Abstract: A surface cleaning machine and particularly a riding power sweeper is provided. The sweeper has a main rotary broom and an adjacent hopper with an inlet opening for receiving dirt and debris swept from the surface by the broom. The hopper has an outlet opening spaced from the inlet opening through which dirt and debris are emptied from the hopper, and a dumping door is located adjacent the outlet opening for opening and closing the outlet opening. The dumping mechanism for the hopper includes a single drive unit which is connected to the hopper and to the dumping door. When the hopper is to be dumped, the drive unit is operated to first open the dumping door to a position against a stop. After the door contacts the stop, continued operation of the drive unit moves the hopper to a tilted dumping position in which the dirt and debris are emptied through the open outlet opening.

Abstract: A sweeping machine with a hopper forming a compactor flap or plate is provided. The hopper has an opening which receives dirt and debris swept from a surface being cleaned by a rotatable brush of the sweeping machine. The compactor flap is pivotally mounted in the hopper and has an outer edge positioned close to an edge of the hopper opening when in a first position. The outer edge of the flap is spaced farther from the hopper opening and toward an end wall of the hopper when in a second position. The compactor flap is pivoted from the first position to the second position periodically to move dirt and debris away from the hopper opening and to compact it against the hopper end wall. The hopper also has a movable lip adjacent the lower edge of the opening. A flexible strip extends across the hopper and has an upper edge connected to the edge of the bottom wall of the hopper defining the lower edge of the opening.

Abstract: An improved front-end loader apparatus for collecting particulate material on a roadway surface comprising a frame assembly drivingly supported on the roadway, a windrow formation assembly supported at the forward end of the frame assembly for brushing particulate material into a windrow, and a feeder assembly disposed to engage the windrowed material up and onto a roadway scraper blade supported at the forward end of the frame assembly. An elevator assembly is disposed to receive the particulate material from the feeder assembly and elevate the material to a rear overhead discharge position. A residual material cleaning assembly is supported beneath the frame assembly and rearward to the feeder assembly for cleaning up residual material not collected by the feeder assembly, the residual material cleaning assembly directing the residual material to the elevator assembly so that the residual material is elevated to the rear overhead discharge position.

Abstract: An improved lawn sweeper for clearing a lawn of accumulated debris such as leaves, pine straw, and the like is disclosed. The novel sweeper comprises, in the embodiment shown, an open-bottomed housing holding a rotating cylinder having a number of very strong, flexible wire cable sections bolted to the cylinder. The ends of the wire cable sections have formed thereon a section of tubing pressed flat on the outer ends thereof. The wire cables are mounted in pairs on the cylinder with the flat tubing sections being toed in somewhat in relation to each adjacent pair. The rapidly moving blades create a strong updraft to sweep up accumulated debris with the toe in of the pressed flat tubing sections creating a swirling action which tends to enhance the lifting of the moving air. The ends of the wire cable sections are positioned above the ground by an adjustable distance ranging from one (1) inch to three (3) inches.

Abstract: The invention relates to sweeping apparatus, or more specifically an industrial sweeper, which is adapted to be mobilized by an external prime mover and which relies for its operation upon the rotation of a cylindrical sweeping brush rotatable in response to the rotation of the wheels of the sweeper when the latter is motivated as aforesaid by the external prime mover. A refuse catcher and a water sprinkler are also provided so that the ground ahead of the path of travel of the sweeper is lightly dampened and refuse which is swept up by the cylindrical brush is thrown into the refuse catcher.

Abstract: A maneuverable surface sweeper has a framework supporting a hopper configured to receive dust and debris swept from an underlying surface. A broom chamber is mounted within the framework overlying the surface to be swept and in communication with the hopper. The broom chamber may move vertically relative to the framework. A rotary driven broom is mounted in the broom chamber and has limited vertical movement capability relative to the chamber. A resilient tubular seal is disposed between the broom chamber and the hopper so that dust control is obtained therebetween while the broom chamber undergoes vertical movement. A bump encountered on the underlying surface elevates the broom chamber permitting the sweeper to pass thereover while allowing the broom to descend and continue in sweeping contact with the surface.

Abstract: A riding power sweeper with an improved dumping mechanism for emptying a hopper is provided. The hopper is pivotally supported at the front of the machine and a pair of fluid-operated rams raise the hopper and pivot it over the front. The hopper also has a unique air distribution system including a filter through which air is drawn from an opening communicating with a drum brush. Means forming a separate chamber is located in the hopper and holds the filter, and dirt from the filter is caught therein. The chamber-forming means is also pivotally supported so as to swing outwardly to be emptied when the hopper is raised. The drum brush has a unique design for adjusting and positioning the brush with a single linkage mechanism both applying pressure and adjusting the brush for wear.

Abstract: An oscillating gear ratchet drive unit transmits rotating motion and torque from a drive gear to a driven shaft in a preselected direction of rotation and includes a shaft and a gear operably connected to a drive gear and positioned transversely with respect to the shaft and supported by the shaft. Ratchet crown wheels are provided on the opposing major faces of the gear and have camming surfaces for producing axial movement of the gear on the shaft, with each camming surface terminating in an axial surface. Pins project radially outwardly from the shaft adjacent to each ratchet crown wheel and engage an axial surface to the drive shaft, and are adapted to engage the camming surfaces to move the gear axially whenever the shaft rotates faster than the gear, while also accommodating and limiting axial movement of the gear on the shaft.

Abstract: A mobile sweeping machine having separate hydraulic motors for driving a main brush, a propulsion wheel, and a curb brush and a suction blower; a constant speed power source that through a mechanical drive connection drive two variable speed displacement pumps and a fixed displacement pump; one of the variable displacement pumps being fluidly connected to the propulsion wheel motor; the other variable displacement pump being fluidly connected to the main brush motor; and the fixed displacement pump being fluidly connected to a valve for operating the cylinder for varying the downward pressure on the main brush, and to a valve for selectively applying fluid to the cylinder for operating the sweeper hopper, and supplying fluid to drive the curb brush and suction blower motors. A manual control is provided for operating the main brush hydraulic motor to discontinue the rotation of the main brush, to drive the main brush at a low brush speed, and to drive the main brush at a high brush speed.

Abstract: Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus for a power broom comprises an enclosed hopper for collecting debris swept up by the power broom and vacuum removal apparatus for continuously removing the debris from the hopper and conveying the debris away from the apparatus. The hopper has an outlet in the bottom thereof and inclined sides leading to the outlet, so that debris collected in the hopper is urged by gravity toward the outlet. A vacuum manifold is attached to the outlet for applying a vacuum to the outlet. The hopper is independently supported on wheels and attached to the power broom such that the debris removal apparatus can be moved over the surface being cleaned along with the power broom without having the weight of the debris removal apparatus being carried by the brush of the power broom. This support mechanism is adjustable to vary the height of the hopper with respect to the power broom.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine that includes a powered vehicle having a rotary tool in a tool enclosure to direct debris from the surface through an enclosure outlet, a debris hopper having a debris inlet locatable adjacent the enclosure outlet, and a discharge opening remote from the hopper inlet, a hingedly mounted door for closing the discharge opening, lift arms mounted on the vehicle for mounting the hopper for pivotable movement relative thereto, supporting the hopper in a debris collecting position, and selectively elevating the hopper from a street level position to a high dump position, control arms and piston cylinder combinations to control the pivoting of the hopper as it is moved between its street level and high dump positions, the piston cylinder combinations being operated from a retracted condition to an extended condition for pivoting the hopper to a dumping position in either the street level position or the high dump position, latches mounted on the hopper that are operated through the hopp

Abstract: A powered lawn and yard implement for removing trash or like material from a lawn or yard and discharging the material into a wheeled pushcart. The implement includes a wheel supported housing to which the wheeled pushcart is releasably connected. A chute assembly directs trash from the housing into an upwardly open bin of the pushcart. The pushcart includes an elongated support roller and a pushbar assembly that facilitate independent movement of the pushcart assembly when detached from the housing. The housing includes a latching mechanism that may be operated from one side of the housing to secure or release the pushcart relative to the housing. Also associated with the latching mechanism is a deflector assembly that operates in response to operation of the latching assembly to open or close the discharge chute leading to the open bin. When the pushcart is detached from the housing, the deflector mechanism is located in position to prevent discharge of material through the chute.

Abstract: An improved sweeper assembly having a pair of oppositely rotatable brushes supported in spaced parallel relation within a housing enclosure. A lower baffle plate is provided forward of the lower brush which defines an expanding throat for the housing. Particulate material is swept by the lower brush, through the throat opening and then propelled by the upper brush out of the housing into a collection hopper. The lower baffle also includes a downwardly facing arcuate lower end, which is spaced below the rotational axis of the lower brush and which serves as a drag plate, limiting the material swept by the lower brush. The brushes are driven by rotation of the ground supporting wheels at predetermined speeds to improve the collection capacity of the sweeper assembly.

Abstract: A machine for cleaning a surface is provided. The machine includes a forward drum brush unit designed primarily for sweeping and a rear disc brush unit designed primarily for scrubbing. Squeegees are located behind the disc brushes. Cleaning solution is supplied between the drum brush and the disc brushes and is directed toward the drum brush to achieve a wet sweeping action thereby. The disc brushes are mounted for movement toward and away from the surface to be cleaned and are engagable with the surface under controllable pressure. The drum brush is mounted on a separate frame and is engagable by the disc brush unit so that it can be raised for transportation purposes when the disc brush unit is raised. The squeegees can be raised independently of the brushes.

Abstract: An improvement in sweepers, particularly of the rotary type shown, comprising a separate guard-drag plate extending downwardly from the hopper at an acute angle to the ground, then turned upwardly adjacent the forward end of the sweeper housing, but spaced therefrom. The arcuate lower surface of the guard-drag plate is spaced below the forward end of the housing, protecting the housing against damage and providing a drag surface which compresses and distributes particulate material and raises the sweeper assembly upon engaging obstacles or accumulations of particulate material.

Abstract: A refuse transport vehicle having improved structure for picking up bagged refuse placed alongside a roadway. The pickup structure includes paddle structure for lifting the picked-up bagged refuse and transferring it to a portion of the vehicle hopper. To provide improved efficiency in the refuse handling operation, the transferred refuse may be compacted in a compacting portion of the hopper prior to delivery thereof to a storage portion of the hopper. The refuse pickup structure permits the handling of the refuse automatically without the need for additional manual labor with the pickup operation being effected as a concomitant of the travel of the vehicle past the position of the set out bagged refuse.

Abstract: A sweeping apparatus is provided with means for coupling to a motorized vehicle for towing therebehind and brushing dirt, debris, and the like off a surface over which the vehicle may pass. The sweeper comprises a housing having a transversely extending sweeping brush rotatably mounted in a generally horizontal surface engaging configuration adjacent a bin structure for collection of the sweepings. The brush is directly driven by the surface engaging wheels through a frictional engagement between one or both of the wheels and expandable drive capstans coaxially affixed to the brush. A tow frame is pivotally mounted to the housing at the forward end, which frame is adapted for releasable coupling to the towing vehicle. Means are provided for controlling the pivotal angularity between the tow frame and the housing which provides selectivity in adjusting the degree of interengagement or nonengagement between the brush and the swept surface.

Abstract: An attachment for fitting onto existing snow blowers commonly used by home owners which converts the snow blower to a lawn sweeper with a minimum of expense and time in change over, and thus provides means for utilizing the power source of the snow blower during summer months to get dual usage from the unit.

Abstract: A dirt runner, such as those used on street sweeping machines and the like, and a flexible support for the dirt runner to be attached to a housing portion. Flexible supports such as elongate strips of elastomeric material are fastened along the upper portion of the strips to the housing portion of the machine and the dirt runner is fastened along the lower portion of the elastomeric strip. The dirt runner is adequately supported to be driven in its longitudinal direction of travel and more freely flexible in lateral directions to its direction of travel. The dirt runner is uniquely designed to accommodate the additional feature of the flexible means such that the dirt runner and flexible means may be substituted directly to the existing street sweeper machines without modification thereof.

Abstract: A lawn broom includes a rotary drum having a plurality of sweep elements secured thereon, with each of the sweep elements including a flat mounting strap which extends through an opening provided in the drum. Each mounting strap is provided with an elongated slot and a plurality of mounting pins carried by brackets within the drum slidably extend through the slots provided in the straps to secure the sweep elements on the drum. The pin and slot connections permit the sweep elements to move radially of the axis of rotation of the drum and to tilt from side to side so that the sweep elements, over the entire length of the drum, can follow the contour of the lawn surface.

Abstract: A mobile sweeper having a body and ground-engaging wheels. The body defines a trash compartment which has a bin having a top plate such that trash can be swept into the bin and also thereabove onto the top plate. Sweeping reels are disposed in front of and rearwardly of the body compartment for sweeping the trash into and onto the bin. A closure or door is included in the body and can be opened for dumping the trash from the compartment, and a hydraulic system is employed for opening the door and for effecting the dumping of the trash.

Abstract: A device for sweeping and lifting cut grass, leaves, trash and the like from areas such as lawns is disclosed. The device comprises a rotating base brush and at least two rotating upper brushes enclosed in a hollow inclined member. The base brush contacts the surface of the area to be cleaned and lifts the matter to be swept therefrom. The upper brushes collect the matter thrown by the next lower brush and further lift it until it is thrown into a collection receptacle.

Abstract: A floor sweeping attachment attachable to the underside of a factory fork lift truck. The device is in the form of a rectangular frame mounted on wheels to which a rotary brush sweeper unit is fastened. The wheel units of the frame are each mounted on a rotatable vertical pin, slidably fitted in a vertical tube of the frame. A pair of tapered wheels are fastened to the upper section of each wheel unit and ride under and lift up the frame when the device is moved sidewise to lift the brush sweeper unit above the floor level so as to avoid wearing of the brush bristles and brush sweeper wheels when the attached lift truck is not moving in a general forward or rearward motion.

Abstract: A Mobile Floor Sweeper including a rotatable cylindrical brush mounted on a mobile chassis, lever means for raising and lowering said brush relative to the chassis with plate means pivotally mounted on the chassis adjacent the brush together with lever means connecting the plate means with the means for raising and lowering the brush whereby the plate means follows the brush as it is raised and lowered and means for adjustably positioning one end of the brush relative to the chassis.

Abstract: .Iadd.A sweeping machine having a frame, a pair of support members, and means for mounting the support members on the frame. A brush is rotatably mounted between the support members. A drive mechanism for the brush includes a source of power in a form capable of being transmitted by conduit means and a motor attached to one of the support members and being located substantially within an interior chamber defined by the brush and with the motor being capable of utilizing power from the source to rotate the brush..Iaddend.