Abstract: A roadway or pavement sweeper with multiple sweeping modes for the removal of debris from a swept surface may, in some embodiments, include a sweeper vehicle having a pair of side-brooms independently movable between a retracted and extended position for sweeping debris into an area therebetween and at least one material-transfer broom to sweep a portion of the debris accumulated between the side-brooms as the vehicle moves in its direction of travel. A fan-driven suction-inlet may be provided at or adjacent each side of the vehicle. The at least one material-transfer broom may rotate in a first or other direction to transfer debris for entrainment into a selected suction-inlet for transfer to a debris hopper. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A roadway or pavement sweeper with multiple sweeping modes for the removal of debris from a swept surface may, in some embodiments, include a sweeper vehicle having a pair of side-brooms independently movable between a retracted and extended position for sweeping debris into an area therebetween and at least one material-transfer broom to sweep a portion of the debris accumulated between the side-brooms as the vehicle moves in its direction of travel. A fan-driven suction-inlet may be provided at or adjacent each side of the vehicle. The at least one material-transfer broom may rotate in a first or other direction to transfer debris for entrainment into a selected suction-inlet for transfer to a debris hopper. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A mechanized broom-type sweeper vehicle (10) includes a conveyer (14) having two laterally extending pintle-like stub shafts (14-5) with the conveyor (14) received in a cradle (20) that includes split pillow blocks that each receive a respective one of the stub shafts (14-5). The conveyor (14) can be readily lifted from the vehicle (10) by removing structures superposed above the conveyor (14), disconnecting various mechanical and electrical connection removing the cap portion of each pillow-block, and thereafter lifting the conveyor (14) from the vehicle with an overhead crane. In a similar manner, a repaired or replacement conveyor (14) can be lowered via a crane into the cradle (20) with the stub shafts received within the pillow blocks and the caps reinstalled. The use of a top-side removal and a top-side installation technique reduces the time (and associated costs) for the removal and replacement of a conveyor (14) to as little as four hours or less.

Abstract: A roadway sweeper (10) is provided with a pneumatic ‘lift’ cylinder (LC) connected through linkages to a gutter broom (12) and is pressurized at a operator-selected one of a plurality of air pressures to control the force the gutter broom (12) applies to the surface being swept. In a similar manner, a pneumatic ‘swing-out’ cylinder (PC) that is also pressurized at one of a plurality of operator-selected air pressures to cause the gutter broom (12) to ‘swing-out’ from a fully retracted position toward its fully extended position. A spring element (S), such as one or more helical springs, is connected in parallel with the swing-out cylinder (PC) so that the gutter broom (12) is positioned reliably and repeatedly in response to a user-selected one of many pressure states Pn.

Abstract: A mechanized broom-type sweeper vehicle (10) includes a conveyer (14) having two laterally extending pintle-like stub shafts (14-5) with the conveyor (14) received in a cradle (20) that includes split pillow blocks that each receive a respective one of the stub shafts (14-5). The conveyor (14) can be readily lifted from the vehicle (10) by removing structures superposed above the conveyor (14), disconnecting various mechanical and electrical connection removing the cap portion of each pillow-block, and thereafter lifting the conveyor (14) from the vehicle with an overhead crane. In a similar manner, a repaired or replacement conveyor (14) can be lowered via a crane into the cradle (20) with the stub shafts received within the pillow blocks and the caps reinstalled. The use of a top-side removal and a top-side installation technique reduces the time (and associated costs) for the removal and replacement of a conveyor (14) to as little as four hours or less.

Abstract: An improved pickup or intake hood for use in regenerative air flow road and pavement sweeper vehicles includes at least one side auxiliary plenums and/or at least one side-to-side plenum adjacent the primary air flow compartment. The auxiliary plenums are attached by appropriate ducting into the regenerative air flow so that any fugitive air and or dust flows from the primary air flow compartment are captured in the auxiliary plenums to minimize fugitive air and/or dust flows into the ambient atmosphere. Dust conduits from shrouded gutter brooms enter a manifold box to allow dust-entrained air flows from one or both gutter brooms to enter into the regenerative air flow to capture dust generated by the gutter brooms.

Abstract: A mechanized broom-type sweeper truck that includes a pavement engaging brush or broom and an elevator for transported debris to the inlet or entry opening of a debris container includes a slinging roller in the debris container mounted at or subjacent the inlet opening. The slinging roller is journalled in bearings and driven by a motor at a selected rotary speed. Surface features are provided on the roller to engage with and contact any debris coming into contact with the roller to fling, sling, throw debris away from the inlet opening.

Abstract: A road/pavement sweeper is provided with a pickup head or debris-intake hood that operates in a conventional manner to entrain or aspirate particles and/or debris from the pavement surface. The air-inlet structure of the debris-intake hood is provided with an air-flow control member that selectively directs the air flow through the debris-intake hood in order to conventionally entrain debris or particles from the surface being swept or through an opening in the side of the air-inlet structure to create an air blast useful to blow debris from the pavement or roadway surface. One or more fixed-position or controlled-position air flow vanes can be provided to selectively direct the air blast.

Abstract: A sweeper unit well-suited for use for sweeping paved areas includes a debris-retaining hopper with an associated fan assembly that includes an air outlet duct for connection to one side of a pick-up head and an inlet duct for connection between the other side of the pickup head and the debris-retaining hopper. A fan drive arrangement includes at least a first and a second hydraulic displacement device to drive the fan and, when required, provide a flow of hydraulic fluid for auxiliary devices including the gutter broom motor(s).

Abstract: A debris container of the type used on roadway and pavement sweeper and sweeping vehicles includes a hinged door through which the interior of the debris container may be inspected and through which debris is emptied when the container is elevated and rotated to its dump position. A powered actuator, which may be an electrically powered screw-rod assembly, is connected by mounting brackets between the structure of the debris container and the door. One of the mounting brackets includes slots that define a lost-motion function that allows the powered actuator to open and close the door while also allowing an operator to manually open and close the door and allowing the door to open under the influence of gravity when the container is in its “elevated and dump” position.

Abstract: An elevatable multi-function signboard system for highway vehicles, such as pavement/roadway sweepers, carries a warning/signal system that can be moved between a lowered position and an elevated position. In the lowered position, the signboard also functions to cover and protect auxiliary equipment mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The signboard is mounted to the vehicle by a multiple bar linkage and raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder arrangement under the control of the vehicle operator. The multiple bar linkage allows the signboard to swing-out rearwardly of the vehicle as the signboard is raised to effectively uncover any auxiliary equipment carried on the sweeper.

Abstract: A high-lift lateral dump system for pavement/street sweepers (20) includes a debris container (30) positioned between laterally adjacent lift assemblies (40R, 40F), each lift assembly (40R, 40F) including a vertically extending upright (42), a lift arm (44) that is pivoted at one end to upper end of the upright (42), and a single-ended double-acting hydraulic lift cylinder (46) that functions to raise and lower the lift arm (44). A torque control mechanism (48) minimizes mis-phasing between the lift cylinders (46) of each lift assembly (40R, 40F), and a manual safety stop mechanism (50) allows an operator to selectively lock the debris container (30) and the related structural components in the lifted position. An attitude-control system uses hydraulic fluid from the rod end (46r) of the lift cylinder (46) to maintain the debris container (30) in a horizontal or near horizontal attitude during the lift cycle.

Abstract: A high maneuverability riding turf sweeper (8) includes a debris-intake hood (13) that is mounted forwardly of a wheeled chassis (41) upon which the major components, including an engine (42) and a hydraulic pump (27) for powering the sweeper (8) are mounted. A radial-flow fan assembly (10) creates an air recirculation loop by which debris picked-up by the debris-intake hopper (13) is deposited into a debris-containment hopper (43). The hopper (43) is pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end and its contents can be dumped by raising the hopper (43) about its pivot (49) to provide an efficient high-dump capability.

Abstract: A gutter broom (8) for a pavement sweeper is defined by an annular brush disc (24) having a central opening and from which a series of equi-spaced conventional bristle blocks (11) are removably secured. A downwardly depending air foil (18) is secured to the underside of the annular brush disc (24) between each bristle block (11). A series of equi-spaced radially aligned fan blades (17) are secured to the opposite side of the annular brush disc (24) and function to define a radial flow fan. A stationary fan scroll (20) is formed over and contains the radial flow fan and includes an air flow outlet (23). When the gutter broom (8) is rotated, the air foils (18) function to draw ambient air and any entrained dust/debris into the brush structure with the resultant air streams directed to the radial fan structure, which, in turn, directs the dust/debris laden air stream to the outlet (23).

Abstract: A road-sweeping machine designed to be towed behind a truck for removing road debris, including motor vehicle tires and tire fragments, includes a brush assembly that engages the roadway surface and sweeps debris from the roadway onto a first conveyor belt that transports the debris away from the brush. The debris is then constrained between the first conveyor and a second conveyor for delivery to debris receptacle. Both conveyor belts are entrained about a series of rollers supported by related frame structures including rollers mounted on pivotable links that allow the two confronting conveyor belts to move toward and away from one another in response to the size of the debris being constrained between the two conveyors. The tension on the self-adjusting conveyor belts is controlled by a pivotally mounted roller that maintains tension on both belts while self-repositioning in response the separation between the belts caused by the size of the debris being accommodated.