Power Broom build

[kiotiken]

I'm thinking about building a SS attach, hydraulically driven, power angle sweeper for my Kioti CK30. The tractor has a total 12.7 GPM hydraulic flow and I have dual rear remotes to work with. I don't see fabing the frame being a problem at all (I have a walk behind unit now and it's a simple machine), it's the hydraulics I don't have any experience with and need some help with.

Does anybody know how fast this thing is supposed to turn? My current sweeper uses a gear reduction motor followed by a series of gears, so I haven't been able to figure out how fast it runs.

Is there anything special about a motor for this type of application. I was thinking about this one that turns at about 150 rpm, but it's rated for up to 15 GPM. How much will the speed and torque be reduced if I'm only providing 8-10 GPM? 22.6 Cu. In. 4-Bolt Hydraulic Geroter Motor | Princess Auto Will this motor have enough torque for this application, is it too fast, too slow? My only application for the sweeper right now is cleaning snow off my rink before flooding it. Snow flies off the rink because it's on ice, and anything more than a couple of cm I plow first anyway.

How wide of a sweeper do you think this motor (or another one like it) would turn? I need about 62 inches to cover my track, but the wider the better since it will be angled and I have to turn corners.

I was thinking about using both remotes off the back instead of tying into the FEL's dump function. I figure keeping the loader intact will make installing/removing it that much easier. Any issue with that or any advantage to using one remote for the motor and the FEL hydraulics for the angle?

Here's one I was going to base mine on.

 

[BelarusBulldog]

I'd be very interested in seeing this being built, so I hope you post lots of pictures as you progress. Would you be buying the broom part or do you already have one? Like you said, the frame shouldn't be that hard to build. Are you going to mount this to the FEL or on the 3pt. hitch? If on the rear, maybe you could have it PTO driven?

 

[kiotiken]

I had to replace the broom on my walk behind sweeper. You can order new brooms in many different lengths, and they come as separate wafers that assemble on a simple frame (mine is 3 metal bars that form a triangle, but I'm sure there are different versions). I have left over wafers, so I'd probably just buy more of them. I'll just have to see what works out being the cheapest way to get the length I'll need.

I want to add this to the FEL since I have a Skid Steer quick attach system. I also use a rear blade and possibly a rear snow blower in the future (along with a homemade Zamboni built on a box blade).

LOTS of pictures will come if I build it, but for now, I'm in the idea phase, so they may be a while coming.

 

[oughtsix]

150rpm @ 15gpm should equal 100rpm @ 10gpm

 

[kiotiken]

150rpm @ 15gpm should equal 100rpm @ 10gpm

15 GPM is the max. rated flow. Is the max flow where the RPM rating is measured for hydraulic motors?

 

[Luremaker]

That would be a great build. Why not look at the specs on the brooms your dealers sells. That way you know your are getting the right hydraulic motor.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

15 GPM is the max. rated flow. Is the max flow where the RPM rating is measured for hydraulic motors?

Yep. Max flow = max speed.

 

[J_J]

With your 15 GPM, and you thinking it will turn at about 150, that computes to a 23 cu in hyd motor.

If you feed that motor 15 GPM, and the motor can run at 2500 psi, that will produce a torque of about 9156 in lbs, or 763 ft lbs.

 

[oughtsix]

Are you thinking of Direct driving the broom or a belt drive or something?

A belt drive would give you a bit of a clutch to keep things from tearing apart if you wrapped up a cable or chain or big object by accident. It would also allow for easily changing the final drive speed of the broom by swapping pulleys.

For direct drive you might want to consider a hydraulic wheel motor rather than a hydraulic motor. A hydraulic wheel motor has bearings for handling side loads where most regular hydraulic motors don't. I guess it depends on whether you are going to use the motor to mount one side of the broom or if you are going to put bearings on each side of the broom. Hydraulic wheel motors generally have tapered shafts... just something to be aware of.

 

[kiotiken]

Are you thinking of Direct driving the broom or a belt drive or something?

A belt drive would give you a bit of a clutch to keep things from tearing apart if you wrapped up a cable or chain or big object by accident. It would also allow for easily changing the final drive speed of the broom by swapping pulleys.

For direct drive you might want to consider a hydraulic wheel motor rather than a hydraulic motor. A hydraulic wheel motor has bearings for handling side loads where most regular hydraulic motors don't. I guess it depends on whether you are going to use the motor to mount one side of the broom or if you are going to put bearings on each side of the broom. Hydraulic wheel motors generally have tapered shafts... just something to be aware of.

Well, I keep going back and forth on direct drive and chain/belt drive. The big advantage to chain drive for me would be not having the motor sticking out the side since I will want to be as tight as possible against the boards. The other huge advantage is as you say, I would be able to change the speed by simply changing out a gear.

I'll have to look at how much a wheel motor would cost. The problem with this kind of thing is always the cost, if you spend too much building it, you could just have bought one, and to me, that takes a little bit away from the satisfaction I'd get building my own.

If I have a total 12.7 GPM hydraulic flow available, anybody have a guess how much this attachment would have available if I'm moving in mid range at a moderate speed? (tractor is HST, loader set and not moving, using power steering to turn at each end). I'd like to size the motor to give approx. 150 rpm with the flow I have available. All motors I've seen seem to have a max flow rating of 15 GPM

Does anybody have a guess how much torque I'd need to turn an 86 inch broom (mostly light snow on ice)?