Street Sweepers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
Street Sweepers.
We, FRED RANDALL SMITH, HENRY SEWELL MOODY, and ALBYN LITCH
FRANK, residing at 1702 Farnam Street, Omaha, in the County of Douglas, and
State of Nebraska, United States of America, Mechanics, 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 has relation to a new and novel street sweeper.
The object of this invention is to provide a street sweeper that shall be adapted
to collect the dust as well as the loose dirt.
The figures show a street sweeper embodying our invention, showing a dirt cart
as attached.
1 represents a suitable platform, which is preferably mounted upon four wheels.
Attached to the lower portion of the frame is the fan spout, 2, which is flared at
its lower end, as shown. Working within this spout is the upper cylindrical end, 3,
of the brush hood, 4, which is of sheet metal and within the lower end of which
the preferably rotary brush, 5, is journalled.
The shaft, 6, of the brush, 5, projects through the hood upon both sides, is
adapted to run and be held within suitable bearings within the lower ends of the
pivot bars, 7, which are secured to the forward end of the platform, 1. These
bars have their lower ends bent at an angle so as to form a shoe within which the
shaft runs.
Mounted upon the shaft, 6, between the hood, 4, and the shoes of the
bars, 7, are the supporting bars, 8, which work loosely within the straps, 9, attached
to the platform, 1, and are held at their upper ends by being secured to the lever
arms, 10, which are united at their forward ends by means of the bar, 10*, and
are held by the brackets, 12.
13 represents an ordinary exhaust fan, which at the top is connected by means of
the spout, 14, to a dust collector, 15, to the lower end of which is attached the
flexible spout, 16, provided with the ring, 17x, as shown.
Mounted upon the platform, 1, is the electric motor, 17, the projecting shaft 27
of which is provided with two pulleys, 18 and 35, one upon each side, the one
marked 18 being in belt connection with the stub shaft, 19, and the hidden
pulley 35 being connected by means of the belt, 11, to a pulley 36 of the
fan, 13.
The shaft, 19, is provided with the sprocket wheel, 29, connected by the belt, 30,
to the pulley, 20, upon the broom shaft, 6. This pulley, 20, is within the recurved
shoe of the bar, 7, and so protects the pulley. The motor, 17, is operated to stop
and start by means of an ordinary switch key, as is usual in devices of this sort,
and operates the broom, 5, and the fan, 13.
Above or below we carry sufficient cells, 22, to run the motor while the broom
is being used.
At the rear we further provide the platform with the locking rod, 23, adapted
to secure the cart, 40, by means of the crank 33 and rod 34 to the brackets, 24.
This rod, 23, is operated by the lever, 24, so that the locking rod, 23, may be
operated by the driver.
The cart, 40, is preferably closed with the exception of a central opening
provided with a stub spout, over which the flexible spout, 16, is placed.
The fan, 13, causes a powerful draft to pass below and under the broom hood so
that the dirt particles and dust are carried up the fan, and through the collector, 15,
into the cart. The broom can be readily raised or lowered by means of the

page_text: lever, 10, and if necessary the sweeper could be halted at one point and the broom
be operated to work into depressions.
The device is exceedingly simple and readily operated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. In a street sweeper, the combination with a carriage and platform of a
flaring mouthed fan spout below said platform, a fan mounted above said spout, a
brush hood below and communicating and telescoping within said spout, a brush,
the projecting shaft of which projects beyond said hood, supporting bars pivoted
to the platform, the lower ends being provided with bearings adapted to hold the
broom shaft, rods loosely working upon said broom shaft and held by means of
guide strap, operating levers connected to said rods for raising and lowering said
brush hood, and a motor for operating said brush and fan, all arranged substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In a street sweeper the combination with a carriage and supporting frame,
of a fan spout below said frame, a fan above said frame communicating with said
spout, a brush hood telescoping within said fan spout, a brush within said hood, the
shaft of which projects beyond said hood, a sprocket upon one end of said shaft,
bars pivoted to said supporting frame, the lower ends being adapted to contain
the projecting shaft ends, rods loosely working upon said broom shaft, levers for
raising and lowering said rods, an electric motor in sprocket and chain connection
with said broom and fan, and a dust collector connected to said fan, all arranged
to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a street sweeper, a cart detacher, comprising two sets of supporting eyes
secured to the frame of the sweeper, a bar having one end recurved horizontally
reciprocating within said supporting eyes, a bell crank secured to said frame, one
end being secured to said rod, the other being attached to a connection rod, and a
lever for operating said bar, so as to secure or release the brackets of the dirt cart
adapted to be attached to said sweeper, all substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Dated this 5th day of Fehmary 1001
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.