Automatic side broom strike pattern positioning system for a street sweeping machine

A method of controlling a strike pattern of at least one side broom mounted to a sweeper vehicle on a roadway, the sweeper vehicle having a chassis and a longitudinal axis, each side broom comprising bristles and movable between a fully extended position and a stowed position, the method comprising:

• measuring a vehicle tilt about a front-to-back axis of the sweeper vehicle;
• measuring a vehicle pitch about a side-to-side axis of the sweeper vehicle;
• sensing an angular deployment position of the at least one side broom relative to the longitudinal axis of the sweeper vehicle;
• measuring a broom tilt angle about a broom tilt axis for the at least one side broom;
• measuring a broom pitch angle about a broom pitch axis for the at least one side broom;
• and
• positioning the at least one side broom in a sweeping position wherein the bristles are engaged with the roadway and form a selected strike pattern based on the vehicle tilt, the vehicle pitch, the angular deployment position, the broom tilt angle, and the broom pitch angle.

A sweeper vehicle having a chassis and a longitudinal axis, the sweeper vehicle comprising:

• a first baseline inclinometer attached, directly or indirectly, to the vehicle chassis and having a sensitive axis aligned along a front-to-back axis of the sweeper vehicle for measuring vehicle tilt about the front-to-back axis;
• a second baseline inclinometer attached, directly or indirectly, to the vehicle chassis and having a sensitive axis aligned along a side-to-side axis of the sweeper vehicle for measuring vehicle pitch about the side-to-side axis;
• at least one side broom mounted to the sweeper vehicle and comprising bristles;
• at least one actuator configured for moving the at least one side broom between an extended position and a stowed position;
• an angular deployment sensor configured for sensing an angular deployment position of the at least one side broom relative to the longitudinal axis of the sweeper vehicle;
• a broom tilt inclinometer attached to the at least one side broom for measuring a broom tilt angle about a broom tilt axis for the at least one side broom;
• a broom pitch inclinometer attached to the at least one side broom for measuring a broom pitch angle about a broom pitch axis for the at least one side broom;
• a broom tilt actuator configured for adjusting the broom tilt angle;
• a broom pitch actuator configured for adjusting the broom pitch angle;
• and
• a controller in communication with the inclinometers and the actuators, the controller configured for positioning the at least one side broom in a sweeping position wherein the bristles are engaged with the roadway and form a selected strike pattern based on the vehicle tilt, the vehicle pitch, the angular deployment position, the broom tilt angle, and the broom pitch angle.