Lawn sweeper
Encyclopedia
A lawn sweeper, also known as a leaf sweeper, is a garden tool
for the mechanical removal of debris, such as fallen leaves
, pine needles, twigs, grass clippings or litter
, from a lawn
or paved area. Lawn sweepers operate via a rotating brush
mechanism that sweeps up the debris and deposits it in a collection hopper
for disposal.
, are maneuvered and powered by hand. A forward pushing action transfers power from the wheels to the brush mechanism via a gearing system
, causing it to rotate, and the debris is picked up and transferred to a bag or hopper mounted on the machine.
Powered lawn sweepers resemble push lawn sweepers, but the brush mechanism is powered by a gasoline
or electric
motor
.
Tow lawn sweepers are towed behind a vehicle, such as a garden tractor
or ATV
and are designed for use in larger areas. They are generally wider and have greater hopper
capacities than push and powered lawn sweepers.
, Brinly-Hardey, Craftsman
, Cub Cadet
, Ohio Steel, Precise Fit, and Precision among others.
or the use of leaf blower
s and garden vacuums. They are also an alternative to lawn mower baggers or grass baggers which are generally more expensive and have a smaller capacity.
Tool
A tool is a device that can be used to produce an item or achieve a task, but that is not consumed in the process. Informally the word is also used to describe a procedure or process with a specific purpose. Tools that are used in particular fields or activities may have different designations such...
for the mechanical removal of debris, such as fallen leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, pine needles, twigs, grass clippings or litter
Litter
Litter consists of waste products such as containers, papers, wrappers or faeces which have been disposed of without consent. Litter can also be used as a verb...
, from a lawn
Lawn
A lawn is an area of aesthetic and recreational land planted with grasses or other durable plants, which usually are maintained at a low and consistent height. Low ornamental meadows in natural landscaping styles are a contemporary option of a lawn...
or paved area. Lawn sweepers operate via a rotating brush
Brush
A brush is a tool with bristles, wire or other filaments, used for cleaning, grooming hair, make up, painting, surface finishing and for many other purposes. It is one of the most basic and versatile tools known to mankind, and the average household may contain several dozen varieties...
mechanism that sweeps up the debris and deposits it in a collection hopper
Hopper
Hopper may refer to:-Mechanical parts:* A general term for a chute with additional width and depth for temporary storage* Hopper , a large container used for dust collection* Part of a combine harvester...
for disposal.
Types
Push lawn sweepers, which resemble a simple wheeled manual lawn mowerLawn mower
A lawn mower is a machine that uses a revolving blade or blades to cut a lawn at an even length.Lawn mowers employing a blade that rotates about a vertical axis are known as rotary mowers, while those employing a blade assembly that rotates about a horizontal axis are known as cylinder or reel...
, are maneuvered and powered by hand. A forward pushing action transfers power from the wheels to the brush mechanism via a gearing system
Gear
A gear is a rotating machine part having cut teeth, or cogs, which mesh with another toothed part in order to transmit torque. Two or more gears working in tandem are called a transmission and can produce a mechanical advantage through a gear ratio and thus may be considered a simple machine....
, causing it to rotate, and the debris is picked up and transferred to a bag or hopper mounted on the machine.
Powered lawn sweepers resemble push lawn sweepers, but the brush mechanism is powered by a gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
or electric
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
motor
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
.
Tow lawn sweepers are towed behind a vehicle, such as a garden tractor
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
or ATV
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
and are designed for use in larger areas. They are generally wider and have greater hopper
Hopper
Hopper may refer to:-Mechanical parts:* A general term for a chute with additional width and depth for temporary storage* Hopper , a large container used for dust collection* Part of a combine harvester...
capacities than push and powered lawn sweepers.
Brands
The main brands of lawn sweepers in the United States are Agri-FabAgri-Fab, Inc.
Agri-Fab, Inc. is a manufacturer of lawn and garden attachments located in Sullivan, Illinois. Agri-Fab operates a . manufacturing facility and at peak season employs nearly 400 employees in a town of 4,700 and the surrounding area...
, Brinly-Hardey, Craftsman
Craftsman (tools)
Craftsman is a line of tools and lawn and garden equipment controlled by Sears Holdings Corporation; the brand is owned by KCD IP, LLC, a special purpose entity created by Sears Holdings for securitization purposes....
, Cub Cadet
Cub Cadet
IH Cub Cadet is a premium line of small tractors, established in 1960 as part of International Harvester. The IH Cub Cadet was an entirely new line of heavy-duty small tractors using components from the previous Cub series tractors...
, Ohio Steel, Precise Fit, and Precision among others.
Alternatives
Lawn sweepers are an alternative to rakingRake (tool)
A rake is a broom for outside; an horticultural implement consisting of a toothed bar fixed transversely to a handle, and used to collect leaves, hay, grass, etc., and, in gardening, for loosening the soil, light weeding and levelling, removing dead grass from...
or the use of leaf blower
Leaf blower
A leaf blower is a gardening tool that propels air out of a nozzle to move yard debris such as leaves. Leaf blowers are usually powered by two-stroke engine or an electric motor, but four-stroke engines were recently introduced to partially address air pollution concerns. Leaf blowers are...
s and garden vacuums. They are also an alternative to lawn mower baggers or grass baggers which are generally more expensive and have a smaller capacity.