Patent ID: 6154922
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: A47L,E01H

Abstract:
A self-propelled factory floor cleaning vehicle having a front end, a back end, a debris retaining hopper, and defining a medial longitudinal axis (L), said self-propelled factory floor 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 floor contacting segment debris disposed on a contacted portion of a floor contacting segment, said contacted portion being defined at its front by a leading edge, thereby creating a forwardly propelled stream of debris;a deflector flap means disposed forwardly of said rotating sweeping broom, to receive at least a portion of said forwardly propelled stream of debris and to deflect it upwardly and forwardly onto said debris retaining hopper; 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 floor behind said leading edge, thereby propelling forwardly therewith fine debris disposed on said floor, 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 debris retaining hopper.