Inventors:
Gregory J. Larsen - Claremont CA
Assignee:
FMC Corporation - San Jose CA
International Classification:
E01H 108
Abstract:
A mobile street sweeper employs a pickup hood through which air is circulated to entrain and pick up debris. The air circulation system includes a main blower and a smaller, auxiliary blower. The main blower inlet is connected to the debris hopper of the sweeper and air delivered by the main blower is directed to one end of the pickup hood. The other end of the pickup hood is connected by an air return line to the hopper. A filter for fine material is mounted on the hopper and has an air inlet that is in communication with the exterior surfaces of a plurality of tubular filter elements in the filter unit. The interiors of the filter elements are in communication with the inlet of the smaller auxiliary blower, which blower exhausts air to the atmosphere. The system is arranged so that about 3/4 of the total system air flow is delivered to the hood by the main blower and about 1/4 of the total system air flow is exhausted to the atmosphere by the auxiliary blower, via the hopper and the filters. The difference between these flow rates is made up by air leaking in and under the flaps of the hood, and into the shroud of a curb broom, the shroud being connected to the full flow air return line leading from one end of the hood to the hopper.