Method for operating a dirt collecting device for a sweeping vehicle or for a vacuum cleaner nozzle of a floor or upright vacuum cleaner, which each comprise a suction fan with controllable speed and/or power, wherein in a first method step, the suction power of the suction fan is set at such a low level that the suction pressure in the dirt collecting device or the vacuum cleaner nozzle is merely sufficient to convey and deposit the absorbed coarse dirt into the intermediate container, and to convey the absorbed fine dirt into a downstream collection container, (normal operation); and that in a second method step, the filling level in the intermediate container is detected with respect to the coarse dirt deposited therein; and that in a third method step, if the filling level in the intermediate container is exceeded, the suction power of the suction fan is increased such that the coarse dirt, which is temporarily deposited in the intermediate container, becomes dispersible and is conveyed into the downstream collection container (emptying mode).

A fan with airfoil blades is provided for a regenerative air vacuum street sweeper. The blades are formed using cut and pressed upper and lower panels which are welded at a forward edge to a rod to form the airfoil leading edge and welded at the rear edges to form the airfoil trailing edge. Pins extend laterally outwardly from the rod for mounting each blade in corresponding holes in the front and rear plates of the fan housing. The side edges of the blade are welded to the plates at a 9-11° angle of attack. The airfoil blades allow for reduced size, horse power, noise, and manufacturing and shipping costs.

A debris-collecting apparatus includes a draft inducer operable to draw air and debris, an input portion for receiving incoming air and debris caused by operation of the draft inducer, and a bagging portion. The bagging portion includes a hood having an arcuate portion, a bag removably positioned below the hood and having an inner face, and a bagging passage for directing the air and debris from the input portion to the hood. The arcuate portion extends from the bagging passage to the bag such that the air and debris from the bagging passage travels along the arcuate portion and thereafter apply a dislodging force to dislodge debris collected at the inner face of the bag.

A vacuum unit includes a debris tank receiving wet or dry waste. A multi-cyclone separator is coupled to an outlet of the debris tank. The multi-cyclone separator receives the wet or dry waste from the debris tank and the multi-cyclone separator includes a plurality of cyclones. A filter is coupled to the outlet of the multi-cyclone separator and receives exhaust airflow from the multi-cyclone which then flows onto the blower or fan and is vented external to the vacuum unit.

A utility vehicle to remove a matter from a surface may include an articulated collector attached to a front section of the utility vehicle. The articulated collector is movable. The articulated collector is also configured to remove the matter from the surface. A matter container is also connected to the utility vehicle. The articulated container is also connected to the matter container. The matter container is configured to receive and hold the matter. Furthermore, an articulated depositor is connected to the matter container. The articulated depositor is configured to deposit the matter to a disposal site.

A roadway sweeper vehicle includes one or more processors and a control console allowing the vehicle operator to select one of a plurality of available engine speeds. A power increase assist feature is available through a throttle (e.g., pedal) that provides an increased power output of the vehicle engine for a momentary or transient period of time. The additive engine speed may be calculated based on a detected position of the throttle or determined from a lookup table based on the user-selected engine speed. Related methods are also described.

A blower unit for a portable handheld blower apparatus has a housing section and a tubular receiving space, formed in the housing section, with a first axial end and a second axial end and with a longitudinal center axis. Arranged in the receiving space of the housing section is an axial blower for generating a blower air flow, the axial blower being driven by a drive motor. The receiving space has an intake opening at its first axial end and a discharge opening at its second axial end. In order to reduce operating noise, an air guide plate is arranged at an axial distance in front of the intake opening, the air guide plate having external dimensions that are greater than the external dimensions of the intake opening. An annular gap that supplies intake air is formed between the air guide plate and an outer periphery of the housing section.

A roadway or pavement sweeper with multiple sweeping modes for the removal of debris from a swept surface may, in some embodiments, include a sweeper vehicle having a pair of side-brooms independently movable between a retracted and extended position for sweeping debris into an area therebetween and at least one material-transfer broom to sweep a portion of the debris accumulated between the side-brooms as the vehicle moves in its direction of travel. A fan-driven suction-inlet may be provided at or adjacent each side of the vehicle. The at least one material-transfer broom may rotate in a first or other direction to transfer debris for entrainment into a selected suction-inlet for transfer to a debris hopper. Other embodiments are also described.

The invention is in the field of a cleaning machine for a road or pavement or gutter. These machines are used to remove objects, such as small items, such as leaves, and dirt from a road or the like, using a broom system for cleaning the road or the like, and typically a storage for removed objects and dirt.

A debris blower (1) is disclosed comprising a fan housing (3), a fan (5) configured to generate an airflow through the fan housing (3), an electric motor (7) configured to power the fan (5), and a first battery accommodation space (9) configured to accommodate a battery unit (10) for supply of electricity to the electric motor (7). The debris blower (1) further comprises a first air cooling channel (11) fluidly connecting the first battery accommodation space (9) and the fan housing (3).