Gutter broom and gutter broom system

Abstract

A gutter broom system comprises a gutter broom that comprises a main structural body, a plurality of sweeping bristles depending from the main structural body, at least one opening in the main structural body for permitting a blast of air to pass through the main structural body as the gutter broom rotates. A gutter broom shroud is in surrounding relation to the gutter broom and defines a substantially hollow interior that receives the gutter broom. An air blast nozzle has an air outlet and is operatively mounted on one of the gutter broom shroud, the mounting means and the surface cleaning vehicle such that the air outlet is generally downwardly facing, for emitting a blast of air through the at least one opening in the main structural body towards the surface being cleaned, to thereby clean dirt from the surface being cleaned.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A gutter broom system for use on a surface cleaning vehicle, said gutter broom assembly comprising:
 mounting means for mounting said gutter broom system on a surface cleaning vehicle;   a gutter broom operatively mounted in suspended relation from said mounting means, wherein said gutter broom comprises a main structural body, a plurality of sweeping bristles depending from said main structural body, at least one opening in said main structural body for permitting a blast of air to pass through said main structural body as said gutter broom rotates;   a motor for rotating said gutter broom;   a gutter broom shroud mounted in supported relation on said mounting means in surrounding relation to said gutter broom and defining a substantially hollow interior that receives the gutter broom;   at least one air blast nozzle having an air outlet and operatively mounted on one of said gutter broom shroud, said mounting means and said surface cleaning vehicle such that said air outlet is generally downwardly facing, for emitting a blast of air through said at least one opening in said main structural body towards the surface being cleaned, to thereby clean dirt from the surface being cleaned; and,   a source of air flow connected in air delivery relation to said at least one air blast nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The gutter broom system of  claim 1 , wherein said main structural body comprise a top plate. 
     
     
         3 . The gutter broom system of  claim 2 , wherein said top plate comprises an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of sweeping bristles depending from said outer peripheral portion, a central portion, and at least one connecting spoke securely connecting together said outer peripheral portion and said central portion. 
     
     
         4 . The gutter broom system of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one air blast nozzle comprises a single air blast nozzle having a width substantially greater than the lateral thickness of said at least one connecting spoke. 
     
     
         5 . The gutter broom system of  claim 1 , wherein said source of air flow comprises an air turbine. 
     
     
         6 . The gutter broom system of  claim 1 , wherein said air outlet is generally downwardly and forwardly facing. 
     
     
         7 . The gutter broom system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one connecting spoke comprises a plurality of connecting spokes. 
     
     
         8 . The gutter broom system of  claim 7 , wherein each connecting spoke is airfoil-shaped in cross section. 
     
     
         9 . A gutter broom for use on a surface cleaning vehicle, said gutter broom comprising:
 a main structural body;   a plurality of sweeping bristles depending from said main structural body;   at least one opening in said main structural body for permitting a blast of air to pass through said main structural body as said gutter broom rotates.   
     
     
         10 . The gutter broom system of  claim 9 , wherein said gutter broom comprises an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of sweeping bristles depending from said outer peripheral portion, a central portion, and at least one connecting spoke securely connecting together said outer peripheral portion and said central portion. 
     
     
         11 . The gutter broom system of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one connecting spoke comprises a plurality of connecting spokes. 
     
     
         12 . The gutter broom system of  claim 10 , wherein each connecting spoke is airfoil-shaped in cross section.