Patent ID: 6195836
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: A47L,E01H

Abstract:
A mechanical surface cleaning vehicle having a front end, a back end, a debris retaining hopper, and defining a medial longitudinal axis (L), said surface cleaning vehicle comprising:a cylindrically-shaped rotating sweeping broom of width (W.sub.B) mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation and to propel forwardly from a surface contacting segment debris disposed on a contacted portion of a surface being cleaned, said contacted portion being defined at its front by a leading edge, thereby creating a forwardly propelled stream of debris;mechanical debris elevating means mounted on said vehicle to receive and retain said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deposit the received and retained debris into said hopper;a deflector flap means disposed forwardly of said rotating sweeping broom and immediately rearwardly of the debris accepting lower end portion of said mechanical debris elevating means, to receive at least a portion of said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deflect it upwardly and forwardly onto said mechanical debris elevating means; and,air blast generating means in direct connection with a horizontally elongate air blast outlet of width (W.sub.O) for effecting a blast of air that forcefully impinges said surface behind said leading edge, thereby propelling forwardly therewith fine debris disposed on said surface, and that carries forwardly through said rotating sweeping broom and egresses therefrom, to deflect forwardly and upwardly off said deflector flap means and forwardly past said deflector flap means to said mechanical debris elevating means.