EP2231932A1

EP2231932A1 - Sweeper

Info

Publication number: EP2231932A1
Application number: EP08860459A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arnaud Miossec; Pierre Nedelec
Original assignee: Emily SAS
Current assignee: Emily SAS
Priority date: 2007-12-12
Filing date: 2008-12-11
Publication date: 2010-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-11
Also published as: EP2231932B1; FR2925081A1; WO2009074629A1; FR2925081B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sweeper (100) comprising two main wheels (210a, 210b), at least one accessory (410, 420, 440) especially intended for sweeping or suction, a means of driving said accessory via the main wheels, a dust collection bin (430), said accessory being composed of a brush (420) having a horizontal axle intended for sending the dust into the collection bin (430), the brush (420) having a horizontal axle being rotated by a hydraulic motor (520). The sweeper is noteworthy in that the hydraulic motor (520) is coupled to two hydraulic pumps (560a, 560b), which are connected in parallel and respectively rotated by the two main wheels (210a, 210b) or the hydraulic motor (520) is connected to one hydraulic pump (560c), driven by a differential bridge (240) that is driven by the two main wheels (210a, 210b). By virtue of this hydraulic transmission, the sweeper thus uses its two main wheels, in all circumstances, to drive its accessory or accessories. It operates both when it is moved in a straight line or when it follows a curved trajectory.

Description

Sweeper

The present invention relates to a sweeper of the type that can be pushed or towed. Such a sweeper can thus operate autonomously when moved with a machine. It generally comprises a chassis based on wheels and at least one is used to drive, during its rotation, the various accessories of the sweeper.

A sweeper of this type is disclosed in EP-A-0 807 716. It is based on two main wheels and a front steering wheel. Each of the main wheels is connected to a gear transmission that can multiply its output speed. One of the transmissions is connected to a main drive shaft of a horizontal axis rotary brush. The other transmission transmits its movement, on the same shaft, to a pulley and belt transmission driving a second shaft which transmits its rotational movement to two vertical axis rotating brushes via two other pulley and belt transmissions. A third transmission of this type connects the second shaft to a suction fan. When the sweeper is moved in a straight line, the motor torque provided by each wheel is used to drive a portion of the accessories. However, the efficiency of the sweeper varies according to whether it circulates in a straight line or that it circulates while turning. For example, in a right turn, the horizontal brush rotates much slower than in a straight line and rotates faster in a left turn. A hydraulic transmission for a sweeper presented in the patent WO-A-02/25142 is also known. The sweeper has a directional drive wheel coupled to a hydraulic motor connected by pipes, and through a storage tank, to a second hydraulic motor driving a rotating brush. Both engines have different displacements. A hydraulic coupler comprising reversing valves is interposed between the first motor and the pipes to drive the brush always in the same direction of rotation. A ramp makes it possible to collect the dust to transport it in a plateau. The body of the sweeper is provided with elongated openings capable of receiving the forks of a hoist to move the sweeper or lift it. The effective driving power of this sweeper is relatively small compared to its mass.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a sweeper of the type carried by two main wheels, which can perform a job as effective, it is moved on the ground in a straight line or it is moved following a turn. For this purpose, is proposed a sweeper type push or towed comprising two main wheels, at least one accessory intended in particular for sweeping or suction, means for driving said accessory by the main wheels, a dust collection tank , said accessory being constituted by a horizontal axis brush for sending the dust into the collection tank, the horizontal axis brush being rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor, the sweeper being remarkable in that the hydraulic motor is connected to two hydraulic pumps, connected in parallel, and rotated respectively by the two main wheels where the hydraulic motor is connected to a hydraulic pump, driven by a differential bridge driven by the two main wheels. Thanks to this hydraulic transmission, the sweeper thus uses in all circumstances, its two main wheels to drive his or her accessories. It works equally well when moved in a straight line or when following a curved path. In the first version, each main wheel drives a pump and the power supplied by the two pumps is used to power an accessory drive motor.

In the second version, the engine torque provided by the two main wheels is operated by a single pump. This variant is suitable for sweepers of higher capacity or for more economical sweepers to manufacture. The sweeper uses again, in all circumstances, its two main wheels to train his or her accessories.

This mode of transmission of power between the main wheel (s) and the accessory (s) is insensitive to dust unlike a belt or belt transmission.

According to an additional feature of the invention, the sweeper comprises two accessories constituted by two rotary brushes placed at the front and on either side of the sweeper being rotated respectively by two hydraulic motors to bring the dirt under the machine. sweeper.

According to an additional feature of the invention, the sweeper comprises an accessory consisting of a turbine located downstream of the collection tank to promote, by suction, the introduction of dirt into the collection tray, the turbine being rotated by a hydraulic motor. According to an additional characteristic of the invention, a speed multiplier is interposed between each main wheel and the corresponding pump.

According to an additional feature of the invention, the motors are connected in series.

According to an additional feature of the invention, a non-return valve is interposed between each pump and the connection to the first powered motor.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, a flow divider is interposed between each pump and the connection to the first powered motor.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the motors drive the accessories directly. According to an additional feature of the invention, the drive motor of the horizontal axis brush is housed in a pot integral with a cheek fixed on a frame constituting the sweeper, the pot being housed in one end of a sheath , supporting at its periphery the brushing elements of the brush, so that the motor can drive said brush. According to an additional feature of the invention, the sheath is held at its other end in a bearing integral with a second cheek fixed on the frame.

According to an additional feature of the invention, the sweeper is provided with a means for moving it by a machine. According to an additional feature of the invention, the means comprises at least one sleeve mounted rotatably.

According to an additional feature of the invention, said or each sleeve is fixed on a first ring which is rotatably mounted in a second ring secured to the upper part of the frame of the sweeper. The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in connection with the attached drawings, among which: FIG. . 1a is a perspective front view of a sweeper according to the invention, FIG. Ib represents a perspective rear view of a sweeper according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of a sweeper according to the invention, FIG. 3a shows a top view of a sweeper turned in a direction of advancement according to the invention, FIG. 3b is a top view of a sweeper turned in another direction of advancement according to the invention, FIG. 4 is a top view in section of a sweeper according to the invention, FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a hydraulic circuit of a sweeper according to the invention, FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a diagram of the hydraulic circuit of a sweeper according to the invention, FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a first embodiment of a sweeper according to the invention, FIG. 8 is a diagram of a hydraulic circuit of the sweeper of FIG. 7 according to the invention, and FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of a sweeper according to the invention.

The sweeper 100, shown in Figs. la and Ib, is intended to be moved on the ground by a motorized device for which can sweep and collect the dust, detritus resting on the ground.

The sweeper 100 consists of a frame 200 supporting the components thereof and which incorporates two main wheels left 210a and 210b right and a mad mounted wheel 230 at the front of the chassis allowing the sweeper to evolve on the ground following a rectilinear trajectory or not. The presence of this wheel also allows the sweeper to rest on the ground by three points, giving it a good stability.

Preferably, the two main wheels 210, which support most of the mass of the sweeper, have a common axis of rotation.

The frame 200 consists mainly of an assembly of plate plates on longitudinal members.

The sweeper 100 is provided with a means 300 for moving it by a machine. In Figs. 1a and 1b, this means 300 is adapted to be held by the forks of a lifting machine, such as a forklift, so that, on the one hand, this machine can move, by pushing, the sweeper on the soil to clean it and, secondly, that the machine can lift it off the ground in order to move it quickly, for example, to a storage place or to drain a collection tank which it is provided.

This means 300 comprises at least one sleeve 310 rotatably mounted along a vertical axis if we consider the sweeper resting on the ground. In these Figs. 1a and 1b, the means 300 comprises two sleeves 310a and 310b, and whose dimensions are adapted so that they can be threaded on the two fingers of the fork of the hoist.

In FIG. 2, the two sleeves 310 are fixed on a first ring gear 320 which is rotatably mounted by means of balls in a second ring gear 330 secured to the upper part of the frame 200 of the sweeper 100.

The relatively large diameter of these crowns 320, 330 allows the machine to lift the sweeper without deforming its frame. The vertical axis common to these two rings is located at the front of the axis of the main wheels 210, if we consider the direction of advance of the sweeper, so that it can follow the path initiated by the craft. This situation is shown in Figs. 3 where the sweeper 100 is seen to be shifted to the right in FIG. 3a as shown by arrow D and moved to the left as shown by the arrow G in FIG. 3b.

During the movement of the sweeper on the ground, the two main wheels 210 drive rotating accessories necessary, especially to the sweeping operation and / or suction.

In Figs. 2 and 4, these accessories consist of two brushes 410, of almost vertical axis, placed at the front and on either side of the sweeper 100 and which are responsible for bringing the dirt under the sweeper, a 420 brush horizontal axis placed in the rear portion of the sweeper to pick up dirt to send them into a collection tank 430, a turbine 440 located downstream of the collection tank to promote, by suction, the introduction of dirt in the collection bin. The axis of the brush 420 is perpendicular to the direction of advance of the sweeper to return the dust in the collection tank 430. The two brushes 410a and 410b are fully visible in Figs. the and 4.

They have the appearance of a truncated cone. In practice, their axis is not exactly vertical since it is oriented so that the brushes 410 touch the ground by their front part, if we still consider the direction of advance of the sweeper. They rotate in the opposite direction as shown by the arrows T + and T- in FIG. 4, to bring under the sweeper the dirt as it moves forward.

In FIG. 2, the 420 horizontal axis brush has the appearance of a cylinder. It turns in the opposite direction to that of the wheels, as indicated by the two arrows R1 and R2 to bring the dirt back to the collection tank 430 during the progress of the sweeper. The collection bin 430 appears under the sweeper. It consists of a box provided with two openings 432 and 434, one of which 432 opens flush with the brush 420 downstream thereof, and the other 434 opens to a filtration means 450 constituted here a flat filter placed under the turbine 440. The operation of the turbine 440 generates a flow of air entering through the opening 432 and out through the other opening 434 to capture the dust suspended under the sweeper.

In FIG. 4, the brushes 410a, 410b, 420 and the turbine 440 are rotated respectively by the hydraulic motors 510a, 510b, 520 and 540 fed by two pumps 560a and 560b. These two pumps are respectively rotated by the two main wheels 210 of the sweeper. A speed multiplier 570, and preferably of the epicyclic gear type, is interposed between each wheel 210 and the corresponding pump 560 so that said pump can operate at a speed of rotation close to its nominal speed during the movement of the sweeper. As an indication, an effective speed of advance of the sweeper is 4 km / h.

In Figs. 1 and 4, each motor 510 of a conical brush 410 is mounted on a bracket 512 at right angles to the frame 200 laterally.

In FIG. 4, the drive motor 520 of the horizontal axis brush 420 is housed in a pot 422 integral with a cheek 424 fixed to the frame 200 of the sweeper 100. The pot 422 is housed in one end of a sheath 426 , supporting at its periphery the brushing elements of the brush 420, so that the motor 520 can drive said brush. The sheath 426 is, moreover, held at its other end in a bearing 428 secured to a second cheek 429 fixed to the frame 200.

In FIG. 2, the drive motor 540 of the turbine 440 is fixed on a cross member 542 secured to the frame 200 of the sweeper 100. This motor 540 is of the high-speed type of rotation to directly drive the turbine in its nominal speed of efficiency .

In FIG. 5, the two pumps 560a and 560b are connected in parallel to supply together a first motor 520 and which is here the drive motor of the horizontal axis brush. Thus, the motor torque provided by the two wheels during the driving of the sweeper is fully used by this hydraulic motor.

As the sweeper travels along a curved path, both wheels rotate at different speeds. They logically drive the two pumps 560a and 560b at different speeds, however their flow rates add up, so that the power supplied by the two pumps is substantially identical, for a particular speed of advance of the sweeper, it is moves along a straight path or moves along a curved path. Both pumps always work regardless of the sweeper's trajectory.

In addition, the four motors 520, 510a, 510b and 540 are connected in series so that they are all powered by the same flow. The efficiency of the sweeper can be optimized in a chosen speed range.

By this arrangement, the movement of the sweeper on the ground by a machine causes the drive of the two pumps 560 which thus supply the various engines in series. The order of connection of the motors is preferably the following. The first powered motor is the 520 motor of the horizontal axis brush, the second and the third motor 510 are those driving the bevel brushes and the fourth motor 540 is the one driving the turbine.

The pressure-side outlets of the two pumps 560a and 560b are thus connected respectively to two lines 562a and 562b which are connected to a pipe 563 supplying the first powered motor 520. Other lines 564 respectively join the outlet port on the pressure side of an engine with the supply port of the next engine. Another return line 565 connects the outlet port of the last engine 540 with a tank 580 for storing the hydraulic fluid. This tank, placed above the pumps 560a and 560b, feeds fluid thereof by gravity, via two lines 566 and 567, one of which, in this figure, is 567 connected in parallel with the pump. 'other.

Since a simple pipe is sufficient to supply each motor, it can be placed in such a way that it directly drives the corresponding accessory. A non-return valve 590 is interposed between each pump 560 and the connection to the first powered engine 520, being interposed for example between two parts of the pipe 562, to prevent a pump stopped from receiving pressurized fluid from from the other pump that she would be trained.

This situation can occur when a first wheel is stopped while the second wheel rotates. This prevents the pump driven by the second comes to feed the pump of the first wheel at risk that it becomes a motor.

In FIG. 6, in an alternative embodiment of the hydraulic circuit of the sweeper, a flow divider 592 is interposed between each pump 560 and the connection to the first motor 520 supplied, being interposed for example between two parts of the pipe 562, to limit at a maximum value the flow rate supplied by the pump to the various motors, for example when the speed of the sweeper exceeds a particular value. This prevents a loss of traction of the wheels on the ground with the increase of the speed of the sweeper.

The sweeper 100 is coupled by the means 300 on the pusher or tractor. Its movement on the ground by the machine rotates the two main wheels 210 which in turn drive the two pumps 560. The various motors 510a, 510b, 520 and 540 are then powered and drive the accessories 410a, 410b, 420 and 440 correspondents. The sweeper of the invention uses to drive its accessories, all the available drive power of the two wheels. Its effectiveness is constant, whether it is moved in a straight line or when cornering.

The power transmission is insensitive to dust, unlike a belt transmission, by chain.

In a first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the shafts of the two wheels 210a and 210b are connected to a differential bridge 240 whose output shaft is capable of driving a hydraulic pump 560c.

In FIG. 8, the pressure-side outlet of the pump 560c is connected to the supply line 563 of the first powered motor 520.

In this configuration, the sweeper 100 provides the same advantages as described above insofar as its efficiency is constant, whether moved in a straight line or in a turn. The motor torque provided by both wheels is fully used to drive the pump. This variant is rather suitable for sweepers of higher capacity than that described above or for sweepers whose aim is to reduce the manufacturing cost.

In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the sweeper 100 is provided, for resting on the ground, three wheels, that is to say a main wheel 21Od, located at the rear of the brush 420, and two wheels 230a and 230b, rotatable free, being located laterally under the sweeper, behind the two rotating brushes 410. The single main wheel 21Od drives, through a speed multiplier 57Od, a pump 56Od. Only one pump is enough to drive the sweeper accessories.

Claims

1) sweeper (100) of the push or pull type comprising two main wheels (210a, 210b), at least one accessory (410, 420, 440) intended in particular for sweeping or suctioning, a drive means of said accessory by the main wheels, a dust collector (430), said accessory consisting of a horizontal-axis brush (420) for feeding the dust into the collecting tray (430), the horizontal-axis brush (420) being rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor (520), characterized in that the hydraulic motor (520) is connected to two hydraulic pumps (560a, 560b), connected in parallel, and respectively rotated by the two main wheels (210a). , 210b) where the hydraulic motor (520) is connected to a hydraulic pump (560c) driven by a differential bridge (240) driven by the two main wheels (210a, 210b).

2) sweeper (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two accessories consisting of two brushes (410a, 410b) rotatable placed at the front and on both sides of the sweeper (100) being rotatably driven respectively by two hydraulic motors (510a, 510b) to bring dirt under the sweeper.

3) sweeper (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises an accessory consisting of a turbine (440) located downstream of the collection tank (430) to promote, by suction, the introduction of dirt in the collection tank (430), the turbine (440) being rotated by a hydraulic motor (540).

4) Sweeper (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a speed multiplier (570a, 570b; 57Od) is interposed between each main wheel (210a, 210b) and the pump ( 560a, 560b, 56Od).

5) Sweeper (100) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the motors (510, 520, 540) are connected in series.

6) Sweeper (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a non-return valve (590a, 590b) is interposed between each pump (560a, 560b) and the connection to the first motor (520) powered. 7) sweeper (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a flow divider (592a, 592b) is interposed between each pump (560a, 560b) and the connection to the first motor (520) fed .

8) Sweeper (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the motors (510, 520, 540) directly drive the accessories.

9) sweeper (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor (520) for driving the horizontal axis brush (420) is housed in a pot (422) integral with a cheek ( 424) fixed on a frame (200) constituting the sweeper (100), the pot (422) being housed in one end of a sheath (426), supporting at its periphery the brushing elements of the brush (420), so that the motor (520) can drive said brush.

10) Sweeper (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the sheath (426) is held by its other end in a bearing (428) integral with a second cheek (429) fixed on the frame (200).

11) Sweeper (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with means (300) for its movement by a machine.

12) Sweeper (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that the means (300) comprises at least one sleeve (310) rotatably mounted.

13) Sweeper (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that said or each sleeve (310) is fixed on a first ring (320) which is rotatably mounted in a second ring (330) integral with the upper portion of frame (200) of the sweeper (100), the two rings (320, 330) being secured to each other.