Variable width pick-up head for a mobile sweeper

Abstract

A variable width pick-up head for a mobile sweeper comprises a housing defining a substantially hollow interior and has a front, a back, a left end and a right end, a top and a bottom, and a suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing. A dust and debris outlet in the housing permits dust and debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior of the housing into a hopper. The housing has a central portion, and a first laterally extending portion operatively mounted in moveable relation on the central portion for movement between a wide configuration whereat the overall width of the housing is maximized and a narrow configuration whereat the overall width of the housing is narrower than in the wide configuration. A selectively operable hydraulic actuator is for moving the first laterally extending portion with respect to the central portion.

1 . A variable width pick-up head for a mobile sweeper, said variable width pick-head comprising:
 a housing defining a substantially hollow interior and having a front, a back, a left end and a right end, a top and a bottom, and a suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into said substantially hollow interior of said housing;   a dust and debris outlet in said housing for permitting dust and debris to be suctioned from said substantially hollow interior of said housing into a hopper;   wherein said housing has a central portion, and a first laterally extending portion operatively mounted in moveable relation on said central portion for movement between a wide configuration whereat the overall width of said housing is maximized and a narrow configuration whereat the overall width of said housing is narrower than in said wide configuration; and,   selectively operable actuation means for moving said first laterally extending portion with respect to said central portion.   
   
   
       2 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 1 , further comprising a first flexible cover operatively interconnecting in substantially sealed relation said first laterally extending portion and said central portion, to thereby preclude the egress of dust, dirt and debris from said variable width pick-up head. 
   
   
       3 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 1 , wherein said first laterally extending portion is connected in pivoting relation to said central portion. 
   
   
       4 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 1 , wherein said selectively operable actuation means comprises a first hydraulic actuator. 
   
   
       5 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 1 , wherein said dust and debris outlet is disposed in the back of said housing. 
   
   
       6 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 1 , wherein said dust and debris outlet is generally centrally disposed in said back of said housing. 
   
   
       7 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 1 , further comprising a suctioning front opening disposed in the front of said housing for receiving debris into said substantially hollow interior of said housing, in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface being cleaned. 
   
   
       8 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 7 , wherein said suctioning front opening is disposed generally centrally in the front of said housing. 
   
   
       9 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectively openable and closable door means operatively mounted on said pick-up head for selectively opening and closing said suctioning front opening. 
   
   
       10 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 9 , wherein said openable and closeable door means comprises at least one door member mounted in hinged relation on said housing. 
   
   
       11 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one door member is mounted so as to open inwardly into the substantially hollow interior of said housing. 
   
   
       12 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 1 , further comprising a second laterally extending portion operatively mounted in moveable relation on said central portion for movement between said wide configuration and said narrow configuration. 
   
   
       13 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 12 , further comprising a second flexible cover operatively interconnecting in substantially sealed relation said second laterally extending portion and said central portion, to thereby preclude the egress of dust, dirt and debris from said variable width pick-up head. 
   
   
       14 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 13 , wherein said second laterally extending portion is connected in pivoting relation to said central portion. 
   
   
       15 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 14 , wherein said selectively operable actuation means further comprises a second hydraulic actuator. 
   
   
       16 . The variable width pick-up head of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second laterally extending portions are substantially identical, but mirror images, one to the other.