This disclosure relates to street sweepers and interchangeable conveyor modules for use with street sweepers that are interchangeable. A first conveyor module is provided that is mountable to the conveyor support structure of the vehicle wherein the conveyor is configured to transport debris from the broom assembly to the hopper on a continuous belt having paddles. A second conveyor module is also provided that is mountable to the vehicle structure wherein the second conveyor is a squeegee type conveyor. The first conveyor module and the second conveyor module are interchangeable on the street sweeping vehicle. Because the size envelope and attachment points and mechanisms are common, the two modules can be interchanged at will.

A sweeping machine for mounting to a blower is adapted for sweeping debris, e.g., snow, from an area around an obstacle, e.g., fire hydrant. The sweeping machine comprises a rotating brush having an axis of rotation which is horizontal, a frame for the rotating brush, an arm extending from a proximal end to a distal end to which the frame is secured, a blower, and a pivoting mechanism secured to the blower. The pivoting mechanism is adapted to swivel the arm upwardly to lift the rotating brush and to swivel the arm within a horizontal plane to move the rotating brush horizontally relative to the blower. Thereby, the sweeping machine is adapted to sweep debris from the area around the obstacle by the rotating brush toward the blower which is itself adapted to blow the debris away from the obstacle.

A power sweeper has a handle having a first end graspable by a user and a second end, a drive shaft extending along the handle, and a power head coupled to the handle to rotate the drive shaft. A gear box is coupled to the drive shaft adjacent the second end, and a brush is coupled to the gear box for rotation in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The power sweeper includes an axle, and first and second wheels coupled to the axle. A shield is coupled to the gear box and defines an aperture through which the handle extends. The axle is moveable with respect to the shield and the brush to adjust an angle between the handle and the ground surface.

A sweeping machine for mounting to a blower is adapted for sweeping debris, e.g., snow, from an area around an obstacle, e.g., fire hydrant. The sweeping machine comprises a rotating brush having an axis of rotation which is horizontal, a frame for the rotating brush, an arm extending from a proximal end to a distal end to which the frame is secured, a blower, and a pivoting mechanism secured to the blower. The pivoting mechanism is adapted to swivel the arm upwardly to lift the rotating brush and to swivel the arm within a horizontal plane to move the rotating brush horizontally relative to the blower. Thereby, the sweeping machine is adapted to sweep debris from the area around the obstacle by the rotating brush toward the blower which is itself adapted to blow the debris away from the obstacle.

A sweeper attachment for a refuse collection vehicle that utilizes either a conveyor system or a vacuum system to transport debris from a road surface to a collection body of the refuse collection vehicle. The sweeper attachment allows for the same vehicle to be used for both refuse collection and sweeping roadway surfaces.

A vehicular sweeping machine includes a frame and a broom assembly that is mounted to the frame. The broom assembly includes a broom enclosure and a broom that is mounted within the broom enclosure. A plurality of links are pivotally mounted between the frame and the broom assembly. These links are adapted to permit the broom assembly to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the frame. The vehicular sweeping machine also includes a broom conveyor having a lower end that is disposed within the broom enclosure.

A vehicular sweeping machine includes a frame and a broom assembly that is mounted to the frame. The broom assembly includes a broom enclosure and a broom having a generally cylindrical tube with attached bristles that is mounted in the broom enclosure and adapted to rotate about a generally horizontal axis. The broom assembly also includes a material presentation system that is adapted to move material on the roadway into contact with the broom in the form of a windrow that is located generally in front of the center of the broom assembly. The sweeping machine also includes a broom conveyor having a lower end that is disposed within the broom enclosure.

The present invention relates to a de-icing and/or anti-icing liquid recovery system for recovering de-icing and/or anti-icing liquids from airport apron/deicing platform surfaces, the system comprising: a deicing-liquid recovery unit; a pump; and a collection tank, where the deicing/anti-icing liquid recovery unit comprises a rotatable brush; a baffle; and a sorting tray fluidly connectable to said collection tank via pump, where the rotatable cylindrical brush is arranged to sweep a apron/deicing platform surface such that materials on the apron/deicing platform surface is forced over the baffle and into the sorting tray, wherein said filter is configured to separate liquids and solid phase materials from said swept-up material, and where liquids collected in the sorting tray can be pumped to the collection tank via said pump. The invention also relates to a de-icing and/or anti-icing liquid recovery and a method for de-icing and/or anti-icing liquid recovery.

Pavement sweeping apparatuses may include a directionally mobile apparatus frame. At least one pickup unit may be carried by the apparatus frame. At least one actuatable first side edge broom may be carried by the apparatus frame generally on the first side and forward of the at least one pickup unit. At least one actuatable first side curb broom may be carried by the apparatus frame generally on the first side and forward of the at least one pickup unit. At least one actuatable second side edge broom may be carried by the apparatus frame generally on a second side and forward of the at least one pickup unit. At least one actuatable second side curb broom may be carried by the apparatus frame generally on the second side and forward of the at least one pickup unit. Pavement sweeping methods are also disclosed.

A vehicular sweeping machine includes a frame and a broom assembly that is mounted to the frame. The broom assembly includes a broom enclosure, a left hub that is mounted on a left hub mount arm, and a right hub that is mounted on a right hub mount arm. A broom is mounted between the left hub and the right hub. An outer tube is attached to the rear of the broom enclosure and to one of the left and right hub mount arms. An inner tube has a fixed end that is attached to the left or right hub mount arm to which the outer tube is not attached. The inner tube also has a free end that is adapted to slide within the outer tube. A linear actuator is attached between the broom enclosure and the left or right hub mount arm to which the fixed end of the inner tube is attached. The linear actuator is adapted to move the hub mount arm to which it is attached between an inner position in which the broom is engaged with the left hub and the right hub and an outer position in which the broom is disengaged from one or both of the left hub and the right hub.