Patents Assigned to Tennant
  • Patent number: 7520017
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Tennant
    Inventors: Michael S. Wilmo, Gregory J. Engel
  • Patent number: 7287299
    Abstract: A rear squeegee linkage for surface cleaning equipment, which uses a pair of compliant bushings for improved shock absorption. The actuator is mounted with a pair of clevis pins and cotter pins, and may be replaced if needed without screwing or unscrewing any bolts or screws, or resetting any springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Tennant
    Inventor: Daniel Lawrence Joynt
  • Patent number: 7287298
    Abstract: A low-profile side squeegee assembly for surface maintenance vehicles, capable of cleaning under so-called “toe kicks”. In contrast with typical suspensions that are mounted directly above the center of the squeegee assembly, and are therefore too tall to fit under toe kicks, a low-profile suspension attaches at the ends of a squeegee assembly, and uses torsion springs to provide a downward force on the squeegee assembly. In order to counteract any potential twisting effects that might result from suspending the squeegee from the ends rather than the center, the squeegee assembly is mounted at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Tennant
    Inventor: Kevin Leroy Shinler
  • Patent number: 7281625
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for a street sweeper having a conveyor assembly. The conveyor assembly has a pair of rollers and a conveyor belt connected therebetween. The conveyor assembly is provided with debris skirts to lift the edge of the conveyor belt to prevent debris from traveling over the edge of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is formed into a concave orientation. The debris skirts is also connected to a rub rail to provide a dynamic seal along the length of the conveyor belt edges. The conveyor assembly is also provided with a roller scraper for removing debris accumulated upon the rollers. The roller scraper is adapted to envelop a portion of the roller. The conveyor assembly is also provided with a liquid delivery system for assisting in the removal of debris from the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Tennant
    Inventors: Michael Steward Wilmo, Joseph Kenneth Krueger
  • Patent number: 7073661
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for a street sweeper having a conveyor assembly. The conveyor assembly has a pair of rollers and a conveyor belt connected therebetween. The conveyor assembly is provided with debris skirts to lift the edge of the conveyor belt to prevent debris from traveling over the edge of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is formed into a concave orientation. The debris skirts is also connected to a rub rail to provide a dynamic seal along the length of the conveyor belt edges. The conveyor assembly is also provided with a roller scraper for removing debris accumulated upon the rollers. The roller scraper is adapted to envelop a portion of the roller. The conveyor assembly is also provided with a liquid delivery system for assisting in the removal of debris from the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Tennant
    Inventors: Michael Steward Wilmo, Joseph Kenneth Krueger
  • Publication number: 20050194837
    Abstract: A rider surface maintenance vehicle with variable dynamic braking, in contrast to a mechanically-engaged braking system that uses a brake cable. A brake pedal engages a sensor that encodes the pedal position as an electronic signal. The electronic signal, along with the vehicle velocity, determines a machine deceleration rate, or braking rate, either by calculation, lookup table, or a combination of the two. The braking rate may be tuned so that the of the brake mimics or approximates the feel of a conventional mechanically-engaged brake that uses a brake cable. During stopping, once the vehicle passes below a threshold velocity, a parking brake is automatically engaged. The braking rate is converted to a duty cycle, and the braking is preferably accomplished by pulse width modulation (PWM) of an electrical load applied in parallel to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: Tennant
    Inventors: Peter Loring, Steven Feeny, Robert Erko, Paul Groschen, Richard Milun
  • Publication number: 20050193518
    Abstract: A low-profile side squeegee assembly for surface maintenance vehicles, capable of cleaning under so-called “toe kicks”. In contrast with typical suspensions that are mounted directly above the center of the squeegee assembly, and are therefore too tall to fit under toe kicks, a low-profile suspension attaches at the ends of a squeegee assembly, and uses torsion springs to provide a downward force on the squeegee assembly. In order to counteract any potential twisting effects that might result from suspending the squeegee from the ends rather than the center, the squeegee assembly is mounted at an angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: Tennant
    Inventor: Kevin Shinler
  • Publication number: 20050193519
    Abstract: A rear squeegee linkage for surface cleaning equipment, which uses a pair of compliant bushings for improved shock absorption. The actuator is mounted with a pair of clevis pins and cotter pins, and may be replaced if needed without screwing or unscrewing any bolts or screws, or resetting any springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: Tennant
    Inventor: Daniel Joynt
  • Publication number: 20050172583
    Abstract: A structure and method of removing semi-rigid debris and demisting gas for use primarily in surface maintenance or conditioning machines, Demisting is accomplished by a combination techniques including rapid pressure reduction and removal of semi rigid debris is accomplished by forcing the debris through a path with curvatures to great for the debris to follow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Applicant: Tennant
    Inventors: Larry Wydra, Michael Basham
  • Patent number: 6877180
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Tennant
    Inventors: Michael S. Wilmo, Archie A. Weidner
  • Publication number: 20040045583
    Abstract: A street sweeper system is used typically in a motorized vehicle. The sweeper utilizes a cylindrical brush rotating about an 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 lip 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. The lip's lower edge is angled towards the brush to deflect debris back towards the brush to recirculate the debris.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Tennant
    Inventors: Thomas P. Mathews, Michael H. Lenzmeier, Archie A. Weidner, Gregory J. Engel
  • Publication number: 20040045584
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Tennant
    Inventors: Thomas P. Mathews, Michael H. Lenzmeier, Archie A. Weidner, Michael S. Wilmo, Gregory J. Engel
  • Publication number: 20040045582
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Tennant
    Inventors: Michael S. Wilmo, Gregory J. Engel
  • Publication number: 20040045585
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Tennant
    Inventors: Michael S. Wilmo, Archie A. Weidner