Pickup sweeper for roofing gravel

Claim 2

Roof gravel gathering apparatus for removing gravel of mixed diameter from a roof surface and discharging it into a transport device positioned along side, said apparatus comprising: (a) a self propelled carriage, said carriage being operable in response to command from an operator located in an operator's position relative to said carriage; (b) rotatable gravel sweeping means carried by said self propelled carriage for picking up roofing gravel ranging in diameters from pea gravel size to 2 inches, said gravel sweeping means having a periphery; (c) hopper means carried by said self propelled carriage for receiving gravel therein from said rotatable gravel sweeping means and funnelling it in a selected output direction; (d) a housing at least partially enclosing said rotatable gravel sweeping means, said housing having a contoured portion generally conforming to a periphery of at least a portion of said rotatable gravel sweeping means thereby providing an enclosed gravel passageway; (e) said rotatable gravel sweeping means including movable mounting means to move said gravel sweeping means relative to said self propelled carriage to compensate for wear of said gravel sweeping means; (f) conveyor means to convey gathered gravel out of said hopper means; (g) said conveyor means being oriented on said self propelled carriage so as to convey said gravel in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of said self propelled carriage; (h) a power source carried by said self propelled carriage for propelling said carriage, for rotating said rotatable gravel sweeping means, and for driving said conveyor means; (i) adjustment means to vary a speed of rotation of said rotatable gravel sweeping means; (j) speed variation means to vary a speed of movement of said self propelled carriage; (k) drive control means to vary the speed of movement of said self propelled carriage; (l) engagement control means to vary the speed of rotation of said rotatable gravel sweeping means; (m) said conveyor means including an endless belt having a plurality of spaced cleats mounted thereon to retain the gravel on said belt; (n) said endless belt being supported on top and bottom shafts, at least one of said top and bottom shafts being moveable relative to the other shaft; and (o) said rotatable gravel sweeping means including a plurality of brush bristles for gathering gravel into said hopper means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power source includes a hydrostatic power means to hydrostatically power said self propelled carriage.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotatable gravel sweeping means comprises a paddle assembly including: (a) first and second ends; (b) an axle positioned between said first and second ends; and (c) a plurality of paddle members secured about said axle.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of paddle members comprises a bristled brush.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least one of said plurality of paddle members comprises a rubber like panel.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said plurality of paddle members comprises a mixture of paddle member types, said paddle member types including paddle members comprised of a brush and paddle members comprised of a rubber like panel.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including automatic stopping means to automatically stop the powered movement of said self propelled carriage when the operator leaves the operator's position.

Claim 9

Roof gravel gathering apparatus for removing gravel of mixed diameter from a roof surface and discharging it into a transport device positioned along side, said apparatus comprising: (a) a self propelled carriage, said carriage being operable in response to command from an operator located in an operator's position relative to said carriage; (b) rotatable gravel sweeping means carried by said self propelled carriage for picking up roofing gravel ranging in diameter from pea gravel size to 2 inches, said gravel sweeping means having a periphery; (c) hopper means carried by said self propelled carriage for receiving gravel therein from said rotatable gravel sweeping means and funnelling it in a selected output direction; (d) a housing at least partially enclosing said rotatable gravel sweeping means, said housing having a contoured portion generally conforming to a periphery of at least a portion of said rotatable gravel sweeping means thereby providing an enclosed gravel passageway; (e) said rotatable gravel sweeping means including movable mounting means to move said gravel sweeping means relative to said self propelled carriage to compensate for wear of said gravel sweeping means; (f) conveyor means to convey gathered gravel out of said hopper means; (g) said conveyor means being oriented on said self propelled carriage so as to convey said gravel in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of said self propelled carriage; (h) a power source carried by said self propelled carriage for propelling said carriage, for rotating said rotatable gravel sweeping means, and for driving said conveyor means; (i) adjustment means to vary a speed of rotation of said rotatable gravel sweeping means; (j) speed variation means to vary a speed of movement of said self propelled carriage; (k) drive control means to vary the speed of movement of said self propelled carriage; (l) engagement control means to vary the speed of rotation of said rotatable gravel sweeping means; (m) said conveyor means including an endless belt having a plurality of spaced cleats mounted thereon to retain the gravel on said belt; (n) said endless belt being supported on top and bottom shafts, at least one of said top and bottom shafts being moveable relative to the other shaft; (o) said rotatable gravel sweeping means including a plurality of brush bristles for gathering gravel into said hopper means; and (p) said power source including a hydrostatic power means to hydrostatically power said self propelled carriage.

Claim 10

Roof gravel gathering apparatus for removing gravel of mixed diameter from a roof surface and discharging it into a transport device positioned along side, said apparatus comprising: (a) a self propelled carriage, said carriage being operable in response to command from an operator located in an operator's position relative to said carriage; (b) rotatable gravel sweeping means carried by said self propelled carriage for picking up roofing gravel ranging in diameter from pea gravel size to 2 inches, said gravel sweeping means having a periphery; (c) hopper means carried by said self propelled carriage for receiving gravel therein from said rotatable gravel sweeping means and funnelling it in a selected output direction; (d) a housing at least partially enclosing said rotatable gravel sweeping means, said housing having a contoured portion generally conforming to a periphery of at least a portion of said rotatable gravel sweeping means thereby providing an enclosed gravel passageway; (e) said rotatable gravel sweeping means including movable mounting means to move said gravel sweeping means relative to said self propelled carriage to compensate for wear of said gravel sweeping means; (f) conveyor means to convey gathered gravel out of said hopper means; (g) said conveyor means being oriented on said self propelled carriage so as to convey said gravel in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of said self propelled carriage; (h) a power source carried by said self propelled carriage for propelling said carriage, for rotating said rotatable gravel sweeping means, and for driving said conveyor means; (i) adjustment means to vary a speed of rotation of said rotatable gravel sweeping means; (j) speed variation means to vary a speed of movement of said self propelled carriage; (k) drive control means to vary the speed of movement of said self propelled carriage; (l) engagement control means to vary the speed of rotation of said rotatable gravel sweeping means; (m) said conveyor means including an endless belt having a plurality of spaced cleats mounted thereon to retain the gravel on said belt; (n) said endless belt being supported on top and bottom shafts, at least one of said top and bottom shafts being moveable relative to the other shaft; (o) said rotatable gravel sweeping means including a plurality of brush bristles for gathering gravel into said hopper means; and (p) said power source including a hydrostatic power means to hydrostatically power said self propelled carriage.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, including automatic stopping means to automatically stop powered movement of said self propelled carriage when the operator leaves the operator's position.

Claim 12

Roof gravel gathering apparatus for removing gravel of mixed diameter from a roof surface and discharging it into a transport device positioned along side, said apparatus comprising: (a) a self propelled carriage, said carriage being operable in response to command from an operator located in an operator's position relative to said carriage; (b) rotatable gravel sweeping means carried by said self propelled carriage for picking up roofing gravel ranging in diameter from pea gravel size to 2 inches, said gravel sweeping means having a periphery; (c) hopper means carried by said self propelled carriage for receiving gravel therein from said rotatable gravel sweeping means and funnelling it in a selected output direction; (d) a housing at least partially enclosing said rotatable gravel sweeping means, said housing having a contoured portion generally conforming to a periphery of at least a portion of said rotatable gravel sweeping means thereby providing an enclosed gravel passageway; (e) said rotatable gravel sweeping means including movable mounting means to move said gravel sweeping means relative to said self propelled carriage to compensate for wear of said gravel sweeping means; (f) conveyor means to convey gathered gravel out of said hopper means; (g) said conveyor means being oriented on said self propelled carriage so as to convey said gravel in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of said self propelled carriage; (h) a power source carried by said self propelled carriage for propelling said carriage, for rotating said rotatable gravel sweeping means, and for driving said conveyor means; (i) adjustment means to vary a speed of rotation of said rotatable gravel sweeping means; (j) speed variation means to vary a speed of movement of said self propelled carriage; (k) drive control means to vary the speed of movement of said self propelled carriage; (l) engagement control means to vary the speed of rotation of said rotatable gravel sweeping means; (m) said conveyor means including an endless belt having a plurality of spaced cleats mounted thereon to retain the gravel on said belt; (n) said endless belt being supported on top and bottom shafts, at least one of said top and bottom shafts being moveable relative to the other shaft; and (o) said rotatable gravel sweeping means comprising a paddle assembly including: (i) first and second ends; (ii) an axle positioned between said first and second ends; (iii) a plurality of paddle members secured about said axle, said plurality of paddle members comprising a mixture of paddle member types, said paddle member types including paddle members comprised of a brush and paddle members comprised of a rubber like panel.

Claim 13

Roof gravel gathering apparatus for removing gravel of mixed diameter from a roof surface and discharging it into a transport device positioned along side, said apparatus comprising: (a) a self propelled carriage, said carriage being operable in response to command from an operator located in an operator's position relative to said carriage; (b) rotatable gravel sweeping means carried by said self propelled carriage for picking up roofing gravel ranging in diameter from pea gravel size to 2 inches, said gravel sweeping means having a periphery; (c) hopper means carried by said self propelled carriage for receiving gravel therein from said rotatable gravel sweeping means and funnelling it in a selected output direction; (d) a housing at least partially enclosing said rotatable gravel sweeping means, said housing having a contoured portion generally conforming to a periphery of at least a portion of said rotatable gravel sweeping means thereby providing an enclosed gravel passageway; (e) said rotatable gravel sweeping means including movable mounting means to move said gravel sweeping means relative to said self propelled carriage to compensate for wear of said gravel sweeping means; (f) conveyor means to convey gathered gravel out of said hopper means; (g) said conveyor means being oriented on said self propelled carriage so as to convey said gravel in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of said self propelled carriage; (h) a power source carried by said self propelled carriage for propelling said carriage, for rotating said rotatable gravel sweeping means, and for driving said conveyor means; (i) adjustment means to vary a speed of rotation of said rotatable gravel sweeping means; (j) speed variation means to vary a speed of movement of said self propelled carriage; (k) drive control means to vary the speed of movement of said self propelled carriage; (l) engagement control means to vary the speed of rotation of said rotatable gravel sweeping means; (m) said conveyor means including an endless belt having a plurality of spaced cleats mounted thereon to retain the gravel on said belt; (n) said endless belt being supported on top and bottom shafts, at least one of said top and bottom shafts being moveable relative to the other shaft; and (o) said rotatable gravel sweeping means comprising a paddle assembly including: (i) first and second ends; (ii) an axle positioned between said first and second ends; (iii) a plurality of paddle members secured about said axle, said plurality of paddle members comprising a mixture of paddle member types, said paddle member types including paddle members comprised of a brush and paddle members comprised of a rubber like panel.

Claim 14

Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 including automatic stopping means to automatically stop powered movement of said self propelled carriage when the operator leaves the operator's position.

Claim 17

The method of claim 12, further including the steps of: (a) providing control means to control a speed of advancement of said self propelled carriage; and (b) providing said rotatable sweeping means with a plurality of brush bristles.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13, further including the step of providing said rotatable sweeping means with a plurality of rubber like panels intermixed with said plurality of brush bristles.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13 further including the step of providing automatic control means to automatically stop the powered movement of said self propelled carriage when the operator leaves the operator's position.

Claim 20

The method of claim 15 further including the step of providing a hydrostatic power means to hydrostatically power said self propelled carriage.