US3823435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sweeper assembly
Assignee: Ingersoll Equipment Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-16
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1993-04-16
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a positive drive sweeper, such as a lawn sweeper, which permits elevation of the ground sweeping brush without disturbing the load in the hopper. The positive drive includes internal and external planetary bears within the wheel hub which drive the two brushes of the sweeper in opposite directions. The housing is pivotally mounted on the ground engaging wheel axis and the brushes are rotatably connected to the housing, whereby the ground sweeping brush may be raised for hauling by pivoting the housing about the wheel axis, without disturbing the load in the hopper.
Inventors
- 👤 K Rhodes
- 👤 W Schlapman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:41
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01H; E01H1/00; E01H1/02; E01H1/04; E01H1/045; A; A01; A01G; A01G20/00; A01G20/40; A01G20/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A sweeper assembly, comprising: ground traversing wheels, at least one of said wheels having internal and external planetary gears concentric with the axis of said wheels, a rotary ground engaging brush having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of said wheels and having a pinion gear meshing with one of said planetary gears, a second rotary brush having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of said wheels, above the plane of said ground engaging brush and Having a pinion gear meshing with the other of said planetary gears, said planetary gears providing said brushes with a positive drive in opposite directions, and a housing enclosing said brushes and directing the debris collected by said brushes to a collection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A sweeper assembly, comprising: ground traversing wheels, at least one of said wheels having internal and external planetary gears concentric with the axis of said wheels, a rotary ground engaging brush having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of said wheels and having a pinion gear meshing with one of said planetary gears, a second rotary brush having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of said wheels, above the plane of said ground engaging brush and Having a pinion gear meshing with the other of said planetary gears, said planetary gears providing said brushes with a positive drive in opposite directions, and a housing enclosing said brushes and directing the debris collected by said brushes to a collection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 1, characterized in that said housing is tiltably mounted on the axis of said wheels and said brushes are rotatably mounted on said housing, such that said ground engaging brush may be raised by tilting said housing about said wheel axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 2, characterized in that said housing includes a releasable locking means retaining said housing in a predetermined position and setting the position of said ground engaging brush, said locking means adapted to retain said housing in a plurality of positions about said wheel axis to set said brushes in a predetermined position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 1, characterized in that said housing includes a baffle located between said second rotary brush and said collection means defining an opening above said second rotary brush and said sweeper assembly including a flexible seal normally biased against said baffle and continuous with the bottom wall of said collection means, retaining debris within said collection means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 4, characterized in that said collection means is an enclosed hopper and said sweeper assembly includes a draw bar and stationary frame assembly connected to said draw bar, said hopper pivotally connected to said frame assembly to permit removal of the debris collected within said hopper by pivoting said hopper about said frame assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
139 words
A sweeper assembly, comprising, in combination, a pair of ground engaging wheels, at least one of said wheels having a hub, said hub having internal and external planetary gears concentric with the axis of said wheel, a rotary ground engaging brush on a shaft parallel to said wheel axis, said shaft having a gear meshing with said external planetary gear, a secondary rotary brush on a second shaft parallel to said wheel axis and above the axis of said ground engaging brush, said brushes in close proximity, said second brush shaft having a gear meshing with said internal planetary gear, said planetary gears positively driving said brushes in opposite directions upon rotation of said wheel, whereby debris sweep by said ground engaging brush is transferred by said second rotary brush to a hopper, and a housing enclosing said brushes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
A sweeper assembly, comprising, in combination, a pair of ground engaging wheels, at least one of said wheels having a hub, said hub having internal and external planetary gears concentric with the axis of said wheel, a rotary ground engaging brush on a shaft parallel to said wheel axis, said shaft having a gear meshing with said external planetary gear, a secondary rotary brush on a second shaft parallel to said wheel axis and above the axis of said ground engaging brush, said brushes in close proximity, said second brush shaft having a gear meshing with said internal planetary gear, said planetary gears positively driving said brushes in opposite directions upon rotation of said wheel, whereby debris sweep by said ground engaging brush is transferred by said second rotary brush to a hopper, and a housing enclosing said brushes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 6, characterized in that said hub includes an annular channel concentric with said wheel axis receiving said brush gears, said planetary gears defined on opposed radially spaced faces of said channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 7, characterized in that said internal planetary gear surrounds said external planetary gear, such that said second brush is rotated at a greater speed than said ground engaging brush.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 6, characterized in that said housing is pivotally mounted about an axis concentric with the axis of said wheels and said axels are rotatably connected at opposite ends to said housing, whereby said ground engaging brush may be raised by pivoting said housing about said wheel axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 9, characterized in that said housing includes a releasable stop means retaining said housing in a predetermined position about said wheel axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
A sweeper assembly, comprising: an enclosed, downwardly opening housing having a top wall and side walls, said housing pivotally connected at opposed sides to the axis of a pair of ground engaging wheels, a ground engaging brush within said housing rotatably connected to said opposed housing sides, a second brush within said housing rotatably connected to said opposed housing sides, having an axis of rotation adjacent and above said ground engaging brush, a positive drive means rOtating said brushes in opposite directions, whereby debris collected by said ground engaging brush is transferred and propelled by said second rotary brush to a hopper, and an adjustable stop means retaining said hopper in selected predetermined positions about said wheel axis, retaining said brushes in selected positions and permitting raising of said ground engaging brush for transfer of said sweeper assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
A sweeper assembly, comprising: an enclosed, downwardly opening housing having a top wall and side walls, said housing pivotally connected at opposed sides to the axis of a pair of ground engaging wheels, a ground engaging brush within said housing rotatably connected to said opposed housing sides, a second brush within said housing rotatably connected to said opposed housing sides, having an axis of rotation adjacent and above said ground engaging brush, a positive drive means rOtating said brushes in opposite directions, whereby debris collected by said ground engaging brush is transferred and propelled by said second rotary brush to a hopper, and an adjustable stop means retaining said hopper in selected predetermined positions about said wheel axis, retaining said brushes in selected positions and permitting raising of said ground engaging brush for transfer of said sweeper assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 11, characterized in that said sweeper assembly includes a draw bar assembly connected to said wheel axis and said hopper is pivotally connected to said draw bar assembly, whereby said housing may be pivoted about said wheel axis to raise said ground engaging brush without changing the position of said hopper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 11, characterized in that said positive drive assembly comprises internal and external planetary gears concentric with said wheel axis and said brushes each including a pinion gear meshing with one of said planetary gears, rotating said brushes in opposite directions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 13, characterized in that at least one of said wheels includes a hub assembly having said planetary gears, said internal planetary gear surrounding said external planetary gear.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 14, characterized in that the pinion gear of said ground engaging brush meshes with said external planetary gear and the pinion gear of said second rotary brush meshes with said internal planetary gear, whereby said second brush is rotated at a greater speed than said ground engaging brush.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
The sweeper assembly defined in claim 11, characterized in that said housing includes integral baffle means directing the debris propelled by said brushes to said hopper and defining an opening in said housing to said hopper and a flexible sealing flap continuous with the bottom wall of said hopper and normally biased against said baffle means preventing the escape of debris from said hopper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |