Patent ID: 7424767
Filing Date: 2008-09-16
Classification: E01H

Abstract:
1. A street sweeper for cleaning surfaces of streets and the like comprising: a chassis mounted on at least two wheels to provide support to the chassis; at least one sweeping broom contactable with a surface to be cleaned; a hopper supported on the chassis, the hopper defining an internal volume for receiving debris from the surface to be cleaned, the hopper adapted to be emptied of the received debris by instigation of an operator of the street sweeper; a conveyor assembly mounted to the chassis, the conveyor assembly extending generally between a first area proximate the sweeping broom and a second area accessing the internal volume, the conveyor assembly adapted for conveying debris from the first area to the second area; an air flow generating device having an inlet and an outlet supported in relation to the hopper, the outlet communicating with the internal volume; a flexible litter hose having an opened first end and an opened second end, the second end communicating with the inlet of the air flow generating device, the first end adapted to be manipulated by the operator of the street sweeper; the air flow generating device, the hopper, and the litter hose being positioned and arranged such that air entering the litter hose flows through the air generating device and then into the hopper; and wherein the air flow generating device develops a suction force for removing debris at the first end of the litter hose by directing air flow from the inlet to the outlet, the suction force being independent of conditions in the internal volume.