Patent Application
20150007411
The present invention relates to shrouded gutter brooms for use in street surface cleaning vehicles, sidewalk surface cleaning vehicles, and factory floor surface cleaning vehicles, and more particularly to such shrouded gutter brooms that channel air flow efficiently.
Various types of street cleaning vehicles, sidewalk cleaning vehicles, and factory floor cleaning vehicles use gutter brooms to sweep dirt and debris that is adjacent to vertical surfaces such as curbs and buildings. Such surface cleaning vehicles have both a left and a right gutter broom; however, only one gutter broom is normally run as the sweeper encounters most debris in the curb area on the right side of the surface cleaning vehicle.
There are significant problems associated with gutter brooms on conventional prior art street cleaning vehicles, sidewalk cleaning vehicles and factory floor cleaning vehicles. One of the most significant problems is that a thin layer of dirt, dust or other fine particulate matter often remains on the surface being cleaned after the gutter broom passes over. This thin layer of dirt, dust or other fine particulate matter might be within cracks and crevices in the surface being cleaned, or might be on the surface being cleaned, often in the form of swirl marks. Leaving a thin layer of dirt, dust or other fine particulate matter on the surface being cleaned is highly undesirable.
Further, there is a significant amount of airborne dust or other fine particulate matter that is created by gutter brooms during use. Gutter brooms must rotate quickly in order to maximize the speed of vehicle while sweeping, but cannot rotate too quickly because too much dust is created. Current gutter broom shrouds, in their attempt to contain dust, close off the broom not allowing it access to the debris that needs to be swept. Such closing off of the gutter broom creates a ploughing effect of debris, especially when large debris is encountered, such as leaves, cans and bottles, and so on.
It is known to apply air suctioning to a gutter broom shroud; however, in present prior art shrouded gutter brooms, it is common to have significant leakage of dust from the gutter broom shroud. Further, the amount of air that needs to be applied to gutter broom shrouds in order to gain even reasonable dust control is quite significant. It is highly desirable to reduce the amount of air that needs to be applied to gutter broom shrouds since air suctioning systems are expensive, and of course are proportionally costly according to the amount of air flow that can be generated.
Further, the air suctioned from the shrouded gutter broom must be filtered, which is difficult and problematic. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to filter a minimum amount of dust-contaminated air.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus that precludes a thin layer of dirt, dust or other fine particulate matter from remaining on a surface being cleaned after the gutter broom passes over.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus that captures virtually all of the airborne dust or other fine particulate matter that is created by gutter brooms during use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus that reduces the amount of air that is required to suction the gutter broom shrouds during use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus that reduces the amount of air filtration required.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus that is inexpensive.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus that does not impede or block the functionality of a gutter broom in terms of cleaning a curb or the like in all sweeping conditions.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus for use on a surface cleaning vehicle. The high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus comprises a mounting arm, and a gutter broom having a mounting structure and bristles depending from the mounting structure. The gutter broom is mounted via the mounting structure in supported relation on the mounting arm for rotation about a gutter broom axis. A gutter broom motor is operatively connecting in driving relation to the gutter broom for rotating the gutter broom about the gutter broom axis. A shroud has a roof portion and a wall portion depending from the roof portion. The shroud is operatively mounted in supported relation on the mounting arm such that the roof portion covers at least a rear portion of the mounting structure of the gutter broom and the wall portion covers at least a rear portion of the bristles of the gutter broom. There is an air-flow precluding member secured to the gutter broom for rotation therewith, to thereby substantially obstruct air flow through the gutter broom.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus for use on a surface cleaning vehicle. The high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus comprises a gutter broom having a mounting structure and bristles depending from the mounting structure. The gutter broom is mounted via the mounting structure in supported relation on a mounting arm for rotation about a gutter broom axis. A gutter broom motor is operatively connecting in driving relation to the gutter broom for rotating the gutter broom about the gutter broom axis. A shroud has a roof portion and a wall portion depending from the roof portion. The shroud is operatively mounted in supported relation on the mounting arm such that the roof portion covers at least a rear portion of the mounting structure of the gutter broom and the wall portion covers at least a rear portion of the bristles of the gutter broom. There is an air-flow precluding member secured to the gutter broom for rotation therewith, to thereby substantially obstruct air flow through the gutter broom.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom for use on a surface cleaning vehicle. The gutter broom comprises a mounting structure, and bristles depending from the mounting structure. An air-flow precluding member is secured to one of the mounting structure and the bristles for rotation therewith, to thereby substantially obstruct air flow through the gutter broom.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel invention in a gutter broom for use on a surface cleaning vehicle. The gutter broom has a mounting structure and bristles depending from the mounting structure. The improvement comprises an air-flow precluding member secured to the gutter broom for rotation therewith, to thereby substantially obstruct air flow through the cavity of the gutter broom.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel high efficiency dust controlling pick-up head apparatus for use on a surface cleaning vehicle. The high efficiency dust controlling pick-up head apparatus comprises a housing extending between a first end and a second end, and having a suctioning bottom opening. There is a dust and debris outlet in the housing for permitting dust and debris to egress the housing into a hopper. A debris suctioning inlet in the housing is disposed adjacent the first end of the housing for suctioning dust and debris into the housing. There is a debris passage within the housing from the debris suctioning inlet to the dust and debris outlet. There is also a gutter broom mounting arm and a gutter broom having a mounting structure and bristles depending from the mounting structure. The gutter broom is mounted via the mounting structure in supported relation on the mounting arm for rotation about a gutter broom axis. A gutter broom motor is operatively connecting in driving relation to the gutter broom for rotating the gutter broom about the gutter broom axis. A shroud has a roof portion and a wall portion depending from the roof portion. The shroud is mounted in supported relation on the mounting arm such that the roof portion covers at least a rear portion of the mounting structure of the gutter broom and the wall portion covers at least a rear portion of the bristles of the gutter broom. An air-flow precluding member is secured to the gutter broom for rotation therewith, to thereby substantially obstruct air flow through the gutter broom. The gutter broom is mounted on the housing adjacent the debris suctioning inlet such that air is suctioned through the gutter broom and into the debris suctioning inlet.
Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:
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More specifically, the high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 120 comprises a mounting arm 124 that is mountable on the surface cleaning vehicle 122 by means of suitable fasteners, or any other suitable means. The mounting arm 124 has a substantially horizontal main arm 124a and movable distal end portion 124b connected to the main arm 124a by a bracket 125. The dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 120 is raisable and lowerable by the movable distal end portion 124b between a lowered-in-use position and a raised transport position.
The gutter broom 130 has a mounting structure 132 that preferably comprises a metal broom segment mounting plate 132. The gutter broom 130 is mounted via the mounting plate 132 in supported relation on the mounting arm 124 for rotation about a gutter broom axis “G”. The metal broom segment mounting plate 132 is securable to the drive shaft 142 of a gutter broom motor 140 by means of threaded fasteners (not specifically shown). The gutter broom motor 140 is thereby operatively connected in driving relation to the gutter broom 130 for rotating the gutter broom 130 about the gutter broom axis “G”. As perhaps can be best seen in
As can be readily seen in
A plurality of bristles 150 depend from the mounting structure 132 to form a generally frustrum shape. In the first preferred embodiment as illustrated, the bristles 150 depend from segment plates 152 to together define gutter broom segments 154 that are secured to the broom segment mounting plate 132 by means of suitable threaded fasteners. The bristles 150 of the gutter broom 130 depending from the mounting structure 132 in a generally circumferential pattern to define a central cavity 160 beneath the mounting structure 132. A shroud 170 has a roof portion 172 and a wall portion 174 depending from the roof portion 172. The roof portion 172 of the shroud 170 is disposed over substantially the entire mounting structure 132 of the gutter broom 130. The wall portion 174 of the shroud 170 extends around the periphery of the roof portion 172 of the shroud 170, with reference to frontwards, along the longitudinal axis “L”, from about one hundred twenty degrees to about three hundred sixty degrees in a clockwise direction, thereby defining a bristle presenting opening 177 from about three hundred sixty degrees in a clockwise direction from about one hundred twenty degrees to about three hundred sixty degrees in a clockwise direction.
The wall portion 174 also includes a rubber lower portion 174r that wears along with the bristles 150 of the gutter broom 130. The roof portion 172 of the shroud 170 is disposed in close relation to the metal broom segment mounting plate 132 and the wall portion 174 is disposed in close relation to the bristles 150 of the gutter broom 130.
An air outlet 176 is disposed in the shroud 170 and is connectable in fluid communication to source of air suctioning, either the main fan or an auxiliary fan of the surface cleaning vehicle 122. Air and dust are suctioned under the bristles 150 of the gutter broom 130 and to a small degree around the periphery of bristles 150, and into the air outlet 176.
The shroud 170 is operatively mounted in supported relation on the mounting arm 124 such that the roof portion 172 covers at least a rear portion of the mounting structure 132 of the gutter broom 130 and the wall portion 174 covers at least a rear portion of the bristles 150 of the gutter broom 130. Preferably, the wall portion 174 of the shroud 170 is disposed in close proximity to the bristles 150 in order to preclude a space for air flow therebetween.
An air-flow precluding member 180 secured to the gutter broom 130 for rotation therewith, to thereby substantially obstruct air flow through the gutter broom 130. The first preferred embodiment air-flow precluding member 180 substantially obstructs air flow through the cavity of the gutter broom 130.
The first preferred embodiment air-flow precluding member 180 is substantially annular in shape, and also preferably is substantially frustum shaped to fit closely within the central cavity 160 defined by the bristles 150 of the gutter broom 130. An inwardly directed annular flange 182 is disposed at the top of the frustum shaped annular wall 184. Also, the first preferred embodiment air-flow precluding member 180 is thin walled, is substantially hollow, and is open at the bottom, for the purposes of ease of manufacture, low cost, and weight reduction.
Preferably, the air-flow precluding member 180 is made from rubber, or a suitable rubber compound, either natural or synthetic. Accordingly, the air-flow precluding member 180 wears with the bristles 150 of the gutter broom 130 and is replaced when the bristle segments are replaced.
In the first preferred embodiment, the air-flow precluding member 180 is disposed generally within the cavity of the gutter broom 130. This arrangement allows for ease of installation of the air-flow precluding member 180 onto the gutter broom 130 by means of suitable threaded fasteners extending through apertures in the inwardly directed annular flange 182, and received by the segment plates 154, and also subsequent removal therefrom.
The high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 120 further comprises a seal 190 mounted on one of the mounting plate 132 of the gutter broom 130 and the roof portion 172 of the shroud 170, and extending substantially between the mounting plate 132 of the gutter broom 130 and the roof portion 172 of the shroud 170. Preferably, the seal 190 is mounted in sealed relation on one of the mounting plate 132 of the gutter broom 130 and the roof portion 172 of the shroud 170, for rotational sealing contact with the other of the mounting plate 132 of the gutter broom 130 and the roof portion 172 of the shroud 170. In the first preferred embodiment, the seal 190 is mounted in sealed relation on the mounting plate 132 of the gutter broom 130 for rotational sealing contact with roof portion 172 of the shroud 170, and is arcuate and extends around at least most of the arcuate length of the roof portion 172 of the shroud 170, which is just over half of the circumference of the mounting plate 132 of the gutter broom 130. In an alternative embodiment, it is contemplated that the seal 190 is mounted in sealed relation on the roof portion 172 of the shroud 170 for rotational sealing contact with the mounting plate 132 of the gutter broom 130. In this case, the seal should extend around the entire circumference of the mounting plate 132 of the gutter broom 130. Alternatively, it could comprise a plurality of radially disposed seals extending from the center of the mounting plate 132 of the gutter broom 130 (at the drive shaft 142) to the perimeter of the mounting plate 132 of the gutter broom 130.
It can readily be seen that the high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 120 according to the present invention substantially obstructs air flow through said gutter broom 130 and the shroud 170, and thereby permits a very significant air flow to be suctioned by the air outlet 176 in the shroud 170, as caused by the source of air suctioning, under the bristles 150. Accordingly, there is higher air speed at area of dust creation. Therefore, the dust and other fine particulate matter is readily removed from the surface being cleaned, in a manner unknown in the prior art and unmatched by the prior art. It can also be readily understood that the high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 120 according to the present invention needs less air flow and less filtering than prior art shrouded gutter brooms.
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The seventh preferred embodiment high efficiency dust controlling pick-up head apparatus 720 is for use on a surface cleaning vehicle. The high efficiency dust controlling pick-up head apparatus comprises the pick-up head 719 having a housing 710 extending between a first end 711 and a second end 712, and having a suctioning bottom opening 714. There is a dust and debris outlet 713 in the housing 710 for permitting dust and debris to egress the housing into a hopper (not shown). A debris suctioning inlet 715 is disposed adjacent the first end 711 of the housing 710 and a debris suctioning inlet 716 is disposed adjacent the second end 712 of the housing 710 for suctioning dust and debris into the housing 710. Only one gutter broom high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 720 and the one debris suctioning inlet 715 will be discussed for the sake of clarity.
There is a debris passage 709 within the housing 710 from the debris suctioning inlet 715 to the dust and debris outlet 713. A gutter broom mounting bracket 724 is secured to the housing 710.
A gutter broom 730 has a mounting structure 732 and bristles 750 depending from the mounting structure 732. The gutter broom 730 is mounted via the mounting structure 732 in supported relation on the gutter broom mounting bracket 724, for rotation about a gutter broom axis “G”. A gutter broom motor 740 is operatively connecting in driving relation to the gutter broom 730 for rotating the gutter broom 730 about the gutter broom axis “G”.
The gutter broom 730 is mounted on the housing 710 adjacent the debris suctioning inlet 715, such that air is suctioned through the gutter broom 730 and into the debris suctioning inlet 715. The gutter broom 730 propels debris forwardly of the housing 710 towards the debris receiving front inlet 712 that has a paddlewheel door mechanism 713.
A shroud 770 has a roof portion 772 and a wall portion 774 depending from the roof portion 772. The shroud 770 is mounted in supported relation by the mounting bracket 724 such that the roof portion 772 covers at least a rear portion of the mounting structure 732 of the gutter broom 730 and the wall portion 774 covers at least a rear portion of the bristles 750 of the gutter broom 730.
An air-flow precluding member 780 is secured to the gutter broom 730 for rotation therewith, to thereby substantially obstruct air flow through the gutter broom 730. As in the previous embodiments, the high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 720 substantially obstructs air flow through said gutter broom 730 and the shroud 770; however, in the seventh preferred embodiment high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 720 the air flow suctioning is caused by the debris suctioning inlet 715 of the housing 710. The air-flow precluding member 780 permits a very significant air flow to be suctioned by the debris suctioning inlet 715, under the bristles 750.
Reference will now be made to
The eighth preferred embodiment high efficiency dust controlling pick-up head apparatus 820 is for use on a surface cleaning vehicle. The high efficiency dust controlling pick-up head apparatus comprises the pick-up head 819 having a housing 810 extending between a first end 811 and a second end 812, and having a suctioning bottom opening 814. There is a dust and debris outlet 813 in the housing 810 for permitting dust and debris to egress the housing into a hopper (not shown). A debris suctioning inlet 815 is disposed adjacent the first end 811 of the housing 810 and a debris suctioning inlet 816 is disposed adjacent the second end 812 of the housing 810 for suctioning dust and debris into the housing 810. Only one gutter broom high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 820 and the one debris suctioning inlet 815 will be discussed for the sake of clarity.
There is a debris passage 809 within the housing 810 from the debris suctioning inlet 815 to the dust and debris outlet 813. A gutter broom mounting bracket 824 is secured to the housing 810 of the pick-up head 819.
A gutter broom 830 has a mounting structure 832 and bristles 850 depending from the mounting structure 832. The gutter broom 830 is mounted via the mounting structure 832 in supported relation on the mounting bracket 824, for rotation about a gutter broom axis “G”. A gutter broom motor 840 is operatively connecting in driving relation to the gutter broom 830 for rotating the gutter broom 830 about the gutter broom axis “G”.
The gutter broom 830 is mounted on the housing adjacent the debris suctioning inlet 815, in rearwardly offset relation, such that air is suctioned through the gutter broom 830 and into the debris suctioning inlet 815. Further, the gutter broom 830 propels debris directly into the debris suctioning inlet 815 to take advantage of the air suctioning into the debris suctioning inlet 815.
A shroud 870 has a roof portion 872 and a wall portion 874 depending from the roof portion 872. The shroud 870 is mounted in supported relation on the mounting bracket 824 such that the roof portion 872 covers at least a rear portion of the mounting structure 832 of the gutter broom 830 and the wall portion 874 covers at least a rear portion of the bristles 850 of the gutter broom 830.
An air-flow precluding member 880 is secured to the gutter broom 830 for rotation therewith, to thereby substantially obstruct air flow through the gutter broom 830. As in the previous embodiments, the high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 820 substantially obstructs air flow through said gutter broom 830 and the shroud 870; however, in the eighth preferred embodiment high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus 820 the air flow suctioning is caused by the debris suctioning inlet 815 of the housing 810. The air-flow precluding member 880 permits a very significant air flow to be suctioned by the debris suctioning inlet 815, under the bristles 850.
Reference will now be made to
There is also a seal 990 mounted in sealed relation on one of the mounting plate 932 of the gutter broom 930 and the roof portion 972 of the shroud 970, for rotational sealing contact with the other of the mounting plate 932 of the gutter broom 930 and the roof portion 972 of the shroud 970. In the ninth preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the seal 990 is mounted on the roof portion 972 of the shroud 970 for rotational sealing contact with the mounting plate 932 of the gutter broom 930. The seal extends substantially between the mounting plate 932 of the gutter broom 930 and the roof portion 972 of the shroud 970.
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In an alternative embodiment, it is contemplated that the air-flow precluding member is substantially solid, thereby precluding air flow from being directed upwardly into the interior of the air-flow precluding member, as is possible in the other embodiments, thereby keeping the air flow that is under the air-flow precluding member close to the surface being cleaned.
As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a high efficiency dust controlling gutter broom apparatus that precludes a thin layer of dirt, dust or other fine particulate matter from remaining on a surface being cleaned after the gutter broom passes over, that captures virtually all of the airborne dust or other fine particulate matter that is created by gutter brooms during use, that reduces the amount of air that needs to be applied to gutter broom shrouds during use, and that is inexpensive, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.
Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.
