Automotive sweeper

• US 8,806,704 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Wahl, Joachim, Haberl, Bernd, Weller, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US13/223,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20120060319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 153/22, 153/49, 153/403, 153/404, 153/48, 15/83
• US Class Current: 15/340.3
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0827 Dislodging by suction; Mechanical dislodging-cleaning apparatus with independent or dependent exhaust, e.g. dislodging-sweeping machines with independent suction nozzles combined with blowing E01H1/0872; Mechanical loosening devices working under vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0836 Apparatus dislodging all of the dirt by suction liquids or semi-liquids E01H1/108; combined with loosening by blowing E01H1/0863; for cleaning rails E01H8/105, E01H8/125; removing snow by suction E01H5/106, E01H8/08; Suction nozzles independent suction nozzles in mechanical dislodging-cleaning devices E01H1/0827; suction and blowing nozzles E01H1/0863

Abstract

The invention relates to an automotive sweeper with wheels for traveling along a ground surface and with at least one sweeping brush rotatingly drivable for sweeping the ground surface and with a dirt container adapted to be acted upon with a vacuum by a suction unit via a suction conduit and connected to a suction port via an intake line for the purpose of receiving sweepings. In order to develop the sweeper further in such a manner that it achieves an improved cleaning result with as little use of energy as possible it is suggested in accordance with the invention that the suction conduit be integrated into the dirt container at least in sections, wherein the outlet of the intake line opening into the dirt container is arranged next to at least one inlet area of the suction conduit.

Claims

1. Automotive sweeper, comprising:

wheels for traveling along a ground surface,

at least one sweeping brush rotatingly drivable for sweeping the ground surface,

a dirt container adapted to be acted upon with a vacuum by a suction unit via a suction conduit and connected via an intake line to a suction port for receiving sweepings, and

a water tank connected to nozzles arranged in a region of the at least one sweeping brush for spraying water onto the ground surface to be swept,

wherein;

the suction conduit is integrated into the dirt container at least in sections,

an outlet of the intake line opening into the dirt container is arranged next to at least one inlet area of the suction conduit,

the water tank is of a trough-like design and forms a receptacle on an upper side, and

the dirt container engages in said receptacle.

2. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the outlet of the intake line and the at least one inlet area of the suction conduit are arranged in a region of a front container wall of the dirt container.

3. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein a rear line section of the intake line passes through the suction conduit.

4. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the outlet of the intake line is arranged between inlet areas of the suction conduit.

5. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the intake line has a front line section connecting the suction port to a rear line section of the intake line, said front line section being aligned at an angle to vertical and extending in a straight line.

6. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 5, wherein the front line section is designed as a flexible suction hose.

7. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 5, wherein the front line section has a longitudinal axis and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the rear line section.

8. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

a chassis with a front chassis part and a rear chassis part connected to one another via a joint,

wherein the front line section of the intake line is connected to the front chassis part and the rear line section of the intake line is connected to the rear chassis part.

9. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 5, wherein the front line section is connected with a rear end of the front line section facing away from the suction port to an adapter adjoined by the rear line section.

10. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 9, wherein the rear end of the front line section is adapted to be connected to the adapter without tools and is rotatable relative to it.

11. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the suction unit is arranged beneath the dirt container.

12. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the suction unit has a suction turbine, an axis of rotation of the suction turbine being aligned vertically.

13. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the sections of the suction conduit integrated into the dirt container extend within the dirt container along a front container wall and along a bottom wall.

14. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the water tank forms a receptacle on an underside accommodating a suction turbine of the suction unit.

15. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 14, wherein the receptacle on the upper side is connected to the receptacle on the underside via a passage.

16. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 15, wherein the passage forms an end area of the suction conduit facing the suction unit.

17. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the water tank forms an adapter connecting a front line section of the intake line to a rear line section of the intake line.

18. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 17, wherein the adapter is designed as a sleeve, an end of the front line section facing away from the suction port engaging in said sleeve.

19. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the water tank comprises a one-piece plastic molded part.

20. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the dirt container has a container lower part comprising a one-piece plastic molded part.

21. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the dirt container is mounted on the water tank so as to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis.