Street sweeper main broom cutoff flap
First Claim
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1. A sweeper for a ground surface having a front end, a back end and a forward direction of motion, the sweeper comprising:
- a debris mover comprising;
an outer surface;
a ground contact area defined where the outer surface of the debris mover contacts the ground surface;
an axis of rotation in a direction opposite the direction of sweeper motion, the debris mover rotating about the axis of rotation so that the outer surface of the debris mover moves at least in part towards the front end of the vehicle at the ground contact area; and
a cutoff area on the outer surface of the debris mover, the outer surface of the debris mover moving at least in part upwards at the cutoff area as the debris mover rotates about the axis of rotation;
a vacuumized debris collector mounted forward of the debris mover and having a moving portion with an upwardly moving path;
a collection space defined between the debris mover and the debris collector; and
a substantially non-contacting cutoff flap mounted forward of the debris mover, the cutoff flap having a distal end adjacent the outer surface of the debris mover along the cutoff area, the cutoff flap mounted at an angle relative to the outer surface of the debris mover so that a portion of the debris traveling to the cutoff area is deflected back into the collection space, said cutoff flap being located adjacent said upwardly moving path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A street sweeper system is used typically in a motorized vehicle. The sweeper utilizes a cylindrical brush rotating about an axis generally perpendicular to the vehicle'"'"'s direction of motion. A conveyor belt catches debris thrown forwards and upward by the brush and moves the debris to a hopper. A cutoff flap is mounted contacting a front portion of the brush. The cutoff flap deflects debris that moves upwards along a front portion of the brush back downwards to be recollected at the conveyor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sweeper for a ground surface having a front end, a back end and a forward direction of motion, the sweeper comprising:
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a debris mover comprising;
an outer surface;
a ground contact area defined where the outer surface of the debris mover contacts the ground surface;
an axis of rotation in a direction opposite the direction of sweeper motion, the debris mover rotating about the axis of rotation so that the outer surface of the debris mover moves at least in part towards the front end of the vehicle at the ground contact area; and
a cutoff area on the outer surface of the debris mover, the outer surface of the debris mover moving at least in part upwards at the cutoff area as the debris mover rotates about the axis of rotation;
a vacuumized debris collector mounted forward of the debris mover and having a moving portion with an upwardly moving path;
a collection space defined between the debris mover and the debris collector; and
a substantially non-contacting cutoff flap mounted forward of the debris mover, the cutoff flap having a distal end adjacent the outer surface of the debris mover along the cutoff area, the cutoff flap mounted at an angle relative to the outer surface of the debris mover so that a portion of the debris traveling to the cutoff area is deflected back into the collection space, said cutoff flap being located adjacent said upwardly moving path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of sweeping a debris, comprising:
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moving a conveyance in a forward direction;
rotating a debris mover on the conveyance to push the debris at least in part in the forward direction;
deflecting a portion of the debris that is moving at least in part upwards at a forward portion of the debris mover to deflect the debris substantially downwards for recollection by the debris mover and vacuumizing at least part of the environment along the upward path to draw debris deflected downwardly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A mobile sweeping system for removing a debris from a ground surface, the street sweeping system having a forward direction of motion and a sweeping width, the street sweeping system further comprising:
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a debris moving means moving a debris at least in part forwards and upwards across the sweeping width and rotating against the direction of motion;
a vacuumized debris collection means mounted generally forward of the debris moving means to collect debris from the debris moving means; and
a substantially non-contacting cutoff means adjacent to a forward portion of the debris moving means where an outer surface of the debris moving means is moving at least in part upwards and said cutoff flap being located adjacent said upwardly moving surface, the cutoff means deflecting downwards a portion of the debris passing upwards along the outer surface of the debris moving means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification