Truck mounted rotating broom system
View Patent ↗A rotating broom system to be installed on the front of a self-propelled vehicle such as a truck used for the high speed sweeping and removal of snow or debris from paved surfaces such as airport runways assembly has two major components: a rotating broom drive assembly, and a support structure. The rotating broom assembly is connected to the support structure using a non-rigid connection.
1. A truck mounted rotating broom system comprising:
a support structure including:
a substantially stationary gooseneck assembly constructed and arranged to mount to the front of the truck; and
a swinging trunnion assembly constructed and arranged for rotatable connection to said substantially stationary gooseneck assembly;
means for controlling the position of said swinging trunnion assembly with respect to said gooseneck assembly;
a non-load bearing connection including a floating beam assembly connected to the swinging trunnion assembly; and
a broom positioning, supporting, and rotating assembly connected to said floating beam assembly and operable to have a rotating broom mounted thereto.
2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said non-load bearing connection includes a multiple link attachment mechanism.
3. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the position of said swinging trunnion assembly comprises a steering yoke, a mounting bracket and a pair of steering cylinders connected there between.
4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the gooseneck assembly allows center point sweeping to the left or right of a truck to which the rotating broom system is mounted.
5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the swinging trunnion assembly provides center point oscillation of the broom positioning, supporting, and rotating assembly.
6. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the broom positioning, supporting, and rotating assembly comprises a pair of caster wheel assemblies symmetrically positioned about the non-load bearing connection to support the weight of the broom positioning, supporting, and rotating assembly.
7. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the point of rotation of the swinging trunnion assembly is located on the centerline of a chassis of a truck to which the rotating broom system is mounted.
8. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a substantially cylindrical rotating broom mounted to the broom positioning, supporting, and rotating assembly.
9. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein the rotating broom has a diameter ranging from about three to four feet and a length of about 18 feet.