Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 13th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 18th Oct., 1887.
We, WILLIAM THOMAS CARTER of St. Johns Iron Works, and JAMES KEEBLE of
7 Chalk Lane, both in Bury St. Edmunds in the County of Suffolk Engineers do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
We form our road sweeping machine in such a manner that it can be secured behind
an ordinary cart and be made to sweep up material off the road and deliver it into the
cart as the cart is drawn along.
The machine is formed of an inclined box or case open at its lower end and having
within it an endless band or series of brushes working over and against its lower side
or floor. The lower and rear end of the inclined box or case is supported on a pair of
road wheels, its front end is supported on a central steering wheel and can be raised or
lowered by a screw or otherwise to alter the incline at which it is held.
The brushes are carried by two endless chains one chain at one side of the box or
case and the other at the opposite side.
The endless chains work over chain wheels on two axles which pass across the box
or case one near its top end and the other near the bottom.
The axle of the lower pair of chain wheels is revolved by a pinion upon it being
made to gear with a toothed wheel on the axle of the hinder pair of road wheels.
When the brush mechanism is not required to be in use the pinion can be slidden out
gear with the toothed wheel.
of
As the endless chains pass around the lower chain wheels the brushes they carry
come into contact with the ground and the material they sweep up they carry
upwards along the bottom of the case or box and at the top deliver it by a descending
shoot into the cart.
The endless band of brushes has naturally a tendency to "sag" or droop somewhat
downwards between the upper and lower axles by which it is carried-we make the
floor of the case or box curved to a corresponding curve so that the brushes may not
be always bearing more heavily against the central part of the floor than it does at
the ends.
The frame of the machine we form of one bent bar-with a bearing at each of its

page_text: ends for the axle of the two hind wheels and at the centre with a vertical bearing
to receive the vertical stem of a fork carrying the axle of the single front steering
wheel.
The machine is drawn by a connecting rod which passes from the arm keyed to the
upright spindle of the front road wheel to the axle of the cart.
The bearings of the spindle of the upper pair of chain wheels are made adjustable
to admit of the chains being tightened up and also to admit of the brushes being set
towards the floor of the case or box to compensate for wear. The spindle of the
lower pair of chain wheels can be moved towards or away from the floor in curved
slots concentric with the axle of the hind road wheels so that at this end the brushes
may be set nearer to the floor without altering the distance between the spindle
and axle.
At the lower end of the floor of the inclined box or case is a short plate forming
a continuation of the floor and which can be slid upwards or downwards along the
floor as may be required. At the lower end of this plate is a piece of india rubber or
other flexible substance to trail over the ground.
If desired small plates or runners may be set to project forwards in front of the
above mentioned plate to divide the soft mud over which the machine may be
travelling and prevent the mud from spreading sidewise away from the machine.
A small evolving cylindrical brush may be set at one side of the machine to sweep
out the gutters or channels at the side of a road and throw the material so swept out
into the path which the endless band of brushes will have to travel over.
The brush is set in front and a little to one side of the hinder road wheels-and is
set at an angle to their axle. In order to give a revolving motion to the brush we
couple its spindle by a flexible or universal joint with a spindle which passes across
the machine parallel with the axle and which on the opposite side of the machine is
driven from it.
Dated this 12th dox of Danamba 100/

page_text: We, WILLIAM THOMAS CARTER of St. John's Iron Works, and JAMES KEEBLE of
7 Chalk Lane, both in Bury St. Edmunds in the County of Suffolk, Engineers, 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:-
We form our road sweeping machine in such a manner that it can be secured
behind an ordinary cart and be made to sweep up material off the road and deliver it
into the cart as the cart is drawn along.
The machine is formed of an inclined box or case open at its lower end and having
within it an endless band or series of brushes working over and against its lower side
or floor. The lower and rear end of the inclined box or case is supported on a pair of
road wheels, its front end is supported on a central steering wheel and can be raised
or lowered by a screw or otherwise to alter the incline at which it is held.
The brushes are carried by two endless chains one chain at one side of the box or
case and the other at the opposite side.
The endless chains work over chain wheels on two axles which pass across the box
or case one near its top end and the other near the hottom.
The axle of the lower pair of chain wheels is revolved by a pinion upon it being
made to gear with a toothed wheel on the axle of the hinder pair of road wheels.
When the brush mechanism is not required to be in use the pinion can be slidden out
of gear with the toothed wheel.
As the endless chains pass around the lower chain wheels the brushes they carry
come into contact with the ground and the material they sweep up they carry
upwards along the bottom of the case or box and at the top deliver it by a descending
shoot into the cart.
The endless band of brushes has naturally a tendency to "sag" or droop somewhat
downwards between the upper and lower axles by which it is carried-we make the
floor of the case or box curved to a corresponding curve so that the brushes may not
be always bearing more heavily against the central part of the floor than it does at
the ends.
The frame of the machine we form of one bent bar-with a bearing at each of its
ends for the axle of the two hind wheels and at the centre with a vertical bearing
to receive the vertical stem of a fork carrying the axle of the single front steering
wheel.
The machine is drawn by a connecting-rod which passes from the arm keyed to the
upright spindle of the front road wheel to the axle of the cart.
The bearings of the spindle of the upper pair of chain wheels are made adjustable
to admit of the chains being tightened up and also to admit of the brushes being set

page_text: pair of chain wheels can be moved towards or away from the floor in curved slots
concentric with the axle of the hind road wheels so that at this end the brushes may
be set nearer to the floor without altering the distance between the spindle and axle.
At the lower end of the floor of the inclined box or case is a short plate forming a
continuation of the floor and which can be slid upwards or downwards along the floor
as may be required. At the lower end of this plate is a piece of india rubber or
other flexible substance to trail over the ground.
If desired small plates or runners may be set to project forwards in front of the
above mentioned plate to divide the soft mud over which the machine may be
travelling, and prevent the mud from spreading sidewise away from the machine.
In order that our said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect we will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sweeping machine constructed in accordance with
our invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical and longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 is an underside view; and
Figure 4 is an elevation of the rear end of the box or case.
a a is the box or case it contains an endless series of brushes bb fixed upon
chains c c passing around chain wheels d d on axles ee. ff are the main road wheels
they are mounted upon stud axles fixed to the sides of the box or case which is thus
carried. 9 g is a frame consisting of a bent bar, it has bearings on the stud axles
at g¹ g' and a central bearing at g³ for the vertical stem of the fork which carries the
steering wheel i. The frame also carries an adjusting screw k on the head of which
the box or case rests. By means of the screw the inclination of the box or case and
the height of its delivery spout from the ground can be adjusted. n is a connecting
rod which couples the stem of the fork h with the cart which both draws the machine
and receives the sweepings.
The connecting rod by operating on the stem of the fork so sets the steering wheel
as to ensure the machine following truly in the track of the cart. p is a spur wheel
fixed to one of the road wheels f. The wheel p gears with a pinion 9 on the lower
axle e and so the endless series of brushes receives movement. is an adjustable plate
forming a continuation of the floor a' of the box or case a; it can be set as near to the
ground as desired and preferably it is provided with an india rubber flap or lip which
actually rests on the ground so that the mud may not when brushed forward escape
below the edge of the plate r.
The plate may also be provided with end pieces to confine the mud and prevent it
escaping from the brushes. The floor a¹ of the box or case a it will be observed is
concave; its curve should be that at which the chains carrying the brushes hang
when set to a suitable tension. To adjust the brushes to the ground the lower axle e
is carried in bearings which are held in curved slots a³ in the sides of the box or case a.
These slots are concentric with the spur wheel p so that the adjustment may be effected
without deranging the driving gear. The bearings are connected with screws and
by turning the screws they are traversed along the slots. The lug through which the
screw passes can turn in the foot or plate which connects it with the side of the box
or case.
The upper axle e is carried in bearings in slotted blocks t and by screws u the
bearings can be traversed along the slots in the blocks to adjust the tension of the
chains. To set the brushes to bear more or less hardly on the floor a¹ of the box or
case a the blocks t are arranged to slide in slots a³ in the sides of the box or case and
screws are provided for the purpose of traversing the blocks along the slots.
When the machine is at work the brushes being properly set carry the mud up the
inclined floor a¹ to the shoot w from whence it drops into the cart by which the
machine is drawn.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. A road sweeping machine substantially as described with inclined box or case
and endless series of brushes; the lower and rear end of the box or case being
supported on a pair of road wheels and its front end on a central steering wheel
as herein set forth.
2. A road sweeping machine substantially as described with inclined box or case
and endless series of brushes, and with the floor of the box or case up which the
brushes sweep curved downwards in accordance with the natural sag or droop of the
brushes as herein set forth.
3. A road sweeping machine substantially as described with inclined box or case
and endless series of brushes, and with frame formed of a bent bar with bearings at its
ends for the axle of the hind wheels and also a central vertical bearing for a fork
carrying the axle of a front steering wheel as herein set forth.
4. A road sweeping machine substantially as described with inclined box or case and
endless series of brushes, and with an adjustable front screw or support to regulate the
inclination of the box or case as herein set forth.
5. A road sweeping machine substantially as described with inclined box or case and
endless series of brushes, and lower axle carrying the road wheel adjustable along an
are concentric with the axle of the road wheels as herein set forth.
6. A road sweeping machine substantially as described with inclined box or case
and endless series of brushes, and upper axle adjustable both longitudinally and to and
from the floor of the box or case as herein set forth.
7. A road sweeping machine substantially as described with inclined box or case
and adjustable plate with or without flexible lip forming a continuation of the floor of
the box or case as herein set forth.
8. A road sweeping machine substantially as described with inclined box or case
carried in rear by two main wheels and in front by a fork and steering wheel and
having a coupling rod passing from the stem of the fork to a cart which serves both
to draw the machine and to receive the sweepings as herein set forth.
9. A road sweeping machine substantially as described and represented by the
annexed drawings.