Patent ID: 8117711
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: E01H

Abstract:
1. An improved intake hood system for a wheeled roadway/pavement cleaning vehicle of the type having a debris-separation compartment and a fan for providing a recirculating air flow, an intake hood including first and second gutter brooms, the intake hood defined by at least one shorter side and at least one longer side with the longer side facing a forward direction, the intake hood including a first air-flow duct for passing an air flow from the fan into a primary air flow compartment within the intake hood for entraining at least some of any dust or particulates on the roadway/pavement therein and including a second air-flow duct for passing any air flow from the primary air flow compartment to the debris-separation compartment, the improved intake hood system comprising: a dust shroud for each of the first and second gutter brooms; a flow control manifold having a moveable flow control member therein; a first dust conduit connected from the shroud of the first gutter broom to the flow control manifold for conducting any air flow from the first gutter broom thereinto; a second dust conduit connected from the shroud of the second gutter broom to the flow control manifold for conducting any air flow from the second gutter broom thereinto; a third dust conduit connecting the flow control manifold to the second air-flow duct to pass any air flow therein from the flow control manifold to the second air-flow duct; the moveable flow control member of the flow control manifold moveable to at least a first position to substantially block any air flow from the first dust conduit into the flow control manifold to favor air flow from the second dust conduit and moveable to at least a second position to substantially block any air flow from the second dust conduit into the flow control manifold to favor air flow from the first dust conduit and moveable to a third position in which air flow from the first and second dust conduits are not substantially blocked.