GB2254870A

GB2254870A - Road sweeping apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2254870A
Application number: GB9208297A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Craig
Original assignee: CRAIG TRACTOR SERVICES Ltd
Current assignee: CRAIG TRACTOR SERVICES Ltd
Priority date: 1991-04-16
Filing date: 1992-04-15
Publication date: 1992-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-15
Also published as: GB9208297D0; GB2254870B; GB9108011D0

Abstract

Road sweeping apparatus adapted for mounting on the forks (20) of a fork lift vehicle comprises a brush unit (10) having a horizontal, cylindrical, rotatable brush (16) powered by a hydraulic motor (18), and a waste receiving hopper (12) hingeably connected to the brush unit (10) and movable between closed (waste-receiving) and open (waste-emptying) positions by means of hydraulic cylinders (26). The hydraulic motor (18) and cylinders (26) are connected to a single hydraulic power source on the vehicle via an electrically actuated diverter valve (32), operable from a control unit (36) mounted in the cab of the vehicle to switch hydraulic power between the brush (10) and the cylinders (26). This arrangement allows the apparatus to be used with any fork lift vehicle having a minimum of one hydraulic power connection. <IMAGE>

Description

"Road Sweeping Apparatus" The present invention relates to road sweeping apparatus of the type adapted to be mounted on a fork-lift vehicle, and powered by the vehicle's hydraulic power supply.

Existing fork-lift-mounted road sweeping apparatus generally comprises a brush unit and a hinged waste hopper, the brush being powered by an hydraulic motor and the hopper being opened and closed by means of hydraulic cylinders. Both the motor and the cylinders require a separate hydraulic supply; so that the apparatus is only suitable for use with vehicles having at least two auxiliary hydraulic circuits available.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage of existing types of apparatus.

In accordance with the invention there is provided road sweeping apparatus adapted to be mounted on a fork-lift vehicle and powered by a hydraulic power supply thereof, said apparatus comprising a brush unit including a rotatable brush, a hydraulic motor for driving said brush, and coupling means for engaging the forks of a fork-lift vehicle, and a hopper, hingeably connected to said brush unit for receiving waste from said brush and movable between an open and a closed position by means of at least one hydraulic cylinder, wherein said hydraulic motor and said at least one hydraulic cylinder are connected to diverter valve means, said diverter valve means being adapted for connection to a hydraulic power supply of a fork-lift vehicle and being adapted, when so connected, to switch said supply between said motor and said at least one cylinder.

The diverter valve means is preferably electrically actuated and controlled from a control unit which may be mounted in the cab of the vehicle and connected to the vehicle's electrical supply.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, illustrating these and other features of the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of one road sweeping apparatus in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a hydraulic power supply for the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, mounted on a fork-lift vehicle, in a raised and open position.

Referring now to the drawings, road sweeping apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a rotary brush unit 10 and a waste hopper 12. The brush unit 10 comprises a housing having parallel, spaced end plates 14, between which is mounted a cylindrical brush 16 which is rotatable about a horizontal axis extending between the end plates 14. The brush 16 is driven by a hydraulic motor 18 mounted on the housing of the unit 10. The unit is adapted to be mounted on the forks 20 of a fork-lift vehicle 40, and also includes wheels 22 located rearwardly of the brush 16.

The waste hopper 12 extends across the width of the brush unit 10 and is hinged thereto about an axis 24 extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush, between the upper, forward corners of the end plates of the housing 10. The hopper 12 is open on the side thereof facing the brush unit 10 (when closed as in Fig. 1) and closed on all its remaining sides.

The hopper is pivotable about hinge axis 24 between a closed position (Fig. 1) and an open position (Fig. 3), by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 26 extending between a point 28 adjacent the vertical mid-point of the front edge of each end plate 14 of the brush unit 10 and a point 30 adjacent the upper, forward corner of each end of the hopper 12.

It is particularly preferred that the cylinders 26 are mounted on the interior of the hopper 12, the points 28 being located on the inner faces of the end plates 14.

Both the hydraulic motor 18 and the hydraulic cylinders 26 are powered from a single auxiliary supply on the fork lift vehicle 40. The supply from the vehicle 40 is connected to an electrically actuated diverter valve 32, from which the supply may be switched between the motor 18, driving the brush 16, and the cylinders 26, for opening and closing the hopper 12. The valve 32 is connected by cables 34 to a control unit 36 which is detachably mountable in the cab of the vehicle 40, where it may be connected to the vehicle's electrical supply. The valve 32 may be mounted on the top of the brush unit 10 adjacent its rear edge for convenient coupling to the hydraulic supply of the vehicle 40.

In use, then, the apparatus is mounted on the vehicle 40, and connected to the electrical and hydraulic supplies. With the forks 20 lowered until the wheels 22 engage the ground, and with the hopper 12 closed, the valve 32 is switched to drive the hydraulic motor 18, so that waste is swept into the hopper 12 by the rotation of the brush 16. When the hopper 12 is required to be emptied, the forks 20 are raised and the valve 32 is switched to operate the hydraulic cylinders 26, opening the hopper 12 and emptying the waste 38 therefrom.

The invention thus provides a self-contained apparatus which can be used with any fork-lift vehicle having at least one auxiliary hydraulic power supply. The apparatus might be further provided with a channel brush, rotating on a vertical axis adjacent one end of the main brush 16, and the control unit 36 could incorporate warning lights and/or alarms to warn of any overload of the hydraulic system.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Road sweeping apparatus adapted to be mounted on a fork-lift vehicle and powered by a hydraulic power supply thereof, said apparatus comprising a brush unit including a rotatable brush, a hydraulic motor for driving said brush, and coupling means for engaging the forks of a fork-lift vehicle, and a hopper, hingeably connected to said brush unit for receiving waste from said brush and movable between an open and a closed position by means of at least one hydraulic cylinder, wherein said hydraulic motor and said at least one hydraulic cylinder are connected to diverter valve means, said diverter valve means being adapted for connection to a hydraulic power supply of a fork-lift vehicle and being adapted, when so connected, to switch said supply between said motor and said at least one cylinder.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the diverter valve means is electrically actuated and controlled from a control unit which may be mounted in the cab of the vehicle and connected to the vehicle's electrical supply.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said brush is a cylindrical brush rotatable about a horizontal axis extending between first and second side members of said brush unit.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, further including at least one wheel located adjacent said brush so as to engage the ground during operation of said brush.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein said waste hopper extends across the width of said brush unit and is hinged thereto about an axis extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said hopper is open on a side thereof facing said brush and closed on its remaining sides.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, including first and second hydraulic cylinders extending between said first and second side members of said brush unit and first and second upper corners of said hopper remote from said brush.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said cylinders are mounted on the interior of said hopper and are connected to inwardly facing surfaces of said side members.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 8, further including a channel brush mounted adjacent one end of said cylindrical brush.

10. Road sweeping apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.