GB2180283A

GB2180283A - Ground sweeping apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2180283A
Application number: GB08522641A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Staniforth; George Edward Hobbs; Jonathan William Hargreaves; Douglas Arthur Everett
Original assignee: Sisis Equipment; Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Current assignee: Sisis Equipment; Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Priority date: 1985-09-12
Filing date: 1985-09-12
Publication date: 1987-03-25
Also published as: GB2180283B; GB8522641D0

Abstract

Ground sweeping apparatus adapted to be connected to and towed by a three-point hitch at the rear of a tractor, and comprising a wheeled chassis (10) carrying a driven rotary brush (16) and a pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending arms (20) between which is pivotally connected at the rear end of the arms, an open-fronted collection container (22) with a hinged rear door (24). When the container is full, the apparatus is elevated by the tractor and container (22) is pivotted upwardly to position (32) whereupon door (24) is opened to discharge its contents into a standard trailer or other receptacle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ground sweeping apparatus This invention concerns apparatus for ground sweeping and collecting swept materials and is particularly adapted to be towed by a tractor across grass or hard surfaces such as sports fields, athletics tracks, car parks and the like.

In one known form of apparatus ofthis kind, a rectangularframework is adapted to be connected to a standard three-point elevatable hitch at the rear of a tractor, with a collecting container pivotally mounted at about its mid-point on two sides oftheframework, the container being open at the front to receive swept materials directed into it bya rotary brush atthefront of the framework, which is driven in rotation from the standard powertake-off on the tractor.

To empty the container, the apparatus is lifted by the tractor and the container is rotated forwards relative to the framework to discharge its contents through the open front.

A disadvantage experienced with this kind of apparatus is that the framework cannot be elevated by the contentsto be discharged intoatrailerorother secondary receptacle, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a ground sweeping apparatus of a generally similar kind but capable of discharging its contentsfrom a higher level.

According to the present invention there is provided, apparatus for ground sweeping and collecting swept materials, comprising a supporting framework of two laterally spaced parallel arms adapted for connection to a standard three-point hitch at the rear of a tractor, the arms extending rearwardlyfrom a base region containing a driven rotary brush; a collection container located between the arms with its rear end region pivotally attached thereto; a rearwall ofthe containerforming a hinged door; and means four elevating the container about its rear end pivot, relative to the arms, whereby to discharge the contentsthrough the hinged dooratthe rear.

An embodiment ofthe invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates, in elevation, the principal parts of an apparatus made in accordance with the invention.

The apparatus comprises a chassis or base frame 10 mounted between and riding on a pair of wheels one of which is generally indicated at 11, and adapted to be connected byfixed arms 12and 13to a standard three-point elevatable hitch at the rear of a tractor.

A pair of brackets 14, one at each end of the chassis, is pivotable at 15 relative thereto. Extending between the brackets 14 is a rotary brush assembly 16 which, as in conventional equipment of this kind, is driven in rotation in the direction of arrow 17 by a belt and pulley assembly (not shown} driven from the power take-off on the tractor. A cross member 18 between brackets 14 carries one end of an adjusting strut 19 which is connected to the fixed arm 13. The strut 19 is adjustableto raise and Iowerthebracketsl4and rotary brush assembly 16 relative to the ground. This enables the heightofthe brushes to be adjusted for different uses and as the brushes become worn.

Extending upwardly and rearwardlyfromthe ends ofchassis 1 0 are a pair of laterally spaced parallel arms 20which terminate in horizontal sections 21.A collection container 22 is located between the arms 20 and pivotallyattached at 23 to the rear end region of the horizontal sections 21.The rear of the container is formed as a door 24 hinged at its top and removably held in a closed position by a catch 25.

A shaft on the pivotal axis 23 passes between the sections 21 ofthe arms 20 and carries a small auxiliary arm 26 connected to the arm of a hydraulic cylinder 27 whose head is connected to the horizontal section 21 of one of the arms 20. If necessary, a pair of such cylinders 27 can be provided, one on each arm. At the rear end ofthe base olcontainer22 is a single central castor wheel 28 which rides along the ground to supportthecontainer.

In operation, the apparatus is towed by a tractor, the brushes being driven in a clockwise direction as shown in the drawing, and leaves and other materials are swept into the container 22 which is open at the frontforthis purpose.

To discharge the container contents, the chassis 10 and arms 20 are elevated by the tractor in the direction of arrow 30, and the cylinder 27 is extended thus elevating the container relative to the arms 20 in the direction indicated by arrow 31 to a position above the arms as illustrated by chain-dotted lines 32. The tractor may then be reversed to locate the elevated container over a trailer or other receptacle whereupon catch 25 is released to allow door 24 to open and the contents to discharge into the receptacle. Once the container is empty, the cylinder 27 is retracted to return the container to its travelling position whereupon door 24 closes and is locked by catch 25.

It will be appreciated that by pivotting the container relative to the rear upper ends ofthe arms 20,21, substantiallythewholeofthe container may be raised above the arms to a sufficient height two locate it over a standard trailer or other receptacle, which is of considerable advantage when compared with the conventional, centrally mounted, containers which pivot forwardly to discharge the contents from the front at insufficient height two enablethe container to be emptied into a trailer. Such conventional systems can discharge only onto the ground behind the tractor or alternatively into a pit or a ditch.

The apparatus described above can be operated entirely from thetractor driver's cab provided the catch 25 is remotely operable. If required, the adjusting strut 19may be hydraulically actuated sothatthe sweeping height ofthe brushes 16 can be adjusted to suit different conditions as the apparatus is driven overthe ground.

Claims

1. Apparatus for ground sweeping and collecting swept materials, comprising a supporting framework oftwo laterally spaced parallel arms adapted for connection to (for example) a standard three-point hitch atthe rearofa tractor, the arms extending rearwardlyfrom a base region containing a driven rotary brush; a collection container located between the arms and open at its front end to receive swept materials, with its rear end region pivotallyattachedto the rearend regions ofthearms; a rearwall ofthe containerforming a hinged door; and means four elevating the container about its rear end pivot relative to the arms, whereby to discharge contents through the hinged dooratthe rear.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the arms are mounted on and extend rearwardlyfrom a wheeled chassis carrying the driven rotary brush, means being provided for adjustment of the operative heightofthebrush abovetheground.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 orClaim2, wherein the arms extend upwardly and rearwardly from said base region and terminate in a horizontal section whose free ends are thus located in an elevated position above the ground, the container being pivotally attached to the arms at the elevated position.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the doorformed as the rear wal l of the container is hinged at its upper end and is removably held in a closed position by a catch.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the collection container is mounted for pivotal movement on a rotatable shaftto which is connected an hydraulic cylinder to rotate the shaft and thus to pivot the container to discharge its contents.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the rear end ofthe base ofthe container is supported on a single central castorwheel.

7. Apparatus for ground sweeping and collecting swept materials, substantially as hereinbefore de scribed with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.