broom to said broom chamber so as to permit relative vertical motion therebetween whereby said broom chamber may be elevated to permit the sweeper to traverse obstacles on said underlying surface while said broom is retained in sweeping contact with said underlying surface.
- 5. In a surface cleaner for picking up debris and dust particles comprising a vehicle having a framework supporting a hopper divided into a dust laden air chamber and a filtered air chamber, a filter disposed between the chambers, a broom chamber coupled beneath the framework adjacent to the surface being cleaned and in communication with the dust laden air chamber through registered apertures in said dust laden air chamber and said broom chamber, a broom mounted for rotating motion within the broom chamber in sweeping contact with the surface being cleaned and being movable vertically relative to the broom chamber, a blower operating to exhaust air from the filtered air chamber thereby causing air to flow through a flow passage extending from the surface through the broom chamber and the dust laden air chamber and the filter to the filtered air chamber, the improvement wherein a compressible seal is positioned surrounding the registered apertures, and means disposed between the framework and the broom chamber for supporting the broom chamber and for providing limited vertical relative movement therebetween, so that the broom chamber is movable from a downward to an upward position by an underlying bump on the surface being cleaned and the broom remains in sweeping contact with the surface while the integrity of the air flow passage is maintained in both the upward and downward positions.
- 10. A mobile sweeper for cleaning an underlying surface and having a framework and a hopper mounted on the framework to receive dust and debris through an inlet aperture therein, a floating broom chamber having an outlet aperture, means for mounting said floating broom chamber on said framework with said outlet aperture in registration with the inlet aperture of the hopper and for supporting said floating broom chamber in a down position, a broom adapted for contact with the underlying surface, means for mounting said broom for rotation within said floating broom chamber whereby dust and debris is swept off of the surface into said floating broom chamber, said last named means providing limited vertical movement between said broom and said floating broom chamber, means for urging the swept dust and debris from said floating broom chamber through said outlet and inlet apertures into the hopper, a resilient tubular seal disposed between the hopper and said floating broom chamber surrounding both said outlet and inlet apertures, said tubular seal being transversely collapsible, whereby said floating broom chamber may be moved upward from said down position while said broom is retained in contact with the underlying surface so that the surface is swept substantially continuously during operation.
Specification