The first mechanical street sweeper was invented by C.S. Bishop, patented on September 4, 1849. U.S. Patent 6,699. A mechanical street-sweeper is mounted with several rotating disks and/or drums covered in stiff wire bristles.
Modern street sweepers are vacuum or broom machines and are equipped with water tanks and sprayers used to loosen particles and reduce dust. The brooms gather debris into a conveyor which is carried into a hopper. Air machines suck up debris which it is vacuumed and dumped into a collection bin
There are various types of sweepers available, warehouse Sweepers like the Tennant and the Advanced Retriever (both broom). Parking lot sweepers like the Schwarze 347, Victory Mark II, the Scorpion Sweeper, the Masco Sweeper or the Tymco 210 (all vacuum) The next size up is the Highway or Municipal Sweeper and are available in 2 categories broom or vacuum. Examples are Athey Mobil (broom sweeper no longer made), Elgin Broom Bear and Eagle, the Schwarze M6000 and M5000 (broom) and the Schwarze A7000, A8000 and the A-9000 (vacuum). The Tymco 600 (vacuum) and the Tymco 600 BAH (vacuum and broom). New comers to the industry are the the Stewart Amos Star Fire and the Challenger Sweeper (broom).
submitted by Mark Boyer
Sweeper Market Magazine
