Sweeping machine with movable recirculation flap
First Claim
1. A sweeping machine including a chassis, wheels for supporting the chassis, a brush mounted on the chassis for rotation in a direction to throw debris over the brush and into a debris hopper mounted on the chassis behind the brush, means mounted on the chassis for raising and lowering the brush relative to a surface to be swept,a recirculation flap positioned between the brush and the debris hopper, below a centerline of the brush, and located closely adjacent a rear portion of the brush to direct debris thrown by the brush and not reaching the debris hopper forwardly toward a brush sweeping zone, a gap between the recirculation flap and the brush rear portion, the recirculating flap having a lower flexible portion positioned adjacent the surface to be swept,means for moving the recirculation flap toward and away from the rear portion of the brush in response to movement of the brush toward and away from the surface being swept as the brush diameter is reduced to wear, whereby the gap between the rear portion of the brush and the recirculation flap remains essentially constant.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sweeping machine has a chassis, wheels for supporting the chassis and a brush mounted on the chassis for rotation to throw debris over the brush and into a debris hopper mounted on the chassis behind the brush. There is a control lever on the chassis for raising and lowering the brush relative to a surface to be swept. As the brush wears, a recirculation flap is positioned between the brush and the debris hopper and located closely adjacent a rear portion of the brush to direct debris not reaching the debris hopper forwardly toward the brush sweeping zone. The recirculation flap is moved toward and away from the brush concurrently with movement of the brush toward the surface being swept as the brush wears, whereby the space between the rear portion of the brush and the recirculation flap remains relatively constant.
17 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A sweeping machine including a chassis, wheels for supporting the chassis, a brush mounted on the chassis for rotation in a direction to throw debris over the brush and into a debris hopper mounted on the chassis behind the brush, means mounted on the chassis for raising and lowering the brush relative to a surface to be swept,
a recirculation flap positioned between the brush and the debris hopper, below a centerline of the brush, and located closely adjacent a rear portion of the brush to direct debris thrown by the brush and not reaching the debris hopper forwardly toward a brush sweeping zone, a gap between the recirculation flap and the brush rear portion, the recirculating flap having a lower flexible portion positioned adjacent the surface to be swept, means for moving the recirculation flap toward and away from the rear portion of the brush in response to movement of the brush toward and away from the surface being swept as the brush diameter is reduced to wear, whereby the gap between the rear portion of the brush and the recirculation flap remains essentially constant.
Specification