SWEEPING ARRANGEMENT

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sweeping arrangement.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a sweeping arrangement for mining purposes.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Various sweeping machines for sweeping sand and cleaning streets are known. In the prior art, such sweeper attachments generally have consisted of an arm member pivotally connected to the bucket pivot pin for pivotal movement in the same vertical plane as the bucket, a rotary brush mounted on the free end of the arm member, a motor supported on the arm member for rotating the brush and a latch for securing the arm member against the underside of the handle. The arm member is angularly displaceable between an upper, retracted inoperative position and a lower, extended operative position, relative to the handle of the machine.

For example, US Patent 5,373, 652 Olsson discloses a sweeping appliance for excavators of the type comprising a stick and a bucket carried by the stick via a transverse pivot pin, the appliance including a rotary brush arranged at a free end of a holder whose opposite end is articulated to the stick or the pivot pin to allow pivoting of the holder between a position remote from the stick, in which the brush can actively perform a sweeping operation, and an inactive position close to the stick. The holder is divided into at least two parts, of which an outer, brush-carrying part is rotatable relative to an inner part, more precisely by means of a rotary unit operating between the two parts, thereby permitting the brush to turn about an axis extending at right angles to the axis of rotation of the brush.

United States Patent 6,269,560 Pratt discloses a sweeping assembly for excavating machines and the like, namely a sweeping assembly for a machine having a handle generally comprising a first implement pivotally connectable to the handle; a strut assembly including a first arm member operatively

connectable to the handle, a second arm member and a spring device operatively interconnecting the first and second members, and means for yieldably biasing the second arm member into a predetermined position relative to the first arm member; and a second implement mounted on the second arm member.

United States Patent 6,830,412 Perez discloses a device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved components, namely a trencher comprising a cutting disc with a prefabricated tongued and grooved element feeder comprising a sweeper box with a U-shaped transverse cross section closed at the front by a rake, in such a way that earth cannot fall inside it, and powered drive wheels operably frictionally pushing prefabricated tongued and grooved elements in order to urge the elements together and to keep the different prefabricated tongued and grooved elements coupled together during their descent into the inside of the sweeper box. This produces a temporary plank mould for the trench, so that the lowering and laying of the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements inside the trench may be carried out automatically, safely, and in a working environment that is free of earth, thus enabling the correct linking of the elements.

The known sweeping machines unfortunately have various limitations in operation and use thereof.

It is an object of the invention to suggest a sweeping arrangement, which will assist in overcoming these problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a sweeping arrangement includes

(a) a supporting arm connected to at least one pivoting member of a machine;

(b) a rotational support head supported by the supporting arm;

(c) a rotational brush supported by the rotational support head;

(d) electrical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic rotational means adapted to rotate the rotational brush; and

(e) central axis rotating means adapted to rotate the rotational support head about a central axis.

Also according to the invention, a sweeping arrangement includes

(a) a supporting arm connected to at least one pivoting member of a machine and being adapted to apply and/or control downward pressure;

(b) a rotational brush supported by the supporting arm; and

(c) electrical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic rotational means adapted to rotate the rotational brush.

The central axis rotating means may utilise an electrical ac motor and/or dc motor and/or gearbox and/or rotary actuators and/or hydraulics and/or pneumatics.

The central axis rotating means may include locking means.

The arrangement may be adapted to apply and/or control downward pressure on the rotational brush.

The downward pressure may be applied by means of the pivoting member of the machine.

The rotational brush may be adapted to be rotated multi-directional and/or about 360 degrees.

The supporting arm may be extendable and/or telescopic.

The pivoting member may be a bucket.

The pivoting member may be a pivoting arm.

The machine may be an excavator and/or a front-loader and/or applicable carrier.

The sweeping arrangement may be adapted to be used for mining means.

The sweeping arrangement may include suction means.

The section means may be adapted to collect swept and/or unswept material.

The invention extends to any machine including a sweeping arrangement as described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in :

Figure 1 : A perspective pictorial view of a sweeping arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 2: A sectional top view of the sweeping arrangement as seen from arrows II-II in Figure 1;

Figure 3: A sectional side view of the sweeping arrangement as seen from arrows III-III in Figure 1;

Figure 4: A close-up of the rotational brush, rotational support head and the central axis rotating means of the sweeping arrangement as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5: A sectional side view of the sweeping arrangement as seen from arrows V-V in Figure 4; and

Figure 6: A side view of the rotational brush as shown in Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, a sweeping arrangement in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown.

A sweeping arrangement 10 according to the invention includes

(a) a supporting arm 12 connected to at least one pivoting member of a machine;

(b) a rotational support head 14 supported by the supporting arm 12;

(c) a rotational brush 16 supported by the rotational support head 12;

(d) hydraulic and/or pneumatic rotational means 18 adapted to rotate the rotational brush 16; and

(e) central axis rotating means 20 adapted to rotate the rotational support head 14 about a central axis.

The central axis rotating means 20 is operated by means of an electrical dc motor 22 and gearbox 24.

The central axis rotating means 20 includes locking means.

The sweeping arrangement 10 is adapted to apply downward pressure on the rotational brush 16. The downward pressure is applied by means of the pivoting member of the machine.

The rotational brush 16 is adapted to rotate 360 degrees.

The pivoting member of the machine can be a bucket, or a pivoting arm.

The machine can be an excavator (as shown in Figure 1) or a front-loader.

The sweeping arrangement 10 is adapted to be used for mining means.

The sweeping arrangement 10 if required includes suction means adapted to collect swept and unswept material.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 Sweeping arrangement

12 Supporting arm

14 Rotational support head 16 Rotational brush

18 Hydraulic and/or pneumatic rotational means

20 Central axis rotating means

22 Electrical dc motor

24 Gearbox