Abstract:
The present invention provides a vehicle mounted sweeping apparatus to be mounted on a variety of vehicles for sweeping the inside surfaces of vessels such as a barge, generally comprising a rectangular steel base plate positioned horizontally with two perpendicular rectangular side plates attached to each end of the base plate. All three plates are attached to a rectangular steel frame which further comprises a mounting plate for attachment to a vehicle. The horizontal base plate and vertical side plates comprise multiple sweeping elements arranged in parallel rows perpendicular to the direction of vehicle travel and removeably attached to the outside surfaces of the plates, for replacement when worn.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted apparatus for cleaning the interior hull surfaces of a barge type vessel.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Vehicle mounted brooms are well known. One of the most common types are rotary brooms is driven by auxiliary power from the vehicle on which they are mounted. Several disadvantages to sweeping apparatuses such as these include the very limited types of vehicles upon which they can be mounted, along with a high cost of manufacturing. Furthermore, rotary sweepers require higher maintenance due to the moving parts and also tend to wear much more rapidly than stationary sweepers, requiring the bristle elements to be replaced on a much more frequent basis. Another disadvantage to these type of sweeping devices is the amount of dust created when in use, limiting their uses to applications where airborne dust is not a problem.  
           [0003]    Fixed position brooms that are attached to vehicles overcome the foregoing disadvantages in that they can be mounted on a variety of vehicles and have no moving parts that require increased maintenance. Typically comprised of a frame upon which a plurality of brushes are individually attached, brush wear is decreased, requiring replacement less frequently. Other advantages to fixed position brooms over rotary types include a greater variety of applications because of the ability to mount the brushes in several orientations and positions. Another important advantage over rotating sweepers is that fixed position brooms are significantly less expensive to manufacture.  
           [0004]    In the fixed position vehicle mounted broom disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,865, multiple brushes are removeably attached to the main frame of the sweeper by C-shaped channels. The invention discloses the use of extension assemblies upon which additional brushes are mounted in a similar manner to increase sweeping surface or change the sweeping angle of the brushes when combined with the main sweeping body.  
           [0005]    Although U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,865 has several advantages over rotary sweeping devices, there are further advantages of the present invention for use in the preferred application not taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,865. First, U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,865 does not teach a means of sweeping or cleaning vertical surfaces such as the inside hull surfaces of a barge as well as a means to sweep the floor, whereas the present invention overcomes this obstacle. Another disadvantage of U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,865 is the use of bristle only type brush elements that may not remove all the debris on the surface being swept due to slippage of particulate matter through the bristles or because it may be stuck to the surface. The present invention may embody resilient squeegee type blades in conjunction with brush elements to further enhance the cleaning efficiency of the sweeper.  
           [0006]    The U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,174 embodies a vehicle mounted sweeping apparatus with brush arms that are pivotal to a vertical orientation for transportation and storage of the sweeper but are not designed to be used in that position. As a result of the aforesaid shortcomings of the prior art sweeper designs, the need arose for a vehicle mounted sweeping apparatus that has no moving parts, can sweep and squeegee vertical surfaces as well as horizontal surfaces of the inside of a vessel such as a barge, one that can be used in a variety of applications, mounted to a variety of vehicles, and manufactured with minimal time and expense.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a vehicle mounted sweeping apparatus for cleaning the inside surfaces of a vessel such as a barge or ship.  
           [0008]    In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle mounted sweeping apparatus embodying removeably attached multiple brush elements that can be replaced easily as they become worn.  
           [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide for better sweeping efficiency by implementing both bristle brush elements for sweeping and squeegee blades for scraping and wiping.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle mounted sweeping apparatus with both vertical and horizontal sweeping elements to simultaneously sweep the floor and the walls of a vessel such as a barge or ship.  
           [0011]    In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a vehicle mounted, fixed position sweeping apparatus that is easy to attach and detach from a variety of vehicles.  
           [0012]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide for a vehicle mounted sweeping apparatus that is easy to manufacture and maintain.  
           [0013]    To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention provides a sweeping apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle, generally comprised of a rectangular steel base plate positioned horizontally, with two perpendicular side plates mounted to each end. The plates are attached to a generally rectangular steel frame embodying gussets to reinforce the perpendicular side plates that make up the vertical sweeping elements. The present invention further embodies a means of attachment to a vehicle for pushing or pulling the sweeping apparatus implemented on the horizontal main frame. Multiple individual brooms comprising the sweeping elements are arranged in parallel sets on the bottom surface of the horizontal base plate and the outside surfaces of both perpendicular side plates, respectively. The sweeping elements are removeably attached by way of generally C-shaped channels attached to the plates and within which the broom and/or squeegee blades are received.  
           [0014]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle mounted sweeping apparatus as mounted on a skid loader;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the vehicle mounted sweeping apparatus, unattached to a vehicle;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is another perspective front view of the sweeping apparatus, unattached to a vehicle;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a top view of the sweeping apparatus as unattached to a vehicle;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective partial cross-sectional view of one of the sweeping elements comprising a bristle-type broom;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 a  is a perspective partial cross-sectional view of one of the sweeping elements comprising a squeegee type blade;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the horizontal base plate with one of the broom-type sweeping elements received in one of the C-shaped channels mounted thereto;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a close-up partial cross sectional view of FIG. 6 showing the corner mounting configuration of the base plate wherein the vertical side plate attaches to the sweeping apparatus; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a partial side view showing the configuration of the vertical, horizontal and corner sweeping elements. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a vehicle-attached sweeping apparatus  10  is shown as attached to a vehicle  20 . In this preferred embodiment, the sweeping apparatus  10  is mounted to the front of vehicle  20  for sweeping the inside of a vessel such as a barge or ship. The base plate  12 , containing brush elements  32  and/or squeegee elements  34 , is attached in such a manner as to have the brush elements  32  and squeegee elements  34  arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel of vehicle  20 . The perpendicular side plates  14  also comprise parallel rows of brush elements  32  and parallel squeegee elements  34  for sweeping vertical surfaces of the barge or vessel.  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and  4 , a closer view of the sweeping apparatus  10  is shown detached from a vehicle  20 , embodying the base plate  12 , two perpendicular parallel side plates  14 , and a means of attachment to a vehicle  20 , all attached to frame  18 . The frame  18  comprises steel I-beam girders arranged and welded in a generally rectangular shape, further embodying a plurality of cross-members  22  of similar material, evenly spaced and mounted to the top surface  23  of the base plate  12 . Support gussets  24  for increasing the integrity of the perpendicular side plates  14  attach proximally to the frame  18  located on the top surface  23  of the base plate  12 . Distally, the support gusset  24  attach to a cross beam  26  mounted to the inside surface  27  of the side plates  14  proximal the top edge  29  of the side plates  14 . Parallel rows of brush elements  32  are attached to the outer surface of the side plates  14  as well as to the bottom surface of the base plate  12 , which may also implement resilient squeegee elements  34 . These parallel brush elements  32  are removeably attached to the base plate  12  by means of multiple C-shaped channels  40  attached to the outside surface of side plates  14  and the bottom surface of base plate  12 , as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 2 and 3 further show the sweeping apparatus  10  detached from a vehicle embodying the frame  18  attached to the top surface  23  of base plate  12  with support gussets  24  attached proximal the top edge  29  of side plates  14  by way of cross beams  26 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 3 and 4 show the sweeping apparatus  10  unattached to a vehicle  20  embodying the base plate  12  with a top surface  23  upon which the rectangular frame  18  is attached. The vehicle mounting plate  16  is attached to two of the parallel cross members  22  mounted to the rectangular frame  18  further reinforced by triangular gusset plates  38  welded to the cross members  22  and the inside surface  17  of the vehicle mounting plate  16 . FIG. 4 further shows the plurality of removeably attached vertical sweeping elements  32  which are mounted to the outside surface of the side plates  14  allowing the vehicle  20  to sweep vertical surfaces of a vessel.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of one of the brush elements  32  removeably received within the C-shaped channels  40  on the bottom side of the horizontal base plate  12  or the outside surface of the side plates  14 . The brush element comprises an elongated flanged mounting base  42  integrally formed with a plurality of generally aligned monofilament plastic bristles  44  along a first side  45  of the flanged mounting base  42  forming one continuous brush element.  
         [0030]    In addition to the brush elements  32  used in the sweeping apparatus  10  herein, squeegee elements  34  may also be implemented in the invention for enhanced sweeping ability, as shown in FIG. 5 a . In the preferred embodiment, the individual squeegee elements  34  are comprised of a resilient rubber strip  46  integrally attached longitudinally along one end to a flanged mounting base  48 , to be received by channels  40  in a similar manner as the brush elements  32 , removeably attaching squeegee elements  34  to the sweeping apparatus  10  as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 6 and 7 together show a cross-sectional view of the joint between one of the vertical sweeping plates  14  and the horizontal base plate  12 , wherein base plate  12 , with top surface  23  and bottom surface  21 , embody a plurality of the parallel C-shaped channels  40  of generally square cross-section attached thereto. These C-shaped channels  40  comprise an opening slot  50  along a first side  51  and two inward turned flanges  52  for maintaining the brush element  32  therewithin. The channels  40  are oriented and attached to the base plate  12  so that the openings  50  are facing down and perpendicular to the surface  21  of the base plate  12 . Individual brush elements  32  are removeably received within channels  40  by sliding the flanged mounting base  42  into the channel  40  so that the bristles  44  are extending through opening  50  of the channel  40 . The flanges  52  of the channels  40  engage with the square flanged mounting base  42  of each individual brush element  32  to maintain the brush elements  32  within the channels  40  during use.  
         [0032]    In addition to the brush elements  32  used in the sweeping apparatus  10  herein, squeegee elements  34  may also implemented in the invention for enhanced sweeping ability, as shown in FIG. 5 a . In the preferred embodiment, the individual squeegee elements  34  are comprised of a resilient rubber strip  46  integrated longitudinally along one end to a square flanged mounting base  48 , to be received by channels  40  in a similar manner as the brush elements  32 , removeably attaching squeegee elements  34  to the sweeping apparatus.  
         [0033]    This preferred embodiment of the invention enables the sweeping of the corners of a vessel such as a barge where the wall and the floor meet, simultaneous to sweeping the floor and vertical wall surfaces thereof. Referring now to FIG. 8, a corner bracket  60  is shown for mounting a generally triangular shaped sweeping element  64  of either the brush type  32  or squeegee type  34 . The bracket  60  is of a right-triangular shape mounted to the bottom edge  63  of the side plate  14  and the outer edge  65  of the base plate  12 . The hypotenuse edge  67  of the bracket  60  has a C-shaped channel  68  similar to the channels  40  mounted on the side plates  14  and the base plate  12  of the sweeping apparatus  10 . The corner sweeping element implemented is designed and shaped to have a vertical sweeping edge  69 , a horizontal sweeping edge  71 , and a mounting edge  73 , which is comprised of an integrated square mounting base identical to those found on the side and base brush elements  32 .  
         [0034]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.