Mechanical surface cleaning vehicle for fine particulate removal
First Claim
1. A mechanical surface cleaning vehicle having a front end, a back end, a debris retaining hopper, and defining a medial longitudinal axis (L), said surface cleaning vehicle comprising:
- a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (WB) mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation and to propel forwardly from a surface contacting segment debris disposed on a contacted portion of a surface being cleaned, said contacted portion being defined at its front by a leading edge, thereby creating a forwardly propelled stream of debris;
mechanical debris elevating means mounted on said vehicle to receive and retain said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deposit the received and retained debris into said hopper;
a deflector flap means disposed forwardly of said rotating sweeping broom and immediately rearwardly of the debris accepting lower end portion of said mechanical debris elevating means, to receive at least a portion of said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deflect it upwardly and forwardly onto said mechanical debris elevating means; and
, air blast generating means in direct connection with a horizontally elongate air blast outlet of width (WO) for effecting a blast of air that forcefully impinges said surface behind said leading edge, thereby propelling forwardly therewith fine debris disposed on said surface, and that carries forwardly through said rotating sweeping broom and egresses therefrom, to deflect forwardly and upwardly off said deflector flap means and forwardly past said deflector flap means to said mechanical debris elevating means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanical surface sweeping vehicle has a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom to propel forwardly debris disposed on a contacted portion of a surface being cleaned, thereby creating a forwardly propelled stream of debris. A mechanical debris elevator is disposed to receive and retain the forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deposit the received and retained debris into the hopper. A deflector flap is disposed forwardly of the rotating sweeping broom and immediately rearwardly of the debris accepting lower end portion of the mechanical debris elevator, to receive at least a portion of the forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deflect it upwardly and forwardly onto the mechanical debris elevator. An air blast outlet effects a blast of air forcefully impinges in a forward direction the surface behind the leading edge of the broom, thereby propelling forwardly therewith fine debris disposed on the surface, and carries forwardly through the sweeping broom and egresses therefrom, to deflect forwardly and upwardly off the deflector flap and forwardly past the deflector flap to travel to the mechanical debris elevator, in a path having a forward component along its entire length, exclusive of subsequent impingement of the surface and exclusive of subsequent re-entry into the lower portion of the broom.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A mechanical surface cleaning vehicle having a front end, a back end, a debris retaining hopper, and defining a medial longitudinal axis (L), said surface cleaning vehicle comprising:
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a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (WB) mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation and to propel forwardly from a surface contacting segment debris disposed on a contacted portion of a surface being cleaned, said contacted portion being defined at its front by a leading edge, thereby creating a forwardly propelled stream of debris;
mechanical debris elevating means mounted on said vehicle to receive and retain said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deposit the received and retained debris into said hopper;
a deflector flap means disposed forwardly of said rotating sweeping broom and immediately rearwardly of the debris accepting lower end portion of said mechanical debris elevating means, to receive at least a portion of said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deflect it upwardly and forwardly onto said mechanical debris elevating means; and
,air blast generating means in direct connection with a horizontally elongate air blast outlet of width (WO) for effecting a blast of air that forcefully impinges said surface behind said leading edge, thereby propelling forwardly therewith fine debris disposed on said surface, and that carries forwardly through said rotating sweeping broom and egresses therefrom, to deflect forwardly and upwardly off said deflector flap means and forwardly past said deflector flap means to said mechanical debris elevating means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A mechanical surface cleaning vehicle having a front end, a back end, a debris retaining hopper, and defining a medial longitudinal axis (L), said surface cleaning vehicle comprising:
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a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (WB) mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation and to propel forwardly from a surface contacting segment debris disposed on a contacted portion of a surface being cleaned, said contacted portion being defined at its front by a leading edge, thereby creating a forwardly propelled stream of debris;
mechanical debris elevating means mounted on said vehicle to receive and retain said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deposit the received and retained debris into said hopper;
air blast generating means in direct connection with a horizontally elongate air blast outlet of width (WO) for effecting a blast of air that forcefully impinges said surface behind said leading edge of said contacted portion thereby propelling forwardly therewith fine debris disposed on said surface, and that carries through said rotating sweeping broom and egresses therefrom to said mechanical debris elevating means, exclusive of subsequent re-entry into the lower portion of said rotating sweeping broom below said horizontal axis of rotation prior to reaching said mechanical debris elevating means. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A mechanical surface cleaning vehicle having a front end, a back end, a debris retaining hopper, and defining a medial longitudinal axis (L), said surface cleaning vehicle comprising:
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a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (WB) mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation and to propel forwardly from a surface contacting segment debris disposed on a contacted portion of a surface being cleaned, said contacted portion being defined at its front by a leading edge, thereby creating a forwardly propelled stream of debris;
mechanical debris elevating means mounted on said vehicle to receive and retain said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deposit the received and retained debris into said hopper;
air blast generating means in direct connection with a horizontally elongate air blast outlet of width (WO) for effecting a blast of air that forcefully impinges said surface behind said leading edge of said contacted portion thereby propelling forwardly therewith fine debris disposed on said surface, and that carries through said rotating sweeping broom and egresses therefrom to said mechanical debris elevating means, exclusive of subsequent impingement of said surface prior to reaching said mechanical debris elevating means.
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13. A mechanical surface cleaning vehicle having a front end, a back end, a debris retaining hopper, and defining a medial longitudinal axis (L), said surface cleaning vehicle comprising:
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a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (WB) mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation and to propel forwardly from a surface contacting segment debris disposed on a contacted portion of a surface being cleaned, said contacted portion being defined at its front by a leading edge, thereby creating a forwardly propelled stream of debris;
mechanical debris elevating means mounted on said vehicle to receive and retain said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deposit the received and retained debris into said hopper;
air blast generating means in direct connection with a horizontally elongate air blast outlet of width (WO) disposed immediately rearwardly of said contacted portion of said surface for effecting a blast of air that forcefully impinges said surface behind said leading edge of said contacted portion thereby propelling forwardly therewith fine debris disposed on said surface, and that carries forwardly through said rotating sweeping broom and egresses therefrom, to said mechanical debris elevating means.
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14. A mechanical surface cleaning vehicle having a front end, a back end, a debris retaining hopper, and defining a medial longitudinal axis (L), said surface cleaning vehicle comprising:
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a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (WB) mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation and to propel forwardly from a surface contacting segment debris disposed on a contacted portion of a surface being cleaned, said contacted portion being defined at its front by a leading edge, thereby creating a forwardly propelled stream of debris;
mechanical debris elevating means mounted on said vehicle to receive and retain said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deposit the received and retained debris into said hopper;
air blast generating means in direct connection with a horizontally elongate air blast outlet of width (WO) for effecting a blast of air that forcefully impinges said surface behind said leading edge of said contacted portion thereby propelling forwardly therewith fine debris disposed on said surface, and that carries forwardly through said rotating sweeping broom and egresses therefrom, and travels in a path having a forward component along its entire length, to said mechanical debris elevating means.
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15. A mechanical surface cleaning vehicle having a front end, a back end, a debris retaining hopper, and defining a medial longitudinal axis (L), said surface cleaning vehicle comprising:
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a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (WB) mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation and to propel forwardly from a surface contacting segment debris disposed on a contacted portion of a surface being cleaned, said contacted portion being defined at its front by a leading edge, thereby creating a forwardly propelled stream of debris;
mechanical debris elevating means mounted on said vehicle to receive and retain said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deposit the received and retained debris into said hopper;
air blast generating means in direct connection with a horizontally elongate air blast outlet of width (WO) for effecting a blast of air that forcefully impinges in a substantially forward direction said surface behind said leading edge of said contacted portion, thereby propelling forwardly therewith fine debris disposed on said surface, and that carries through said rotating sweeping broom and egresses therefrom, to said mechanical debris elevating means.
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Specification