FOR A MOBILE SWEEPING VEHICLE

RELATED APPLICATIONS

100011 This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from United States Provisional

Patent Application Serial No. 61/496,410 filed on June 13, 201 1 , which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

|0002] The present invention relates to dustless pick-up head systems for factory, sidewalk and street sweepers, and more particularly to such dustless pick-up head systems that readily maintain full suctioning effectiveness under almost all conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is known in the prior art to have a substantially sealed rotatable door apparatus on a pick-up head for use with a surface cleaning vehicle, wherein the rotatable door apparatus rotates about a vertical axis. It has been found that with this type of configuration, the effective size of the debris receiving opening whereat the substantially sealed door apparatus is mounted, cannot be less than one-quarter of the width of the pick-up head, inclusive of the size of the substantially sealed rotatable door apparatus.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a full-width dustless pick-up head system.

|0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up head system wherein the effective size of the debris receiving opening whereat the substantially sealed rotatable door apparatus is mounted, can be more than about one-quarter the width of the pick-up head.

|0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up head system wherein the effective size of the debris receiving opening whereat the substantially sealed door apparatus is mounted, can be the full width of the pick-up head. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007J In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel pick-up head system for use with a surface cleaning vehicle having a fore-aft axis of travel. The pick-up head system comprises a housing having an interior and a suctioning bottom opening defined by a bottom peripheral edge and open in fluid communication and debris transfer relation to the interior, and defining a fore-aft axis; a debris receiving main inlet in the housing, disposed in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface being cleaned, for receiving debris to the housing, and disposed in debris transfer relation to the interior of the housing for receiving debris to the housing; a rotatable door assembly mounted on the housing at the debris receiving main inlet for rotation about a substantially horizontally oriented door pivot axis, for controlling the passage of debris through the debris receiving main inlet; an air flow barrier operatively disposed between the rotatabie door assembly and the housing to substantially preclude the passage of air and small debris between the rotatable door assembly and the housing; and a debris outlet in the housing; wherein, in use, as the rotatable door assembly rotates about the horizontally oriented door pivot axis to thereby permit debris to enter the housing through the debris receiving main inlet, the air flow barrier substantially precludes the passage of air and small debris between the rotatable door assembly and the housing.

(0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel sealed door apparatus for use with a dustless pick-up head on a surface cleaning vehicle. The sealed door apparatus comprises a door frame surrounding the debris receiving main inlet; a rotatable door assembly mounted on the housing at the door frame for rotation about a substantially horizontally oriented door pivot axis; and an air flow barrier operatively disposed between the rotatable door assembly and the door frame to substantially preclude the passage of air and small debris between the rotatable door assembly and the door frame.

[0009J Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, die latter of which is briefly described herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00010J The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the pick-up head system according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[00011] Figure 1A is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the pick-up head system according to the present invention mounted on a surface cleaning vehicle;

(00012) Figure IB is a partially cut-away top plan view of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system of Figure 1A;

|00013] Figure 1C is a front elevational view of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system of

Figure 1 A;

|00014] Figure ID is a left corner elevational view of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system of Figure 1 A;

(00015) Figure I E is a side perspective view from underneath of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system of Figure 1A;

J000I6] Figure IF is a front perspective view from above of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system of Figure 1 A;

(00017( Figure 1G is a front perspective view from the right side of the first preferred embodiment pickup head system of Figure 1 A;

[00018] Figure 1H is a front perspective view from the right side of the first preferred embodiment pickup head system of Figure 1, and similar to Figure 7 except that the raisable and lowerabie sealed door assembly is in a raised position;

[00019] Figure II is a front perspective view from slightly off-centre to the right of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system of Figure 1 A;

[00020] Figure 1J is a front perspective view from slightly off-centre to the right of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system of Figure 1 , and similar to Figure 9 except that the raisable and lowerabie sealed door assembly is in a lowered surface engaging position; [00021 ] Figure IK is a bottom plan view of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system of Figure

1 A;

100022] Figure 1L is an enlarged partial view of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system of

Figure 1 A;

1000231 Figure 1M is an enlarged sectional side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment pick ^¬ up head system of Figure 1 A;

[00024] Figure IN is an enlarged partial view of a first alternative embodiment of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system of Figure 1 A with the raisable and lowerable sealed door assembly in raised position;

[00025] Figure 2A is a bottom plan view of the second preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the present invention;

|00026] Figure 3A is a top plan view of the third preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the present invention;

[00027] Figure 4A is a top plan view of the fourth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the present invention;

[00028] Figure 5A is a partially cut-away top perspective view from above of the fifth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the present invention.

[00029] Figure 6A is a front elevational view of the sixth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the present invention; and,

[00030] Figure 7A is a partially cut-away side elevational view of the seventh preferred embodiment pickup head system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 100031 1 Reference will now be made to Figures 1 A through IN, which show a first preferred embodiment of the pick-up head system of the present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 100. The pick-up head system 100 is for use with a surface cleaning vehicle 102 for removing dust (including fine particulate matter) and debris (including bottles, cans, leaves, dirt, and so on) from a surface to be cleaned 104.

[00032] The first preferred embodiment pick-up head system 100 is for use with a surface cleaning vehicle

102 having a main fan (not specifically shown), and defining a width "W _v " (see Figure I K) and a generally central fore-aft longitudinal axis of travel "L", for cleaning a surface to be cleaned 104 and basically comprises a housing 1 10, a substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108, a first debris suctioning inlet 140a, a debris outlet 120, a substantially hollow interior 1 19, a debris passage 130, and an air supply passage 180 within the housing 1 10. The pick-up head system 100, and particularly the housing 1 10, define the generally central fore-aft longitudinal axis of travel "L".

[00033] More specifically, the pick-up head system 100 comprises a housing 1 10 extending between a first end 1 1 1 and a second end 1 12 to define a width "W _H " (see Figure I K). Preferably the width "W _H " of the housing is greater than three-quarters of the width "W _v " of the surface cleaning vehicle 102, and also is preferably approximately the width "W _v " of the surface cleaning vehicle 102. It has been found that having the width "W _H " of the housing 1 10 approximately equal to the width ^; 'W _V " of the surface cleaning vehicle is very beneficial for purposes of full cleaning of the surface to be cleaned 104 and also for precluding damage to the outer ends 1 1 1 , 1 12 of the housing 1 10. Such damage can readily occur if the outer ends 1 1 1 , 1 12 of the housing 1 10 project laterally outwardly past the width of the surface cleaning vehicle 102.

[00034| The housing 1 10 extends substantially transversely to the generally central fore-aft longitudinal axis of travel "L". The housing 1 10 has a substantially hollow interior 1 19 and a suctioning bottom opening 1 14 defined by a bottom peripheral edge 109. The suctioning bottom opening 1 14 is open in fluid communication and debris transfer relation to the substantially hollow interior 1 19. Further, the housing 1 10 has a front wall 1 15, a back wall portion 1 16, interconnected by a roof portion 1 18. Dust and fine particulate on the surface to be cleaned 104 pass under the front peripheral edge portion 109f and are suctioned into the substantially hollow interior 1 19 of the housing 1 10.

[00035] The front wall 1 15 of the housing has a first sloped portion 1 15a and a second sloped portion 1 15b that are each sloped rearwardly and inwardly towards the debris receiving main inlet 142. The debris receiving main inlet 142 is disposed in the front wall 1 15 between the first sloped portion 1 15a and the second sloped portion 1 15b, in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface to be cleaned 104. Further, the housing 1 10 is substantially "V"- shaped and the debris receiving main inlet 142 is disposed at the vertex of the "V"-shaped front wall 1 15. 100036] The pick-up head system 100 further comprises a first debris suctioning inlet 140a in the housing

1 10. The first debris suctioning inlet 140a is disposed adjacent the first end 1 1 1 of the housing 1 10 and is for suctioning debris into the housing 1 10. The suctioned debris might include larger debris such as bottles, cans, leaves, twigs, and so on, and might also include smaller debris such as dirt, dust, sand, and so on.

[00037] The pick-up head system 100 also comprises a debris receiving main inlet 142 in the front wall

1 15 of the housing 1 10 in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface to be cleaned 104, for receiving debris into the housing 1 10. There is also a door apparatus 150 operatively mounted at the debris receiving main inlet 142, as will be discussed in greater detail subsequently. Preferably, the sealed door apparatus 150 comprises a substantially sealed door apparatus.

[00038] The substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 is disposed at the bottom peripheral edge 109 of the housing 1 10 for interfacing the housing 1 10 in substantially sealed relation with the surface to be cleaned 104 as the surface cleaning vehicle 102 moves along the surface to be cleaned 104. Furthermore, the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 is disposed on the housing 1 10 in debris deflecting relation, to thereby deflect debris across a surface to be cleaned 104.

[00039] Preferably, the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt is also solid, and is non-curling and non- pliable, or in other words does not curl rearwardly at the bottom when debris is encountered, as prior art skirts must necessarily do. Also related to not curling rearwardly ai the bottom when debris is encountered, the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt is substantially horizontally oriented to help push and deflect debris. The substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt is also gapless, or in other words has no gaps in it for small debris to pass through.

[00040) The substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 precludes the passage of almost all air (and contaminants therein, such as dust and other fine particulate matter and the like) from escaping out of the housing 1 10 in the event that a section of the housing 1 10 has a higher air pressure than the ambient surroundings, which can occur with recirculating air type pick-up head systems, if the seal with the surface to be cleaned is not present. A very small portion of air is suctioned between the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 and the surface to be cleaned 104 to preclude any dust and other fine particulate matter and the like from escaping from the housing 1 10, and also to suction in dust and other fine particulate matter and the like under the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 at the front wall 1 15, which may be created as the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 at the front wall 1 15 engages the surface to be cleaned 104. 100041] Furthermore, the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 precludes the passage of larger debris, such as stones, bottles, cans, leaves, and the like, from passing under the front wall 1 15 as the housing 100 moves along the surface to be cleaned 104. Instead, the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 directs small debris, such as gravel, along the housing 1 10 to the debris receiving main inlet 142 at the sealed door apparatus 150. The front wall 1 15 of the housing directs larger debris to the debris receiving main inlet 142 at the sealed door apparatus 150 due to the right-to-left rearward slant of the housing 1 10.

(00042) Preferably, the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 is made from UHMW polyethylene or polyurethane, or any other suitable material, to promote sliding of the housing 1 10 along the surface to be cleaned 104, as opposed to riding over the debris, thereby breaking the "seal" of the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 with the surface to be cleaned 104. Preferably, there are vertical slots (not specifically shown) in the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 to allow for vertical adjustment (downward adjustment) of the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 with respect to the housing 1 10 as the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 wears. Suitable fasteners would extend through the vertical slots (not specifically shown) and threadibly engage co-operating threaded apertures in the housing 1 10. It is also contemplated that a downwardly sprung flap (not shown) could be included to make a seal with the surface to be cleaned 104. In the event that the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 temporarily does not "seal" with the surface to be cleaned 104, such as when the housing 1 10 travels over a pothole, or the like, or rides up slightly over a sewer grate, or the like, and simply doesn't have the deflection to seal properly because it is designed to be rigid as a plowing entity.

[00043] The debris outlet 120 is disposed generally centrally, in a lateral sense, in the housing 1 10, immediately rearwardly of the debris receiving main inlet 142, for permitting dust and debris to egress from the housing 1 10 into a hopper (not specifically shown). The debris outlet 120 is disposed towards the back wall portion 1 16 of the housing 1 10 generally centrally disposed between the first end 1 1 1 and the second end 1 12. The debris outlet 120 is connected in air flow delivery relation through a delivery duct 121 to a hopper for permitting dust and debris to egress from the housing 1 10 into the hopper. Preferably, the first debris suctioning inlet 140a has a cross- sectional area about one-half the cross-sectional area of the debris outlet 120.

[00044] The sealed door assembly 150 of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system 100 comprises a door frame 145 that surrounds the debris receiving main inlet 142. Preferably, the door frame 145 has a first side plate 145a and a second side plate 145b, and an arcuate header portion 145c defining a center axis "C" disposed substantially horizontally and generally transversely to the fore-aft longitudinal axis of travel "L".

[00045] The sealed door assembly 150 of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system 100 further comprises rotatable door assembly 146 that defines a substantially horizontally oriented central pivot axis "P" and an outer periphery 146p, and has a wherein the rotatable door assembly has a first side 146a and a second side 146b. The rotatable door assembly 146 is mounted on the housing 1 10 at the door frame 145. There is also an air flow barrier seal 147 operatively disposed in sealing relation between the rotatable door assembly 146 and the housing 1 10, and more specifically between the rotatable door assembly 146 and the door frame 145.

100046] The rotatable door assembly 146 comprises at least a first door portion 146a and a second door portion 146b, and in the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, also comprises a third door portion 146c, a fourth door portion 146d, a fifth door portion 146e, a sixth door portion 146f, a seventh door portion 146g, an eighth door portion 146h, and a ninth door portion 146i joined together at a substantially horizontally oriented central pivot axis "P" that is substantially transverse to the generally central fore-aft longitudinal axis of travel "L", and is collinear with the center axis "C" of the arcuate header portion 145c, and operatively mounted at the central pivot axis "P" in rotatable relation on the housing 1 10 at the debris receiving main inlet 142.

100047] The sealing means 147 is operatively disposed between the rotatable door assembly 146 and the door frame 145 for sealing the rotatable door assembly 146 with respect to the door frame 145, to thereby substantially preclude ingression of air into the substantially hollow interior 1 19 of the housing 1 10 through the debris receiving main inlet 142, as the rotatable door assembly 146 rotates to permit debris to enter the substantially hollow interior 1 19 of the housing 1 10.

[00048] The first door portion 146a has a first side edge 148a and a second side edge 148b and an end edge

148c spanning between the first side edge 148a and the second side edge 148b. Similarly, each of the other door portions has a first side edge and a second side edge and an end edge spanning between the first side edge and the second side edge. In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, there are nine door portions 146a through 146i, each the same as the others. Preferably, the end edges are substantially straight to evenly and fully engage a surface to be cleaned 104 such as a street or a parking lot, or the like.

100049] Preferably, the sealing means 147 comprises a sealing flap 147 disposed at the side edge of each of the first door portion 146a and the second door ponion 146b for intermittently contacting a surface to be cleaned 104 in substantially sealed relation as the rotatable door assembly 146 rotates. Since the sealing flaps 147 will typically wear quite readily, the sealing flaps 147 are preferably removable and replaceable, typically by means of suitable threaded fasteners (not specifically shown). The sealing flaps 147 are made from rubber material, a rubber composite material, a synthetic rubber material, or a synthetic rubber composite material, or any other suitable material in order to engage the surface to be cleaned 104 in substantially sealed relation. Preferably, the removable and replaceable sealing flaps 147 have a plurality of vertically oriented slots (not specifically shown) therein for receiving fasteners (not specifically shown) there through, thereby permitting height adjustable mounting of the removable and replaceable sealing flaps 147.

100050] The pick-up head system 100 further comprises a knife blade 70k mounted on an extension portion 70e of each of the door portions 146a through 146i (only one shown), namely the first door portion 146a, and the second door portion 146b, and so on. Each extension portion 70e projects substantially transversely from the door portions 146a through 146i substantially in the direction of rotation of the rotatable door assembly 146. The knife blades knife blade 70k are for cutting debris entering the housing 1 10 through the sealed door assembly 150. In use, as the surface cleaning vehicle 102 moves along the surface to be cleaned 104, the knife blades 70k, shred the received debris and thereby produces shredded debris.

[00051 ] In an alternative embodiment, it is contemplated that the sealed pick-up head system further comprises a knife blade mounted on the end edge of each door portion, instead of on the extension portion, for cutting debris entering the housing.

100052] The sealed pick-head system 100 further comprises a selectively operable actuation means for causing the rotatable door assembly 146 to rotate. Preferably the selectively operable actuation means comprises a hydraulic motor 190. The speed of the hydraulic motor 190 can be controlled by the operator of the surface cleaning vehicle 102. Preferably, the rotatable door assembly 146 is rotated by the selectively operable actuation means 190 to have an outer circumferential speed substantially equal to the forward speed of the sealed pick-up head system 1 10 along a surface to be cleaned 104, in a front-to-back direction. In this manner, the wearing of the rubber sealing flaps 147 on the surface to be cleaned 104 is minimized.

|00053] In order to control the rotational speed of the rotatable door assembly 146, in the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, a signal indicative of the speed of the vehicle and that is fed to the speedometer of the surface cleaning vehicle 102 is used by a control system (not specifically shown) that uses the signal to determine the speed of the mobile surface cleaning vehicle 102 traveling forwardly along the surface to be cleaned 104. The control system would govern the speed of the selectively operable actuation means, namely the hydraulic motor 190, accordingly. As a result, the relative speed of the rubber sealing flaps 147 with respect to the surface to be cleaned 104, as the mobile surface cleaning vehicle 102 travels forwardly along the surface to be cleaned, would be zero, or very close to zero, depending on the accuracy of the control system and the selectively operable actuation means 100054] In use, the rotatable door assembly 146 rotates forwardly at the top and rearwardly at the bottom, as indicated by arrows "A", such that the rearward speed of the rubber sealing flaps 147 and the doors 146a through 146i with respect to the housing is the same as the speed of the mobile surface cleaning vehicle 102 traveling forwardly along the surface to be cleaned 104.

100055] Alternatively, the operator of the mobile surface cleaning vehicle 102 could set the rotational speed of the selectively operable actuation means 190 zo rotate at any other desired speed. Rotating the selectively operable actuation means 190 more quickly such that the rubber sealing flaps 147 travel rearwardly with respect to the surface to be cleaned 104, as the mobile surface cleaning vehicle 102 travels forwardly along the surface to be cleaned 104, would help debris be pushed into the debris outlet 120. The control system could be used to keep the speed of the rubber sealing flaps 147 constant with respect to the surface to be cleaned 104.

100056] In a first alternative embodiment, as shown in Figure IN, the rotatable door assembly 146 ^A further comprises at least one surface engaging member 149 ^A , and as illustrated comprises a first surface engaging wheel 149a ^A disposed at the first side 146a ^A of the rotatable door assembly 146 ^A and a second surface engaging wheel 149b ^A disposed at the second side 146b ^A of the rotatable door assembly 146 ^A . The first surface engaging wheel 149a ^A and a second surface engaging wheel 149b ^A are preferably readily removable and replaceable by means of threaded fasteners (not specifically shown). Such rolling engagement causes the rotatable door assembly 146 ^A to rotate such that the outer periphery 146p ^A of the rotatable door assembly 146 ^A has substantially a zero speed with respect to the surface being cleaned 104 ^A .

[00057] In use, the first surface engaging wheel I49a ^A and a second surface engaging wheel 149b ^A roll along the surface to be cleaned 104 ^A and thereby carry the rotatable door assembly 146 ^A along such that the rearward peripheral speed of the rotatable door assembly 146 ^A matches the forward speed of the surface cleaning vehicle. Accordingly, the speed of the rubber sealing flaps 147 ^A along the surface being cleaned is zero.

|00058] As can be readily seen in the figures, the rotatable door assembly 146, the door frame 145, the sealing means 147, and the selectively operable actuation means 190 are connected in vertically movable relation to the housing 1 10 for movement between a lowered surface engaging position and a raised debris passing position. The rotatable door assembly 146, the door frame 145, the sealing means 147, and the selectively operable actuation means 190 form a raisable and lowerable sealed door assembly, as indicated by the general reference 150, that is mounted in hinged relation on the housing 1 10 by a suitable sealed hinge 143. Alternatively, any other suitable means could be used, such as a pair of left and right opposed pins engaged in co-operating ball bearing mechanisms. A pliable material, possibly in bellows form, could be used to maintain a seal between the door frame 145 and the housing 1 10, as necessary. [00059] The sealed door assembly 150 is disposed immediately forwardly of the delivery duct 121. The sealed door assembly 150 is moved between its lowered position and its raised position by means of a hydraulic cylinder 144hc that is operatively interconnected between a mounting bracket 144b at the top of the sealed door assembly 150 and a mounting bracket 121 b extending outwardly from the delivery duct 121.

[00060] The hydraulic drive motor 190 is mounted on the top of the rotatable door assembly 150 via a chain drive 144c. The chain drive 144c is covered by a small generally vertically oriented housing 144h in order to generally preclude dust and other contaminants from reaching the chain drive 144c, and also to preclude the escape of air and dust from the housing 1 10.

[00061 ] A rubber gasket type of material, or the like, is disposed at one or both of the sealed door assembly

150 and the opening of the debris receiving main inlet 142 of the housing 1 10, in order to provide a seal between the sealed door assembly 150 and the housing 1 10 when the sealed door assembly 150 is in its lowered surface engaging position.

[00062] Alternatively, the sealed door assembly 150 could be mounted in vertically sliding relation on the housing 1 10 by means of a plurality of parallel rails that are oriented either generally vertically, or even at an angle to vertically.

[00063] In the lowered surface engaging position, the rotatable door assembly 146 would engage the surface to be cleaned as described above. In the raised debris passing position, the rotatable door assembly 146 would be disposed in spaced relation from the surface to be cleaned, thereby allowing large debris to readily enter the housing 1 10, such as debris that might be too large to fit through the door frame 145 with the rotatable door assembly 146 in normal operation, or excessive amounts of large debris that need to be permitted into the housing quickly. In order to minimize the amount of time that the housing 1 10 might not be in a reduced air pressure situation, air cylinders could be used to quickly move the rotatable door assembly 146, the door frame 145, the sealing means 147, and the selectively operable actuation means 190 between the lowered surface engaging position and the raised debris passing position.

[00064J There is also a first debris suctioning inlet 140a in the housing 1 10 disposed adjacent the first end

1 1 1 of the housing 1 10, preferably at the first end 1 1 1 of the housing 1 10, for suctioning dust and debris into the housing 1 10. There is also a second debris suctioning inlet 140b in the housing 1 10 disposed adjacent the second end 1 12 of the housing 1 10, preferably at the second end 1 12 of the housing 1 10, for suctioning dust and debris into the housing 1 10. Both the first debris suctioning inlet 140a and the second debris suctioning inlet 140b are disposed on opposite sides of the fore-aft central longitudinal axis "L" one from the other, and face laterally away from the fore-aft central longitudinal axis "L". Further, the first debris suctioning inlet 140a and the second debris suctioning inlet 140b are disposed at a maximum distance " " (see figure I K) along the housing 1 10 from the debris outlet 120, which is disposed generally centrally in the housing 1 10, in a lateral sense. The various inventive aspects of the present invention, specifically the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, will now be discussed mostly with reference to the first debris suctioning inlet 140a, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication. The same discussion also generally applies to the second debris suctioning inlet 140b.

|00065] Furthermore, the first debris suctioning inlet 140a defines an external debris suctioning space 13 1 immediately beyond the first debris suctioning inlet 140a on the surface to be cleaned 104, whereat debris disposed externally to the housing 1 10 and adjacent to the first debris suctioning inlet 140a can readily be suctioned into the housing 1 10, and wherein the external debris suctioning space 13 1 is substantially unobstructed.

(00066] As can be seen in the figures, the first debris suctioning inlet 140a is preferably oriented forwardly, and more preferably oriented outwardly and forwardly, to permit the first debris suctioning inlet 140a to receive debris as the pick-up head system 100 travels along a surface to be cleaned 104.

[00067] As can be seen in the figures, the back wall portion 1 16 extends outwardly away from the fore-aft axis "L" further than the front wall 1 15, thereby creating a laterally and forwardly facing first debris suctioning inlet 140a.

[00068] There is also a substantially unobstructed debris passage 130 within the housing 1 10 extending from the first debris suctioning inlet 140a to the debris outlet 120. The debris outlet 120 is for receiving dust and debris from the debris passage 130 and permitting dust and debris to egress from the housing 1 10 into the hopper. The debris passage 130 is disposed within the housing in debris delivery relation with respect to the debris outlet 120.

[00069] Preferably, the cross-sectional area from front-to-back and top-to-bottom of the debris passage 130 in the housing 1 10 from the first debris suctioning inlet 140a to the debris outlet 120 is substantially constant. Moreover, the height of the debris passage 130 is constant and the width the debris passage 130 is constant.

[00070] Debris is suctioned into the substantially hollow interior 1 19 of the housing 1 10, and along the substantially unobstructed debris passage 130 through the first debris suctioning inlet 140a. Furthermore, very small debris, such as dust, is suctioned into the substantially unobstructed debris passage 130 through the suctioning bottom opening 1 14 of the housing 1 10. [00071 ) In the first preferred embodiment as illustrated, the pick-up head system 100 further comprises a debris receiving main inlet 142 in the front wall 1 15 of the housing 1 10, generally centrally disposed left-to-right in the housing 1 10. Any debris that is pushed along the front wall 1 15 of the housing 1 10 from the first end (the right end) will reach the debris receiving main inlet 142. A sealed door apparatus, as indicated by the general reference numeral 150, is operatively mounted at the debris receiving main inlet 142 in the front wall 1 15 of the housing 1 10. The sealed door apparatus 150 permits the passage of debris there through, while precluding air and dust from escaping from the housing 1 10. The sealed door apparatus 150 allows the ingress of debris without sacrificing a properly reduced air pressure within the housing 1 10.

[00072] The debris outlet 120 in the housing 1 10 permits dust and debris, including the shredded debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior 1 1 of the housing 1 10 into the hopper. It will also be noted that the debris outlet 120 is generally centrally disposed in the back of the housing 1 10, so as to be generally laterally aligned with the debris receiving main inlet 142, and therefore with the sealed door apparatus 150, so as to directly receive debris therefrom.

[00073] In the above described manner, since debris is shredded as it enters into the substantially hollow interior 1 19 of the housing 1 10, the housing 1 10 can be lower in height. Accordingly, the housing 1 10 can have a smaller cross-section than prior art housings, and the debris outlet 120 and the delivery duct 121 can have a smaller cross-section, thus helping to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the first preferred embodiment debris shredding pick-up head system 100.

[00074] A main fan 40 having an air inlet 40i and an air outlet 40o is mountable on a surface cleaning vehicle 102, such as a street sweeping vehicle. The air inlet 40i is connected in air flow receiving relation to the hopper. The air outlet 40o is connected in air flow delivery relation to the debris passage 130, for providing a flow of air for ingress into the debris passage 130.

[00075] There is also an air supply passage 180 within the housing 1 10. The air supply passage 180 has an air inlet 181 adjacent the debris outlet 120 and a first air outlet 182a adjacent the first end 1 1 1 of the housing 1 10 and a second air outlet 182b adjacent the second end 1 12 of the housing 1 10. The housing 1 10 is substantially "V"- shaped and the debris outlet 120 is disposed adjacent the vertex of the "V"-shaped housing 1 10. The first air outlet 182a is defined by a first curved wall portion 183a that directs the flow of air and debris from air supply passage 180 to the debris passage 130 in the proper direction to flow to the debris outlet 120. Similarly, the second air outlet 182b is defined by a second curved wall portion 183b that directs the flow of air and debris from air supply passage 180 to the debris passage 130 in the proper direction to flow to the debris outlet 120. 100076] It is important that the first air outlet 182a of the air supply passage 180 is disposed in spaced relation from the debris outlet 120 so that the air emanating from the first air outlet 182a does not merely get suctioned into the debris outlet 120 without being effective in carrying dust and debris along the debris passage 130.

100077] The air inlet 181 is connectable to a source of high speed air flow, such as the main fan 40 of the surface cleaning vehicle 102. The main fan 40 has an inlet 40i connected in air flow receiving relation to the debris hopper (not specifically shown), and an outlet 40o connected in air delivery relation to the air inlet 181 of the air supply passage 180. The air supply passage 180 provides a flow of high speed air to the debris passage 130 at the first end 1 1 1 of the housing 1 10 and at the second end 1 12 of the housing 1 10 for cleaning the surface to be cleaned 104 substantially evenly from the first end 1 1 1 of the housing 1 10 to the debris outlet 120 and from second end 1 12 of the housing 1 10 to the debris outlet 120.

100078] In the first preferred embodiment as illustrated, the air supply passage 180 is disposed at the back of the housing 1 10, with the air supply passage 180 being defined by the housing 1 10, and a dividing portion 1 l Od of the housing 1 10 separating the air supply passage 180 and the debris passage 130. The air supply passage 180 is open along its length at the bottom of the housing 1 10 to permit the flow of high speed air to impact the surface to be cleaned 104 substantially along the entire length of the air supply passage 180. This provides a final cleaning of the surface to be cleaned 104.

[00079] The pick-up head system 100 further comprises as part of the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108, an interior skirt portion 108i, disposed at the bottom edge of the dividing portion 1 lOd of the housing 1 10 for interfacing the dividing portion 1 lOd of the housing 1 10 in substantially sealed relation with the surface to be cleaned 104 as the surface cleaning vehicle 102 moves along the surface to be cleaned 104. In some instances, it may be desirable for the interior skirt portion 108i to be raised slightly above the surface to be cleaned 104 in order to permit a very small amount of air flow thereunder, to enter the debris passage 130. The interior skirt portion 108i preferably comprises a polyethylene type of material, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, or any other suitable type of material.

[00080] In use, the pick-up head system 100 is carried forwardly along the surface to be cleaned 104 by the surface cleaning vehicle 102 such that the substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 disposed at the bottom of the peripheral edge 109 of the housing 1 10 and at the bottom edge of the dividing portion 1 l Od of the housing 1 10 generally remain in substantially sealed relation with the surface to be cleaned 104. The substantially rigid debris deflecting skirt 108 pushes small debris along itself laterally towards the sealed door apparatus 150 where the debris is taken into the housing 1 10 through the debris receiving main inlet 142. A substantial and forceful stream of air is suctioned into the substantially hollow interior 1 19 of the housing 1 10, specifically the debris passage 130, through the first debris suctioning inlet 140a at the first end 1 1 1 of the housing 1 10, where it enters the rightmost end of the debris passage 130 and travels to the debris outlet 120.

100081] Another forceful but typically lower volume stream of air is blown into the air inlet 181 of the air supply passage 180 whereat the flow of air impacts along the surface to be cleaned 104 thereby removing any remaining dust and other fine particulates from the surface to be cleaned 104.

[00082] Most of the flow of air exits from the air supply passage 180 at its first air outlet 182a and reenters the housing 1 10 at the first debris suctioning inlet 140a to join the ambient air that is being suctioned into the first debris suctioning inlet 140a. In this manner, only the amount of ambient air that newly enters the housing 1 10, which can be adjusted to be a small volumetric amouni per unit time, needs to be filtered by the air filtration system of the service cleaning vehicle 102.

100083] Furthermore, a small portion of the air flow in the air supply passage 180 exits the air supply passage 180 forwardly under the interior skirt portion 108 i on the bottom edge of the dividing portion 1 lOd of the housing 1 10. If the dividing portion 1 l Od of the housing 1 10 is in its low position very close to the surface to be cleaned 104, the cross-sectional area that the air flows through is correspondingly small, thereby causing the air to forcefully escape under the dividing portion 1 l Od of the housing 1 10. Accordingly, the air forcefully impinges on the surface to be cleaned 104, thereby removing virtually all remaining dust and fine particulate matter. If the dividing portion 1 lOd is raised slightly higher above the surface to be cleaned 104, the air will less forcefully impinge on the surface to be cleaned 104.

100084] In another aspect, the present invention comprises a self-propelled surface cleaning system comprising the main vehicle 102 having a width "W _v ". The pick-up head 105 is operatively mounted on the main vehicle 102. The pick-up head 105 includes the housing 1 10 extending between the first end 1 1 1 and a second end 1 12 to define a width "W _H " and extending substantial ly transversely to the fore-aft axis of travel "L". The width "W _H " of the housing 1 10 of the pick-up head 105 is substantially the same as the width "W _v " of the main vehicle 102.

100085] The housing 1 10 includes the substantially hollow interior 1 19 and the suctioning bottom opening

1 14 defined by the bottom peripheral edge 109 and is open in fluid communication and debris transfer relation to the substantially hollow interior 1 19. The first debris suctioning inlet 140a and the second debris suctioning inlet 140b are in the housing 1 10, disposed adjacent the first end 1 1 1 and the second end 1 12, respectively, of the housing 1 10, for suctioning debris 101 into the housing 1 10. The debris outlet 120 in the housing 1 10 is open in fluid communication and debris transfer relation to the substantially hollow interior 1 19 of the housing 1 10. Debris 101 is suctioned into the substantially hollow interior 1 19 of the housing 1 10 through the debris suctioning inlets 140a, 140b, and is discharged from the housing 1 10 through the debris outlet 120.

(00086J Reference will now be made to Figure 2A, which shows a second preferred embodiment of the pick-up head system according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral 200. The second preferred embodiment pick-up head system 200 is similar to the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system 100, except that the housing 210 has a closed first end 21 1 a closed second end 212.

[00087] Reference will now be made to Figure 3 A, which shows a third preferred embodiment of the pickup head system according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral 300. The third preferred embodiment pick-up head system 300 is similar to the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system 100, except that in the third preferred embodiment pick-up head system 300 there is an air flow apparatus 339 comprising a first air delivery duct 381 and a second air delivery duct 382, each fed by a larger diameter single air delivery duct 380, which receives a forceful flow of air from the main fan 340. The first air delivery duct 381 and the second air delivery duct 382 are each secured to the rear wall 3 15 of the housing 3 10 by any suitable means. The first air delivery duct 381 curves forwardly at its outer end around the first end 3 1 1 of the housing 3 10, and terminates just outside the first debris suctioning inlet 340a such that the first air outlet 382a is oriented generally downwardly and forwardly to thereby direct a blast of air at the first debris suctioning inlet 340a and at the surface to be cleaned 304, and into the first debris suctioning inlet 340a. Similarly, the second air delivery duct 382 curves forwardly at its outer end around the second end 3 12 of the housing 310, and terminates just outside the second debris suctioning inlet 340b such that the second air outlet 382b is oriented generally downwardly and forwardly to thereby direct a blast of air at the second debris suctioning inlet 340b and at the surface to be cleaned 304, and into the second debris suctioning inlet 340b.

|00088] In a first alternative embodiment of the pick-up head system of the present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 300', and as shown in Figure 3B, the first air delivery duct 381 ' curves forwardly at its outer end and extends through a sealed aperture (not specifically shown) in the housing 310', and terminates just outside the first debris suctioning inlet 340a' such that the first air outlet 381 a' is disposed exteriorly to the housing 3 10', and is oriented to aim the flow of air laterally across the first debris suctioning inlet 340a'. Similarly, the second air delivery duct 382' curves forwardly at its outer end and extends through a sealed aperture (not specifically shown) in the housing 3 10', and terminates just outside the second debris suctioning inlet 340b' such that the second air outlet 382a' is disposed exteriorly to the housing 3 10', and is oriented to aim the flow of air laterally across the second debris suctioning inlet 340b\ 100089] In a second alternative embodiment of the pick-up head system of the present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 300", and as shown in Figure 3C, the first air delivery duct 381 " curves forwardly at its outer end and extends through a sealed aperture (not specifically shown) in the housing 310", and terminates such that the nozzle outlet 381a" is disposed within the housing 310". Similarly, the second air delivery duct 381 " curves forwardly at its outer end and extends through a sealed aperture (not specifically shown) in the housing 310", and terminates such that the nozzle outlet 382a" is disposed within the housing 310".

[00090] Reference will now be made to Figure 4A, which shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the pick-up head system according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral 400. The fourth preferred embodiment pick-up head system 400 is similar to the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system 100, except that the housing is substantially straight and is slanted rearwardly from the first debris suctioning inlet 440 to a left end wall portion 417 disposed at the second end 412 of the housing 410. There is only one debris suctioning inlet 440 disposed at the first end 41 1 of the housing 410. Further, the debris outlet 420 is disposed towards the second end 412 of the housing 410. The debris receiving main inlet 442 and the sealed door apparatus 450 are also disposed adjacent the second end 412 of the housing 410. The debris outlet 420 is disposed adjacent the back wall portion 416 of the housing 410 adjacent the second end 412 of the housing 410.

100091 ] Reference will now be made to Figure 5A, which shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the pickup head system according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral 500. The fifth preferred embodiment pick-up head system 500 is similar to the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system 100, except that in the fifth preferred embodiment pick-up head system 500 there is no return of air from the main fan into the housing. Instead, the fifth preferred embodiment pick-up head system 500 is part of a vacuum type system. It can be seen that the debris passage 530 is wide open (no air supply passage) and there is no external air supply conduit.

(00092) Reference will now be made to Figure 6A. which shows a sixth preferred embodiment of the pickup head system according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral 600. The sixth preferred embodiment pick-up head system 600 is similar to the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system 100, except that in the sixth preferred embodiment pick-up head system 600 the housing 610 extends between a first end 61 1 and a second end 612, and extends substantially transversely to the fore-aft axis "L" of the housing 610, and the rotatable door assembly 650 extends substantially the entire distance between the first end 61 1 and the second end 612 of the housing 610.

[00093] Reference will now be made to Figure 7A, which shows a seventh preferred embodiment of the pick-up head system according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral 700. The seventh preferred embodiment pick-up head system 700 is similar to the first preferred embodiment pick-up head system 100, except that in the seventh preferred embodiment pick-up head system 700 the substantially sealed door apparatus 750 comprises a first rotatable support mechanism 752a rotatable about a first door axis "Dl", a second rotatable support mechanism 752b rotatable about a second door axis "D2", and a third rotatable support mechanism 752c rotatable about a third door axis "D3". A flexible ring-shaped belt 754 is mounted peripherally around the first rotatable support mechanism 752a, the second rotatable support mechanism 752b, and the third rotatable support mechanism 752c, for peripheral movement of the flexible ring-shaped belt 754 peripherally about the first rotatable support mechanism 752a, the second rotatable support mechanism 752b, and the third rotatable support mechanism 752c, in a direction as indicated by arrow "A".

[00094] A drive mechanism 756 operatively engages the flexible ring-shaped belt 754 in driving relation, via the first rotatable support mechanism 752a, to thereby drive the flexible ring-shaped belt 754 through its peripheral movement. The flexible ring-shaped belt 754 is substantially solid to thereby preclude the flow of air therethrough. A plurality of doors 758 are mounted in outwardly extending relation on the flexible ring-shaped belt 754 such that each door can contact a surface being cleaned 704. An air flow barrier 759 is operatively disposed between the plurality of doors 758 and the housing 71 0 to substantially preclude the passage of air and small debris between the plurality of doors 758 and the housing 710.

100095] As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a full-width dustless pick-up head system, full-width dustless pick-up head system wherein the effective size of the debris receiving opening whereat the substantially sealed door apparatus is mounted, can be more than about half the width of the pick-up head, and wherein the effective size of the debris receiving opening whereat the substantially sealed door apparatus is mounted, can be the full width of the pick-up head, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.

[00096] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the pick-up head system of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.