U.S. patent number 3,881,215 [Application Number 05/316,457] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-06 for surface cleaning apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Tennant Company. Invention is credited to Paul W. Kimzey, Keith N. Krier.
United States Patent |
3,881,215 |
Krier , et al. |
May 6, 1975 |
Surface cleaning apparatus
Abstract
A cleaning machine that includes a drive unit and a trailer unit
joined by an articulated joint, the drive unit including a pick up
assembly having a reversible power driven paddle wheel mounted in a
housing to extend closely adjacent the surface to be cleaned, the
housing including leaf flap mechanism mounted for movement between
a downwardly extending position and an elevated position, a duct
mounted on the drive unit frame and having an inlet for receiving
raised material from the housing, an airstream outlet, and at a
lower elevation than the airstream outlet, a heavy debris outlet
opening to a heavy trash receptacle on the frame, the heavy trash
receptacle having doors for discharging the heavy trash, a suction
blower having an inlet fluidly connected to the duct airstream
outlet and a door for selectively blocking fluid communication
between the duct and suction blower, a motor for driving the drive
unit and having a directly driven shaft with a brake disc thereon,
and mechanism to move the housing to an elevated transport
position; and that the trailer unit includes a frame having a dump
container thereon, a discharge door at the rear of the container,
the container having a top filter portion, a standard on the
tractor frame for stationarily mounting one end of a duct for
placing the container in fluid communication with the suction
blower outlet when the container is in a debris receiving position,
and a deflector adjacent the container inlet for deflecting air and
debris downwardly.
Inventors: |
Krier; Keith N. (Hopkins,
MN), Kimzey; Paul W. (St. Louis Park, MN) |
Assignee: |
Tennant Company (Minneapolis,
MN)
|
Family
ID: |
23229128 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/316,457 |
Filed: |
December 19, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/340.1; 15/83;
15/347; 15/230.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01H
1/0854 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E01H
1/00 (20060101); E01H 1/08 (20060101); A47l
009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/82,86,98,347,348,349,340,83,230.16 ;298/30 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Feldman; Peter
Assistant Examiner: Moore; C. K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dugger, Johnson & Westman
Claims
We claim:
1. A surface cleaning machine comprising a mobile vehicle having a
frame, a downwardly opening debris pick up housing, said housing
having a debris outlet, first means for mounting said housing on
the frame, a power driven surface cleaning tool rotatably mounted
in the housing adjacent the surface to be cleaned for raising
debris from the surface, a combination filter and light debris
collection container, second means for mounting the container on
the frame, a suction blower having a discharge outlet and an inlet,
third means for fluidly connecting the blower outlet to the
container, a heavy trash receptacle mounted on the frame and having
an inlet, and duct means for deflecting material passing
therethrough to separate heavier material from lighter material,
said duct means including a duct inlet fluidly connected to the
housing outlet, a duct first outlet fluidly connected to the blower
inlet, a second duct outlet at a lower elevation than the first
duct outlet opening to the trash receptacle inlet, a bottom wall
sloped upwardly and rearwardly of the housing inlet, a duct branch
having the second duct outlet, a bottom wall and a top wall sloped
downwardly and rearwardly from the first duct outlet, the first
duct outlet being at a substantially higher elevation than the
first mentioned bottom wall and extending rearwardly thereof, a
transverse, vertically extending impact surface member adjacent the
duct first outlet on the opposite side thereof from the duct inlet,
extending to at least substantially the same elevation as the duct
first outlet, and having a lower edge at a higher elevation than
the lowermost part of the trash receptable inlet, and means
hingedly mounting the impact member on the top wall to depend
therefrom to permit pivoting of the impact member for minimizing
damage to the door when hit by heavy debris.
2. A surface cleaning machine normally driven in a forward
direction, comprising a mobile vehicle having a frame, a downwardly
opening debris pick up unit having a debris outlet, first means for
mounting the unit on the frame, a combination filter-debris
container mounted on the frame, and second means, including a
suction blower, fluidly connected to the unit outlet for drawing
air and air entrained debris from the unit and discharging the air
and entrained debris in the container, the unit including a housing
having front, rear and side walls joined together, a rear skirt
dependingly mounted on the rear wall, side skirts dependingly
mounted on the side walls, a front panel having an upper edge
portion hingedly connected to the front wall for movement between a
depending position abutting against the side walls and a forwardly
extending position, a leaf flap, third means dependingly hingedly
connecting the leaf flap to the front panel for movement between a
generally vertically extending position and a generally forwardly
extending position, control means mounted on the housing for
selectively retaining the leaf seal in its generally horizontal
extending position, and power driven rotary means mounted in the
housing adjacent the surface for moving material upwardly into the
housing.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the leaf
flap in its generally vertical position includes a reversely bent,
transversely extending first flap portion, and a generally vertical
second flap portion abutting against the first flap portion on the
forward side thereof and extending to a substantially lower
elevation than the first flap portion, said first and second flap
portion having transversely spaced, vertical slits extending
through the lower parts thereof.
4. A surface cleaning machine comprising a mobile vehicle having a
frame, a downwardly opening debris pick up housing, said housing
having a debris outlet, first means for mounting said housing on
the frame, a power driven surface cleaning tool rotatably mounted
in the housing adjacent the surface to be cleaned for raising
debris from the surface, a combination filter and a light debris
collection container, second means for mounting the container on
the frame, a suction blower having a discharge outlet and an inlet,
third means for fluidly connecting the blower outlet to the
container, a heavy trash receptacle mounted on the frame and having
an inlet, and duct means for deflecting material passing
therethrough to separate heavier material from lighter material,
said duct means including a duct having an inlet fluidly connected
to the housing outlet, a duct first outlet fluidly connected to the
blower inlet and a second duct outlet at a lower elevation than the
first duct outlet opening to the trash receptacle inlet, a bottom
wall sloped upwardly and rearwardly of the housing inlet, and a
duct branch having the second duct outlet, a bottom wall sloped
downwardly and rearwardly from the first mentioned bottom wall and
a top wall sloped downwardly and rearwardly from the first duct
outlet, the first duct outlet being at a substantially higher
elevation than the first mentioned bottom wall and extending
rearwardly thereof, said tool comprising a paddle wheel, said
housing including a front wall, a front panel having an upper edge
portion and a lower edge portion fourth means connecting the upper
edge portion to the front wall for mounting the panel for limited
pivotal upward movement from a datum position, said fourth means
comprising first hinge means having a transverse hinge axis for
mounting the front panel for movement, a flexible front flap, and
fifth means for dependingly mounting the front flap on the panel
lower edge portion to extend closely adjacent and normally
forwardly of the path of angular movement of the paddle wheel; said
front flap being of sufficient flexibility to be bendable into said
path of movement by relatively heavy debris on the surface being
cleaned as the machine moves forwardly, said fifth means comprising
second hinge means having a transverse hinge axis for mounting the
front flap for movement between a depending position and a
generally horizontally extending position, and sixth means mounted
on the housing for selectively retaining the front flap in the
generally horizontally extending position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that the sixth
means includes a mounting bracket mounted on the front panel and
means mounted by the bracket and connected to the front flap to
permit a force being transmitted from the paddle wheel to the front
flap to pivot both the front flap and front panel as a single unit
about the front panel hinge axis.
6. A surface cleaning maching normally driven in a forward
direction, comprising a mobile vehicle having a frame, a downwardly
opening debris pick up unit having a debris outlet, first means for
mounting said unit on the frame, a combination filter-debris
container mounted on the frame, and second means fluidly connected
to the unit outlet for drawing air and air entrained debris from
the unit and discharging the air and entrained debris in the
container, said unit including a housing having said debris outlet,
said housing including joined side, rear and front walls, a rear
skirt mounted on the rear wall to extend downwardly and forwardly
thereof, side skirts mounted on the side walls, and leaf seal means
mounted on the front wall, the leaf seal means including a front
panel, third means to hingedly connect the front panel to the front
wall for movement between a predominantly downwardly extending
datum position and a substantially more forwardly extending
position, a resilient leaf flap, fourth means for dependingly
hingedly mounting the leaf flap on the front panel for movement
between a generally downwardly depending position and a generally
forwardly extending position, and fifth means mounted on the
housing for selectively retaining the leaf flap in its generally
forwardly extending position, said front wall being inclined
upwardly and rearwardly, the rear wall having an upper wall portion
inclined at about the same angle as the front wall, said first
means including a duct having an inlet branch in fluid
communication with the unit outlet, said inlet branch having a
bottom wall in substantially the same plane as the housing rear
wall portion, an airstream outlet port having a rear edge located
substantially rearwardly and above the inlet branch bottom wall and
closely adjacent the plane of the inlet branch bottom wall, and a
heavy trash outlet branch having a bottom wall extending downwardly
of the outlet port, a heavy trash receptacle opening to the heavy
trash branch, a paddle wheel made of resilient material and having
diametrically opposed flap portions that in a horizontal position
have outer edges spaced slightly less than the corresponding
horizontal spacing of the rear wall and the leaf seal mean, and
means including a shaft mounted in the housing for mounting the
paddle wheel adjacent the surface to be cleaned and drivingly
rotating the paddle wheel, and power means drivingly connected to
the shaft for rotating the shaft, the second means including a
suction blower having an inlet fluidly connected to the outlet
port, a door for closing the blower inlet and means for mounting
the door to hingedly depend adjacent the outlet port rear edge and
said door being selectively movable to close said blower inlet.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the leaf
flap has a lower portion bendable into the path of rotary movement
of the paddle wheel, the fourth means hingedly connecting the flap
to the front panel to move the front panel and leaf flap as a
single unit about the third means hinge axis in a direction away
from the paddle wheel when the paddle wheel engages the lower
portion and is rotating in a direction that the lower part of the
paddle wheel is rotating toward the flap.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that said
power means is bi-directional for selectively rotating the shaft in
either angular direction.
9. A surface cleaning machine comprising a mobile vehicle having a
frame, a downwardly opening debris pick up housing, said housing
having a debris outlet, first means for mounting said housing on
the frame, a power driven surface cleaning tool rotatably mounted
in the housing adjacent the surface to be cleaned for raising
debris from the surface, a combination filter and light debris
collection container, second means for mounting the container on
the frame, a suction blower having a discharge outlet and an inlet,
third means for fluidly connecting the blower outlet to the
container, a heavy trash receptacle mounted on the frame and having
an inlet, and duct means for deflecting material passing
therethrough to separate heavier material from lighter material,
said duct means including a duct inlet fluidly connected to the
housing outlet, a duct first outlet fluidly connected to the blower
inlet, a second duct outlet at a lower elevation than the first
duct outlet opening to the trash receptacle inlet, a bottom wall
sloped upwardly and rearwardly of the housing inlet, a duct branch
having the second duct outlet, a bottom wall and a top wall sloped
downwardly and rearwardly from the first duct outlet, the first
duct outlet being at a substantially higher elevation than the
first mentioned bottom wall and extending rearwardly thereof, a
transverse, vertically extending impact surface member adjacent the
duct first outlet on the opposite side thereof from the duct inlet,
extending to at least substantially the same elevation as the duct
first outlet, and having a lower edge at a higher elevation than
the lowermost part of the trash receptacle inlet, means hingedly
mounting the impact member on the top wall to depend therefrom,
said impact member comprising a door for closing the first duct
outlet to block the flow of debris therethrough, and means for
selectively moving the door between a position depending relative
the top wall and a position closing the first duct outlet, the last
mentioned means being connected to the door to permit limited
hinged movement thereof when the door is in depending relationship
to the top wall.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
Part of the apparatus disclosed in this application is more broadly
disclosed in the copending application of Paul W. Kimzey, Donald L.
Olson, Daniel A. Delmore and Keith N. Krier, Ser. No. 316,476,
filed the same day as this application and assigned to the same
assignee as this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A surface cleaning machine having a vacuumized pick up head for
picking up debris and trash from streets, parking lots, parks and
the like.
It is old in the prior art to provide an articulated machine having
a cleaning head for cleaning areas such as lawns and parking lots,
see U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,424 to Rush. However, such machines are not
suitable for picking up relatively heavy trash; do not provide for
separation of the relatively heavy picked up materials from the
lighter materials and as a result both types of trash go through
the suction blower which causes undue wearing of the fan housing
and impeller; have relatively high air losses and a relatively low
air velocity in housing adjacent the area of pick up for a given
fan capacity; and require high flow rates of air and consequently
relatively larger filter capacities. In order to overcome problems
such as the above, this invention has been made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A surface cleaning machine that includes a downwardly opening pick
up head having an outlet and a paddle wheel rotatably mounted
therein and selectively driven in either angular direction, a heavy
trash receptacle, a light debris collection and filter container
mounted for movement to a dumping position and a duct for
separating heavier debris from lighter debris as the debris moves
therethrough, said duct having an inlet fluidly connected to the
head outlet, a light particle outlet branch, and a heavy trash
outlet branch, and a suction blower having an inlet fluidly
connected to the light particle outlet branch and an outlet fluidly
connected to the container.
One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and novel
surfacing cleaning machine having a vacuumized pick up housing, and
a paddle wheel to reduce air losses, maintain a relatively high air
velocity in the areas between the paddle wheel and surface being
cleaned and the paddle wheel and the housing, and pick up and throw
material upwardly into the housing, and direct heavy trash into one
receptacle and light trash into a light trash container.
An additional object of this invention is to provide in a surface
cleaning machine having a pick up head, a new and novel leaf flap
and paddle wheel combination that in operating the paddle wheel in
one angular direction is especially adapted for picking up large,
bulky, light materials including those in relatively large
accumulations, and in the other angular direction for picking up
lighter debris loads and small dense items such as rocks and pop
bottles. In furtherance of the last mentioned object, it is another
object of this invention to provide a leaf flap that may be
selectively retained in an elevated position remote from the path
of rotation of the paddle wheel.
A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel
debris deflector duct in a surface cleaning machine for separating
heavier objects from lighter objects picked up by a vacuumized pick
up head. With reference to the last mentioned object, it is another
object of this invention to provide heavy trash receptacle having a
new and novel trash discharge arrangement. An additional object of
this invention is provide in a surface cleaning machine, a new and
novel duct and heavy trash receptacle arrangement for reducing air
flow rate requirements and the amount of air to be filtered, and
also for separating heavy trash from lighter trash.
Further it is an additional object of this invention to provide a
new and novel high dump arrangement for emptying a combination
light particle collection receptacle and filter container, and a
hydraulically operated discharge door assembly on the container.
Another object of this invention is to provide in a surface
cleaning machine, a new and novel combination filter-debris
container having an inlet and a deflector for directing debris
downwardly across the container and initially direct the air flow
path away from the filter.
A different object of this invention is to provide on a surface
cleaning machine, a new and novel ground engaging wheel driving and
braking arrangement. An additional object of this invention is to
provide a new and novel surface cleaning machine having a heavy
trash receptacle, a suction blower, a vacuumized pick up head and a
combination filter and light debris container arranged for good
balance and weight distribution in a relatively compact
machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view generally taken
along the line and in the direction of the arrow 2--2 of FIG. 3 of
the combination drive and pick up unit of this invention, various
portions being broken away to show other structure;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus of this invention, portions
of the vehicle body being broken away to show structure rearwardly
thereof;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary right side view of the trailer unit of this
invention with portions thereof broken away, said view showing the
refuse container and container outlet door in a datum position in
solid lines, the door in a dump position relative container in a
datum position in dotted lines, and part of the container in the
dumping position in dotted lines together with the linkage for
moving the container to said dumping position;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top view of the right side of the trailer
unit, portions being broken away to more clearly illustrate the
linkage for moving the container to a dumping position;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the paddle wheel;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the differential
drive motor and brake for the drive unit of this invention together
with a schematic showing of other drive components; and
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical view generally taken along the
line and in the direction of the arrows 8--8 of FIG. 4 to show the
deflector that is rearwardly adjacent the container inlet port;
and
Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus of this invention includes a
combination pick up head and drive unit, generally designated 11,
having a main frame, generally designated 12 on which there is
mounted a pair of motor driven, ground engaging wheels 13.
Connected to the drive unit by an articulated joint 14 is a trailer
unit, generally designated 15, that mounts a pair of ground
engaging wheels 17. Thus, the apparatus of this invention, includes
an articulated vehicle. Since the manner of forming the articulated
connection and the manner of steering the vehicle may be the same
as that described in copending Application Ser. No. 255,612, filed
May 22, 1972, details of the construction of the articulated joint
and the steering mechanism will not be described herein.
Referring now in particular to FIGS. 2 and 3, the combination pick
up head and drive unit 11 includes a downwardly opening, pick up
head housing, generally designated H, that includes side walls 18
which have vertical lower portions, upwardly and transversely
inwardly inclined intermediate portions and vertical top portions.
The housing also includes a rear wall 19 and an upwardly and
rearwardly inclined front wall 20, the walls 18-20 being joined to
one another to form a generally rectangular rearward discharge
opening 23. The lower terminal edge of the front wall 20 is at a
substantially higher elevation than the lower terminal edges of
walls 18, 19; there being provided a front panel 21 having its
upper edge hingedly connected at 22 to the lower edge of the front
panel for movement about a transverse axis. The movement of the
front panel in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 is limited
by abutting against the front edges of the side walls 18. The side
walls dependingly mount resilient side skirts 25 while the rear
wall mounts a downwardly and forwardly inclined rear skirt 24 that
extends between the side wall skirts. Brackets 26 are secured to
the lower edge of the front panel to mount a hinge member 33 that
has a transverse hinge axis. The hinge member mounts a front flap
(leaf seal) 27 that includes a flap portion 27a which in its
lowermost (vertical) position has a lower terminal edge at about
the same elevation as the lower terminal edge of skirts 24 and 25,
a reversely bent flap portion 27b that resists rearwardly movement
of flap portion 27a and a flap portion 27c that substantially forms
a fluid seal between panel 21 and flap portion 27b. Advantageously
the flap portions 27a, 27b are provided with vertical slits 27d to
permit one part of a flap portion moving rearwardly relative the
other, for example, if one of the parts between adjacent slits
engages large objects, the loss of vacuum is minimized as the one
part moves over the object from that which would have been lost if
the slits were not provided.
In order to selectively pivot flap 27 about hinge 33 from the
generally vertical position of FIG. 2 to an elevated, generally
forwardly extending position, the sheath and adjustment nut portion
30b of a conventional push-pull cable assembly 30 are mounted by a
bracket 28 that is fixedly attached to the front panel 21, portion
30b permitting downward movement of the cable operated rod portion
30a to a position the flap extends generally vertically. The rod
portion is pivotally connected to a bracket 29 that is bolted to
the hinge 33 opposite the hinge axis from the hing portion secured
to panel 21. The push-pull cable may be operated to selectively
move the flap 27 to its elevated position and retain the flap in
said position, while a stop (not shown) is mounted on bracket 26 to
limit the hinging movement of the flap in a clockwise direction to
the vertical position shown in FIG. 2.
Although it is preferred that a flap 27 such as disclosed be used,
it is to be understood other flap constructions could be used. For
example, a flexible laminated flap could be used wherein the front
laminate extends the furthest downwardly and each successively
rearward laminate lower edge terminates at a progressively higher
elevation so that lowermost parts of the flap can more readily bend
rearwardly than higher parts of the flap to aid in normally
retaining the flap out of the path of movement of a paddle wheel
36.
In order to mount the housing H for movement between its datum
position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 and an elevated transport
position, links 162 at their first ends are pivotally connected at
164 to a flange 19b secured to the housing rear wall 19, while the
second ends of the links are pivotally connected at 163 to the
lower front corner portions of the side walls 43. At a higher
elevation than links 162, there are provided links 166 that are
pivotally connected at 167 to the side walls 43 and at 168 to the
flanges 19b. A stop is mounted for limiting clockwise movement of
links 166 as shown in FIG. 2. As a result of the locations of the
pivots 163, 164, 167, 168 and the lengths of the links 162, 166,
the housing H is mounted for vertical transatory movement. In order
to move the housing between its positions, one end of an arm 169 is
pivotally connected at 170 to the housing front wall 20 adjacent
the central upper edge portion thereof and the opposite end is
pivotally connected at 171 to an intermediate portion of an
operator control lever 172 that is operable by operator sitting on
the seat 31. One end of the lever 172 is pivotally connected at 173
to the drive unit frame. Suitable latch mechanism (not shown) is
provided for selectively retaining the lever in the housing
elevated position.
A driven shaft 29 is rotatably mounted by the side walls 18 and
inwardly of the side walls, the shaft being rectangular in cross
section perpendicular to the central axis of elongation thereof.
The shaft is extended through a rectangular tubular portion 36a of
the paddle wheel 36 (see FIG. 6). Flap portions (spokes) 36a that
are of about the same axial length as the paddle wheel have their
one edges integrally joined to the tubular portions 36a and their
opposite edges integrally joined to the circular cylindrical tube
36c of the paddle wheel, the flap portions 36b being substantially
angularly spaced from one another. A plurality of axially
elongated, radially extending flap portions 36d have their inner
edges integrally joined to the tube. The flap portions 36d are
substantially angularly spaced from one another with each pair
being diammetrically opposed. The outer edges of the diammetrically
opposed pair of flaps 36d in a horizontal position are spaced by a
distance only slightly less than the horizontal spacing of the rear
wall from the lower portion of the front panel in its datum
position shown in FIG. 2 while when a pair of diammetrically
opposed flaps 36d are in a vertical condition, the lower edge of
the lowermost flap extends to about the same elevation as the lower
terminal edges of skirts 24, 25, or to an elevation just slightly
above the surface being cleaned. Thus flap portions 36d
substantially form fluid seals with the housing as they are moved
through horizontal planes to reduce the quantity of air drawn into
the housing, the front panel 21 being curved to be closely adjacent
a substantial portion of the outer periphery of the path of travel
of the paddle wheel. Further skirt 24 is inclined at an angle to
aid in the pick up of material when the paddle wheel is rotated in
the direction of arrow 200 and minimize the amount of air drawn
into the housing between it and the paddle wheel. The mounting
member 36a, flap portions 36b, flaps 36d and cylindrical tube 36c
are of substantially the same axial lengths.
The paddle wheel 36 is made of material sufficiently resilient that
the cylindrical portion thereof may bulge radially inwardly when an
object, for example a can, is moved between the housing and the
cylindrical tube that has a greater dimension than the normal
spacing therebetween, and will resiliently return to its original
condition when the object has been moved upwardly into the housing.
This aids in moving large objects upwardly in the housing.
Advantageously there may be provided a plurality of paddle wheels
36 on each shaft 35 in edge to edge abutting relationship instead
of a single paddle wheel extending substantially the transverse
distance between the side walls 18. Further, if desired, the hollow
space between members 36a, 36c may be filled with a flexible foam
material.
Through the provision of the cylinder tube 36c that bisects the
flaps at the juncture of flap portions 36b, 36d, which is at a
location intermediate the axially extending terminal edges of the
flap portions 36d and the tubular portion 36a, the volume of air
lost as the paddle is rotating is minimized. That is, the tube 36c
cuts down the air loss and keeps the air velocity moving faster in
the areas between the tube 36c and the ground and the housing as
the paddle wheel is rotated for picking up debris. As a result the
total quantity of air drawn into the housing for picking up debris
is substantially less from that which would be required if tube 36c
were not provided. Further the flap portions 36d in moving
angularly above a horizontal plane project or fling particles
engaged thereby upwardly in the housing. Additionally, the tube 36c
acts as a stabilizer and strengthener for the flaps and serve to
control the stiffness of the flaps. The paddle wheel may be formed
by molding and may be made of rubber, neoprene, urethane or other
suitable flexible material. Since the tube is made of flexible
material, the tube in rotating and engaging large objects between
itself and the ground will start to move the object for pick up in
either angular direction of rotation of the tube, and in rotating
can flex inwardly to permit passage of objects of a greater
longitudinal dimension than the normal corresponding dimension
between the tube and the adjacent part of the housing front and
rear wall respectively, depending on the direction of rotation.
In order to drive the paddle wheel in either one angular direction
or in an angular direction opposite thereto, a hydraulic motor 39
is mounted on the housing H and has a sprocket (not shown) keyed to
the motor shaft thereof for driving a chain 40 which in turn drives
a sprocket (not shown) keyed to the paddle wheel shaft 35. Suitable
hydraulic circuitry, including a control (not shown) located
adjacent the operator's seat 31, is provided for operating the
motor 39 in the selected angular direction.
A duct, generally designated D, has side walls 43, and a bottom
wall 44 that is upwardly and rearwardly inclined at a relatively
steep angle, for example over 45.degree., and located in
substantially the same plane as the rear inclined portion 19a of
the housing wall 19 when the housing is in a datum surface cleaning
position of FIG. 2, wall 44 and wall portion 19a being
substantially parallel to the housing front wall 20. The
perpendicular spacing of wall portion 19a from wall 20 is
substantially less than the diameter of the tube 36c. Further, the
duct includes a top wall 42, that is predominately horizontal in a
rearward direction and initially curves upwardly and subsequently
downwardly, walls 42-44 being joined together to form an opening of
substantially the same size and shape as opening 23 to receive
material discharged through opening 23. Joined to the rear edge of
the top wall 42 to extend upwardly therefrom is a wall 47, the wall
47 being located longitudinally rearwardly of the upper transverse
edge of wall 44. A bottom wall 49 has its front edge joined to the
upper edge of the wall 44 and is downwardly and rearwardly inclined
along portion 49a, then extends downwardly and rearwardly along
section 49b, and thereafter has a generally vertical portion 49c.
The duct also includes a rearwardly and downwardly inclined top
wall 50 in overlying relationship to the rearward part of wall
portion 49a and the front part of section 49b.
The upper front transverse edge of wall 50 is a substantial
distance rearwardly of wall 47 whereby walls 50, 47 in connection
with the adjacent parts of the side walls 43 form a suction port
52. The front edge of wall 50 is located closely adjacent the plane
of wall 44.
In order to selectively close the suction port to prevent movement
of fluid or other material therethrough, there is provided a door
54 having an upper edge hingedly connected at 55 to the front
portion of wall 50 so that the door, in its open, depending
position, is located a substantial distance rearwardly of the
junction of walls 44, 49, and has its lower terminal edge a
substantial distance above the vertically adjacent part of wall 49.
An arm 56 has one end pivotally connected at 57 to the mid-portion
of the door 54, an intermediate portion slidably extended through a
narrow slot in wall 50, and an opposite end pivotally connected at
58 to one end of an arm 59. The mid-portion of arm 59 is pivotally
connected at 60 to bracket 61 that is mounted on the exterior
surface of wall 50. The opposite end of arm 59 is connected through
a suitable linkage (not shown) to be operated by an operator
sitting on the seat 31. The connections of the arms 56, 59 to one
another and to the door are loose to permit the door pivoting a
limited amount in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 to
minimize damage to the door when hit by heavy debris.
Located rearwardly of the duct D is a heavy trash receptacle,
generally designated R, that in part is formed by the rearward
portions of the side walls 43 of the duct D and wall portions 49c,
and the rearward part of wall portion 49b. Further, the heavy trash
receptacle R includes a top wall 62 that has a front edge joined to
the lower rear edge of wall 50, a bottom framework 63 and a rear
wall (not shown). Thus walls 50, 62 adjacent the juncture thereof,
wall portion 49b and the adjacent parts of the side walls form a
throat that serves as an inlet to the trash receptacle R. The
framework 63 provides a plurality of discharge openings (not
shown), each discharge opening being closed by a door 65 that has a
front end portion hingedly connected at 66 to the framework to
permit the doors to be hingedly moved toward an open position
extending in a downard and forward direction. Other than for the
inlet throat and the discharge openings, the receptacle is
closed.
In order to move the doors between their open and closed positions,
the mid-portions of each of the transverse opposite edges of the
doors has the lower end of an arm 67 pivotally connected thereto at
68, the opposite end of each arm being pivotally connected at 69 to
a horizontal bar 70. To each bar 70 there is pivotally connected at
72, the one ends of parallel arms 71, the opposite ends of the
parallel arms being pivotally connected at 80 to the side walls 43.
The front pivots 69 are slidably extended through elongated slots
74 in the control arms 73 to form a lost motion connection. The
ends of the control arms opposite the slots 73 are pivotally
connected at 76 to the side walls while the mid-portion of one of
the arms is pivotally connected at 77 to a control rod 78 that
extends upwardly to adjacent the operator seat 31.
Through the above mentioned structure, the doors 65 may be pivoted
from their discharge opening closing position (solid line position
of FIG. 2) to a downwardly and rearwardly or even forwardly
extending opening position by moving the control rod 78 to pivot
the control arms 73 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 76
as viewed in FIG. 2. As the control arms are pivoted in a
counterclockwise direction, the horizontal bars 70 are forced
rearwardly and at the same time pivot in a counterclockwise
direction about the respective pivot 80 whereby the horizontal arms
70 moves to a lower elevation. As the arms 70 move to progressively
lower elevations, the doors are pivoted downwardly and forwardly
and may be pivoted to positions that the doors extend downwardly
and forwardly from their respective pivot 66 as viewed in FIG. 2.
Thus, the plurality of doors 65 are simultaneously movable between
a closed position and an open position. Advantageously resilient
gaskets are provided around the discharge openings of the
receptacle R or on the doors to form the fluid seals between the
doors and the bottom wall 63.
A suction blower, generally designated B is mounted on the main
frame and has an inlet 82 that opens into the suction port 52. A
vacuum take off duct 83 opens to the inlet 82 and extends
transversely outwardly to permit attachment of suitable devices to
be operated by the vacuum. A closure (not shown) is provided for
closing the duct 83. The suction blower B has an outlet 84 that is
fluidly connected to the forward end of the corrugated fluid
conduit 85 which extends rearwardly to be in fluid communication
with the inlet port 86 of the debris container C of the trailer
unit 15 (See FIG. 4). The port 86 is provided in the front wall 91
of the container C, a resilient gasket 88 being provided around the
port to form a matching fit with the discharge opening of the duct
89 on which rearward end of the conduit 85 is mounted. The duct 89
is mounted at the upper end of a vertical standard 90, the lower
end in turn being mounted on the main frame 16 of the trailer unit
in a stationary position. In this connection, the adjacent surfaces
of duct 89 and the front wall are sloped upwardly and forwardly to
permit the container C being moved to an emptying position without
having to disconnect the duct 85 as will become more apparent
hereinafter. The front wall 91 of the container C is provided with
a vertically elongated front slot 91a in which the standard 90
extends when the container is in its datum position.
The container includes a lower, metal receptacle portion G and an
upper filter portion F, lower debris receptacle portion G having a
bottom wall 94. Dependingly secured to the rear corner portions of
the bottom wall are transversely spaced brackets 95, longitudinally
elongated arms 96 each having one end pivotally connected at 97 to
the brackets and an opposite end pivotally connected at 98 to the
frame 16 forwardly of the wheels 17 but rearwardly of the container
front wall 91. A second set of arms 102 are pivotally connected to
the brackets 95 at locations that are forwardly and above pivots 97
when the container is in its solid line datum position, the forward
ends of the arms 102 being pivotally connected to the frame 16 at
104. The pivot axis of the pivots 104 is at a substantially higher
elevation and forwardly of the pivots 98. A piston cylinder
combination has a piston rod 108 pivotally connected at 109 to a
transverse member 102a that has opposite ends secured to arms 102
at a location that is longitudinally intermediate pivots 103 and
104, and a cylinder 110 that is pivotally connected to the frame 16
at 111. Pivot member 111 is located below and generally
transversely between pivot members 98. Due to the location of the
pivotal connections, the arms 96, 102 and the piston cylinder
combination relative to each other and the frame and the container,
as the piston rod is moved toward its extended position, arms 102
are pivoted about pivot members 104 in the direction of the arrow
112 while arms 96 are pivoted in a corresponding direction about
pivots 98. Since this results in pivot members 103 moving
vertically upwardly at a slightly faster rate than pivot members 97
are moved vertically upwardly, the brackets 95 pivot about pivot
members 103 in a direction of arrow 115 while said brackets pivot
in a corresponding direction about pivot members 97. That is, as
viewed in FIG. 4, as the arms are pivoted in a clockwise direction
about the pivot members connecting said arms to the frame, the
container pivots about pivot members 97, 103 in the
counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, since the arms in the
container datum position extend predominantly horizontally, the
initial movement of the container is predominantly vertical while
upon the piston rod approaching its extended condition, the
container is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction at
progressively increasingly larger angular increments for the same
increments of progressively vertical movement of the pivot 97. As a
result, upon container reaching the elevated dumping dotted line
position of FIG. 4, the floor of the container is inclined at a
substantial angle downwardly and rearwardly with the rear end of
the floor being rearwardly of the frame 16 which terminates
adjacent rear portion of the wheels 17.
In order to facilitate dumping the container, there is provided a
door 119 for removably closing the bottom discharge opening
provided in the rear wall 120 of the container receptacle. In order
to mount the door for movement between its solid line closed
position and its dotted line open position illustrated in FIG. 4, a
bracket 122 is mounted within the receptacle on the rear wall, a
pivot member 123 mounted by the bracket pivotally mounting one end
of the somewhat U-shaped arm 124. An intermediate portion of the
arm has a piston rod 125 pivotally connected thereto at 127. The
piston rod forms part of a piston cylinder combination 125, 126
that includes a two-way acting cylinder 126 and is pivotally
attached to the bracket 122 at 128. In the door closed position,
the pivot 127 is located vertically and longitudinally intermediate
pivots 123, 128. The opposite end of the arm 124 is welded to the
upper rear portion of the door 119. Upon applying fluid under
pressure to the upper end of cylinder 126, pivot 127 is swung
through a downwardly extending arc while the door is swung through
an arc in a rearward and upward direction, the foregoing assuming
the receptacle in its datum solid line position of FIG. 4. By the
above described structure, the door can be retained in its closed
position till the container C has been moved to its dumping
position, and then fluid under pressure applied to one end of the
cylinder for moving the door relative the receptacle to open the
discharge outlet of the receptacle. Thereafter, fluid under
pressure may be applied to the opposite end of the cylinder for
moving the door to its closed position and retaining the door in
the closed position.
A generally rectangular frame 131 is attached to the upper
peripheral edge of the receptacle for mounting the fabric filter
132 to extend thereabove and in fluid sealing relationship with the
receptacle. Suitable support members (not shown) may be provided to
prevent collapse of the fabric filter when air under pressure is
not being discharged into the container. Other filters can be used,
for example, an envelope filter.
In order to prevent debris in the airstream from directly impinging
on the filter, to diffuse the air flow and to deflect the debris to
spread throughout the receptacle so as not to bunch in one pile,
there is provided a deflector 175. Advantageously the deflector may
be made from a single sheet of flexible material, for example,
rubber, that has vertical slits to form upper edge portions 175a
that are secured to the container front wall vertically above the
container inlet port 86. The remainder of the deflector depends
from the upper edge portion to have a lower terminal edge at a
substantially lower elevation than the inlet port, the deflector
being of a substantially greater width than the inlet port. When
air under pressure is discharged from duct 85, the deflector lower
end portion is forced further away from the container inlet 86 to
direct the airstream generally downwardly and transversely
outwardly, the degree of flexibility and weight of the deflector
being such to prevent the deflector from bending to a position in
which the airstream could flow directly rearwardly from the inlet
port 86.
Referring now to FIG. 7, the drive and brake mechanism, generally
designated 140 will now be set forth. The mechanism 140 includes a
hydraulic motor 141 having a motor shaft 141a to which there is
keyed a shaft 142, the shaft being rotatably mounted in the
differential casing 143. To the opposite end portion of the shaft
142 there is keyed a brake disc 145 that extends within the
confines of an axially movable brake housing 147. The brake housing
is mounted for axial movement by conventional mechanism 148 that
includes mechanical and/or hydraulic linkages to the brake pedal
adjacent the operator's seat for moving the brake housing to
brakingly engage the brake disc.
The intermediate portion of the shaft 142 is provided with teeth
for driving a larger diameter gear 150 that is rotatably mounted by
the casing 143, the gear in turn driving the gear 151 that is
bolted to the differential 152 that drives the front axle 152a. The
axle 152a in turn has the drive unit wheels 13 mounted thereon for
being driven by the axle. With the aforementioned structure, the
braking action is directly applied to the motor driven shaft,
rather than to the wheel axle 152a, for increasing the braking
efficiency.
The hydraulic motor 141 is a fluid driven, bi-directional, in line,
variable piston motor with a two positioned swash plate lever
control for selectively operating the motor to drive the shaft 142.
For driving motor 141 and the suction blower, there is provided an
engine 156 on the drive unit frame that has a pulley 157 on the
engine shaft for driving the V-belt 158. The V-belt drives the
variable volume, over-center, in-line piston pump 159 which through
suitable hydraulic circuitry 160 drives the motor 141 at variable
speeds and in either angular direction.
In using the apparatus of this invention for collecting deep or
high accumulations of bulky material, in the preferred type of
operation the leaf seal flap 27 is moved to and retained in its
elevated position by the push-pull cable assembly 30 and the paddle
wheel motor rotates the paddle wheel in the direction of the arrow
200. At this time, as the unit moves forwardly into the pile of
debris, the paddle wheel flaps 36d and the flexible tube 36c will
start accelerating material to initially wedge the material between
the tube and the ground and thence push it around and up the skirt
24 and into the airstream provided by operating the suction blower.
The airstream is of a sufficiently high velocity to convey most of
the debris thrown upwardly into the housing H by the paddle wheel
to move said debris rearwardly of the upper edge of plate 44, the
general trajectory of the debris being indicated by the arrows 201.
The very light debris flows upwardly through port 52 with the
airstream without contacting door 54. However the trajectory of the
other material is such to strike door 54, the heavy thence falling
downwardly to wal 49 and into the heavy trash receptacle while the
remainder of the material striking the door is air conveyed through
the suction port 52. For example, large light objects such as
popcorn boxes frequently would be of sufficient weight not to be
carried directly into port 52, but rather would strike door 54, and
thereafter would be carried by the airstream upwardly through port
52. This mode of operation especially lends itself to picking up
large, bulky and light material. However, this mode of operation
does not do as good a job of picking up heavier objects as when the
flap 27 is in its solid line position of FIG. 2 and the paddle
wheel is rotated in the direction opposite arrow 200.
When the leaf seal 27 is lowered to its solid line position of FIG.
2 and the paddle wheel rotated in the direction opposite arrow 200,
upon moving the machine across surface having debris thereon, the
objects that pass under the leaf seal 27 are engaged between the
flaps of the paddle wheel and are carried up the back side of the
leaf seal between the paddle wheel and the leaf seal and panel 21
to be thrown by the paddle wheel into the airstream. The flexible
tube 36c can engage large objects and carry them around the back
side of the leaf seal and adjacent panel 21, and in part the
throwing action of the paddle wheel tends to throw the objects
upwardly between walls 42, 44 of the ducts, the trajectory of the
material being generally along and adjacent the front wall 20
indicated by arrows 202. As a result, this mode of operation is
better for heavy objects than that described in the preceding
paragraph. If sufficiently large debris items are encountered on
the surface so as to cause the leaf seal to bend backwardly into
the path of travel of the flaps 36 d of the paddle wheel, the panel
21 and leaf seal attached thereto will hinge about the axis of the
clearing hinge 22 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG.
2 to move the leaf seal upwardly sufficiently to clear the leaf
seal from engagement with a large object. Thereupon the panel and
leaf seal returns to the vertical position under the action of
gravity. As a result the clearing of the leaf seal is automatic. To
be noted is that the cable assembly permits the flap 27 and panel
21 pivoting as a single unit. The rotation of the paddle wheel in
the direction opposite arrow 200 and leaf seal in the datum
position of FIG. 2 is not only good for picking up light debris
loads but also for picking up small dense items such as rocks,
nuts, bolts and pop bottles.
The debris in moving upwardly through the housing and into the duct
D will result in a separation of the heavier objects from the
lighter particles, the lighter particles being carried up to port
52 and into the suction blower housing to be discharged from the
outlet 84. Material passing through the outlet 84 passes through
the conduit 85 and into the container C. In the container, the
debris laden airstream in passing beneath deflector 175 and in
expanding deposits the heavier debris carried in the stream over
the floor 94 while the lighter debris is retained in the container
by filter F as the air passes outwardly through the filter. The
heavier objects moving into the duct D either strike the door 54 to
fall downwardly onto the wall 49 and thence pass into the heavy
debris receptacle R or pass between the door in its open position
and the bottom wall 49. As a result, a separation of the heavier
and lighter materials takes place in the duct D.
Ribs 54a are provided on the door 54 (forward side of the door in
an open position) to permit air to flow behind objects such as
paper and thereby discourage the large light articles such as paper
or cardboard from becoming attached thereto. During the time the
apparatus of this invention is being moved from one location that
has been cleaned to another location, the door 54 advantageously is
closed and the lever 172 pivoted for moving the housing to its
elevated position. Also, it is advantageous to close the door 54
during the dumping of debris from the container C to prevent an
airstream flowing into the container and blower material in the
container into the area exterior of the container when the
container is dumped. Further, if it is desired to use the vacuum
for another device that is connected to the duct 83, the door 54 is
advantageously moved to its closed position.
At the time it is desired to empty the receptacle R, the lever 78
is operated to move the arms 70 and thereby the doors to their open
condition in the manner previously described.
It is to be understood that the container C may be mounted for
dumping by conventional mechanism in place of that described
herein; and that other mechanism may be used for mounting the door
119.
It is to be understood that wall 49 could be vertical and the
receptacle R located further forwardly than that shown in FIG. 2 as
long as the modified wall 49 was rearwardly of wall 44 and
forwardly of door 54. Further it is to be understood that in place
of door 54, the duct D could be provided with a generally vertical
impact wall at the location of door 54 in its open position.
However door 54 is preferred as it may be used to closed port 52
for reasons previously set forth.
Instead of making the paddle wheel with portions 36d axially across
tube 36c substantially parallel to a plane of the axis of rotation
of the paddle wheel, the flap portions may be a spiral
configuration. However, flap portions that are substantially
parallel to said plane are preferred as they cut down the air
losses.
For some cleaning opeations, a brush could be rotatably mounted in
housing H. A brush would be better for picking up debris such as
sand, but would not be nearly as good as the paddle wheel of this
invention for picking up debris such as leaves and paper.
Also, in place of the paddle wheel a rotary rake may be mounted in
the housing H. A rake would be better for picking up objects such
as cans, pop bottles and paper in relatively tall grass than the
paddle wheel of this invention. However, for cleaning areas such as
parking lots, paddle wheel 36 is preferred.
With this invention, the heavy trash falls into the receptacle R.
As a result the heavy trash does not pass through the suction
blower, and accordingly there is less wearing of the blower
impeller and blower housing. Further, as the heavy trash is not air
conveyed to the container C, a lower rate of air flow is required
for picking up heavy trash than if both heavy and lighter trash
were air conveyed to container C. As a result, there is less air to
be filtered and less power is required for driving the blower.
Since the trash in container C is generally of relative light
nature, for example paper and leaves, after being dumped, it may be
easily compacted, the receptacle C being of a substantially larger
capacity than the receptacle R. The trash in receptacle R is
generally of a dense, heavy nature.
With this invention, the housing H is located forwardly of the axis
of rotation of the front wheels 13 while the heavy trash receptacle
is located rearwardly of said axis and the suction blower is
located above the heavy trash receptacle. With the heavy trash
receptacle being between the trailer unit and the axis of rotation
of the front wheels, part of the weight of the receptacle is
supported by the rear wheels. As a result, the power unit is of a
shorter length and the front wheels of a smaller size than if both
the heavy trash receptacle and the pick up unit were located
forwardly of the axis of rotation of said wheels. Additionally with
the heavy trash receptacle being on the opposite side of the axis
of rotation of the front wheels from the pick up unit, a good
balance and weight distribution, part on each side of the axis, is
obtained, and the machine is more maneuverable than if both were
located forwardly of said axis. The center of gravity of the
container C in its datum position is located above the rear wheels.
Additionally with the trailer unit and a power unit being connected
by an articulated joint, the vehicle is particularly suitable for
use over relative rough terrain.
* * * * *