IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SWEEPING AND CLEANSING ROADS, STREETS, AND OTHER PLACES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hughes, of the City of Worcester, in the
County of Worcester, Surveyor, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR SWEEPING AND CLEANSING ROADS, STREETS, AND OTHER
PLACES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Robert Hughes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 28th July 1871, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.

page_text: petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Hughes, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the annexed Drawings, that is to say :-
My said Invention consists of certain mechanical arrangements which
may be worked by means of horse or other power, the same being
applicable to sweeping and cleansing roads, streets, and other places,
whether paved with stone, asphalted, macadamised, or in fact possessing
any kind of surface, whilst at the same time the mud, dirt, or dust
collected by the operation of sweeping or cleansing is conveyed by
means of an elevator into a cart, tumbler, or other receptacle con-
nected with the apparatus, or in some cases, as in the application of
my said Invention to the cleansing of turnpike and other roads, the
conical brushes herein-after mentioned may be so arranged as to deliver
the mud, dirt, or dust to the respective sides of the road, street, or
other place to be cleansed, and the cart, tumbler, or receptacle before-
mentioned dispensed with. These objects are effected by means of a
series of conical brushes and other mechanical appliances and arrange-
ments as herein-after mentioned.
The frame of the machine is constructed of wood, or iron, or a com-
bination thereof, and is mounted on three wheels, the two hinder
wheels serving as traction wheels, whilst the leading wheel is capable
of having a revolving motion on its own axis, and of being used for
the purposes of guiding and turning the machine freely. When a
cart, tumbler, or other receptacle, with the elevator connected therewith
is employed, the same with its connected apparatus is attached to the
front of the machine by a coupling chain, and when full, or when it
is not desired that it shall be employed, can be readily detached.
When an elevator and attendant cart, tumbler, or other receptacle
is employed a conical brush formed of bass, wire, or other suitable
material, as well understood, is placed at each front angle of the machine,
and on each side of the centre line of the machine is another conical

page_text: brush, which brushes are fixed at an angle with the direction in which
the machine moves for sweeping and conveying the mud, dirt, or dust
to the elevator. The elevator consists of an inclined trough provided
with an endless series of scoops or scrapers, and furnished with wheels
attached thereto so as to regulate its movement over any rough or
uneven surface. At the back of the trough is a small rotary brush
which is so arranged as to prevent any escape of the mud, dirt, or dust,
and to ensure its delivery into the cart, tumbler, or other receptacle.
The whole of the apparatus of brushes and scoops or scrapers is actuated
by means of spur and pinion bevilled wheels and studded sheaves and
chains set in motion by the revolution of the wheels of the machine.
Levers and the necessary connections are provided for throwing the
machinery out of gear, and a lever is also attached to the rotary wheel
in the front of the machine and extending to the back thereof for the
purpose of guiding the machine.
Having thus described the general nature of my said Invention, I
will now refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the apparatus
employed for carrying the same into effect will be more clearly under-
stood. The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in both
) Figures.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the complete machine, and Figure 2 is a
plan of one half thereof.
A represents the frame; B are conical brushes for cleaning out the
water channels at the sides of the road or street; C, C, are two other
5 conical brushes, one on each side of the elevator, and by which the main
portion of the road or street is to be cleansed; D are bevilled cog wheels
on each side of the scoops or scrapers; E are cast-iron sheaves or pulley
wheels for chains to work over for actuating the scoops or scrapers and
for driving the brushes; F are the chains which work over pulley
O wheels for driving and pulling such scoops and brushes; G is the brush
for preventing the escape of any mud, dirt, or dust when elevated.
H is the front rotary wheel and which revolves on its own axis; I is
the chain for guiding; J are the pulleys over which the last-mentioned
chain passes; K are the clutches for putting the apparatus in and out
5 of gear; L are the traction wheels; M are links or regulating bars; N
are the scoops or scrapers; O is the lever with its connections by which

page_text: the brushes can be raised or the pressure thereof on the road regulated;
P are the shafts on which the pulleys and bevilled cog wheels for driving
the brushes are fixed; Q is the trough of the elevator, and in which the
scoops or scrapers work; R are the bearings for the trough; S is a hook
to which is attached a chain or coupling link from the cart, tumbler, or
receptacle; T is the endless chain to which the scoops or scrapers are
attached; U are small wheels for raising the trough over any inequalities
of ground; V are standards for carrying the shaft, on which are fixed
sheaves for driving the conical brushes at the front angles of the
machine, and also for the scoops or scrapers to work over; W is the box
into which the mud, dirt, or dust is collected in the first instance; X is
a shaft, on which are fixed the driving wheels and sheaves or pulleys
for chains to work over; Y is a toothed quadrant or rack for fixing the
position of the levers.
I should here observe that I do not claim the elevating apparatus
herein-before described separately and apart from the remainder of this
Invention, inasmuch as it forms a portion of an Invention for "Improved
Apparatus for Scraping and Cleansing Streets and Roads," and for which
Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date the 1st day of June
1870, No. 1590.
It will be seen from the foregoing description, and by reference to the
aunexed Drawings, that roads, streets, and other places can be thoroughly
cleansed, and the mud, dirt, and dust thereon, and also water and mud,
dirt, or dust which may be contained in the side channels thereof,
effectually and speedily removed without any annoyance or inconvenience
to the passengers.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original and there-
forc claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, are,-
Firstly. The arrangement and employment of the conical brushes
aforesaid, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described
and set forth.
And, secondly. The combination and arrangement of parts and
mechanism for sweeping and cleansing roads, streets, and other places,

page_text: substantially as herein-before described and set forth, or any mere
modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Robert Hughes in
the presence of
ROB. TUCKER PARKER,
Sol., Axbridge,
ROBERT HUGHES. (L.S.)
N Weston-super-Mare.