GB2060034A - Road sweeping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A rotary hydraulically driven brush 2 sweeps into an open-ended receptacle 1 attached to the lift linkage 7, 6 of a tractor 5. The brush 2 is carried by a canopy 3 pivoted at 4 to the receptacle 1 and coupled by a height-adjusting twinbuckle 11 to an upstanding link 8. The lower end of link 8 is pivoted to the receptacle; the upper end of link 8 is connected to the receptacle by latch 9. The lower tractor links 6 are pivoted to lugs on the receptacle while the upper tractor link 7 is pivoted to link 8. Raising of links 6, 7 after release of latch 9 (Fig. 2, not shown) simultaneously tips the receptacle for emptying and swings the brush clear. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Road sweeping equipment This invention relates to road sweeping equipment.

According to the present invention road sweeping equipment comprises, in combination, a receptacle having an open end, and a driveable rotary brush adapted and arranged so that, in use, it can sweep refuse from a road through said open end into the receptacle, the receptacle being adapted to be mounted on the three-point hitch linkage of a tractor, and the brush being pivotally mounted on the receptacle to permit height adjustment of the brush relative to the road and to the receptacle, and to permit tipping of the receptacle relative to the brush.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of road sweeping equipment according to the present invention, mounted on a tractor, and in its lowered roadsweeping position; Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the equipment in its refuse tipping position; and Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the equipment raised for out-of-use road transport.

Referring to the drawings, road sweeping equipment consists generally of a refuse receptacle 1, and a rotary brush 2. The receptacle 1 is open at the top and at its rear end, and the brush 2 is carried within the free end of a cover or canopy 3 whose other end is pivotally mounted by removable pins 4 on the side walls of the receptacle 1.

The receptacle 1 is mounted on the three-point hitch linkage of a tractor 5, as follows. The lower links 6 of the hitch linkage are pivotally and detachably connected to laterally spaced lugs (not shown) on the front wall of the receptacle 1, and the top link 7 of the hitch linkage is pivotally and detachably connected to an upstanding link 8 intermediate the ends of the latter. The link 8 at its lower end is pivotally connected to the receptacle 1, and, adjacent its upper end, is releasably secured to the front wall of the receptacle 1 by a manually operable latch 9. The upper end of the link 8 is pivotally connected to an upstanding fin 10 on top of the canopy 3 by a length-adjustable member 11 which may be a chain, but is preferably a turnbuckle, as shown.

The brush 2 is driven from the tractor hydraulic system via a pump and a hydraulic motor 12 (Fig. 3), and the receptacle 1 has ground wheels 13 which are height adjustable, so that they may be raised slightly clear of the road surface when the equipment is in use, and may be lowered when the receptacle 1 is used as a transport box, with the brush removed. The brush can be quickly and easily removed by withdrawing the pivot pins 4 and disconnecting the turnbuckle from the link 8.

In Fig. 1, the equipment is shown in its in-use road-sweeping condition, in which the desired pressure of the brush 2 on the road surface is set by adjustment of the turnbuckle 11. The turnbuckle can of course also be used, when necessary, to lower the brush to compensate for wear on the bristles.

When the receptacle 1 has to be emptied, the latch 9 is actuated to release the receptacle, and the hitch linkage is raised. This causes the receptacle to tip, and the brush to be raised clear of the open end of the receptacle as shown in Fig. 2. Raising of the brush is caused by the link 8 being raised and swung anti-clockwise as the hitch linkage rises, so that the turnbuckle 11 pulls the brush upwards.

Fig. 3 shows the equipment in the same condition as in Fig. 1, but with the hitch linkage raised so that the equipment is also raised for road transport.

As shown in Fig. 3, a removable baffle 14 may be provided on the base of the receptacle adjacent its open end for preventing slurry or other liquid (which has been swept into the receptacle) from flowing out of the receptacle until the latter is tipped.

In the drawings, the ground wheels 13 are shown adjacent the front end of the receptacle, but they may alternatively be located adjacent the rear end.

1. Road sweeping equipment comprising, in combination, a receptacle having an open end, and a driveable rotary brush adapted and arranged so that, in use, it can sweep refuse from a road through said open end into the receptacle, the receptacle being adapted to be mounted on the three-point hitch linkage of a tractor, and the brush being pivotally mounted on the receptacle to permit height adjustment of the brush relative to the road and to the receptacle, and to permit tipping of the receptacle relative to the brush.

2. Road sweeping equipment according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is adapted to be mounted on the three-point hitch linkage of a tractor by means of an upstanding link pivotally connected at its lower end to the receptacle, the upstanding link being releasably secured adjacent its upper end to the receptacle by means of a manually operable latch, and the brush being connected to the upstanding link at its upper end by means of a length-adjustable member, whereby on releasing the latch and raising the three-point hitch linkage of the tractor, the brush pivots upwardly away from the receptacle and the receptacle tips for emptying.

3. Road sweeping equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Road sweeping equipment This invention relates to road sweeping equipment. According to the present invention road sweeping equipment comprises, in combination, a receptacle having an open end, and a driveable rotary brush adapted and arranged so that, in use, it can sweep refuse from a road through said open end into the receptacle, the receptacle being adapted to be mounted on the three-point hitch linkage of a tractor, and the brush being pivotally mounted on the receptacle to permit height adjustment of the brush relative to the road and to the receptacle, and to permit tipping of the receptacle relative to the brush. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of road sweeping equipment according to the present invention, mounted on a tractor, and in its lowered roadsweeping position; Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the equipment in its refuse tipping position; and Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the equipment raised for out-of-use road transport. Referring to the drawings, road sweeping equipment consists generally of a refuse receptacle 1, and a rotary brush 2. The receptacle 1 is open at the top and at its rear end, and the brush 2 is carried within the free end of a cover or canopy 3 whose other end is pivotally mounted by removable pins 4 on the side walls of the receptacle 1. The receptacle 1 is mounted on the three-point hitch linkage of a tractor 5, as follows. The lower links 6 of the hitch linkage are pivotally and detachably connected to laterally spaced lugs (not shown) on the front wall of the receptacle 1, and the top link 7 of the hitch linkage is pivotally and detachably connected to an upstanding link 8 intermediate the ends of the latter. The link 8 at its lower end is pivotally connected to the receptacle 1, and, adjacent its upper end, is releasably secured to the front wall of the receptacle 1 by a manually operable latch 9. The upper end of the link 8 is pivotally connected to an upstanding fin 10 on top of the canopy 3 by a length-adjustable member 11 which may be a chain, but is preferably a turnbuckle, as shown. The brush 2 is driven from the tractor hydraulic system via a pump and a hydraulic motor 12 (Fig. 3), and the receptacle 1 has ground wheels 13 which are height adjustable, so that they may be raised slightly clear of the road surface when the equipment is in use, and may be lowered when the receptacle 1 is used as a transport box, with the brush removed. The brush can be quickly and easily removed by withdrawing the pivot pins 4 and disconnecting the turnbuckle from the link 8. In Fig. 1, the equipment is shown in its in-use road-sweeping condition, in which the desired pressure of the brush 2 on the road surface is set by adjustment of the turnbuckle 11. The turnbuckle can of course also be used, when necessary, to lower the brush to compensate for wear on the bristles. When the receptacle 1 has to be emptied, the latch 9 is actuated to release the receptacle, and the hitch linkage is raised. This causes the receptacle to tip, and the brush to be raised clear of the open end of the receptacle as shown in Fig. 2. Raising of the brush is caused by the link 8 being raised and swung anti-clockwise as the hitch linkage rises, so that the turnbuckle 11 pulls the brush upwards. Fig. 3 shows the equipment in the same condition as in Fig. 1, but with the hitch linkage raised so that the equipment is also raised for road transport. As shown in Fig. 3, a removable baffle 14 may be provided on the base of the receptacle adjacent its open end for preventing slurry or other liquid (which has been swept into the receptacle) from flowing out of the receptacle until the latter is tipped. In the drawings, the ground wheels 13 are shown adjacent the front end of the receptacle, but they may alternatively be located adjacent the rear end. CLAIMS

1. Road sweeping equipment comprising, in combination, a receptacle having an open end, and a driveable rotary brush adapted and arranged so that, in use, it can sweep refuse from a road through said open end into the receptacle, the receptacle being adapted to be mounted on the three-point hitch linkage of a tractor, and the brush being pivotally mounted on the receptacle to permit height adjustment of the brush relative to the road and to the receptacle, and to permit tipping of the receptacle relative to the brush.

2. Road sweeping equipment according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is adapted to be mounted on the three-point hitch linkage of a tractor by means of an upstanding link pivotally connected at its lower end to the receptacle, the upstanding link being releasably secured adjacent its upper end to the receptacle by means of a manually operable latch, and the brush being connected to the upstanding link at its upper end by means of a length-adjustable member, whereby on releasing the latch and raising the three-point hitch linkage of the tractor, the brush pivots upwardly away from the receptacle and the receptacle tips for emptying.

3. Road sweeping equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.