ROAD SWEEPER ASSEMBLY FOR FITTING ON THE FRONT BUCKET OF AN EXCAVATOR/LOADER MACHINE

Abstract: A road sweeper assembly is adapted to fit on the front bucket (1) of an excavator/loader machine. The assembly comprises a housing (4) having two side walls (5) and an interconnecting front end wall (6). A rotary brush (7) is mounted between the walls (5) and is driven by a hydraulic motor (8) from the hydraulic system of the machine. The assembly is swingably attached at (3) to the bucket (2) so that except when the bucket (2) is titled downwards for emptying, the assembly is biased by gravity into a position where the side walls (5) extend into the bucket (2). A baffle (9) extends below the front end wall (6) and the brush (7) is rotated anticlockwise so that rubbish is propelled forwardly between the brush (7) and the baffle (9), over the brush (7) within the housing (4) and rearwardly into the bucket (1).

Description: "Road sweeper assembly for fitting oh the front bucket of an excavator/loader machine" ^ Description \ This invention relates to a road sweeper assembly for fitting on the front bucket of an excavator/ -loader machine. According to the invention there is provided 5 a road sweeper assembly for fitting on the front bucket of an excavator/loader machine, the assembly comprising a housing having two side walls and an interconnecting end wall, a rotary brush mounted in the space between the side walls and partially projecting 10 below the side walls, a baffle projecting below the end wall and means for attaching the housing to the bucket with the ends of the side walls remote from the end wall projecting into the bucket, whereby when the assembly is fitted on the bucket and the brush . 15 is rotating in such a direction ' that the projecting portion of the brush is moving away from the bucket and towards the end wall rubbish can be propelled forwardly between the brush and the baffle, over the brush within the housing and rearwardly into the bucket. 20 An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:- Fig. 1 is a side view of a road sweeper assembly fitted on a front bucket of an excavator/ 25 loader machine; Fig. 2 is a front view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail in Fig. 1. 30 In Fig. 1 a front bucket 1 is shown which belongs to an excavator/loader machine commonly known simply as a "J.C.B." The bucket 1 has brackets 2 for attaching the bucket to a tiltable fitting on the front ends of boom members (not shown) and a rail 3 over the mouth of the bucket, which rail is provided for attachment to the bucket tilting mechanism (not shown) of the excavator/loader machine. A road sweeper assembly comprises a housing 4 having two side walls 5 and an interconnecting front end wall 6. A rotary brush 7 is detachably mounted in the space between the side walls 5 and partially projects below the side walls. The brush 7 is driven by a hydraulic motor 8 detachably mounted on one or the other of the side walls 5 and designed to be connected to the hydraulic system of the excavator/loader machine. A curved baffle 9 projects below the front end wall 6 and is height adjustable to compensate for wear on the bristles of the brush 7. A further curved baffle 10 partially overlaps the baffle 9 between the latter and the wall 6 and is adjustable towards the brush 7 also to compensate for wear. Slots 11 are provided in the side walls 5 and the wall 6 and * in these slots screws 12 attached to the baffles are slidable to carry out the adjustment thereof. A curtain of chains 13 hang from the lower edge of the baffle 9. The assembly is mounted on the rail 3 of the bucket 1 by means of two cranked members each having an arm 14 secured by a bolt 15 to the wall 6 and passing through a selected hole in the arm 14. The other arm 16 of the cranked member terminates in a downwardly- opening bifurcated hook 17. Pivoted to the arm 16 is another cranked member having an arcuate arm 18 which serves to close the hook 17 as' shown in Fig. 3. The other arm 19 has an elbow 20 from which a straight portion extends to lie on the arm 16 when the hook 17 is closed. In this position the arm 19 can be locked by means of a locating pin inserted through holes in posts 21 upstanding from the arm 16. When the hook 17 is open the elbow 20 extends into the hook opening so that when the hook 17 is placed over the rail 3 the rail is engaged by the elbow 20 so that the arm 18 closes the hook 17. Except when the bucket 1 is tilted downwards for emptying, the assembly is biased by gravity into a position where the side walls 5 extend into the side walls of the bucket 1. The amount of this extension is determined by means of bars 22 mounted on the side walls 5 and extending on the outside of the side walls of the bucket. Each bar 22 has a forward end 23 bolted to and in contact with a side wall 5 and a portion 24 spaced from the side wall 5. The portion 24 has a series of holes 25 with a corresponding series of holes in the side wall 5 through which a bolt can be passed at a selected location for engagement by the front edge of the side wall of the bucket. By means of the bolt 15 and the holes 25 the assembly can be adjusted in two directions to compensate for wear on the brush 7. In use when the assembly is fitted to the bucket 1 of an excavator/loader machine, the bucket l and the fitted assembly is lowered so that the brush 7 contacts the surface to be swept and the bucket is tilted so that its bottom wall is substantially horizontal. The brush 7 is rotated in an anticlockwise direction as shown in Fig. 1. With the excavator/loader machine moving forward (to the right .in Fig. 1) rubbish is propelled forwardly between the brush 1 and the baffle 9, over the brush 1 and between t and the baffles 9 and 10 and rearwardly into the bucket 1. In order to empty the bucket 1 it is raised and tilted downwardly so that' the assembly εvings away from the bucket 1 about the rail 3 so as tzz allow the rubbish to fall from the bucket. It is also envisaged that either the assembly or the bucket 1 be fitted with wheels and that the weight of -he bucket and the assembly be taken on the wheels -instead of on the boom of the excavator/ loader machine when sweeping. The assembly may be made in various widths to suit various bucket sizes, the items 22 to 25 being retained but the items 14 to 21 being modified as necessary to suit buckets, of various designs of excavator/loader machines.

Claims: Claims 1. * A road sweeper assembly for fitting on the front bucket of an excavator/loader machine, the assembly comprising a housing having two side walls and an inter- connecting end wall, a rotary brush mounted in the space between the side walls and partially projecting below the side walls, a baffle projecting below the end wall and means for attaching the housing to the bucket with the ends of the side walls remote from the end wall project- ing into the bucket, whereby when the assembly is fitted on the bucket and the brush is rotating in such a direction that the projecting portion of the brush is moving away from the bucket and towards the end wall rubbish can be propelled forwardly between the brush and the baffle, over the brush within the housing and rearwardly into the bucket-. 2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means enables the assembly to be swingably attached to the bucket in such a manner that except when the bucket is tilted downwards for emptying, the assembly is biased by gravity into a position where the side walls project into the bucket. 3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the attachment means are adjustable and means for determining the extent to which the side walls project into the bucket are also adjustable, in order to compensate for wear on the brush. 4. An assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the baffle is adjustable to compensate for wear on the brush.

Inventors: CRAIG JOHN, CRAIG, JOHN
Applicants: CRAIG JOHN, CRAIG, JOHN
Application year: 1986
Main classification: E02F3
IPC codes: E01H1, E02F3