IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET SWEEPING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Robinson, of Heston, near Hounslow,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STREET SWEEPING MACHINES."
sealed the 2nd October 1874, and dated the 4th April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Robinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th April 1874.
I, JAMES ROBINSON, of Heston, near Hounslow, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Im-
PROVEMENTS IN STREET SWEEPING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in street sweeping machines consists
in constructing a framework carrying revolving brushes and elevators
which act in such a manner as to sweep up and raise the dirt from the
ground, depositing it in a waggon or tumbler cart to which the machine
is attached.
The framework, which may be of wood or iron, runs on wheels; those
at the front and back are small in diameter and run underneath the

page_text: machine, while the centre, which are large in diameter, have their axles
fixed to the side of the framework; these large wheels carry on their
sides a spur ring or rings gearing into a spur pinion or pinions; cach
pinion is keyed to or cast with a small chain pulley; below and slightly
behind this pulley is a spindle carrying a circular brush; on the end
of this brush is another chain pulley; round these pulleys a chain is
passed for the purpose of rotating the brush as the large wheels revolve.
The spindle of the brush is attached to a screw at the back of the
machine by which the brush may be raised for the purpose of clearing
the ground when not required for work, or lowered as they wear away.
An elevator is fixed to the framework near the brush, the other end
being fixed over the cart or waggon into which the dirt is deposited
in front of the brush and underneath the elevator to receive the dirt
from the brushes, and from which it is taken by the elevator.
When required for use the machine is attached to a waggon or
tumbler cart and drawn along the road; as the driving wheels revolve
they give rotatory motion by means of gearing and chain to the brush
which sweeps the dirt into a receptacle for the purpose.
The elevator, which may be driven by a belt or spur gearing from
the driving wheel, conveys the dirt into the cart, which when full may
be detached from the machine and emptied.
If preferred the brush may be driven from the wheel of the cart by
means of a cross belt instead of being driven from a wheel on the
machine; the brush may then be raised from the ground by lifting
the hinder part of the machine and run on the front wheels only.

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Robinson, Her special license
that I, the said James Robinson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Robinson, my executors,
administrators, and 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 Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STREET SWEEPING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said James Robinson, my executors or administrators, by an in-
strument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, 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 James Robinson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention of improvements in street sweeping machines consists
in constructing a framework carrying revolving brushes and elevators
which act in such a. manner as to sweep up and raise the dirt from the
ground, depositing it in a waggon, cart, or other receptacle to which the
machine is attached.
The framework, which may be of wood or iron, runs on wheels;
those at the front are small in diameter and run underneath tho
machine; or it may have a singlo small wheel on a pivot at the front
instead of two small ones, while the centre or driving wheels are
large in diameter, having their axles through the sides of the frame-
work; one of these large wheels, which may be on either side, carries
on the rim an. internal spur ring gearing into and driving a pinion
keyed to a shaft at the lower part of the frame; to this shaft is fixed
a drum working an elevator for raising the dirt and throwing it from
a shoot at the top into a cart or other receptacle. On the opposite
driving wheel is fixed a spur wheel; or it may be keyed to the shaft

page_text: or axle of the driving wheel. This spur wheel gears into and drives.
a small spur pinion keyed to a shaft running through the machine. On.
this shaft or shafts is fixed a drum or drums carrying a brush or number
of brushes which revolve as the shaft or shafts are turned.
When the machine is put in motion by being drawn along the ground
the driving wheels and the spur wheels attached to them revolve, giving ·|
motion through the pinions to the two shafts, one driving wheel
actuating the brush shaft, and the other driving wheel actuating the
clevator shaft. As the brush shaft or shafts revolve the brushes sweep
up the dirt, slop, or other matter over which they pass, delivering it
into a trough from which the elevator collects it and afterwards delivers
it at the upper end of the elevator into any receptacle prepared for the
purpose. Either the brush shaft or the elevator shaft may be disengaged
if desired, and that part of the machine stopped by means of the clutches
on the shafts. The brush shaft may also be lowered so as to accom-
modate itself to the wear of the brushes by moving the hand lever and
connecting rods which carry the bearings of the brush pinion shaft. ..
If it is required to change the position or angle of the elevator it
may be done by turning the back shaft of the machine on which are two
barrels for winding up the elevator chains.
And in order that my Invention may be better understood and more
readily put into operation, I will now proceed to describe the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, Figure 1 being a side elevation, and
Figure 2, a plan.
:
:
A, A, is the framework of the machine; B, B, and C, the wheels,
C being the small wheels at the front for guiding the machine, and
B, B, the driving wheels; D is the axle or shaft carrying the driving
wheels; E is the internal, spur ring gearing into and working the
elevator pinion F; G is the lower shaft of the elevator; H, the lower
clevator drum; I is the elevator framework around which the buckets
K, K, are carried when taking dirt to the shoot L; M is a spur wheel
on the opposite side to the elevator wheels; this spur wheel gears into
and works the pinion N, giving motion to the brush shaft O.. P, P, is
the brush frame or drum carrying the brushes Q; R, a trough into
which the dirt is delivered from the brushes; S, S, clutches for dis-
engaging shafts; T, band lever; and U; connecting rods for altering the
position of the brush shaft; V, back shaft; and W, W, barrels for
winding chains X, X, of elevator.

page_text: Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW,
JAMES ROBINSON. (L.S.)
Patent Agent,
23, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.