US3105991A

US3105991A - Mobile pneumatic cleaning devices

Info

Publication number: US3105991A
Application number: US98630A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oberg John Lennart
Original assignee: ASBRINK AND CO AB
Current assignee: ASBRINK AND CO AB
Priority date: 1960-03-28
Filing date: 1961-03-27
Publication date: 1963-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-08
Also published as: GB923960A

Description

Oct. 8, 1963 J. 1.. OBERG MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1961 l w W 5 E E m WE mm ILOBERGJNVEWTDQ HW LLND- VANCE-g5 Oct. 8, 1963 J- L. DBE'RG MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1961 1L. o BEflQgmvevcToR B WMNkM-IJPW NdE Oct. 8, 1963 J. L. QB ERG MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES Filed March 27, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 1L .OBEKG iuvEuToR BX.WNUNDM anmmexs Oct. 8, 1963 J. L. OBERG 3,105,991

MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES Filed March 27, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 8, 1963 J. 1.. OBERG 9 MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING omvxczs Filed March 2'7, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 8, 1963 J. L. OBERG 3,105,991

MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES Filed March 27, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 3A.. uwRfi w vewToR Oct. 8, 1963 J. L. OBERG 3,105,991

MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES Filed March 27, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Oct. 8, 1963 J. 1.. OBERG 3,105,991

MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES Filed March 27. 1961 s Sheets-Sheet a 1L. DBERG.

Kw mud-or B. W w awoxwugs United States The present invention relates to mobile pneumatic cleaning devices having an apparatus for sucking up loose material such as dust, chips, litter and other refuse from a runway, including a suction nozzle which is arranged substantially centrally with respect to the longitudinal middle plane of the device, preferably between a pair of front wheels.

According to the invention, the novel and characteristic feature of a mobile pneumatic cleaning device of this type is that an arm which is mounted on the device and carries a brush rotatable about a vertical axis, and which is swingable horizontally about a point behind the brush, has a field of traverse located in advance of the suction nozzle and centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the device, permitting the brush to be shifted between positions at either side of the device, respectively, so that the brush is enabled to work on either side of the device to permit driving the cleaning device close to a house wall or gutter with the brush sweeping forth litter and like refuse from within the angle between the house wall and the ground or out of the gutter to the area in front of the suction nozzle, irrespective of whether the house wall or gutter is on the right or :left side of the cleaning device.

For a better understanding the invention will be described more in detail in the following, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 area side elevational view, plan view and front vie-w, respectively, of a mobile pneumatic cleaning device according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is :a fragmentary side elevational view of the front end of the cleaning device in FIG. 1, the collecting receptacle, which is in the shape of a bucket, being in raised position with its discharge opening in the open position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the front portion of the cleaning device, showing details of a brush and screen arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the arrangement in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the arrangement in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a front view, corresponding to FIG. 6 with the brush swung to another position;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the front portion of the cleaning device, showing a moistening means associated with the brush;

FIG. 10 is a plan view, corresponding to FIG. 9, with the brush swung to another position; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a system for swinging brush 51 and rotating it about its axis selectively in opposite directions.

The mobile cleaning device shown in its entirety in FIGS. l-3 is constituted by a motor vehicle comprising a chassis with a frame 10 and with front and

rear wheels

11 and 12, respectively. The front wheels 11 are disposed on either side of the frame 10 and constitute the driven wheels of the vehicle, while the rear wheels '12 are placed beneath the frame 10 closely adjacent to the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle on either side thereof and are adapted to be steered from the drivers seat 13 by means of a steering wheel 14 which by means of a conventional steering mechanism (not shown) is connected to the rear Patented Oct. 8, 1963 ice the vehicle, and by means of a transmission 16 and a shaft 17 this engine is operatively connected to a hydraulic vari able drive '18 mounted on the frame 10 and operable by means of a pedal 19' and in turn connected, through a gear box 18 and a shaft 20, to the input of a differential gearing 21. A two-part transverse shaft 22 mounted on the frame 10 has one part connected to each side of the output of the differential gearing 21, each of said parts being connected by means of chain transmissions 23 to one of the driven front wheels 11.

The mobile cleaning device has an apparatus for sucking up loose material such as dust, chips, litter and other refuse from the roadway on which the vehicle is propelled. This suction apparatus may be of any prior-art type whatever. It is shown here designed in the manner disclosed in US. Patent 2,932,845. The suction apparatus includes a fan- 24- which is mounted on the frame 10 and which extends transversely forward of the drivers seat with the drive shaft 25 of the impeller arranged longitudinally of the vehicle (the fan is omitted in FIG. 2 to bring out other details of the design more clearly). The fan also is adapted to be driven by the internal combustion engine 15, and for this purpose a V-rope transmission 26 is arranged between the shaft 17 and one end of a Oardan shaft 27 which is connected to the shaft 25 and mounted in two bearings 28 and 29 fixedly connected to the chassis. By this arrangement the engine 15 can run continuously at the rpm. required for the fan 24 while the power re quired for propel-ling the vehicle is taken out from the engine through the infinitely variable drive 18.

The fan 24 has its pressure side connected via a conduit 39 to a suction and blast nozzle unit 3 1 which may be designed in accordance with one or more of the suggestions "given in U.S. Patents 2,916,761 and 2,932,845. Due to the special driving arrangement for the front wheels :11 the space between them is free so that the nozzle unit 31 can be disposed in said space and will thus closely follow the path of the front wheels \during propulsion of the vehicle, and also when the vehicle is steered along a curving path. Extending from the nozzle unit 31 is a suction conduit 32 which leads to a cyclone chamber 33 in a cyclone apparatus of the design disclosed in US. Patent 2,873,001, while the collecting receptacle 34 of said cyclone apparatus is connected via a conduit 35 to the suction side of the fan 24. From the air circulation system thus formed some air is supplied to a fine cleaning apparatus 36 which may also be of the cyclone type and to the outlet of which is connected a filter '37. For further details of the design and function of the suction apparatus reference is made to the abovementioned patents. The nozzle unit 3 1 is mounted on the chassis =10 preferably in such a way as to enable the positioning thereof in different positions in a vertical direction as well as longitudinally of the vehicle, and in such a case the

conduits

30 and 32 are arranged to permit such movement, for instance they partly consist of bin ed or flexible sections.

The drivers seat, the driving system and the suction apparatus are enclosed in a body-like shell but preferably, as shown, the

cyclone apparatus

33, 34 forms a separate unit disposed on the remaining part of the vehicle. By means of arms '38 which are rigidly attached to the upper side of the collecting receptacle 34 this receptacle is pivotally mounted by means of a shaft 39 in cars 40 which project from a frame 41 immediately forward of the drivers seat so that the

cyclone apparatus

33, 34 is swingable about the shaft 39 between the position of FIGS. 1-3, that is the lower position or working position, and a raised position or emptying position shown in FIG. 4. A wall 42 of the body-like shell and a wall 34' of the receptacle 34 bordering on said first-mentioned wall 4-2 in the working position of the

cyclone apparatus

33, 34 have

openings

32 and 35 provided therein, which openings register when the

cyclone apparatus

34, 35 is in its working position. The openings in the wall 42 communicate with the conduit 32 and conduit '35, respectively, and those in wall 34' communicate with the cyclone chamber 33 and the interior of the receptacle 34, respectively. Suitable sealing rings may be provided around the openings in one or both of the

walls

42 and 34 to prevent leakage therebetween.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 43 serving to swing the

cyclone apparatus

33, 34 about the shaft 39 are disposed one on each side of the vehicle and connected to the vehicle at their one ends and to the collecting receptacle 34- at their other ends. The bottom of the receptacle 34 is in the form of an emptying door 34" which is pivotally mounted at 44 on the remaining collecting receptacle 34. To lock the door 34" in the closed position a swinga-ble pawl 45 is arranged on each side of the door, said pawl being adapted to cooperate with a fixed abutment 46 on the receptacle 34. Disposed on each side of the receptacle 34 is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 47 which is connected to the receptacle at its one end and to the corresponding pawl at its other end, said cylinder serving to move the pawl into and out of engagement with the associated abutment 46 and to swing the door 34" between the opened and closed position. By means of a conduit system (not shown) and control valves included therein and operable from the drivers seat, the hydraulic cylinders 43 and '47 are connected to an oil pump 48 which is connected over a V-rope transmission 49 to the shaft 17 for driving the pump from the driving internal combustion engine 15. The pump 48 conveys oil under pressure from an oil sump 50 to the different cylinders while being controlled by said valves, and both the pump and the valves are preferably located in the oil sump in order that leakage oil, if any, shall flow directly into said sump, which places lower demands on the sealing devices in the valves and the pump.

FIG. 4 shows how the cyclone apparatus 33, 34- can be raised and opened for emptying of material sucked up from the roadway by the nozzle unit 31 and separated by cyclone action in the

cyclone apparatus

33, 34. In the emptying operation the cyclone apparatus 33; 34 is first raised by means of the cylinders 4 3- while being swung about the shaft 39, and then the cylinders 47 are placed under pressure so that to begin with the pawls 45 are moved out of engagement with the abutment 46 and the door 34- can then be swung to the open position while the content of the collecting receptacle 34 is emptied into some larger stationary collector or onto the body of a conventional truck. After the emptying is finished, the door 54 is pulled to the closed position by the cylinders 4-7, the pawls 45 snapping behind the abutments 46 and being pressed by the cylinders 47 against said abutments while the door 34" is pressed against the remaining receptacle 34. The cyclone apparatus 33, 34- is then allowed to return to its lower position.

At the front end of the vehicle a brush 51 is mounted on the frame 10 by .means of

links

52 and 53 which are adapted to swing about substantially horizontal journals. This brush serves to sweep forth loose material from the area forward of one of the front wheels 11 so that this material is brought into the path of the nozzle unit 31 to be sucked up by it. When the vehicle is driven along a gutter with the front wheels rolling immediately adjacent the edge of the sidewalk it is necessary to so sweep forth the loose material lying in the gutter in order that it may be sucked up by the nozzle unit. If the vehicle is driven with one front wheel on the sidewalk and the other front wheel on the street the nozzle unit as a rule will be at too high a level above the gutter to be saidciently effective. According to the invention the brush 51 is swingable between an extreme position at one side of the vehicle forward of the front wheel 11 at said one side, and another extreme position on the other side of the vehicle forward of the front wheel 1 1 on said other side, and the detail of the arrangement for mounting the brush in such a way as to permit such swinging movement will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5-8 which also illustrate a device for preventing the material swept forth by the brush on one side of the vehicle from being thrown too far towards the other side of the vehicle.

According to FIGS. 58 the two

links

52 and 53 have their one fork-shaped ends hinged to a pair of arms 54 which are rigidly attached to a hydraulic motor 55 which supports and is drivably connected to the brush to rotate it, and which is connected through conduits (not shown) to the oil pump 48 for supplying the oil under pressure neces sary for its operation and to the tank 50 for leading the return oil back to the hydraulic motor. At their other, likewise fork-shaped ends the

links

52 and 53 are hinged to a substantially vertical shaft 56 which is mounted for rotation in a U-shaped member 57 secured to the frame 10. The link 53 which is arranged above the link 52 is adjustable in length to permit the axis of rotation of the brush 51 to be set at the desired inclination to the vertical. The lower link 52 has a roller 58 rotatably mounted thereon, said roller bearing against an arcuate guide path 59 which is rigidly attached to the U-shaped member 57 and which has a recess 60 at each of its ends.

The guide path 59 thus supports the link 53 and consequently the brush 5i and determines the vertical position thereof in that the brush is held raised from the ground in all swung positions of the

links

52 and 53 except for the said two extreme positions when the brush is lowered into a suitable working position when the roller 58 is received in the recesses 60. To swing the brush a hydraulic cylinder 61 is disposed between an abutment 62 on the frame 10 and an arm 63 extending from the shaft 56, and this cylinder also is connected by conduits and valves (not shown) to the pump 48 and the oil tank 50. The hydraulic cylinder 61 may be replaced by a hydraulic rotary motor of a known type which is arranged on the frame 10 or the U-shaped member 57 and has its output shaft coupled to the shaft 56.

Two

screens

64a and 64b which preferably are made of rubber or other resilient material are each mounted on a pair of arms 65 secured :to a shaft 66 which is mounted at the underside of the door 34" of the

cyclone apparatus

33, 34. Each pair of arms 65 is under the action of a tension spring 67 interposed between said arm pair and V the door 34", and these two tension springs tend to pull the two

screens

64a and 64b outwards, i.e. away from each other, to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Arranged on one arm of each pair of arms 65 is a pin 68 which is movably received in a slot 69 of a rod 70 which extends transversely of the vehicle between the two pins 68. Said rod 70 at its middle portion has an arm 71 which extends rearwardly beneath the vehicle and which has a slot 72 into which is movably fitted a pin 73 mounted on. an arm 74. The last-mentioned arm has its one end pivotally mounted on the pin 75 secured to the front of the door 34" and extends rearwardly beneath the door 34" from the pin 75.' It has a longitudinal slot 76 in its inner end. When the arm 74 extends along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, as is shown in FIGS. 5-7, the pins 68 are located in the outer ends of their respective slots 69 and the screens 64a and 6412 are swung upwards, but if the arm 74 is swung to either side the screen at the opposite side is carried along by the pin 68 and is thereby swung against the action of the associated spring 67 to the lowered position which is shown in FIG. 8 with respect to the screen 6411, while the other screen remains in its upwardly swung position as is shown in FIG. 8 with respect to the screen 64b, when the rod 70 during the swinging movement of the arm 74 moves relative to the pin 68 associated with the last-mentioned screen and received in the slot 69.

To coordinate the movement of the screens 64a and 6411 with that of the brush 51 in such a way that the left screen is lowered when the brush is swung to the right side, and vice versa, an arm 77 is disposed on the shaft 55. Said arm 77 in turn carries an arm 78 which is mounted for swinging movement on the arm 77 at 79 about a substantially horizontal axis and which is under the action of a spring 80 which tends to urge the arm 78 upwards. Some suitable abutment (not shown) is provided for limiting such swinging movement. Arranged on the arm 78 is an upwardly directed pin 81 which engages in the slot 75 of the arm 74. The pin 81 and the slot 76 constitute a disengageable connection between the screen operating mechanism on the door 34 and the brush operating mechanism on the frame 10 to permit raising of the

cyclone apparatus

33, 34. As is readily seen, the two screens will, by means of this connection, have imparted to them the intended movement relative to the brush 51, for if the brush 51 is moved to the right as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 to the position shown in FIG. 8 the rod 70 will will also be moved to the right, the screen 64a being swung down into lowered position while the screen 64]) remains in the raised position.

To prevent dust from being whirled up by the brush 51 a suitable moistening device of the design shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may suitably be provided on said brush. According to FIGS. 9 and 10 two

hose conduits

82a and 82b having spraying nozzles 83a and 8311 are mounted on the hydraulic motor 55. These two hose conduits are connected one to each side of a two-way cock 84 which is suitably attached to the frame 10 and connected to a pipe 85 for a supply of Water. Said pipe 85 is led in a manner not shown in detail to a water pump 86 (FIG. 1) which is coupled by a coupling 87 and a V-rope transmission 88 to the shaft 27 driven by the V-rope transmission 26 and is connected to a water tank 39 on the vehicle to suck water therefrom, transporting it under pressure through the pipe to the cock 84. The operating lever 84 of the cock 84 has a slot 90 in which a pin 91 is movable, said pin 91 being disposed on an arm 92 extending from the shaft 56. When the brush 51 is in its intermediate position the water supply to the two

conduits

82a and 82b is shut off by the cock 84 which then has its operating arm 84' set longitudinally of the vehicle. When the brush 51 is swung to the right as seen in FIGS. 9 and the operating lever 84 is moved to the left and consequently the water supply to the conduit 82a is opened so that Water is sprayed on the ground in advance of the brush 51 through the nozzle 83a, as is illustrated in FIG. 9. According to FIG. 10 the brush 51 is swung to the other side and in that case water is sprayed in advance of the brush 51 through the nozzle 835 since the operating lever 84' has been set in the opposite sense for supplying water to the conduit 82b.

The brush 51 should have the same direction of motion relative to the sidewalk (pavement) edge at which it operates irrespective of whether it is on the left or the right side of the vehicle; in both cases it should throw e sweepings forwards and inwards in advance of the vehicle, that is it should rotate counterclockwise on the right side of the vehicle, as seen in FIG. 2, and clockwise on the left side of the vehicle. Suitably, a device for reversing the direction of rotation of the hydraulic motor 55 is therefore operatively connected to the means for swinging the brush so that the motor is at rest in the intermediate position of the brush and is driven in opposite directions in the two extreme positions of the brush. For instance, a valve for controlling the. flow of oil under pressure to the hydraulic motor 55 may be adapted to be actuated by the swinging movement of the brush 51 in the same way as the cock 85 but it may also be operable or connected or built together with the valve for controlling the swinging movement of the brush.

As seen in FIG. 11, oil pump 48 is disposed in oil sump 50 to convey oil under pressure from said oil sump through a pipe 93, the pressure being determined by an overflow valve 94 discharging into the oil sump. A valve 95 is disposed in oil sump 50', oil leaking from said valve therefore being collected directly by the oil sump. Thus, sealing requirements in connection with said valve may be kept low. Valve 95 comprises a cylindrical valve member 96 rotatably mounted in a valve body 97, pipe 93 being connected to a central axial dead end bore 98 in said valve member at one end thereof, said bore in turn being connected to a radial bore 99 opening at the periphery of valve member 96 which is manually rotatable in opposite directions by means of a stick 100 available outside oil sump 50. In the neutral position of said stick and said valve member shown in the drawing, bore 99 communicates with oil sump 5% through a groove 101 in valve body 97 thus the oil delivered by pump 48 through pipe 93' being returned to the oil sump. Also, in the neutral position of valve member 96

pipes

102 and 106 connected at one end to valve body 97 communicate with oil sump 50 through

grooves

104 and 105, respectively, in valve member 96, said pipes being connected at the other end thereof to hydraulic motor 55- hinged to link 53 and connected to brush S1 to rotate it through a shaft 106. Motor 55 is of the type known in the art having a plurality of platelike pistons reciprocable in a rotor.

Further pipes

107 and 108 are connected at one end to hydraulic cylinder 61 on opposite sides of a piston reciprocable therein and operatively connected by a piston rod 169 to link 53 as described in the specification. The other ends of pipes 197 and 108 are connected to valve body 97 and are closed by valve member 96 in the neutral position shown, the piston in hydraulic cylinder 61 thus being blocked in the illustrated position by oil enclosed in the cylinder on both sides of the piston therein.

-If valve member 96 is rotated in the clockwise direction to connect pipe 108 to bore 99, pipe 107 is simultaneously connected to oil sump 50 through groove 194. Thus, oil under pressure is supplied to the left end of cylinder 61, the piston thereby being moved to the right and oil being displaced to oil sump 50' from the right end of cylinder 61 through pipe 107 and groove 104. Thus, brush 51 is swung to the right side of the vehicle as seen in FIG. 10. If valve member 96 is rotated a further step to connect bore 99 to pipe 10%, pipe 102 is connected to oil sump 50 through a further groove 110 in the valve member, and the ends of pipes 197 and 108 connected to the valve body are closed by valve member 96 Thereby, cylinder 61 is blocked in the previously reached right hand position and motor 51 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. If valve member'96 is returned to the neutral position, the brush is stopped, and if the valve member is rotated two steps in a counterclockwise direction, the brush is initially displaced to the opposite side of the vehicle and then the brush is rotated in a clockwise direction, pipe 103 being connected to oil sump 50 by a groove 111 in valve member 96. However, if brush 51 is to be parked in the central position shown in FIG. 11, valve member 96 is rotated to swing the brush to the side position opposite that occupied at present and then, when the brush is in the central position, valve member 96 is returned to its neutral position.

The above embodiment of the invention has been described for purpose of illustration rather than limitation. All possible variations and modifications of the invention are understood as being included Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: J l. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally respect of a longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operative-1y connected to said suc tion means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, means connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed in advance of the suction nozzle means, for movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to 'be shifted between positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, and for movement vertically thereby permitting the brush to be lowered onto and lifted from said surface, power means connected to said connecting means for moving said brush between said positions, and supporting means supporting said brush, said supporting means having end portions at the ends of said field of traverse and a central portion between said end portions, said end portions being on a lower level than said central portion.

2. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally .in respect of a longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, at least one arm connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed at one end of said arm in advance of the suction nozzle means, means mounting said arm on the vehicle at the other end for swinging movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to be shifted between positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, and for swinging movement vertically thereby permitting the brush to be lowered onto and lifted from said surface, power means connected to said mounting means for said arm for moving said brush between said positions, and means on said vehicle supporting said arm, said supporting means having end portions at the ends of said field of traverse and a central portion between said end portions, said end portions being on a lower level than said central portion.

3. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device as claimed in claim 2 which said means for rotating said brush is reversible and is coupled with said power means to be reversed when said arm is displaced from the position at one side of said vehicle to the other side thereof.

4. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally in respect of a longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, means connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed in ad- Vance of the suction nozzle means, for movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to be shifted between positions ,at' one and the other side of the vehicle,

- ing end portions at the ends of said field of traverse and a central portion between said end portions, said end portions being on a lower level than said central portion, a pair of screens, means mounting said screens one on each side of said field of traverse for movement between upper and lower positions, means connected between said screens and said connecting means for moving said screens between said upper and lower positions in response to the movement of said brush between said positions at one end and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, such that when the brush is moved to its position on either side of the vehicle, the screen at the opposite side is in said lower position while the other screen is in said upper position.

5. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally in respect of a longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, at least one arm connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed at one end of said in advance of the suction nozzle means, means mounting said arm on the vehicleat the other end for swinging movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush :to be shifted between posi tions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, and for swinging movement vertically, thereby pe mitting the brush to be lowered onto and lifted from said surface, power means connected to said mounting means for said for moving said brush between said positions, means on said vehicle supporting said arm, said supporting means having end portions at the ends of said field of traverse and a central portion between said end portions, said end portions being on a lower level than said central portion, a pair of screens, means mounting said screens one on each side of said field of traverse for swinging movement between upper and lower positions, linkage means interconnecting said means mounting the screens, and said arm for mounting means for moving said screens between said upper and lower positions in response to the swinging movement of said arm transversely of the vehicle such that when the brush is moved to its position on either side of the vehicle, the screen at the opposite side is in said lower position while the other screen is in said upper position.

6. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising-a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally in respect of a longitudinal plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, means connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed in advance of the suction nozzle means, for movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to be shifted between positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respecti ely, means for moving said brush between said positions, spray nozzles, means mounting said spray nozzles at opposite sides of said brush for movement together with said brush, a Water supply, conduit means between said spray nozzles and said Water supply, valve means in said conduit means for connecting said spray nozzles alternately to said water supply, said spray nozzles being adapted for moistening said surface, and means for actuating said valve means in response to the movement of the brush between said positions.

7. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally in respect of a longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a gutter brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, reversible means for rotating said brush about said axis selectively in either of opposite directions, at least one arm connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed at one end of said arm in advance of the suction nozzle means, means mounting said arm on the vehicle at the other end for swinging movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to be shifted between positio-ns at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, and for swinging movement vertically there 'by permitting the brush to be lowered onto and lifted from said surface, means for moving said brush between said positions, means on said vehicle supporting said arm, said supporting means being contoured to control the vertical swinging movement of said arm such that said brush is lowered onto said surface in said positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, but is lifted free therefrom in all transverse positions therebetween, a pair of screens, mean-s mounting said screens one on each side of the field of traverse for swinging movement between upper and lower positions, linkage means interconnecting said means mounting the screens, and said arm for moving said screens in response to the swinging movement of said tarm such that when the brush is moved to its position on either side of the vehicle, the screen at the opposite side is in said lower position while the other screen is in said upper position, spray nozzles, means mounting said spray nozzles on said arm at opposite sides of the brush for movement together with said brush, a water supply, conduit means between said spray nozzles and said water supply, valve means in said conduit means for connecting said spray nozzles alternately to said water supply, said spray nozzles being adapted for moistening said surface, and means for actuating said valve means in response to the movement of said arm for moving said brush between said positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively.

8. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction. means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said, vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally in respect of a longitudinal plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, means connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed in advance of the suction nozzle means, for movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to be shifted between positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, and for movement vertically thereby-permitting the brush to be lowered onto and lifted from said surface, power means for moving said brush between said positions, supporting means supporting said brush, said supporting means having end portions at the ends of said field of traverse and a central portion between said end portions, said end portions being on a lower level thm said central portions, spray nozzles, means mounting said spray nozzles at opposite sides of said brush for movement together with said brush, a water supply, conduit means between said spray nozzles and said water supply, valve means in said conduit means for connecting said spray nozzles alternately to said water supply, said spray nozzles being adapted for moistening said surface, and means for actuating said valve means in response to the movement of the brush between said positions.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,327,879 Farrar Aug. 24, 1943 2,708,280 Antos et al May 17, 1955 2,718,836 Pertics etal Sept. 27, 1955 2,829,391 Swanson et al Apr. 8, 1958 2,960,708 Dear et al. Nov. 22, 1960 2,996,742 Aimers et a1 Aug. 22, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 198,789 Austria July 25, 1958 824,160 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1959

Claims

1. A MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE MOVED OVER A SURFACE TO REMOVE LOOSE MATERIAL THEREFROM COMPRISING A VEHICLE, SUCTION MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE, SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION MEANS, SAID SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY IN RESPECT OF A LONGITUDINAL MIDDLE PLANE OF THE VEHICLE CLOSE TO BUT SPACED ABOVE SAID SURFACE, MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION MEANS FOR SEPARATING FROM THE AIR DRAWN THROUGH SAID SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS LOOSE MATERIAL ENTRAINED IN SAID AIR, A BRUSH, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID BRUSH FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN UPRIGHT AXIS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID BRUSH ABOUT SAID AXIS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID MOUNTING MEANS WITH SAID VEHICLE WITH SAID BRUSH DISPOSED IN ADVANCE OF THE SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS, FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF THE VEHICLE IN A FIELD OF TRAVERSE LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF THE LONGITUDINAL MIDDLE PLANE OF THE VEHICLE THEREBY PERMITTING THE BRUSH TO BE SHIFTED BETWEEN POSITIONS AT ONE AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, RESPECTIVELY, AND FOR MOVEMENT VERTICALLY THEREBY PERMITTING THE BRUSH TO BE LOWERED ONTO AND LIFTED FROM SAID SURFACE, POWER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CONNECTING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BRUSH BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, AND SUPPORTING MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BRUSH, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS HAVING END PORTIONS AT THE ENDS OF SAID FIELD OF TRAVERSE AND A CENTRAL PORTION BETWEEN SAID END PORTIONS, SAID END PORTIONS BEING ON A LOWER LEVEL THAN SAID CENTROL PORTION.

6. A MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE MOVED OVER A SURFACE TO REMOVE LOOSE MATERIAL THEREFROM COMPRISING A VEHICLE, SUCTION MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE, SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION MEANS, SAID SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY IN RESPECT OF A LONGITUDINAL PLANE OF THE VEHICLE CLOSE TO BUT SPACED ABOVE SAID SURFACE, MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION MEANS FOR SEPARATING FROM THE AIR DRAWN THROUGH SAID SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS LOOSE MATERIAL ENTRAINED IN SAID AIR, A BRUSH, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID BRUSH FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN UPRIGHT AXIS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID BRUSH ABOUT SAID AXIS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID MOUNTING MEANS WITH SAID VEHICLE WITH SAID BRUSH DISPOSED IN ADVANCE OF THE SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS, FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF THE VEHICLE IN A FIELD OF TRAVERSE LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF THE LONGITUDINAL MIDDLE PLANE OF THE VEHICLE THEREBY PERMITTING THE BRUSH TO BE SHIFTED BETWEEN POSITIONS AT ONE AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, RESPECTIVELY, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BRUSH BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, SPRAY NOZZLES, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SPRAY NOZZLES AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BRUSH FOR MOVEMENT TOGETHER WITH SAID BRUSH, A WATER SUPPLY, CONDUIT MEANS BETWEEN SAID SPRAY NOZZLES AND SAID WATER SUPPLY, VALVE MEANS IN SAID CONDUIT MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SPRAY NOZZLES ALTERNATELY TO SAID WATER SUPPLY, SAID SPRAY NOZZLES BEING ADAPTED FOR MOISTENING SAID SURFACE, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID VALVE MEANS IN RESPONSE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRUSH BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS.