US3406423A

US3406423A - Street cleaning machine

Info

Publication number: US3406423A
Application number: US612715A
Authority: US
Inventors: Werner W Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-01-30
Filing date: 1967-01-30
Publication date: 1968-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1985-10-22

Description

Get 22, 1968 w, w, YOUNG Y 3,406,423

STREET CLEANING MACHINE Filed Jan; 30, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WJ-eA/E M Yo UA/G Oct. 22, 1968 w. w. YOUNG 2 STREET CLEANING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1967 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m m m m m m m 22 III "I III III III III III III III III III III III III I" lll Til-24:1" F LL F INVENTOR. Wee/wee V14 You/v United States Patent O 3,406,423 STREET CLEANING MACHINE Werner W. Young, 301 NE. 13th St., Oklahoma City, Okla. 73104 Filed Jan. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 612,715 13 Claims. (Cl. 15340) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A street cleaning machine of the self-propelled vehicle type which includes frame-mounted brushes positioned for contact with the street, a .vacuum assembly mounted to the rear of the brushes to receive debris therefrom, and a debris collection bin carried on the frame and receiving debris discharged from the vacuum assembly. The collection bin is divided by a longitudinally extending partition panel into a pair of collection chambers, and screen and bafile means are interposed between each of the collection chambers and discharge openings formed in the collection bin. Cyclone separators may be connected to the discharge openings to effect an enhanced separatory action.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates generally to machines which are useful in cleaning streets, highways, airport runways and the like. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to a self-propelled machine which has mounted thereon a pair of rotating cleaning brushes and a pneumatic system for cooperation with such cleaning brushes to remove debris, dust and litter from streets.

Description of the prior art In my US. Patent 3,242,521, I have disclosed an improved self-propelled, street cleaning machine which is highly effective in operation, and which can be efficiently used to remove dust and litter from streets and highways without the necessity to spray water or other mud forming material on the dust and litter. The present invention constitutes an improvement over the street cleaning apparatus depicted and described in my US. Patent 3,242,521, the improvement which is provided by the present indention residing primarily in the manner of filtering or removing from air drawn into the system such debris, dirt or other solid material as may be carried by the air.

As a result of such improvement, air discharged from the system is very clean and a major portion of any entrained solid material is removed from the circulating air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly described, the street cleaning apparatus of the present invention comprises a horizontally disposed frame of the type used in trucks or the like, such frame having the conventional left and right sides and front and rear ends. At least one brush is rotatably mounted on the lower or underside of the frame for scouring the surface of the street or highway to remove dust and debris therefrom. A vacuum assembly is mounted on the frame to the rear of the brushes and includes conduit means which extends forwardly toward the brushes, and has secured to the forward end thereof, a nozzle which is positioned to receive dirt and debris directly from the brushes as the brushes function in scouring the street or runway.

A collection bin is mounted toward the rear end of the frame and is provided with an inlet opening and at least one outlet opening. Suitable blower means is mounted on the frame and is connected to the vacuum assembly and to the bin for drawing air into the vacuum assembly through its nozzle and passing this air from the vacuum assembly through the inlet opening into the bin. A dividing panel means is secured in the bin for dividing this enclosure into the first chamber which is disposed toward one side of the frame, and a second chamber which is disposed toward the other side of the frame. A deflecting means is provided for deflecting a portion of the air entering the bin from its inlet opening into the first chamber, and for deflecting another part of the entering air into the second chamber.

As a final and very important element of the street cleaning apparatus, screen and baflle means is interpositioned between the first and second chambers and the outlet opening of the bin so that, as air is circulated from these chambers toward and through the outlet opening, substantially all of the significantly sized particulate material such as dust, debris, paper, dirt and the like are removed from the air, and are deposited in the bin for subsequent disposal. The particular construction of the screen and baflle means preferably employed in the invention is such that a dual centrifugating and straining or screening action occurs, with such action being sufiiciently efiicient that the air discharged from the street cleaning apparatus is relatively pure and clean.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of air outlet openings are provided for the collection bin and include at least one outlet opening for each of the two chambers. Cyclone separators are secured to these outlet openings and receive the air from the collection bin after it has passed through the screen and bafile means. The cyclone separators perform a final filtering or centrifuging action to remove any residual solid material which may not be removed by the action of the screen and baffle means. The preferred construction of the screen and bafile means is such that the air moving from the first and second chambers toward the outlet openings of the bin must move through a tortuous path, and through a plurality of perforated or sieve type structural elements prior to reaching the outlet openings.

From the foregoing broad and general description of the invention, it will have become apparent that it is an important object of the invention to provide 'a highly efficient street cleaning apparatus which is effective to remove substantially all of the entrained dust and solid particulate material which may be moved into and through the apparatus by means of a strong blower system provided in conjunction with other portions of the apparatus.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a compact and relatively economically constructed street or highway cleaning apparatus which can be utilized for thoroughly cleaning runways of all types.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved, self-propelled street cleaning machine which discharges relatively clean or pure air which has been passed through the apparatus in order to convey dirt and debris to collection devices therein.

vantages, additional'objectsand advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of a self-propelled street cleaning machine constructed in accordance with the invention. 1

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top elevation view, showing partly in section, a suction nozzle and a conduit system forming a part of the. vacuum assembly utilized in the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a.rear-elevation view of the self-propelled street cleaning machine of the invention-showing the interior of the collection bin used in the street cleaning apparatus as it appears when a hinged rear door used for closure of the bin has been removed for purposes of illustration.

FIGURE 3A is an enlarged detail view showing the baflle and screening elements utilized in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3A.

FIGURE 5 is a view in section taken along line 55 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a view in section taken along line 66 of FIGURE 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGURE 1 in particular, a street cleaning machine constructed in accordance with the invention is depicted and is designated generally by reference numeral 10. The street cleaning machine includes -a self-propelled truck 12 having a cab 14 mounted on a chassis or'frame 16. The frame 16 is provided in the conventional manner with generally parallel side rails, a front set of tires and wheels 18 and a rear set of tires and wheels 20 which serve to support and propel the truck 12. Pivotally mounted on the rear of the frame 16 is a collection bin or receptacle 22. The collection bin or receptacle 22 is mounted for pivotal movement in the manner conventional with dump trucks or the like, with the dumping position of the collection bin being depicted in dashed lines. The collection bin 22 includes, as more particularly illustrated in FIGURES 1, 3 and 3A, a hinged door 24 connected to the back of the collection bin for pivotation about a horizontal axis,

side walls

26 and 28, a bottom wall 30, a top wall 32 and a forward wall 34.

The collection bin 22 is provided with a plurality of variously sized openings in the several walls thereof, these openings being best illustrated in FIGURES 3A, 5 and 6. The openings include a pair of openings 40 and 42 through the left side of the top wall 32 for connection through a pair of

ducts

44 and 46, respectively, to a pair of

cyclone separators

48 and 50, respectively. Aipair of identically sized

openings

52 and 54 are formed through the top wall 32 of the collection bin 22 on the right side thereof, and are connected through

ducts

56 and 58 with a pair of cyclones, one of which, designated by reference numeral 60, is visible in FIGURE 3. Positioned inwardly of the

openings

40, 42, 52 and 54 to the cyclone separators are two pairs of openings to receive air discharged from the cyclone separators, these openings being designated by reference numerals 62, 64 and 68 in the 'case of the discharge openings provided for the cyclones .48, 50 and 60, respectively. The opening 66 receives air discharged from the cyclone separator not visible in the drawings. A pair of horizontally spaced openings 70 and 72 are provided in the rear portion of the top plate 32 of the collection bin 22 for the purpose of admitting air from the interior of the bin to a pair of

filter socks

74 and 76 secured over theseopeningson the outside of the collection bin as depicted in FIGURES 1 and 3.

In the forward wall 34 of the collection bin 22, a

"large air inlet meninges is provided for the pu-rpos'e o f admitting air to the interior of the collection bin from a duct 80. The duct 80 is rigidly secured to the forward wall 34 of the collection bin 22 and carries at its free end, a flange 82 which permits it to sealingly engage a blower discharge duct 84 (see FIGURE 1) forming a portion of a blower assembly mounted on the frame 16 ahead of the collection bin 22. The blower assembly includes a centrifugal blower (not shown) which is driven by a suitable power transmission shaft 86 from the engine of the self-propelled truck 12.

A vacuum assembly designated generally by reference numeral 90 is connected to the under or lower side of the framework 16 and itsdetails of] construction are best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. The vacuum assembly 90 includes an elongated debris pickup nozzle 92 which is providedwith an elongatedlift bar 94 secured to the upper side thereof and an'elongated opening (not shown) 'in' the lower side thereof.The pickup nozzle 92 is connected at its opposite ends through a pair of rearwardly extending ducts 96 to a b'ower inlet duct 98. The ducts 96 are connected through movable joints 100 to the blower inlet duct 98 so that the pickup nozzle 92 can be elevated by pivotation about a horizontal axis, using a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 102 which is connected between the frame 16 and the lift bar94=.

The blower inlet duct is connected in a suitable manner to the blower assembly so that air is drawn from the blower inlet duct 98 through the blower and discharged through the blower discharge duct 84 into the duct 80. A pair of rotatably driven brushes 103 are mounted below the left and right .sides of the cab 14 of the truck 12 and just ahead of the pickup nozzle 92. The brushes 103 are mounted to be lowered into scouring contact with the surface of a roadway. Additional details relative to the construction of the vacuum assembly 90 and brushes 103 used in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention can be ascertained by reference to my US. Patent 3,242,521, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The most important structural aspects of the present invention reside in'the debris removal structure which is disposed within the collection bin 22. As will be perceived in referring to FIGURE 3, the collection bin 22 is divided into a left collection chamber and a right collection chamber by a longitudinally extending partition plate or wall 104 which extends upwardly from the bottom wall 30 of the collection bin 22 to the center of a curved, generally horizontally extending deflection plate 106. The deflection plate 106 is located so that it terminates just below the air inlet opening 78'formed in the forward wall 34 of the'collection bin 22 as best illustrated in FIGURE 6. Secured to the upper surface of the deflection plate 106 and positioned slightly rearwardly from the air inlet opening 78 are a plurality of. arcuate air deflection ribs108, 110, 112 and 114. These deflection ribs are arranged in pairs with the forward rib pair-108 and 110 being arranged to deflect air entering the collection bin 22 from the-air inlet opening 78 in a transverse direction within the bin and across the deflection plate 106 into the left and right collection chambers formed by the partition plate 104. A pair of arcuate backup

air deflection ribs

112 and 114 are secured to the upper surface of the deflection 'plate' 106 in rearwardly spaced relation to the

ribs

108 and 110, and provide a further deflecting function for deflecting into the left and right collectionchambers, air whichmay by-pass the forwardribs 108and 110. The backup

air deflection ribs

112 and 114 extend to a greater height from the upper surface of the deflection-plate 106 than do the forward air deflection ribs 108and 110.

Extending downwardly and slightly inwardly from the opposed longitudinal edges of the deflection plate 106 area pair of air directing baffles-1.16 and 118.: A.substantially horizontally extending main bafile plate is secured to the forward wall 32 of the collection bin 22 so as to intersect this,wall immediately above .the .air inlet opening 78 and to extend rearwardly in the collection bin in substantial parallelism with the deflection plate 106. It will be noted that the main bafile plate 120 does not extend completely across the collection bin .22, but instead terminates in longitudinal edges 121 which are spaced inwardly from the

side walls

26 and 28 of the collection bin. An elongated, longitudinally extending divider plate 123 is secured to the upper surface of the main baffle plate 120 and extends from the front wall 34 of the collection bin 22 to the rear thereof in vertical alignment with the partition plate 104.

A screen and bafile means is located in the upper and outer corner of each of the collection chambers formed in the collection bin 22 by the partition plate 104. The screen and bafile means is identical in the case ofeach of the two collection chambers, and its construction may best be understood by referring to FIGURES 3A, 4 and 6 of the drawings. Thus, as depicted in FIGURE 3A the screen and baffle means located inthe right collection chamber includes a downwardly depending bafile plate 122 which is secured at its upper end to the main bafile plate 120. It will be noted in referring to FIGURES 3 and 3A that the downwardly depending baffle plates 122 are spaced inwardly from the longitudinal edges 121 of the main baffle plate 120, and thus are also spaced a substantial distance inwardly from the

side walls

26 and 28 of the collection bin 22. An arcuate, longitudinally extending screen 124 or other permeable filter member extends between the lower edge of the downwardly extending baffle plate 122 and the lower edge of an upwardly extending, inclined deflection plate 126. Both the screen 124 and the inclined deflection plate 126 extend over the entire length of the collection bin 22 as best depicted in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. a

A second elongated, arcuately cross-sectioned screen 128 or other suitable perforated member is secured to the lower end of the downwardly extending baffle plate 122, and is bent outwardly therefrom toward the upstanding deflection plate 126. An elongated curved baffle plate 130 is secured at one of its edges to the upper end of the screen 128, and at its other or outermost edge to an upper portion of an elongated panel 132. It will be noted that the curved baffle plate 130 passes across and clears the upper edge of the upstanding baflle 126 to define ,an air flow channel therewith which functions in the manner hereinafter described. The lower edge of the panel 132 is secured to the side wall 28 of the collection bin 22 by means of a series of spacers 134 so that air can flow between the panel 132 and the side wall, and from this space into the right collection chamber of the collection bin 22. It Will also be noted in referring to FIGURE 3A that the upstanding baffle plate 126 is secured at its lower end by suitable spacers to the lower end of the panel 132. This permits air to flow between the upstanding baifieil26 and the panel 132 into the right collection chamber of the collection bin 22.

The upper end of the panel 132 projects .above the longitudinal edge 121 of the main baflle plate 120 and is spaced outwardly from this edge. An upstanding screen 140 or perforated member which is spaced inwardly a small distance from the longitudinal edge 121 of the main baffle plate 120 extendsupwardly from the main bafile plate and is secured at its upper end to an elongatedarcuate plate 142. As may be perceived in referring to FIG- URE 4 of the drawings, all of the screens, baffle plates and panels included in the screen and baffle means located in the upper, outer corners of each of the two collection chambers of the collection bin 22 extend over the entire length of the collection bin in a longitudinal direction. Spaced inwardly from the upstanding screens 140 and inwardly of the openings 42 and 54 in the top wall 32 of the bin 22 are a pair of elongated walls 146 (see FIG- URES 3 and 3A). The walls 146 are secured between "'0 the upper surface of the main bafiie plate 'and the top wall 32 of the ,bin 22 and form two enclosed dust collection zones 148 and into which the cyclone separators discharge dust as more specifically hereinafter explained.

I OPERATION In the operation of the street cleaning machine of the present invention, theblower assembly of the apparatus is energized by engaging the power transmission shaft 86 with the engine of the self-propelled truck 12 to receive power therefrom. When the blower assembly is thus energized to drive a centrifugal blower or other suitable fanor blower in rotation, air is drawn through the vacuum assembly so that a strong draft of air moves intothe opening formed on the lower side of the elongated debris pickup nozzle92. Simultaneously with this action, the brushes 103 are driven in rotation to loosen and remove caked dirt, paper or other debris which may rest upon or be adhered to the surface of thestreet. The dust and other debris is given a rearward movement relative to the self-propelled vehicle 10 by both'the forward movement of the vehicle, and the directional rota tion of the brushes 103, The dust and debris thus moves toward, and is ultimately sucked into, the vacuum assembly 90 through the opening in the pickup nozzle 92, and from such opening moves into the rearwardly extending ducts 96. The dust and debris then passes through the blower inlet duct 98, the blower discharge duct 84 and the duct 80'which is connected to and moves with the pivotally mounted collection bin 22.

The dust and debris from the duct 80 passes through the air inlet opening 78 to the interior of the collection bin 22 and moves rearwardly therein between the de fiection p ate 106 and the main'baflde plate 120. The

defiection ribs

108, 110, 112 and 114 function to deflect the moving air carrying the entrained dust and debris to opposite sides of the collection bin 22. The air and debris then moves downwardly between the respective

air directing baflles

116 and 118, and the baffles 122 into the collection chambers formed on each side of the bin 22 by the partition plate 104.

As the dust laden air enters the right and left collection chambers of the collection bin22, it has imparted thereto, a swirling or rotating motion which tends to deposit out, or effectively centrifuge therefrom, a substantial portion of the larger particles of dust or debris which are carried in the moving air stream. The swirling or rotational movement of the air entering the right and left collection chambers carries the air close to the bottom wall 30 of the collection bin 22, then up against the partition plate 104, and then through a circuitous path back toward the lower and outside corner of each collection chamber.

The air which accumulates in the lower and outer corners of each of the collection chambers then moves upwardly through the respective arcuate, longitudinally extending screen 124 into the space between the screen 128 and the deflection plate 126. As the air moves through the arcuate, longitudinally extending screen 124, larger particles of debris and dirt are removed therefrom. The air in the space between the screen 128 and the deflection plate 126 is divided in its flow, with a major portion of the air moving through the screen 128, and a relatively small or minor portion of the air passing over the, top of the deflection plate 126 and moving down through the space between the lower ends of the deflection plate 126 and the elongated panel 132. This small or minor portion of the air is thus redirected into the respective collection chamber, and thus undergoes a further centrifuging movement in which additional dust and fine particles are settled out.

' The portion of the air which moves through the second, elongated, arcuately cross-sectioned screen 128 moves into the space between the main baflle plate 120, the downwardly depending baflie plate 122, and the elongated curved baflle plate 130. The air must thus move outwardly toward the side wall 28 of the collection bin 22, and thence up through the space or opening provided between the longitudinal edge 121 of the main baflle plate 120 and the upper portion of the elongated panel 132. As the air moves upwardly through this space, it is deflected by the elongated arcuate plate 142 so that a major portion of the air passes through the upstanding screen 140, and a minor portion of the air is permitted to flow through the restricted or limited opening provided between the lower end of the elongated panel 132 and the side wall 28 of the collection bin 22. Movement of the air through each ofthe screens 124, 128 and 140 results in filtering of the air to remove solid particles therefrom, and the sinuous or serpentine path through which the air is caused to flow also results in a centrifuging action which tends to throw out the relatively light or fine particles and permit these particles to gravitate, or be ultimately moved back through, the spaces provided between the deflection plate 126 and the elongated panel 132, as well as between the elongated panel 132 and the side wall 28 of the bin 22.

The air which has moved through the arcuate screen 140 and is accumulated above the main baflle plate 120 and to the outside of the walls 146 moves out of the collection bin 22 through the

openings

40, 42, 52 and 54 and into the

respective ducts

44, 46, 56 and 58 which are connected to the cyclone separators. A well known and conventional separating action occurs in the several cyclone separators, three of which, 48, 50 and 60, are visible in the drawings and a major portion of any solid particles remaining in the air streams are removed by the cyclonic motion of the air in the cyclones. A major portion of the air is discharged through the top of the cyclone separators, and a small amount of air and the separated dust is discharged from each of the cyclones through the lower end thereof and through the openings 62, 64, 66 and 68 provided in the top wall 32 of the collection bin 22. Substantially all of the dust deposited from the cyclone separators in the

dust collection zones

148 and 150 remains therein and can be later removed through access plates (not shown) provided in the top wall 32. The residual air then moves between the top wall 32 and the main baflle plate 120 to the openings 70 and 72 which permit the air to be vented through the

filter socks

74 and 76 positioned over the openings 70 and 72.

Filter socks

74 and 76 thus provide a final filtering action and are constructed of a very fine weave material to assure that substantially all of the dust is removed from the air leaving the collection chamber 22 through the openings 70 and 72.

Although the path of flow of the air has been described with reference being made primarily to a single one of the screen and baflle means located in one of the collection chambers within the collection bin 22, it is to be understood that substantially the same pattern of air flow occurs in both of the collection chambers. I have found by extensive experimentation that the inclusion of the partition plate 104 in the collection bin 22in conjunction or combination with the deflection plate 106 and the main bafile plate 120, and also the inclusion of the described screen and baffle means in the upper and outer corner of each of the collection chambers, are essential to obtain highly eflicient filtering of the air which is moved into the collection chamber.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein described in order to illustrate one way in which the invention may be advantageously practiced, it is to be understood that various changes in the structure depicted and described can be effected without departure from the basic principles which underlie the invention. All changes of this character which do .not entail a relinquishment of such basic principles are therefore deemed to be circumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invention except as the same may be limited by the appended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:

i 1. Street cleaning apparatus comprising:

a horizontally disposed frame having a left side, a right side, a front end and a rear end;

at least one brush rotatably mounted on the lower side of the frame for scouring the surface of a roadway;

a vacuum assembly including conduit means mounted on said frame and extending forwardly toward said brushes, said assembly having a nozzle on the forward end of the conduit means positioned to receive debris directly from the brushes;

a collection bin mounted on said frame and having an inlet opening and at least one outlet opening there-in, and further having side walls;

' blower means mounted on said frame and connected to said vacuum assembly and bin for drawing air into said vacuum assembly through said nozzle and passing the air therefrom through said inlet opening into said bin;

partition plate means in said bin dividing said bin into a pair of adjacent, horizontally extending collection chambers disposed over the right and left sides of said frame, respectively, each collection chamber having a rear end and a forward end;

means for deflecting a portion of the air entering said bin from said air inlet opening into each of said collection chambers; and

a pair of screen and baffle means each positioned on opposite sides of said panel means from the other and interpositioned between said first and second collection chambers and said outlet openings for removing solid particles from air moving from said collection chambers to said outlet openings.

2. Street cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein there are two outlet openings in the top of said bin on opposite sides thereof with one of said outlet openings communicating with each of said collection chambers;

and wherein said screen and baffle means each includes an array of baflle plates and screen elements extending the length of each collection chamber and deflecting through a sinuous path, air moving from each collecting chamber through said outlet openings.

3. Street cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said screen and baflle means each comprises:

an elongated, downwardly extending baffle plate positioned in the upper portion of each collection chamher and extending from the rear end of the respective collection chamber to the forward end thereof, said elongated, downwardly extending baffle plate being positioned closer to one side wall of said collection bin than to said partition plate means;

an elongated, upwardly extending deflection plate extending from the rear end of the respective collection chamber to the forward end thereof and being supported on said one side wall in spaced relation to said one side wall and between said one side wall and said downwardly extending bafile plate, said deflection plate having an upper edge positioned lower than the upper edge of said downwardly extending baflle plate;

an elongated, upwardly extending panel positioned between said deflection plate and said one wall and spaced from said deflection plate and from said one wall, said upwardly extending panel having an upper edge positioned above the upper edge of said deflec tion plate;

an elongated screen extending between a lower portion of said downwardly extending baflle plate and a lower portion of said deflection plate;

an elongated, transversely curved baflle plate having one longitudinal edge secured to said upwardly extending panel, and having a second longitudinal edge positioned between said upwardly extending panel and said downwardly extending baffle plate, said elongated transversely curved baflle plate extending 9 7 over, and having a central portioh spaced above, said deflection plate, and said elongated, transversely curved baflle plate extend-ing from the rear end of the respective collection chamber to the forward end thereof;

an elongated, arcuately cross-sectioned screensecured between the lower portion of said downwardly ex; tending baifie plate and said second longitudinal edge of said transversely curved baflie plate, and also extending from the rear end of the respective collection chamber to the forward end thereof; and

second air deflection means extending between the upper portion of said downwardly extending baffle plate and said one side wall, and extending above and spaced from the upper edge of said upwardly extending panel, said air deflection means including a baflle plate portion and a screen portion conjointly configured to deflect a major portion of the air passing upwardly through said elongated, arcuately crosssectioned screen through a reverse in direction of flow and out through said screen portion in the general direction of said partition plate means, and to deflect a minor portion of the air passing upwardly through said elongated arcuately cross-sectioned screen downwardly between said one side wall and said upwardly extending panel.

4. The street cleaning apparatus defined in claim 1 and further characterized to include a cyclone separator connected to each of the outlet openings of said collection bin for receiving air passed through said collection chambers from said vacuum assembly.

5. The street cleaning apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for deflecting a portion of the air entering said bin comprises:

a generally horizontally extending deflection plate secured to the inside of said collection bin immediately beneath said inlet opening and extending a major portion of the way across said bin over each of said collection chambers;

a horizontally extending main 'baffle plate, extending substantially parallel to, and spaced above, said deflection plate, said main baffle plate being secured to the inside of said collection bin immediately above said inlet opening; and

arcuate air deflection ribs positioned between said horizontally extending deflection plate and said main baflie plate in the path of air passing therebetween from said inlet opening and curved to deflect air toward the sides of said bin spaced from said deflection plate whereby the thus deflected air can move downwardly into said collection chambers.

6. The street cleaning apparatus defined in claim 1 and further characterized to include filter socks connected to at least one of the outlet openings in said collection bin for removing fine solid particles from air passed therethrough.

7. The street cleaning apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said collection bin is substantially rectangular in vertical and horizontal cross-section, and includes a bottom wall, top wall, forward wall and two side walls;

and wherein said collection chambers are each substantially rectangular in horizontal and vertical crosssection;

and wherein each of said second air deflection means comprises:

a horizontally extending main bafile plate secured to the forward wall of said bin above said inlet opening and extending across said bin toward the side walls of the bin and having two opposed longitudinal edges spaced inwardly from the side walls of the bin, said main baflle plate having said downwardly extending baifle plates secured to the lower side thereof and each spaced inwardly from one of the longitudinal edges thereof, each of said downwardly extending baflie plates being secured to said main baflle plate along a line extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of said main baflie plate;

an upstanding screen secured to the upper surface of said main baifie plate and extending over the length of the main baffle plate substantially parallel to ,the longitudinal edges thereof, the upstanding screens of the pair of screen and baflie means being disposed on opposite sides of said main bafile plate over one of said collection chambers; and

an elongated arcuate plate substantially coextensive in length with said upstanding screen, one of said arcuate plates having a longitudinal edge secured to the upper portion of one of said upstanding screens, and a second longitudinal edge secured to one side Wall of said collection bin, with the central portion of said one arcuate plate extending over the upper edge of said upwardly extending panel, and the second of said arcuate plates having a longitudinal edge secured to the upper portion of said other upstanding screen, and having a second longitudinal edge secured to the other side wall of said collection bin, with the central portion of said second arcuate plate extending over the upper edge of said upwardly extending panel.

8. The street cleaning apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said outlet openings extend through the top wall of said collection bin at points above said second air deflection means,

and further characterized to include a cyclone separator connected to each of said outlet openings.

9. The street cleaning apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said means for deflecting a portion of the air entering said bin comprises:

a generally horizontally extending deflection plate secured to the forward wall of said bin below said air inlet opening and extending rearwardly therefrom; and

arcuate air deflection ribs secured to the upper side of said deflection plate in the path of air passing through said inlet opening into said bin, said ribs being curved to deflect air toward the side walls of said bin whereby the thus deflected air can move downwardly into said collection chambers.

10. The street cleaning apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said cyclone separators are mounted on the top wall of saidcollection bin for discharging air into said bin in a space between said main baflie plate and said top wall; and

said street cleaning apparatus is further characterized to include additional openings in said top wall over said main baffle plate; and

filter socks connected to each of said additional openings for receiving air discharged therethrough from the interior of said bin.

11. The street cleaning apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said collection bin is pivotally mounted on said frame to facilitate dumping debris therefrom at one side thereof;

and wherein said street cleaning apparatus is further characterized in having a hinged Wall at said one side thereof.

12. The street cleaning apparatus defined in claim 11 and further characterized to include a cyclone separator connected to at least one of said outlet openings.

13. The street cleaning apparatus defined in claim 5 and further characterized to include a cyclone separator connected to at least one of said outlet openings for receiving air therefrom;

a pair of horizontally spaced, elongated, vertically extending walls secured between the upper surface of said main baffle plate and the top wall of said bin, and spaced inwardly from the side walls of said bin; and

a vertically extending, elongated divider plate secured to the upper surface of said main baflie plate and ex- 11 12' tending between said main bafile plate and the top a Y Reference's filited wall of said bin, said divider plate defining with said UNITED AT T' 1 main baffie plate, said elongated, vertically extending 1 walls and the wall of said'bin, two adjacent, sepa- 2,523,308 95 BOyCe etal. 15-'34O X rated and enclosed dust collection zones; said dust 5' 3,242,521 3 /1966 Young =15- 34Q collection zones communicating through openings in g the top wall-of said bin with said cyclone separators ROBERT -W.' MICHELL, Primary Examiner. for receiving dust therefrom. -v