Patent Application
20090172901
The present invention relates to mechanized sweepers. Particularly, sweepers used for sweeping paved areas, roads, paved motor vehicle parking lots, parking areas, parking structures and debris covered surfaces. More particularly, the invention relates to the brushes on the mechanized sweepers.
Various types of sweepers are used in sweeping paved surfaces. For example, truck mounted sweepers sweep highway and roadway surfaces. In general, pavement sweepers include a standard truck or specially designed chassis upon which the sweeper unit is mounted. Three basic categories of sweeper units are: re-circulating air sweeper, mechanical sweeper, and vacuum air sweepers. Generally, re-circulating air sweeper units include a motor driven fan, sweeping hood, a curved brush, and a debris separation hopper. The curb brush brings the debris into the path of the sweeping hood. The fan re-circulates airflow from the hopper through the sweeping hood and back into the hopper where dust, particles, and other debris are removed from the airflow by known separation techniques.
Generally, mechanical sweeper units include a motor driven main pick-up brush, a curb brush, a conveyor/elevator and a containment hopper. The curb brush sweeps the debris into the path of a main pick-up brush which deposits the dust and debris onto the conveyor/elevator. The conveyor/elevator dumps the debris into the hopper.
Vacuum air sweeper units include a motor driven fan, suction head, transfer brush, curb brush, and a debris separation hopper. The curb brush and transfer brush push debris into the path of the suction head. The fan creates airflow from the hopper to create vacuum suction at the suction head so that dust, dirt and debris are pulled into the separation hopper.
Each general type of vehicle sweeper includes curb brushes located on one or both sides of the sweeping unit. These brushes sweep debris outside of the axel width of the sweeper into the path of the particular method which removes the debris from the surface. This allows an operator to drive close to a curb to remove debris near the curb without hitting the curb. Because the curb brushes also extend outside of the axel width of the vehicle, fewer passes may be completed to clear same sized areas. Moreover, by extending brushes outside of the vehicle additional hard to reach places, such as around light posts, may be more accessible. In most cases, these brushes rotate against the vehicle travel direction and are propelled by a motor drive. The brushes include some form of replaceable bristle or broom material such as a variety of plastic types, different grades of steel, or any combination of the two. The brushes are designed to wear as they are used and are one of the most common replaceable wear items on sweeper units.
An aspect of the invention provides a brush for a mechanized sweeper of a paved surface. The brush includes a first portion of a tire. The first portion of the tire has a sidewall and tread generally perpendicular to the sidewall. An edge between the sidewall and the tread. The edge forms a circle around the outermost portion of the sidewall. The tread further has a plurality of first slits extending from the edge across the tread such that flaps are formed in the tread. When the portion of the tire is rotated, the portion of the tire is configured to brush the paved surface.
Turning now to the drawing figures,
The fan 14 is powered by the motor 16. An intake 30 of the fan 14 pulls air from the hopper 22, pushes the air through the high pressure hose and into a hood entry and passes the air through the hood 18 back through the return 28 into the hopper 22. Within the hopper 22, a filter filters the air prior to passing the air through the intake. In this manner, the air that enters the fan 14 is filtered from small debris which may have been picked up through the air if the intake was vented to atmosphere. The motor 16 is configured to power the re-circulating air sweeper system, but is not responsible for propulsion of the sweeper 10. However, fluid reservoirs meant to supply both the motor 16 and the engine of the sweeper 10 may be shared between these two components.
Turning now to
The mounting bracket 32 is configured to attach the tire brush 38 to the sweeper. The tire brush 38 is further supported by the arm 34, which positions the tire brush 38 away from the sweeper. The purpose of the tire brush 38 is to push debris into the path of the hood. By extending the tire brush 38 out on the arm 34, the effective lateral range of the sweeper for picking up debris is increased. The arm 34 and the angle of the arm 34 relative to the sweeper controls the distance from the sweeper the tire brush 38 extends.
The angle of the arm 34 relative to the sweeper is controlled by the mounting bracket 32. In addition to the lateral distance from the sweeper, the angle also controls the forward distance from the hood of the sweeper. The forward distance from the hood of the sweeper may be important based upon the size and weight of the debris swept under the hood. As the debris is caught by the tire brush 38, the tire brush rotates the debris toward the sweeper hood.
As well as sweeping the debris toward the hood, the tire brush 38 also dislodges any debris that might otherwise be attached to the paved area. For example, dried drinks may provide a sticky surface upon which a cup may rest. The tire brush 38 may free the cup from the surface so that the cup may be picked up by the hood. In addition, the brush 38 may free debris from places such as grates and drains which would not be properly sucked up because the air in the hood would flow through the grate and drain instead of the hood and hopper. Thus, as well as pushing debris toward the hood, the tire brush 38 also frees debris for the hood to properly clear the debris from the paved surface.
The motor 36 rotates the tire brush 38 around the central axis of the motor 36. The motor 36 provides the torque required for rotating the tire brush 38. The speed of rotation is controlled so that the tire brush 38 does not propel debris outward past the reach of the hood. However, the speed needs to be high enough so that there is adequate relative motion between the forward motion of the sweeper and the rotation of the tire brush 38.
Turning now to
The brush thistles 50 are formed so that as the tire brush 38 rotates, the thistles are allowed to move individually. Thus, as the thistles spin, adjacent thistles may both brush similar areas but separately impact the debris. This increases the effectiveness of the brush 38.
The use of old tires is advantageous for multiple reasons. Old tires are difficult to dispose, so finding an additional use for the tires is environmentally friendly. Moreover, using tires may also allow tires that are worn while serving as tires on the sweeper to be reused as tire brushes later. This may minimize costs associated with replacing a part that must be replaced regularly. More over, the tires are stiff enough to effectively sweep the surface, but are also flexible enough to contour to surfaces without stressing the brush thistles out of the preferred shape.
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As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications can be made within the scope of the aforesaid description. Such modifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form a part of the present invention and are embraced by the claims below.
