Abstract: A cleaning machine having two front wheels and two rear wheels supporting a chassis, the chassis having a central spine, the cleaning machine including a first electrical cell for propelling the cleaning machine, said first electrical cell being positioned between one of the front wheels and one of the rear wheels and outboard of the central spine.

Abstract: A method of operating an electric vehicle including the steps of: (1) providing the electric vehicle (2) providing an electric load device on the electric vehicle (3) providing a first battery on the electric vehicle with a first state of charge (4) providing a second battery on the electric vehicle with a second state of charge lower than the first state of charge (5) determining an initial state of charge of the first battery (6) determining an initial state of charge of the second battery (7) connecting the first battery to the electric load device (8) measuring the current flow from the first battery (9) calculating an instantaneous state of charge of the first battery (10) comparing the instantaneous state of charge of the first battery with the initial state of charge of the second battery, and (11) when the instantaneous state of charge of the first battery reaches a predetermined percentage of the initial state of charge of the second battery, connecting the second battery in parallel with the first b

Abstract: A cleaning machine having two front wheels and two rear wheels supporting a chassis, the chassis having a central spine, the cleaning machine including a first electrical cell for propelling the cleaning machine, said first electrical cell being positioned between one of the front wheels and one of the rear wheels and outboard of the central spine.

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.

Abstract: A compact sweeping machine is provided which has steerable front wheels of variable track. This allows the machine to be used with a minimum track dimension for sweeping but with a maximum track dimension for travel to and from the workplace. The front wheels are steerable and independently driven by means of 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 machine. The extendable parts are extended and retracted by track change cylinders and steering is by means of a hydraulic cylinder extending between the axle beam and a bell crank lever for one of the wheels, one of the arms of which provides a steering arm for that wheel.