Vacuum type sweeper

Claim 2

In a vacuum type sweeper of the type wherein a container for receiving debris is mounted on a truck in communication with a suction nozzle which depends from the truck and is movable between a raised transport position and a lower street cleaning position, the truck having shiftable transmission means for conditioning the truck for forward and reverse movement, in combination therewith the improvement comprising means connected between said transmission means and said suction nozzle operable to automatically move said suction nozzle between the street cleaning and transport positions in response to shifting of transmission means between forward and reverse.

Claim 3

The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein said automatically operatinG means comprises an electrical switch connected to an electrical supply and operated by the transmission means, an electrically actuated device for raising and lowering the suction nozzle, and a relay connected between said switch and said electrically actuated device.

Claim 4

A vacuum type sweeper comprising: a truck having a frame and a transmission shiftable between forward and reverse; a pair of side brooms mounted on opposite sides of said truck; side broom control means operable to move said side brooms between sweeping and transport positions; a rotatable cylindrical extension broom; mounting means mounting said extension broom beneath said truck, said mounting means including means for pivoting said extension broom between selected positions where it is cooperable in sweeping toward said side brooms; a pair of suction nozzles mounted on opposite sides of said truck adjacent said side brooms; means for moving said suction nozzles between sweeping and transport positions; a debris container carried by said truck in communication with said suction nozzles; a pair of gate valves disposed between respective ones of said nozzles and said debris container and means for selectively operating said gate valves to interrupt the communication thereof; additional devices in corresponding pairs mounted on opposite sides of said truck and means for operating said devices to perform other street cleaning functions; means operable to store a selection of street cleaning functions connected to said side broom control means, to said extension broom pivoting means, to said means for moving said suction nozzles, to said means for selectively operating said gate valves, and to said means for operating said additional operating devices, and a single switch for causing said devices corresponding to said selection of functions to be placed in operation on one side of the truck; and means connected between said transmission and said means for moving said suction nozzles being operable to cause said nozzles to be raised automatically upon shifting of said transmission into reverse.

Claim 5

A vacuum type sweeper comprising: a truck having a frame and a transmission shiftable between forward and reverse; a pair of side brooms mounted on opposite sides of said truck; side broom control means operable to move said side brooms between sweeping and transport positions; a rotatable cylindrical extension broom; mounting means mounting said extension broom beneath said truck, said mounting means including means for pivoting said extension broom between selected positions where it is cooperable in sweeping toward said side brooms; a pair of suction nozzles mounted on opposite sides of said truck adjacent said side brooms; means for moving said suction nozzles between sweeping and transport positions; a debris container carried by said truck in communication with said suction nozzles; a pair of gate valves disposed between respective ones of said nozzles and said debris container and means for selectively operating said gate valves to interrupt the communication thereof; additional devices in corresponding pairs mounted on opposite sides of said truck and means for operating said devices to perform other street cleaning functions; means operable to store a selection of street cleaning functions connected to said side broom control means, to said extension broom pivoting means, to said means for moving said suction nozzles, to said means for selectively operating said gate valves, and to said means for operating said additional operating devices, and a single switch for causing said devices corresponding to said selection of functions to be placed in operation on one side of the truck; and means connected between said transmission and said means for moving said suction nozzles being operable to cause said nozzles to be raised automatically upon shifting of said transmission into reverse.

Claim 6

A vacuum type sweeper comprising: a truck having a frame and a transmission shiftable between forward and reverse; a pair of side brooms mounted on opposite sides of said truck; side broom control means operable to move said side brooms between sweeping and transport positions; a rotatable cylindrical extension broom; mounting means mounting said extension broom beneath said truck, said mounting means including means for pivoting said extension broom between selected positions where it is cooperable in sweeping toward said side brooms; a pair of suction nozzles mounted on opposite sides of said truck adjacent said side brooms; means for moving said suction nozzles between sweeping and transport positions; a debris container carried by said truck in communication with said suction nozzles; a pair of gate valves disposed between respective ones of said nozzles and said debris container and means for selectively operating said gate valves to interrupt the communication thereof; additional devices in corresponding pairs mounted on opposite sides of said truck and means for operating said devices to perform other street cleaning functions; means operable to store a selection of street cleaning functions connected to said side broom control means, to said extension broom pivoting means, to said means for moving said suction nozzles, to said means for selectively operating said gate valves, and to said means for operating said additional operating devices, and a single switch for causing said devices corresponding to said selection of functions to be placed in operation on one side of the truck; and means connected between said transmission and said means for moving said suction nozzles being operable to cause said nozzles to be raised automatically upon shifting of said transmission into reverse.

Claim 7

A vacuum type sweeper comprising: a truck having a frame and a transmission shiftable between forward and reverse; a pair of side brooms mounted on opposite sides of said truck; side broom control means operable to move said side brooms between sweeping and transport positions; a rotatable cylindrical extension broom; mounting means mounting said extension broom beneath said truck, said mounting means including means for pivoting said extension broom between selected positions where it is cooperable in sweeping toward said side brooms; a pair of suction nozzles mounted on opposite sides of said truck adjacent said side brooms; means for moving said suction nozzles between sweeping and transport positions; a debris container carried by said truck in communication with said suction nozzles; a pair of gate valves disposed between respective ones of said nozzles and said debris container and means for selectively operating said gate valves to interrupt the communication thereof; additional devices in corresponding pairs mounted on opposite sides of said truck and means for operating said devices to perform other street cleaning functions; means operable to store a selection of street cleaning functions connected to said side broom control means, to said extension broom pivoting means, to said means for moving said suction nozzles, to said means for selectively operating said gate valves, and to said means for operating said additional operating devices, and a single switch for causing said devices corresponding to said selection of functions to be placed in operation on one side of the truck; and means connected between said transmission and said means for moving said suction nozzles being operable to cause said nozzles to be raised automatically upon shifting of said transmission into reverse.

Claim 8

In a vacuum type sweeper of the type which has sweeping devices mounted on each side thereof capable of performing the same sweeping operations on either side of the sweeper; a pivotal extension broom for sweeping on either side of the sweeper, and control means for controlling operation of said sweeping devices and extension broom and the sweeping position of the extension broom, the improvement wherein said control means comprises: first means for recording a selection of ones of said sweeping devices on each side of the sweeper and said extension broom for operation; second means operable to transfer operation of said extension broom and the selected sweeping devices from one side of the sweeper to the other; and third means including a single switch operable to cause said second means to effect the transfer.

Claim 9

In a vacuum type sweeper of the type which has sweeping devices mounted on each side thereof capable of performing the same sweeping operations on either side of the sweeper; a pivotal extension broom for sweeping on either side of the sweeper, and control means for controlling operation of said sweeping devices and extension broom and the sweeping position of the extension broom, the improvement wherein said control means comprises: first means for recording a selection of ones of said sweeping devices on each side of the sweeper and said extension broom for operation; second means operable to transfer operation of said extension broom and the selected sweeping devices from one side of the sweeper to the other; and third means including a single switch operable to cause said second means to effect the transfer.

Claim 10

In a dual vacuum type sweeper of the type having sets of corresponding street cleaning devices mounted on opposite sides of a sweeper truck for performing street cleaning operations including water spraying and moving brooms into street cleaning positions and transport positions, and control means for controlling said street cleaning devices, the improvement wherein said control means comprises: means for selecting a plurality of street cleaning operations including means for preparing selected devices of corresponding function for operation; and a single control means operating through a switch activated relay operable to place the corresponding devices in operation on a selected side of the sweeper truck and returning the opposite side to a non-street cleaning condition.

Claim 11

In a dual vacuum type sweeper of the type having sets of corresponding street cleaning devices mounted on opposite sides of a sweeper truck for performing street cleaning operations including water spraying and moving brooms into street cleaning positions and transport positions, and control means for controlling said street cleaning devices, the improvement wherein said control means comprises: means for selecting a plurality of street cleaning operations including means for preparing selected devices of corresponding function for operation; and a single control means operating through a switch activated relay operable to place the corresponding devices in operation on a selected side of the sweeper truck and returning the opposite side to a non-street cleaning condition.

Claim 12

A control system for a vacuum type sweeper having corresponding sets of street cleaning devices mounted on opposite sides of a sweeper truck for performing the same street cleaning functions on each side of the truck; said control system comprising; a first plurality of control devices connected to the street cleaning devices on one side of said truck and operable to control the operation of the respective street cleaning devices; a second plurality of control devices connected to the street cleaning devices on the other side of said truck and operable to control the operation of the respective street cleaning devices; function selection means connected to said first and second pluralities of control devices for selecting corresponding devices on each side of the truck for operation in accordance with corresponding desired street cleaning functions; and side selection means comprising a single control connected to said function selection means for effecting operation of the selected devices to cause operation of the associated street cleaning devices on either side and returning the opposite side to a non-operative transport condition.

Claim 13

A control system for a vacuum type sweeper having corresponding sets of street cleaning devices mounted on opposite sides of a sweeper truck for performing the same street cleaning functions on each side of the truck; said control system comprising; a first plurality of control devices connected to the street cleaning devices on one side of said truck and operable to control the operation of the respective street cleaning devices; a second plurality of control devices connected to the street cleaning devices on the other side of said truck and operable to control the operation of the respective street cleaning devices; function selection means connected to said first and second pluralities of control devices for selecting corresponding devices on each side of the truck for operation in accordance with corresponding desired street cleaning functions; and side selection means comprising a single control connected to said function selection means for effecting operation of the selected devices to cause operation of the associated street cleaning devices on either side and returning the opposite side to a non-operative transport condition.

Claim 14

A control system for a vacuum type sweeper having a plurality of first street cleaning devices for performing individual street cleaning operations mounted on one side of the sweeper truck and a plurality of second street cleaning devices for performing individual street cleaning operations corresponding to the street cleaning operations of the first street cleaning devices and mounted on the opposite side of the sweeper truck, said control system comprising: a plurality of first and second control devices connected to respective ones of said first and second street cleaning devices for operating the respective street cleaning devices; means for selecting the operational state of said street cleaning devices; and a single control means operating through a switch activated relay for transferring operation of said selected ones of said first or second control devices so that a desired combination of street cleaning operations may be transferred from one side of the sweeper to the other and returning the opposite side to a non-street cleaning condition.

Claim 15

A control system for a vacuum type sweeper having a plurality of first street cleaning devices for performing individual street cleaning operations mounted on one side of the sweeper truck and a plurality of second street cleaning devices for performing individual street cleaning operations corresponding to the street cleaning operations of the first street cleaning devices and mounted on the opposite side of the sweeper truck, said control system comprising: a plurality of first and second control devices connected to respective ones of said first and second street cleaning devices for operating the respective street cleaning devices; means for selecting the operational state of said street cleaning devices; and a single control means operating through a switch activated relay for transferring operation of said selected ones of said first or second control devices so that a desired combination of street cleaning operations may be transferred from one side of the sweeper to the other and returning the opposite side to a non-street cleaning condition.

Claim 16

A control system according to claim 7, wherein said means for selecting the operational state includes a plurality of switches connected to an electrical supply and each controlling the operation of a selected street cleaning device, and said means for transferring operation of said selected control devices includes relay means connected to said first and second control devices and to an electrical supply via said plurality of switches, and a further switch connected between the electrical supply and said relay means and operable to cause said relay means to transfer connection of said first and second control devices alternately to the electrical supply via said plurality of switches.

Claim 17

A control system according to claim 8, comprising a transmission operated switch and a second relay means operated thereby, and wherein particular ones of the street cleaning devices on each side of the sweeper truck is operable to raise and lower respective suction nozzles, and wherein said control devices corresponding to the particular nozzle raising and lowering devices are further connectable to an electrical supply via said second relay means in response to shifting of the transmission into reverse to automatically lift the suction nozzles.

Claim 18

A control system according to claim 8, wherein said relay means includes a first set of contacts connected to said first control devices, a second set of contacts connected to said second control devices, a set of movable contacts connected to said plurality of switches and normally contacting said first set of contacts, and winding means connected to said further switch to be energized and de-energized thereby to transfer said set of movable contacts between said first and second sets of contacts.

Claim 19

A vacuum sweeper comprising: a wheeled vehicle for movement along a surface to be swept, said vehicle including a frame and a transmission shiftable by an operator between forward and reverse; street cleaning devices including; a pair of side brooms connected to opposite sides of said frame for movement between streeT cleaning and transport positions, and means for moving said side brooms individually between said positions; a pair of suction nozzles connected to said frame to the rear of respective ones of said side brooms for movement between street cleaning and transport positions, means for moving said nozzles individually between said positions, and means connected between said nozzles and said transmission for automatically raising said nozzles in response to shifting of said transmission into reverse; extension broom means pivotally mounted to and beneath said frame including a rotatable extension broom, means for maintaining the axis of rotation of said extension broom parallel to the swept surface, and means for pivoting said extension broom between positions where it is cooperable with the respective side brooms to extend the width of sweeping swath on each side of the sweeper; sweeping control means connected to said means for moving said side brooms and said nozzles and said means for pivoting said extension broom being operable to transfer operation of said street cleaning device from one side of the sweeper to the other; and a hopper carried on said frame and connectable in communication with said suction nozzles.

Claim 20

A vacuum sweeper comprising: a wheeled vehicle for movement along a surface to be swept, said vehicle including a frame and a transmission shiftable by an operator between forward and reverse; street cleaning devices including; a pair of side brooms connected to opposite sides of said frame for movement between streeT cleaning and transport positions, and means for moving said side brooms individually between said positions; a pair of suction nozzles connected to said frame to the rear of respective ones of said side brooms for movement between street cleaning and transport positions, means for moving said nozzles individually between said positions, and means connected between said nozzles and said transmission for automatically raising said nozzles in response to shifting of said transmission into reverse; extension broom means pivotally mounted to and beneath said frame including a rotatable extension broom, means for maintaining the axis of rotation of said extension broom parallel to the swept surface, and means for pivoting said extension broom between positions where it is cooperable with the respective side brooms to extend the width of sweeping swath on each side of the sweeper; sweeping control means connected to said means for moving said side brooms and said nozzles and said means for pivoting said extension broom being operable to transfer operation of said street cleaning device from one side of the sweeper to the other; and a hopper carried on said frame and connectable in communication with said suction nozzles.