Patent GB-889283-A (GB)
Title: An improved mobile cleaning device
IPC: E04H4/16
Filed: 1958-04-08
Abstract: 889,283. Cleaning uneven surfaces; brushes. KELLY, R. M. April 8, 1958 [April 12, 1957; March 28, 1958], No. 11006/58. Classes 19 and 138 (1). A mobile device for cleaning purposes comprises a frame 1 with longitudinal side members 2, joined by transverse members 3, 3a so as to be spaced and parallel, front and rear ground wheels 4, 5, respectively, rotably mounted at the ends of the members 2, a cleaning means axially mounted and turning on the frame 1, driven by a motor 33 and capable of cleaning an uneven surface as the device is wheeled thereover and while engaging therewith. Preferably, the wheels 5 have a mounting provided by the rear ends of the members 2 with holes to take an axle 6, on which the wheels 5 turn, retained on the members 2, which provide engaging surfaces therefor, by nuts 6a. The members 2 have plates 7 pivoting on the outer ends of the axle 6 and forming the lower ends of handles 8 whereby the device is manipulated, each plate 7 being supported on the outer end of the axle 6 by nuts 9 on a transverse member 3a in the members 2. The plates 7 have arcuate slots 10 so that they move on the outer ends of the members 3a when they pivot on their common axle 6 whereby the handles 8 are permitted to be operationally positioned. The members 2 have holes for a spindle 3 having arms 12, 13 with stub axles 14, 15 and carrying the wheels 4 so that on turning it moves the arms 12, 13 to raise or lower the front end of the frame 1 on the wheels 4. The arm 12 is a bell-crank lever which pivots with the end of the spindle 3 so that the wheels 4 move in unison, the arm 12 having a free end engaged by a "Bowden" wire 16 with a sheath 17 anchored at 18 to the members 2 and controllable by a handlever 19 pivoted at one end to a handle 8 and engaging in a rack 20 on the other handle 8 with its other end. The wheels 4 descend together, reacting against a tension spring 21. The wheels 5 are inboard of the members 2 and the wheels 4 are outboard of the frame 1 to permit the wheels 4, 5 to travel along parallel grooves of a surface and a cleaning means 22, placed out from and beyond the wheels 5, to clean up to the edge of a surface. The cleaning means 22 is axially mounted and arranged to turn in the frame 1 by being transverse to it with an axle 23 turning in bearings 24 in the members 2. The means 22, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, is situated about a central part 39 attached to the axle 23 and to it plates 25 are bolted with outer edges having bristles or wire brushes 26, which turn with the axle 23 in cleaning a surface, are held in interchangeable wooden backs 27 and are attachable by bolts 28 to the plates 25. The bristles or brushes 26 may be held in equally-spaced rows along a round corrugated former 29 (Fig. 7), may be of equal length and attached longitudinally along it and near to the edge thereof to give a wavy cleaning edge. The cleaning means may comprise a driven pulley 30 and a belt 31 coupled to a driving pulley 32 of a motor 33 mounted on a platform 34 between the member 2 and above the member 3a. The frame 1 has a cover 36 enclosing the brushes or bristles 26, the pulleys 30, 32 and the belt 31, and is pivoted to a raised position by releasing a flange 37 from the platform 34 by means of its curved edge 38 embracing and turning on the spindle 3. For cleaning a surface such as that of a large pipe the device may have larger wheels suitably to raise the central part, the brushes or bristles 26 forming a concave edge.