A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR SWEEPING STREETS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Craig, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "A NEW
OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR SWEEPING STREETS."
Sealed the 12th December 1871, and dated the 17th June 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Craig at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th June 1871.
I, THOMAS CRAIG, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of." A
NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR SWEEPING STREETS," to be as follows, that is
to say :-
This Invention, which relates to a new or improved machine for
sweeping streets, is susceptible of various modifications.
As arranged under the first modification the machine consists of a
box carried on a pair of wheels fixed upon an axle or shaft which passes
across the box, and these wheels run on the street as the machine is
moved over it, thereby rotating the axle or shaft. At the lower front

page_text: part of the box a circular brush is situated which is rotated by a belt or
chain passing over a pulley on its axis, and driven by a pulley on the
driving shaft herein-before mentioned. Provision is made for raising
and lowering the brush as required. On that part of the shaft contained
within the box a driving drum is placed for giving motion to endless
chains, which carry a series of elevators, and these, as the machine is in
- motion, lift the sweepings (which by the action of the revolving brush.
have been carried to the interior of the box) up over an incline and
deposit them in that part of the box provided for thoir reception. One
or more clutches are provided for throwing the mechanism out of gear
when required, and it is preferred to provide a roller at the front end of
the machine on which it rests.
Under the second modification, in place of using a revolving circular
brush and elevators, the brush is made in the form of a continuous
travelling belt or chain, and is, by preference, passed over two stretching
rollers at the lower part, the upper part being carried by the driving
drum, so as to obtain a flat surface to bear on the street.
Under a third modification, in place of actuating the sweeping
mechanism direct from the driving shaft, it may be driven off an
intermediate shaft actuated by spur gearing from the driving shaft, by
this arrangement additional room is obtained in the box for receiving
the sweepings.
The machine arranged under either of the modifications herein
described may be drawn or propelled by horses or hand labour, and
when drawn by horses an arrangement for elevating or depressing the
brush is provided for being actuated by the driver.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Craig in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th December 1871.
TO. ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS 3
CRAIG, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Gentleman,
send, greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
35th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Craig, Her special license that I,.
the said Thomas Craig, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Craig, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Islo of Man, an Invention for "A. NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR SWEEPING
STREETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Craig, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Craig, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:—
My said Invention, which relates to a new or improved machine for
sweeping streets, is susceptible of various modifications.
And in order that my said Invention and the mode or manner of
carrying the same into practical effect may be properly understood I
have hereunto appended two explanatory Sheets of Drawings, shewing
various modifications or arrangements of the said sweeping machine.
Upon Sheet 1 of the Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, shewing
one modification of my improved street sweeping machine attached to
an ordinary street cart; Figure 2 being a plan of the same detached
from the cart, but with the means of attachment shewn in plan, whilst
Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged detached views of that part of the
mechanism herein-after described as the shoe O and Figures 5 and 6
are similarly enlarged detached views of the ratchet part of the apparatus
applied to the axis of the drum F. The same letters of reference mark
the same or corresponding parts upon the different Figures on which
they occur. The mechanism shewn at Sheet 1 consists of a rectangular
framing A, supported by two wheels B situated at cither end of an

page_text: •
-
axle C carried in suitable bearings formed on or attached to the
framing A. Upon the axle O and towards either end thereof bevil
wheels a are fixed and geared into bevil pinions 6 fixed upon short
shafts c, carried by means of brackets attached to the framing A.
Upon each of the said short shafts c a chain pulley e is fixed over
which a chain is passed, the said chains being represented by the dotted
lines at Figure 1, and similarly passed over corresponding chain
pulleys e¹ fixed upon the inner ends of the axles 9 of two circular
brushes D, the axis of which are inclined at an angle to the axle C,
and parallel with the short shafts c, as more particularly shewn at
Figure 2. The inner ends of the axles are supported in bearings
situated at one end of levers E, the opposite end of each of which levers
is centred upon one of the short shafts c, whilst the outer ends of the
axles g are similarly carried in bearings h¹ formed in one end of levers E¹
the opposite ends of which are carried upon studs c¹ attached to tho
outside of the framing A in a position coaxial with the shafts c. Το
the outer ends of the levers E and E¹ chains i and are respectively
attached and leading upwards therefrom are passed over carrying
rollers and k¹ whence they are led to a drum F, and attached to the
periphery thereof. The drum F is fixed upon an axle 7 supported in
bearings formed upon the forked end of a compound lever G, which
is centred upon a stud m carried by a bracket H attached to the
framing A. The opposite end of the compound lever G is furnished
with a counterweight I, whilst the axle of the drum F is provided
with a ratchet n, and detent or pall n¹ the details of which are fully
shewn at the enlarged views Figures 5 and 6, Sheet 1. In front of both
of the brushes D thin blades K are situated which serve the doublo
purpose of shields to their respective brushes D, and as scrapers for
raising the dirt from the causeway or street, the said blades K arc
attached at either end to brackets o fixed to the framing A, and are pro-
vided with oblong slots situated vertically, whereby their height from the
ground can be adjusted, and the brackets o are similarly provided with
horizontal oblong slots so that their position can be adjusted closer to
or further from the brushes D as required.
In order to enable the blades K to more readily adapt themselves to a
the inequalities of the surface of the causeway or ground when being

page_text: which has vertically situated oblong holes formed at or near its ends,
through which studs q fixed at or near to the inner ends of the outer
parts of the blades K are passed, and thereby the separate parts are
held together, so that when subjected to pressure from beneath the
central part is free to move upwards. Upon the axle C a chain pulley L
is fixed with an endless chain, represented by the dotted lines r, Figures 1
and 2, Sheet 1, passed round it, and similarly round a smaller chain
wheel L' fixed upon an axle r¹ supported at the extremity of a jib, con-
sisting of angular stays s and 8 attached by their lower ends to the
framing A. Upon the axler a flanged drum M' is fixed, round which
and also round another and similar flanged drum N, situated at or near
to the angle formed by the points of contact of the two brushes D, and
in front thereof, an elevator M' of the endless band and bracket system
passes. The axis of the flanged drum N is supported in brackets (¹
attached to the framing A. Below the drum N a shoe O of the form
more particularly shewn by the enlarged detached vicws, Figures 3.
and 4, Sheet 1, is situated and supported by means of hangers P secured
to the framing. These hangers P are formed with vertical slots u, and
horizontal slots are formed in the framing A, so that the hangers P,
and with them the shoc O, can be moved upwards and downwards and
backwards and forwards to and from the brushes D as required. The
sweeping apparatus is attached to the axle of the cart Q by means of a
coupling bar w fixed to the front of the framing A of the said sweeping
apparatus. Near the forward end of the coupling bar w a swivel joint w¹
is placed, in front of which the coupling bar w terminates in a flat
palm, in which is a series of holes x³, and through any one of these
holes a stud or pin y is placed, the said stud or pin y being screwed
through a cramp frame y¹ fixed upon the axle v of the cart Q, so that by
screwing the stud or pin y upwards or downwards, and placing washers
of different thicknesses between the flat palm x and the cramp frame y¹
the coupling bar w can be attached to axles of different heights. When
the cart Q is drawn forwards over a street or roadway, and with it the
Sweeping apparatus, the wheels B and axles C of the latter are caused to
revolve, and as their motion is transmitted to the shafts c through the
bevil wheels a and pinions b the revolving motion is consequently con-
veyed to the brushes D by means of the chain pulleys e and e¹ and
chains. The revolving motion thus conveyed to the brushes D being
in the direction indicated by the arrows, Figures 1 and 2, the dirt is
thereby constantly brushed from the street or roadway, and thrown
0

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forwards from the periphery of the brushes D, and by means of the
angular position of the brushes D the dirt so gathered is coerced gradually
inwards towards the angle situated between the brushes, and finally
deposited upon the shoe O, from which it is lifted by the elevator M'
and thrown therefrom into the cart Q. To facilitate the turning round
of the apparatus in or at the corner of a street or roadway the wheels B
thereof are both furnished with a disengaging goar, consisting of a
ratchet a¹ and pall 6', whereby at any time the motion of the wheels B
may be rendered independent of each other by throwing the pall b₁
belonging to either out of gear with its ratchet a¹, whilst the wheel
which is retained in gear still causes the axle C to revolve with the
wheels B, and thus the rotation of the brushes D can be constantly
maintained. Or when it is necessary or desired to move the mechanism
over a street or roadway without sweeping, the palls b¹ of both wheels B
may be disengaged, and thus the brushes Dand elevator cease operating,
and the brushes D are drawn upwards out of contact with the street or
roadway. at any time by elevating or depressing the weighted end of
the compound lever G, whose position may at any time be fixed by the
employment of a rack not shewn in the Drawings, the chains i and i
attached. thereto lifting the. ends of the levers E and E¹ wherein the
brushes D are carried. As the brushes D wear through use they are
further susceptible of adjustment to keep them in contact with the
'street or roadway, this being effected by turning the drum F on its axis,
thus unwinding a portion of the chains i and ", thereby virtually length-
ening them and allowing the ends of the levers E and E³, and therewith
When the required position of
the brushes D, to be further lowered.
the brushes has been thus obtained the drum F is secured in its position
by throwing the pall n¹ into gear with the ratchet n upon the axle of
the drum F. In order that the brushes D may be kept constantly in
contact at their inner ends as they become smaller in diameter through
wear set screws c¹ are provided at the outer ends of the axles g, by
turning which the said axles 9, and with them the brushes D, can bo
moved inwards when required. And further, in order that the two
brushes D may sweep closely up to each other at their inner ends the
bass at their ends is set so as to project obliquely from each brush
towards the centre of the apparatus.

page_text: in relation to each other, as shewn in the diagram, Figure 7, Sheet 1,
under which arrangement the other parts of the mechanism are similar
to that herein-before set forth and shewn on Sheet 1 of the Drawings.
On Sheet 2 of the Drawings Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 a side
elevation shewing another modification of my improved street or road
sweeping apparatus arranged for being operated by manual labour.
Under this modification one brush D is employed situated in an angular
position behind the cart Q, as shown. The axle g of the brush D is
supported in bearings h fixed upon the extremities of the lower beams Q¹
of the cart or usual receptacle, the said beams Q' being prolonged for
this purpose. Upon the axle of the cart Q at one side of the apparatus
a large-chain pulley e is fixed, round which a chain represented by the
dotted lines f is passed, and similarly round a smaller chain pulley e¹
fixed upon a stud f¹ supported in a bearing 9¹ fixed upon one of the
beams Q. Upon the stud f¹ a bevil wheel a is fixed and geared into a
similar bevil wheel 6 fixed upon the axle g of the brush D, and thus
when the cart Q is drawn forwards a rotary motion is transmitted to the
brush D in the direction indicated by the arrows, Figures 1 and 2. In
front of the brush D and at the outward end thereof a shoe O is situated,
attached to, and projecting downwards from the beam Q', at that side
and immediately above the shoe O the lower drum N of the elevator Mr.
is situated the axle P¹ of which is carried in bearings q' fixed upon the
beams Q. The axle r¹ of the upper drum M of the elevator M³ is
supported in brackets & fixed upon the upper part of the cart Q. Upon
the axle of the drum M a chain pulley L is fixed, round which a.
chain, represented by the dotted lines r, is passed, and similarly round
a larger corresponding chain pulley L' upon the axle of the cart Q, and
thus the motion is transmitted to the elevator M³ whereby the dirt is
lifted from off the shoe O and deposited within the cart or receptacle.
It is to be understood that in licu of placing the brushes D in the front
part of the machine, as herein-before described and shewn at Sheet 1 of
the Drawings, their position may be reversed, that is to say, they may
be situated at the rear part of the machine and the elevator may be
actuated in the direction indicated at Figure 1, Sheet 1, or in a reverse
direction, the brackets of the elevators being arranged accordingly.
When the brushes are situated at the rear part of the machine according
to the modification now last referred to it is preferred to employ a
central bearing wheel at the back part of the machine which can be

page_text: raised or lowered when required to support or regulate the. position of
the machine to suit the desired level of the brushes as they become
worn in contact with the roadway.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used
or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that
what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the heroin-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The general arrangement and construction of street sweeping
machines herein-before described and shewn upon the annexed Sheet :
of Drawings.
Second. Placing the brushes of street sweeping machines at an angle
with each other according to either of the modifications herein-beforo
described and shewn on the annexed Sheets of Drawings.
Third. The arrangement and construction of the shoe on which the 1
mud or sweepings are gathered for being removed by the elevators, as
herein-before described.
Fourth. The lever and drum for raising and lowering the brushes
and adjusting their position as they become worn, as herein-before
described.
Fifth. The employment and mode of actuating the elevators in con-
nection with street sweeping machines for the purpose of raising and
discharging the mud into the mud cart or receptacle, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Craig, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December One thousand
sight hundred and sorranty-one