Conveyor for mechanical street sweeper

Abstract

There is described a squeegee style conveyor for a street sweeper in which the shaft connecting the lower pulleys has been removed to provide more space between the lower pulleys for larger objects to pass. The lower pulleys are supported on the conveyor tray by spindle hub assemblies.

1 . A conveyor for a mechanical street sweeper, the conveyor comprising: 
 (a) a conveyor tray having a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end and a surface adapted to have debris conveyed thereon;    (b) a first set of laterally spaced apart rotational elements rotationally supported on the conveyor tray at the first end;    (c) a second set of laterally spaced apart rotational elements rotationally supported on the conveyor tray at the second end defining a laterally unobstructed passageway through which debris may pass between the second set of spaced apart rotational elements;    (d) a set of laterally spaced apart parallel loops supported on and engaged with the sets of rotational elements and having laterally extending flights supported by the loops at intervals along the loops, the loops and the sets of rotational elements being located on the conveyor tray such that the flights travel along the conveyor tray to convey debris along the surface; and,    (e) a drive means connected to either the first or the second set of rotational elements for rotating the loops.    
     
     
         2 . The conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein the first set of rotational elements is a pair of rotational elements, the second set of rotational elements is a pair of rotational elements and the set of loops is a pair of loops.  
     
     
         3 . The conveyor according to  claim 2 , wherein the first pair of rotational elements is laterally connected by a solid shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The conveyor according to  claim 3 , wherein the drive means is connected to the first pair of rotational elements.  
     
     
         5 . The conveyor according to  claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the loops is reversible.  
     
     
         6 . The conveyor according to  claim 2 , wherein the rotational elements are pulleys and the loops are belts.  
     
     
         7 . The conveyor according to  claim 2 , wherein the rotational elements are sprockets and the loops are chains.  
     
     
         8 . The conveyor according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the second pair of rotational elements is supported on the conveyor tray by a spindle hub assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The conveyor according to  claim 8 , wherein each spindle hub assembly comprises two bearings.  
     
     
         10 . The conveyor according to  claim 9 , wherein the bearings are packed in grease and each spindle hub assembly includes a grease seal and a dust cap.  
     
     
         11 . A conveyor for a mechanical street sweeper, the conveyor comprising: 
 (a) a conveyor tray having a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end and a surface adapted to have debris conveyed thereon;    (b) a first pair of laterally spaced apart pulleys rotationally supported on the conveyor tray at the first end and connected by a solid shaft;    (c) a second pair of laterally spaced apart pulleys rotationally supported on the conveyor tray at the second end by spindle hub assemblies and defining a laterally unobstructed passageway through which debris may pass between the second pair of spaced apart pulleys;    (d) a pair of laterally spaced apart parallel belts supported on and engaged with the pairs of pulleys and having laterally extending flights supported by the belts at intervals along the belts, the belts and the pairs of pulleys being located on the conveyor tray such that the flights travel along the surface to convey debris along the surface; and,    (e) a drive means connected to the first pair of pulleys for rotating the belts.    
     
     
         12 . A mechanical street sweeper comprising: 
 (a) a frame;    (b) a hopper supported by the frame for holding debris;    (c) a brush supported by the frame for selective rotation in contact with a roadway;    (d) an inclined conveyor tray supported by the frame and having a first longitudinal end proximate the hopper adapted for delivering debris to the hopper, a second longitudinal end proximate the brush adapted for receiving debris from the brush and a surface adapted to have debris conveyed thereon;    (e) a first set of laterally spaced apart rotational elements rotationally supported on the frame or the conveyor tray proximate the first end of the conveyor tray;    (f) a second set of laterally spaced apart rotational elements rotationally supported on the frame or the conveyor tray proximate the second end of the conveyor tray and defining a laterally unobstructed passageway between the second set of rotational elements through which debris may pass from the brush to the surface of the conveyor tray;    (g) a set of laterally spaced apart parallel loops supported on and engaged with the sets of rotational elements and having laterally extending flights supported by the loops at intervals along the loops, the loops and the sets of rotational elements being located on the frame or the conveyor tray such that the flights travel along the conveyor tray to convey debris along the surface; and,    (h) a drive means connected to either the first or the second sets of rotational elements for rotating the loops.    
     
     
         13 . The street sweeper according to  claim 12 , wherein the first set of rotational elements is a pair of rotational elements, the second set of rotational elements is a pair of rotational elements and the set of loops is a pair of loops.  
     
     
         14 . The street sweeper according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second pairs of rotational elements are supported on the conveyor tray.  
     
     
         15 . The street sweeper according to  claim 13 , wherein the first pair of rotational elements is laterally connected by a solid shaft.  
     
     
         16 . The street sweeper according to  claim 15 , wherein the drive means is connected to the first pair of rotational elements.  
     
     
         17 . The street sweeper according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotation of the loops is reversible.  
     
     
         18 . The street sweeper according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotational elements are pulleys and the loops are belts.  
     
     
         19 . The street sweeper according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotational elements are sprockets and the loops are chains.  
     
     
         20 . The street sweeper according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the second pair of rotational elements is supported on the conveyor tray by a spindle hub assembly.  
     
     
         21 . The street sweeper according to  claim 20 , wherein each spindle hub assembly comprises two bearings.  
     
     
         22 . The street sweeper according to  claim 21 , wherein the bearings are packed in grease and the spindle hub assembly includes a grease seal and a dust cap.