[GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION]

The Schwarze A7000 air sweeper is mounted on a standard production truck chassis, providing the operator with unmatched convenience and comfort. Several options are available, including air conditioning and dual steering.

This air sweeper uses a ‘closed loop’ to accomplish debris pickup from the sweeping head. A portion of the system’s air may be vented-off to increase the sweeper’s vacuum power. The remaining air is recirculated, producing the blast force under the sweeping head.

The sweeper unit is powered by an auxiliary engine mounted on the sweeper frame to the rear of the truck cab. It is fueled from a fuel tank located on the power module. To provide power to the sweeper, the engine propels a fan by use of a drive belt connected to a bearing-mounted drive shaft. The balanced, abrasion-resistant fan draws air from inside the hopper and forces it out of the fan housing. To protect the fan housing from excessive wear, all Schwarze sweepers are equipped with a replaceable rubber liner.

The fan draws air from the hopper and forces it down the pressure hose, then through an opening in the top of the sweeper head, and into the upper/rear pressure chamber. This air is then funneled across the front of the chamber, and out a slot, called the ‘blast orifice.’ As the air is pushed through the blast orifice, it is transformed into a high velocity stream that blasts forward and downward onto the sweeping surface in the sweeping head's lower/front chamber.

The sheer force of this air loosens debris, then picks it up and pushes it across the lower/front chamber of the sweeping head in a spiraling motion and moves it towards the suction inlet on the vacuum side of the sweeping head. A series of flexible rubber flaps, called ‘curtains,’ are on the front and back of the sweeping head. These curtains, along with the metal skid plates on each end, contain the high velocity air within the sweeping head. The vacuum inside the hopper, caused by the fan’s draw of air, pulls the debris up through the suction hose and into the hopper.

Once inside the hopper, a number of strategically placed water nozzles may be used to decrease the amount of airborne dust. As the dust comes in contact with the water spray, it becomes heavy. The dust and debris-laden air slows down when entering the large volume of the hopper, so heavier objects fall to the hopper bottom. The air is then drawn through a screen in the top of the hopper that removes any remaining lighter objects. Only fine particles of dust remain to be pulled through the screen and into the dust separator in the front of the hopper. As air is pulled from the dust separator by the fan, it develops a spiraling action and centrifugal force throws the remaining fine dust against the walls of the separator, returning it through slots to the hopper bottom. The fan then draws the cleaned air from the dust separator back into the fan housing and the cycle begins again.

For your convenience and safety, the Schwarze A7000 sweeper is controlled via a console located in the cab of the truck. This console allows for remote operation of the hydraulic, dust suppression, and lighting systems, as well as the sweeper's auxiliary engine. A remote switch panel located on the front of the power module is used to control the dumping . This outside panel safely positions the operator away from the rear of the sweeper, and allows adequate viewing of the dump area.

Your new Schwarze A7000 sweeper may also be factory equipped with a number of options. In addition, some options may be added to the sweeper after leaving the factory. For more details about the many available options, contact a Schwarze Industries sales representative at 1-800-879-7933.


[HYDRAULIC SYSTEM]

The hydraulic system is comprised of electrical control switches, hydraulic pumps, control valves, hoses, motors and hydraulic cylinders. Energy is transmitted from the sweeper’s auxiliary engine to the dual output hydraulic pump unit by means of a direct-drive gear. The pump unit circulates pressurized fluid through hoses and control valves throughout the system. The hydraulic system is controlled by electrical switches mounted on the control panel in the truck’s cab and on the front side of the power module. Technically, these switches control the hydraulic directional valves mounted on a manifold (two manifolds if the sweeper is equipped with a Mechani-Pneumatic PowerhoodSM or hydraulic hand hose), which route the flow of high pressure hydraulic fluid.

The two 2-stage manifolds are internally configured with the directional valves positioned in series. The directional valves control hydraulic functions for the hopper, sweeping head, right gutter broom and left gutter broom. If the unit is equipped with a Mechani-Pnuematic PowerhoodSM or hydraulic hand hose, a third single-stage manifold is added.

An auxiliary hydraulic unit, consisting of a 12 volt hydraulic pump and control switches, enables the sweeper’s hydraulic devices to function when the power module engine is not operating. The unit is mounted to the sweeper frame just behind the power module and connected to the sweeper’s hydraulic system. It uses the truck’s 12 volt battery to power the electric motor that drives the auxiliary hydraulic pump. The truck’s engine does not have to be running to activate the system. However, because of the electrical load generated by the unit, it is best to run the truck engine whenever possible. This auxiliary system is intended to be used for maintenance applications and in emergency conditions.

The auxiliary hydraulic pump is needed if the power module engine runs out of fuel or when an emergency shutdown situation occurs. Without it, the sweeper head, brooms and any other device which normally function when the power module engine is running would not operate. The 12-volt auxiliary unit can be used to power the broom out or in, raise the sweeper head, raise the hopper or open the hopper door for maintenance or cleaning. Under normal sweeper operating conditions, the main hydraulic unit mounted on the power module should be used to operate these hydraulic devices.


[ELECTRICAL SYSTEM]

The Schwarze A7000 employs a standard 12 volt electrical system. The system is protected by an 80 ampere, self-resetting circuit breakers (attached to the battery box) and resettable circuit breakers (in the console box).


[LIGHTS, FLASHERS, ALARM]

To increase operational safety, the sweeper may be equipped with a number of optional electric lights and flashers. Spotlights are available for the broom and hopper to enable the driver/operator to see well when operating at night. A flashing warning barlight, strobe or beacon may be positioned on the top of the cab. These are used to alert motorists and pedestrians of the presence of the relatively slow moving sweeping machine. An additional rear stop light is positioned in the center of the hopper back panel for added safety. All lights are controlled by toggle switches mounted on the console inside the truck cab. Always keep all lights operating properly.

In addition to other safety features, a backup warning alarm is standard. The high-pitched backup alarm warns bystanders that the sweeper is moving in reverse.


[DUST SUPPRESSION SYSTEM]

Air sweepers depend on a stream of high pressure air to blow dirt and other objects across the width of the sweeper head. This produces dust, which is removed from the sweeper head by the vacuum suction hose. To avoid unnecessary wear to the blower fan, ducts, head and hopper, it is necessary to control the amount of dust forced through the sweeper. This is accomplished by introducing water spray at various locations on both the inside and the outside of the sweeper.

The standard Schwarze A7000 dust suppression system uses two durable rust-free polyethylene water tanks with a combined capacity of 250 gallons. Depending on the truck chassis on which the unit is mounted, an additional (optional) 220 gallon polyethylene tank may be added between the unit and the truck cab to increase the amount of water available to the dust suppression system.

Water exits the bottom of the standard water tank and passes through a 'Y' strainer, located beneath the water tray on the right side of the sweeper. The ‘Y’ strainer purifies the water by the removal of debris particles. The removal of these particles from the water system reduces the chance of dust suppression system failure due to clogged water nozzles.

After passing through the 'Y' strainer, the water is pulled into the water pump. The water pump is a roller pump connected to and powered by a electrically-driven motor. The water pump is capable of 100 psi and 3.2 gpm, however, system psi should be maintained at 70 psi resulting in a pump output of 4 gpm.

As water is pushed from the pump toward the water manifold, it must pass a relief valve. This adjustable relief valve keeps the system psi at a constant rate. If the pressure becomes too great, the relief valve opens and water flows through a bleed-off line and back to the water tank.

Once the water has reached the water manifold, the solenoid valves, attached to the manifold, may be electrically opened from the sweeper’s console to supply the desired dust suppression system function (i.e., sweeping head, hopper, spray bar etc.) with water.

A hose connects one end of the water manifold to a spigot, affixed to the front of the fill hose rack. This spigot provides an attachment point for the optional high volume washdown hose as well as a drain for the manifold.

If the water in the reservoir becomes too low, a sensor, located in the reservoir's wall, shuts down the water pump’s hydraulic-drive motor, preventing the water pump from running when dry.


[CONSOLE]

The central control panel is mounted in a console in the truck cab. For operator safety and convenience, all controls are within easy reach of the driver/operator, whether operating from the left or right side position. This console allows remote operation of all hydraulics, dust control water systems and lighting systems, as well as the power module engine for the sweeper. These controls are all electrically operated. All electrical elements in the system are protected by resettable circuit breakers.

In addition to the controls on the sweeper’s console, there are five extremely important gauges which must be monitored periodically by the driver/operator. These are the engine’s tachometer, oil pressure gauge, water temperature gauge, hour meter, and voltmeter.


[POWER MODULE ASSEMBLY]

The sweeper’s power module assembly consists of the welded frame, engine skid, diesel engine, fan and fan housing, hydraulic unit and water tank. The power module assembly provides power for the sweeper, and its modular design allows easy access to all major parts.


[AUXILIARY ENGINE]

The sweeper engine, which is diesel-powered, is mounted on an adjustable frame tray called the engine skid, and is normally fueled by the truck’s main fuel tank. Power produced by the engine is transmitted to the fan by a drive belt. For safety and convenience, all controls and gauges for the sweeper engine are located inside the cab on the central console.

For detailed information on the sweeper’s engine, consult the engine’s Owner’s Manual which is attached separately.


[FAN DRIVE BELT]

The fan is connected to the rear of the power module engine by a five-groove drive belt. This belt is looped around the drive pulley on the power module engine and the pulley on the fan shaft. For safety, it is protected by a metal belt guard.


[FAN]

The Schwarze-exclusive WhisperWheelSM is a centrifugal, backward curving fan. This unique design results in reduced fan noise and requires less auxiliary engine horsepower to operate. The fan produces the air pressure and vacuum required for the sweeper to operate. It is a balanced, reinforced, abrasionresistant fan on a bearing-mounted drive shaft. Construction is of heavy steel. The fan is propelled by the power module engine, and is located within the fan housing attached to the rear of the power module.


[FAN HOUSING]

The fan housing is mounted to the rear of the power module. Because of the sand blast effect of the airborne material traveling through the dust separation chamber and into the fan housing, the inside of the fan housing is protected by a bolt-on replaceable rubber liner.

A sweeping condition bleeder, located in the fan housing's snout, can be used to restrict the flow of air entering the sweeping head. The bleeder is a damper door operated by an electric actuator. A switch on the control panel console mounted in the truck cab operates the actuator. During normal operating conditions, the bleeder door is closed and air from the fan is forced into the sweeper head.

In sweeping conditions where there are concentrations of leaves or other light debris, the force of the blast orifice air pushing against the rear side of the main curtain prevents light debris from entering the head. By opening the bleeder door, air from the fan is diverted away from the sweeping head’s pressure chamber and exhausted out of the sweeper. The air flow pressure is decreased in the pressure chamber and blast orifice, which relieves pressure against the rear side of the main curtain. This allows light debris to push under the main curtain and into the sweeper head.


[SWEEPING HEAD]

The sweeping head is the actual sweeping component of the air sweeper. It is attached to the underside of the frame by drag arms, tension springs, and two hydraulic cylinders that are mounted on each side of the sweeper head. The hydraulic cylinders and tension springs control the vertical movement of the head. A switch mounted on the control console in the truck cab operates the cylinders.

The sweeping head is connected to the fan housing and hopper by two hoses, one on the pressure side and one on the vacuum side. On the pressure side, the hose runs from the fan housing to the pressure inlet tube on the head. One end of the vacuum hose is connected to the suction inlet tube on the head, and the other end attaches to a frame transition tube that the hopper intake tube seats against. Both hoses are held in place by a metal band at the top and bottom of each hose.


[STANDARD SWEEPING HEAD]

The standard sweeping head is designed so the air pressure from the fan will produce the maximum cleaning performance. High velocity air from the fan enters the head through a pressure inlet tube, and is channeled into the pressure chamber located in its upper, rear section.

A slot, which is angled across the full width of the head at the bottom of the chamber, is called the ‘blast orifice.’ The air stream is forced forward and downward, out of the blast orifice and onto the sweeping surface below. This blast of air loosens debris and pushes it in a spiraling motion toward the suction inlet on the right hand side of the head. An optional, adjustable blast orifice is available. This sweeping head option uses jackscrews to manipulate a moveable blast orifice rear lip, allowing the airstream velocity to be set to individual operator preference.

Skid plates at each end, and a series of flexible rubber flaps in both front and rear, contain the powerful air stream beneath the sweeper head. As the debris-laden air nears the suction inlet, vacuum from the fan draws the debris up and out the suction tube.


[MECHANI-PNEUMATIC POWERHOOD^sm]

The Mechani-pneumatic PowerhoodSM is a new innovation in sweeping. Schwarze Industries invented the patent-pending concept of positioning the broom in the front of the sweeping hood (also called ‘sweeping head’), rather than at the rear. This unique design means the broom scrubs the sweeping surface directly in front of the sweeping hood's full-width blast orifice. The angled scroll broom has been specifically engineered to enhance its windrowing ability. This combination of broom design and broom location provides the Schwarze-exclusive Powerhood with the capability of transferring large amounts of material to the pickup side of the sweeping hood. The Mechani-pneumatic PowerhoodSM also features an adjustable blast orifice, allowing the orifice airstream velocity to be easily adjusted according to individual operator preference.


[HOPPER]

The sweeper’s hopper is designed to contain the materials collected during the sweeping operation. It is constructed of heavy gauge steel and shaped to distribute the load evenly and centrally over the rear axle. A welded frame mounted on the truck chassis supports the hopper, as well as the hydraulic cylinders which enable it to dump directly behind the rear wheels. Access doors on both sides of the hopper allow objects too large to be picked up by the sweeper head to be placed directly into the hopper. These side access doors also provide a clean, convenient means of washing out the hopper. The hopper assembly incorporates a water spray system, steel screen filter and a dust separator to remove airborne debris.


[AVAILABLE OPTIONS]

The following sections detail options that may be installed on your particular sweeper.

Gutter Brooms
Additional Water Tank
Dual Steering
Front Spray Bar
Camera System
Hopper Deluge
Hand Hose
Hopper Drain
Magnet
Sound Suppression Package
High Volume Washdown
Load Weight Indicator
Power Tilt
Gutter Broom Extension Override (GEO)

Availability of options may change without notice. Please consult your Schwarze dealer for a list of currently available options.


[GUTTER BROOMS]

The Schwarze A7000 may be equipped with one or two rotating hydraulic brooms to complement the air sweeper system. They are designed to dig debris loose from the gutter, or similar areas, and direct it across into the path of the sweeping head.

Brooms may be mounted on both the left and right sides of the sweeper under the chassis, to the rear of the cab. They are suspended from the frame on hydraulically controlled arms, and are operated from the control console within the truck cab. The hydraulic motors which turn the broom heads are mounted inside a disc on the end of each arm.

When not in use, the brooms are hydraulically held and locked in position under the sweeper and off the pavement. This unique design enables the sweeper to have a minimum width and yet provide the maximum ground clearance possible when the brooms are in the traveling position.


[GUTTER BROOM POWER TILT]

The Schwarze A7000's gutter broom employs a small turnbuckle within the broom arm to determine the gutter broom disc's side-to-side tilt. Tilt, a key element in setting the gutter broom pattern, is crucial in determining where debris swept by the gutter brooms will be thrown. The power tilt option replaces the standard gutter broom arm tilt turnbuckle with an hydraulic cylinder. By toggling an in-cab console control panel switch, the hydraulic cylinder may be extended or retracted to change the attitude of the gutter broom disc. This option is especially useful in areas where gutter depth varies significantly. The power tilt allows the operator to adjust the gutter broom disc tilt on the run, rather than having to stop, exit the cab and manually adjust the tilt. NOTE: The gutter brooms must be on the ground running in order to actuate the gutter broom tilt.


[GUTTER BROOM EXTENSION OVERRIDE (GEO)]

The gutter broom extension override system allows the operator to switch from normal gutter extension (for wide sweeping or curbline work) to an inboard operation of one or both gutter brooms. All controls are located in the cab. In this mode, the gutter brooms are pulled inward by actuators from their standard sweeping position to operate on the surface immediately in front of the sweeping head. The result is an advantageous digging agitation of any stuck-down material prior to the sweeping head passing over.


[DUAL STEERING]

The dual steering components in the truck are designed to allow the driver/operator to drive the sweeper from either the right or left side. The major components, which are duplicated on both sides are the steering wheels and columns (with self-cancelling turn signal levers), the brake pedals and the accelerators.


[CAMERA SYSTEM]

The optional camera system may be used to increase an operator’s field of vision. A camera is mounted below the right water reservoir just behind the gutter broom. The camera is mounted to point forward and down. This angle allows observation of the gutter broom's operation as well as provides a view of approaching curb line obstacles. A second camera, mounted at the rear of the hopper, views what is directly to the rear of the sweeper. When the sweeper is shifted into reverse, the picture on the dash-mounted monitor automatically switches to the rear view. Both cameras provide a wide field of vision.


[HAND HOSE]

A hand hose designed to clean areas inaccessible to the sweeper head, such as shallow catch basins, highway medians, railings, etc., may be attached to the rear of the sweeper. It operates from fan-produced vacuum within the hopper. The hand hose is a piece of flexible tubing that is 12-1/2 feet long and 8 inches in diameter. One end is mounted to a transition plate, which pivots across a hole in the rear of the hopper. The free end is fitted with a 52-inch aluminum nozzle. A hinged boom suspends the weight of the hose, providing the operator with greater control. A suction inlet block-off plate, stored on the side of the power module, is used to increase suction when a very heavy concentration of debris must be removed.


[MAGNET]

A magnet may be mounted to the front of the sweeper to remove objects that may damage truck tires and cause down time for the sweeper. Two types of magnets are available:

• A bar magnet, which is raised and lowered using an electric actuator. Objects picked up by this type of magnet must be removed manually.
• An encased magnet, which uses actuators to raise and lower as well as dump objects from the bottom of the magnet.


[HIGH VOLUME WASHDOWN]

An optional, high volume washdown hose and spray nozzle are available. The hose taps into the sweeper’s water system via the water spigot located on the front of the fill hose rack. The spray nozzle may be set from a wide spray to a narrow, high pressure stream. The washdown allows the operator to clean the sweeper while in the field regardless of water source availability.


[ADDITIONAL WATER TANK]

In addition to the Schwarze A7000’s standard 250 gallon water tanks, an additional, optional 220 gallon water tank may be installed to the water system on your sweeper. If this option was chosen, it will double the dust suppression system’s water reserve. That will provide extended time sweeping and less time lost filling the water tank. The top of the second water tank also doubles as a work platform for servicing or working on the sweeper’s auxiliary engine. If you choose to do so in the future, the second water tank may be added as a retrofit. The additional water tank is not available on conventional chassis.


[FRONT SPRAY BAR]

A front spray bar is available and may be added to the sweeper’s dust suppression system to increase dramatically the amount of water that may be applied to the sweeping surface. The spray bar, mounted to the front bumper, employs 7 spray nozzles whose overlapping patterns are used to thoroughly and evenly dampen the area in front of the sweeper to reduce airborne dust. The spray bar is operated by a switch located on the in-cab console.


[HOPPER DELUGE]

A tube protruding from the outer skin of the rear dump door is connected to two large water nozzles positioned inside the hopper. A 2-1/2" fire hose, supplied with the hopper deluge system, may be attached to both the tube and a fire hydrant. When the hydrant is opened, the inside of the hopper is washed with a massive amount of pressurized water. This ‘deluge’ blasts free most dirt and stubborn grime adhering to the inside of the hopper and hopper screen, simplifying and shortening the sweeper’s cleanup.


[HOPPER DRAIN]

Although certain instances may require that liquid picked up by the sweeper be removed to a specified dump site. Often, it would be preferable to return any unwanted liquid, such as rain water, to the sweeping surface to reduce load weight/mass and permit longer dumping intervals. An optional drain located in the rear door offers the capability of draining liquid from the hopper while the sweeper is operating. This allows the sweeper to be operated in a business-as-usual fashion even during wet weather.


[SOUND SUPPRESSION PACKAGE]

A sound package, which uses sound deadening material applied to the inside of the hopper shroud surrounding the auxiliary engine compartment, is used to lower the sweeper’s noise level rating. This option is of special consideration in cases where the sweeper is being used in residential areas.


[LOAD WEIGHT INDICATOR]

An optional load weight indicator is also available. The indicator activates a light on the console that will alert the operator that the sweeper is nearing maximum hopper weight capacity and needs to be emptied.