Patent ID: 8887351

Claim:
A sweeping broom apparatus comprising: a main body having a debris receiving inlet; connecting means for operatively connecting said main body to a vehicle; a broom shroud having a front end, a back end, an open bottom defined by a bottom edge, and a forwardly facing debris outlet for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris; means for mounting said broom shroud on said main body, for free vertical movement of said broom shroud with respect to said main body; means for obstructing airflow disposed around the bottom edge of said broom shroud for substantially obstructing the egress of air from between the bottom edge of said broom shroud and the surface being cleaned; a main sweeping broom mounted within said broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from the surface being cleaned generally along said longitudinal horizontal axis, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through said forwardly facing debris outlet; an air blast nozzle connected in fluid communication to a source of compressed air for receiving compressed air therefrom; nozzle mounting means for mounting said air blast nozzle for movement between a lower position whereat said air blast nozzle is disposed adjacent the surface being cleaned and to emit air in a forward and downward direction to impact on the surface being cleaned, and a raised impact-absorbing position; and, biasing means for biasing said air blast nozzle to said lower position.