structure, the Brush-Wheel, the Shovel, the Dust-Receptacle
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 12th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 14th Oct., 1887.
I, JAMES BOAG, Teacher No. 19 Great Western Road, Glasgow do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention consists essentially of four parts. These are--a supporting structure,
the Brush-Wheel, the Shovel, the Dust-Receptacle.
The Supporting Structure is of the nature of a wheeled vehicle, having on each of
its sides an elevation with a bush for the reception of the spindle of the Brush-Wheel.
The Brush-Wheel consists of a spindle with two collars at a suitable distance from
each other. From each of these collars radiate four spokes-the spokes of the one
sheaf being connected, in parallel pairs, with the spokes of the other sheaf. At the
end of each spoke is a crank. These cranks, like the spokes, are connected in pairs,
and each pair carries a brush. A screw arrangement diminishes or increases the angle
formed by a pair of cranks and a pair of spokes; and, as a consequence, depresses or
raises the brush. The requisite pressure is applied to the brush by a spiral or other
spring acting upon the cranks or their connections. Another screw arrangement
regulates the slope of the brush. The brush-wheel is driven by bands or gearing
connected with the wheels of the supporting structure.
The shovel is an inclined surface, about six feet broad, sloping, from a point above
the dust-receptacle, down to the ground. Up this incline the dust is swept. It is so
hung as to be capable of a certain amount of tilt, and is, as its name implies,
shovel-shaped.
The dust-receptacle is a waggon-shaped structure into which the dust swept up the
incline is thrown. It is tilted by the link-work and the screw-arrangement with
which it is provided.
And I claim the whole of this arrangement as herein described to be my invention.
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Street-sweeping and Dust or Snow Collecting Apparatus.
I, JAMES BOAG, 19 Great Western Road, Glasgow, Teacher, 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 :-
The machine is made in three types, all of which, although differing in the size and
position of the wheels, and in the shape of the frame, possess the same distinctive
features. Two of these types are adapted, when at work on a street, for sweeping into
the curbstone. The third is not so adapted. It is the last I proceed, with the aid of
the drawings, to describe particularly.
Figure 1 is a side view of the machine;-figure 2 is a horizontal view as seen from
above the cart and shovel being removed;-figure 3 illustrates the arrangement for
couping and locking the cart; figure IV. is a diagram of the figure described by the
brush in the course of its rotation. Referring to figures 1 and II it will be seen that
the machine consists essentially of four parts-the supporting structure, or frame a;
the dust receptacle, or cart b; the curved surfaces c and d (here designated the shovel)
up which the dust or snow is swept from the street into the cart; and the brush
spindle e, with its attachments.
The frame consists of two side bars a, curved downwards at one end, and united
by the cross-barf, which has two projections 9. The side bars are pierced to receive
the axle k of the cart. The wheels are keyed to the axle m, and would move only
together, were it not that the axle m is cut in the center to secure the independent
movement of each wheel. There are thus here two axles, supported towards their
inner ends by the projections g, and terminating in the spur
wheels n. These spur
wheels gear with the pinion o on the spindle p, to which they communicate their
motion, which is transmitted by an endless chain, band, or pair of cranks, to the
brush spindle c. The pinion o is shifted by the link work 9 and the screw r, and can
engage with both spur wheels, or with only one (the two wheels will then work
independently, and the machine will be enabled to turn a corner), or it can be shifted
so as to engage with neither, in which case the machine will be thrown out of gear.
A second pair of wheels s are hung each on a short axle projecting outward at the
curved ends of the frame. To the frame also is attached the uprights t, which support
the ovoid guides u, together with the brush spindle.
The cart is supported on the frame, through which passes its axle, and beyond
which it projects sufficiently far to be able to coup by the preponderance of its own
weight behind the axle. After couping, the cart, in being brought back to its place
on the frame, strikes back the catch w (fig. III), which, on returning by the action
of its spring, locks the cart down.
The shovel, for by this name I designate the arrangement for transferring the dust,
mud, or snow from the street to the cart is made of sheet iron. It consists of two
parts c and d, both of which are flanged or bevilled at the sides. C₁ the upper of these
two parts, is secured on each side to the frame; and the two iron bands by which

page_text: this part is supported, extend a short distance below it, and are eyed at the ends for
the reception of a spindle, upon which is hung the lower part d of the shovel in such
a way that when resting upon the ground, that part of d which is above the spindle
will be tilted somewhat forward from c, the upper and fixed part of the shovel. The
brush in passing over d will tilt it back on c, and in so doing will raise it from the
ground and instantaneously relieve the machine of the friction occasioned by
the brush pressing the shovel on the ground; while at the same time, the mud which
the shovel may be dragging along with it while trailing on the ground, is liberated
and brought within the action of the brushes. d, the lower part of the shovel, is
composed of four or more pieces, which are placed side by side vertically, and connected
loosely behind by a chain-an arrangement which enables d to act like so many separate
shovels, and adapt itself to the convexity and inequalities of the road. The brush
spindle e revolves in the lateral uprights t. These uprights support also the two
ovoid pieces u, each of which has a groove of a similar ovoid form on its inner face.
The brush spindle e is crossed by two bars, which are keyed to it at a suitable
distance from each other, and which form a pair of radial bars on opposite sides of
the spindle. These radial bars have slots through which pass the pins Y of the cross
bars A. These pins terminate and rest in the lateral grooves of the ovoid guides u.
By the action of the grooves and slots on the pins, the cross bars A, when the spindle
is revolving, will be carried eccentrically and will assume a reciprocating motion with
regard to the radial bars x, that is to say, A will move up and down x.
Through the extremities of each pair of radial bars passes a spindle B, to which is
keyed the cranks, or arms, C, carrying the brush H. To the spindle B are screwed
a pair of brackets J. A similar pair of brackets K is also secured to the reciprocating
bar A. Each pair of brackets support a swivel M, which is bored to receive the
connecting rod N. The swivels on the reciprocating bars are tapped to receive the
screw part of the rod N. In the companion swivel the rod works loose, the swivel
being kept on the rod by a pin which allows a motion of the swivel-and, of course,
the parts upon which it is placed-upward, but not downward. Between the latter
swivel and the nut, or wheel, P, the rod is encircled by a spiral spring. The effect of
these arrangements is,-
1. That the brush in rotating, instead of describing a circle, which would touch the
ground at one point only, describes a figure of the nature of the diagram given in
figure IV, where the straight line Q R represents, in scale, the length of street swept
at each revolution of the brush.
2. By turning the screw wheel P, the brush, when it is wearing down, can be
depressed; and any degree of pressure can be applied to it.
3. By the action of the spiral spring the brush can adapt itself to the inequalities
of the ground.
4. The arrangement has great mechanical advantages;-when the one brush, in the
course of its rotation, is being lifted from the ground, its leverage is shortened, at
the same time that the other brush, on the opposite side of the spindle, is descending
with its leverage nearly doubled;-again, whatever pressure is put upon the brush
reacts, with increased leverage, on the reciprocating bar, and instead of being absorbed
in friction, expends itself in motion helpful to the action of the machine.
The brush is attached to the carrying arms by a screw and a pin. By the shifting
of the pin the brush is fixed so as to be worn equally all round.
The machine has removable traces which can be placed at either end. When the
machine is at work, the traces are attached to the cart end; but when it is travelling
to the coup, it may be convenient to attach them to the brush end.
The second type of the machine is that which is adapted for sweeping into the curb
stone. The wheels of a machine of this type are like like those of the type described,
four in number, but their diameter is only half that of the others. They are placed
under the cart, brought as close as possible together, and all the four are in front of
the shovel.
The third type has no cart, but can be attached to any cart. It has only two wheels,
and is adapted for working and sweeping into the curbstone.

page_text: These two types differ from the type I have described in detail, in no other feature
of importance, if I except some necessary alteration in the structure of the frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is the
production of a street-sweeping machine, novel and distinctive in its main features,
but particularly in
1. The arrangement by which is produced, by a single movement, the double effect
of either throwing the machine out of gear, or of disengaging one of the wheels so
as to enable the machine to turn a corner.
2. The arrangement for automatically couping and locking the cart.
3. The design of that portion of the machine which I have designated the shovel.
4. The contrivances and attachments, including the ovoid guides, (all. as herein
particularly described) connected with the brush spindle by which it is procured that
the brush, in rotating, will describe a figure like that shown in figure IV and by
which are procured other advantages also herein particularly described.
Dated this Tenth day of September 1887.
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