Abstract: A sweeping machine for picking up debris from a surface includes a frame and wheels attached to said frame to support the frame of the sweeping machine over the surface being swept. A cylindrical brush is rotatably attached to said frame. The cylindrical brush includes a tubular main body and tufts attached to said tube such that the tufts extend radially outward from said tube. The tube has regions devoid of tufts bounded by regions having tufts. The sweeping machine also includes a mechanism for rotating said cylindrical brush.

Abstract: A surface cleaning machine includes a frame, wheels for supporting the frame and a debris hopper positioned on the forward part of the frame. There is a cylindrical sweeping brush mounted on the frame for rotation about an axis transverse to machine movement. There is a drive on the frame for the sweeping brush with the sweeping brush being mounted behind the debris hopper and rotating in a direction to throw debris from a surface being cleaned forwardly toward the debris hopper. A cylindrical conveying brush, parallel to the sweeping brush, is mounted on the frame for rotation in the same direction as the sweeping brush. The same drive rotates both brushes. The conveying brush is positioned above the sweeping brush and located relative thereto to convey debris moved upwardly by the sweeping brush in an upward and forward direction toward the debris hopper.

Abstract: A sweeping machine for picking up debris from a surface includes a frame and wheels attached to said frame to support the frame of the sweeping machine over the surface being swept. A cylindrical brush is rotatably attached to said frame. The cylindrical brush includes a tubular main body and tufts attached to said tube such that the tufts extend radially outward from said tube. The tube has regions devoid of tufts bounded by regions having tufts. The sweeping machine also includes a mechanism for rotating said cylindrical brush.

Abstract: A sweeping machine for picking up debris from a surface includes a frame and wheels attached to said frame to support the frame of the sweeping machine over the surface being swept. A cylindrical brush is rotatably attached to said frame. The cylindrical brush includes a tubular main body and tufts attached to said tube such that the tufts extend radially outward from said tube. The tube has regions devoid of tufts bounded by regions having tufts. The sweeping machine also includes a mechanism for rotating said cylindrical brush.

Abstract: A sweeping machine has a chassis, wheels for supporting the chassis and a brush mounted on the chassis for rotation to throw debris over the brush and into a debris hopper mounted on the chassis behind the brush. There is a control lever on the chassis for raising and lowering the brush relative to a surface to be swept. As the brush wears, a recirculation flap is positioned between the brush and the debris hopper and located closely adjacent a rear portion of the brush to direct debris not reaching the debris hopper forwardly toward the brush sweeping zone. The recirculation flap is moved toward and away from the brush concurrently with movement of the brush toward the surface being swept as the brush wears, whereby the space between the rear portion of the brush and the recirculation flap remains relatively constant.

Abstract: A sweeper movable over a surface to be swept includes a frame having a longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of sweeper movement and a debris hopper mounted on a front portion of the frame. There is an opening in the rear of the debris hopper to admit debris. A first brush rotates about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame and is located behind the debris hopper and has a motor for rotating the brush to throw surface debris forward into the hopper. There is a second brush which is also rotatable on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame, with the second brush being positioned away from the surface to be swept and in front of the first brush. There is an auxiliary sweeping lip positioned closely adjacent to the second brush, which lip and the second brush add momentum to debris swept by the main brush into the hopper, so that the hopper is more fully loaded. The improvement is especially notable when sweeping light debris such as crumpled paper, leaves, etc.

Abstract: A sweeping machine has a wheel supported body and a rotatable brush mounted transversely of the direction of machine movement. There is a debris hopper adjacent the brush and a dust collection chamber on the body. A vacuum fan draws dust laden air from the area about the brush, through the debris hopper, and into the dust collection chamber. The improvement comprises a dust control side skirt assembly mounted on each side of the body generally in alignment with the brush. Each such assembly includes a flexible inner skirt and a flexible outer skirt spaced from the inner skirt. A flexible spacer extends between and is attached to the inner and outer skirts, with the spacer and skirts defining a cavity which has an air opening at a lower portion of the side skirt assembly. The air opening is formed by a discontinuity in the spacer.

Abstract: A sweeping machine includes a chassis with wheels supporting the chassis on a surface to be swept. There is a brush mounted on the chassis for rotation in a direction to throw debris over the brush and into a debris hopper mounted on the chassis behind the brush. A flap assembly is positioned in front of the brush and closely adjacent thereto. The flap assembly has a flexible lip which is in contact with a surface being swept during its normal position.

Abstract: A sweeping machine has a body, wheels supporting the body, and a sweeping brush which is carried by the body and driven by a motor mounted on the sweeping machine. There is a debris hopper positioned adjacent the brush to receive debris moved by the brush toward the hopper. The hopper has a bottom, a front wall, and side walls, and there is a shelf in the hopper spaced above the bottom and attached to at least one of the walls. Debris moved by the brush toward the hopper is deposited on both the hopper bottom and the hopper shelf.

Abstract: A sensor for locating the position of and measuring the velocity of an impacting object. The sensor employs a net attached at each edge to sensor modules mounted on a frame. Each sensor module includes an output drum, a take up drum, a spring and a motor. The net is attached to the sensor modules by cords wound on a spring loaded output drum. The drum is coaxial with a motor that generates a voltage proportional to the angular velocity of the drum. The diode isolated motor partially dissipates the energy of impact to heat on the return stroke in response to the restorative force of the spring. An object impacting a net draws the cord from the output drum, generating a voltage from an attached motor. A maximum voltage or an integrated voltage generated by the motors determines the velocity of impact. Each particular net has an associated set of axes. A pair of motors, their position known relative to the frame, are placed along these axes attached to one or more strings by a cord.