Garbage truck sweeper attachment

A sweeper attachment for a refuse collection vehicle that utilizes either a conveyor system or a vacuum system to transport debris from a road surface to a collection body of the refuse collection vehicle. The sweeper attachment allows for the same vehicle to be used for both refuse collection and sweeping roadway surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due in part to the costs associated with both garbage trucks/vehicles and street sweepers, combining the functions of both would save a substantial amount of money for city and county governments and private companies in the maintenance of roads and garbage collection.

It is an object of the invention to provide an attachment that can be selectively attached and removed from a variety of garbage vehicles.

It is further an object of the invention to provide an attachment that does not prohibit the use of a garbage vehicle as a refuse collection vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Four embodiments of a sweeper attachment for refuse collecting vehicles are shown in the accompanying figures. Each embodiment allows a typical refuse collection vehicle that can only collect refuse/recyclables into a vehicle that can additionally sweep roadways and collect debris off the roadways.

The embodiments also contain a means for directing the debris from the roadway into the storage compartment of the refuse collecting vehicles. The embodiments use either a conveyor system and/or a vacuum system in conjunction with a set of brooms for directing the debris from the roadway to the storage compartment.

Two of the embodiments are mountable on a standard rear loading refuse collection vehicle. These embodiments do not impair the function of the tailgate of the refuse collection vehicle, and the sweeper attachment is raised and lowered with the tailgate. This allows the debris collected from the sweeper attachment and stored in the collection body of the refuse collection vehicle to be emptied utilizing the same mechanics as for emptying the refuse.

The third embodiment is for a front loading refuse collection vehicle and utilizes a conveyor system. The debris from the street is collecting in a carry can and then dumped by raising and inverting the carry can, thereby dumping the debris into a storage compartment of the front loading refuse collection vehicle.

The fourth embodiment can be used for any type of refuse collection vehicle and utilizes a vacuum for transporting street debris in to a collection container. A series of hydraulic powered scissor hoist to pivot and unload the debris from the collection container to the storage compartment of the refuse collection vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now referring to the figures, four embodiments for a sweeper attachment20are shown. The first embodiment is shown inFIGS. 1-6and can be used on a standard rear loader garbage vehicle22. The first embodiment is a conveyor style sweeper system24that has the sweeper attachment20for street sweeping that is secured to an inside26of the rear load tailgate27allowing the sweeper attachment20to be opened and closed with the normal operation of the rear load tailgate27for the loading and normal unloading of the debris commodity. With the tailgate27in a closed position, the sweeper attachment20fits snugly between the tailgate27and a collection body30of the rear loader garbage vehicle22.

The sweeper attachment20comprises a main body80. The main body80has a first deflector panel82and second deflector panels84to assist in deflecting debris and assist in directing the debris toward the conveyor70and ultimately to the collection body30. Additionally, main body80has side walls86that also assist in directing debris toward the top of the sweeper attachment20and also prevents debris from falling off the edge of the cleats72. A lip88of the main body80fits snugly with a floor of the collection body30.

During normal operation, a forward positioned side broom40rotates, preferably counterclockwise, sweeping street debris away from the curb towards a main broom50of the sweeper attachment20. This debris along with all other street debris that is in the path of the counterclockwise rotating main broom50is mechanically swept up onto a conveyor70, elevating the debris up and over a top90of a conveyor wall insert91into the collection body30. The conveyor70preferably has cleats72that aid in moving the debris and prevent the debris from falling prior to reaching the top90of the conveyor wall insert91.

A debris pile15is shown inFIG. 4in the collection body30. The debris pile15can be selectively compacted or removed from the rear loader garbage vehicle22by known means, including use of ejector panel12. This first embodiment could also employ dust control systems and methods to aid in collection of street debris (i.e. water spray) as well as other methods to transport street debris into the collection body30, such as a pneumatic blower mechanism or a vacuum mechanism to transport street debris from the street level to within the collection body30.

FIG. 5shows the first embodiment of the sweeper attachment20with all the outside covers removed in order to show the side broom40, the main broom50, conveyor70and a street sweeper main body80. InFIG. 6, the sweeper attachment20shows the vehicle body insert91with sides92and bottom93designed to fit snugly within sidewalls96and floor97of the collection body30, respectively within the back of the collection body3so materials will be captured between the insert91and the ejector panel12.

The second embodiment of the sweeper attachment120is shown inFIGS. 7-10and can be used on any standard rear loader garbage vehicle122. In this embodiment, a sweeper attachment120is secured to an outside123of a tailgate127so that the sweeper attachment120can be opened and closed with the normal operation of the tailgate127of the rear loader garbage vehicle122to allow for the loading and normal unloading of debris commodity115. A mounting member117can be used to mount the sweeper attachment120to the tailgate127. If required, the tailgate127can be sealed by an insert (i.e. solid panel) attached to the inside surface of the tailgate127to prevent debris dust or leaks between the tailgate127and a collection body130.

During normal operation of the sweeper attachment120with the rear loader garbage vehicle122, a forward positioned side broom140rotates, preferably counterclockwise, sweeping the street debris away from the curb towards a main broom150of the sweeper attachment120. This debris along with all other street debris that is in the path of the counterclockwise rotating main broom150is then transported pneumatically or by a vacuum155up through collection tube114into a collection body130. This embodiment could also employ dust control systems and methods to aid in collection of street debris (i.e. water spray) as well as other methods to transport street debris into the collection body, such as a conveyor system.

FIG. 8shows the tailgate127in an open position lifting the sweeper attachment120out of the way so collected debris can be normally ejected and unloaded out of the rear of the body130of the rear loader garbage vehicle122.

FIGS. 9 and 10show the sweeper attachment120(with all the outside covers off) detailing the side broom140, the main broom150, the collection tube114and a street sweeper body133. The collection tube114can be mounted in slot116and can be movable in slot116to accommodate easier connection to the rear loader garbage vehicle122.

The third embodiment of a sweeper attachment220is shown inFIGS. 11-12and can be used with any standard front loader garbage vehicle222that employs forks to collect front loader commercial containers. In this embodiment, the street sweeper attachment220has a carry can217. Fork pockets218, located on each side of the street sweeper carry can217, so that forks219of the front loader garbage vehicle222can slide into the fork pockets218to lift the carry can217as needed for normal street sweeping operation and for the occasional unloading of street debris into the vehicle collection hopper230. The carry can217can also be configured to employ dust control systems and methods to aid in collection of street debris (i.e. water spray) and/or use pneumatic or vacuum mechanisms to collect street debris.

FIG. 11shows the carry can217in the operational or collection position with the forward positioned side broom240rotating, preferably counterclockwise, sweeping the street debris away from the curb towards the main broom250. This debris along with all other street debris that is in the path of the counterclockwise rotating main broom250is mechanically swept up onto the conveyor207, elevating the debris up and over a top290of the conveyor wall into the collection carry can217. This conveyor process is similar to the one describe in the first embodiment and utilizes delectors and cleats similarly to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12shows the street sweeper carry can217in the unloading position during normal operation, and also the stowed transport position in the vehicle collection hopper230.

Now referring toFIGS. 13-15, a fourth embodiment of a street sweeper attachment320for a garbage vehicle is shown that utilizes a separate autonomous independent container, similar to a side dump and/or trough loader container, but designed so it can incorporate a vacuum system to use with a vacuum style street sweeper system. A complete sweeper system can be sold and mounted as a complete kitted system that that can be mounted on a chassis in front of any rear load or side loader body. This system can operate simultaneously during garbage collection so the streets can be cleaned and garbage can be collected at the same time.

This fourth embodiment of a street sweeper attachment320can be mounted in front of any standard rear or side loader garbage vehicle and can be used in conjunction with the garbage collection operation.FIG. 13shows the sweeper attachment320on a rear end loader garbage vehicle322. In this embodiment, a street sweeper attachment320is located below a chassis frame323and in proximity to a vacuum collection container321that is mounted above the vehicle chassis frame323. The street sweeper attachment320is attached to the vacuum collection container321by a flexible collection tube324so the collected street debris can be transported from the street into the vacuum collection container321by use of vacuum355.

Once the operator has completed the street cleaning or garbage route, the vacuum collection container321can be emptied by using a side dump unloading mechanism325. The side dump unloading mechanism325employs a hydraulic powered scissor hoist (shown inFIG. 15) to pivot and unload at the chassis frame level or lift to an elevation to dump collected debris from the vacuum collection container321into a roll-off style container of the rear end loader garbage vehicle322. The garbage vehicle unloads its contents as is normal for the unit without any interference or hindrance from the sweeper attachment kit.

FIG. 13shows the street sweeper attachment320in the operational or collection position with a forward positioned side broom340rotating, preferably counterclockwise, sweeping the street debris away from the curb towards a main broom350. This debris along with all other street debris that is in the path of the counterclockwise rotating main broom350of the sweeper, forcing the street debris to become entrained in the air vacuum355, lifting the street debris up the flexible collection tube324and depositing it into the vacuum collection container321.

FIG. 15shows the side dump unloading mechanism325elevating the vacuum collection container321to an elevated unloading position.

This fourth embodiment is particularly useful in locations that require the residents to have a schedule to move cars to one side of the street or the other in order to allow the street sweeping operation or they are fined, towed or both.

Having thus described the invention in connection with the several embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the several embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims. Any elements of any embodiments disclosed herein can be used in combination with any elements of other embodiments disclosed herein in any manner to create different embodiments.