Title: Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus and method for a power broom

Do you think this is a good invention? Vote now:

Votes so far: For:(0) Against:(0)
Claims: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are as follows:

1. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus for a power broom wherein debris is brushed from a surface by a rotating cylindrical broom, said debris removal apparatus comprising:

enclosed hopper means for collecting debris swept up by the power broom, said hopper means having inlet means for receiving debris from the power broom and outlet means for conveying debris from the hopper means, the hopper and outlet means being constructed such that debris collected in the hopper means can be removed from the hopper means through the outlet means by the application of a vacuum to the outlet means;

vacuum manifold means for applying a debris removing vacuum to the hopper outlet means, said manifold means including inlet means connected to the hopper outlet means and outlet means adapted to be connected to a vacuum source;

support means for movably supporting the hopper means with respect to the surface such that the weight of the debris removal apparatus is not carried by the brush of the power broom, the support means permitting the debris removal apparatus to be moved over a surface with the power broom; and

attachment means for attaching the debris removal apparatus to the power broom such that the hopper inlet means is maintained in position to receive debris from the power broom as the power broom is operated over the surface.

2. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the hopper outlet means is formed in a lower portion of the hopper means such that debris collected in the hopper means covers the hopper outlet means, the application of a vacuum to the hopper outlet means creating an air flow through the outlet means that urges the debris out of the hopper means through the hopper outlet means.

3. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

the rotating brush extends generally across the front of the power broom and brushes the debris generally forwardly from the broom;

the enclosed hopper means extends across the front of the rotating brush and includes an upwardly inclined entry ramp leading from the brush upwardly into the interior of the hopper means to an upper edge, a channel portion being attached to the upper edge and extending downwardly therefrom along the width of the hopper, the channel portion having sides that are sloped such that the debris slides down the channel to the bottom thereof under the influence of gravity, the hopper outlet means being formed at the bottom of the channel and extending across at least a portion of the width of the channel; and

the vacuum manifold means comprises a tubular conduit mounted on the hopper means at the hopper outlet means and extending transversely across the width of the channel, the inlet means of the vacuum manifold means comprising inlet openings in the side of the conduit in communication with the hopper outlet means and the outlet means of the vacuum manifold means being an open end of the tubular conduit.

4. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the hopper means includes an inwardly tapered front portion that deflects the debris into the center of the hopper means as it is received from the power broom, the hopper outlet means being enlarged in the center of the hopper means so as to accommodate the removal of debris concentrated in the middle of the hopper means.

5. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support means comprises at least one wheel rotatably mounted on the front portion of the hopper means, the wheel being pivotable about a generally vertical axis to permit directional change of the debris removal apparatus, the support means further including roller means rotatably mounted on the underside of the hopper means at the rear portion thereof, the wheel and roller means being positioned to independently support the hopper means on the surface over which the apparatus is operated.

6. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the distance that the wheel extends downwardly from the hopper means is adjustable to vary the height of the hopper over the surface.

7. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support means includes:

a support frame comprising an elongated beam attached to the power broom at one end and extending forwardly therefrom to a front end, the beam being supported at the front end in a generally horizontal position by a wheeled yoke, the wheeled yoke having a transverse cross bar attached at its midpoint to the beam and having legs extending downwardly from the ends of the cross bar, the wheels being pivotably mounted on the lower ends of the legs in ground engaging position, the cross bar and beam being mounted above the enclosed hopper means;

a threaded front support rod received in a threaded opening at the front of the support frame and extending downwardly to the front of the hopper means, the lower end of the front support rod being rotatably attached to the hopper means, the support rod being vertically movable by rotating the rod to raise and lower the front end of the hopper means; and

a downwardly facing yoke having legs attached to the rear portion of the hopper means at lower ends thereof, the legs being connected together at upper ends thereof and fitting over the beam, the interconnected upper ends including threaded adjustment means for holding the upper ends at variable desired heights with respect to the beam.

8. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus for a power broom, wherein solid particulate debris is brushed from a surface by a rotating cylindrical broom, said debris removal apparatus comprising:

enclosed hopper means attached to the power broom for collecting debris swept up by the power broom; and

vacuum removal means for continuously removing and conveying the debris away from the hopper means and power broom means while the power broom is being operated,

the vacuum removal means being operated by a vacuum source separated from and not carried by the hopper means or power broom means, the vacuum source being interconnected with the hopper means by conduit means for conveying debris away from the hopper means and power broom means toward the vacuum source.

9. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 8 wherein:

the hopper means has an outlet at a lower portion thereof and inclined sides leading downwardly to the outlet, such that debris collected in the hopper means is urged by gravity toward the outlet; and

the vacuum removal means comprises vacuum manifold means attached to the hopper outlet for applying a vacuum to the hopper outlet, said vacuum manifold means including inlet means in communication with the hopper outlet and outlet means adapted to be connected to the vacuum source, the vacuum source creating an outward air flow through the hopper outlet means.

10. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the power broom is pivotably mounted on wheels such that the operator can raise and lower the brush by pivotal movement of the frame, downward pressure on the power broom at a position adjacent the broom increasing the downward pressure on the broom, the hopper means being independently supported on wheels and attached to the power broom such that the debris removal apparatus can be moved over the surface being cleaned along with the power broom without having the weight of the debris removal apparatus bearing downwardly on the brush of the power broom.

11. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the hopper means is supported by support means including at least one front wheel attached to the front of the hopper, the front wheel being pivotable about a generally vertical axis, the support means further including at least one roller rotatably mounted on the underside of the hopper means adjacent the rear portion thereof.

12. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the height of the front wheel is adjustable.

13. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus for a power broom, wherein debris is brushed from a surface by a rotating cylindrical broom, said debris removal apparatus comprising:

enclosed hopper means attached to the power broom for collecting debris swept up by the power broom, the hopper means being attached to the power broom by attachment means that permits at least limited independent upward and downward vertical movement of the debris removal apparatus relative to the power broom, such that the power broom and debris removal apparatus can be operated over uneven surfaces without adversely affecting the operation of the power broom; and

vacuum removal means for continuously removing and conveying the debris away from the hopper means while the power broom is being operated.

14. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the attachment means comprises hinge means interconnecting the power broom and debris removal apparatus such that the debris removal apparatus can pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to the power broom but is held in sideways alignment with the rotating brush.

15. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the hinge means includes a hinge arm pivotably attached at one end to the power broom and at the other end to the debris removal apparatus.

16. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus for a power broom, wherein debris is brushed from a surface by a rotating cylindrical broom, said debris removal apparatus comprising:

enclosed hopper means attached to the power broom for collecting debris swept up by the power broom, the enclosed hopper means extending transversely all the way across the width of the rotating brush and enclosing the front portion thereof;

a hood attached to the power broom enclosing the upper portion of the rotating brush, the hood and hopper means being formed so as to minimize dust emissions between the hood and the hopper means;

the hopper means being attached to the power broom by means of attachment means comprising at least one hinge arm pivotally connected at one end to the hood and pivotally connected at the other end to the hopper means, said hinge arm permitting vertical pivotal movement of the hopper means with respect to the hood but restraining sideways movement of the hopper means with respect to the hood;

flexible skirt means depending from the hood to the surface and enclosing the portions of the rotating broom not enclosed by the hopper means and hood so as to restrict dust emissions; and

vacuum removal means for continuously removing and conveying the debris away from the hopper means while the power broom is being operated.

17. Vacuum operated debris removal apparatus according to claim 16 wherein separate hinge arms interconnect the hood and hopper means at opposite axial ends of the rotating brush of the power broom.

18. A method for removing solid particulate debris from a surface by means of a power broom comprising continuously collecting the debris swept up by the power broom in an enclosed hopper mounted on the power broom and continuously removing the debris from the hopper and conveying the debris away from the hopper and power broom by means of a vacuum removal apparatus, the vacuum removal apparatus including a vacuum source separated from and not carried by the power broom and being connected to the hopper by means of a vacuum hose having an inlet in communication with the debris collected in the hopper.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the hopper is provided with an outlet at the bottom thereof and the vacuum is applied to the outlet, such that the downward force of gravity and downward flow of air created by the vacuum draws the debris out of the hopper and into the vacuum hose.

Other info:

Inventors: Dunham, Charles L. (Grand Rapids, MI, US)
Kiernan, Thomas H. (Grand Rapids, MI, US)

Application Number: 765776
Filing Date: 1977-02-04
Publication_date: 1978-10-17
Assignee: Gravel-Vac Service Co., Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI)
Primary Class(es): 134/6 15/83, 134/21, 134/121
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

485577	Nov, 1892	Ethridge	15/340.
2263722	Nov, 1941	Drumm	15/83.
3833961	Sep, 1974	Fortman et al.	15/340.
3837029	Sep, 1974	Kasper	15/83.
3876260	Apr, 1975	Moss et al.	15/340.
3955236	May, 1976	Mekelburg	15/340.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Roberts, Edward L.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: McGarry & Waters