Easy upkeep of Stoneware Tiles

Mechanics of Road Sweepers

Now that road sweepers are being much preferred for flat surface cleaning in large areas, it is also essential to know the mechanisms of these powerful machines

Most commonly, there are three types of road sweepers – mechanical, vacuum and regenerative. The mechanical/power road sweepers are generally being used to clean large flat-paved surface areas of streets, parking lots, markets, commercial areas and residential blocks. The rotating brushes located underneath or behind the chassis with suction/blow chutes on the left or right side of the machine, make sweeping of large areas much fast and effective.

The machine lifts off the dirt from the ground which is sucked through the duct. It utilises an airflow system that re-circulates the air to carry debris to the hopper, rather than venting it into the atmosphere. Proper use of dust suppression ensures that no dust returns to the environment. The suction group recycles exhausting air, acting ecologically on the dust dispersion in the air. This system does not require any filters and least maintenance of only container washing.

The powerful auxiliary engine in such sweepers is heavy duty diesel operated. The engine rotates the blower and operates the various hydraulic systems of the unit. To avoid noise emission the auxiliary engine and the exhaust fan are protected with sound proof installation. Exact in-cab noise levels depend on cab/chassis being used, generally levels are less than 75dB (A) when measured in accordance with the relevant EC directives. Ear protection is not required in the cab. Exterior noise level is with 103Lwa when operating in environmental mode. This value equates to a nominal Lwa of 78dB (A) at 7.5m from the center axis of the machine.

Road sweeping needs interventions which suit customer requirements such as independence, easy construction and strength. In other words, long operation periods with lowest “dead times”; big capacity container; big capacity water tank and reliable auxiliary engine.

The stainless steel body takes care of the corrosion and the large water tank with capacity as much as 1300lt with the big diameter side brush enables it to operate with minimum effort.

Components

The major components of a road sweeper include:

• Body
• Auxiliary engine
• Exhauster fan
• Sweeping equipment
• Water tank and spraying system
• Hydraulic and pneumatic system
• Electrical system
• Control panel
• Coating

Body : The self-supporting shell construction made of anticorrosive steel plate, debris container with a volume of at least 6.5m3 and the rear door opened and closed by a hydraulic cylinder makes the body of the sweeper. A three-point system guarantees perfect closing of the rear door. The metal mobile filters are in the container for easy maintenance. The lowered body provides full encapsulation of the mounted auxiliary engine and exhaust fan unit.

Auxillary Engine : The equipment is powered by an auxiliary engine which drives the suction fan through step up gear box and fluid coupling.

• Power capacity 75HP @ 2800rpm.
• Operational speeds: normal 1600rpm & maximum 1800rpm
• 24V electrical system battery powered from chassis
• Alternator 30AH – 24V / 12V depending on chassis system
• Suction system with dry air filter, with obstruction indicator visible
• Oil pressure warning light and fluid cooling warning light
• Control panel in the driver’s cabin
• Water cooling temperature light
• Centrifugal dust filter

Exhauster Fan: It’s a heavy duty construction, dynamically balanced with multi-vane self-cleaning and abrasion resistant blades. There’s direct transmission between auxiliary engine and exhauster fan via step up gearbox & fluid flywheel coupling.

Sweeping Equipment: It consists of Suction and blowing nozzle, channel brush diameter 500mm in steel plate 3mm and central roller brush diameter 400mm and length 1300mm.

Lifting and lowering functions are pneumatically operated from the driver’s cabin. The brush is provided with manual adjustable spindles to adjust the inclination of the brush to meet all road conditions. Variable speed controls brushes, nominal speed of brushes 180rpm.

The suction nozzle is made in resistant steel with size 550 x 150mm. Nozzle carriage with 250mm diameter solid rubber wheels. Behind the nozzle is the blow-air system which provides the exhauster air fan. Sweeping dimensions: minimum width: 2300 mm.

Water Tank & Spraying System: Water pump transmission is through the V-belt pulley from auxiliary engine. The pump output is 31lt/minute-1.800rpm engine. The pump feed line is provided with an isolation valve and suction filter. Spraying nozzles made in phosphor bronze are mounted under the front bumper.

Hydraulic & Pneumatic System: The hydraulic system provides the power for the brushes. The system is divided into two sections: Oil for body tip and rear door activation, which is powered by a pump driven by an auxiliary engine. The second section powers the brushes.

Brush speed is regulated by a cab controlled flow dividing valve. The central brush speed control is regulated by external flow dividing valve. It has a suction filtration of 125 micron and return filtration of 25 micron with pressure bypass. The pressure of the system is 120bar. The pneumatic system obtains its air from the truck chassis braking system through a priority safety regulator. Pneumatics is used for various power actuation and lifting functions including nozzles lift/lower and wide sweep brush suspension.

All cylinders are equipped with high tensile steel, barrels are hard anodized extruded aluminum piston is just one piece, designed for double acting operation.

Hydraulic Cylinders are ruggedly constructed with hard chrome plated rods and are provided with heavy duty spherical bearings to ball joints where required and minimises rod ends side loads. Plug-in diagnostic points are provided for both systems for quick gauge connections.

Control Panel: The cab mounted master control panel has the main electrical control and status indicator lamps for the auxiliary engine and sweeping functions. These being engine key switches like Auxiliary engine cooling water (lamp), Auxiliary engine oil pressure (lamp), Engine speed indicator/control, Suction nozzle control, brush controls, spraying nozzles control, Air pressure control and others.