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Title: Surface sweeper with floating broom chamber
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A mobile sweeper for cleaning an underlying surface including a framework, a hopper mounted on the framework to receive dust and debris, a broom chamber adjacent said underlying surface and in communication with said hopper for transferring said dust and debris from said surface to said hopper, means mounting said broom chamber to said framework to permit relative vertical movement therebetween, a broom within said broom chamber, means for rotating said broom, and means for mounting said broom to said broom chamber so as to permit relative vertical motion therebetween whereby said broom chamber may be elevated to permit the sweeper to traverse obstacles on said underlying surface while said broom is retained in sweeping contact with said underlying surface. 2. A mobile sweeper as set forth in claim 1 including yieldable spring means mounted between said framework and said broom chamber for urging said chamber downwardly. 3. A mobile sweeper as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said broom comprises a motor secured directly to the shaft of said broom. 4. A mobile sweeper as set forth in claim 1 wherein said broom chamber is provided with an opening at the upper end thereof and said hopper is provided with an opening arranged in closely spaced relationship with said chamber opening, and flexible sealing means secured between said hopper and chamber in surrounding relationship to said openings. 5. In a surface cleaner for picking up debris and dust particles comprising a vehicle having a framework supporting a hopper divided into a dust laden air chamber and a filtered air chamber, a filter disposed between the chambers, a broom chamber coupled beneath the framework adjacent to the surface being cleaned and in communication with the dust laden air chamber through registered apertures in said dust laden air chamber and said broom chamber, a broom mounted for rotating motion within the broom chamber in sweeping contact with the surface being cleaned and being movable vertically relative to the broom chamber, a blower operating to exhaust air from the filtered air chamber thereby causing air to flow through a flow passage extending from the surface through the broom chamber and the dust laden air chamber and the filter to the filtered air chamber, the improvement wherein a compressible seal is positioned surrounding the registered apertures, and means disposed between the framework and the broom chamber for supporting the broom chamber and for providing limited vertical relative movement therebetween, so that the broom chamber is movable from a downward to an upward position by an underlying bump on the surface being cleaned and the broom remains in sweeping contact with the surface while the integrity of the air flow passage is maintained in both the upward and downward positions. 6. The cleaner of claim 5 wherein said compressible seal comprises a tubular element having resilient walls. 7. The cleaner of claim 5 wherein said means for providing limited vertical relative movement between the framework and broom chamber provides for approximately one and one-half inches of relative movement. 8. The cleaner of claim 5 wherein said means for providing limited vertical relative movement between the framework and broom chamber comprises a front stop on the framework, means mounted on the broom chamber for contacting said front stop at a lower chamber limit, a rear stop on the framework, and means mounted on the broom chamber for contacting said rear stop at a lower chamber limit. 9. The cleaner of claim 8 together with a spring urging the broom chamber onto said front and rear stops. 10. A mobile sweeper for cleaning an underlying surface and having a framework and a hopper mounted on the framework to receive dust and debris through an inlet aperture therein, a floating broom chamber having an outlet aperture, means for mounting said floating broom chamber on said framework with said outlet aperture in registration with the inlet aperture of the hopper and for supporting said floating broom chamber in a down position, a broom adapted for contact with the underlying surface, means for mounting said broom for rotation within said floating broom chamber whereby dust and debris is swept off of the surface into said floating broom chamber, said last named means providing limited vertical movement between said broom and said floating broom chamber, means for urging the swept dust and debris from said floating broom chamber through said outlet and inlet apertures into the hopper, a resilient tubular seal disposed between the hopper and said floating broom chamber surrounding both said outlet and inlet apertures, said tubular seal being transversely collapsible, whereby said floating broom chamber may be moved upward from said down position while said broom is retained in contact with the underlying surface so that the surface is swept substantially continuously during operation. 11. A mobile sweeper as in claim 10 wherein said means for supporting comprises a front stop and a rear stop on the framework, said front and rear stops operating independently whereby the front and rear of said floating broom chamber are elevated independently by a bump on the underlying surface. 12. A mobile sweeper as in claim 10 together with a spring urging said floating broom chamber toward said down position. 13. A mobile sweeper as in claim 10 wherein said means for urging swept dust and debris includes an elevator paddle wheel mounted for rotating movement within said floating broom chamber, whereby the dust and debris is engaged thereby and elevated from said broom chamber to the hopper. Other info: Inventors: Overton, Billy J. (Laquinta, CA, US) Application Number: 948846 Filing Date: 1978-10-05 Publication_date: 1980-05-06 Assignee: FMC Corporation (San Jose, CA) Primary Class(es): 15/349 15/83, 15/340.4, 15/359 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Moore, Christopher K. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Kelly; R. S., Stanley; H. M., Verhoeven; J. F. |
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