GB2338686A

GB2338686A - A seat assembly for a pedestrian operated sweeping machine

Info

Publication number: GB2338686A
Application number: GB9813763A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Bryson Riach; Peter Alexander Claren Munnoch; Dawson Sellar
Original assignee: Applied Sweepers Ltd
Current assignee: Applied Sweepers Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-25
Filing date: 1998-06-25
Publication date: 1999-12-29
Also published as: GB9813763D0

Abstract

A seat assembly for a pedestrian operable suction sweeping machine 1 is foldable between a position of use and a stowed position allowing the machine to be operated in walk-behind mode. The seat assembly comprises a first trailing arm 5 pivotally connected to the machine about a horizontal transverse axis 7 and a second trailing arm 9 pivotally connected to the rear of the first arm 5 about a vertical axis 25. The second trailing arm carries a ground engaging wheel 11 and a seat 15 which is also pivotally movable to a stowed position. The seat assembly is supported in its stowed position on a castor 23 mounted on one of the trailing arms. A fold out foot support can also be provided.

Description

1 1 Suction Sweeping Machine with Seat 2338686 This invention relates to a

suction sweeping machine which is pedestrian operable but is provided with a collapsible seat. The seat forms part of a collapsible seat assembly and when the seat assembly is in a collapsed state, it can be stowed or stored beneath the rear of the machine, thus enabling an operator to operate the machine in pedestrian mode, but when the seat assembly is folded out into a position of use, it enables the operator to operate the suction sweeping machine in a supported or seated position.

Pedestrian operable grass-cutting machinery to which an operator's platform or seat can be attached to enable the grass-cutting machinery to be operated from a seated or supported position is well known, but the operator's platform or seat forms part of an assembly which cannot be folded away and stored beneath the grass-cutting machine to the rear thereof to allow the machine to be used in pedestrian or walk-behind mode. Instead, if the operator wishes to use the machine in walk-behind mode, he will disconnect the seat assembly ftorn the machine. Such seat assemblies or operator platforms may be telescopic to the extent that the spacing of the seat or operator platform from the operator's handlebars can be adjusted so as to enable operators of different heights to operate the machine in seated or supported mode. However, none of these known seat assemblies or platform assemblies are of such a construction that they can be folded up or collapsed and stored underneath the machine to the rear thereof, while still attached to the machine, thereby enabling the operator to operate the machine in pedestrian or walk-behind mode without in any way inhibiting the operator. Instead, if the seat assembly or platform assembly is reduced in length to its minimum length, there is still a risk that the operator, in attempting to operate the machine in pedestrian or walk-behind mode, will stub his toes or knock his legs on the rear of the seat or platform assembly.

Pedestrian operable suction sweeping machines are now quite well known and are used 30 by district and metropolitan councils for street and pavement sweeping. They can also be used in supermarket car parks and other locations and one of the principal advantages of providing the machine with a trailed seat assembly is that it allows the operator to use the machine in seated mode when conditions allow, i.e. when there are 1 c 2 not too many pedestrians on the pavements and too much traffic or when supermarket car parks (or shopping precincts) are less busy. One commercially available suction sweeping machine of the type described above is that marketed by Applied Sweepers Limited of Falkirk, Scotland under the Trade Mark THE GREEN MACHINETm and which is the subject of U.K. Patent Application No. 9610926.9.

The present invention seeks to provide a pedestrian operable suction sweeping machine such as that disclosed in the specification of the above patent application, but having a modified construction of seat assembly which is equally convenient to use, but less expensive to manufacture and maintain.

The present invention also provides a collapsible seat assembly for attachment to a pedestrian operable suction sweeping machine.

According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a seat assembly for a pedestrian operable suction sweeping machine, the scat assembly comprising a first trailing arm by means of which the assembly may be pivotally attached to the machine for pivoting movement about a transversely extending generally horizontal axis, a second trailing arm pivotally connected to the first trailing arm and movable between a storage position and a position of use in which it extends rearwardly of the first trailing arm, wheel means rotatably mounted on the second trailing arm, a seat support means carried by the second trailing arm and a seat supported by said means. Preferably, the seat support means is pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to a rear end portion of the second trailing arm and supports the seat at its upper end, and is moveable between a position of use and a storage position unsuitable for use.

In one construction, the seat support means may comprise a single stalk on the upper end of which the seat is supported, in which case the scat may comprise a generally Ushaped frame made of chrome plated round bar stock or the like on which a web of material is supported. The web of material may comprise leather, canvas, or any similar material.

3 In an alternative construction, the seat support means may comprise a kinked arm to which a supplementary arm is pivotally attached by a hinge, the supplementary arm being moveable between a first position in which it lies alongside a kinked arm of the kinked arm and a second opened out position extending at an acute angle thereto so as to form with the first limb a generally Y-shaped support, there being a support web attached to upper end regions of the first limb and supplementary arm, so as to provide a seating support for an operator when the supplementary arm and first limb are in their opened-out configuration.

Preferably, the second trailing arm is pivotally connected to the rear of the first trailing arm adjacent its forward end, about a generally vertically extending pivot axis. This means that when the second trailing arm is in its fully extended position, the two trailing arms will act as a single rigid arm in a vertical plane, but will be able to "bend" in a horizontal plane, e.g. to assist with cornering.

Preferably, a caster is supported beneath the second trailing arm at such a height that it will only be operative when the seat assembly is in a fully folded storage position. Alternatively, the caster could be mounted on a rear end of the first trailing arm.

Also according to the present invention, we provide a pedestrian operable suction sweeping machine having a chassis supporting at least one brush at its forward end and a pair of drive wheels and handle bar means extending rearwardly thereof, wherein a seat assembly is pivotally attached to the machine about a horizontally extending transverse pivot axis, the seat assembly including a first trailing arm attaching the assembly to the machine, the first trailing arm having adjacent its rear end, a second trailing arm pivotally attached thereto, the second trailing arm supporting, adjacent its rear end, seat support means which is preferably pivotally attached about a generally horizontally extending transverse axis to the second trailing arm, and carrying wheel means and a seat at an upper end of the scat support means, and wherein the seat assembly is movable between a first fully folded position in which the length of the assembly is no greater than the overall length of the first trailing arm and a second extended position, so that when in its first position, an operator can control the machine 1 4 by walking behind the machine, but when in its fully extended position, the operator can control the machine by sitting on the seat. Two embodiments of pedestrian operable suction sweeping machine and seat assembly for use therewith and in accordance with the invention are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are largely schematic, and in which:

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 is a perspective view of a first embodiment machine with seat assembly attached thereto and in a fully extended position of use; is a plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1; is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of the seat assembly shown in Figure 1; is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing a modified construction of seat assembly; is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the seat assembly in an intermediate stage between its fully folded and fully operative positions; and is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the seat assembly in a fully folded away storage or stowage position.

Referring to the drawings, a suction sweeping machine 3 of the general type disclosed in our U.K. Patent Application No. 9610926.9 and in our U. K. Patent No. 2287418 is provided with a modified seat assembly 1, thus enabling the machine to be operated by an operator either in ride-on mode or in pedestrian mode. The sweeping machine has an overall casing 4, in which is located, generally in known manner, an impeller for generating suction to draw material swept-up by a pair of counter rotating brushes 20 at the front of the machine up and through the casing into a collecting container towards the rear of the casing. Also located within the casing are filters and a power source, 1 such as a small engine. The machine has two ground engaging wheels 2, driven by the engine, and extending rearwardly of the casing 4 are handlebar means 6.

The seat assembly 1 comprises a first trailing arm 5 pivotally attached adjacent its front end to a chassis member of the machine 3 to the rear of the wheels 2. For this purpose, a generally horizontal transverse pivot 7 is provided. At its rear end, the first trailing arm 5 is pivotally connected to the front end of a second trailing arm 9, about a vertically extending pivot axis 25. A seat support means 13, in the form of a stalk 19 is pivotally attached adjacent its lower end to the rear of the second trailing arm 9, about a generally horizontally extending pivot axis 17. Wheel means 11 are also supported on the rear end of the second trailing arm 9. At its upper end, the seat support means 13 supports a seat 15. The seat 15 is comprised of a web made of leather, canvas or the like, wrapped around and attached to a generally U-shaped frame 21, made of chromium plated bar stock or the like, which may be folded between the position illustrated and a storage position alongside the stalk 19. A caster 23 is supported beneath the second trailing arm 9, midway between the front and rear ends of the arm.

When the seat assembly 1 is in the position illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, it is in a fully extended operative position allowing an operator to control the suction sweeping machine 3 from a ride-on position sitting on the seat 15. If desired, suitable fold-out foot rests may be supported either on the arm 9 or the arm 5 to support the operator's feet. Because of the vertical pivot 25, the two arms 5 and 9 will be rigid in a vertical plane, but will permit the arm 9 to pivot relative to the arm 5 to assist with steering and cornering of the machine. The size of the wheel means 11 and the wheels 2 of the suction sweeping machine 3 and the vertical location of the pivot 7 connecting the arm 5 to the suction sweeping machine 3 are such that in the illustrated position, the caster 23 is held free of the ground.

When it is desired to use the suction sweeping machine 3 in pedestrian or walk behind mode, the seat assembly is completely folded away to a storage position beneath the rearmost portion of the suction sweeping machine 3. To achieve this, the seat 15, together with its frame 21 is first pivoted about a horizontal axis connecting it to an upper region of the stalk 13, through approximately 270', so as to lie alongside the stalk 13. The stalk 13 is then pivoted through a little over 90' in a clockwise sense in the 6 direction of the arrow A, so as to lie alongside the second trailing arm 9, suitable stop means (not shown) being provided to hold the stalk 13 in this location. The arm 9, stalk 13 and attached seat 15 are then folded through approximately 180' in an anticlockwise direction, in the direction of the arrow B, so as to lie alongside the arm 5, this being achieved by lifting the whole mechanism slightly so as to raise the wheel means 11 off the ground, such lifting being possible by virtue of the pivot 7. Once the seat 15, stalk 13 and arm 9 have been folded to their fully folded up positions, none of the seat assembly will project rearwardly of the rear of the arm 5. Suitable latching means (not shown) may be provided to hold the various components in this fold away position, whereupon the arm 5, together with its attached arm 9, stalk 13 and seat 15 may be raised slightly by pivoting clockwise about the axis 7 and attached to the underside of the chassis of the machine so as to hold all of the assembly well off the ground. In this mode, the caster 23 will be located to the rear of the wheel means 11 and by virtue of the geometry of the assembly, it will be the caster 23, rather than the wheel means 11 which will first touch the ground when it is necessary for an operator walking behind the machine to press downwardly on the handlebar means 6 to raise the brushes 11, e.g. to allow the machine to be driven up a curb or other step.

In the modified construction shown in Figures 4 to 6, the first trailing arm 5 is replaced by a rigid trailing rod 5a and the second trailing arm 9 is replaced by a kinked trailing link 9a. The rod 5a has at its front end, a transversely extending pivot portion 7a, connected to a rearwardly extending rod portion 8 which is kinked at 10. At its rear end, the rod portion 8 has a transversely extending portion 12, extending parallel to the pivot portion 7a, which portion 12 terminates in an upstanding vertically extending pivot portion 14. The kinked trailing link 9a is generally L-shaped in plan and comprises a front arm 16 extending at right angles to a generally rearwardly extending portion 18 on which wheel means 11 is supported. The free end portion of the front arm 16 has a through aperture therein to receive the upstanding pivot portion 14 of the trailing rod 5a. A castor is connected to rod 5a as shown at 23a.

Pivotally supported on the rear of the rearwardly extending portion 18 is a seat support means 13a in the form of a kinked arm 51, a lower part of which (not illustrated) extends in the same plane as the visible face of the rearwardly extending portion 18 of 1 7 the trailing link 9a and a visible portion 52 of which has pivotally attached thereto about a hinge 54, a supplementary arm 53. In its position of rest or storage position, the arm 53 lies against and is substantially coextensive with the visible portion 52 of the seat support means 13, but by pivoting the supplementary arm 53 relative to the portion 52, a generally Y-shaped seat support means is provided. A seat in the form of a length of webbing extending between the upper free ends of the visible portion 52 and supplementary arm 53 is then formed, on which an operator may sit. When using the seat, the operator can rest his feet on the front arm 16 and transverse part 12 of the first trailing rod 5a or alternatively, on a fold-out foot support (not shown).

As is apparent from Figure 4, the seat assembly is pivotally attached to the underside of the sweeping machine by virtue of the horizontal transversely extending pivot portion 7a, but when it is desired to operate the sweeping machine in walk behind or pedestrian mode, the supplementary arm 53 is collapsed so as to lie against the portion 52 of the seat support means 13a, whereupon the latter is folded through approximately 180' so as to lie against the visible face of the rearwardly extending portion 18. The seat support means can be held in this location by a suitable locking stud 56. The kinked trailing link 9a is then pivoted anticlockwise, as in the previous embodiment, so as to overlie the kinked trailing rod 5a with the wheel means 11 being accommodated in the space 58, resulting from the kink 10. As in the previous embodiment, the whole assembly can then be raised by pivoting about the axis of pivot 7a and latched beneath the rear of the machine. The machine can then be operated in walk-behind mode, with the castor 23a helping the operator to steer the machine, and to balance it, e.g. when negotiating a kerb or the like.

In both embodiments, when the machine is operated in walk-behind mode, there is little risk of an operator stubbing his toes against the stowedaway seat assembly or knocking his legs or knees against the assembly, since the assembly is neatly stowed beneath the rear of the suction sweeping machine 3, and does not extend rearwardly, substantially beyond the rearmost part of the first trailing arm 5.

The above-described scat assemblies are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain and are easily convertible between their storage or stowed position and a 1 8 rearwardly extended operative position ready for ride-on operation of the machine. Because the seat assembly normally remains permanently connected to the sweeping machine, there is little risk of it being stolen or vandalised, as would be the case if it was removed from the machine.

It will, of course, be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

1 1 9

Claims

1. A seat assembly for a pedestrian operable suction sweeping machine, the seat assembly comprising a first trailing arm by means of which the assembly may be pivotally attached to the machine for pivoting movement about a transversely extending generally horizontal axis, a second trailing arm pivotally connected to the first trailing arm and movable between a storage position and a position of use in which it extends rearwardly of the first trailing arm, wheel means rotatably mounted on the second trailing arm, a seat support means carried by the second trailing arm and a seat supported by said means.

2. A seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein, the seat support means is pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to a rear end portion of the second trailing arm and supports the scat at its upper end, and is moveable between a position of use and a storage position.

3. A seat assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the seat support means comprises a single stalk on the upper end of which the seat is supported.

4. A seat assembly according to claim 3 wherein the seat comprises a generally Ushaped frame on which a web of material is supported.

5. A seat assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the seat support means comprises a kinked arm to which a supplementary arm is pivotally attached by a hinge, the supplementary arm being moveable between a first position in which it lies alongside a first limb of the kinked arm and a second position extending at an acute angle thereto so as to form with the kinked arm a generally Y-shaped support, there being a support web attached to upper end regions of the first limb and supplementary arm, so as to provide a seating support for an operator when the supplementary arm and first limb are in their opened-out configuration.

6. A seat assembly according to any one of claims 1-5 wherein the second trailing arm is pivotally connected to the rear of the first trailing arm adjacent its forward end, about a generally vertically extending pivot axis.

7. A seat assembly according to anyone of claims 1-6 wherein a caster is supported beneath the second trailing arm at such a height that it will only be operative when the seat assembly is in a fully folded storage position.

8. A seat assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to 10 Figures 1-3 or Figures 4-6 of the accompanying drawings.

is

9. A pedestrian operable suction sweeping machine having a chassis supporting at least one brush at its forward end and a pair of drive wheels and handle bar means extending rearwardly thereof, wherein a seat assembly is pivotally attached to the machine about a horizontally extending transverse pivot axis, the seat assembly including a first trailing arm attaching the assembly to the machine, the first trailing arm having adjacent its rear end, a second trailing arm pivotally attached thereto, the second trailing arm supporting, adjacent its rear end, seat support means and carrying wheel means, and a seat at an upper end of the seat support means, and wherein the seat assembly is movable between a first fully folded position in which the length of the assembly is no greater than the overall length of the first trailing arm and a second extended position, so that when in its first position, an operator can control the machine by walking behind the machine, but when in its fully extended position, the operator can control the machine by sitting on the seat.

10. A suction sweeping machine having a seat assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1-8.