High maneuverability riding turf sweeper and surface cleaning apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A high maneuverability surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a chassis having at least two ground-engaging drive wheels at a forward end thereof and having at least one self-steering caster wheel at the rearward end thereof, said chassis steerable by selective braking of one of said at least two ground-engaging drive wheels;
a debris-receiving hopper mounted on said chassis;
a debris-intake hood mounted forwardly of said ground-engaging drive wheels for picking-up debris from a ground surface in response to an air flow therethrough;
fan means for providing an air flow recirculation loop from said debris-receiving hopper through said debris-intake hood and returning to said hopper.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high maneuverability riding turf sweeper (8) includes a debris-intake hood (13) that is mounted forwardly of a wheeled chassis (41) upon which the major components, including an engine (42) and a hydraulic pump (27) for powering the sweeper (8) are mounted. A radial-flow fan assembly (10) creates an air recirculation loop by which debris picked-up by the debris-intake hopper (13) is deposited into a debris-containment hopper (43). The hopper (43) is pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end and its contents can be dumped by raising the hopper (43) about its pivot (49) to provide an efficient high-dump capability.
91 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A high maneuverability surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a chassis having at least two ground-engaging drive wheels at a forward end thereof and having at least one self-steering caster wheel at the rearward end thereof, said chassis steerable by selective braking of one of said at least two ground-engaging drive wheels; a debris-receiving hopper mounted on said chassis; a debris-intake hood mounted forwardly of said ground-engaging drive wheels for picking-up debris from a ground surface in response to an air flow therethrough; fan means for providing an air flow recirculation loop from said debris-receiving hopper through said debris-intake hood and returning to said hopper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A high maneuverability surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a chassis having at least two ground-engaging drive wheels at a forward end thereof and having at least one self-steering caster wheel at the rearward end thereof, said chassis steerable by selective braking of one of said at least two ground-engaging drive wheels; a debris-receiving hopper mounted on said chassis; a debris-intake hood mounted forwardly of said ground-engaging drive wheels for picking-up debris from a ground surface in response to an air flow therethrough; fan means for providing an air flow recirculation loop from said debris-receiving hopper through said debris-intake hood and returning to said hopper; said hopper pivotally mounted at its upper end; and means connected to said hopper for selectively raising said hopper about said pivot to a dumping position whereby the contents of said hopper are dumped therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification