Improvements in Mechanical Carpet Sweepers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CLARENCE A. HAMMETT, of Newport, Rhode
Island, United States of America.]
Improvements in Mechanical Carpet Sweepers.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
My invention relates to mechanical carpet-sweepers in which a rotating brush is
caused to revolve over the surface to be swept, and in which the dirt thus removed
is caught in a pan or pans arranged adjacent to the brush, and its object is to
improve the construction of such devices as is hereinafter more fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal vertical section of a carpet-sweeper embodying my
improvements.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on line x, x of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end elevation.
Figure 4 is a partial section on the line y y of Figure 3 drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 5 is a partial end view of the case, with the wheel removed.
Figure 6 is a similar section to that shown in Figure 4 on the line z z of
Figure 2, and
Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the angle plate.
My present invention relates particularly to improvements in the devices whereby
the wheels upon which the sweeper is run, and which in turn causes the brush to rotate,
are formed and connected with the box; also to certain particulars in the construction
of the box and handle of the device for hanging the brush in the box, and to the
devices for releasing the pans to empty them.
The
A represents the box or frame of the sweeper, B the brush and C the wheels.
In devices of this character it is common to so arrange the wheels relatively to the
shaft of the brush that the former shall drive the latter by friction. To permit of
this friction being obtained when the sweeper rests upon the floor and its weight is
carried upon the wheels it has been customary to attach the wheels to the frame by
means of an eccentrically actuated hanger. In the device shown in the accom-
panying drawings I employ such a hanger the same being represented by D.
hanger D is pivoted to the side of the frame A within a recess a of a depth
substantially equal to the width of the wheel, so that they shall be substantially
flush with the ends of the box A. The said hanger is located within the wheel C,
which is inade hollow as shown in Figure 4 so as to allow the said wheel to fit
snugly to the frame and still leave room for the hanger between them, thereby
reducing the total width of the sweeper for a given width of brush, with the
accompanying advantage of decreasing the width of the various parts.
The pivotal attachment of the hanger (see Figure 4) is effected by means of a
plate d, let into the wall of the case A. The said plate is perforated to allow the
hanger to pass through it, and the inner end of the hanger is upset to make it act
as a rivet, while a second rivet d¹ passing through another perforation in the plate d,
serves to hold the same firmly in place."
Inasmuch as the mounting of the wheels upon the pivoted hangers to give them
play as described, is likely to produce an objectionable rattle or noise, I obviate
this by placing upon the side of the frame, stops E (see Figure 5) of rubber or
other suitable noiseless material, by which the wheels may be prevented from
striking the sides of the frame.

page_text: I moreover provide at the corners of the frame A, angle plates F, having the
extension, which forms a stop or guard to hold the wheel in place, and upon these
plates I form ears f₁ to receive and hold a band of rubber or other suitable soft
material (see Figures 3 and 4) to prevent injury to the furniture by being struck
by the sweeper.
My improved brush hanging device consists of a pair of plates of spring
material G, (best shown at Figures 1, 3 and 6) provided with pins g to engage with
the ends of the shaft of the circular brush. These plates are attached to the
frame of the sweeper by screws passing through slots g', so that the brush can
be vertically adjusted to compensate for wear.
It is desirable that the handle should be readily detachable from the sweeper
so as to save space in packing etc., and for this purpose I have provided suitable
means of detaching the handle from the frame of the sweeper. A pair of pins H
(see Figure 1) are located in recesses in the sides of the top part of the box A,
and I so construct my said handle with a fork I of resilient material and provide
it with slots in its ends to receive the pins H, so that by springing the said fork
over the pins it readily engages with them.
The pans K are pivoted to the frame in the usual manner and are normally
prevented from falling by means of the spring catches L, Figures 2 and 6.
When
it is desired to release the pans to empty out their contents, the springs L are
moved out by means of a rod M, extending through the frame and provided at its
outer end with an operating handle m (see Figure 2). This rod is flattened at m¹
opposite the springs, so that when the rod is twisted on its longitudinal axis by
means of the handle m, the flattened portions bear against the springs and force
them out, thus releasing the pan. The rod is supported and turns in a groove m³
formed in the inner side of the frame A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of a frame having recesses a in its side
frames, a revolving brush mounted in the frame, perforated plates d set in recesses
in the inner sides of the side frames and secured by rivets d', wheel-hangers D
having their inwardly-turned ends journalled in the plates and secured thereto by
being upset at their inner ends, wheels journalled upon the hangers and located
within the recesses a, the said wheels being hollowed out on their inner sides for
the reception of the wheel-hangers, which work in the hollows and permit the
wheels to fit close to the sides of the frame, substantially as described.
2. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of a casing and brush and pivoted
pans, depending spring catches L, secured within the casing, and adapted to
normally engage and support the pans, a rod mounted in the casing and
adapted to simultaneously release the catches from the pans, substantially as
described.
3. In a carpet-sweeper having pivoted pans, the combination with the spring
catches L of the releasing rod M, located and adapted to turn in a groove m³ in
the inner side of the frame of the said sweeper, the said rod being provided with
a handle m and being flattened opposite the springs, so that when the rod is twisted
on its longitudinal axis the springs will be forced out and release the pans as
substantially as described.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.