Economical bike lane sweeper
OwnerPierre Lermantinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments include a cylindrical brush mounted on a frame supported by a set of wheels positioned behind the brush. A tow bar connects the frame to a tow vehicle. The amount of pressure between the brush and the ground is controllable. The brush rotation is driven by an electric motor. In one embodiment, the brush axis is not orthogonal to the direction of motion, and debris gets pushed to the side as the sweeper moves forward. In another embodiment, the brush axis is orthogonal to the direction of motion and the debris is driven around the brush by a wrap-around guide, into a hopper sitting on the frame behind the brush.
Claims11
A tow-behind sweeper comprising:
- i) A frame supported by a plurality of wheels, a wheels' axis of rotation, wherein a direction of motion of the sweeper forms an approximate right-angle with said wheels' axis of rotation,
- ii) A tow bar having a front-end and a back-end, said front-end is attached to a tow vehicle and a mechanical connection connects said back-end with said frame,
- iii) A cylindrical brush assembly connected to said frame, said brush assembly has an axis of rotation
- iv) An anchor, whereby said anchor position controls the amount of pressure between said brush assembly and the ground,
- v) A link, a tongue protruding from said frame, wherein said tow bar is pivotably attached to said tongue, and said tow bar is pivotably attached to said link,
- vi) A rotational-energy generating electric motor substantially within the frame,
- vii) A coupling for transferring said electric motor rotational-energy to said brush assembly, whereby a rotation direction of said brush assembly is opposite to a rotation direction of said wheels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.