Vacuum street sweeper and filter apparatus therefor
First Claim
1. A vacuum street sweeper comprising a body, wheels for supporting the body and allowing movement of the sweeper along a street, a hopper within the body for receiving debris, an inlet to the hopper, a hopper outlet from the hopper, an exhaust section within the body communicating with the outlet, an exhaust outlet from the exhaust section, a vacuum system blower means supported within the exhaust section for suctioning debris through the inlet and into said hopper, initial filter means in said hopper upstream of said hopper outlet for filtering relatively coarse debris particles while allowing air carrying relatively fine dust and the like to pass therethrough, secondary filter means in the exhaust section remote from the initial filter means and positioned and arranged to filter dust and the like prior to the air exiting the exhaust outlet, the blower means being in flow communication with the hopper outlet and being positioned and arranged with respect to the exhaust outlet so as to discharge air through the secondary filter means whereby the blower means causes air flow through the initial filter means, through the hopper outlet, the secondary filter means, and the exhaust outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A motorized vehicular vacuum street sweeper (2) includes a hopper (14), a vacuum system (12) for suctioning debris and depositing same in the hopper (14), and a multi-stage filtration system (16) including a coarse filter above the hopper (14) and two different material filters (54 and 56) in an exhaust section (30) of the vacuum system (12) downstream and external of the hopper (14) to filter dust and the like and afford a cleaner exhaust to the atmosphere.
42 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A vacuum street sweeper comprising a body, wheels for supporting the body and allowing movement of the sweeper along a street, a hopper within the body for receiving debris, an inlet to the hopper, a hopper outlet from the hopper, an exhaust section within the body communicating with the outlet, an exhaust outlet from the exhaust section, a vacuum system blower means supported within the exhaust section for suctioning debris through the inlet and into said hopper, initial filter means in said hopper upstream of said hopper outlet for filtering relatively coarse debris particles while allowing air carrying relatively fine dust and the like to pass therethrough, secondary filter means in the exhaust section remote from the initial filter means and positioned and arranged to filter dust and the like prior to the air exiting the exhaust outlet, the blower means being in flow communication with the hopper outlet and being positioned and arranged with respect to the exhaust outlet so as to discharge air through the secondary filter means whereby the blower means causes air flow through the initial filter means, through the hopper outlet, the secondary filter means, and the exhaust outlet.
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9. A vacuum street sweeper comprising:
- a hopper, an inlet port communicating with the hopper, an outlet port communicating with the hopper;
a vacuum system having a blower means communicating with the outlet port for establishing a vacuum through the outlet port, the hopper, and the inlet port for thereby suctioning debris and depositing same in said hopper;
a discharge outlet from the vacuum system, and a filtration system comprising first filter means in the hopper, and second filter means in said vacuum system, the blower means in the vacuum system being in flow communication with the hopper outlet port and being positioned and arranged with respect to the discharge outlet so as to discharge air through the second filter means whereby the blower means causes air flow through the first filter means, through the hopper outlet port, the second filter means, and the discharge outlet, the first filter means comprising a coarse screen to prevent heavy debris from reaching the blower means, and the second filter means comprising fine mesh material to filter dust and the like to afford a cleaner exhaust to the atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
- a hopper, an inlet port communicating with the hopper, an outlet port communicating with the hopper;
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14. A vacuum street sweeper comprising:
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an intake section for suctioning debris from a street, means defining a transfer passage in communication with the intake section, a hopper for receiving debris including means defining an inlet port opening to the hopper and means defining an outlet port opening from the hopper remote from the inlet port, the inlet port being in communication with the transfer passage to deliver debris to the hopper, an initial coarse filter means in the hopper extending substantially thereacross in the path of air flow between the inlet port and the outlet port to block heavy debris coming into the inlet port from reaching the outlet port, the initial coarse filter means permitting the passage of dust therethrough, a dust collection compartment in communication with the outlet port for accumulation of dust therein, a blower means in the dust collection compartment operable to draw air through the outlet port into the dust collection compartment and for creating a suction in series through the hopper, the inlet port, and the transfer passage to the intake section, means defining an exhaust opening in the dust collection compartment and in the path of air blown from the blower, exhaust filter means extending substantially across the exhaust opening to prevent the escape of dust therefrom, whereby heavy debris and dust on a street may be suctioned therefrom into the intake section along with a quantity of air, the heavy debris being deposited in the hopper, the dust being passed through the coarse filter means and into the dust compartment, and the air being exhausted through the exhaust filter substantially free of the dust. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A vacuum street sweeper comprising a chassis including a body;
- the body including a plurality of walls defining an enclosed hopper;
an inlet port opening through one of the walls to the hopper;
means defining a transfer passage having a first open end communicating with the inlet port and having a second open end;
means defining a vacuum intake communicating with the second open end;
the transfer passage being supported on the chassis with the vacuum intake directed downwardly to suction debris from a street upon creating a vacuum at the vacuum intake;
an outlet port opening from the hopper;
a dust collection compartment within the body communicating with the outlet port;
a discharge opening from the dust collection compartment;
blower means mounted within the dust collection compartment having a discharge side upstream of and communicating with the discharge opening by way of the dust collection compartment and having a suction side communicating with the outlet port to create a vacuum through the outlet port, the hopper, the inlet port, and the transfer passage to the vacuum intake;
primary filter means within the hopper between the inlet port and the outlet port;
the primary filter means having coarse grid openings blocking the passage of heavy debris while permitting the passage of air carrying dust and fine particles therethrough;
secondary filter means between the discharge opening and the blower means;
the secondary filter means having fine mesh to block the passage of dust and fine particles while permitting the flow of air therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
- the body including a plurality of walls defining an enclosed hopper;
Specification