Constant volume hood for mechanized sweeper

Abstract

A hood for a mechanized sweeper comprises an upper surface, an adjustable front flap, an adjustable rear flap, and end skirts. The adjustable front flap is configured to extend perpendicularly downward from the upper surface. The adjustable rear flap is configured to extend perpendicularly downward from the upper surface. The end skirts are configured to extend perpendicularly downward from the upper surface and further configured to extend perpendicular from the front flap and the rear flap such that the adjustable front and rear flaps are adjusted to maintain a depth equal to the depth of the end skirts.

1 . A hood for a mechanized sweeper, comprising:
 a. an upper surface;   b. an adjustable front flap configured to extend perpendicularly downward from said upper surface;   c. an adjustable rear flap configured to extend perpendicularly downward from said upper surface; and   d. end skirts configured to extend perpendicularly downward from said upper surface and further configured to extend perpendicular from said front flap and said rear flap such that said adjustable front and rear flaps are adjusted to maintain a depth equal to the depth of said end skirts.   
   
   
       2 . The hood of  claim 1 , wherein said front flap further comprises:
 a. a rubber member having a horizontal portion configured to overlay an upper surface of the hood and attach to the hood and further having a vertical portion configured to extend perpendicularly downward from said upper surface of the hood; and   b. connectors configured to attach said horizontal portion of said rubber member to the hood such that said vertical portion of said rubber member extends downward to a depth equal to the depth of the hood.   
   
   
       3 . The hood of  claim 2 , wherein said connectors are further configured to adjustably attach said rubber member to the hood. 
   
   
       4 . The hood of  claim 3 , wherein said connectors are bolts rotatably received in the hood. 
   
   
       5 . The hood of  claim 4 , wherein said bolts are configured to compress said upper portion of said rubber member between a portion of said bolts and the hood. 
   
   
       6 . The hood of  claim 5 , wherein said rear flap further comprises:
 a. a cartridge configured to attach to a hood; and   b. a rubber member configured to attach to said cartridge and extend perpendicularly downward from said upper surface of the hood, such that said plurality of adjustable connectors are configured to lower said cartridge and said rubber member to a depth equal to the depth of the end skirt.   
   
   
       7 . The hood of  claim 6 , wherein said cartridge is made from a hard, generally inflexible material. 
   
   
       8 . The hood of  claim 17 , wherein an upper portion of said cartridge includes a plurality of threaded holes configured to receive said connectors. 
   
   
       9 . The hood of  claim 8 , wherein said upper portion of said cartridge is configured to extend horizontally and relatively parallel to said upper surface of the hood. 
   
   
       10 . The hood of  claim 9 , wherein said cartridge further includes a lower portion configured to extend vertically and relatively perpendicular to said upper surface of the hood. 
   
   
       11 . A method of maintaining a constant volume in a hood, comprising the steps of:
 a. adjusting the depth of a flap by lowering said flap downward to a depth equal to the depth of the hood; and   b. fixing said flap to the hood with a plurality of adjustable connectors such that said flap is fixedly held in place relative to the hood.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of threading said plurality of adjustable connectors into a compression member on the hood. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said adjusting step comprises the steps of:
 a. providing a plurality of slots in a rubber member;   b. receiving said plurality of adjustable connectors in said slots; and   c. sliding said rubber member relative to said plurality of adjustable connectors such that said plurality of adjustable connectors are advanced in said slots.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of forming a plurality of receiving holes in said compression member configured to receive said plurality of adjustable connectors. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said forming step further comprises the step of threading said plurality of receiving holes such that said adjustable connectors are advanced on the threads in said plurality of receiving holes. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of connecting a rigid member to a flexible member together forming said flap. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said connecting step comprises connecting said rigid member to said flexible member with a plurality of fixed connectors. 
   
   
       18 . A hood for a sweeper, comprising:
 a. an upper surface;   b. a flap having a horizontal portion configured to overlay said upper surface; said flap further comprising a vertical portion configured to extend perpendicularly downward from said upper surface of the hood;   c. a plurality of adjustable connectors configured to attach said horizontal portion to the hood such that said plurality of adjustable connectors are configured to lower said vertical portion to a depth equal to the depth of the hood; and   d. end skirts configured to extend perpendicularly downward from said upper surface and further configured to extend perpendicular from said flap such that said adjustable front and rear flaps are adjusted to maintain a depth equal to the depth of said end skirts.   
   
   
       19 . The hood of  claim 18 , wherein said horizontal portion is further configured with a plurality of slots configured to receive said plurality of adjustable connectors. 
   
   
       20 . The hood of  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of slots are further configured to extend horizontally across said horizontal portion. 
   
   
       21 . A device for maintaining a constant volume in a hood, comprising:
 a. means for adjusting the depth of a flap by lowering said flap downward to a depth equal to the depth of the hood; and   b. means for fixing said flap to the hood with a plurality of adjustable connectors such that said flap is fixedly held in place relative to the hood.   
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising means for threading said plurality of adjustable connectors into a compression member on the hood. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said adjusting means comprises:
 a. means for providing a plurality of slots in a rubber member;   b. means for receiving said plurality of adjustable connectors in said slots; and   c. means for sliding said rubber member relative to said plurality of adjustable connectors such that said plurality of adjustable connectors are advanced in said slots.   
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising means for forming a plurality of receiving holes in said compression member, said receiving holes configured to receive said plurality of adjustable connectors. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said forming means further comprises means for threading said plurality of receiving holes such that said adjustable connectors are advanced on the threads in said plurality of receiving holes. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising means for connecting a rigid member to a flexible member together forming said flap. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said connecting means comprises connecting said rigid member to said flexible member with a plurality of fixed connectors.