Washing and vacuuming vehicle construction

Abstract

A vehicle, contains a washing and vacuuming machine for cleaning streets and similar surfaces, which includes a wheeled body containing a tank which holds cleaning water or a similar liquid, and a pump for directing the water through a spray nozzle which is positioned in a hood located below the body adjacent the ground. A vacuuming suction shoe is located within the hood forwardly in the travel direction in respect to the nozzle so that the nozzle is aimed forwardly toward the intake of the suction shoe which is spaced upwardly from a perimetric skirt element of the hood. The hood is advantageously carried on a separate carriage which is biased by a suitable washing arrangement so that it moves inwardly toward one side of the vehicle, for example, toward the curb side. The carriage is adapted to have guide wheels which engage along the curb so that the vacuuming device and spray nozzle will be directed in a location adjacent the curb to effect the cleaning thereof. The suction shoe is connected, for example, by a flexible connection extending through the hood into a compartment of the vehicle body which is maintained under negative pressure or vacuum by a suction device, such as a blower, and the debris which is picked up by the suction shoe is directed into the compartment and over a screened area which has a spray for keeping the screen clean and for settling the dust within a rear compartment of the vehicle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.