Patent GB-679690-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to mobile scraping or sweeping apparatus
Inventor: BURROWS ARTHUR THOMAS CHARLES
IPC: A01K1/01
Filed: 1950-06-13
Abstract: 679,690. Cleaning floors. KING, Ltd., G. W. May 29, 1951 [June 13, 1950], No. 14766/50. Class 138 (i). A mobile scraping or sweeping apparatus comprises a drum 10 rotatable about an axis 11 parallel or substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned, a plurality of prongs or the like 14 mounted for rotation about an axis 13 disposed within the drum and parallel but displaced with respect to the drum axis, means adapted on movement of the apparatus over the surface to impart rotary movement to the drum and the prongs about their respective axes and means for removing from the surface of the drum matter picked up by the prongs, the arrangement being such that the prongs will be projected from the drum into contact with the surface and progressively retracted as they are' swung upwardly away from the surface until fully retracted at the point where the matter is removed from the drum. The apparatus shown in the Figure is mounted on a chassis supported on wheels for moving the apparatus over a surface. The drum 10 encloses a drum 12 rotatable about the axis 13. The drum 12 has pivoted thereto axial rows of the prongs 14 which can pass through corresponding holes 15 in the drum 10. The drums are rotated either by a separate power unit (e.g. electric motor or internal-combustion engine) or by the power unit used for propelling the apparatus. Preferably suitable gearing is provided so that the peripheral speed of the drums is slightly greater than the linear speed of the apparatus as a whole. If desired the drums may be geared to the wheels of the chassis which may be propelled manually or by means of a rope or chain drive. As the apparatus is moved matter removed from the surface will be carried first by the prongs and then by the top surface of the drum 10 and will be removed by a scraper blade 16 at a point where the prongs are fully retracted i.e. they are flush with the surface of the outer drum. This matter is collected on a conveyer 17 provided with a stop means 18. The stop 18 may be removed when the apparatus is positioned at a discharge point so that the accumulated matter may be discharged. A scraper blade 22 is disposed rearwardly of the drum 10. This blade may be rubber lined i.e. it may have an auxiliary rubber blade disposed along its rear face to act as a squeegee. If desired a suitably covered roller may be mounted behind the blade 22 to absorb any liquid present on the surface being cleaned. The absorption roller may co-operate with metal roller or roller of other rigid material so that absorbed liquid may be squeezed and removed from the former roller. A suitable container may then be provided to collect the removed liquid. In another embodiment the scraper blade 16 is dispensed with and matter is removed from the surface of the drum 10 by a plurality of fingers projecting from an endless conveyer. The fingers then evenly distribute the matter in a receptacle below the conveyer. The fingers of the conveyer may be arranged to retract as they move away from the drum 10 and to project again as they approach the drum. Retraction of fingers may be effected by contact with suitable inclined strips, plates or the like. Means for emptying the receptacle below the conveyer are also described.