Abstract: A mounting and stand system for a bucket brush sweeper that will allow the sweeper to be easily attached or removed from a bucket assembly. After the sweeper is detached from the bucket the brush may then stand alone on stands to allow the bucket to be used alone in a normal fashion unrestricted by the sweeper. The brush may later be easily reattached to the bucket and the stands may be stored for sweeping operations.

Abstract: A road-sweeping machine designed to be towed behind a truck for removing road debris, including motor vehicle tires and tire fragments, includes a brush assembly that engages the roadway surface and sweeps debris from the roadway onto a first conveyor belt that transports the debris away from the brush. The debris is then constrained between the first conveyor and a second conveyor for delivery to debris receptacle. Both conveyor belts are entrained about a series of rollers supported by related frame structures including rollers mounted on pivotable links that allow the two confronting conveyor belts to move toward and away from one another in response to the size of the debris being constrained between the two conveyors. The tension on the self-adjusting conveyor belts is controlled by a pivotally mounted roller that maintains tension on both belts while self-repositioning in response the separation between the belts caused by the size of the debris being accommodated.

Abstract: A convertible sweeper has a main rotating cylindrical brush and a second rotatable cylindrical tool. The second tool is movable between a first position in front of the main brush where it rotates to assist in very effectively loading debris comprised mainly of dry leaves, paper, etc. into the hopper, and a second position in the upper part of the hopper entrance. There it may be held stationary when the debris to be swept is mainly sand, which is very efficiently swept by the main brush alone, or it may be rotated if the debris also includes some light material, because such rotation assists to a degree in loading that material.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine includes a cylindrical brush mounted in the machine for rotation about a generally horizontal axis extending transverse to the direction of machine movement. A recirculation flap is attached to the machine and extends generally coextensively with the brush and parallel thereto. The recirculation flap is normally yieldingly urged toward the brush, with contact between the flap and a floor obstacle causing the flap to move, against the force of its mounting springs, away from the brush.

Abstract: An industrial sweeper has brushes, a drivewheel a power source, a lever and cables connecting the lever to clutches which engage the brushes and drive wheel to the power source. When the level is partially depressed, only the brushes are engaged. Full depression of the lever continues engagement of the brushes and also engages the drivewheel to propel the sweeper forward.

Abstract: An apparatus for automated sweeping of debris from pavement surfaces is provided with a rigid housing, paired roller brooms rotatably mounted transversely within the housing parallel in relation to each other such that the right end of the forward roller broom, as from the position of an operator of the apparatus, rotates clockwise and the right end of the rearward roller broom, from the same viewpoint, operates counterclockwise. A debris outlet for exit of debris from inside the housing to the exterior thereof is provided along with an auger conveyor for focusing movement of debris between the housing and the rearward roller broom toward the debris outlet. A plurality of support wheels are rotatably attached to the housing and welded connections are provided for attaching the apparatus to a prime mover to permit propulsion of the apparatus along the surface to be swept, as well as for transport of the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for picking up and removing gravel. The apparatus and method are particularly adapted to the removal of gravel from the surface of a roof when an old roof is being removed or repaired.

Abstract: A self-propelled industrial cleaning machine has a cylindrical horizontally mounted rotatable cleaning brush. There is a torsionally rigid connecting member extending generally parallel to the brush. A rigid arm is attached to each end of the connecting member, with each arm supporting an end of the brush. There is a hand operable latch for releasing one of the arms to permit removal or replacement of the brush, with the hand operable latch being arranged to retain the one arm and attachment to the connecting member, with release thereof permitting removal of the arm from the connecting member and brush.

Abstract: A bottle and can picking apparatus includes a portable carrier frame, a rotatable member mounted on the carrier frame, a plurality of flexible loops attached to the rotatable member and extending radially therefrom for picking up the bottles, cans and other litter, a drive motor for driving the rotation of the rotatable member, and a waste receptacle for receiving and holding the litter picked up by the loops. As the carrier frame is moved over the ground and the rotatable member is rotated, the flexible loops come in sweeping contact with the ground, dislodging the litter and lifting it upwardly and rearwardly into the waste receptacle.

Abstract: A sweeping machine having a housing which comprises two housing parts that can be separated from one another. One housing part is used for the bearing of two circular brooms. The other housing part is constructed as a receptacle for sweepings. An arrangement is provided for detachably connecting the two housing parts which has devices for the centering and devices for the locking of the two housing parts. The connecting of the two housing parts requires relatively high expenditures in the state of the art. The two housing parts are lifted manually, are hung into one another and are pressed together. They are then locked in this pressed-together position by means of a locking lever.

Abstract: A surface sweeper may include a first pulley driven by the motor, a second pulley on a drive shaft for driving the drive wheel, a third pulley for driving the main brush, and a drive belt interconnecting the first and second pulleys which can be selectively tightened by a clutch for driving the drive wheel. Preferably the drive belt has inherent stiffness whereby it spontaneously loosens unless held in its tightened condition by the clutch. The driveshaft advantageously has two parts separated by a gap, for permitting the drive belt to be placed around the driveshaft without removing the driveshaft from its mount. The two parts may be connected by a sleeve which is biased by a spring into position for drivingly engaging the two parts, and which is slidable out of said position for revealing the gap. The main brush may have structures at its two ends that are similar to each other, for being reversibly mountable in first and second brush bearings.

Abstract: A grass pick-up broom for riding, walk-behind and tow-behind mowers includes a cylindrical sleeve rotatably mounted on a rear axle of a mower and having spaced elongate brushes fixedly attached to the sleeve and extending radially therefrom. The sleeve is connected by a belt to a rotary cutting blade powered by an engine mounted on the mower. When the cutting blade is engaged, the sleeve automatically rotates about the axle causing the brushes to rotate thereabout, propelling grass clippings and other debris into a grass catcher located behind the broom. The brushes of the broom also comb the surface of the newly cut grass, picking up grass clippings and other heavier debris and transfering the debris to the grass catcher.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein a herbicide applicator spray organization is mounted to a self-propelled street cleaning vehicle. The vehicle includes a forward rotary brush and a rear rotary brush, the forward rotary brush and herbicide applicator spray head are mounted to a parallel link support framework. A storage tank delivers the herbicide fluid to the spray head through a pump and valve interconnection.

Abstract: A power broom assembly includes a vehicle, a rotatable broom mounted to the front of the vehicle, and an airblast assembly mounted to the front of the vehicle above the broom to suck up an overspray of material which has been swept up by the broom. An airblast assembly for use in the power broom assembly includes a casing, a cross flow blower in the casing, and at least two outlets in the casing which are selectively openable and closeable by flexible wall portions which are movable radially inwardly and outwardly to substantially change the inner contour of the casing. A drive system of the power broom assembly includes a first transmission unit which has first and second output shafts, and a second transmission unit which includes an input shaft. At least the first and second output shafts of the first transmission unit and the input shaft of the second transmission unit are aligned along a single axis.

Abstract: A sweeping machine which includes a debris collection hopper and filter assembly which is readily attached to the lift bars of a conventional forklift so as to be manipulated both horizontally and vertically by the forklift and which is mounted thereto so as to float relative to the forklift in order to follow the contour of the surface being swept.

Abstract: A sweeper vehicle having an improved hopper lift mechanism which provides a relatively high lift for dumping the hopper at ground level as well as into relatively high containers, while at the same time positioning the driver at a much lower and hence, safer position than normally found in currently available sweeper vehicles. The vehicle also eliminates the use of overlapping lifting arms to increase safety and provides superior driver visibility at all times.

Abstract: A hand-guided sweeper employing a rotary brush to propel debris into a detachable hopper, a blower to facilitate pickup of dust and a filter to remove dust prior to passing through the blower includes guides on the frame of the sweeper adapted to cooperate with projections on the sides of the hopper, permitting the hopper to be inserted and removed from the front of the sweeper without notable lifting and interference to the blower and filter.

Abstract: A hand-guided sweeping machine has a filter housing pivotally mounted to tilt about an axis to facilitate shaking the filter free of dust. The filter housing outlet is in sealing registry with the blower intake when the housing is lowered, and is moved out of sealing registry when the housing is raised. In the raised position, the filter housing covers the hopper opening so that debris from the filter housing will continue to fall into the hopper. A flap-like sealing arrangement surrounds the filter housing inlet to prevent dust from entering the internal mechanism of the sweeper.

Abstract: A street sweeper drag shoe formed of an essentially planar, elongated strip of an elastomeric material. Such material being of sufficient hardness and resiliency that no reinforcing strips are required for the drag shoe to retain its shape. Especially, the drag shoe can be manufactured of polyurethane having a horizontal platform directed toward the inside of the drag shoe to help a cylindrical sweeper brush or other sweeper mechanism to move collected road debris up into the sweeper vehicle's hopper.

Abstract: A bulky dust sweeper has side brushes for brushing and gathering bulky dust, and a main brush mounted on a bottom portion of its vehicle body and adapted to sweep the bulky dust into a hopper. The bulky dust sweeper also has a scrape-in device disposed within the hopper for scraping the bulky dust which has been swept into the hopper by the main brush, into a dust connected to the inside of the hopper, a push-in device disposed at an inlet port of the duct and adapted to push the bulky duct, which has been scraped into the duct by the scrape-in device, toward the uppermost end of the duct, and a dust collecting bag removably attached to a top opening of the duct and adapted to collect the dust therein.

Abstract: A leaf loading machine designed for use in combination with a towing vehicle includes a mobile frame with a tongue extending forwardly thereof for connection to the towing vehicle. The machine has a rotary beater and a rotary broom extending transversely of the mobile frame. The broom is disposed rearwardly of an in tandem relation to the beater. The beater and the broom have lower sides thereof disposed adjacent the ground and they are operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver material from the ground upwardly therebetween. The machine also includes an auger extending transversely of the frame rearwardly of the broom for receiving material from the broom, and a thrower mounted on the frame for receiving material from the auger and for discharging the material into the towing vehicle.

Abstract: Brushing apparatus including a motor vehicle provided with a tool-holder member, a fast-locking member pivoted to the tool-holder member, a container removably mounted on the fast-locking member and having an opening into which material to be collected is brushed during a brushing operation, and from which it is discharged by tilting the container. A power operated, rotatable brush pivotally mounted on the container swingable relative thereto about a horizontal axis under the action of gravity of hydraulic jack. The powered brush is so supported by the container as to lie adjacent to the container opening during brushing and to expose the opening when emptying the container. The brushing implement and container may be pivotally located about a vertical axis to place the brush at an angle to the vehicle movement. The brush is rotatable in either direction to sweep material from a surface or into the container.

Abstract: The present invention entails a street sweeper having a drag shoe assembly secured to each side of the street sweeper for confining dirt, debris, etc. Each drag shoe assembly includes an upper frame structure and a drag shoe coupled to the upper frame structure via two generally parallel interconnecting coil spring links. In the event the drag shoe encounters a lateral obstruction while the street sweeper is turning or moving laterally in any way, the coil spring interconnecting links will flex and enable the drag shoe to move laterally back and forth to avoid damage to the drag shoe or frame structure of the street sweeper.

Abstract: A leaf loading machine has a rotary beater and a rotary broom extending transversely of a mobile frame. The broom is disposed rearwardly of and in tandem relation to the beater. The beater and the broom have lower sides thereof disposed adjacent the ground and they are operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver material from the ground upwardly therebetween. A shroud mounted on the frame fully covers an upper side of the beater and partially covers an upper side of the broom. The shroud is open at its front and rear ends, and includes a top wall and a pair of side walls. A housing is also mounted on the frame overlying and enclosing the broom and an auger disposed rearwardly of the broom. The housing is closed at its rear end but is open at its front end where it communicates with the rear end of the shroud to guide material delivered between the beater and the broom to the auger. The housing includes a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a rear wall.

Abstract: A sweeping machine includes a housing and a rotary broom rotatably supported in the housing, the rotary broom being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sweeping machine. A collection container is provided having an opening for receiving the sweeping swept by the rotary broom, pivot support means being mounted on the housing for pivoting the container between an operable position to receive sweepings and an emptying position for emptying collected sweepings from the container. A pivotal flap is pivotably mounted on the container adjacent the container opening and pivotal between a retention position in which the pivot flap retains the collected sweepings in the container when the latter is in its operable position and a discharge position which allows the collected sweepings to be emptied from the container when the latter is in its emptying position.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a machine and/or system as well as a method of operation and an assembly whereby a sweeping unit may be quickly converted into a scrubbing unit and vice versa. The system is capable of operation either in a sweeping mode or a scrubbing mode and is also adaptable to include a vacuum wand assembly when the unit is to be operated in its sweeping mode.

Abstract: A leaf loading machine has a rotary beater and a rotary broom on a mobile frame, both of which extend transversely of the frame. The broom is disposed rearwardly of and in tandem relation to the beater. Both the beater and the broom are disposed adjacent to the ground and are operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver leaves from the ground upwardly therebetween. The broom rotates substantially faster than the beater.

Abstract: A rear dumping brush-type lawn sweeper for attachment to a garden tractor includes a hamper assembly which is mounted on a support frame for pivotal movement. The support frame is carried on the main frame of the brush housing. The hamper assembly carries an open top hamper bag. The top of the bag is normally closed by a mesh-type folding wind apron. A forward portion of the apron is attached to the hamper assembly, while a rear portion of the apron is attached to a rear cross member forming part of the hamper support frame. The wind apron, at its rear terminal end, forms a closure with the rear lip of the hamper bag in the normal running position. When the hamper is rotated rearwardly on the support frame for dumping, the wind screen folds on itself and exposes a rear dumping opening with the rear hamper bag lip.

Abstract: A leaf harvesting machine has an auxiliary rotary beater and main rotary pickup broom on a mobile frame which both extend transversely of the direction of travel of the frame. The main pickup broom is disposed rearwardly of and in tandem relation to the beater. Both the beater and pickup broom are disposed adjacent to the ground and operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver leaves from the ground upwardly therebetween. One feature of the machine relates to the provision of, and cooperation which occurs between, a plurality of lifting elements of the beater and pluralities of sweeping and lifting elements of the pickup broom. Another feature relates to an arrangement for adjustably mounting the beater for movement toward and away from the pickup broom for presetting the positional relationship of the beater lifting elements relative to the pickup broom sweeping and lifting elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sweeper machine for floors and bounded surfaces, e.g. the floors of workshops and warehouses, courtyards, having engaged with the machine frame, a removable container for collecting the swept trash supported by pivotally-mounted guides engaged by swivel members extending in a crosswise direction to the machine's longitudinal axis and cooperating to define a small frame intervening sealingly between a suction assembly in the frame and a suction mouth of the container, and with snap-action hook-up elements provided between the frame and the pivotally-mounted guides and spring members projecting from the frame and acting by spring contact on the container.

Abstract: A rotary brush sweeper includes a debris pan with an inlet portion that glides on a surface being cleaned. The debris pan automatically disengages from the sweeper upon being engaged by an obstacle in the path of the sweeper. The debris pan is configured with an inlet portion or scoop for directing debris propelled by a rotary brush into the debris pan. The scoop portion has a first upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface and a second surface beneath the first surface and facing downwardly. A low friction material covers the first and second surfaces of the scoop to facilitate collection of debris into the debris pan. The covering may include an integrally formed tip portion of abrasion-resistant material, and is preferably configured in cooperation with the scoop to mechanically grip onto the scoop without the need for screws or adhesives.

Abstract: A rotary brush sweeper includes a debris pan with an inlet portion that glides on a surface being cleaned. The debris pan automatically disengages from the sweeper upon being engaged by an obstacle in the path of the sweeper. Rotary brooms may be attached to the left and right front sides of the sweeper. The support structure for the front wheel provides broom-to-ground height adjustment for the side brooms. Additionally, brush-to-ground height adjustment is obtained through a support structure for the front wheel. The axle of the rotary brush is held in place under the tension of a drive belt for the rotary brush.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sweeping apparatus of the kind comprising a manually operated carriage (1) with at least one pair of rear wheels (3, 4) and at least one front wheel (5, 47) and a power operated rotatable brush cylinder (14). The brush cylinder is carried by and journalled in a yoke (21) or corresponding element, which is mobile with respect to the carriage and constitutes or is a part of a front lever arm of a double lever (37), the rear lever arm of which is made up of or is a part of the manually operated handle (28, 44) of the carriage, said lever being hinged to the carriage (1) with a horizontal first turning axis (36) and permitting the brush cylinder to be raised or lowered with respect to the surface to be swept and the pressure of the brush against said surface to be adjusted by means of said handle by moving said double lever about said horizontal first turning axis.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine is disclosed including a body supported on a plurality of wheels and a power source for driving the wheels. The body carries a driven cylindrical brush and a powered rotary lip which cooperates with the brush to project dirt and debris into the hopper, each end of the rotary lip being supported for vertical movement.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a sweeper, meaning a sweeper with a rotary main brush opposite a hopper, and increasing its ability to load light debris, such as paper, dry leaves and the like so that light debris will be propelled farther into the debris hopper. This is done by setting the speed of the main brush at a lower speed for normal operation to effectively throw what may be thought of as heavier material, such as sand, forwardly into the hopper with the speed being such that excessive wear of the brush is avoided and a higher speed of rotation being effected from time to time so that paper, dry leaves and the like, which may be considered lightweight material, are thrown farther into the hopper with the increased speed of the main brush overcoming the air resistance that normally stops such lightweight material which, at normal operation of the brush, tends to pile up in the rear of the hopper.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sweeping apparatus of the kind comprising a manually operated carriage (1) with at least one pair of rear wheels (3, 4) at least one front wheel (5, 47) and a power operated rotatable brush cylinder (14). The brush cylinder is carried by and journalled in a yoke (21) or corresponding element, which is mobile with respect to the carriage and constitutes or is a part of a front lever arm of a double lever (37), the rear lever arm of which is made up of or is a part of the manually operated handle (28, 44) of the carriage, said lever being hinged to the carriage (1) with a horizontal first turning axis (36) and permitting the brush cylinder to be raised or lowered with respect to the surface to be swept and the pressure of the brush against said surface to be adjusted by means of said handle by moving said double lever about said horizontal first turning axis.

Abstract: A walk behind floor maintenance machine is disclosed including a filter and filter housing that may be pivoted away to permit removal of the debris hopper. The filter may be cleaned by vibrating the filter and filter housing. Dust vibrated from the filter slides into the hopper. The hopper may be manually removed for emptying.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for the components of a street sweeper or the like is disclosed which includes a hydraulic pump and tank connected in series with the motor of an elevator, the motor of a pick-up broom, the motor of a right gutter broom, and the motor of a left gutter broom with each broom motor being driven in response to closing a by-pass valve. The system also includes a control circuit for raising and lowering the several vertically movable components and hydraulics locking them in selected positions. The hydraulic system further includes a hydrostatic drive system including a two-speed shift control assembly.

Abstract: A street sweeper has floating support apparatus for supporting both a pick-up broom and a pair of laterally and forwardly disposed gutter brushes beneath a sweeper framework and for providing controlled broom and brush pressures on the surface being swept. A ball bushing and vertical shaft provide gutter brush suspension and spherical bearings and support arms provide pick-up broom suspension. The gutter brushes and pick-up broom are directly driven by hydraulic motors mounted on their respective suspension structures. Debris is directed inwardly on the swept surface by the gutter brushes toward the path of the pick-up broom. Laterally disposed dirt shoes lie adjacent the ends of the pick-up broom to prevent debris from flowing around the ends of the broom, whereby debris is further guided inwardly toward the pick-up broom for propulsion toward an elevator for transfer into a framework mounted debris hopper.

Abstract: A street sweeper has floating support apparatus for supporting both a pick-up broom and a pair of laterally and forwardly disposed gutter brushes beneath a sweeper framework and for providing controlled broom and brush pressures on the surface being swept. A ball bushing and vertical shaft provides gutter brush suspension and spherical bearings and support arms provide pick-up broom suspension. The gutter brushes and pick-up broom are directly driven by hydraulic motors mounted on their respective suspension structures. Debris is directed inwardly on the swept surface by the gutter brushes toward the path of the pick-up broom. Laterally disposed dirt shoes lie adjacent the ends of the pick-up broom to prevent debris from flowing around the ends of the broom, whereby debris is further guided inwardly toward the pick-up broom for propulsion toward an elevator for transfer into a framework mounted debris hopper.

Abstract: An overcenter, spring loaded linkage is disclosed for applying a lifting force to a pick-up broom of a street sweeper when the broom is new and heavy, and for applying a downward pressure on the broom when the broom is worn and light in weight. The linkage maintains a substantially constant pick-up broom pattern on the surface being swept throughout the useful life of the broom in spite of a substantial reduction in broom diameter due to wear.

Abstract: A street sweeper drag shoe, formed of a horizontally elongated rubber-like strip, having a bottom ground-engaging edge surface, is provided with vertically arranged wear resisting pins embedded within the strip, with the lower ends of the pins exposed at, and flush with, the edge surface. Each pin is formed of a thin wall steel tube filled with a closely packed matrix of particles of hard metal carbide surrounded by a soft, heat conductive, copper-like binder. The tube outer wall surface is provided with surface irregularities, such as knurls or threads. The pins are each forcibly driven endwise into smaller cross-sectional size holes that are pre-formed in the strip and that open at the strip bottom surface. Thus, the strip, rubber-like material resiliently yields as the pin is inserted, and then resiliently grips and interlocks with the tube outer wall surface.

Abstract: A sweeper, which has a pair of front wheels which are mounted on a frame on opposite sides of a dirt hopper, a steerable guide wheel unit mounted on the frame in a tricycle arrangement with respect to the front wheels characterized by the guide wheel unit having a suspension having first and second members arranged with one member being telescopically received and the other member with an arrangement for transmitting torque between the members and the unit has an arrangement positioned between the two members for resiliently suspending the two members. The arrangement for resiliently suspending can comprise a single coiled spring telescopically receiving an outside member or a plurality of spring units that are provided either by themselves or with shock absorber units. The arrangement for transmitting torque can include a splined shaft and an internally splined bore or a plurality of torque transmitting lever arms.

Abstract: A sweeping machine with a hopper and a dirt and debris control flap in the hopper. The sweeping machine includes a rotary broom adjacent the hopper opening which receives dirt and debris swept from a surface being cleaned by the broom. The hopper is maintained under negative pressure by a vacuum blower. A filter is also located in the hopper through which air is drawn by the blower. A dirt and debris control flap is pivotally mounted in the hopper with the flap having a first extreme position in which an outer edge of it is spaced adjacent an upper edge of the hopper opening and a second extreme position in which an outer edge is closer to a front end wall of the hopper. When the flap is swung from the first extreme position to the second the outer free edge of the flap moves through an intermediate position close to the bottom wall of the hopper and moves dirt and debris on the bottom wall toward the front end wall.

Abstract: A multiple flight elevator system is disclosed for use in a mobile sweeper in combination with a pick-up broom and a debris receiving hopper. The elevator features the combination of mechanical elevating means which moves heavy articles or bulky masses of debris upwardly within the hopper while relying on a low volume blower for moving light articles and dust into the hopper providing a cleaner swept surface and minimizing the exhaust dust problem. Two embodiments are disclosed each including a plurality of independently driven flexible resilient paddle wheels in combination with a low volume blower for progressively raising the debris from the broom through an elevator housing and into the hopper. The lower end of the housing of the first embodiment is disposed close to the surface being cleaned and the housing is pivoted to the sweeper chassis in order to move over contacted abutments.

Abstract: A sweeper drag shoe is formed of an elongated, flat, inverted channel filled with a matrix made of irregular shaped, packed together, hard carbide particles and soft, ductile relatively resilient brazing metal filling the spaces between and generally surrounding and brazing together the particles. The exposed matrix provides a ground engaging face which resists wear due to abrasion. The brittle carbide particles are protected against road shock caused breakage by means of the ductile brazing material absorbing impact loads and permitting limited relative movement of the particles within the solid matrix.

Abstract: The motorcycle comprises a support rigid with the frame of the motorcycle and at least one cleaning device which is mounted on the support to move between a cleaning position in which it is in contact with the ground and withdrawn position. The cleaning device is coupled to a motor by a transmission. The cleaning device is disposed in a case which is mounted on one side of the motorcycle in the immediate vicinity of the footrest on the same side of the motorcycle. The case has a foot bearing surface and is movable between the aforementioned two positions.

Abstract: A power broom with a transverse auger and vacuum debris conveying system especially well-suited for removing gravel or other debris from a flat, built-up roof or the like, and for conveying the loosened debris from the roof. The power broom includes a horizontal, rotary brush for dislodging gravel, dirt, and other debris from the roof and for propelling the debris within an enclosure substantially surrounding the rotary brush toward the auger which in turn positively conveys the dense gravel particles and other debris toward a vacuum pick up point within the brush enclosure where high velocity air from a vacuum source readily picks up and conveys the dense gravel particles from the power broom to a collector via a vacuum hose. The power broom is further provided with a handle assembly which is selectively operable to simultaneously disengage the power drive propulsion system of the broom and to raise the rotary brush clear of the roof.

Abstract: A floor cleaning machine having drive wheels, scrub brushes, and cleaning liquid applying and pick-up means. The machine has a drive train including a drive motor, a drive axle assembly and the drive wheels. The drive train is mounted on a removable carriage which is slidable laterally of the machine while the latter is in operating position, to provide access to the drive train for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A riding sweeper is provided with a high dump mechanism for a dirt and debris receiving hopper of the sweeper. The dumping mechanism includes tracks located at forward side portions of the sweeper body. A carrier extends between the tracks and has rollers guided therein so that the carrier can move in an upright manner, preferably with the tracks slanting somewhat forwardly. A hopper is mounted on the back of the carrier and moves up and down therewith. A first fluid-operated ram is located between the sweeper body and the carrier for raising and lowering the carrier and the hopper. A second fluid-operated ram is located between the carrier and the hopper for tilting or rotating the hopper in an arcuate path to a dumping position after the carrier has been raised to an upper position. The hopper dumping mechanism includes a hydraulic system with a valve arrangement for stopping broom and vacuum blower motors when the hopper is raised.