IES20000059A2 - A sweeping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A sweeping apparatus (1) for sweeping up debris from a surface (S) into a collection box (3) the apparatus (1) has a brush (21) mounted on a shaft (22) which rotates under power in a circular motion (B) and flicks debris into the collection box (3). The weight of sweeping mechanism (2) and the direction of rotation (B) of the brush (21) obviates the need for a restraining means to keep the brush (21) in contact with the surface (S). The apparatus (1) has a debris control system (4) and an associated water tank (42) for providing a spray of water (W) onto swept debris (D) as it passes into the collection box (3). The rotating brush (21) creates a moving channel of air which assists in directing the debris (D) into the collection box (3). <Figure 1>

Description

A SWEEPING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a sweeping apparatus for the removal of debris from various surfaces.

For the purposes of this specification the term surface is taken to include roads, footpaths, floors or the like, and the term debris is taken to include litter, dust or any other accumulation of matter which occurs on surfaces.

The collection of debris is an important operation as the accumulation of debris is unsightly and in certain circumstances is a safety hazard. Therefore it is important that an adequate system is put in place to control the build up of debris.

The primary method used to collect debris from surfaces is the use of sweeping brushes. While brushes are inexpensive and easy to use they are limited in their use. A brush can only be used to sweep a limited area as a user must employ physical exertion. During sweeping airborne dust is generated which sprays the dust away from the collection area and redistributes it increasing the effort required to clean a particular surface.

For larger surfaces mechanical surface sweepers are employed. These sweepers use fixed position brushes which rotate sweeping the debris into the path of a vacuum inlet which sucks the debris into a collection unit. A disadvantage with the prior art surface sweeping apparatus is that large objects can become lodged in the inlet thereby reducing the efficiency of the sweeper and inevitably leading to a blockage in the vacuum system.

The brushes which sweep the debris into such sweeping apparatus are fixed in position and require manual adjustment. The fixed position of the brushes reduces the efficiency of the apparatus as the bmshes are unable to accommodate undulations in the surface being swept. The contact between the brushes and the surface is also effected due to the top of the brushes wearing down. Without adjustment the sweeping capacity will be reduced.

An additional feature to the above prior art apparatus involves the use of a water spray which covers the area being swept with water. The spray system reduces the build up of airborne dust caused by the sweeping action of the brushes. However, the water can form a skin over the debris reducing the efficiency of the bmsh in sweeping up the debris.

The availability of water for the spray is limited to the fixed capacity of the water storage containers. This fixed amount of the water limits the area the sweeping apparatus can clean before refilling.

There is therefore a need for a sweeping apparatus, which will alleviate the aforementioned problems.

Accordingly, there is provided a surface sweeping apparatus which includes a sweeping mechanism, a collection box and a debris control means wherein the sweeping mechanism includes a self-adjusting brush which is pivotally mounted on the apparatus allowing the brush to negotiate an undulating surface, the debris control system includes a water sprinkler for spraying water onto the swept debris as it enters the collection box and a ducting channel for directing a channel of air generated by the rotating brush through the collection box so as to carry airborne atomised water into the ducting channel under the collection box to a leading edge panel located between the bmsh and the collection box where the current of air is directed into the path of the swept debris assisting in its passage into the collection box.

Preferably, a shaft is used to support the bmsh and is itself mounted on a support arm.

Ideally the support arm is mounted on the sweeping apparatus at a point in front of and above the level of the axis of the shaft to which the brush is attached. By virtue of the weight of the bmsh and shaft and their location below and behind the mounting point of the support arm the bmsh is kept in continuous contact with the surface over which it is travelling. This arrangement of the sweeping mechanism removes the need for restraints to keep the brash in contact with the surface and allows the bmsh to pivot in a horizontal plane as well as rise and fall in a horizontal plane by the movement of the support arm.

Ideally, the brash is cylindrical and rotates in the direction of the collection box. The . rotating motion flicks the debris into the collection box. The rotation of the brush also generates a current of air which passes through the sweeping apparatus.

Preferably, a set of side skirts are positioned around the lower edge of the sweeping apparatus to minimise the escape of debris from under the apparatus. The side skirts also assist in directing the channel of air travelling under the collection box.

Preferably, a drive mechanism is connected to the shaft which rotates the attached brash in a sweeping motion. The drive mechanism rotates the brush at a sufficient speed so that the debris is flicked into the collection box.

Preferably the collection box is an open top structure located inside the sweeping apparatus. The debris which is directed into the box enters through the open top side.

The large entrance into the collection box reduces the possibility of debris gathering and causing a blockage in the entrance to the collection box.

Ideally, the collection box is pivotally mounted on the housing allowing the box to pivot away from the housing to release the collected debris from the box.

Preferably the debris control means also includes a re-circulating air means which uses the current of moving air produced by the moving brashes. The current of air assists in directing the swept debris into the collection box. The air also collects any airborne water and re-circulates it through the collection box into the ducting, under the collection box around the leading edge panel and back around into the path of the debris being swept by brush assisting in directing the debris into the collection box. The airborne water in the recirculating channel of air also helps to control the debris being swept. This reduces the overall quantity of water required thereby extending the area of surface that can be covered.

Preferably, the leading edge panel is attached to the housing in between the brush and collection box. The panel assists in directing the re-circulating air into the path of the swept debris and assists in the movement of the debris into the collection box.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, one embodiment of a sweeping apparatus according to the invention. In the drawings:- Figure 1 is a section view of a sweeping apparatus detailing a collection area and a sweeping mechanism; Figure 2 is a section elevation view of the sweeping mechanism of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section view of the sweeping machine of Figure 1 in an elevated position; and Figure 4 is a section view of the sweeping machine in use.

Referring to the drawings and initially to figure 1 there is illustrated a sweeping apparatus generally indicated by the reference numeral 1. The sweeping apparatus 1 comprises a sweeping mechanism 2 which sweeps up debris from a surface S, a collection box 3 for collecting and temporally retaining the swept debris, a debris control system 4 for controlling the debris being swept and delivered into the collection box 3, and a housing 5 which makes up the main structure of the sweeping apparatus 1 and encloses the sweeping mechanism 2, the collection box 3 and the control system 4. These features will be discussed in more detail below.

The sweeping mechanism 2 is located at the rear of the sweeping apparatus 1 inside the housing 5. The sweeping mechanism 2 includes a brush 21 which is mounted on a shaft 22. The brush 21 and shaft 22 are attached to a support arm 23 which allows the brush 21 to rotate. The rotational movement of the brush 21 is controlled by a drive mechanism (not shown). The drive mechanism rotates the bmsh 21 around in a circular motion B flicking debris into the collection box 3. The support arm 23 is attached to the housing 5 at an attachment point 24 which is above and in front of the axis of the shaft 22. The attachment of the support arm 23 allows the brush 21 to rise and fall in a vertical plane A. This movement allow the bmsh to negotiate undulations in a surface S over which it is travelling. The weight of the sweeping mechanism 2, the direction of rotation B of the brush 21 and the way in which it is mounted means that a restraining means is not required to keep the brush in contact with the surface it is sweeping. The arrangement of the sweeping mechanism 2 causes the brush to dig into the surface over which it is moving and prevents the brush from bouncing which would reduce its efficiency. The shaft 22 can also pivot about its attachment point on the support arm 23. This pivot action C allows the brush to pivot in a vertical plane.

The collection box 3 is located in front of the sweeping mechanism and is positioned against a lower deflector panel 44 which helps in directing swept debris into the collection box 3. The collection box 3 is formed by three side panels 32 and a bottom panel 33.

The bottom panel of the collection box 3 is positioned up against the support side of the lower deflector panel 44 and makes up the fourth side of the box. The deflector panel 44 prevents collected debris from falling out of the collection box 3, allowing the sweeper 1 to operate up a slope.

The debris control system 4 comprises a dust control means 41,42 and a debris directing system 43, 44,45, 46,47,48. The dust control means includes a water tank 42 and a water spray nozzle 41 which delivers a spray of water W onto the swept debris D as it passes into the collection box 3. The water spray is supplied with water from the water tank 42 which is located above an upper deflector panel 43. The system does not spray water onto the debris prior to sweeping therefore a water skin is not formed which would reduce the efficiency of the sweeper.

The debris directing system consists of an upper deflector panel 43 and a lower defector panel 44, an air duct 45 and a set of skirts 46. The upper 43 and lower deflector panels 44 are designed to direct the swept debris into the collection box 3. The air duct 45 is situated behind the pivoting collection box panel 32A and has a duct opening 47 from the collection box 3. The rotating brush 21 creates a moving channel of air which sweeps through the duct 45 under the collection box 3 around a leading edge panel 48 and into the path of the swept debris. The position of the leading edge panel 48 is critical to ensure that the channel of air assists in directing the debris D into the collection box 3. Some of the atomised water W which is being sprayed between the deflector panels 43,44 is taken by the channel of air and is carried out of the collection box 3 into the air duct 45 and under the collection box 3 where it is directed into the path of the swept debris D. The atomised water W in the air channel also controls the debris D thereby reducing the amount of water required for the operation of the sweeping machine 1.

. In use the sweeping machine 1 is attached to a prime mover which draws the machine over a surface S which requires cleaning. .The sweeping machine 1 is mounted on a set of wheels 51 which allow the machine 1 to move over the surface 1. As the prime mover is drawing the sweeping machine over the surface S the brush 21 is rotated and water W is directed into the water spray nozzle 41. The rotating brush 21 sweeps and flicks the debris D from the surface S up into the collection box 3. The rotating brash 21 also generates a channel of air which is directed into the collection box 3. At the opening of the collection box 3 the upper 43 and lower 44 deflector panels are found. These panels 43, 44 direct the swept debris D into the collection box 3. Attached to the upper deflector panel 43 is the water spray nozzle 41 which sprays water W between the upper 43 and lower 44 deflector panels. The water collides with the debris D being swept into the collection box 3 and reduces the amount of airborne particles. The water W also helps to retain the debris D in the collection box 3. Some of the water from the water spray nozzle 41 is carried by the channel of air out of the collection box 3 and into the duct 45 and underneath the collection box 3. The channel of air is finally directed around the leading edge panel 48 and into the path of the debris D being swept into the collection box 3. The channel of air assists the movement of the debris D and also reduces-the airborne particles by the water spray which ' it is carrying. This arrangement of re-circulating any unused water reduces the overall consumption of water required to operate the sweeping machine. The channel of air which is directed around the machine via the duct 45 also improves the amount of debris D being directed into the collection box 3. When the surface S has been swept the sweeping machine 1 is lifted and the pivotally attached collection box 3 is released the collection box 3 pivots away from the housing 5 and the debris D which was collected is discharged. The water tank 42 is refilled with water and the sweeping machine is then ready to be used again.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON Applicant’s Agents 47 Merrion Square Dublin 2