Surface maintenance machine having air recirculation
First Claim
1. A surface cleaning machine having a normally longitudinally forward direction of movement, said machine comprising a frame, a plurality of surface engaging wheels suitable for supporting said frame, a brush housing transported by the frame, said brush housing having a downwardly facing opening and a debris discharge opening, a power driven cylindrical brush mounted in the housing for rotation about a transverse axis, said brush being adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned while directing swept material through the debris discharge opening, a hopper supported with respect to the frame, said hopper having a debris inlet opening adjacent one end thereof, said inlet opening communicating directly with the brush housing discharge opening, said hopper having an air outlet opening associated with the end opposite said one end, said air outlet opening being remote from the debris inlet opening, air recirculating means for withdrawing air from said hopper through said air outlet opening and discharging air under pressure into the brush housing whereby at least a substantial quantity thereof moves through the housing and again through said hopper to assist in propelling light weight debris in a direction toward said opposite end in said hopper thereby increasing the effective capacity of said hopper.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A powered sweeping machine is disclosed, particularly suitable for efficiently removing light and heavy weight litter from surfaces such as parking lots, warehouse floors and the like. The machine includes a main frame carrying a hopper and a powered brush. The brush operates through an opening in the lower side of a brush housing. The hopper is separated into a debris receiving compartment and a filter compartment. An air fan and an associated duct recirculates air from the far end of the debris compartment to a zone adjacent the brush. This nonfiltered air is discharged into the brush housing and again moved through the debris compartment to aid in moving debris to the far end of the debris compartment. A fan is provided for withdrawing a portion of the air from the filter compartment and discharging the air to the ambient atmosphere. The withdrawal of a portion of the air results in more air flowing into the brush housing than is recirculated through the brush housing and thus provides dust control at the base of the brush housing.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A surface cleaning machine having a normally longitudinally forward direction of movement, said machine comprising a frame, a plurality of surface engaging wheels suitable for supporting said frame, a brush housing transported by the frame, said brush housing having a downwardly facing opening and a debris discharge opening, a power driven cylindrical brush mounted in the housing for rotation about a transverse axis, said brush being adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned while directing swept material through the debris discharge opening, a hopper supported with respect to the frame, said hopper having a debris inlet opening adjacent one end thereof, said inlet opening communicating directly with the brush housing discharge opening, said hopper having an air outlet opening associated with the end opposite said one end, said air outlet opening being remote from the debris inlet opening, air recirculating means for withdrawing air from said hopper through said air outlet opening and discharging air under pressure into the brush housing whereby at least a substantial quantity thereof moves through the housing and again through said hopper to assist in propelling light weight debris in a direction toward said opposite end in said hopper thereby increasing the effective capacity of said hopper.
- 7. A surface cleaning machine having a normally longitudinally forward direction of movement, said machine comprising a frame, a plurality of surface engaging wheels supporting said frame, a brush housing supported on the frame, said brush housing having a downwardly facing opening and a debris discharge opening, a power driven cylindrical brush mounted in the housing for rotation about a transverse axis, said brush being adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned while directing swept material toward the debris discharge opening, a hopper supported on the frame, said hopper having a debris inlet opening adjacent one end communicating with the brush housing discharge opening, said hopper having an air outlet opening at an end opposite said one end, said air outlet opening being remote from the debris inlet opening, air recirculating means for withdrawing air from said hopper through said hopper air outlet opening and discharging air under pressure into the hopper one end, whereby at least a substantial quantity thereof again moves through the hopper to assist in propelling light weight debris along said hopper in a direction toward said air outlet opening thereby increasing the effective capacity of said hopper.
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15. A surface cleaning machine comprising a frame, surface engaging wheels mounted on the frame, a brush housing mounted on the frame, said brush housing having a brush opening that opens downwardly and a debris discharge opening, a power driven brush mounted in the housing for rotation about a transverse axis, said brush being adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and to direct swept material through the debris discharge opening, a hopper mounted on the frame, said hopper having a debris inlet opening at one end in fluid communication with the housing discharge opening, said hopper having an upper portion remote from the debris inlet opening, air recirculating means for withdrawing air from said hopper upper portion and discharging air under low pressure through the housing and through the debris discharge opening, said hopper having a debris receiving portion and filter means for separating debris particles from an air stream, the filter means having an inlet opening adjacent an end of said hopper opposite said one end, said filter means inlet opening communicating with the hopper at a location remote from the hopper debris inlet opening thereby facilitating movement of debris toward said hopper opposite end and said filter means having an outlet for discharging filtered air into the atmosphere, said blower means fluidly connected to the filter means outlet for drawing air from the separating means outlet and discharging air to the ambient atmosphere.
Specification