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.

The gutter cleaning device removes wet or dry debris in the gutter after being attached to a leaf blower, and is designed to be used while standing on the around to reach gutters at the first, second and even third story levels without the need for a ladder. The gutter cleaning device includes a nozzle arranged at an angle to the gutter so that the flow of air drives debris in a direction away from the operator, and a fluid-driven agitation device powered simply by air pressure to mechanically stir up heavy debris in the gutter or to prevent the debris from clogging the nozzle. In addition, the gutter cleaning device includes a plough that protrudes forward relative to the nozzle and mechanically lifts compacted debris from the gutter to be blown away by the same flow of air that is used to drive the agitation device.

A coupling for a tube includes an attachment and a housing. The attachment is attached to the tube and has a barrel-shaped exterior surface. The housing contains the barrel-shaped exterior surface such that the attachment is rotatable in the housing while not being removable from the housing. The coupling thereby allows easy rotation of the tube within the coupling. The coupling may be utilized to attach the tube to another tube or to another structure.

A tool for cleaning gutters includes a specialized nozzle that may be attached to a leaf blower via a set of rigid tubing. The nozzle transitions from a tubular shape into a mouth-like opening with a first projection in opposed, spaced relation to a second projection. The tool is particularly well suited to removing debris from gutters with the nozzle in contact with a gutter and made to expel high-velocity air.

A tool for cleaning gutters includes a specialized nozzle that may be attached to a leaf blower via a set of rigid tubing. The nozzle transitions from a tubular shape into a mouth-like opening with a first projection in opposed, spaced relation to a second projection. The tool is particularly well suited to removing debris from gutters with the nozzle in contact with a gutter and made to expel high-velocity air.

A blowing-suction machine includes an engine, a volute, a vent assembly and a vacuum pipe. The engine is installed at an upper end of the volute; the vent assembly is installed at a front end of the volute; an output shaft of the engine in the volute is coupled to a vane; a first shaft of a self-propelled device is coupled to a lower end of the first shaft; both ends of a second shaft of the self-propelled device are coupled to a wheel self-propelled device and a rolling-sweeping-combing device respectively; and the vacuum pipe has an end coupled to the vent assembly and the other end disposed in front of a garbage deposit box. This disclosure features a simple structure and a clever design and provides the self-propelled, automatic sweeping, automatic grass combing, and garbage crushing functions to improve the blowing-suction rate significantly and provide a convenient use.

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 street sweeper configured to clean a street can include: at least one broom or sprayer configured to clean a street, a street surface deviation detection device coupled to the street sweeper, the street surface deviation detection device being configured to detect visual signatures of defects in a surface of the street; and a position device to measure the position of the street sweeper, wherein the position device is programmed to send the position to a central server.

A snow blower (10) for blowing snow off a surface. The snow blower (10) comprises a body (50) comprising an intake port (120); a discharge port (318); and a conduit (202) having an interior wall (212). The conduit (202) is fluidly connecting the intake port (120) to the discharge port (318). The snow blower (10) further comprises an electric circuit (114) housed by the body (50) and connected to a power source; an electric blower (104) housed by the body (50) and powered by the electric circuit (114) for drawing air from the intake port (120); and a heating coil (210) electrically connected to the electric circuit (114) and extending along a portion of the interior wall (212). The air is forced through the conduit (202), heated by the heating coil (210) and exhausted at the discharge port (318) to blow snow off the surface.

The present invention is directed to a centrifugal fan assembly (19) for the debris collection arrangement (100) of a road cleaning machine (10). The assembly (19) comprises a casing (101), a rotatable impeller (103) and a wall (107). The casing (101) comprises a volute portion (30) connected to an outlet passageway (31), a corner (106) being formed therebetween. The impeller (103) comprises a plurality of blades (25) and is located in the volute portion (30) proximate the corner (106). The wall (107) separates the outlet passageway (31) into a first and second passageway (36, 37) and extends to an inner end (102) proximate the impeller (103). The inner end (102) is positioned, and the impeller (103) is arranged, such that when a blade (25) passes the inner end (102) a second pressure wave is formed that destructively interferes with a first pressure wave formed by a blade (25) passing the corner (106). The distance W between the inner end (102) and impeller (103) is greater than the distance Z between the corner (106) and impeller (103).