Sweeping broom apparatus for use with a vehicle and having a source of high speed air

Abstract

A sweeping broom apparatus comprises a main body having a debris receiving outlet and connecting means for operatively connecting the main body to a vehicle. A broom shroud has an open bottom defined by a bottom edge. The broom shroud has a front end and a back end, and defines a longitudinal horizontal axis extending between the front end and the back end. An airflow obstructing skirt is disposed around the bottom edge of the broom shroud for substantially obstructing the egress of air from between the bottom edge of the broom shroud and the surface being cleaned. There is a forwardly facing debris outlet in the broom shroud for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris. A main sweeping broom is mounted within the broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from a surface being cleaned generally along the longitudinal horizontal axis, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet. There is a source of high speed air having an outlet for permitting the egress of air therefrom. An air blast nozzle has an outlet aimed downwardly and forwardly so as to aim a blast of air at a surface being cleaned, and has an inlet connected in fluid communication to the outlet of the source of high speed air for receiving air therefrom. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet. In use, high speed air from the air blast nozzle is forcibly blasted against a surface being cleaned.

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;   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;   a forwardly facing debris outlet in said broom shroud for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris;   a main sweeping broom mounted within said broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from a surface being cleaned generally along said longitudinal horizontal axis, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through said forwardly facing debris outlet;   a source of high speed air having an outlet for permitting the egress of air therefrom; and,   an air blast nozzle having an outlet aimed downwardly and forwardly so as to aim a blast of air at a surface being cleaned, and having an inlet connected in fluid communication to said outlet of said source of high speed air for receiving air therefrom, with said inlet being in fluid communication with said outlet;   wherein, in use, high speed air from said air blast nozzle is forcibly blasted against a surface being cleaned.   
   
   
       2 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said source of high speed air comprises a high speed turbine. 
   
   
       3 . The sweeping broom apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said high speed turbine is mounted in said broom shroud.