Patent ID: 6154911
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: E01H

Abstract:
A debris lifting apparatus for use in a surface sweeping vehicle having front and back ends, a rotating sweeping broom that propels debris forwardly, and a hopper to receive and retain said debris, said debris lifting apparatus comprising:an isolated debris lifting receptacle operatively mounted on said surface sweeping vehicle by a receptacle mounting means for arrested positioning in a lower debris receiving position, whereat said isolated debris lifting receptacle is disposed to receive and retain said debris propelled forwardly by said rotating sweeping broom, and for positioning in a raised debris dumping position, whereat said isolated debris lifting receptacle is disposed to dump said debris retained therein into said hopper;selectively operable drive means mounted on said surface sweeping vehicle and connected in driving relation to said isolated debris lifting receptacle to effect movement of said isolated debris lifting receptacle between said lower debris receiving position and said raised debris dumping position;dumping means mounted on said surface sweeping vehicle to effect dumping of said debris from said isolated debris lifting receptacle into said hopper when said isolated debris lifting receptacle is in said raised debris dumping position;a debris receiving tray defined by a debris ingress edge, a debris egress edge, left side and right side edges, and mounted on said surface sweeping vehicle between said rotating sweeping broom and said debris lifting apparatus so as to receive debris swept forwardly by said rotating sweeping broom; and,a stop wall defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, a left side edge, and a right side edge, and having a debris impinging surface, and being operatively mounted on said surface sweeping vehicle for return movement from a debris passing position temporally coincident with said lower debris receiving position of said isolated debris lifting receptacle and whereat said stop wall is disposed to permit passage of said debris from said rotating sweeping broom to said isolated debris lifting receptacle, to a debris stopping position temporally coincident with said raised debris dumping position and whereat said stop wall is disposed to receive said debris from said rotating sweeping broom, and permit said debris to fall into said debris receiving tray.