Abstract: A surface maintenance machine comprising two front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a motive source for providing motive force to at least one front wheel to drive the machine on a surface. Embodiments also include an operator platform allowing an operator to stand thereon extending at least partly around the rear wheel, for supporting an operator in a standing position with the operator's feet on either side of the rear wheel.

Abstract: Embodiments include a floor surface maintenance machine, comprising a cleaning tool chamber comprising a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. A rotary broom is housed in the cleaning tool chamber and substantially enclosed by the first, second, third and fourth sides thereof. The rotary broom sweeps particulate from the surface. A vacuum system generates vacuum for drawing particulate swept by the rotary broom. The vacuum system is positioned proximal to the first side. A skirt assembly extends substantially around the second, third and fourth sides of the cleaning tool chamber. The skirt assembly has a vacuum passage defined therein and in fluid communication with the vacuum system to direct air flow into the vacuum passage, thereby drawing particulate into the vacuum passage and preventing particulate accumulation at portions of the second, third and fourth sides that are distal to the vacuum system.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine comprising two front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a motive source for providing motive force to at least one front wheel to drive the machine on a surface. Embodiments also include an operator platform allowing an operator to stand thereon extending at least partly around the rear wheel, for supporting an operator in a standing position with the operator's feet on either side of the rear wheel.

Abstract: Embodiments include a floor surface maintenance machine, comprising a cleaning tool chamber comprising a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. A rotary broom is housed in the cleaning tool chamber and substantially enclosed by the first, second, third and fourth sides thereof. The rotary broom sweeps particulate from the surface. A vacuum system generates vacuum for drawing particulate swept by the rotary broom. The vacuum system is positioned proximal to the first side. A skirt assembly extends substantially around the second, third and fourth sides of the cleaning tool chamber. The skirt assembly has a vacuum passage defined therein and in fluid communication with the vacuum system to direct air flow into the vacuum passage, thereby drawing particulate into the vacuum passage and preventing particulate accumulation at portions of the second, third and fourth sides that are distal to the vacuum system.

Abstract: A street sweeper system is used typically in a motorized vehicle. The sweeper utilizes a cylindrical brush rotating about an axis generally perpendicular to the vehicle's direction of motion. A conveyor belt catches debris thrown forwards and upward by the brush and moves the debris to a hopper. A recirculation flap is mounted contacting a lower rear portion of the brush. The recirculation flap deflects debris that has traveled over the top of the brush back into the brush to be recollected at the conveyor.

Abstract: A brush wear adjustment system for use in a powered street sweeper to provide for consistent sweeping performance where wear of rotary brush bristles is constantly sensed and the rotational speed of the rotary brush is automatically increased to maintain a desired bristle tip speed to maintain desirable sweeping attributes. Rotary brush support arm angular displacement is monitored in order for an electro-hydraulic controller to influence rotational speed of the rotary brush and to provide a readout relative to bristle length.

Abstract: A sweeper drag shoe used with a rotary broom in sweeping, whereby escaping debris from under a contact skid is recaptured. The sweeper drag shoe contains a deflection plate that redirects bristle tip movement inwardly to allow the broom to recapture debris which escapes during normal operation. The sweeper drag shoe also includes an angled wedge for concentrating outer bristles of the broom into a rotating barrier to prevent debris migration to the end of the broom.

Abstract: A street sweeper drag shoe of cast austempered ductile iron used with a rotary broom in sweeping, whereby escaping debris from under a contact skid is recaptured. The street sweeper drag shoe contains a deflection plate that redirects bristle tip movement inwardly to allow the broom to recapture debris which escapes during normal operation. The street sweeper drag shoe also includes an angled wedge for concentrating outer bristles of the broom into a rotating barrier to prevent debris migration to the ends of the broom. The contact skid exhibits total planar contact with the roadway without interceding carbide wear plates.

Abstract: A street sweeper system is used typically in a motorized vehicle. The sweeper utilizes a cylindrical brush rotating about an axis generally perpendicular to the vehicle's direction of motion. A conveyor belt catches debris thrown forwards and upward by the brush and moves the debris to a hopper. A cutoff flap is mounted contacting a front portion of the brush. The cutoff flap deflects debris that moves upwards along a front portion of the brush back downwards to be recollected at the conveyor.

Abstract: A sweeper drag shoe used with a rotary broom in sweeping, whereby escaping debris from under a contact skid is recaptured. The sweeper drag shoe contains a deflection plate that redirects bristle tip movement inwardly to allow the broom to recapture debris which escapes during normal operation. The sweeper drag shoe also includes an angled wedge for concentrating outer bristles of the broom into a rotating barrier to prevent debris migration to the end of the broom.

Abstract: A street sweeper system is used typically in a motorized vehicle. The sweeper utilizes a cylindrical brush rotating about an axis generally perpendicular to the vehicle's direction of motion. A conveyor belt catches debris thrown forwards and upward by the brush and moves the debris to a hopper. A recirculation flap is mounted contacting a lower rear portion of the brush. The recirculation flap deflects debris that has traveled over the top of the brush back into the brush to be recollected at the conveyor.

Abstract: A brush wear adjustment system for use in a powered street sweeper to provide for consistent sweeping performance where wear of rotary brush bristles is constantly sensed and the rotational speed of the rotary brush is automatically increased to maintain a desired bristle tip speed to maintain desirable sweeping attributes. Rotary brush support arm angular displacement is monitored in order for an electro-hydraulic controller to influence rotational speed of the rotary brush and to provide a readout relative to bristle length.

Abstract: A street sweeper drag shoe of cast austempered ductile iron used with a rotary broom in sweeping, whereby escaping debris from under a contact skid is recaptured. The street sweeper drag shoe contains a deflection plate that redirects bristle tip movement inwardly to allow the broom to recapture debris which escapes during normal operation. The street sweeper drag shoe also includes an angled wedge for concentrating outer bristles of the broom into a rotating barrier to prevent debris migration to the ends of the broom. The contact skid exhibits total planar contact with the roadway without interceding carbide wear plates.

Abstract: A street sweeper system is used typically in a motorized vehicle. The sweeper utilizes a cylindrical brush rotating about an axis generally perpendicular to the vehicle's direction of motion. A conveyor belt catches debris thrown forwards and upward by the brush and moves the debris to a hopper. A cutoff flap is mounted contacting a front portion of the brush. The cutoff flap deflects debris that moves upwards along a front portion of the brush back downwards to be recollected at the conveyor.

Abstract: A street sweeper system is used in a motorized vehicle. The sweeper utilizes a cylindrical brush rotating about a horizontal axis that is typically perpendicular to the vehicle's direction of motion. A conveyor belt catches debris thrown forwards and upward by the brush and moves the debris to a hopper. A conveyor flap is mounted on a lower edge of the conveyor to improve sweeping performance. The conveyor lip covers a space between the lower edge of the conveyor and the ground. A cutoff flap is located on a forward portion of the brush to deflect debris that is passing over the brush. A recirculation flap is located at a rear portion of the brush to recirculate debris that has passed over the top of the brush.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine includes a body, wheels for supporting the body, a sweeping brush and a debris hopper adjacent the sweeping brush and positioned to receive debris swept by the brush. The hopper has a floor, walls, and a top, all formed of a plastic material, preferably one rated as not supporting combustion in a horizontal direction. There is a heat shield attached to the underside of the hopper top, with the heat shield being formed of a non-combustible material.

Abstract: A floor scrubbing machine uses two parallel cylindrical scrub brushes. Each brush is rotated by a separate drive means, and these are at opposite ends of the brushes. This balances the weight of the drives so the brushes exert a uniform pressure on the floor. The brushes are axially offset enough that each brush extends out as far as the drive means of the other brush, thus permitting the machine to scrub close to a wall on either side. The brushes have a more aggressive bristle fill at their ends which extend out under the drive means, where only one brush is scrubbing the floor, so the appearance of the scrubbed floor is essentially the same where scrubbed by one brush as where scrubbed by two brushes.

Abstract: A floor scrubbing machine has a chassis mounted on front and rear wheels and a scrub head attached to the front of the chassis by a system of articulated links. Structure is provided for absorbing the kinetic energy of the moving machine in the event that the scrub head strikes a fixed object. On impact the geometry of the linkage system causes the front wheels to be lifted off the floor, thereby quickly lifting considerable weight. Also, a pair of heavy springs stretch, and parts of the chassis deform elastically. By this structure the kinetic energy is absorbed within the machine. No heavy protective shrouds are needed, and a simple flange along the front edge of the scrub head housing provides adequate stiffness.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine includes a cylindrical brush mounted in the machine for rotation about a generally horizontal axis extending transverse to the direction of machine movement. A recirculation flap is attached to the machine and extends generally coextensively with the brush and parallel thereto. The recirculation flap is normally yieldingly urged toward the brush, with contact between the flap and a floor obstacle causing the flap to move, against the force of its mounting springs, away from the brush.

Abstract: A self-propelled industrial cleaning machine has a cylindrical horizontally mounted rotatable cleaning brush. There is a torsionally rigid connecting member extending generally parallel to the brush. A rigid arm is attached to each end of the connecting member, with each arm supporting an end of the brush. There is a hand operable latch for releasing one of the arms to permit removal or replacement of the brush, with the hand operable latch being arranged to retain the one arm and attachment to the connecting member, with release thereof permitting removal of the arm from the connecting member and brush.