Mechanical surface cleaning vehicle for fine particulate removal

• US 6,195,836 B1
• Filed: 08/10/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vanderlinden, Roger P.
• Original Assignee: Vanderlinden, Roger P.
• Inventors: Vanderlinden, Roger P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/371,530
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 153/403, 153/46, 153/48, 153/49
• US Class Current: 15/340.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4077 Skirts or splash guards
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/408 Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0854 Apparatus in which the mechanically dislodged dirt is partially sucked-off, e.g. dislodging- sweeping apparatus with dirt collector in brush housing or dirt container mechanical dislodging machines with independent suction nozzles E01H1/0827; combined with blowing and suction E01H1/0872
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0872 with mechanical loosening or feeding instruments for the dirt to be removed pneumatically, e.g. brushes, scrapers brushing installations per se E01H1/02; other loosening devices per se E01H1/105

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.

Claims

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 (W_B) 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 (W_O) 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.

2. The mechanical surface cleaning vehicle of claim 1, wherein said blast of air carries through said rotating sweeping broom 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.

3. The mechanical surface cleaning vehicle of claim 1, wherein said blast of air forcefully impinges said surface behind said leading edge and carries through said rotating sweeping broom to said mechanical debris elevating means exclusive of subsequent impingement of said surface, prior to reaching said mechanical debris elevating means.

4. The mechanical surface cleaning vehicle of claim 1, wherein said air blast outlet is disposed immediately rearwardly of said contacted portion of said surface.

5. The mechanical surface cleaning vehicle of claim 4, wherein said air blast outlet is positioned and oriented to aim said blast of air to impact at said contacted portion of said surface.

6. The mechanical surface cleaning vehicle of claim 4, wherein said air blast outlet is positioned and oriented to aim said blast of air to impact behind said contacted portion of said surface.

7. The mechanical surface cleaning vehicle of claim 4, wherein said width (W_O) of said horizontally elongate air blast outlet is substantially coincident with said width (W_B) of said rotating sweeping broom.

8. The mechanical surface cleaning vehicle of claim 1, wherein said blast of air carries forwardly through said rotating sweeping broom, and travels in a path having a forward component along its entire length, to said mechanical debris elevating means.

9. The mechanical surface cleaning vehicle of claim 1, wherein said blast of air forcefully impinges said surface in a substantially forward direction.

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:

a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (W_B) 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 (W_O) 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.

11. The mechanical surface cleaning vehicle of claim 10, further comprising 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, wherein said blast of air carries forwardly through said rotating sweeping broom to deflect forwardly and upwardly off said deflector flap means and forwardly past said deflector flap means to said mechanical debris elevating means.

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:

a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (W_B) 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 (W_O) 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.

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:

a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (W_B) 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 (W_O) 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.

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:

a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (W_B) 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 (W_O) 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.

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:

a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (W_B) 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 (W_O) 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.