US3406424A - Lawn and parking lot cleaner - Google Patents

Description

1968 R. c. RUSH 3,406,424

LAWN AND PARKING LOT CLEANER Filed Aug. 1, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROY C. RUS H By INVENTOI? BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS Oct. 22, 1968 R. c. RUSH 3,406,424

LAWN AND PARKING LOT CLEANER v Filed Aug. 1, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ROY C. RUSH lNVE/VTOR BY BUCKHORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN AT T ORA/E Y5 Oct 22, R, Q RUSH LAWN AND PARKING LOT CLEANER Filed Aug. 1, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5 1

FIG. 4

FIG-8 ROY C. RUSH JIVVENTOR BUCKfi/OEW, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS Oct. 22, R c RUSH LAWN AND PARKINGLOT CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 1, 1966 FIG.9

ROY C. RUSH INVENTOR BUCKHORN, BL ORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN arromvsm United States Patent 3,406,424 LAWN AND PARKING LOT CLEANER Roy C. Rush, 6129 NE. Skidmore, Portland, Oreg. 97218 Filed Aug. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 569,254 3 Claims. (Cl. --340) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lawn and parking lot cleaner having a propelling or driving vehicle and a cleaning vehicle, which latter includes beating and suction equipment. The driving vehicle and the cleaning vehicle are joined together by a universal joint which permits the suction and beating vehicle to move independently in the vertical and transverse directions or float with respect to the driving vehicle. The method of attachment disclosed wherein the cleaning vehicle is articulated to the driving vehicle permits the cleaning vehicle to adjust to a continuously varying ground contour as the apparatus is driven along.

This invention relates to machinery for cleaning large areas and, more particularly, to apparatus for cleaning such areas as parking lots, cemeteries, parks and golf courses.

Many different kinds of apparatus have been developed in the past to clean large surface areas, such as parking lots, cemeteries, golf courses, parks and athletic fields. These have not been fully satisfactory, however, especially for those areas having varying surface contours, because the sweeping or suction portion of the apparatus has failed to adapt and adjust itself to the ground, thereby imperfectly to clean the same. Furthermore, the presently existing apparatus has not been able efficiently to clean large lawn areas having numerous obstructions, such as shrubs, trees, or cemetery markers, since it has not been possible to exert maximum cleaning power while driving the appartus slowly around the impediments.

It is thus the primary object of the present invention to provide a lawn and parking lot cleaner that will be able to clean efiiciently large areas characterized by a continuously varying ground contour.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus of the class described that will make it possible to clean efliciently and at full power around obstructions in lawn areas such as trees, shrubs and cemetery markers, around which the apparatus, of course must be driven very slowly.

The apparatus of the present invention achieves these and other objects and advantages by providing separate cleaning and propelling or driving units which are universally mounted together, thereby to accommodate continuous variations in ground contour. The cleaning and driving units are joined together by a universal ball joint which permits the cleaning unit to rotate, pitch and yaw, or float, with respect to the driving unit, thereby to permit the cleaner to adjust to variations in terrain as the apparatus is driven along. Each of the cleaning and driving units is separately housed and powered, while universally joined together as above described, so that even if the apparatus is driven very slowly as, for example, around trees or shrubs, the cleaning unit can still function at full power.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description thereof and from the drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of a lawn and parking lot cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cleaner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view-taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken alongline 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 o FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a cleaner constructed in accordance with a different embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the cleaner shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, my lawn andparking lot cleaner 12 consists of two main parts: a propelling or drivingvehicle 14 and acleaning vehicle 16, which latter includes beating and suction equipment. The drivingvehicle 14 and thecleaning vehicle 16 are joined together by auniversal joint 18 which permits the suction and beatingvehicle 16 to move independently in the vertical and transverse directions or float with respect to thedriving vehicle 14. This method of attachment, wherein thecleaning vehicle 16 is articulated to thedriving vehicle 14, permits the cleaner to adjust to a continuously varying ground contour as the apparatus is driven along.

Considering first thedriving vehicle 14, it is seen to comprise amain chassis 19 formed of longitudinally-extendingchannels 20, from which are journaledfront driving wheels 22, one on either side of the vehicle. 'Across beam 23 joins thechannels 20 at the front of the vehicle. Arear wheel 24 for steering the vehicle is journaled from afork 26 which rotates in abearing 28 welded to abracket 30 supported from thechassis 19, as shown in FIG. 3. Rotation of therear wheel 24 in thebearing 28 is accom plished by means of asteering wheel 32 which is joined by conventional means to acontrol rod 34 attached to alever 36 which is pivotally attached to thechassis 19 at 38. Thelever 36 actuates a connectingrod 40 which is attached to thefork 26, thereby to rotate thewheel 24.

Ahousing 42 withvertical supports 43 and mounted on thechassis 19 contains amotor 44 having adrive shaft 46 attached to a pulley 48 for transmitting power to atransmission shaft 50 by means ofbelts 52. Theshaft 50 in turn fumishes power through a conventional transmission anddifferential 54 to thewheels 22, thereby to drive thevehicle 14. Aclutch lever 56, forward and reverse gear shift levers 57 and 58,brake pedal 59 andengine controls 60 are provided as shown.

Considering next thecleaning vehicle 16, it is seen to comprise amain chassis 62 formed of longitudinally extendingsteel channels 64 welded to transversely extending channel-section cross beams 65, 66, 68 and 70, the latter two serving as supports for amotor 72 for supplying 3 power for the suction and heating means. (See FIGS. 3, 7 and 8.) A housing 74 (for the motor 72) having vertical andhorizontal supports 76 and 78, respectively, is mounted on thechassis 62 as shown. Adrive shaft 80 attached to apulley 82 furnishes power for afan 84 andbeater 86 by means ofbelts 88 and 90, respectively. (See FIG. 3.)

Thefan 84 is enclosed in ahousing 92 and is supported on ashaft 94 which is rotated in abearing 95 by a pulley 96 driven by thebelt 88 operated from a clutch (not shown) and actuated by aclutch lever 97. Thebeater 86 is enclosed in ahousing 98 which is in communication with thehousing 92 and is attached thereto by means of atie rod 100 andnut 102. Thebeater 86 is rotated by a belt 104 supported onpulleys 106 and 108, power being furnished through agear box 110 by a pulley 111 driven by thebelt 90. (See FIGS. 1 and 5.)

Thechassis 62 for thecleaning vehicle 16 is attached to thechassis 19 of thedriving vehicle 14 by auniversal ball joint 112 attached to thecross beam 66 at the rear of the cleaning vehicle. Theball joint 112 is received in asocket 113 attached to ahorizontal support 109 attached to thevertical supports 43 at the front of thedriving vehicle chassis 19 and is retained in position by a lever (not shown) tightened by a knurled set screw 114. The front of the cleaning vehicle is supported on twooutrigger wheels 115 which rotate inforks 116 attached tooutrigger bars 117 welded toplates 118 which slide withinchannels 119 welded to the sides of thehousing 98, theplates 118 being retained in position within thechannels 119 by setscrews 120. (See FIGS. 1, 2, and 6.)

Means are also provided to adjust the height of the front of thecleaning vehicle 16 with respect to thedriving vehicle 14. Acrank 122 is attached to the top of an internally threaded sleeve 124, which is attached to avertical support 76 by aflange 126 attached to across beam 128. Rotation of a nut (not shown) within the sleeve 124 moves thecleaning vehicle chassis 62 vertically upon a threadedshaft 130, thelower end 131 of which is welded to a stabilizingangle 132 supported on aplate 134 on the driving vehiclechassis cross beam 23. (See FIGS. 3, 7 and 8.) Theplate 134 serves to reduce the friction between theangle 132 and thecross beam 23. Theangle 132 limits the amount of rotation of thecleaning vehicle chassis 62 about thelower end 131 of theshaft 130 which would otherwise occur due to the point support provided.

Aguide plate 136 is welded to each of thechannels 64 to limit the amount of sidewise movement of thecleaning vehicle chassis 62 about theuniversal joint 18 by their contact with the channels of thedriving vehicle chassis 19.

Thefan 84 is adapted to draw air through the opening 99 of thebeater housing 98, thereby to reduce the air pressure in the region of the opening 99. Thefan 84 exhausts the air through aduct 140 into aflexible conduit 142 and thence into a screen-coveredreceptacle 144 for rubbish mounted on the rear of the drivingvehicle 14. (See FIGS. 1 and 2.) Abypass 146 controlled by aflap 148 andcontrol rod 150 permits thefan 84 to exhaust directly to the atmosphere bypassing thereceptacle 144, should this be desired. (See FIGS. 1 and 4.)

Thebeater 86 consists of acentral shaft 152 to which are attached cylinders orfingers 154 of flexible rubber as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Theshaft 152 rotates in abearing 156 attached to a support angle 158, the height of which is vertically adjustable with respect to thehousing 98 by being adjustably attached to aguide plate 160 bybolts 162. (See FIGS. 5 and 6.) The bottom of thehousing 98 is provided with askirt 164, thefront piece 166 of which is also vertically adjustable. Alinkage 168 consisting of anactuating rod 170 supported bybrackets 172, 173 attached to thehousings 98 and 74, respectively, rotates a bell crank 174 about apivot point 176 to lift ahorizontal cross member 177 attached torods 178 dis posed within cylindrical guides 180. Therods 178 are attached to achannel 182 aflixed to thefront skirt 166, thereby to permit adjustments in height as desired.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a cleaner constructed in accordance with a different embodiment of the present invention. Where the cleaner is to be used to clean flat level areas exclusively, such as parking lots, the outrigger wheels and their supports can be eliminated entirely. FIGS. 9 and 10 shOW the height of the front of the cleaning 'vehicle 16 adjusted by thecrank 122 to a position such that theopening 99 of thehousing 98 clears the surface S by a fixed amount. Theopening 99 is then maintained in this fixed position with respect to the drivingvehicle 14, which position will be adequate for completely level areas. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is also provided with a cyclone type ofreceptacle 184. Debris drawn through theopening 99 by thefan 84 is transmitted through the duct into theconduit 142, through aduct 186 and thence under aperforated cone 188 disposed within thecyclone receptacle 184. Rubbish, leaves and other debris remain in the bottom of the receptacle, the air exhausting through theperforations 190 into the atmosphere.

In the foregoing description, the invention has been de scribed with reference to certain particular preferred embodiments, although it is to be understood that the specific details shown are merely illustrative and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cleaning apparatus, comprising a driving vehicle; a beam extending longitudinally of said driving vehicle; a cross beam attached to said longitudinally extending beam, said longitudinally extending beam and said cross beam forming a chassis for said driving vehicle; a pair of driving wheels journaled one one each side of said driving vehicle chassis at the front thereof; a bracket attached to said driving vehicle chassis at the rear thereof; a fork rotatably attached to said bracket; a wheel journaled in said fork for steering said driving vehicle; a housing mounted on said driving vehicle chassis; a motor mounted on said driving vehicle chassis within said driving vehicle housing and connected to drive at least one of said driving wheels; means attached to said driving vehicle chassis connected to said fork for rotating the same to steer said driving vehicle; a cleaning vehicle positioned in front of said driving vehicle, said cleaning vehicle having a chassis separate from said driving vehicle chassis; a ball attached to the rear of said cleaning vehicle chassis; a socket attached to the front of said driving vehicle chassis; means to retain said ball rotat-ably within said socket to articulate said cleaning vehicle chassis to said driving vehicle chassis to permit said cleaning vehicle to rotate, pitch and yaw with respect to said driving vehicle; a housing mounted on said cleaning vehicle chassis having a lower opening therein disposed substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned;a fan disposed in said cleaning vehicle housing for reducing the air pressure in the region of said lower opening; a rotatable shaft mounted Within said cleaning vehicle housing, the axis of said shaft being parallel to said lower opening, said shaft being vertically adjustable with respect to said lower opening;-a plurality of flexible fingers attached to said shaft and adapted to contact said surface to be cleaned; a motor mounted on said cleaning vehicle chassis within said cleaning vehicle housing and connected to drive said fan and rot-ate said shaft; a pair of outrigger wheels journaled one on each side of said cleaning vehicle chassis at the front thereof for supporting the same above said surface to be cleaned, said outrigger wheels being vertically adjustable with respect to said surface; -a skirt disposed about said lower opening in said cleaning vehicle housing, said skirt having a front piece, said front piece being vertically adjustable with respect to said lower opening; a receptacle for rubbish mounted on said driving vehicle; and a flexible conduit connecting said receptacle with the interior of said cleaning vehicle housing, whereby rubbish agitated by said flexible fingers and drawn into said cleaning vehicle housing by said reduced air pressure caused by said fan is transferred to said receptacle.

2. A cleaning apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising a bypass duct in communication with said cleaning vehicle housing, and means to close off said flexible conduit to permit said fan to exhaust directly to the atmosphere.

3. A cleaning apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said flexible fingers are rubber fingers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Phillips.

Elliotte 15340 Etem.

Boissonnault 15340 XR Hank et al. 15340 Krier et a1 15-340 ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

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