Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame and a debris hopper including a door disposed along a side of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes front and rear lift assemblies supporting the debris hopper on the frame and configured to lift and tilt the debris hopper relative to the frame. Each lift assembly includes a transverse support mounted across the frame. A lift arm including a first end and an opposite second end, with the first end of the lift arm pivotably coupled to one end of the transverse support. A leg extending below the debris hopper and disposed proximate the door, with the second end of the lift arm pivotably coupled to one end of the leg opposite of the debris hopper. A first fluid actuator extending between the transverse support and the lift arm, and a second fluid actuator extending between the lift arm and the leg.

Abstract: A boom hose apparatus for a material collection vehicle includes a telescoping boom assembly and a hose assembly supported by the boom assembly. The boom assembly includes a plurality of telescoping conduits. A flexible hose is received through the telescoping conduits and can slidably extend from, or retract into, the conduits independently from the telescoping of the conduits.

Abstract: A power split and creep drive system for street sweeper or like specialty vehicle having a single engine is disclosed. The system intends to retrofit and convert on-highway truck chassis into specialty vehicles capable of performing work function and moving at creeping speed, such as a street sweeper. It includes a hydraulic work circuit or power-take-off (PTO) port, a planetary gear set, a hydraulic system comprising pumps and motors to drive the working devices and balance the demand between propulsion and work function such as sweeping. The planetary gear set includes an input shaft connecting to a transmission output shaft of the chassis, a first output shaft connecting to a hydraulic machine, and a second output shaft to vehicle propulsion drive shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame and a debris hopper including a door disposed along a side of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes front and rear lift assemblies supporting the debris hopper on the frame and configured to lift and tilt the debris hopper relative to the frame. Each lift assembly includes a transverse support mounted across the frame. A lift arm including a first end and an opposite second end, with the first end of the lift arm pivotably coupled to one end of the transverse support. A leg extending below the debris hopper and disposed proximate the door, with the second end of the lift arm pivotably coupled to one end of the leg opposite of the debris hopper. A first fluid actuator extending between the transverse support and the lift arm, and a second fluid actuator extending between the lift arm and the leg.

Abstract: A power split and creep drive system for street sweeper or like specialty vehicle having a single engine is disclosed. The system intends to retrofit and convert on-highway truck chassis into specialty vehicles capable of performing work function and moving at creeping speed, such as a street sweeper. It includes a hydraulic work circuit or power-take-off (PTO) port, a planetary gear set, a hydraulic system comprising pumps and motors to drive the working devices and balance the demand between propulsion and work function such as sweeping. The planetary gear set includes an input shaft connecting to a transmission output shaft of the chassis, a first output shaft connecting to a hydraulic machine, and a second output shaft to vehicle propulsion drive shaft.

Abstract: A boom hose apparatus for a material collection vehicle includes a telescoping boom assembly and a hose assembly supported by the boom assembly. The boom assembly includes a plurality of telescoping conduits. A flexible hose is received through the telescoping conduits and can slidably extend from, or retract into, the conduits independently from the telescoping of the conduits.

Abstract: A power split and creep drive system for street sweeper or like specialty vehicle having a single engine is disclosed. The system intends to retrofit and convert on-highway truck chassis into specialty vehicles capable of performing work function and moving at creeping speed, such as a street sweeper. It includes a hydraulic work circuit or power-take-off (PTO) port, a planetary gear set, a hydraulic system comprising pumps and motors to drive the working devices and balance the demand between propulsion and work function such as sweeping. The planetary gear set includes an input shaft connecting to a transmission output shaft of the chassis, a first output shaft connecting to a hydraulic machine, and a second output shaft to vehicle propulsion drive shaft.

Abstract: A boom hose apparatus for a material collection vehicle includes a telescoping boom assembly and a hose assembly supported by the boom assembly. The boom assembly includes a plurality of telescoping conduits. A flexible hose is received through the telescoping conduits and can slidably extend from, or retract into, the conduits independently from the telescoping of the conduits.

Abstract: A piston assembly is provided with a piston head retaining structure. The piston assembly includes a piston shaft and a piston head disposed around the piston shaft and providing a piston head face that faces a cylinder wall. The piston assembly further includes a piston head mount element arranged adjacent to the piston head and mounted around the piston shaft and a tensioning device that generates an axial tension between the piston shaft and the piston head.

Abstract: An improved check valve includes a valve seat having a seating surface and a guiding barrel body; the seating surface having a groove; an elastomeric seal member oriented in the groove; a valve cage having a cylindrical valve cage body and opposite open and closed ends, the closed end being closed by a valve disk; the valve cage body having a plurality of windows allowing fluid flow therethrough; the valve cage body being sized to slide inside of the guiding barrel body; the valve cage further including a groove at an outer perimeter adjacent the open end of said valve cage body; a retainer arrangement including a washer and a lock ring; the washer having a recess pocket and being sized to slide over the valve cage and against the guiding barrel body; the lock ring being seated within the groove of the valve cage and having an outer diameter sized to be oriented within the recess pocket of the washer; and a compression spring oriented outside of the guiding barrel body and held by the retainer arrangement bet

Abstract: A piston shifting control system is provided to control a displacement pump to maximize a stroke length of a piston and prevent damages to the entire pump system. The displacement pump may include a linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) inserted through one end of a cylinder body and used to detect a position of the piston within the cylinder. The shifting control system is configured to monitor a position of the piston assembly in the displacement pump and adjust a shifting trigger point of the piston assembly in each stroke to maximize the stroke length.

Abstract: A boom hose apparatus for a material collection vehicle includes a telescoping boom assembly and a hose assembly supported by the boom assembly. The boom assembly includes a plurality of telescoping conduits. A flexible hose is received through the telescoping conduits and can slidably extend from, or retract into, the conduits independently from the telescoping of the conduits.

Abstract: A piston assembly is provided with a piston head retaining structure. The piston assembly includes a piston shaft and a piston head disposed around the piston shaft and providing a piston head face that faces a cylinder wall. The piston assembly further includes a piston head mount element arranged adjacent to the piston head and mounted around the piston shaft and a tensioning device that generates an axial tension between the piston shaft and the piston head.

Abstract: An improved manifold and valve cartridges suitable for high power (over 600 hp) reciprocating pumps for water blast or jet applications are disclosed. In one aspect, the disclosed valve cartridges are compact and mounted axially along a seat member that has a central bore in addition to suction and discharge seats. The seat member can also be provided a plurality of radially arranged bores for allowing suction flow to the pump. A spool valve assembly can be mounted through the seat member bore, and can include a valve spool, a spherical suction valve member, a compression spring, and compression-locked rings. The spool valve can include a closed flanged end that engages with the seat member discharge seat. In operation, the compression spring continuously pushes the spool valve closed flanged end against the discharge seat and pushes the suction valve member against the suction seat to retain a normally closed position.

Abstract: Highly efficient particulate collectors, such as for dust and street debris collected by a mobile street cleaning vehicle, with very low pressure loss are disclosed. One embodiment uses a specially contoured passage to separate the solid particles from particulate-laden gas stream by rapid directional change at a throat region. By using the Venturi effect at the accelerating zone communicating with a gas return channel from the particulate retaining chamber, a small amount of the gas will be recirculated from the deposit zone to help move and retain the separated particles in a confined collection receptacle.

Abstract: A power split and creep drive system for street sweeper or like specialty vehicle having a single engine is disclosed. The system intends to retrofit and convert on-highway truck chassis into specialty vehicles capable of performing work function and moving at creeping speed, such as a street sweeper. It includes a hydraulic work circuit or power-take-off (PTO) port, a planetary gear set, a hydraulic system comprising pumps and motors to drive the working devices and balance the demand between propulsion and work function such as sweeping. The planetary gear set includes an input shaft connecting to a transmission output shaft of the chassis, a first output shaft connecting to a hydraulic machine, and a second output shaft to vehicle propulsion drive shaft.

Abstract: A piston shifting control system is provided to control a displacement pump to maximize a stroke length of a piston and prevent damages to the entire pump system. The displacement pump may include a linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) inserted through one end of a cylinder body and used to detect a position of the piston within the cylinder. The shifting control system is configured to monitor a position of the piston assembly in the displacement pump and adjust a shifting trigger point of the piston assembly in each stroke to maximize the stroke length.