Adjustable-width modular broom assembly for sweeping machine

Abstract

A vehicular sweeping machine that is adapted to rotate a broom about a substantially horizontal axis to sweep material into a broom conveyor of fixed width is provided with a modular broom assembly that can accommodate a broom of a first length and a broom of a second length that is longer than the first length. The modular broom assembly includes a primary broom enclosure that is adapted to accommodate the broom of the first length, and an extension assembly that includes broom extension components which are adapted to be installed on the primary broom enclosure to increase the width of the primary broom enclosure to accommodate the broom of the second length, and to direct material swept by the broom of the second length into the broom conveyor.

Claims

1. A modular broom assembly for a vehicular sweeping machine that is adapted to rotate a broom about a substantially horizontal axis to sweep material into a broom conveyor of fixed width, said modular broom assembly being adapted to accommodate a broom of a first length and a broom of a second length that is longer than the first length, said modular broom assembly further comprising: (a) a primary broom enclosure that is adapted to accommodate the broom of the first length; (b) an extension assembly that includes broom extension components that are adapted to be installed on the primary broom enclosure: (i) to increase the width of the primary broom enclosure to accommodate the broom of the second length; and (ii) to direct material swept by the broom of the second length into the broom conveyor.

2. The modular broom assembly of claim 1 wherein the extension assembly comprises: (a) a left side extension assembly that includes broom extension components that are: (i) adapted to be installed on the left side of the primary broom enclosure; (ii) configured to direct material swept by the broom of the second length into the broom conveyor; (b) a right side extension assembly that includes broom extension components that are: (i) adapted to be installed on the right side of the primary broom enclosure; (ii) configured to direct material swept by the broom of the second length into the broom conveyor.

3. The modular broom assembly of claim 1 wherein the primary broom enclosure comprises: (a) a top plate; (b) an upper panel of an outer moldboard; (c) a left end gate; (d) a right end gate.

4. The modular broom assembly of claim 3 wherein the primary broom enclosure includes a lower panel of the outer moldboard that is joined to the upper panel of the outer moldboard by a hinge pin.

5. The modular broom assembly of claim 3 wherein the broom enclosure extension assembly comprises an extension end gate transition plate that is: (a) adapted to be mounted to the primary broom enclosure adjacent to the left end gate or the right end gate; (b) configured to direct material swept by the broom of the second length into the broom conveyor.

6. The modular broom assembly of claim 3, which includes: (a) a support tube assembly that is attached to the upper panel of the outer moldboard in order to provide structural support, said support tube assembly comprising: (i) a left support tube; (ii) a right support tube; (iii) a central support tube; (b) a extension support tube that can be removably inserted into the support tube assembly when it is desired to increase the width of the primary broom enclosure to accommodate the broom of the second length.

7. The modular broom assembly of claim 6: (a) which includes a hub assembly on one side of the primary broom enclosure that is adapted to engage an end of a broom tube; (b) wherein the support tube assembly includes a linear actuator that may be extended to move the hub assembly outwardly, thereby allowing an operator to move the central support tube to permit the insertion in the support tube assembly of the extension support tube.

8. The modular broom assembly of claim 6 wherein the support tube assembly includes a plurality of support tube brackets, each of which includes a hole that is adapted to receive a support tube.

9. The modular broom assembly of claim 3, which includes: (a) a support tube assembly that is attached to the upper panel of the outer moldboard in order to provide structural support, said support tube assembly comprising: (i) an upper left support tube; (ii) a lower left support tube; (iii) an upper right support tube; (iv) a lower right support tube; (v) an upper central support tube; (vi) a lower central support tube; (b) an upper extension support tube that can be removably inserted into the support tube assembly when it is desired to increase the width of the primary broom enclosure to accommodate the broom of the second length; (c) a lower extension support tube that can be removably inserted into the support tube assembly when it is desired to increase the width of the primary broom enclosure to accommodate the broom of the second length.

10. A modular broom assembly for a vehicular sweeping machine that is adapted to rotate a broom about a substantially horizontal axis to sweep material into a broom conveyor of fixed width, said modular broom assembly being adapted to accommodate a broom of a first length and a plurality of brooms of different lengths, each of which plurality of brooms is longer than the first length, said modular broom assembly further comprising: (a) a primary broom enclosure that is adapted to accommodate the broom of the first length, said primary broom enclosure including: (i) a top plate; (ii) an upper panel of an outer moldboard; (iii) a left end gate; (iv) a right end gate; (b) an extension assembly for each of the plurality of brooms of different lengths, each of which includes broom extension components that are adapted to be installed on the primary broom enclosure: (i) to increase the width of the primary broom enclosure to accommodate one of the plurality of brooms of different lengths; and (ii) to direct material swept by the one of the plurality of brooms of different lengths into the broom conveyor.

11. The modular broom assembly of claim 10, which includes: (a) a support tube assembly that is attached to the upper panel of the outer moldboard in order to provide structural support, said support tube assembly comprising: (i) a left support tube; (ii) a right support tube; (iii) a central support tube; (b) a extension support tube for each of the extension assemblies, each of which can be removably inserted into the support tube assembly when it is desired to increase the width of the primary broom enclosure to accommodate one of the plurality of brooms of different lengths.

12. The modular broom assembly of claim 10 wherein each broom enclosure extension assembly comprises: (a) a left side extension assembly that includes broom extension components that are: (i) adapted to be installed on the left side of the primary broom enclosure; (ii) configured to direct material swept by one of the plurality of brooms of different lengths into the broom conveyor; (b) a right side extension assembly that includes broom extension components that are: (i) adapted to be installed on the right side of the primary broom enclosure; (ii) configured to direct material swept by one of the plurality of brooms of different lengths into the broom conveyor.

13. The modular broom assembly of claim 12 wherein: (a) the left side extension assembly of each broom enclosure extension assembly includes a left extension end gate transition plate that is adapted to be mounted to the primary broom enclosure adjacent to the left end gate; (b) the right side extension assembly of each broom enclosure extension assembly includes a right extension end gate transition plate that is adapted to be mounted to the primary broom enclosure adjacent to the right end gate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a right side perspective view of a vehicular sweeping machine that may be equipped with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a left side perspective view of the vehicular sweeping machine illustrated in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a left side view of a portion of the vehicular sweeping machine that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating the attachment of the broom assembly to the frame of the machine.

(5) FIG. 4 is a left side view of the embodiment of the portion of the vehicular sweeping machine shown in FIG. 3, with a portion of the frame and certain other components removed for clarity.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the broom conveyor and a portion of a broom assembly including a broom enclosure of a first width according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a first perspective view of the broom conveyor and a partially exploded view of the broom enclosure of the first width that is shown in FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 is a second perspective view of the broom conveyor and a partially exploded view of the broom enclosure of the first width that is shown in FIG. 5.

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the broom conveyor and a partial broom enclosure of a second width that is larger than the first width according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the broom conveyor and a partially exploded view of the broom enclosure shown in FIG. 8, showing the extension components necessary to complete this embodiment of the broom enclosure.

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the broom conveyor and a partial broom enclosure of a third width that is larger than the second width according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the broom conveyor and a partially exploded view of the broom enclosure shown in FIG. 10, showing the extension components necessary to complete this embodiment of the broom enclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(13) This description of the preferred embodiment of the invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale, and certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

(14) As shown in FIGS. 1-4, vehicular sweeping machine 25 includes frame 26, engine compartment 27, operator's cab 28, broom assembly 29, broom conveyor 30 and articulating discharge conveyor 31. Contained within engine compartment 27 is an engine (not shown) that provides power for driving rear wheels 32 of the machine, as well as for operating the broom assembly and other components of the vehicular sweeping machine. Steering of machine 25 is accomplished by means of a conventional steering assembly operating through front wheels 34. When machine 25 is driven in forward sweeping direction D, it is desirable that the bottom of broom assembly 29 sits down on the sweeping surface to create a stable seal against the roadway. Such stability is provided by mounting the broom assembly 29 on frame 26 by means of one or more linear actuators such as linear actuator 44, which is mounted with one end pivotally attached to the frame on one side of the machine and the other end pivotally attached to the broom assembly on the opposite side of the machine. In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), a plurality of linear actuators may be mounted generally vertically in pairs with one end attached to the frame and the other end attached to the broom assembly. In these embodiments, one front linear actuator and one rear linear actuator are mounted generally vertically on one side of the machine and one front linear actuator and one rear linear actuator are mounted generally vertically on the other side of the machine.

(15) Broom assembly 29 is shown in FIGS. 1-7 and is adapted to accommodate broom 45 of a first length, such as for example six feet, whereas broom assembly 129, which is shown partially in FIG. 8 and in FIG. 9, is adapted to accommodate a broom (not shown) that is longer than broom 45, such as for example eight feet. Broom assembly 229, which is shown partially in FIG. 10 and in FIG. 11, is adapted to accommodate broom 46 of a third length that is longer than the broom of broom assembly 129, such as for example ten feet. Thus, broom assembly 29 is sized to accommodate broom 45 of a first length, which broom is also sized to sweep material from the roadway directly into broom conveyor 30 of a fixed width.

(16) Each of the broom assemblies includes a primary broom enclosure, and broom assemblies 129 and 229 also include at least one broom enclosure extension assembly that may be removably attached to the primary broom enclosure of broom assembly 29. The extension assemblies include broom extension components that are adapted to be installed on the primary broom enclosure using simple hand tools to convert from broom assembly 29 to broom assembly 129 or broom assembly 229. These broom extension components are adapted to increase the width of the primary broom enclosure to accommodate a longer broom and to direct material swept by the longer broom into broom conveyor 30.

(17) Obviously, the extension components can be removed from broom assemblies 129 and 229 to return the configuration of the broom assembly to that of broom assembly 29. In addition, the extension components of broom assembly 129 can be removed and replaced with the extension components of broom assembly 229. Similarly, the extension components of broom assembly 229 can be removed and replaced with the extension components of broom assembly 129. Other broom assemblies of longer or shorter length are also contemplated within the scope of the invention. Thus, for example, broom assembly 29 could be modified to extend its width on the left side or the right side, but not on both sides. The scope of the invention includes broom assemblies to accommodate brooms of six, seven, eight, nine, or ten feet in length, or even longer brooms that permit a sweeping width that is large enough to sweep in one pass the milled surface of a roadway that has been milled by a milling machine of the largest size.

(18) Each broom assembly includes a primary broom enclosure comprising top plate 47 and upper panel 48 of an outer moldboard (best shown in FIGS. 9 and 11). Lower panel 49 of the outer moldboard is joined to upper panel 48 by hinge pin 50 (shown in FIG. 9). Preferably, upper panel 48 and lower panel 49 of the outer moldboard are of a generally rigid construction. It is also preferred that an inner curved moldboard (not shown) be attached at the top of upper panel 48 of the outer moldboard by a hinge (also not shown). The primary broom enclosure also includes a pair of end gates, including left end gate 51 (shown in FIGS. 2-4, 6 and 11) and right end gate 52 (shown in FIG. 1). The end gates are preferably mirror images of each other, and are removably attached on opposite sides of the broom enclosure. Mounted to the rear of upper panel 48 of the outer moldboard is a support tube assembly that is adapted to provide structural support for the broom assembly. In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the support tube assembly includes a plurality of support tube brackets 53. Each support tube bracket includes a pair of holes such as hole 54 (shown in FIG. 7), each of which is adapted to receive a support tube. Thus, upper left support tube 55, lower left support tube 56, upper central support tube 57, lower central support tube 58, upper right support tube 59 and lower right support tube 60 (shown in FIG. 7) are mounted between, and through the holes in, adjacent pairs of support tube brackets 53. Each of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings includes an upper left support tube (either upper left support tube 55 or upper left support tube 155), a lower left support tube (either lower left support tube 56 or lower left support tube 156), upper central support tube 57, lower central support tube 58, upper right support tube 59 and lower right support tube 60.

(19) When it is desired to modify the width of a broom assembly such as broom assembly 29, linear actuator 61 of the support tube assembly, which is located behind lower right support tube 60, is extended to move right hub assembly 62 outwardly, thereby allowing an operator to move upper central support tube 57, lower central support tube 58, upper right support tube 59 and lower right support tube 60 to the right to permit the insertion in the support tube assembly of first upper extension support tube 63 and first lower extension support tube 64 of a first length, both of which are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, or second upper extension support tube 65 and second lower extension support tube 66 of a second length, both of which are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this embodiment of the invention, upper left support tube 55 (shown in FIGS. 5-7) is replaced by upper left extension support tube 155 of the same length (shown in FIGS. 8-11) and lower left support tube 56 is replaced by lower left extension support tube 156 of the same length.

(20) In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, upper central support tube 57 has a receiver end 67 that is adapted to receive an insertion end (not shown) of upper left support tube 55, or an insertion end 68 of first upper extension support tube 63 or an insertion end 68 of second upper extension support tube 65. Similarly, lower central support tube 58, which is essentially identical to upper central support tube 57, has a receiver end 67 that is adapted to receive an insertion end (not shown) of lower left support tube 56, or an insertion end 68 of first lower extension support tube 64 or an insertion end 68 of second lower extension support tube 66. In the same manner, upper left extension support tube 155 is adapted to replace upper left support tube 55 and has a receiver end 67 that is adapted to receive an insertion end 68 of first upper extension support tube 63 or an insertion end 68 of second upper extension support tube 65. Similarly, lower left extension support tube 156 is adapted to replace lower left support tube 56 and has a receiver end 67 that is adapted to receive an insertion end 68 of first lower extension support tube 64 or an insertion end 68 of second lower extension support tube 66. Preferably, the insertion ends of each of the support tubes are identical to each other, as are the receiver ends.

(21) Mounted to upper left support tube 55 and lower left support tube 56 (or to upper left extension support tube 155 and lower left extension support tube 156) is drive motor assembly 69 having drive motor 70 and broom drive hub 71 that is adapted to engage one end of broom tube 72 of broom 45 in broom assembly 29, or one end of the broom tube of a broom of a second length (not shown) in broom assembly 129, or one end of broom tube 74 of broom 46 of a third length in broom assembly 229, or one end of the broom tubes of brooms of other convenient lengths. The other end of the applicable broom tube is engaged by idler hub 75 of right hub assembly 62 (shown in FIG. 7). Other components of a preferred embodiment of each configuration of the broom assembly include left end gate sweep control arm 78 and right end gate sweep control arm 79 (shown in FIG. 1), and left end cover door 80 and right end cover door 81 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 7).

(22) Left end gate transition plate 82 is provided for broom assembly 29, and this component may be replaced by first left extension end gate transition plate 84 for broom assembly 129. First left extension end gate transition plate 84 includes left end gate sweep support extension 86 that attaches to left end gate 51 to provide for the additional width of broom assembly 129. In addition, second left extension end gate transition plate 88, which includes left end gate sweep support extension 90, may replace left end gate transition plate 82 or first left extension end gate transition plate 84 to accommodate the additional width of broom assembly 229. The invention also contemplates that a right end gate transition plate, which is a mirror image of left end gate transition plate 82, may be provided for broom assembly 29. Similarly, a right extension end gate transition plate that is a mirror image of left extension end gate transition plate 84 may be provided for broom assembly 129, and a right end gate and transition plate which is a mirror image of left end gate transition plate 88, may be provided for broom assembly 229. The extension end gate transition plates are configured to direct material swept by the longer brooms into broom conveyor 30, which is sized to accommodate broom 45 of broom assembly 29.

(23) Broom assembly 129 also includes a left first extension assembly comprising sweep control arm support extension 92, first frame extension 94, first top extension cover 96, first front extension cover 98, first upper panel moldboard extension 100, first lower panel moldboard extension 102, first sweep control arm extension pin 104 and first hinge pin extension 106. Broom assembly 129 also includes a right first extension assembly comprising components that are mirror images of the components of the left first extension assembly described herein.

(24) Broom assembly 229 also includes a left second extension assembly comprising sweep control arm support extension 108, second frame extension 110, second top extension cover 112, second front extension cover 114, second upper panel moldboard extension 116, second lower panel moldboard extension 118, second sweep control arm extension pin 120, second hinge pin extension 122, second top cover extension 124, second end gate transition plate 126, second extension base 128, second inner moldboard plate 130, second outer moldboard plate 131 and second extension guide transition 132. Broom assembly 129 also includes a right second extension assembly comprising components that are mirror images of the components of the left second extension assembly described herein.

(25) Each of broom assembly 29, broom assembly 129 and broom assembly 229 includes broom enclosure components that serve to direct material to broom conveyor 30 and to prevent material from passing outside of the end gates of the broom enclosure. Thus, when machine 25 is driven in forward sweeping direction D, or when a sweeping machine having a broom assembly 129 is driven in a forward sweeping direction, or when a sweeping machine having a broom assembly 229 is driven in a forward sweeping direction, milling chips, dust and other material on the roadway will enter the broom assembly from its front side. As the broom is rotated about a generally horizontal axis, each end gate transition plate assembly is configured and adapted to funnel material towards the lower end of broom conveyor 30 for transport to discharge conveyor 31. The invention thus provides a broom assembly that can be readily modified to accommodate brooms of different lengths with common tools and in a short period of time.

(26) Although this description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing an illustration of the presently preferred embodiments thereof, as well as the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out the invention. The invention, as described and claimed herein, is susceptible to various modifications and adaptations as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention relates.