Street sweeping machine
First Claim
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1. In a street sweeping vehicle having a driver'"'"'s cab, a debris elevating system driven by a hydraulic motor, and brush means for feeding debris to the elevator system, apparatus for energizing the motor and controlling its operation, comprising:
- a source of fluid pressure;
selector valve means coupled between said source and the hydraulic motor and selectively operable in one of three modes either for shutting off the flow of energy to the motor, for energizing the motor in a forward direction, or for energizing the motor in a reverse direction;
handle-actuated means located in the driver'"'"'s cab for switching said selector valve means to a selected one of its three operating modes;
relief valve means associated with said source and responsive, whenever said elevating system becomes jammed, to relieve the pressure developed from said source when the same reaches a maximum safe level; and
visual indicator means visible from the driver'"'"'s cab and coupled to said relief valve means and responsive to said maximum safe pressure level for indicating that the elevating system is jammed.
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Abstract
A street sweeping vehicle with a single engine both for the purpose of propulsion and generation of hydraulic power. The hydraulic power is used to drive individual hydraulic motors controlling the main broom, gutter broom and debris elevating system. Each separate hydraulic motor is so positioned as to operate effectively while accomodating various drine positions, yet minimizing wear and tear on the mechanism driven.
20 Citations
2 Claims
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1. In a street sweeping vehicle having a driver'"'"'s cab, a debris elevating system driven by a hydraulic motor, and brush means for feeding debris to the elevator system, apparatus for energizing the motor and controlling its operation, comprising:
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a source of fluid pressure; selector valve means coupled between said source and the hydraulic motor and selectively operable in one of three modes either for shutting off the flow of energy to the motor, for energizing the motor in a forward direction, or for energizing the motor in a reverse direction; handle-actuated means located in the driver'"'"'s cab for switching said selector valve means to a selected one of its three operating modes; relief valve means associated with said source and responsive, whenever said elevating system becomes jammed, to relieve the pressure developed from said source when the same reaches a maximum safe level; and visual indicator means visible from the driver'"'"'s cab and coupled to said relief valve means and responsive to said maximum safe pressure level for indicating that the elevating system is jammed.
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2. A street sweeping machine comprising, in combination:
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a vehicle having front and rear wheels, a driver'"'"'s cab, and a main frame; a debris elevating system disposed within said vehicle main frame, including an inclined pan, upper and lower elevator shafts extending transversely across the upper and lower ends of said pan, respectively, a pair of sprockets on each of said shafts, at least two circular chains carried by said sprockets, and transversely extending paddles carried by said chains for sweeping debris from a roadway surface upward along said pan; a main broom carried beneath the vehicle and disposed rearwardly of the lower end of said inclined pan; said vehicle main frame having generally vertical side walls, openings through said side walls through which corresponding ends of said upper elevator shaft extend, and corresponding bearings supported by said side walls for receiving and rotatingly supporting the corresponding ends of said elevator upper shaft; one end of said elevator upper shaft protruding laterally beyond the corresponding side wall of said main frame for purpose of being rotatably driven; an auxiliary housing removably attached to the exterior surface of the side wall associated with said protruding shaft end; a hydraulic motor having a motor housing and an output shaft, said output shaft being axially aligned with said protruding end of said upper elevator shaft; means rigidly coupling said motor shaft to said upper elevator shaft; means rigidly securing said motor housing to said auxiliary housing; a pair of flexible hoses extending from said vehicle main frame to said motor housing for energizing said motor, whereby the driven rotation of said elevator upper shaft may be accomplished without imposing any bending stress thereon; a source of fluid pressure associated with said vehicle main frame for supplying hydraulic fluid to said flexible hoses; handle actuated means located in the driver'"'"'s cab of the vehicle and selectively operated for either coupling said source of fluid pressure to said hoses, or reversing same, or interrupting same; relief valve means associated with said source of fluid pressure and responsive whenever said debris elevating system becomes jammed to limit the pressure developed from source to a maximum safe level; and visual indicator means visible from the driver'"'"'s cab and coupled to said relief valve means and responsive to said maximum safe pressure level for indicating that the elevating system is jammed.
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Specification