Abstract: A compact sweeping vehicle has steerable front wheels of variable track with a minimum track dimension for sweeping and a maximum track dimension for travel to and from the workplace. The front wheels are steerable and independently driven by hydraulic motors and are each supported on extendable parts of a telescopic axle beam which is supported on trailing arms supported by ball joints from the chassis of the vehicle. The extendable parts are extended and retracted by track change cylinders and steering is by a hydraulic cylinder extending between the axle beam and a steering arm of a bell crank lever for one of the wheels, which is connected by a forwardly extending drag link to a bell crank forming part of a steering relay mechanism which is connected by a cross link to a second bell crank lever, one arm of which is connected to a rearwardly extending drag link to a steering arm of the other wheel.

Abstract: A hopper opening mechanism for a hopper in a suction sweeping machine, the opening mechanism comprising an actuator mechanism for opening the hopper for cleaning of the hopper, wherein the actuator mechanism rotates a lid or door of the hopper and a base of or a mesh screen for a cyclone unit for cleaning of otherwise inaccessible surfaces of the machine. A tipping mechanism for the hopper inverts and raises the hopper for tipping out the contents of the hopper At the same time, the door and mesh screen are opened for facilitating the cleaning of the inside of the hopper.