cleaning head 22 including an elongated cleaning head shroud 29 and elongated cleaning head chamber 41 which is capable of being vacuumized and which communicates with the hopper 14, the members of which are arranged and mounted to the chassis 13 of the truck 12 or other frame- works。 The rearwardly extending framework 21 and an opposing like framework (not shown) mount and secure to the chassis 13 of the truck 12 to accommodate a portion of the components of the invention or associated components。 A superstructure framework 23 including a plurality of framework members 23a-23n is shown partially and gener- ally in dashed lines extending upwardly and forwardly from the framework 21 to serve as structure for mounting of fixed panels or access panels, doors or other devices as required。 An optional water tank 58 is installed for wet sweeping, if required。

[0029]  The hopper 14 secures to the truck chassis 13 via a scissors jack assembly 24 which mounts to the truck chassis 13 via a scissors jack mounting frame 25。 The plenum 34 and associated plenum panels (see also FIG。 2) is located at the upper region of the hopper 14 and houses and supports the hlter mechanism 30。 The fan 26, a vacuum source, is attached to a hopper top panel32 or, alternatively, may be mounted within the plenum 34, above the plenum 34, or external to the plenum 34 via an air conduit, and has an exhaust port 28 which is open to and which communi- cates through the filter mechanism 30 in part with the interior of the hopper 14, in part with the gutter cleaning head 47, and in part with the elongated cleaning head 22 at the rear of the street sweeper 10。 The top of the hlter mechanism 30 aligns closely to the bottom surface of the hopper top panel 32 in close proximity to the bottom of the fan 26。 The orificed plenum array 35 orients to and faces the lower interior of the hopper 14。 The one-piece flap valves 37a-37n (FIG。 3) in the orificed plenum array 35 close during sweeping operations and open during cleaning cycles as dictated by airflow。 The fan 26 communicates via the hlter mechanism 30 and the gutter broom duct or air conduit 56 to the gutter cleaning head 47。 Inlet ports 66 and 68 (FIG。 3), which are screened and which are located in the upper and rear portion of the plenum 34, communicate with the interior of the hopper 14 and subsequently with the conveyor housing or conduit 18 and elongated cleaning head 22 at the rear of the street sweeper 10。 A receiver duct 36 mounts to the hopper top panel 32 to communicate with the interior of the hopper 14 and to sealingly connect with the elevated end of conveyor housing or conduit 18。 A flexible seal 38 and opposing flexible side seals 39 and 39a and other seals located at the upper end of the conveyor housing or conduit

18 seal against components located at the inlet of the receiver duct 36, as shown in FIG。 2。 An angled channel 42 is located in a vertically oriented hopper rear panel 44 for accommodation of the upper end of the conveyor mecha- nism 16。 Lower and upper access doors 46 and 48 for emptying of the hopper 14 are located on an outwardly facing and vertically oriented right hopper panel 50 of the hopper 14。 The hopper 14 also includes a left hopper panel 51 and a configured front hopper panel 55, both shown in FIG。 5。

[0030] FIG。 2 illustrates a cutaway side view of the street sweeper 10。 Illustrated in particular is the hopper 14, the fan 26, the plenum 34, the filter mechanism 30, the filter shaker mechanism 31, the orificed plenum array 35, the gutter broom duct or air conduit 56 and the gutter cleaning head 47

which connect associatively with other members and com- ponents of the street sweeper 10。 Filtration components, such as, but not limited to, the filter mechanism 30, the filter shaker mechanism 31, and the orificed plenum array 35, may be positioned within the plenum 34, as shown, or may be positioned above the plenum 34, or external to the plenum 34 via an air conduit。