Sweeping broom apparatus for use with a vehicle and having a movable air blast nozzle

Abstract

A sweeping broom apparatus comprises a main body with a debris receiving inlet, and a broom shroud with an open bottom and a main sweeping broom mounted within the broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from the surface being cleaned, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet. An air blast nozzle assembly has an air blast nozzle connected in fluid communication to a source of compressed air for receiving compressed air therefrom. A nozzle mount is for mounting the air blast nozzle to emit air in a forward and downward direction, and in movable relation on the broom shroud for movement to any selected one of a plurality of aimed positions, whereat the outlet of the air blast nozzle is aimable adjacent the area of contact of the main sweeping broom.

1 . A sweeping broom apparatus comprising:
 a main body having a debris receiving inlet;   connecting means for operatively connecting said main body to a vehicle;   a broom shroud having a front end, a back end, an open bottom defined by a bottom edge, and a forwardly facing debris outlet for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris;   means for mounting said broom shroud on said main body;   a main sweeping broom mounted within said broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from the surface being cleaned generally along said longitudinal horizontal axis, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through said forwardly facing debris outlet;   an air blast nozzle assembly having an air blast nozzle connected in fluid communication to a source of compressed air for receiving compressed air therefrom;   nozzle mounting means for mounting said air blast nozzle to emit air in a forward and downward direction, and in movable relation on said broom shroud for movement to any selected one of a plurality of aimed positions, whereat said outlet of said air blast nozzle is aimable adjacent the area of contact of said main sweeping broom.   
   
   
       2 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said nozzle mounting means comprises a first rail means and a co-operating first truck means. 
   
   
       3 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said first rail means comprises a first left rail and first a right rail oriented in substantially parallel relation one to the other and said co-operating first truck means comprises a first left truck engaged in sliding relation on said first left rail and a first right truck engaged in sliding relation on said first right rail. 
   
   
       4 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said first left rail and said first right rail are each disposed on said broom shroud and said first left truck and said first right truck are each disposed on said air blast nozzle assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said nozzle mounting means further comprises a second rail means and a co-operating second truck means. 
   
   
       6 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said second rail means comprises a second left rail and a second right rail oriented in substantially parallel relation one to the other and said co-operating second truck means comprises a second left truck engaged in sliding relation on said second left rail and a second right truck engaged in sliding relation on said second right rail. 
   
   
       7 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said second left rail is disposed on said first left truck and said second right rail is disposed on said first right truck and said second left truck and said second right truck are each disposed on said air blast nozzle assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said first left rail and said first right rail are oriented at an angle with respect to said second left rail and said second right rail. 
   
   
       9 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said first left rail and said first right rail are oriented perpendicularly with respect to said second left rail and said second right rail. 
   
   
       10 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said nozzle mounting means further comprises pivot means for permitting pivoting of said air blast nozzle about a substantially horizontal axis oriented substantially transversely to said longitudinal horizontal axis, to thereby permit the orientation of said air blast nozzle to be angularly adjustable. 
   
   
       11 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first left rail and said first right rail are each substantially horizontal. 
   
   
       12 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for moving said air blast nozzle between said plurality of aimed positions. 
   
   
       13 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said means for moving said air blast nozzle comprises at least one hydraulic motor. 
   
   
       14 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one hydraulic motor comprises a left hydraulic motor and a right hydraulic motor. 
   
   
       15 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an airflow obstructing means disposed around the bottom edge of said broom shroud for substantially obstructing the egress of air from between the bottom edge of said broom shroud and the surface being cleaned. 
   
   
       16 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a forwardly facing debris outlet in said broom shroud for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris.