AU2004100717A4

AU2004100717A4 - Suction cleaner

Info

Publication number: AU2004100717A4
Application number: AU2004100717A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alan Churchill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-30
Filing date: 2004-08-30
Publication date: 2004-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2012-08-30
Also published as: GB2417413A; GB0517192D0; GB2417413B

Description

SUCTION CLEANER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to heavy duty suction cleaners for picking up waste material in industrial and agricultural environments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A variety of cleaners have been developed for removing waste from floors of stables and factories and from the ground in paddocks and fields. These machines are invariably bulky and heavy and need to be towed behind a ride on lawn mower, a four wheel motor bike or a tractor.

To date there have been two main versions of these cleaners. In the first the machine is towed to the area to be cleaned and an operator manoeuvres a long flexible hose to pick up the waste. This means that both a driver and operator are required or the driver has to stop the towing vehicle, dismount and operate the cleaner.

The hose is heavy and cumbersome and requires considerable strength to manoeuvre especially when it is sucking up large quantities of waste. Some of these cleaners suspend the hose from a gantry which takes its weight, but the travel of the pick up end of the hose is limited to the arc of the rotating gantry.

In the second version, the pick up end of the hose is permanently mounted on a scoop fitting close to the ground towards the front and to one side of the machine. Accordingly the driver has to manoeuvre the towing vehicle so that the end of the hose is immediately above the waste. Even experienced drivers sometimes need to go back and forward several times to collect the waste. Also the scoop can be dislodged and damaged by going over ditches and ridges. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a suction cleaner for agricultural and industrial use which overcomes the above disadvantages or at least provides a useful alternative.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a towed cleaner comprises a hose attached to a fan driven by a motor such that the hose sucks up waste from the ground and discharges it into a chute for bagging, and hose supporting means through which the driver of the towing vehicle directs the end of the hose to the waste.

Preferably the hose supporting means comprise a gantry mounted on the cleaner chasis and a handle suspended from the arm of the gantry and connected to the end of the hose.

Preferably the arm of the gantry is supported by an elastic strut mounted between the arm and the vertical column of the gantry.

Preferably the vertical column of the gantry is mounted on the tow bar attached to the cleaner chasis and is free to rotate under the control of a follower mechanism which keeps the handle within reach of the driver of the towing vehicle.

Preferably the follower mechanism comprises an angle bracket attached to the base of the gantry column which engages a hole in a plate mounted on the tow vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a side elevation of a cleaner Fig 2 is a plan view of the cleaner in Fig 1 Fig 3 is a front perspective view of the cleaner being towed Fig 4 is a rear perspective view of the cleaner Fig 5 is an exploded perspective view of the hose follower mechanism DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figs 1 2 show a fan 1 driven by motor 2 mounted on a triangular chassis 3 with main wheels 4 at the rear and steering wheel 5 mounted at the apex. Fan 1 provides suction to hose 6 which discharges into shute 7 which feeds bagging apparatus 8.

The median section of hose 6 is supported by bracket 9 and the pick up end is suspended by handle 10 and chain 11 from gantry arm 12. The vertical column 13 of the gantry is mounted on a follower bracket which is detailed in Fig Gantry arm 12 is pivoted to column 13 and supported by hydraulic strut 14 which is hinged between gantry arm 12 and column 13 so that handle 10 can draw hose 6 down to pick up waste from the ground.

Fig 3 illustrates the cleaner being towed by a ride on lawnmower 14. The driver drives up to the waste and without leaving his seat grips handle 10 and directs the end of the hose towards the waste. The hydraulically supported gantry arm 12 is drawn down thus allowing the end of the hose to descend to pick up the waste. The latter is collected in bag 16 which can be removed when it is full and replaced with a new bag.

It will be realized that the position of the pick up end of hose 6 and handle must be maintained beside driver 15 for operation even when the towing vehicle is at a turning angle to the cleaner chassis 3. This is achieved by the follower mechanism incorporated in the tow bar which hitches the cleaner to the vehicle as shown in Fig Gantry column 13 is mounted on and free to rotate about pivot 14 welded into plate 15. Pivot 14 extends through plate 15 as pin 16 which passes through holes 18 in tow bar 17 welded to chassis 3. Plate 19 is mounted on the rear 20 of the towing vehicle by bolts 21 and has hole 22 which is engaged by pin 16 to couple tow bar 17. Bolt 23 locks plate 15 and pin 16 in place for towing.

Column 13 has welded to its base angle bracket 24 so when column 13 is mounted on pivot 14, the vertical arm 25 of bracket 24 passes through retaining hole 25 of plate 19. Whenever the towing vehicle turns, plate 25 turns with it and column 13 rotates thus causing gantry arm 12, chain 15, handle 10 and the end of hose 6 to follow. Accordingly handle 10 always maintains its position beside the driver ready for operation independent of the angle between the cleaner and the tow vehicle.

VARIATIONS

It will be realized that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising" are not intended to exclude other additives components integers or steps.

Claims

1. A towed cleaner comprising a hose attached to a fan driven by a motor such that the hose sucks up waste from the ground and discharges it into a chute for bagging and hose supporting means through which the driver of the towing vehicle directs the end of the hose to the waste.

2. The cleaner of claim 1 in which the supporting means comprise a gantry mounted on the cleaner chasis and a handle suspended from the arm of the gantry and connected to the end of the hose.

3. The cleaner of claim 2 in which the arm of the gantry is supported by an elastic strut mounted between the arm and the vertical column of the gantry.

4. The cleaner of claim 2 in which the vertical column of the gantry is mounted on the tow bar of the chasis and is free to rotate under the control of a follower mechanism which keeps the handle within reach of the driver of the towing vehicle. The cleaner of claim 4 in which the follower mechanism comprises an angle bracket attached to the base of the gantry column which engages a hole in a plate mounted on the tow vehicle. Dated this 20 th Day of August 2004 Alan Churchill By his Patent Attorneys Pipers Patent and Trademark Attorneys