US3105991A - Mobile pneumatic cleaning devices - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 8, 1963 J. 1.. OBERG MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1961 l wW 5 E E m WE mm ILOBERGJNVEWTDQ HW LLND- VANCE-g5 Oct. 8, 1963 J- L. DBE'RG MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1961 1L. o BEflQgmvevcToR B WMNkM-IJPW NdE Oct. 8, 1963 J. L. QB ERG MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES Filed March 27, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 1L .OBEKG iuvEuToR BX.WNUNDM anmmexs Oct. 8, 1963 J. L. OBERG 3,105,991

MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES Filed March 27, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 8, 1963 J. 1.. OBERG 9 MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING omvxczs Filed March 2'7, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 8, 1963 J. L. OBERG 3,105,991

MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES Filed March 27, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 3A.. uwRfi w vewToR Oct. 8, 1963 J. L. OBERG 3,105,991

MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES Filed March 27, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Oct. 8, 1963 J. 1.. OBERG 3,105,991

MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICES Filed March 27. 1961 s Sheets-Sheet a 1L. DBERG.

Kw mud-or B. W w awoxwugs United States The present invention relates to mobile pneumatic cleaning devices having an apparatus for sucking up loose material such as dust, chips, litter and other refuse from a runway, including a suction nozzle which is arranged substantially centrally with respect to the longitudinal middle plane of the device, preferably between a pair of front wheels.

According to the invention, the novel and characteristic feature of a mobile pneumatic cleaning device of this type is that an arm which is mounted on the device and carries a brush rotatable about a vertical axis, and which is swingable horizontally about a point behind the brush, has a field of traverse located in advance of the suction nozzle and centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the device, permitting the brush to be shifted between positions at either side of the device, respectively, so that the brush is enabled to work on either side of the device to permit driving the cleaning device close to a house wall or gutter with the brush sweeping forth litter and like refuse from within the angle between the house wall and the ground or out of the gutter to the area in front of the suction nozzle, irrespective of whether the house wall or gutter is on the right or :left side of the cleaning device.

For a better understanding the invention will be described more in detail in the following, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 area side elevational view, plan view and front vie-w, respectively, of a mobile pneumatic cleaning device according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is :a fragmentary side elevational view of the front end of the cleaning device in FIG. 1, the collecting receptacle, which is in the shape of a bucket, being in raised position with its discharge opening in the open position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the front portion of the cleaning device, showing details of a brush and screen arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the arrangement in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the arrangement in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a front view, corresponding to FIG. 6 with the brush swung to another position;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the front portion of the cleaning device, showing a moistening means associated with the brush;

FIG. 10 is a plan view, corresponding to FIG. 9, with the brush swung to another position; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a system for swingingbrush 51 and rotating it about its axis selectively in opposite directions.

The mobile cleaning device shown in its entirety in FIGS. l-3 is constituted by a motor vehicle comprising a chassis with aframe 10 and with front andrear wheels 11 and 12, respectively. Thefront wheels 11 are disposed on either side of theframe 10 and constitute the driven wheels of the vehicle, while the rear wheels '12 are placed beneath theframe 10 closely adjacent to the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle on either side thereof and are adapted to be steered from thedrivers seat 13 by means of a steering wheel 14 which by means of a conventional steering mechanism (not shown) is connected to the rear Patented Oct. 8, 1963 ice the vehicle, and by means of atransmission 16 and ashaft 17 this engine is operatively connected to a hydraulic vari able drive '18 mounted on theframe 10 and operable by means of a pedal 19' and in turn connected, through agear box 18 and ashaft 20, to the input of adifferential gearing 21. A two-parttransverse shaft 22 mounted on theframe 10 has one part connected to each side of the output of thedifferential gearing 21, each of said parts being connected by means ofchain transmissions 23 to one of the drivenfront wheels 11.

The mobile cleaning device has an apparatus for sucking up loose material such as dust, chips, litter and other refuse from the roadway on which the vehicle is propelled. This suction apparatus may be of any prior-art type whatever. It is shown here designed in the manner disclosed in US. Patent 2,932,845. The suction apparatus includes a fan- 24- which is mounted on theframe 10 and which extends transversely forward of the drivers seat with the drive shaft 25 of the impeller arranged longitudinally of the vehicle (the fan is omitted in FIG. 2 to bring out other details of the design more clearly). The fan also is adapted to be driven by theinternal combustion engine 15, and for this purpose a V-rope transmission 26 is arranged between theshaft 17 and one end of a Oardanshaft 27 which is connected to the shaft 25 and mounted in twobearings 28 and 29 fixedly connected to the chassis. By this arrangement theengine 15 can run continuously at the rpm. required for thefan 24 while the power re quired for propel-ling the vehicle is taken out from the engine through the infinitelyvariable drive 18.

Thefan 24 has its pressure side connected via aconduit 39 to a suction and blast nozzle unit 3 1 which may be designed in accordance with one or more of the suggestions "given in U.S. Patents 2,916,761 and 2,932,845. Due to the special driving arrangement for the front wheels :11 the space between them is free so that thenozzle unit 31 can be disposed in said space and will thus closely follow the path of the front wheels \during propulsion of the vehicle, and also when the vehicle is steered along a curving path. Extending from thenozzle unit 31 is asuction conduit 32 which leads to acyclone chamber 33 in a cyclone apparatus of the design disclosed in US. Patent 2,873,001, while the collectingreceptacle 34 of said cyclone apparatus is connected via aconduit 35 to the suction side of thefan 24. From the air circulation system thus formed some air is supplied to afine cleaning apparatus 36 which may also be of the cyclone type and to the outlet of which is connected a filter '37. For further details of the design and function of the suction apparatus reference is made to the abovementioned patents. The nozzle unit 3 1 is mounted on the chassis =10 preferably in such a way as to enable the positioning thereof in different positions in a vertical direction as well as longitudinally of the vehicle, and in such a case theconduits 30 and 32 are arranged to permit such movement, for instance they partly consist of bin ed or flexible sections.

The drivers seat, the driving system and the suction apparatus are enclosed in a body-like shell but preferably, as shown, thecyclone apparatus 33, 34 forms a separate unit disposed on the remaining part of the vehicle. By means of arms '38 which are rigidly attached to the upper side of the collectingreceptacle 34 this receptacle is pivotally mounted by means of ashaft 39 incars 40 which project from aframe 41 immediately forward of the drivers seat so that thecyclone apparatus 33, 34 is swingable about theshaft 39 between the position of FIGS. 1-3, that is the lower position or working position, and a raised position or emptying position shown in FIG. 4. Awall 42 of the body-like shell and a wall 34' of thereceptacle 34 bordering on said first-mentioned wall 4-2 in the working position of thecyclone apparatus 33, 34 haveopenings 32 and 35 provided therein, which openings register when thecyclone apparatus 34, 35 is in its working position. The openings in thewall 42 communicate with theconduit 32 and conduit '35, respectively, and those in wall 34' communicate with thecyclone chamber 33 and the interior of thereceptacle 34, respectively. Suitable sealing rings may be provided around the openings in one or both of thewalls 42 and 34 to prevent leakage therebetween.

A pair ofhydraulic cylinders 43 serving to swing thecyclone apparatus 33, 34 about theshaft 39 are disposed one on each side of the vehicle and connected to the vehicle at their one ends and to the collecting receptacle 34- at their other ends. The bottom of thereceptacle 34 is in the form of anemptying door 34" which is pivotally mounted at 44 on the remainingcollecting receptacle 34. To lock thedoor 34" in the closed position a swinga-ble pawl 45 is arranged on each side of the door, said pawl being adapted to cooperate with a fixedabutment 46 on thereceptacle 34. Disposed on each side of thereceptacle 34 is a double-actinghydraulic cylinder 47 which is connected to the receptacle at its one end and to the corresponding pawl at its other end, said cylinder serving to move the pawl into and out of engagement with the associatedabutment 46 and to swing thedoor 34" between the opened and closed position. By means of a conduit system (not shown) and control valves included therein and operable from the drivers seat, thehydraulic cylinders 43 and '47 are connected to anoil pump 48 which is connected over a V-rope transmission 49 to theshaft 17 for driving the pump from the drivinginternal combustion engine 15. Thepump 48 conveys oil under pressure from anoil sump 50 to the different cylinders while being controlled by said valves, and both the pump and the valves are preferably located in the oil sump in order that leakage oil, if any, shall flow directly into said sump, which places lower demands on the sealing devices in the valves and the pump.

FIG. 4 shows how thecyclone apparatus 33, 34- can be raised and opened for emptying of material sucked up from the roadway by thenozzle unit 31 and separated by cyclone action in thecyclone apparatus 33, 34. In the emptying operation thecyclone apparatus 33; 34 is first raised by means of the cylinders 4 3- while being swung about theshaft 39, and then thecylinders 47 are placed under pressure so that to begin with thepawls 45 are moved out of engagement with theabutment 46 and the door 34- can then be swung to the open position while the content of the collectingreceptacle 34 is emptied into some larger stationary collector or onto the body of a conventional truck. After the emptying is finished, thedoor 54 is pulled to the closed position by the cylinders 4-7, thepawls 45 snapping behind theabutments 46 and being pressed by thecylinders 47 against said abutments while thedoor 34" is pressed against theremaining receptacle 34. Thecyclone apparatus 33, 34- is then allowed to return to its lower position.

At the front end of the vehicle abrush 51 is mounted on theframe 10 by .means oflinks 52 and 53 which are adapted to swing about substantially horizontal journals. This brush serves to sweep forth loose material from the area forward of one of thefront wheels 11 so that this material is brought into the path of thenozzle unit 31 to be sucked up by it. When the vehicle is driven along a gutter with the front wheels rolling immediately adjacent the edge of the sidewalk it is necessary to so sweep forth the loose material lying in the gutter in order that it may be sucked up by the nozzle unit. If the vehicle is driven with one front wheel on the sidewalk and the other front wheel on the street the nozzle unit as a rule will be at too high a level above the gutter to be saidciently effective. According to the invention thebrush 51 is swingable between an extreme position at one side of the vehicle forward of thefront wheel 11 at said one side, and another extreme position on the other side of the vehicle forward of the front wheel 1 1 on said other side, and the detail of the arrangement for mounting the brush in such a way as to permit such swinging movement will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5-8 which also illustrate a device for preventing the material swept forth by the brush on one side of the vehicle from being thrown too far towards the other side of the vehicle.

According to FIGS. 58 the twolinks 52 and 53 have their one fork-shaped ends hinged to a pair ofarms 54 which are rigidly attached to ahydraulic motor 55 which supports and is drivably connected to the brush to rotate it, and which is connected through conduits (not shown) to theoil pump 48 for supplying the oil under pressure neces sary for its operation and to thetank 50 for leading the return oil back to the hydraulic motor. At their other, likewise fork-shaped ends thelinks 52 and 53 are hinged to a substantiallyvertical shaft 56 which is mounted for rotation in a U-shapedmember 57 secured to theframe 10. Thelink 53 which is arranged above thelink 52 is adjustable in length to permit the axis of rotation of thebrush 51 to be set at the desired inclination to the vertical. Thelower link 52 has aroller 58 rotatably mounted thereon, said roller bearing against anarcuate guide path 59 which is rigidly attached to the U-shapedmember 57 and which has arecess 60 at each of its ends.

Theguide path 59 thus supports thelink 53 and consequently the brush 5i and determines the vertical position thereof in that the brush is held raised from the ground in all swung positions of thelinks 52 and 53 except for the said two extreme positions when the brush is lowered into a suitable working position when theroller 58 is received in therecesses 60. To swing the brush ahydraulic cylinder 61 is disposed between anabutment 62 on theframe 10 and anarm 63 extending from theshaft 56, and this cylinder also is connected by conduits and valves (not shown) to thepump 48 and theoil tank 50. Thehydraulic cylinder 61 may be replaced by a hydraulic rotary motor of a known type which is arranged on theframe 10 or theU-shaped member 57 and has its output shaft coupled to theshaft 56.

Twoscreens 64a and 64b which preferably are made of rubber or other resilient material are each mounted on a pair ofarms 65 secured :to a shaft 66 which is mounted at the underside of thedoor 34" of thecyclone apparatus 33, 34. Each pair ofarms 65 is under the action of atension spring 67 interposed between said arm pair and V thedoor 34", and these two tension springs tend to pull the twoscreens 64a and 64b outwards, i.e. away from each other, to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Arranged on one arm of each pair ofarms 65 is apin 68 which is movably received in aslot 69 of arod 70 which extends transversely of the vehicle between the twopins 68. Saidrod 70 at its middle portion has anarm 71 which extends rearwardly beneath the vehicle and which has a slot 72 into which is movably fitted apin 73 mounted on. anarm 74. The last-mentioned arm has its one end pivotally mounted on thepin 75 secured to the front of thedoor 34" and extends rearwardly beneath thedoor 34" from thepin 75.' It has alongitudinal slot 76 in its inner end. When thearm 74 extends along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, as is shown in FIGS. 5-7, thepins 68 are located in the outer ends of theirrespective slots 69 and thescreens 64a and 6412 are swung upwards, but if thearm 74 is swung to either side the screen at the opposite side is carried along by thepin 68 and is thereby swung against the action of the associatedspring 67 to the lowered position which is shown in FIG. 8 with respect to the screen 6411, while the other screen remains in its upwardly swung position as is shown in FIG. 8 with respect to thescreen 64b, when therod 70 during the swinging movement of thearm 74 moves relative to thepin 68 associated with the last-mentioned screen and received in theslot 69.

To coordinate the movement of thescreens 64a and 6411 with that of thebrush 51 in such a way that the left screen is lowered when the brush is swung to the right side, and vice versa, anarm 77 is disposed on theshaft 55. Saidarm 77 in turn carries an arm 78 which is mounted for swinging movement on thearm 77 at 79 about a substantially horizontal axis and which is under the action of aspring 80 which tends to urge the arm 78 upwards. Some suitable abutment (not shown) is provided for limiting such swinging movement. Arranged on the arm 78 is an upwardly directedpin 81 which engages in theslot 75 of thearm 74. Thepin 81 and theslot 76 constitute a disengageable connection between the screen operating mechanism on thedoor 34 and the brush operating mechanism on theframe 10 to permit raising of thecyclone apparatus 33, 34. As is readily seen, the two screens will, by means of this connection, have imparted to them the intended movement relative to thebrush 51, for if thebrush 51 is moved to the right as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 to the position shown in FIG. 8 therod 70 will will also be moved to the right, thescreen 64a being swung down into lowered position while the screen 64]) remains in the raised position.

To prevent dust from being whirled up by the brush 51 a suitable moistening device of the design shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may suitably be provided on said brush. According to FIGS. 9 and 10 twohose conduits 82a and 82b havingspraying nozzles 83a and 8311 are mounted on thehydraulic motor 55. These two hose conduits are connected one to each side of a two-way cock 84 which is suitably attached to theframe 10 and connected to apipe 85 for a supply of Water. Saidpipe 85 is led in a manner not shown in detail to a water pump 86 (FIG. 1) which is coupled by acoupling 87 and a V-rope transmission 88 to theshaft 27 driven by the V-rope transmission 26 and is connected to awater tank 39 on the vehicle to suck water therefrom, transporting it under pressure through the pipe to thecock 84. The operatinglever 84 of thecock 84 has aslot 90 in which apin 91 is movable, saidpin 91 being disposed on anarm 92 extending from theshaft 56. When thebrush 51 is in its intermediate position the water supply to the twoconduits 82a and 82b is shut off by thecock 84 which then has its operating arm 84' set longitudinally of the vehicle. When thebrush 51 is swung to the right as seen in FIGS. 9 and the operatinglever 84 is moved to the left and consequently the water supply to theconduit 82a is opened so that Water is sprayed on the ground in advance of thebrush 51 through thenozzle 83a, as is illustrated in FIG. 9. According to FIG. 10 thebrush 51 is swung to the other side and in that case water is sprayed in advance of thebrush 51 through the nozzle 835 since the operating lever 84' has been set in the opposite sense for supplying water to theconduit 82b.

Thebrush 51 should have the same direction of motion relative to the sidewalk (pavement) edge at which it operates irrespective of whether it is on the left or the right side of the vehicle; in both cases it should throw e sweepings forwards and inwards in advance of the vehicle, that is it should rotate counterclockwise on the right side of the vehicle, as seen in FIG. 2, and clockwise on the left side of the vehicle. Suitably, a device for reversing the direction of rotation of thehydraulic motor 55 is therefore operatively connected to the means for swinging the brush so that the motor is at rest in the intermediate position of the brush and is driven in opposite directions in the two extreme positions of the brush. For instance, a valve for controlling the. flow of oil under pressure to thehydraulic motor 55 may be adapted to be actuated by the swinging movement of thebrush 51 in the same way as thecock 85 but it may also be operable or connected or built together with the valve for controlling the swinging movement of the brush.

As seen in FIG. 11,oil pump 48 is disposed inoil sump 50 to convey oil under pressure from said oil sump through a pipe 93, the pressure being determined by anoverflow valve 94 discharging into the oil sump. Avalve 95 is disposed in oil sump 50', oil leaking from said valve therefore being collected directly by the oil sump. Thus, sealing requirements in connection with said valve may be kept low.Valve 95 comprises acylindrical valve member 96 rotatably mounted in avalve body 97, pipe 93 being connected to a central axial dead end bore 98 in said valve member at one end thereof, said bore in turn being connected to a radial bore 99 opening at the periphery ofvalve member 96 which is manually rotatable in opposite directions by means of astick 100 available outsideoil sump 50. In the neutral position of said stick and said valve member shown in the drawing, bore 99 communicates withoil sump 5% through agroove 101 invalve body 97 thus the oil delivered bypump 48 through pipe 93' being returned to the oil sump. Also, in the neutral position ofvalve member 96pipes 102 and 106 connected at one end tovalve body 97 communicate withoil sump 50 throughgrooves 104 and 105, respectively, invalve member 96, said pipes being connected at the other end thereof to hydraulic motor 55- hinged to link 53 and connected to brush S1 to rotate it through ashaft 106.Motor 55 is of the type known in the art having a plurality of platelike pistons reciprocable in a rotor.Further pipes 107 and 108 are connected at one end tohydraulic cylinder 61 on opposite sides of a piston reciprocable therein and operatively connected by a piston rod 169 to link 53 as described in the specification. The other ends ofpipes 197 and 108 are connected tovalve body 97 and are closed byvalve member 96 in the neutral position shown, the piston inhydraulic cylinder 61 thus being blocked in the illustrated position by oil enclosed in the cylinder on both sides of the piston therein.

-Ifvalve member 96 is rotated in the clockwise direction to connectpipe 108 to bore 99,pipe 107 is simultaneously connected tooil sump 50 through groove 194. Thus, oil under pressure is supplied to the left end ofcylinder 61, the piston thereby being moved to the right and oil being displaced to oil sump 50' from the right end ofcylinder 61 throughpipe 107 andgroove 104. Thus,brush 51 is swung to the right side of the vehicle as seen in FIG. 10. Ifvalve member 96 is rotated a further step to connect bore 99 topipe 10%,pipe 102 is connected tooil sump 50 through afurther groove 110 in the valve member, and the ends ofpipes 197 and 108 connected to the valve body are closed byvalve member 96 Thereby,cylinder 61 is blocked in the previously reached right hand position andmotor 51 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. If valve member'96 is returned to the neutral position, the brush is stopped, and if the valve member is rotated two steps in a counterclockwise direction, the brush is initially displaced to the opposite side of the vehicle and then the brush is rotated in a clockwise direction,pipe 103 being connected tooil sump 50 by agroove 111 invalve member 96. However, ifbrush 51 is to be parked in the central position shown in FIG. 11,valve member 96 is rotated to swing the brush to the side position opposite that occupied at present and then, when the brush is in the central position,valve member 96 is returned to its neutral position.

The above embodiment of the invention has been described for purpose of illustration rather than limitation. All possible variations and modifications of the invention are understood as being included Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: J l. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally respect of a longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operative-1y connected to said suc tion means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, means connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed in advance of the suction nozzle means, for movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to 'be shifted between positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, and for movement vertically thereby permitting the brush to be lowered onto and lifted from said surface, power means connected to said connecting means for moving said brush between said positions, and supporting means supporting said brush, said supporting means having end portions at the ends of said field of traverse and a central portion between said end portions, said end portions being on a lower level than said central portion.

2. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally .in respect of a longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, at least one arm connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed at one end of said arm in advance of the suction nozzle means, means mounting said arm on the vehicle at the other end for swinging movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to be shifted between positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, and for swinging movement vertically thereby permitting the brush to be lowered onto and lifted from said surface, power means connected to said mounting means for said arm for moving said brush between said positions, and means on said vehicle supporting said arm, said supporting means having end portions at the ends of said field of traverse and a central portion between said end portions, said end portions being on a lower level than said central portion.

3. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device as claimed in claim 2 which said means for rotating said brush is reversible and is coupled with said power means to be reversed when said arm is displaced from the position at one side of said vehicle to the other side thereof.

4. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally in respect of a longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, means connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed in ad- Vance of the suction nozzle means, for movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to be shifted between positions ,at' one and the other side of the vehicle,

- ing end portions at the ends of said field of traverse and a central portion between said end portions, said end portions being on a lower level than said central portion, a pair of screens, means mounting said screens one on each side of said field of traverse for movement between upper and lower positions, means connected between said screens and said connecting means for moving said screens between said upper and lower positions in response to the movement of said brush between said positions at one end and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, such that when the brush is moved to its position on either side of the vehicle, the screen at the opposite side is in said lower position while the other screen is in said upper position.

5. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally in respect of a longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, at least one arm connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed at one end of said in advance of the suction nozzle means, means mounting said arm on the vehicleat the other end for swinging movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush :to be shifted between posi tions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, and for swinging movement vertically, thereby pe mitting the brush to be lowered onto and lifted from said surface, power means connected to said mounting means for said for moving said brush between said positions, means on said vehicle supporting said arm, said supporting means having end portions at the ends of said field of traverse and a central portion between said end portions, said end portions being on a lower level than said central portion, a pair of screens, means mounting said screens one on each side of said field of traverse for swinging movement between upper and lower positions, linkage means interconnecting said means mounting the screens, and said arm for mounting means for moving said screens between said upper and lower positions in response to the swinging movement of said arm transversely of the vehicle such that when the brush is moved to its position on either side of the vehicle, the screen at the opposite side is in said lower position while the other screen is in said upper position.

6. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising-a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally in respect of a longitudinal plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, means connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed in advance of the suction nozzle means, for movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to be shifted between positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respecti ely, means for moving said brush between said positions, spray nozzles, means mounting said spray nozzles at opposite sides of said brush for movement together with said brush, a Water supply, conduit means between said spray nozzles and said Water supply, valve means in said conduit means for connecting said spray nozzles alternately to said water supply, said spray nozzles being adapted for moistening said surface, and means for actuating said valve means in response to the movement of the brush between said positions.

7. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally in respect of a longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a gutter brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, reversible means for rotating said brush about said axis selectively in either of opposite directions, at least one arm connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed at one end of said arm in advance of the suction nozzle means, means mounting said arm on the vehicle at the other end for swinging movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to be shifted between positio-ns at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, and for swinging movement vertically there 'by permitting the brush to be lowered onto and lifted from said surface, means for moving said brush between said positions, means on said vehicle supporting said arm, said supporting means being contoured to control the vertical swinging movement of said arm such that said brush is lowered onto said surface in said positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, but is lifted free therefrom in all transverse positions therebetween, a pair of screens, mean-s mounting said screens one on each side of the field of traverse for swinging movement between upper and lower positions, linkage means interconnecting said means mounting the screens, and said arm for moving said screens in response to the swinging movement of said tarm such that when the brush is moved to its position on either side of the vehicle, the screen at the opposite side is in said lower position while the other screen is in said upper position, spray nozzles, means mounting said spray nozzles on said arm at opposite sides of the brush for movement together with said brush, a water supply, conduit means between said spray nozzles and said water supply, valve means in said conduit means for connecting said spray nozzles alternately to said water supply, said spray nozzles being adapted for moistening said surface, and means for actuating said valve means in response to the movement of said arm for moving said brush between said positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively.

8. A mobile pneumatic cleaning device adapted to be moved over a surface to remove loose material therefrom comprising a vehicle, suction. means on said vehicle, suction nozzle means on said, vehicle operatively connected to said suction means, said suction nozzle means being disposed substantially centrally in respect of a longitudinal plane of the vehicle close to but spaced above said surface, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said suction means for separating from the air drawn through said suction nozzle means loose material entrained in said air, a brush, means rotatably mounting said brush for rotation about an upright axis, means for rotating said brush about said axis, means connecting said mounting means with said vehicle with said brush disposed in advance of the suction nozzle means, for movement transversely of the vehicle in a field of traverse located substantially centrally of the longitudinal middle plane of the vehicle thereby permitting the brush to be shifted between positions at one and the other side of the vehicle, respectively, and for movement vertically thereby-permitting the brush to be lowered onto and lifted from said surface, power means for moving said brush between said positions, supporting means supporting said brush, said supporting means having end portions at the ends of said field of traverse and a central portion between said end portions, said end portions being on a lower level thm said central portions, spray nozzles, means mounting said spray nozzles at opposite sides of said brush for movement together with said brush, a water supply, conduit means between said spray nozzles and said water supply, valve means in said conduit means for connecting said spray nozzles alternately to said water supply, said spray nozzles being adapted for moistening said surface, and means for actuating said valve means in response to the movement of the brush between said positions.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,327,879 Farrar Aug. 24, 1943 2,708,280 Antos et al May 17, 1955 2,718,836 Pertics etal Sept. 27, 1955 2,829,391 Swanson et al Apr. 8, 1958 2,960,708 Dear et al. Nov. 22, 1960 2,996,742 Aimers et a1 Aug. 22, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 198,789 Austria July 25, 1958 824,160 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1959

Claims (2)

1. A MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE MOVED OVER A SURFACE TO REMOVE LOOSE MATERIAL THEREFROM COMPRISING A VEHICLE, SUCTION MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE, SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION MEANS, SAID SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY IN RESPECT OF A LONGITUDINAL MIDDLE PLANE OF THE VEHICLE CLOSE TO BUT SPACED ABOVE SAID SURFACE, MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION MEANS FOR SEPARATING FROM THE AIR DRAWN THROUGH SAID SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS LOOSE MATERIAL ENTRAINED IN SAID AIR, A BRUSH, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID BRUSH FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN UPRIGHT AXIS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID BRUSH ABOUT SAID AXIS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID MOUNTING MEANS WITH SAID VEHICLE WITH SAID BRUSH DISPOSED IN ADVANCE OF THE SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS, FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF THE VEHICLE IN A FIELD OF TRAVERSE LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF THE LONGITUDINAL MIDDLE PLANE OF THE VEHICLE THEREBY PERMITTING THE BRUSH TO BE SHIFTED BETWEEN POSITIONS AT ONE AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, RESPECTIVELY, AND FOR MOVEMENT VERTICALLY THEREBY PERMITTING THE BRUSH TO BE LOWERED ONTO AND LIFTED FROM SAID SURFACE, POWER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CONNECTING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BRUSH BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, AND SUPPORTING MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BRUSH, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS HAVING END PORTIONS AT THE ENDS OF SAID FIELD OF TRAVERSE AND A CENTRAL PORTION BETWEEN SAID END PORTIONS, SAID END PORTIONS BEING ON A LOWER LEVEL THAN SAID CENTROL PORTION.

6. A MOBILE PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE MOVED OVER A SURFACE TO REMOVE LOOSE MATERIAL THEREFROM COMPRISING A VEHICLE, SUCTION MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE, SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION MEANS, SAID SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY IN RESPECT OF A LONGITUDINAL PLANE OF THE VEHICLE CLOSE TO BUT SPACED ABOVE SAID SURFACE, MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION MEANS FOR SEPARATING FROM THE AIR DRAWN THROUGH SAID SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS LOOSE MATERIAL ENTRAINED IN SAID AIR, A BRUSH, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID BRUSH FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN UPRIGHT AXIS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID BRUSH ABOUT SAID AXIS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID MOUNTING MEANS WITH SAID VEHICLE WITH SAID BRUSH DISPOSED IN ADVANCE OF THE SUCTION NOZZLE MEANS, FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF THE VEHICLE IN A FIELD OF TRAVERSE LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF THE LONGITUDINAL MIDDLE PLANE OF THE VEHICLE THEREBY PERMITTING THE BRUSH TO BE SHIFTED BETWEEN POSITIONS AT ONE AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, RESPECTIVELY, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BRUSH BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, SPRAY NOZZLES, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SPRAY NOZZLES AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BRUSH FOR MOVEMENT TOGETHER WITH SAID BRUSH, A WATER SUPPLY, CONDUIT MEANS BETWEEN SAID SPRAY NOZZLES AND SAID WATER SUPPLY, VALVE MEANS IN SAID CONDUIT MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SPRAY NOZZLES ALTERNATELY TO SAID WATER SUPPLY, SAID SPRAY NOZZLES BEING ADAPTED FOR MOISTENING SAID SURFACE, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID VALVE MEANS IN RESPONSE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRUSH BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS.

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