Sweeper Brush Frame with Adjustable Hood

Abstract

A sweeper apparatus includes a brush frame with first and second sides and a top surface. A brush roll is supported on the brush frame and is adapted for rotation to dislodge snow or other debris from an associated surface. A brush hood is connected to the brush frame and includes a hood surface located between the top surface and the brush roll. The hood surface extends between the first and second lateral sides of the brush frame and is selectively movable between an up position and a down position. A stripper bar is connected to the brush hood and is movable with the hood surface when the hood surface moves between its down and up positions. At least one actuator is operably connected between the brush frame and the brush hood and is selectively operable to move the hood surface between its up and down positions.

1 . A sweeper apparatus comprising:
 a brush frame comprising first and second lateral sides and a top surface that extends between the first and second lateral sides;   a brush roll rotatably supported on the brush frame and adapted for rotation relative to the brush frame to dislodge snow or other debris from an associated surface;   a brush hood connected to said brush frame and comprising a hood surface located between the top surface and the brush roll, said hood surface extending between said first and second lateral sides of the brush frame and selectively movable between an up position and a down position;   a stripper bar connected to said brush hood and movable with said hood surface when said hood surface moves between its down and up positions;   at least one actuator operably connected between said brush frame and said brush hood and selectively operable to move said hood surface between its up and down positions.   
     
     
         2 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of hinges that pivotally connect said hood surface to said brush frame, each of said hinges comprising a hood support arm and a support linkage, said hood support arm including an inner end pivotally connected to the brush frame and an outer end pivotally connected to said support linkage, wherein said hood surface is connected to each of said hood support arms. 
     
     
         3 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein each respective support linkage connected to an outer end of one of said hood support arms comprises:
 a first link including inner and outer ends, said inner end of said first link pivotally connected to said brush frame in a fixed location;   a second link including inner and outer ends, said inner end of said second link pivotally connected to said outer end of the respective hood support arm;   wherein said outer ends of said first and second links are pivotally connected to each other.   
     
     
         4 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said brush frame further comprises:
 a first link cross bar secured in a fixed position, wherein the inner end of the first link of each support linkage is pivotally connected to said first link cross bar;   a second link cross bar arranged parallel to the first link cross bar, wherein to outer ends of the first and second links of each support linkage are pivotally interconnected by the second link cross bar;   wherein said second link cross bar moves relative to said first link cross bar when said hood surface moves between its up and down positions.   
     
     
         5 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a deflector that extends between the first and second lateral sides of the brush frame, said snow deflector comprising an upper deflector portion that covers the first link of each support linkage and a lower deflector portion that covers the second link of each support linkage.   
     
     
         6 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein an angle defined between said upper and lower deflector portions changes size depending on a location of said hood surface between its up and down positions. 
     
     
         7 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said brush frame comprises a plurality of ribs that support said top surface, wherein each of said hood support arms is laterally aligned with one of said ribs. 
     
     
         8 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said at least one actuator comprises a plurality of actuators, each of which is operably connected between one of said ribs and a corresponding one of said hinges. 
     
     
         9 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising a caster frame connected to said brush frame, said caster frame comprising a plurality of wheels that movably support said brush frame relative to an associated surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         10 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said brush frame is pivotally connected to said caster frame and pivots about a pivot axis between first and second positions. 
     
     
         11 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising a control system operatively connected to said at least one actuator to control movement of said hood surface between its up and down positions, wherein said control system controls said at least one actuator based upon a change in an angular position of said brush frame relative to said caster frame. 
     
     
         12 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a control system operatively connected to said at least one actuator to control movement of said hood surface between its up and down positions, wherein said control system controls said at least one actuator based upon input received from at least one of: (i) a user operated switch; (ii) a sensor that detects a relative position between said hood surface or said stripper bar and said brush roll. 
     
     
         13 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a control system operatively connected to said at least one actuator to control movement of said hood surface between its up and down positions, wherein said control system is programmed to move said hood surface from an up position toward a down position periodically based upon elapsed time usage of said sweeper apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The sweeper apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one actuator for moving the hood surface between its up and down positions is located inside a space defined between said top surface, said deflector, and said hood surface. 
     
     
         15 . A sweeper brush frame comprising:
 first and second lateral sides and a top surface that extends between the first and second lateral sides;   a brush roll support for rotatably supporting an associated brush roll;   a movable brush hood connected to said brush frame and comprising a hood surface located between the top surface and the brush roll, said hood surface extending between said first and second lateral sides of the brush frame and selectively movable between an up position and a down position;   at least one actuator operably connected between a fixed part of said brush frame and said movable brush hood, said actuator selectively operable to move said hood surface between its up and down positions.   
     
     
         16 . The sweeper brush frame as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of hinges that pivotally connect said hood surface to a fixed part of said brush frame, each of said hinges comprising a hood support arm and a support linkage, said hood support arm including an inner end pivotally connected to the fixed part of the brush frame and an outer end pivotally connected to said support linkage, wherein said hood surface is connected to each of said hood support arms. 
     
     
         17 . The sweeper brush frame as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein each respective support linkage connected to an outer end of one of said hood support arms comprises:
 a first link including inner and outer ends, said inner end of said first link pivotally connected to said brush frame in a fixed location;   a second link including inner and outer ends, said inner end of said second link pivotally connected to said outer end of the respective hood support arm;   wherein said outer ends of said first and second links are pivotally connected to each other.   
     
     
         18 . The sweeper brush frame as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said brush frame further comprises:
 a first link cross bar secured in a fixed position, wherein the inner end of the first link of each support linkage is pivotally connected to said first link cross bar;   a second link cross bar arranged parallel to the first link cross bar, wherein to outer ends of the first and second links of each support linkage are pivotally interconnected by the second link cross bar;   wherein said second link cross bar moves relative to said first link cross bar when said hood surface moves between its up and down positions.   
     
     
         19 . The sweeper brush frame as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said at least one actuator for moving the hood surface between its up and down positions is located inside a space defined between said top surface and said movable brush hood.