Streetsweeper construction and lift mechanism

Claim 2

A cleaning apparatus comprising a carrier means, a dirt bucket means, a cleaning means depositing dirt in said bucket means, and a lift mechanism, said lift mechanism comprising first and second parallelograms, each of said parallelograms having a first, second, third and fourth side with the first and third; second and fourth sides, of each of said first and second parallelograms being parallel to each other and being of equal length, each oF said sides being pivotally connected to the next adjacent sides, said second side of said first parallelogram and said fourth side of said second parallelogram being a linear lift member, said third side of said first parallelogram and said first side of said second parallelogram being of a unitary member, both ends of said first side of said first parallelogram being pivotally attached to said carrier means and both ends of said third side of said second parallelogram being pivotally connected to said dirt bucket means, a lifting member having a first end pivotally connected to said third side of said first parallelogram adjacent the innersection of said third side with said fourth side, the second end of said lifting member being connected to said carrier means at a point below the connection of said first side of said first parallelogram.

Claim 3

A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said second side of said second parallelogram is an extensible member allowing the pivoting of said third side of said second parallelogram about its innersection with said fourth side.

Claim 4

A sweeping apparatus including a sweeping means, a refuse receptacle positioned to receive refuse from said sweeping means, a lifting mechanism for said refuse receptacle, said lifting means comprising a first sidearm member pivotally attached to a carrier apparatus at a first end and pivotally attached to a refuse receptacle at a second end, a second pivot link member having a first and second end, said pivot link being pivotally attached to said sidearm member intermediate the ends of both the pivot link member and the sidearm member, a third link member extending parallel to said first member and pivotally attached at a first end to said carrier means and at a second end to said pivot link at a point intermediate the ends, a fourth extensible link means positioned on the same side of said first arm member as said third link means and having a first end pivotally attached to said carrier means and a second end pivotally attached to said second end of said second pivot link member, and a fifth link means extending parallel to said first sidearm member and being attached at a first end thereof to a first end of said pivot link and a second end attached to said refuse receptacle.

Claim 5

A sweeping apparatus including a sweeping means, a refuse receptacle positioned to receive refuse from said sweeping means, a lifting mechanism for said refuse receptacle, said lifting means comprising a first sidearm member pivotally attached to a carrier apparatus at a first end and pivotally attached to a refuse receptacle at a second end, a second pivot link member having a first and second end, said pivot link being pivotally attached to said sidearm member intermediate the ends of both the pivot link member and the sidearm member, a third link member extending parallel to said first member and pivotally attached at a first end to said carrier means and at a second end to said pivot link at a point intermediate the ends, a fourth extensible link means positioned on the same side of said first arm member as said third link means and having a first end pivotally attached to said carrier means and a second end pivotally attached to said second end of said second pivot link member, and a fifth link means extending parallel to said first sidearm member and being attached at a first end thereof to a first end of said pivot link and a second end attached to said refuse receptacle.

Claim 6

A mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said fourth link member is a power lift means whose length contracts and extends to lift said refuse receptacle.

Claim 7

A mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said fifth link means is an extensible link which extends and contracts to tilt said refuse receptacle about said second end of said first sidearm member.

Claim 8

A mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said fourth extensible link member is positioned at an angle to said third link member.

Claim 9

A mechanism according to claim 3 including a sixth link extending between the first ends of the first sidearm member and said third link member.

Claim 10

In a streetsweeper apparatus comprising a body provided with a longitudinally extending first side frame member on opposite sides thereof, a second side frame member upstanding from each of said first side frame members, said body having a forward end, a wheel means being provided at said forward end on said opposite side of said body, said refuse receptacle being disposed in a housing between said wheel means, said receptacle having an inlet opening adjacent an upper portion thereof, means for conveying sweepings through said inlet opening, said hopper being positioned so that when said hopper is loaded and said center of gravity thereof will be generally above said front wheels, a lifting mechanism being positioned on opposite sides of said hopper and attached to said first and second frame members to lift said hopper outwardly out of said housing while maintaining the attitude of said hopper generally constant, said lifting means comprising a first sidearm member pivotally attached to said second frame member on said carrier body at one end and pivotally attached to said refuse recEptacle at an opposite end, a second pivot link member having a first and second end, said second pivot link being pivotally attached to said first sidearm member intermediate the ends of both the second pivot link member and the first sidearm member, a third link member extending parallel to said first member and pivotally attached at a first end to said second frame member on said carrier body and at a second end to said second pivot link member at a point intermediate the ends, a fourth extensible link means positioned on the same side of said first arm member as said third link means and having a first end pivotally attached to said first frame member on said carrier body and a second end attached to said second end of said second pivot link member, and a fifth link means extending parallel to said first sidearm member and being attached at a first end thereof to a first end of said pivot link and a second end attached to said refuse receptacle.

Claim 11

In a streetsweeper apparatus comprising a body provided with a longitudinally extending first side frame member on opposite sides thereof, a second side frame member upstanding from each of said first side frame members, said body having a forward end, a wheel means being provided at said forward end on said opposite side of said body, said refuse receptacle being disposed in a housing between said wheel means, said receptacle having an inlet opening adjacent an upper portion thereof, means for conveying sweepings through said inlet opening, said hopper being positioned so that when said hopper is loaded and said center of gravity thereof will be generally above said front wheels, a lifting mechanism being positioned on opposite sides of said hopper and attached to said first and second frame members to lift said hopper outwardly out of said housing while maintaining the attitude of said hopper generally constant, said lifting means comprising a first sidearm member pivotally attached to said second frame member on said carrier body at one end and pivotally attached to said refuse recEptacle at an opposite end, a second pivot link member having a first and second end, said second pivot link being pivotally attached to said first sidearm member intermediate the ends of both the second pivot link member and the first sidearm member, a third link member extending parallel to said first member and pivotally attached at a first end to said second frame member on said carrier body and at a second end to said second pivot link member at a point intermediate the ends, a fourth extensible link means positioned on the same side of said first arm member as said third link means and having a first end pivotally attached to said first frame member on said carrier body and a second end attached to said second end of said second pivot link member, and a fifth link means extending parallel to said first sidearm member and being attached at a first end thereof to a first end of said pivot link and a second end attached to said refuse receptacle.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first end of said second pivot link member is above said first sidearm member.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said receptacle is movable from an original position between said wheels to an upper portion on above said wheels, said hopper in its uppermost level being forward of its original position less than its depth.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each of said first frame members projects forwardly inside and above each of said respective front wheels, a third frame portion attached to said first frame member and depending therefrom, said third depending frame portion supporting said front wheel axles and a wheel-propelling means.