Sweeper

USRE38973E1 · kind E1 · reissue

Inventor

• Keith E. Smith · Cedar Rapids, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 31, 2003
• Grant date: Feb 14, 2006
• Expiry date: Jul 31, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

A sweeper includes a support structure having parallel arms which may be moved apart to allow a brush held between the arms to be replaced. Each of the arms has a hub mounted thereon by a universal joint which provides automatic alignment of the two hubs to provide a single axis of rotation for the brush. One of the hubs is connected to a hydraulic drive motor and includes a plurality of slots, one of which receives a drive lug on the interior of the brush which is preferably of the type having a core of a thin metal tube. A raising and lowering mechanism comprises a parallelogram having a hydraulic cylinder in the center for controlling the configuration of the parallelogram. As the brush is raised its support mechanism remains parallel to the vehicle and moves closer to it. A unique stop element is mounted to the hydraulic cylinder to provide a minimum height for the sweeper.