Dust box emptying device

• US 5,588,179 A
• Filed: 02/01/1995
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nilfisk, Inc. (Japan) (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: Clarke's Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Combs, Michael D., Bargiel, Douglas A., Burgoon, Jack L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/381,726
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 15/347, 15/348, 15/349, 55/432
• US Class Current: 15/349
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0854 Apparatus in which the mechanically dislodged dirt is partially sucked-off, e.g. dislodging- sweeping apparatus with dirt collector in brush housing or dirt container mechanical dislodging machines with independent suction nozzles E01H1/0827; combined with blowing and suction E01H1/0872

Abstract

A flap of an elastomeric material is disposed over an outlet opening in a dust box within a main hopper of an industrial-type sweeper, the outlet opening providing communication between the dust box and the main hopper for emptying of the contents accumulated within the dust box. The flap is positioned over the outlet opening and is operative to provide selective communication between the dust box and the main hopper. During dirt and debris collection, such is accumulated within the dust box, while during emptying the dirt and debris are allowed to fall into the main hopper for egress through the hopper inlet. In one embodiment, the main hopper door controls the selective communication of a slotted flap through connection of one end of the flap to the hopper door. In another embodiment, air pressure regulates the opening and closing of the flap.

Claims

1. In a sweeper having a hopper separated into a main hopper and a dust box, a filter disposed within the dust box and dividing the dust box into a clean side and a dirty side, the hopper having an inlet for influx of debris, the dust box having an inlet for influx of debris, the hopper being movable between a debris accumulation position and a debris discharge position, and an outlet in a wall of the dust box for removal of debris accumulated within the dust box, the sweeper characterized by:

a flap of resilient material disposed over the dust box outlet and operable to close the dust box outlet when the hopper is in the debris accumulation position, and to open the dust box outlet in the debris discharge position, said flap having at least one opening therein through which debris is adapted to be discharged when the hopper is in its said debris discharge position.

2. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said at least one opening is rectangular in shape.

3. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said resilient flap comprises:

a single elastomer sheet having a plurality of spaced-apart fingers on an end thereof, said fingers defining a plurality of openings therebetween.

4. In a sweeper having a hopper separated into a main hopper and a dust box, a filter disposed within the dust box and dividing the dust box into a clean side and a dirty side, the hopper having an inlet for influx of debris, the dust box having an inlet for influx of the debris, a suction system for drawing the debris into and through the hopper, the dust box and the filter, a hopper door adjacent the hopper inlet, the hopper door movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the hopper inlet, and an outlet in a wall of the dust box for removal of the debris accumulated within the dust box, the sweeper characterized by:

a flap of resilient material disposed over the dust box outlet and having an opening therein, said opening providing communication between the dust box and the main hopper when the hopper door is in the closed position wherein the accumulated debris within the dust box may fall into the main hopper for dumping, said opening closed from communication when the hopper door is in the open position.

5. The sweeper of claim 4, wherein said flap is attached at one end to the dust box wall and attached at another end to the hopper door.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said resilient material is an elastomer.

7. The sweeper of claim 4, wherein said resilient flap comprises:

a single elastomer sheet having a plurality of spaced-apart fingers on an end thereof, said fingers defining openings therebetween.

8. The sweeper of claim 7, wherein said fingers are attached to the hopper door and another end of said flap is attached to the dust box wall.

9. A device for the selective retention and removal of dust and debris from a dust box defined within a sweeper hopper by upper and lower walls, the hopper having an inlet for the inflow of dust and debris and a hopper door disposed adjacent the hopper inlet, the dust box having an inlet for the inflow of dust and debris and an opening in the lower wall for the egress of the dust and debris, the device comprising:

a sheet of a resilient material disposed over the dust box opening, said sheet attached at one end to the lower wall of the dust box and attached at another end to the hopper door, said sheet having a plurality of bands defining a plurality of slots at said another end, said slots permitting communication between the dust box and the hopper only when said hopper door is in a closed position.

10. An industrial sweeper comprising:

a frame;

a hopper carried by said frame, said hopper having a debris inlet at a lower end thereof;

a hopper door pivotably coupled at said hopper debris inlet, said hopper door movable between an open position and a closed position;

a rotatable brush adjacent said hopper inlet;

a dust box formed within said hopper, said dust box having a debris inlet, an air outlet with a filter disposed thereover, and a debris outlet;

a suction system in communication with said dust box and said hopper through said filter; and

a flap disposed over said debris outlet and attached at one end to a lower wall forming said dust box and attached at another end to said hopper door, said flap having a plurality of slots therein that allow communication between said dust box and said hopper when said hopper door is in the closed position to effectuate a dumping of the accumulated dust and debris of said dust box, and which are obstructed from communication between said dust box and said hopper when said hopper door is in the open position thereby allowing accumulation of dust and debris within said dust box during the sweeping operation.

11. The sweeper of claim 10, wherein said flap is formed of a single sheet of elastomeric.

12. The sweeper of claim 10, wherein said plurality of slots are each rectangular in shape.

13. In a sweeper having a hopper separated into a main hopper and a dust box, a filter disposed within the dust box and dividing the dust box into a clean side and a dirty side, the hopper having an inlet for influx of debris, the dust box having an inlet for influx of the debris, a suction system for drawing the debris into and through the hopper, the dust box and the filter, the hopper being movable between a debris collection position and a debris discharging position, and an outlet in a wall of the dust box for removal of the debris accumulated within the dust box, said outlet facing downwardly when the hopper is in a debris collection position, the sweeper characterized by:

a flap of resilient material disposed over the dust box outlet, said flap being movable to a generally horizontal position to close the downwardly facing dust box outlet when the suction system is operative and the hopper is in the debris collection position, and said flap being operable to drop down to open the dust box outlet when the suction system is non-operative and the hopper is in the debris discharge position.

14. The sweeper of claim 13, wherein said flap is attached at one end to the dust box wall.

15. The sweeper of claim 13, further characterized by:

a plate disposed beneath and adjacent said flap, said plate being responsive to the suction system to move with said flap.