Surface maintenance machine with skirting to allow particulate pickup

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017215683-A1
Application number	US-201715421877-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 1, 2017
Priority date	Feb 2, 2016
Publication date	Aug 3, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments include a surface maintenance machine, comprising a maintenance tool chamber comprising a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. A rotary broom is housed in the maintenance tool chamber and substantially enclosed by the first, second, third and fourth sides thereof. The rotary broom sweeps particulate from the surface. A vacuum system generates vacuum for drawing particulate swept by the rotary broom. The vacuum system is positioned proximal to the first side. A skirt assembly extends substantially around the second, third and fourth sides of the maintenance tool chamber. The skirt assembly has a vacuum passage defined therein and in fluid communication with the vacuum system to direct air flow into the vacuum passage, thereby drawing particulate into the vacuum passage and preventing particulate accumulation at portions of the second, third and fourth sides that are distal to the vacuum system.

First claim

1 . A surface maintenance machine, comprising:
a body, comprising a transverse centerline; wheels for supporting the body for movement over a surface in a forward direction of travel defining a front of the machine; a pair of brooms comprising a front broom and a rear broom, the pair of brooms positioned generally to the front of the transverse centerline when the machine is moving in a generally forward direction, the pair of brooms rotating in opposite directions with respect to each other, whereby counter-rotation of the pair of brooms is adapted to sweep the surface, including sweeping particulate located on the surface; a vacuum system adapted to generate vacuum for drawing the particulate swept by the pair of brooms, an inlet of the vacuum system being positioned generally to the front of the transverse centerline; and a chute positioned above the pair of brooms, the chute being fluidly coupled to the vacuum system, the pair of brooms being exposed on the front to a portion of the surface such that each of the pair of brooms rotate in opposite directions to direct particulate present on the portion of the surface in front of the pair of brooms toward the chute.

2 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 1 wherein, the front broom rotates in a first direction toward the transverse centerline, and the rear broom rotates in a second direction away from the transverse centerline.

3 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 1 , wherein,
a leading broom of the pair of brooms rotates in generally the same direction as the direction of rotation of the wheels, the leading broom is the front broom when the machine is moving in the generally forward direction, a trailing broom of the pair of brooms rotates in a direction generally opposite to the direction of rotation of the leading broom, and the trailing broom is the rear broom when the machine is moving in the generally forward direction.

4 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 1 , wherein the pair of brooms are movable between a transport position and an operating position, wherein, in the transport position, the pair of brooms are not in contact with the surface, and in the operating position, the pair of brooms are in contact with the surface.

5 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 4 , wherein the chute is defined by a front wrap and a rear wrap, the front and rear wraps contact the pair of brooms, such that, in the operating position, the front and rear wraps form a passage for particulate to be directed from between the pair of brooms and into a hopper.

6 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 5 , wherein, in the transport position, the rear wrap of the chute is positioned further forward relative to its position in the operating position.

7 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 5 , wherein the hopper is positioned generally to the front of the front broom.

8 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 7 , wherein a front wall of the hopper is in contact with the front wrap of the chute.

9 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of brooms generate air currents associated with their rotation, wherein the air currents generated due to the rotation of the front broom is in a direction opposite to the air currents generated due to the rotation of the rear broom.

10 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 9 , wherein the rotation of the front broom generates air currents configured to draw particulate inwardly toward the surface maintenance machine, and the rotation of the rear broom generates air currents configured to lift particulate above the pair of brooms and toward the chute.

11 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 1 , wherein the pair of brooms have a gap therebetween.

12 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 11 , wherein the gap between the pair of brooms is about 0.125 inches.

13 . A surface maintenance machine, comprising:
a body; wheels for supporting the body for movement over a surface; a pair of brooms housed in a sweep chamber configured to draw particulate on the surface to the front of the pair of brooms inwardly toward the surface maintenance machine; and a skirt assembly generally surrounding the pair of brooms to form a vacuum passage to fluidly isolate the sweep chamber from an exterior of the surface maintenance machine, the skirt assembly comprising side skirts and a rear skirt, the rear skirt being positioned to the rear of the pair of brooms when the machine is moving in a generally forward direction, the skirt assembly not surrounding the pair of brooms on the front of the pair of brooms, the particulate on the surface to the front of the pair of brooms being drawn toward the surface maintenance machine due to air currents generated during the rotation of the pair of brooms.

14 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 13 , further comprising a vacuum system to generate vacuum for drawing particulate swept by the pair of brooms, the vacuum passage formed by the skirt assembly fluidly isolating the vacuum system from the exterior of the machine.

15 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 13 , further comprising a hopper positioned generally to the front of and above the pair of brooms when the machine is moving in the generally forward direction, the rotation of the pair of brooms configured to pick off particulate from the surface and direct it toward the hopper.

16 . A surface maintenance machine, comprising:
a body; wheels for supporting the body for movement over a surface; a pair of brooms rotating in a direction opposite to each other, the rotation of a first broom configured to draw particulate inwardly toward the surface maintenance machine, and the rotation of the a second broom configured to lift particulate toward a hopper housed thereabove; and a skirt assembly forming a vacuum passage to fluidly isolate the pair of brooms from an exterior of the surface maintenance machine, the pair of brooms being not surrounded by the skirt assembly on their front when the machine is moving in a generally forward direction and thereby exposed to particulate on the surface.

17 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 16 , wherein the skirt assembly surrounds the pair of brooms on lateral sides and rear thereof when the machine is moving in the generally forward direction.

18 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 16 , wherein the surface maintenance machine is a dry sweeping machine.

19 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 18 , further comprising one or more side brushes located laterally relative to a longitudinal centerline of the surface maintenance machine.

20 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 19 , wherein the surface maintenance machine is a combination dry sweeper-and wet scrubber machine.

21 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 1 , wherein at least a bottom half of the front broom is unobstructed in the generally forward direction by any portion of the surface maintenance machine.

22 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 1 , wherein the front broom extends a broom height above the surface when operating on the surface, and at least one-half of the front broom is unobstructed in the generally forward direction by any portion of the surface maintenance machine.

23 . The surface maintenance machine of claim 1 , wherein the front broom is substantially unobstructed in the generally forward direction by any portion of the surface maintenan

Assignees

• Tennant Co

Inventors

• Runnoe Adam J C
• Jensen Laurence A
• Weatherly Erik M
• Younggren Derek R

Classifications

• A47L11/24

  Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven · CPC title

• A47L11/4038

  Disk shaped surface treating tools · CPC title

• A47L11/4044

  Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees · CPC title

• A47L11/4055

  for lifting the tools to a non-working position · CPC title

• A47L11/302

  having rotary tools · CPC title