Improvements in Machines for Disturbing and Collecting Leaves and other Debris from Lawns, Parks, Public Gardens and like Grass Lands, Drives, Roads, and Paths.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Disturbing and Collecting Leaves
and other Debris from Lawns, Parks, Public Gardens and like
Grass Lands, Drives, Roads, and Paths.
We, JOHN DAVIS, of the Midland Temperance Hotel, St. Marks, Cheltenham,
Agricultural Engineer, and JOSEPH JAMES, Promenade Place, Cheltenham,
in the County of Gloucester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in machines for the effectual
disturbance of leaves, and other debris on the surface of lawns, parks, public
gardens, and like grass lands, also drives, roads, and paths, and the collection of
them by suction or throwing into the machine while travelling.
The machine can be made to any available size, such as can be moved by hand
or of dimensions for movement by animal power.
In parks, and in public and private gardens after holiday or fête days, the
grounds are invariably found covered with paper, corks, twigs, and other refuse,
as well as leaves from the trees, and their collection by ordinary brooms, or spike
sticks is tedious and troublesome. By this invention, from the efficiency of the
machine, the debris is not only disturbed and gathered, but the grass is "dressed"
and rolled, and made to look fresh.
The invention consists of a box like frame with a curved sloping upper part and
front, it is constructed, or placed over a roller and a castor wheel, the latter being
turnable by a winch handle, or wheel from the rear through bevils on the front of
the casing. The roller has a chain wheel on one, or on both ends, which by a
The axle of the
chain or chains operate by multiplying gear, a fan, or exhauster.
fan has preferably, at either end, a pinion, or a shallow toothed wheel driven by a
rubber tyred wheel fixed on the axle of the intermediate sprocket. The front
and side under edges of the casing have coarse brushes affixed to bear lightly on
the ground, and the space occupied by the fan exhauster is in the pocket
between the brushes, so that the debris is lifted simultaneously with their
disturbance for collection in the rear of the box, there being a flap operable by
a lever which lifts the contents box, opens the lids, and so discharges the contents
at intervals for after removal in a barrow.
The rear upper part of the box is provided with an upwardly lifting flap, and "
this can be set at the desired angle for the attendant to watch the accumulations.
A wire rope with its ends affixed to the front corners of the casing, will by a
draught tug thereon, enable the animal to pull from either side for turning
purposes, and the rope and castor wheel combined, will enable the machine to be
moved about the ground, as desired, or the machine can be drawn from.a. fixed
centre staple.
In some cases, a 66 squeegee "will suffice to disturb the debris, then it would be
in substitution for the front row of brushes.
In the case of small machines for hand power, the box for containing the debris
is loose, and may be pulled out by hand and emptied at will.
Dated this 12th dow of Iul. 1002
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said John Davis and Joseph James.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Disturbing and Collecting Leaves
and other Debris from Lawns, Parks, Public Gardens and like
Grass Lands, Drives, Roads, and Paths.
We, JOHN DAVIS, of the Midland Temperance Hotel, St. Marks, Cheltenham,
Agricultural Engineer, and JOSEPH JAMES, 1 Promenade Place, Cheltenham, in
the County of Gloucester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in machines for the effectual
disturbance of leaves and other debris on the surface of lawns, parks, public
gardens, and like grass lands, also drives, roads, and paths, and the collection of
them by suction and throwing into the machine while travelling.
The machine can be made to any available size, such as can be moved by hand,
or of dimensions for movement by animal power.
In parks, and in public and private gardens after holiday or fête days, the
grounds are invariably found covered with paper, corks, twigs, and other refuse, as
well as leaves from the trees, and their collection by ordinary brooms, or spike
sticks is tedious and troublesome.
By this invention from the efficiency of the machine, the debris is not only
disturbed and gathered but the grass is "dressed" and rolled and made to look
fresh.
The invention consists of a box like frame with a curved sloping upper part
and front, it is constructed, or placed over a roller and a castor wheel, the latter
being turnable by a winch handle or wheel from the rear through bevils on the
front of the casing, or other equivalent mechanical arrangement. The roller has
a chain wheel on one or on both ends, which by a chain or chains operate by
multiplying gear a fan, or exhauster. The axle of the fan has preferably at either
end a pinion or a shallow toothed wheel driven by a rubber tyred wheel fixed on
the axle of the intermediate sprocket, or it may be driven by an ordinary gear
wheel and pinion.
The front and side under edges of the casing have coarse brushes affixed to bear
lightly on the ground, and the space occupied by the fan exhauster is in the pocket
between the brushes, so that the debris is lifted simultaneously with its disturbance
for collection into the rear of the box, there being a flap operated by a lever,
which lever lifts the contents, or tilting box, opens the lids of the casing at
back, and so discharges, the contents at intervals for after removal in a barrow,
or cart.
The rear upper part of the box is provided with an upwardly lifting flap above
mentioned, and this can be set at the desired angle for the attendant to watch the
accumulations.
The castor wheel, or wheels will enable the machine to be moved about the ground,
as desired.
In some cases a "squeegee" will suffice to disturb the debris in which case it would
be used in substitution for a front row of brushes
In the case of small machines for hand power, the box for containing the debris is
loose and may be pulled out by hand and emptied at will.
Our invention is clearly illustrated on the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation.
Figure 2, a perspective view from the rear, and Figure 3 a perspective view

page_text: from the front of a machine with the parts constructed and arranged, as hereinafter
set forth.
A is the tilting box at rear of machine preferably of the shape there shown.
The box A fits over the roller B and up to the brushes, and works on a pivot
at the point marked C by depressing a lever D which works on a pivot E
centrally at rear end of the frame F, and which is attached by a rod Ġ to the
bottom of the tilting box A to enable the box to be opened and the leaves and
debris emptied.
There is a lid or door H at the rear end of the machine hanging from the top of
the frame F, which door H is opened by two rods I, I, attached to the tilting box A
at the points J to the lid or door at the points marked K, K, and which push open
the lid or door when the lever D is depressed.
The bottom of the box turns on a pivot at the point C as will be seen at
Figure 1.
We preferably employ a divided lid for the machine.
The roller B is of the full width of the machine and made preferably in two or
more sections.
The axle of the roller B carries the chain wheel L from which by the chain M
motion is given to an intermediate pinion N on an axle P of a larger wheel Q with
rubber, or its equivalent to bear against a pinion or shallow toothed wheel R on
the brush revolving shaft S, or if desired the rubber may be on the pinion or
Qand R may be an ordinary gear wheel and pinion. The bottom of the forward
frames F at the sides carry brushes E' bearing upon the ground which not only
mark the line over which the machine travels but enables the leaves and other
debris disturbed by passing over it to be licked or sucked up by the rapid revolution
of the brushes V and blades V₁ which are arranged radially on arms projecting
from bosses on the shaft S.
T is a concave plate within the front casing hinged at U, so that its upper
part may fall forward and be regulated as to closeness of touch, or distance from
the brushes V, V, to determine the direction in which the leaves, or debris shall
be thrown.
The handle W for the steering gear is at the rear, and is attached to a rod X
passing through eye-holes, and having at its fore end a bevil pinion Y gearing
into another pinion Z on a vertical shaft A' to which the castor wheel B' is
affixed. The castor wheel may however be turned by other equivalent mechanical
arrangement.
We have shown one castor wheel for steering purposes but there may be two or
more on the same axle pin pivoted to the rod to allow for inequalities of the
ground.
The forward lower end of the box is provided with a brush or a kind of
"squeegee" C¹ held in brackets D, which "squeegee" C₁ as it is drawn over the
ground disturbs the leaves which the brushes V lift and act in conjunction with the
blades V₁ as a fan for conveying them to a box.
The "squeegee
23
or front brushes and the side brushes constitute a sort of
vacuum chamber, the other brushes V rotating so as to deliver the debris behind
the machine.
The detail improvements connected with this machine are ;-
1. Lever for operating the tilting box.
2. Shape of box and tilting arrangement.
3. Apparatus for altering draught
4. Roller for driving the gearing and fan.
5. Steering gear :-a connection of rods, 6 castor wheel to rock when required
according to nature of ground.
6. Driving apparatus.
7. Brushes or " squeegee" and side brushes.
The apparatus is equally applicable for collecting cut grass or hay after or instead
of the usual raking.

page_text: Having now particularly described .and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
:―
The improvements hereinbefore described in detail, in combination and
constituting in assembled form a machine for disturbing and collecting leaves
and other debris from lawns, parks, and other places, such as drives, roads, and
paths, as set forth.
1100
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said John Davis and Joseph James.