Patent ID: 7703173

Claim:
A Self-propelled apparatus for cleaning roads and urban areas, said apparatus comprising: a frame defining a longitudinal axis ( 1 a ) parallel to the direction of rectilinear motion of said apparatus, a propulsion and control members ( 2 ) including front and rear wheels ( 4 ) and steering means ( 3 ) for said wheels ( 4 ), said steering means ( 3 ) defining a center of turning ( 3 a ) and an axis of steering ( 3 b ), said axis of steering ( 3 b ) being perpendicular to said longitudinal axis ( 1 a ) and passing through said center of turning ( 3 a ); an accumulation system ( 8 ) of refuse ( 5 ) on the ground comprising at least two rotatable brushes ( 11 ) at ground level having centers of rotation ( 11 a ) spaced from each other and defining a reference line ( 10 a ) perpendicular to said longitudinal axis ( 1 a ), and passing through said centers of rotation ( 11 ), said brushes ( 11 ) conveying said refuse ( 5 ) from a cleaning area ( 9 ) into an accumulation strip ( 10 ) formed between said brushes ( 11 ), a collection system ( 12 ) arranged spaced from said brushes ( 11 ) between said brushes ( 11 ) and said rear steering wheels ( 4 ) and supported unrotably by said frame, said collection system ( 12 ) comprising a collection inlet ( 13 ) having a width transverse to said longitudinal axis ( 1 a ) substantially smaller than a width of said frame and being positioned substantially at ground level to suck up said refuse ( 5 ), wherein said steering means ( 3 ), said accumulation system ( 8 ) and said collection system ( 12 ) are disposed relative to each other in such a way that said axis of steering ( 3 b ) lies in a position intersecting a central portion between one third and two thirds of a segment ( 15 ) parallel to said longitudinal axis ( 1 a ) and extending between said collection inlet ( 13 ) and said reference line ( 10 a ).