Patent Publication Number: US-8108964-B2

Title: Sealed pick-up head for a mobile sweeper

Description:
This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/975,095 filed on Sep. 25, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to sidewalk sweepers and factory floor sweepers, and more particularly to pick-up heads for sidewalk sweepers and factory floor sweepers, specifically dustless pick-up heads for sidewalk sweepers and factory floor sweepers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sidewalk sweepers and factory floor sweepers of various types are used to sweep debris in many different types of locations. Sidewalk sweepers are typically used to sweep sidewalks, parking lots, and so on. In use, they must sweep along curbs and the sides of buildings in order to sweep dust, dirt and debris that is adjacent to the curbs and buildings. Factory floor sweepers are typically used to sweep aisle ways in factories and warehouses, and the like. 
     In use, as a sidewalk sweeper or factory floor sweeper moves forwardly, dust and small debris are initially passed over by the front of the pick-up head and are suctioned into the pick-up head through its bottom opening. The bottom edge of the pick-up head at the front of the housing is only a very small distance above the surface being cleaned, perhaps one-eighth of an inch. Accordingly, only dust and very small debris can pass under it during use. This small distance between bottom edge of the pick-up head at the front of the housing and the surface being cleaned must be kept minimized in order to maintain the minimum suctioning that is necessary to suction the dust and small debris off the surface being cleaned. 
     Larger debris is plowed by the front of the pick-up head and must get separately suctioned up typically by a manually manipulated vacuum wand connected to the same source of vacuum on the sidewalk sweeper or factory floor sweeper that suctions air through the pick-up head. This is undesirable for a number of reasons. Accordingly, in some pick-up heads, there is a front opening that permits debris to egress into the pick-up head. A door mounted on the pick-up head at the front opening closes off air flow into the pick-up head; however, when the door opens to permit debris to egress into the pick-up head, there is a significant amount of air suctioning through the front opening. This is especially true since the debris outlet that introduces the air suctioning into the pick-up head is often located near the front opening, and often immediately behind the front opening. As a result of having a significant amount of air suctioned through the front opening, the full suctioning of the airflow that picks up the dust and small debris off the surface being cleaned is greatly reduced, thus leaving some dust and small debris on the surface being cleaned, which is unacceptable. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pick-up head for use with a sidewalk sweeper or a factory floor sweeper. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up head for use with a sidewalk sweeper or a factory floor sweeper, wherein the full suctioning of the airflow that picks up the dust and small debris off the surface being cleaned remains when larger debris enters the pick-up head. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel sealed pick-up head for a mobile sweeper, the sealed pick-head comprising a housing defining a substantially hollow interior and having a front, a back, a left end and a right end, a top and a bottom, and a suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing. A suctioning front opening is disposed in the front of the housing for receiving debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing, in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface being cleaned. A door frame surrounds the suctioning front opening. A rotatable door means has at least a first door portion and a second door portion joined together at a central pivot axis, and is operatively mounted at the central pivot axis in rotatable relation on the pick-up head at the suctioning front opening. A sealing means is operatively disposed between the rotatable door means and the door frame for sealing the rotatable door means with respect to the door frame, to thereby substantially preclude air from ingressing into the substantially hollow interior of the housing through the suctioning front opening, as the rotatable door means rotates to permit debris to enter the substantially hollow interior of the housing. A dust and debris outlet in the housing permits dust and debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior of the housing into a hopper. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel sealed pick-up head for a mobile sweeper. The sealed pick-head comprises a housing defining a substantially hollow interior and having a front, a back, a left end and a right end, a top and a bottom, and a suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing. A suctioning front opening comprises an elongate tunnel disposed in the front of the housing for receiving debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing, in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface being cleaned. A forward door means is movable between a closed position and an open position. A first sealing means is operatively disposed between the forward door means and the elongate tunnel for sealing the forward door means with respect to the elongate tunnel. A first selectively operable actuator means is for moving the forward door means between the open position and the closed position. A rearward door means is movable between a closed position and an open position. A second sealing means is operatively disposed between the rearward door means and the elongate tunnel for sealing the rearward door means with respect to the elongate tunnel. A second selectively operable actuator means is for moving the rearward door means between the open position and the closed position. The first door means and the second door means are spaced apart on from the other by a debris receiving space, to permit debris to be disposed between the first door means and the second door means. A dust and debris outlet in the housing permits dust and debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior of the housing into a hopper. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel sealed pick-up head for a mobile sweeper. The sealed pick-head comprises a housing defining a substantially hollow interior and having a front, a back, a left end and a right end, a top and a bottom, and a suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing. A suctioning front opening comprises an elongate tunnel disposed in the front of the housing for receiving debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing, in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface being cleaned. A forward door means is movable between a closed position and an open position. A first sealing means is operatively disposed between the forward door means and the elongate tunnel for sealing the forward door means with respect to the elongate tunnel. A first biasing means biases the forward door means to the closed position. A rearward door means is movable between a closed position and an open position. A second sealing means is operatively disposed between the rearward door means and the elongate tunnel for sealing the rearward door means with respect to the elongate tunnel. A second biasing means biases the rearward door means to the closed position. A dust and debris outlet in the housing permits dust and debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior of the housing into a hopper. 
     Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the variable width pick-up head for a mobile sweeper according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which the presently preferred embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the sealed pick-up head according to the present invention, in use on a mobile sweeper vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the first preferred embodiment sealed pick-up head of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the first preferred embodiment sealed pick-up head of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment sealed pick-up head of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cut-away side elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the sealed pick-up head according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a cut-away side elevational view of the third preferred embodiment of the sealed pick-up head according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially cut-away side elevational view of the fourth preferred embodiment sealed pick-up head according to the present invention, in use on a mobile sweeper vehicle; and, 
         FIG. 8  is a partially cut-away side elevational view of a portion of the fourth preferred embodiment sealed pick-up head of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 8  of the drawings, it will be noted that  FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the pick-up head of the present invention,  FIG. 5  illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the pick-up head of the present invention,  FIG. 6  illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the pick-up head of the present invention, and  FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the pick-up head of the present invention. 
     Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , which show a first preferred embodiment of the pick-up head for a mobile sweeping vehicle  22  according to the present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral  20 . The pick-up head  20  for a mobile sweeping vehicle  22  comprises a housing  30  defining a substantially hollow interior  31  and having a front  32 , a back  33 , a left end  34  and a right end  35 , a top  36  and a bottom  37 . There is a suctioning bottom opening  38  for suctioning dust and small debris, such as dirt and small stones, and the like, into the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30 . 
     The pick-up head  20  further comprises a suctioning front opening  60  disposed in the front of the housing  30  for receiving debris into the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30 , and in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface being cleaned. Preferably, the suctioning front opening  60  is disposed generally centrally in the front of the housing  30 . It will also be noted that the dust and debris outlet  39  is generally centrally disposed in the back of the housing  30 , so as to be generally laterally aligned with the suctioning front opening  60 . The suctioning front opening  60  needs to be large enough to accept large debris, such as most sizes of cans and bottles therethrough. 
     The pick-up head  20  also comprises a door frame  40  surrounding the suctioning front opening  60 . The door frame  40  has a ceiling portion  42  and two opposed arcuate wall portions  44 ,  46  that define the suctioning front opening  60 . The ceiling portion  42  has a substantially planar bottom surface  48 . 
     A rotatable door means  50  has at least a first door portion and a second door portion joined together at a central pivot axis. In the first preferred embodiment, the rotatable door means  50  has a first door portion  51 , a second door portion  52 , a third door portion  53  and a fourth door portion  54  joined together at a central pivot axis “P” that is preferably substantially vertically oriented. The rotatable door means is operatively mounted at the central pivot axis “P” in rotatable relation on the pick-up head at the suctioning front opening. The first door portion  51  has three outer edges, namely a top edge  51   t , a bottom edge  51   b , and a distal side edge  51   s . The second door portion  52  has three outer edges, namely a top edge  52   t , a bottom edge  52   b , and a distal side edge  52   s . The third door portion  53  has three outer edges, namely a top edge  53   t , a bottom edge  53   b , and a distal side edge  53   s . The fourth door portion  54  has three outer edges, namely a top edge  54   t , a bottom edge  54   b , and a distal side edge  54   s.    
     The pick-up head  20  further comprises a selectively operable actuation means for causing the rotatable door means to rotate. The selectively operable actuation means preferably comprises a hydraulic motor  58  mounted on top of the ceiling portion  42  of the door frame  40 . The rotation of the hydraulic motor  58  is controlled by the operator of the mobile sweeping vehicle  22 , via a suitable manually operable control. The hydraulic motor  58  rotates in a direction as indicated by arrow “A”. In this manner, debris is admitted into the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30  in the same direction as the relative travel of debris with respect to the pick-up head  20  as the mobile sweeping vehicle  22  travels forwardly. 
     There is also a sealing means  70  operatively disposed between the rotatable door means  50  and the door frame  40  for sealing the rotatable door means with respect to the door frame  40 . The sealing means  70  substantially precludes air from ingressing into the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30  through the suctioning front opening  60 , as the rotatable door means  50  rotates to permit debris to enter the substantially hollow  31  interior of the housing  30 . In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the sealing means  70  comprises pliable rubber strips secured to the outer edges of each of the first door portion  51 , the second door portion  52 , the third door portion  53  and the fourth door portion  54 . The pliable rubber strips secured to the top edges  51   t ,  52   t ,  53   t , and  54   t  of the door portions  51 ,  52 ,  53 , and  54  is in sealed sliding contact with the substantially planar bottom surface of the ceiling portion  42  of the door frame  40 . The pliable rubber strip secured to the bottom edges  51   b ,  52   b ,  53   b , and  54   b  of the door portions  51 ,  52 ,  53 , and  54  is in sealed sliding contact with the surface being cleaned. The pliable rubber strip secured to the distal side edges  51   s ,  52   s    53   s , and  54   s  of the door portions  51 ,  52 ,  53 , and  54  is in sealed sliding contact with the two opposed arcuate wall portions  44 ,  46  that define the suctioning front opening  60 . It can be seen that at all times, at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth door portions  51 ,  52 ,  53 , and  54  is in sealed sliding contact with each of the two opposed arcuate wall portions  44 ,  46 . In the above described manner, air is substantially precluded from ingressing into said substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30  through the suctioning front opening  60 , as the rotatable door means  50  rotates to permit debris to enter the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30 . 
     There is a dust and debris outlet  39  in the housing  30  for permitting dust and debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30  into a hopper  23  that is mounted at the back of the mobile sweeping vehicle  22 , via a duct  26 . Dust and debris are suctioned into the hopper  23  via a fan  24 . The dust and debris outlet  39  is preferably disposed in the back  33  of the housing  30 , so as to take advantage of the relative travel of debris with respect to the pick-up head  20  as the mobile sweeping vehicle  22  travels forwardly. 
     The pick-up head  20  further comprises means for urging large debris towards the suctioning front opening  60 . In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the means for urging debris towards the suctioning front opening  60  comprises a “V”-shaped front wall portion  32   w  of the housing  30 . The suctioning front opening  60  is disposed at the vertex of the “V”-shaped front wall portion  32   w , so as to receive large debris that is pushed along the left and right front walls of the housing  30 , as the mobile sweeping vehicle  22  travels forwardly. 
     It should also be noted that the pick-up head  20  for a mobile sweeping vehicle  22  according to the present invention can be used as part of a vacuum type system on a sidewalk sweeper or a factory floor sweeper, or a re-circulating type system on a sidewalk sweeper or a factory floor sweeper. 
     In use, as the mobile sweeping vehicle  22  travels forwardly, dust and debris on the surface being cleaned are encountered by the pick-up head  20 . As the mobile sweeping vehicle  22  moves forwardly, any debris that is encountered by the left and right front walls of housing  30  will be moved to the suctioning front opening  60 , due to slope of the “V”-shaped front wall portion  32   w  of the housing  30 . The debris will enter the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30  through the suctioning front opening  60 . Dust enters the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30  via the suctioning bottom opening  38 . Dust and debris that enter the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30  are suctioned into the housing  30 , and the suctioned out of the housing  30  through the duct  26 , and into the hopper  23 , by a source of suction, such as the fan  24 . 
     More specifically, as debris reaches the suctioning front opening  60 , the debris is captured between the two of the adjacent door portions of the first, second, third, and fourth door portions  51 ,  52 ,  53 , and  54 , which two adjacent door portions are at that time disposed at the front of the door frame  40 . The operator of the mobile sweeping vehicle  22  then uses the manually operable control to rotate the hydraulic motor  58 , thus causing the debris to be admitted into the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30  in the same direction as the relative travel of debris with respect to the pick-up head  20  as the mobile sweeping vehicle  22  travels forwardly. As the rotatable door means  50  rotates to permit debris to enter the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30 , the sealing means  70  substantially precludes air from ingressing into the substantially hollow interior  31  of the housing  30  through the suctioning front opening  60 . The pick-up head can therefore maintain full suctioning of the airflow that picks up the dust and small debris off the surface being cleaned remains when larger debris enters the pick-up head  30 . 
     Reference will now be made to  FIG. 5 , which shows a second preferred embodiment of the sealed pick-up head according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral  220 . The second preferred embodiment sealed pick-up head  220  is similar to the first preferred embodiment sealed pick-up head  20 , except that the suctioning front opening  260  comprises an elongate tunnel  260  disposed in the front of the housing  230  for receiving debris into the substantially hollow interior  231  of the housing  230 , in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface being cleaned. A forward door means  250  is movable between a closed position and an open position. A first sealing means is operatively disposed between the forward door means  250  and the elongate tunnel  260  for sealing the forward door means  250  with respect to the elongate tunnel  260 . A first selectively operable actuator means comprising a first hydraulic actuator  254  is for moving the forward door means  250  between the open position and the closed position. A rearward door means  256  is movable between a closed position and an open position. A second sealing means  272  is operatively disposed between the rearward door means  252  and the elongate tunnel  260  for sealing the rearward door means  252  with respect to the elongate tunnel  260 . A second selectively operable actuator means comprising a second hydraulic actuator  258  is for moving the rearward door means between the open position and the closed position. The forward door means  250  and the rearward door means  252  are spaced apart on from the other by a debris receiving space  259 , to permit debris to be disposed between the forward door means  250  and the rearward door means  252 . 
     Reference will now be made to  FIG. 6 , which shows a third preferred embodiment of the sealed pick-up head according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral  320 . The third preferred embodiment sealed pick-up head  320  is similar to the second preferred embodiment sealed pick-up head  220 , except that a first biasing means  354  that comprises a coil spring biases the forward door means  350  to the closed position, and a second biasing means  358  that comprises a coil spring biases the rearward door means  352  to the closed position. 
     It should also be noted that the pick-up head for a mobile sweeper according to the present invention can be used as part of a vacuum type system on a sidewalk sweeper or a factory floor sweeper, or as part of a re-circulating type system on a sidewalk sweeper or a factory floor sweeper, as will now be discussed. 
     Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , which show a fourth preferred embodiment of the pick-up head according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral  420 . The fourth preferred embodiment pick-up head  420  is similar to the first preferred embodiment pick-up head  20 , except that it is used in a re-circulating type system on a sidewalk sweeper or a factory floor sweeper. As can be readily seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the top covering  480  of the hopper  423  has a built in panel filter  482  at the back, and unfiltered direct opening  484  to the ambient surroundings adjacent the panel filter  482 . A recirculating air hose  486  has its inlet  487  at the top covering  480  of the hopper  423  and its outlet  488  in the pickup head to form a “closed loop” system with the fan  424 . The fan  424  blows unfiltered air into the inlet  487  of the recirculating air hose  486 , as indicated by arrow “A”. This air is introduced into the pick-up head  420 , as indicated by arrow “B”, in order to help capture dust and debris within the pick-up head  420 . The recirculating air, including the dust and debris, circulate through the duct  426 , as indicated by arrow “C”, and returned to the hopper  423 , as indicated by arrow “D”, as drawn in by the fan  424 . 
     A portion of the air from the fan  424  is bled off to the atmosphere, as controlled by flap valve  490 , either through the panel filter  482 , as is shown in  FIG. 7 , or through the direct opening  484 , as is shown in  FIG. 8 . A large gate valve  492  is mounted in hinged relation at the junction between the panel filter  482  and a direct opening  484  for movement between a first position, as shown in  FIG. 7 , whereat all of the air flow that is bled off is directed through the panel filter  482 . The large gate valve  492  seals against the slanted wall  494  in order to preclude air from escaping through the direct opening  484 . This mode is used during dry sweeping in order to preclude dust from escaping to the atmosphere. There were circulation of a substantial portion of the airflow significantly reduces the volume of air that must be filtered per unit time, which is a significant problem with vacuum type sweepers. 
     In the event that sweeping must be performed in wet or damp conditions, there is no actual dust generated that needs to be controlled and captured; however, there is a wet airborne particulate that must be dealt with. It is well known that this wet airborne particulate can readily clog a panel filter  482 . Accordingly, the large gate valve  492  can be moved to the position as shown in  FIG. 8 , whereat the panel filter  482  is covered, and there is a direct path for the flow of air that is bled off to the direct opening  484  to the ambient surroundings, thus precluding the panel filter  482  from becoming clogged. 
     As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a pick-up head for use with a sidewalk sweeper or a factory floor sweeper, wherein the full suctioning of the airflow that picks up the dust and small debris off the surface being cleaned remains when larger debris enters the pick-up head, all of which features are unknown in the prior art. 
     Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the pick-up head for a mobile sweeper of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.