Pavement Sweeper with Improved Filter Screen System
An improved filter screen system for a pavement sweeper (10) includes one or more filter screen assemblies (50) that are so-mounted as to slide-out from the main body of the debris hopper (18) for cleaning and, if desired, be separated from the debris hopper (18) for replacement. The slide-out screen system avoids the need for a worker to crawl into the interior of the debris hopper (18) to clean the filter screens (56).
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application 61/438,617 filed Feb. 1, 2011 by the applicants herein and in common assignment herewith, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to mechanized sweepers of the recirculating air-flow type used for sweeping paved areas, parking areas, and roads and, more particularly, to such sweepers using one or more screens to filter debris from the air flow, and, still more particularly, to an improved filter screen system for such sweepers.
Various types of mechanized wheeled vehicles are known for use in sweeping paved surfaces. For example, truck-mounted sweepers are known for sweeping highway and roadway surfaces while other types of sweepers are more suited for sweeping parking lots and parking garages. In general, pavement sweepers include a standard truck chassis and a sweeper unit that is mounted to the truck chassis. In most cases, the sweeper unit includes a motor-driven fan, a pick-up head, and a debris-separation hopper. The fan creates a recirculating air flow with the air flow passing from the hopper to and through the pick-up head where dust, particles, debris, etc. is entrained in the air flow with debris-entrained air flow entering into the hopper where dust, particles, debris, etc. are removed from the air flow by known separation techniques including the use of screens to filter or otherwise separate larger particles and debris from the air flow.
Historically, the filter screens are contained within the hopper and can have their filtering efficiency compromised by debris that clogs the openings in the filter screens; this debris including bits of textiles, twigs, leaves, pet hair, plastic materials, string, rope, electrical wire, etc. Typically, the screens are periodically cleaned by a worker who climbs into the hopper with a power washer to spray high-pressure water against the screens to remove some of the debris and who then uses a scrapper or similar tools to physically scrape the remaining material from the screens. In some cases, it is also been found helpful to use a hand-held propane torch to burn or melt difficult-to-remove materials.
SUMMARYAn improved filter screen system for a pavement sweeper includes one or more filter screens that are so-mounted as to slide-out from the main body of the debris hopper for cleaning and, optionally, be removed from the debris hopper for cleaning or replacement. The system avoids the need for a worker to enter into the interior of the hopper to clean the filter screens.
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A debris-receiving hopper 18 receives dust, debris, particulates, debris, and other air-entrainable materials swept from the pavement surface; as shown, the hopper 18 includes a hatch or lid 18-1 that is pivotally mounted near the forward end of the hopper 18 and raised or lowered about an axis Ax by two hydraulic cylinders H1 and H2 for the purpose of emptying the hopper 18 or gaining access to the interior thereof. The pick-up head 16 includes an air-flow outlet (not specifically shown) that connects through a flex-hose 20 to enter the suction inlet or debris-uptake inlet 22 of the debris-receiving hopper 18. Any debris-entrained air flow exits the air-flow outlet of the pick-up head 16 and flows through the flex-hose 20 to enter the suction inlet or debris-uptake inlet 22 of the debris-receiving hopper 18. A motor-driven fan assembly 24 is mounted at the front side of the sweeper unit 14 and is designed to establish a recirculating air flow through the hopper 18 as is conventional in this art.
Additionally, a motor-driven rotatable gutter broom 26 is shown mounted on the driver side of the vehicle to sweep debris into the path of the pick-up head 16. The gutter broom 26 is mounted at the end of pivotable arm 28 that, in turn, is pivotally mounted at or near the distal end of standoff structure 30 connected to the truck frame (unnumbered). While not specifically shown, a similar gutter broom arrangement is often mounted on the opposite side of the vehicle. The use of a standoff structure 30 allows the gutter broom 26 to be “tucked in” behind the standoff structure 30 when the gutter broom 26 is retracted inwardly toward the frame of the truck chassis 12.
In
In
As is typical in this art, various access doors and ports 34 are provided in the side of the hopper 18. As explained in more detail below, the hopper 18, in the preferred embodiment, is equipped with a slide-out screen assembly 50 on each side of the hopper 18. In
As shown in
As shown in the detail views of
In order to access a screen assembly 50 for inspection or cleaning, the spring latches 36 are released and the screen assembly 50 is pulled laterally outward until the stop structure 58 ‘catches’ an interior surface of the debris hopper 18. In this retracted position, the screen assembly 50 can be power washed and any remaining material removed physically with scraper type tools and, if necessary, a hand-held propane torch can be used to remove additional debris. If desired, the entire screen assembly 50 can be removed by lifting the remote or distal end of the retracted screen assembly 50 until the stop structure 58 ‘clears’ the interior surface of the debris hopper 18 to thus allow the screen assembly 50 to be removed completely for cleaning, inspection, or replacement.
After any cleaning, inspection, or repair is accomplished, the screen assembly 50 can be conveniently re-installed and latched into position for use. The system allows for increased operational efficiency since clogged screen assemblies 50 can be cleaned without the need for a worker to enter into the debris hopper 18 or clogged screen assemblies 50 can be removed from the sweeper and be immediately replaced with a replacement set of clean screen assemblies 50 to provide a very short filter-screen maintenance cycle.
In the illustrated embodiment, the filter screens have been shown as mounted on the lateral sides of the debris collection hopper, as can be appreciated, the invention is not so limited and can include, for example, mounting the filter screens through, for example, openings in the front facing portion of the debris collection hopper.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as determined in the appended claims and their legal equivalent.
Claims
1. A pavement sweeper of the type having a recirculating air flow system for establishing a recirculating air flow through a pick-up head, a debris hopper for collecting debris, and a fan for establishing a recirculating air flow, comprising:
- at least one filter screen, the debris hopper having at least one opening through a wall surface thereof for receiving the filter screen, the filter screen mounted for sliding movement through the opening to an installed position for removing debris from the recirculating air flow and for sliding movement through the opening to a retracted position.
2. The pavement sweeper of claim 1, wherein the filter screen is moved to and from its installed and retracted positions in a substantially horizontal plane.
3. The pavement sweeper of claim 2, wherein the filter screen, when in its retracted position, is separable from the debris hopper.
4. The pavement sweeper of claim 3, further comprising means for blocking withdrawal of the filter screen from the opening.
5. The pavement sweeper of claim 1, further comprising a framework within the debris hopper for supporting the filter screen during movement between its installed position and its retracted position.
6. The pavement sweeper of claim 5, further comprising a mechanical stop for engaging an inner end of the filter screen to urge the inner end of the filter screen toward a portion of its supporting framework.
7. The pavement sweeper of claim 6, wherein the mechanical stop comprises an inclined surface for engaging a portion of the inner end of the filter screen to urge the inner end of the filter screen toward a portion of its supporting framework.
8. A pavement sweeper having ground-engaging wheels and of the type having a recirculating air flow system for establishing a recirculating air flow through a pick-up head, a debris hopper for collecting debris, and a fan for establishing a recirculating air flow, comprising:
- a first filter screen and a second filter screen, the debris hopper having at least a first opening and a second opening through a respective wall surface thereof for receiving the first filter screen and the second filter screen, respectively, the filter screen mounted for sliding movement through the first opening to an installed position for removing debris from the recirculating air flow and for sliding movement through the first opening to a retracted position and the second filter screen mounted for sliding movement through the second opening to an installed position for removing debris from the recirculating air flow and for sliding movement through the second opening to a retracted position.
9. The pavement sweeper of claim 8, wherein each filter screen, when in its retracted position, is separable from the debris hopper.
10. The pavement sweeper of claim 8, wherein the each filter screen is moved in a substantially horizontal plane between its installed position and its retracted position.
11. The pavement sweeper of claim 8, further comprising means for blocking withdrawal of a filter screen from its respective opening.
12. The pavement sweeper of claim 8, further comprising a framework within the debris hopper for supporting each filter screen during movement between its installed position and its retracted position.
13. The pavement sweeper of claim 8, further comprising a mechanical stop for engaging an inner end of each filter screen to urge the inner end of the filter screen toward a portion of its supporting framework.
14. The pavement sweeper of claim 13, wherein the mechanical stop comprises an inclined surface for engaging a portion of the inner end of the filter screen to urge the inner end of the filter screen toward a portion of its supporting framework.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 27, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 2, 2012
Inventors: Edward B. Stell (New Market, AL), Andrew B. Cooper (New Market, AL)
Application Number: 13/360,647
International Classification: A47L 11/24 (20060101); A47L 9/10 (20060101);