Patent US4773119A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4773119A
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Road sweeping vehicles
Assignee: JOHNSTON ENGINEERING Ltd JOHNSTON HOUSE HATCHLAND RD REDHILL SURREY RH1 1BG UNITED KINGDOM
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Filing: 1987-04-14
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Granted: 1988-09-27
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Expires: 2007-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A suction type road sweeping vehicle includes a fluid coupling in the drive train between the auxiliary engine and the vacuum generating fan. The fluid coupling is mounted integrally with the engine flywheel and drives a step up gearbox. The flywheel, coupling and gearbox are housed in a compact housing attached to the engine and routine in the coupling. The use of the fluid coupling alleviates vibrational problems associated with elastic properties in existing couplings and thereby enables a more robust fan having a greater moment of inertia to be used.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony J. Duthie
- 👤 Michael Sandford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:19
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01H; E01H1/00; E01H1/08; E01H1/0827
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A suction type road sweeping vehicle comprising a self propelled chassis, an air tight container mounted on the chassis, at least one suction conduit connected to the container, a fan for generating a vacuum in the container by extracting air through an outlet duct, an engine for driving the fan and a drive train communicating between the engine and the fan wherein the drive train includes a fluid coupling which is of integral construction with a flywheel of said engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A suction type road sweeping vehicle comprising a self propelled chassis, an air tight container mounted on the chassis, at least one suction conduit connected to the container, a fan for generating a vacuum in the container by extracting air through an outlet duct, an engine for driving the fan and a drive train communicating between the engine and the fan wherein the drive train includes a fluid coupling which is of integral construction with a flywheel of said engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A road sweeping vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drive train comprises a fluid coupling within the engine flywheel, an output shaft of the coupling connected to the input of a step up gearbox and an output shaft of the gearbox connected to the fan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A road sweeping vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fluid coupling and the gearbox are housed in a common housing connected to the engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A road sweeping vehicle as claimed in claim 3 including access ports in said housing through which the fluid level in the fluid coupling may be externally monitored.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A road sweeping vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the moment of interia of the fan is substantially greater than that of the flywheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A road sweeping vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid coupling provides slippage in the drive train of not more than 5% under conditions of maximum drive speed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3172143A
Cited
US4356589A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-27 | 1992-03-28 | 1992-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-27 | 1996-03-28 | 1996-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-27 | 2000-03-28 | 2000-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |