IMPROVEMENTS IN SWEEPING MACHINES
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 13th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 25th Mar., 1887.
We RICHARD WILLIAM TAYLER 17 Angel Hill Bury St. Edmunds in the County
of Suffolk Engineer and LLEWELLYN LLOYD SIMPSON Brookfield House Charnwood
Street Derby in the County of Derby Accountant do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SWEEPING MACHINES to be as follows :-
An Invention for Improvements in Sweeping and gathering Machines consisting of
an improved method of constructing and combining the working parts of Sweeping
Machines or machinery used for sweeping or gathering dust mud or other substances
into carts boxes or other receptacles. For this purpose we employ and combine wire
brushes or gatherers attached to a rotary spindle or spindles driven by chain gearing
and suitable ratchet clutches from the road or travelling wheels the said brushes or
gatherers being suitably arranged to sweep or gather substances from any surface and
in combination with endless revolving bands or the cups of an elevator and deliver the
said substances up an inclined spout or case so as to fill any receptacle with the
substance or substances so gathered by and in the following manner.
The revolving
wire brushes or gatherers raise the substances from the surface and over a folding
curved plate on to a screen or partition fixed in the inclined spout or case. To prevent
any accumulation of the substances on the screen or partition we may employ endless
revolving bands or carriers and scrapers to clear the said screen and to assist in
depositing the substances into the receptacle or we may employ ordinary elevators to
accomplish the same purpose. We may also modify and vary the arrangement of
the screen or partition as the nature of different substances may require to be dealt
with. For the folding curved plate we may substitute a curved grating and modify
the construction of the said curved plate or grating to suit the different substances to
be gathered and the improved sweeping machine may be made in any required and
suitable sizes and for any purpose where sweeping is performed. We may also
employ wings or guides to the sides of the spout or case of the improved machine so
as to bring the substances collected by the brushes into a compass narrower than the
width of the brushes or gatherers. For the purpose of raising and lowering the
brushes when in work and to compensate for the wear and tear of the same we
employ levers and screws or racks and pinions or we may suspend the brush spindlę

page_text: in bearings in a frame and raise and lower the said frame by screws and hand wheels
and by this arrangement the driving chain is always kept in position and one chain
on each side of the improved machine actuated by each road wheel gives motion to
all the working parts of the improved sweeping machine. For the purpose of
emptying the cups of the elevator when employed more readily we cause cups of
the said elevator to rotate within segments of a circle at the top of the spout or case
placed one on each side of the spout and to each end of the said cups we attach
pivots and as the cups revolve these pivots strike into the two segments (of a smaller
radius than the chain wheels of the elevator) which cause the said cups to tip their
contents into the receptacle. Instead of a third or guide or trailing wheel we may
use a rigid lever or pole fixed to the front of the machine and attached by suitable
connections to the axle of a cart or other receptacle when such receptacle is used.
For gatherers we employ steel wire fixed in one. row between two pieces of wood
forming the stock or brush head and the said wire may be in any quantity substance
and temper and by the addition of hinged flaps of wood to the said wire part of the
brush and springs attached to the stock or brush head we can make the brushes of
varying rigidity to suit the different substances to be swept or gathered or for wire
we may substitute prongs or teeth when it is necessary to gather heavy substances.
To counteract the tendency of the brushes to draw a current of air into the incline
spout or case and also to check their tendency to throw substances from their
periphery backwards we employ a wind board or check plate to obviate both tendencies
and to lead the substances more direct into the inclined spout or case of the improved
machine and substantially as described the combination of the aforesaid working
parts of the improved sweeping machine is intended to sweep or gather substances of
any kind from surfaces of any description in and by the manner hereinbefore
explained. And in combination with the said working parts of sweeping machines
we may employ a brush to work at right angles with the brush spindle of the said
improved machine so as to clean a gutter or collect substances from one or both sides
of the machine and bring the said substances into the path of the improved machine
the said combination of a right angle or gutter brush assisting and securing the
purposes hereinbefore described. And the same results and effects are secured and
attained by building the combination of working parts of the improved machine
into any cart wagon or other receptacle so as to make the improved machine self-
contained in any such receptacle for the purposes already described.
Dated this 19th day of April 1886

page_text: We, RICHARD WILLIAM TAYLER, of 17, Angel Hill, Bury Saint Edmunds, in the
county of Suffolk, and LLEWELLYN LLOYD SIMPSON, of Brookfield House, Charnwood
Street, Derby, in the county of Derby 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 improvements in sweeping machines and consists in the
general arrangement, construction, and means for operating rotary brushes or brooms,
and an elevator for sweeping dust, mud, and other street refuse by the said rotary
brushes off the surfaces of roads, streets, or other thoroughfares.
In a machine constructed according to this invention the axle of the road wheels
supports a stationary frame in which is carried the case enclosing the elevator, and a
second frame which carries the rotary brushes, is pivotted upon the said axle so that
the rotary brushes are capable of being raised and actuated by a suitable rack and
pinion arrangement, out of contact with the surface of the ground when not required
for sweeping. The revolving motion of the rotary brushes is transmitted from one or
from both road wheels, through sprocket wheels and chains or gear wheels and
through a ratchet and pawl arrangement which is capable of being thrown into or
out of action according whether or not it is required to operate the before mentioned
brushes. The elevator or rotary carriers are also operated from one or both road wheels
through chain gearing and the ratchet and pawl arrangement, which, similarly to the
before mentioned, is arranged so that it may readily be thrown into or out of action.
And we may use a third or trailing wheel.
In the improved machine we may substitute for the before mentioned rotary brushes
other and smaller brushes arranged at the sides of the machine so as to be operated at
any angle, to clean out gutters at the sides of roads and otherwise increase the scope
of the said machine. These side brushes are rotated by means of chain gearing and
bevel wheels from the shaft of the rotary broom. When these side brushes are not
provided the machine is fitted with hinged plates which are situated at the ends of
the rotary brushes and which serve to prevent any of the street refuse escaping at the
sides of the machine when the said refuse is passing from the said brushes to the
elevator. The lower edges of these hinged plates are provided with strips of india
rubber to enable them to move in close contact over the ground, while at the same
time permitting them to yield when passing over irregularities thereon.
In order to enable our invention to be fully understood we will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawings in which figure 1 is a plan, and
figures 2 and 3 are elevations of the opposite sides of a road sweeping machine
constructed according to our invention and shewn provided with side brooms and the
means of connecting to carts and other receptacles; figure 4 is a longitudinal section
of part of the same showing the elevator and its case and shoot and also the rotary
brushes in section; figure 5 is a section through the elevator and its case taken at
right angles to figure 4; figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the large rotary
brushes; figures, 7 and 8 are views drawn to an enlarged scale showing one of the

page_text: adjustable ratchet and pawl arrangements for throwing the elevator and brooms into
and out of action, figure 7 representing the same when in action, and figure 8
representing the same when out of action; figures 9 and 10 are respectively a side
elevation and a rear end elevation of part of a road sweeping machine provided with
hinged plates and without the small rotary brooms at its sides.
a, is the axle of our improved sweeping and elevating machine through which the
said axle a, passes from side to side; b, b, are the road-wheels revolving on the ends
of the said axle a, on which the said wheels b, b, are retained by the nuts c, c, or their
equivalents; d, is the stationary frame which is supported on the axle and in which
is secured the case e, of the elevator; f, is the second frame which is pivotted at one
end on the axle a, and g, represents the rotary brushes which by the shaft h, are
carried in the said frame f; i, i, are the curved racks which are secured to the frame f
by the transverse tie-bar j, and k, k, are the pinions which gear with the racks i,
The pinions, k, are secured upon the transverse shaft 1, which is supported in
the brackets m, m, secured to the stationary frame d, and upon one end of the shaft 7, the
tangent wheel n, is secured; o, represents the tangent screw which engages with the
teeth of the wheel n, and the shaft of which is fitted with the hand wheel; P, P, are
two rollers which hear against the racks i, i, so as to keep the said racks always in
gear with the pinions k, kq, is a gear wheel mounted so as to rotate the axle. a;
r, is another toothed wheel keyed or secured upon the shaft h, of the rotary broom;
s, s, are two intermediate toothed wheels gearing with each other and with the
wheels g, and r, for transmitting motion from the wheel 9, to the rotary brushes g
the means of accomplishing the same effect may be provided by sprocket wheels and
chain not shewn in the drawings, the said wheels s, s, being carried on the short
shafts or studs s', s', secured in the pivotted frame f, and we may employ chains and
sprocket wheels with the same effect and for the same purposes.
On the outer side of the wheel 1, (as shown in dotted lines in figure 1, and more
clearly on an enlarged scale at figures 7 and 8) a short annular projection or drum t,
is formed, and upon this drum, ratchet teeth u, are provided; v, is the pawl which
engages with the ratchet teeth u, and w, a hollow cylinder in the nave to which
this pawl, is pivotted and which hollow. cylinder is secured to the naves of the road
wheels b, b.
As shown clearly at figures 7 and 8 a spring a, secured within the hollow of the
nave w, is arranged to bear against the pawl v, so as to tend always to engage it with
the ratchet teeth u; y, is a short rod which is coupled to the pawle, and which is
constructed in two parts swivelled together so that the outer part is capable of being
turned about the axis which is common to the two parts of such rod. The outer part of
the rod y, is provided with the transverse pin a', which rests in a recess formed in the
bush b', at the time the pawl v, is in engagement with the ratchet teeth u. To retain
the pawl, out of engagement with the ratchet teeth u, the rod y, is pulled outwards
and the upper part thereof is turned on its axis a quarter revolution so that the pin a',
is drawn by the action of the spring a, into a shallow groove formed diametrically
across the outer end of the bush 6'; c', represents a bent iron plate of which the
lower part of the elevator is constructed; d', (figure 4) is a second iron plate which
may be bent to conform to the shape of the brushes g, as shewn, or which plate may
incline from the ground upwards to the elevator, and one or both curved plates may
be perforated or constructed with bars. This plate d', is connected to the plate c', by
bolis d, which pass through slots so as to allow the said plate d', to be moved nearer
to or farther from the brushes g; the lower edge of the plate d, is provided with a
strip of india rubber el, so as to enable it to move always in close contact with the
surface and to yield when passing over any inequalities thereof, and this strip of india
rubber is likewise made adjustable by means of bolts and slots similar to the arrange-
ment shown at d¹, d³.
ff, are the cups or travelling troughs of an ordinary elevator, or we may use
scrapers on carriers for the same purpose on endless bands (not shown) secured to
the endless chains g', g²; h¹³, h', are sheave pulleys carried on the shaft A, supported
in bearings j, j k¹, k, are sprocket wheels operating the chains g', g¹, being secured

page_text: to the shaft l, in the bearings m³, m², the position of which is adjustable to allow of
the driving and travelling chains being tightened or loosened.
03, 03, are curved bars or guides secured to the sides of the case e, and p³, p³, p³,
(figure 5) are studs or projections secured to the elevator cups, for causing such
cups or troughs to be readily emptied of their contents at the discharge shoot of the
elevator n', is the sprocket pinion around which the endless driving chain o¹, passes
at the upper part of the elevator; p³, is the sprocket wheel mounted upon
the axle a,
and around which the endless driving chain o¹, passes at the lower part of the
elevator. The sprocket wheel p¹, like the hereinbefore described gear wheel y, at
the opposite side of the machine is provided with the annular projection or drum
having ratchet teeth formed upon it, the said teeth being capable of engagement with
a pawl v, in a manner similar to that already described with reference to the gear
wheel and shown clearly at figures 7 and 8 of the drawings.
The construction of the sweeping and elevating machine may be as hereinbefore
described or the said machine may be constructed with side brooms in the manner
represented in figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings; q', q', are these side brooms, the
shafts,, of which are supported in the brackets, t, which are rigidly secured
to the sides of the pivotted frame f, and are capable of being raised and lowered with
such frame f; u', u', are sprocket pinions secured upon the outer ends of the
shafts,, and ', el, are the sprocket wheels which communicate motion to the
pinions, u, through the endless chains c¹, we; ¹, ¹, are the shafts upon the outer
ends of which the sprocket wheels v', ', are fixed, the bevel toothed pinions y', y',
being secured upon the inner ends of the said shafts a¹, ;,, are the internally
bevelled toothed wheels with which the bevel pinions y', y', gear; a², a², are the
brackets in which the shafts a, a, are supported, the said brackets being rigidly
secured to the pivotted frame ; q², is the draw bar which is secured to the. front or
forward end of the stationary frame d, and by which draw bar the sweeping and
elevating machine is connected to any receptacle for containing the street refuse
removed by such machine; 2, is a lever pivotted in the bracket, and the slot u², of
which lever connects with the bolt p², by means of the pin 2; 2, is the forked end
of the draw bar q², between the two ends of which forked end w², a plate or projection
on the axle of the receptacle passes and in which position it is locked by means of
the bolt p² 2, is a spring which tends always to force the bolt p², into its lowermost
position that is to say the position in which it is represented upon the annexed
drawings; y, is a stay secured at its upper end to the elevator case e, and at its lower
end it passes through the draw bar 2, and by means of which the said draw
bar can be set to any altitude and the said draw bar may be constructed to any
configuration.
The before mentioned rotary brushes g, we construct in segments, so that, should
the said brushes be worn unevenly the defective segment may be readily removed,
and an unworn segment substituted therefor; this construction of brushes is shewn
more clearly at figures 4 and 6 of the drawings in which figures ². 22. represent two
flanged discs which are secured the shaft h, and a³, a³, a³, represent the
longitudinal segmental stocks into which the fibre or other material constituting the
broom is secured. Each of these segments is secured by bolts and nuts p², p², as
shewn at figure 6 and the same segments may be arranged to form a broom having a
continuously round surface as shewn upon the accompanying drawings, or fewer
segments may be used and arranged at distances apart and they may also be stiffened
by means of hinged flaps inserted between them, the said flaps not being shown in
the drawings; or these brushes may form, in a manner, a succession of brooms or a
cylindrical brush as shewn. Fingers or projections (not shewn on the drawings) are
secured to the pivotted frame f, so as to project into and among the fibres of the
broom g, and remove from it any straw or other obstacles.
The material used in the stocks or heads of the said brushes or brooms may be
varied from time to time and constructed of stout wire, or partly of such wire and
other fibre so as to sweep other surfaces than streets and to collect other than ordinary
street refuse.

page_text: The before described sweeping and elevating machine may be provided with
pivotted plates in the manner shewn at figures 9 and 10 of the drawings in order to
constitute sides of a shoot or channel of which the plate d¹ forms the bottom or third
side; 63, 63 are these plates which are pivotted at es, to the sides of the elevator
case and the lower edges of which are provided with strips of india-rubber e³ e³ for
their more even action on irregular surfaces of the ground.
The operation of the hereinbefore described machine is as follows:-
When the machine is drawn forwards with the broom g upon the ground and both
the pawls of the sweeping and elevating mechanisin engaging with their respective
ratchet teeth u, the rotary broom g is caused to revolve through the gear wheels g, s, s,
and, and the elevator is operated, by means of the sprocket pinion n', and wheel p²,
and the endless driving chain o; at the same time the side brooms are caused to
revolve and sweep the refuse off the surface of the ground, inwards towards the
centre of the machine. The street refuse is thereby first swept up over the curved
plate and a screen or partition, (not shewn on the drawing), into the lower part, or
into the ascending cups ",, of the elevator, whence it is conveyed upwards and
discharged through the shoot into the receptacle. The brooms g and q, q may be
regulated, raised and supported off the ground by rotating the hand wheel »² and
tangent screw o and the said brooms, as also the clevator may be brought to rest by
disengaging the before-mentioned pawls », » from the ratchet teeth u, u..
The machine is detached from the cart or other receptacle by the withdrawal of the
pin p2 by means of the lever in the draw bar q².
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. In the improved road sweeping machine the formation of cylindrical brushes or
a broom by longitudinal brushes as described.
2. In the improved machine a combination of plates and india-rubber forming a
curve to lead the refuse from the ground, and a second curve or bent plate leading
the refuse into the elevators as described.
3. In the improved machine a frame radiating from the axles of the road wheels
and adapted to be raised and lowered and to which the appliances are connected for
clearing and protecting the brushes as described.
4. In the improved machine the combination of a smaller brush or brushes with
the main brushes or broom, for clearing gutters, etc., rotated and driven as and for
the purposes described.
5. In the improved machine the employment of wings or guides to the sides of the
brushes or broom of the said machine so as to form a channel to and for the broom
and elevators as described.
6. In the improved machine the combination therewith of an adjustable draw-bar
for the employment of the said machine with any kind of receptacle as described.
7. In the improved machine the employment of ratchets and pawls in combination
with the ratchets and wheels as described.
8. In the improved machine the manner of tipping the contents of the cups or
troughs of the elevator into the shoot by means of the curved guide plates in the
elevator case as described.
9. In the improved machine the arrangement of rotary gatherers in substitution for
the rotary brushes for the purpose of collecting other than ordinary street refuse as
described.