Abstract: A dust suctioning pick-up head for a sweeping vehicle comprises a shroud defining a fore-aft longitudinal axis, and has a substantially hollow interior, a bottom edge defining a bottom opening, and a forwardly facing debris outlet for permitting the directed egress of debris from the shroud as a forwardly propelled stream of debris. At least one cylindrical main sweeping broom is disposed within the substantially hollow interior of the shroud for engaging a surface to be cleaned through the bottom opening to thereby sweep dust and debris from the surface to be cleaned and propel the dust and debris forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet. A dust suctioning nozzle apparatus has a dust receiving mouth in fluid communication with a dust transfer outlet connectable in fluid communication with a source of air suctioning.

Abstract: A single-engine surface cleaning vehicle comprises a pre-built conventional truck chassis and a forwardly mounted internal combustion engine. A hydraulic pump has a mechanical input connected to the mechanical output of the power take off unit, and a hydraulic output. A hydraulic drive motor has a hydraulic input connected to the hydraulic output of variable displacement hydraulic pump, and a mechanical output connected in driving relation to the drive input of the rear differential and drive axle assembly. The rear drive wheels are drivable by the internal combustion engine through the power take off unit, the variable displacement hydraulic pump, the hydraulic drive motor and the differential and axle assembly. A debris hopper is mounted on the pre-built conventional truck chassis. A debris loading apparatus is operatively mounted on the pre-built conventional truck chassis and is connected in debris depositing relation to the debris hopper.

Abstract: A debris shredding pick-up head system for a mobile sweeper comprises a housing defining a substantially hollow interior, and a suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing. A debris receiving opening is disposed in the front of the housing for receiving debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing, in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface being cleaned. A debris shredder is operatively mounted on the housing adjacent the debris receiving opening such that debris passing through the debris receiving opening is received by the debris shredder. The debris shredder shreds the received debris and thereby produces shredded debris. There is also a dust and debris outlet in the housing for permitting dust and debris, including the shredded debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior of the housing into a hopper.

Abstract: A debris-plowing pick-up head for a mobile sweeper comprises a housing defining a substantially hollow interior and having a front, a back, a left end and a right end, a top and a bottom, and a suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing. A suctioning front opening is disposed in the front of the housing for receiving debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing. A selectively openable and closable door means operatively mounted on the debris plowing pick-up head for selectively opening and closing the suctioning front opening. There is a dust and debris outlet in the housing for permitting dust and debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior of the housing into a hopper. A barrier is disposed on the top of the housing for substantially precluding the passage of large debris over the housing.

Abstract: A humidification system for use with a baseboard style heater having a shallow, elongated convector casing, with extensive heat transfer surfaces therein, the system including a shallow evaporator tank combined with an external reservoir connected to the evaporator tank by way of a water level control. The evaporator tank is located above the fins and coils of the heater and has a deeply indented bottom portion to provide an extended heat transfer surface for rapidly heating a shallow layer of water within the evaporator tank. Convectional flow past the evaporator heat transfer surfaces is promoted by openings into the top of the evaporator. An adjustable cover on top of the evaporator regulates the air flow therethrough, and hence the degree of humidification.