SWEEPER/COLLECTOR DEVICE

Abstract: A sweeper/collector device comprises a housing having two end walls (1, 2), two side walls (3), an upper cover (4) with an access lid (5) and a floor (6) extending from the end wall (2) partially towards the end wall (1). A rotary brush (9) is mounted in the remaining space between the side walls (3) and partially projects below the side walls (3). Ground-engaging wheels (8) are also provided and the end wall (1) is adapted (at 11) to be attached to the front of a mobile loader. Alternatively, the end wall (1) may be adapted to be attached behind a tractor. The attachment facilitates the powered tilting of the device into an emptying position in which the end wall (1) is lower than the end wall (2) and in which position the collected rubbish falls from the collecting space onto the rotating brush (9) to be carried away thereby.

Description: "Sweeper/collector device" Description This invention relates to a sweeper/collector device for removing rubbish from paved areas. An object of the invention is to facilitate the emptying of the collected rubbish from the device. According to the invention there is provided a sweeper/collector device comprising a housing having two end walls, two side walls, an upper cover and a floor, the latter of which extends from one end wall partially towards the other end wall to define a collecting space, and a rotary brush mounted in the remaining space between the side walls and partially projecting below the side walls, the other end wall being adapted to be attached either in front of a mobile loader or behind a tractor and being inclined upwardly and towards the one end wall to facilitate powered tilting of the device into an emptying position where the other end wall is lower than the one end wall and collected rubbish is allowed to fall from the collecting space onto the rotating brush and be carried thereby or discharge between the brush and the other end wall. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a side view of a sweeper/collector device having side wheels and adapted to be attached to the front of a "Bobcat" (Registered Trade Mark) skid steer loader; Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 except that the device is adapted to be attached, via a hydraulic ram, to the three point linkage at the rear of a tractor; and Fig. 3 is a pictorial view of a modified device having two castor wheels at one end and which can be adapted at the other end to be attached to either the front of a "Bobcat" (Registered Trade Mark) skid steer loader or, via a hydraulic ram, to the three point linkage at the rear of a tractor. In Fig. 1 the device comprises two end walls 1,2, two side walls 3, an upper cover 4 with an access lid 5 and a floor 6 extending from one end wall 2 partially towards the other end wall 1 to define a collecting space. On both sides of the collecting space and extending from the side walls 3 are stub axles 7 carrying ground-engaging wheels 8. A rotary brush 9 is mounted in the remaining space between the side walls 3 and projects below the side walls 3, the brush 9 being driven by a hydraulic motor 10. The end wall 1 nearer the brush 9 has a mounting adaptor 11 suitable for attachment to the front of a "Bobcat" (Registered Trade Mark) skid steer loader and is inclined upwardly and towards the remote end wall 2. The hydraulic motor 10 is mounted on one or the other of the side walls 3 and, with the shaft of the rotary brush 9, may be adjusted to compensate for wear on the brush 9. This may be done either by eccentric or vertically movable mountings. There are also provided a mud flap 12, a wear plate 13 and an internal slurry baffle 14. In the working position with the wheels 8 engaging the ground and the brush 9 rotating from the ground towards the collecting space rubbish is swept into the collecting space. In the emptying position the device is tilted so that the nearer end wall 1 is below the remote end wall 2 so that the collected rubbish falls onto the brush 9 which is still rotating in the same direction. The rubbish is carried by the brush 9 and discharged from between the brush 9 and the nearer end wall 1. The attainment of the emptying position is facilitated by the inclination of the nearer end wall 1 and the mounting adaptor 11. In Fig. 2 the device is similar to that in Fig. 1 except that the mounting adaptor 11 on the nearer end wall 1 is replaced by two lower brackets 15 for direct connection to the two lower elements of a tractor's three point linkage, and an upper bracket and a hydraulic ram 17 articulated thereto for connection with the upper element of the tractor's three point linkage. Since this embodiment is designed to be trailed • behind a tractor the brush 9 is rotated in the opposite direction so that rubbish is carried over the brush 9 before being deposited in the collecting space. The hydraulic ram 17 is used to tilt the device into its emptying position and the direction of rotation of the brush 9 is reversed to the same direction of rotation as in the embodiment of Fig. 1. In Fig. 3 the device is similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that the side-mounted wheels 8 in Figs. 1 and 2 are replaced by castor wheels 15 mounted on booms 16 extending from the end wall 2. Since with this arrangement the wheels 15 are within the transverse confines of the side walls 3 either side wall 3 can be run closer to an obstacle than can the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, there are provided guards 17 for the hydraulic motor 10. The end wall 1 may be provided either with the adaptor 11 in Fig. 1 or the brackets 15 and 16 in Fig. 2.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A sweeper/collector device comprising a housing having two end walls, two side walls, an upper cover and a floor, the latter of which extends from one end wall partially towards the other end wall to define a collecting space, and a rotary brush mounted in the remaining space between the side walls and partially projecting below the side walls, the other end wall being adapted to be attached either in front of a mobile loader or behind a tractor and being inclined upwardly and towards the one end wall to _ facilitate powered tilting of the device into an emptying position where the other end wall is lower than the one end wall and collected rubbish is allowed to fall from the collecting space onto the rotating brush and be carried thereby for discharge between the brush and the other end wall. 2. A device according to claim 1, comprising ground-engaging wheels mounted on the housing, the brush being disposed between the wheels and the other end wall. 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the wheels are mounted at the sides of the housing. . 4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the wheels are castor wheels mounted on the one end wall.

Inventors: CRAIG JOHN, CRAIG, JOHN
Applicants: CRAIG JOHN, CRAIG, JOHN
Application year: 1984
Main classification: E01H1
IPC codes: E01H1