Surface sweeping machine equipped with gutter brush

Claim 2

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a brush mounted on said frame for rotation in contact with the surface to be swept; a motor for rotating said brush; brush positioning means for moving said brush downwardly to press on said surface; means for delivering power to said motor; and force applying means associated with said power delivering means and connected to said brush positioning means for operating the latter to move said brush downwardly and being responsive to a condition in the input to said motor for applying increased force to said brush positioning means when said brush encounters builtup debris or an obstacle or the like with resultant resistance to rotation of said brush and running of said motor, said application of increased force to the brush positioning means pressing the brush with increased firmness against said surface thereby better to ensure sweeping of the debris, obstacle or the like.

Claim 3

Machine according to claim 1 in which said motor and said force applying means are fluid pressure operated and in which saId force applying means is responsive to an increase in pressure of fluid in the fluid pressure operated motor inlet supply for applying said increased force to said brush positioning means.

Claim 4

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a motor; a rotary brush connected to said motor to be driven thereby; a support structure on which said brush is carried; means mounting said structure movably on said frame to position said brush for rotation about a substantially vertical axis and for enabling said structure and said brush to be moved upwardly relatively away from the surface to be swept and downwardly for pressure engagement of said brush with said surface; operating means connected to said structure and being operable for moving said supporting structure and said brush downwardly into pressure engagement of said brush with said surface; means for supplying power to said motor for operating the latter to rotate said brush; force applying means for subjecting said operating means to force for moving said structure and said brush downwardly to cause said brush to press against said surface; and means interconnecting said power supplying means and said force applying means and making the latter responsive to increased resistance to rotation of said brush due to encounterng built-up debris or an obstacle or the like for increasing the force applied to said force applying means and thereby increasing the pressure exerted by said brush on said surface.

Claim 5

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a motor; a rotary brush connected to said motor to be driven thereby; a support structure on which said brush is carried; means mounting said structure movably on said frame to position said brush for rotation about a substantially vertical axis and for enabling said structure and said brush to be moved upwardly relatively away from the surface to be swept and downwardly for pressure engagement of said brush with said surface; operating means connected to said structure and being operable for moving said supporting structure and said brush downwardly into pressure engagement of said brush with said surface; means for supplying power to said motor for operating the latter to rotate said brush; force applying means for subjecting said operating means to force for moving said structure and said brush downwardly to cause said brush to press against said surface; and means interconnecting said power supplying means and said force applying means and making the latter responsive to increased resistance to rotation of said brush due to encounterng built-up debris or an obstacle or the like for increasing the force applied to said force applying means and thereby increasing the pressure exerted by said brush on said surface.

Claim 6

Machine according to claim 3 including a device in said interconnecting means which is adjustable for varying the force applied to said operating means and thereby varying the pressure exerted by said brush on said surface.

Claim 7

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a rotary hydraulic motor; a rotary brush operatively connected to said motor to be driven thereby; a supporting structure on which said motor and brush are carried; means mounting said structure movably on said frame to position said motor and brush for rotation of the latter about a substantially vertical axis and for enabling said structure and said brush to be moved upwardly relatively away from the surface to be swept and downwardly for pressure engagement of said brush with said surface; a source of hydraulic pressure fluid; a hydraulic ram operatively connected to said supporting structure and being operable for moving said brush downwardly into pressure engagement with said surface; and fluid supply conduit means connecting said pressure source to said motor and to said ram with the inlet side of the motor communicating with said ram, whereby increase in resistance to rotation of said brush and motor caused by the brush''s encountering a build up of debris or an obstacle or the like on said surface will increase the pressure in said supply conduit means and cause said ram to force said structure and brush downwardly and cause the brush to exert increased downward pressure on said surface.

Claim 8

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a rotary hydraulic motor; a rotary brush operatively connected to said motor to be driven thereby; a supporting structure on which said motor and brush are carried; means mounting said structure movably on said frame to position said motor and brush for rotation of the latter about a substantially vertical axis and for enabling said structure and said brush to be moved upwardly relatively away from the surface to be swept and downwardly for pressure engagement of said brush with said surface; a source of hydraulic pressure fluid; a hydraulic ram operatively connected to said supporting structure and being operable for moving said brush downwardly into pressure engagement with said surface; and fluid supply conduit means connecting said pressure source to said motor and to said ram with the inlet side of the motor communicating with said ram, whereby increase in resistance to rotation of said brush and motor caused by the brush''s encountering a build up of debris or an obstacle or the like on said surface will increase the pressure in said supply conduit means and cause said ram to force said structure and brush downwardly and cause the brush to exert increased downward pressure on said surface.

Claim 9

Sweeping machine according to claim 5 including a valve in said conduit means for controlling the pressure exerted by said brush on said surface.

Claim 10

Sweeping machine according to claim 6 in which said valve is in said conduit means between said pressure source and said hydraulic motor, is pressure operated to open position to direct fluid flow to said motor, and is adjustable to vary the pressure required to open it.

Claim 11

Sweeping machine according to claim 7 in which said valve comprises a seat at the valve intake communicating with said pressure source; means defining a valve chamber communicating with said seat; a poppet valve element movable in said chamber; and a spring yieldably urging said poppet valve element to close said seat, said conduit means including a conduit connection between said pressure source and said ram by-passing said valve and a conduit connection between said valve chamber and said hydraulic motor, whereby pressure fluid delivered to said motor must pass through the pressure-opeNed valve.

Claim 12

Sweeping machine according to claim 5 in which said hydraulic ram comprises a cylinder and a double acting piston therein having a first face of relatively large effective area, and a second face of relatively small effective area; and in which said fluid supply conduit means includes a first conduit connection leading from said source into said cylinder on said first face side of said piston, and other conduit connections leading from said source both to said cylinder on the opposite side of said piston and to the inlet side of said motor.

Claim 13

Sweeping machine according to claim 5 including a spring biasing said structure and said brush upwardly.

Claim 14

Sweeping machine according to claim 9 including a spring biasing said structure and said brush upwardly in concert with the application of fluid pressure on said second face of said piston.

Claim 15

Sweeping machine according to claim 9 including a pressure responsive valve interposed between said source and said other conduit connections, said valve having an element biased toward closed position and being openable in response to pressure on the source side of said valve to permit fluid to flow under pressure through said other conduit connections to said cylinder on said opposite side of said piston and to the inlet side of said motor.

Claim 16

Sweeping machine according to claim 9 including a constantly open rate-of-flow control valve in said first conduit connection.

Claim 17

Sweeping machine according to claim 12 including a constantly open rate-of-flow control valve in said first conduit connection.

Claim 18

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a rotary hydraulic motor; a rotary brush operatively connected to said motor to be driven thereby; a supporting structure on which said motor and brush are carried; means mounting said structure movably on said frame to position said motor and brush for rotation of the latter about a substantially vertical axis and for enabling said structure and said brush to be moved upwardly relatively away from the surface to be swept and downwardly for pressure engagement of said brush with said surface; a hydraulic ram comprising a cylinder component and a double acting piston component relatively movable therein and having a first face of relatively large effective area and a second face of relatively small effective area; means connecting the movable one of said components to said supporting structure for tending to move said structure and brush upwardly under the action of fluid pressure on said second face of said piston component, and being operable for moving said support and brush downwardly under the action of a fluid pressure on said first face of said piston component; a source of fluid pressure; a main supply conduit connected to said source; an exhaust conduit; service conduit means connected to said cylinder component on both sides of said piston component and to the inlet side of said motor; a motor discharge conduit; and an operations control valve for selectively (1) connecting said main supply conduit to said service conduit means and simultaneously connecting said exhaust conduit to said motor discharge conduit, and (2) for selectively connecting said main supply conduit to said motor discharge conduit and connecting said service conduit means to said exhaust conduit.

Claim 19

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a rotary hydraulic motor; a rotary brush operatively connected to said motor to be driven thereby; a supporting structure on which said motor and brush are carried; means mounting said structure movably on said frame to position said motor and brush for rotation of the latter about a substantially vertical axis and for enabling said structure and said brush to be moved upwardly relatively away from the surface to be swept and downwardly for pressure engagement of said brush with said surface; a hydraulic ram comprising a cylinder component and a double acting piston component relatively movable therein and having a first face of relatively large effective area and a second face of relatively small effective area; means connecting the movable one of said components to said supporting structure for tending to move said structure and brush upwardly under the action of fluid pressure on said second face of said piston component, and being operable for moving said support and brush downwardly under the action of a fluid pressure on said first face of said piston component; a source of fluid pressure; a main supply conduit connected to said source; an exhaust conduit; service conduit means connected to said cylinder component on both sides of said piston component and to the inlet side of said motor; a motor discharge conduit; and an operations control valve for selectively (1) connecting said main supply conduit to said service conduit means and simultaneously connecting said exhaust conduit to said motor discharge conduit, and (2) for selectively connecting said main supply conduit to said motor discharge conduit and connecting said service conduit means to said exhaust conduit.

Claim 20

Sweeping machine according to claim 15 in which said operations control valve includes settable means for blocking all fluid flow to or from said service conduit means and to or from said motor discharge conduit, whereby no fluid power is transmitted to said motor and fluid is trapped in both ends of said cylinder component and prevents relative movement of the cylinder and piston components, thereby holding said structure and brush stationary on said frame.

Claim 21

Sweeping machine according to claim 16 in which said source of fluid pressure is a pump, and in which said operations control valve settable means includes a passage for connecting said main Supply to said exhaust conduit when said operations control valve settable means is set to block fluid flow to or from said service conduit means and through said motor discharge conduit.

Claim 22

Sweeping machine according to claim 15 including a spring connected to said structure and biasing the latter and said brush upwardly.

Claim 23

Sweeping machine according to claim 15 in which said service conduit means comprises a primary conduit connected to said main supply conduit; a first branch service conduit means providing constant communication between said primary conduit and said cylinder componet on said first face side of said piston component; a second branch service conduit means connected to said primary and to said motor and to said cylinder component on said second face side of said piston component; and a pressure responsive valve in said second branch service conduit biased to closed condition and being openable in response to fluid pressure in said primary conduit.

Claim 24

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a brush mounted on said frame for vertical positioning movements and for rotation in contact with a surface to be swept when positioned in a lower position; differentially acting hydraulic means for positioning said brush selectively in said lower position or in an upper position out of contact with said surface; means for applying fluid pressure to said hydraulic means to exert relatively small force on said brush to urge the brush to said upper position, and to urge said brush oppositely to said lower position with relatively large force overcoming said relatively small force, whereby to hold said brush in pressure contact with said surface; and operations control means for discontinuing application of fluid pressure for exerting said relatively large force while continuing the exertion of said relatively small force, thereby enabling the latter to move said brush to its upper position.

Claim 25

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a brush mounted on said frame for vertical positioning movements and for rotation in contact with a surface to be swept when positioned in a lower position; differentially acting hydraulic means for positioning said brush selectively in said lower position or in an upper position out of contact with said surface; means for applying fluid pressure to said hydraulic means to exert relatively small force on said brush to urge the brush to said upper position, and to urge said brush oppositely to said lower position with relatively large force overcoming said relatively small force, whereby to hold said brush in pressure contact with said surface; and operations control means for discontinuing application of fluid pressure for exerting said relatively large force while continuing the exertion of said relatively small force, thereby enabling the latter to move said brush to its upper position.

Claim 26

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a boom; a rotary brush mounted on said boom for rotation about a substantially vertical axis; means pivotally mounting said boom on said frame at a first location for compounded simultaneous universal swinging movements generally horizontally and generally vertically to thereby move said brush outwardly and downwardly from a retracted elevated position relatively close to a side of said frame to a lowered position relatively wide of said frame and in brushing engagement with the surface to be swept; and a single hydraulic ram including a cylinder component and a piston component therein for causing said boom to perform said compounded simultaneous movements, said brush being mounted on said boom at a second location spaced from said first location, one of said ram components being pivoted universally to said frame at a third location thereon spaced from said first location, and the other of said ram components being pivoted to said boom at a location spaced from said first location.

Claim 27

A mobile road or like surface sweeping machine comprising a frame; a boom; a rotary brush mounted on said boom for rotation about a substantially vertical axis; means pivotally mounting said boom on said frame at a first location for compounded simultaneous universal swinging movements generally horizontally and generally vertically to thereby move said brush outwardly and downwardly from a retracted elevated position relatively close to a side of said frame to a lowered position relatively wide of said frame and in brushing engagement with the surface to be swept; and a single hydraulic ram including a cylinder component and a piston component therein for causing said boom to perform said compounded simultaneous movements, said brush being mounted on said boom at a second location spaced from said first location, one of said ram components being pivoted universally to said frame at a third location thereon spaced from said first location, and the other of said ram components being pivoted to said boom at a location spaced from said first location.

Claim 28

Machine according to claim 21 in which said third location is spaced both vertically and horizontally from said first location.

Claim 29

Machine according to claim 22 in which said third location is spaced above said first location and is spaced horizontally from said first location toward the center of said frame.

Claim 30

Machine according to claim 23 further including a spring anchored to said frame and connected to said boom and being loaded in a direction to urge said boom to swing about said first location upwardly and horizontally inwardly relatively to the center of said frame in opposition to the extension of said ram.

Claim 31

Machine according to claim 24 in which said spring is a tension spring which is anchored at one end to said frame at a point above and horizontally between said first and third locations, and is connected at its other end to said boom adjacent to said brush.

Claim 32

Machine according to claim 25 including means for adjusting the loading of said spring.

Claim 33

Machine according to claim 23 in which said hydraulic ram piston component is double acting with one face of larger area than the other face thereof, said machine further including a source of pressure fluid; conduit means for delivering fluid under pressure to said cylinder component at both faces of said piston component, the application of fluid pressure to said larger area face of said piston component driving the latter to extend said ram in opposition to the application of fluid pressure to said other face of said piston component.

Claim 34

Machine according to claim 27 including valve means for selectively effecting delivery of fluid to said cylinder component on both sides of said piston component and alternatively relieving fluid pressure from said cylinder component on the side of the larger piston component face area while continuing to apply fluid pressure in said cylinder component on the opposite face of said piston component, whereby to retract said ram and simultaneously swing said boom inwardly with respect to said frame and upwardly away from said surface.

Claim 35

Machine according to claim 28 including a hydraulic motor mounted on said boom for driving said brush rotatably; and a conduit connection for delivering a flow of pressure fluid from said source to said motor when pressure fluid is delivered to said cylinder component at both sides of said piston component.