Loading area for road sweeper

Abstract

A loading area ( 1 ) for road sweeper ( 10 ) is provided comprising a tub ( 2 ) suitable to contain waste and defining at least an opening ( 20 ) through which waste can escape from the tub ( 2 ), a complementary surface ( 21 ) adjacent to the opening ( 20 ), a lid ( 3 ) configured to occupy, on command, the opening ( 20 ); a constraining mechanism ( 4 ) constraining in a compliant way the lid ( 3 ) to the tub ( 2 ) in such a manner to determine at least a closing configuration in which the lid ( 3 ) occupies entirely the opening ( 20 ), and an opening configuration in which the lid ( 3 ) frees entirely the opening ( 20 ); operation means ( 5 ) operatively connected to the constraining mechanism ( 4 ) and configured to bring the constraining mechanism ( 4 ) from the closing configuration to the opening configuration or vice versa; in which the constraining mechanism ( 4 ) is connected to said tub ( 2 ) at the complementary surface ( 21 ) and it is configured so that, in the opening configuration, the lid ( 3 ) is at least partially superimposed on the complementary surface ( 21 ).

1 . Loading area ( 1 ) for road sweeper ( 10 ) comprising:
 a tub ( 2 ) capable of containing waste and defining at least:
 an opening ( 20 ) through which said waste can escape from said tub ( 2 ), and 
 a complementary surface ( 21 ) adjacent to said opening ( 20 ), 
   a lid ( 3 ) configured to occupy, on command, said opening ( 20 );   a constraining mechanism ( 4 ) constraining in a compliant way said lid ( 3 ) to said tub ( 2 ) in such a manner as to determine at least:
 a closing configuration in which said lid ( 3 ) entirely occupies said opening ( 20 ), and 
 an opening configuration in which said lid ( 3 ) entirely frees said opening ( 20 ); 
   characterised by comprising   operation means ( 5 ) operatively connected to said constraining means ( 4 ) and configured to bring said constraining means ( 4 ) from said closing configuration to said opening configuration or vice versa;   and by   said constraining mechanism ( 4 ) is connected to said tub ( 2 ) at said complementary surface ( 21 ) and is configured so that, in said opening configuration, said lid ( 3 ) is at least partially superimposed on said complementary surface ( 21 ).   
     
     
         2 . Loading area ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said complementary surface ( 21 ) predominantly develops along a main plane ( 2   a ), said lid ( 3 ) predominantly develops along a secondary plane ( 3   a ) and said constraining mechanism ( 4 ) is configured to translate said lid ( 3 ) along a predetermined trajectory ( 4   a ) with respect to said tub ( 2 ) in such a way that said secondary plane ( 3   a ) results to be parallel to said main plane ( 2   a ) at least in said opening configuration and said closing configuration. 
     
     
         3 . Loading area ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined trajectory ( 4   a ) is a circular trajectory and said constraining mechanism ( 4 ) is configured to maintain said secondary plane ( 3   a ) parallel to said main plane ( 2   a ) also during the transition between said opening configuration and said closing configuration. 
     
     
         4 . Loading area ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said constraining mechanism ( 4 ) defines an articulated parallelogram structure. 
     
     
         5 . Loading area ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said constraining mechanism ( 4 ) comprises at least one pair of connectors ( 40 ) each constrained in a compliant way to said complementary surface ( 21 ) so as to be able to rotate with respect to said complementary surface ( 21 ) about its own first axis of rotation ( 4   c ) normal to a movement plane ( 4   b ) on which said predetermined trajectory ( 4   a ) lies and each one is constrained in a compliant way to said lid ( 3 ) in such a way that it can rotate with respect to said cover ( 3 ) about its own second axis of rotation ( 4   d ) normal to said movement plane ( 4   b ). 
     
     
         6 . Loading area ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation means ( 5 ) comprise at least one linear actuator ( 50 ) operably connected between said complementary surface ( 21 ) and at least one said connector ( 40 ). 
     
     
         7 . Loading area ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said actuator ( 50 ) is expandable between said first end ( 50   a ) and said second end ( 50   b ) opposite said first end ( 50   a ), constrained in a compliant way at said first end ( 50   a ) to said complementary surface ( 21 ) so as to be able to rotate about a third axis of rotation ( 5   a ) parallel to said first axis of rotation ( 4   c ) and constrained in a compliant way at said second end ( 50   b ) to said connector ( 40 ) so as to be able to rotate about a fourth axis of rotation ( 5   b ) parallel to said third axis of rotation ( 5   a ). 
     
     
         8 . Loading area ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said tub ( 2 ) further comprises a bottom ( 22 ) extending on one side of said loading area ( 1 ) opposite said opening ( 20 ) and said complementary surface ( 21 ), and a side wall ( 23 ) extending from said bottom ( 22 ) to said opening ( 20 ) and said complementary surface ( 21 ) and comprising a rear portion ( 23   a ) diverging outwardly from said bottom ( 22 ) to said opening ( 20 ) and suitable for allowing the sliding of said waste from said tank ( 2 ) outwardly when said loading area ( 1 ) is overturned and said main surface ( 2   a ) is transverse to a ground. 
     
     
         9 . Road sweeper ( 10 ) comprising a frame ( 11 ) and a loading area ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said loading area ( 1 ) is constrained in a compliant way to said frame ( 11 ) so as to be able to rotate with respect to said frame ( 11 ) around a tilting axis ( 1   a ) parallel to said ground to define at least:
 a loading configuration of said waste in which said constraining mechanism ( 4 ) is in a closed configuration and said main plane ( 2   a ) is parallel to a ground, and   an unloading configuration of said waste in which said constraining mechanism ( 4 ) is in an opening configuration and said main plane ( 2   a ) is transverse to said ground.   
     
     
         10 . Road sweeper ( 10 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein said loading area ( 1 ) is constrained to said frame ( 11 ) by a hinge defining said tilting axis ( 1   a ) and positioned at said rear portion ( 23   a ), and said sweeper ( 10 ) further comprising tilting means configured to move, in a controlled manner, said loading area ( 1 ) around said tilting axis ( 1   a ) from said loading configuration to said unloading configuration and vice versa.