Rotary broom with gearbox drive

• US 8,117,705 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worksaver, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Worksaver, Inc.
• Inventors: Burenga, Thomas I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENNINGS, MICHAEL DEANGILO
• Application Number:
  US12/931,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 15/521, 15/78, 15/82, 15/87, 180/53.1, 180/53.3, 180/53.7, 74/11, 74/152, 746/06.R, 746/65.R
• US Class Current: 15/82
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/001 Cylindrical or annular brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3066 Brush specifically designed for use with street cleaning machinery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/056 having horizontal axes

Abstract

A rotary broom mounts upon a slotted plate that pivots upon a double gearbox. The broom has bristles upon an axle within a shield that receives power from a chain drive that receives its power from a driveline from a top gear box. The top gearbox orients in the direction of the chain driveline and delivers its power through an output shaft. The top gearbox joins to a slotted plate that turns in the same direction as the broom. The top gear box receives its power through an input shaft perpendicular to the output shaft. The top gearbox input shaft extends downwardly and becomes the output shaft of the bottom gearbox. The bottom gearbox has an input shaft that connects to a power take off. This rotary broom receives rotational power, rotates it 90° upwardly, then rotates it 90° downwardly and at an angle laterally to drive the broom.

Claims

1. A rotary broom that pivots angularly in relation to input power, said broom including a brush of bristles upon an axle, the axle turning upon framing under power from a power take off of a vehicle, comprising:

a frame, generally open and rectangular, adapted to connect to a three point hitch from the vehicle, and adapted to admit a driveline from the power take off of the vehicle;

a double gear box having a bottom gear box and a top gear box locating above said bottom gear box, said double gear box connecting to said frame, said bottom gear box having an input shaft adapted to connect to the driveline from the power take off of the vehicle and an output shaft perpendicular to its input shaft and inserting into said top gear box, said top gear box receiving said output shaft of said bottom gear box and said top gear box rotating upon said output shaft of said bottom gear box;

a guide plate connecting to said top gear box outwardly from said frame, said guide plate having an arcuate slot therein;

a semi-circular pivot plate having a straight edge and an opposite arcuate edge, said straight edge of said pivot plate adapted to connect to the center of the framing of the brush, said pivot plate rotating about an axis perpendicular to the driveline from the power take off of the vehicle, said pivot plate pivotally connecting to said frame generally beneath said bottom gear box, said pivot plate slidably engaging said guide plate wherein said brush rotates through a predetermined angle;

a second driveline connecting to said top gear box and to the framing of said brush wherein said rotary broom transmits power from the driveline from the power take off of the vehicle through said gear box to said second driveline and to the axle of the brush; and

,

said top gear box, said second driveline, and said guide plate being capable of disconnection from the remainder of said broom wherein said broom has an orientation of one of to the left or to the right of the driveline from the power take off of the vehicle.

2. The pivoting rotary broom of claim 1 further comprising:

said frame having two mutually parallel and spaced apart sides generally parallel to said brush, a lower member spanning between said sides and locating beneath a driveline from the power take off of the vehicle, an upper member mutually parallel and spaced above said lower member and spanning between said sides and locating above a driveline from the power take off of the vehicle;

said frame having a tongue extending outwardly from said lower member generally opposite from the driveline of the power take off of the vehicle, said tongue being generally centered upon said lower member, and a base plate extending outwardly from said lower member and spaced above said tongue;

said pivot plate pivotally connecting to said tongue and passing between said base plate and said tongue wherein said pivot plate rotates through a predetermined angle.

3. The pivoting rotary broom of claim 2 further comprising:

said base plate having a generally planar rectangular shape, two spaced apart edges generally parallel to said lower member, and two mutually parallel and spaced apart longitudinal edges generally perpendicular to said lower member and a flange having a generally planar rectangular shape joining perpendicular to said base plate upon one longitudinal edge outwardly from said lower member and generally away from said bottom gear box; and

,

said base plate having a pivotal connection to said pivot plate.

4. The pivoting rotary broom of claim 3 further comprising:

a shield, having a generally inverted u shape, securing to said flange, and extending over the input shaft of said bottom gearbox;

said pivot plate having a first locked position wherein the straight edge is generally parallel to said lower member and a second locked position wherein said pivot plate has reached maximum rotation, said pivot plate locking to said base plate at either of said first locked position or said second locked position; and

,

said bottom gear box secures to said flange.

5. The pivoting rotary broom of claim 3 further comprising:

said pivot plate having a stem, offcenter upon said straight edge generally towards said flange, said stem extending perpendicular to said pivot plate; and

,

said stem abutting beneath said guide plate wherein said stem travels along said arcuate slot as said brush moves through a predetermined angle.

6. The pivoting rotary broom of claim 5 wherein said stem has a bolted connection to said mounting plate as a bolt passes through said arcuate slot.

7. The pivoting rotary broom of claim 1 further comprising:

said top gear box separating from said output shaft of said bottom gear box wherein said top gear box rotates approximately one hundred eighty degrees allowing rotation of said second driveline in either one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.