Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Roads and other Surfaces.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Roads and other
Surfaces.
I HENRY AUGUSTUS ALLEN of 28 Lower Addiscombe Road Croydon in the
County of Surrey Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the apparatus for cleaning roads and other surfaces
described in the Specification of Patent No. 15717 of 1891 and has for its object
the improvement of the same in various details.
I have found that the travelling plates or other appliances do not sufficiently
carry off what is thrown by the revolving brush or other appliance into the lower
part of the casing for they do not and cannot reach far enough and therefore there
is a certain quantity of this matter continually remaining in this position. Now to
obviate this evil I fit the following apparatus.
In each of the sides of the casing near its lower end is fitted a double guide the
lower guide being close to and parallel with the lower wall of the casing in this
place while the leading end of the upper guide is raised a little above the leading
end of the lower guide and the rear end of the upper guide is raised still higher..
A sliding block is fitted on each of the sides of the casing which can travel in the
double guide and to these two blocks is attached a transverse scraper or other
suitable appliance which when the blocks are in the lower guides approximates very
closely to the lower wall of the casing. The sliding blocks and their guides are
correspondingly and complementarily formed and fitted in any suitable and usual or
other manner to cause these blocks properly to follow and be connected with their
guides. To actuate the blocks on the end of the axle or on the outer side of the
hub of the wheel that carries the receptacle and on one or on each of the ends or
sides thereof is fitted a crank or an eccentric pin wherefrom a connecting rod is led
to the block and in the proper position on the outside of the casing is mounted a
rocking lever through the upper arm whereof loosely passes the rear end of a link
jointed to the connecting rod at its leading extremity while on its rear extremity
a stop and the lower arm of the rocking lever terminates in a crook or similar
appliance under the connecting rod whereto it can act as a tripping lever and a
spring may be applied to this lever to prevent its too sudden movement.
When therefore in and by the revolution of the wheels the blocks are drawn
forwards along the lower guides until they reach the leading ends of the same and
are disconnected therewith or drawn off the same the stop on the link so draws the
upper arm of the lever forwards that its lower arm trips or lifts the connecting rod
in such wise that it raises the blocks off the lower guides so far that when in and by
the revolution of the wheels they are pushed backwards these blocks are engaged in
the upper guides along which they travel until they reach the rear ends of the same
and are disconnected therewith when they are allowed to fall and re-engage the
lower guides and so on. The rear ends of these guides are quite close to the
revolving brush while the leading ends thereof are in such a position as will allow
the matter that has obviously been brought forwards by the scraper while the
blocks are travelling in the lower guides to be carried off by the plates or
appliances while during their return journey in the upper guides this scraper will be
lifted above any fresh matter deposited in the casing.
1 have also found that in some cases travelling transverse scoops or buckets act
better than plates and then it is perhaps preferable to cause the bands that carry
the same to travel in the opposite direction and elevate the matter not on the inner
side of the casing or on that side thereof that is against the receptacle but on the

page_text: opposite the outer side of the casing or on the outside of the rollers and these scoops
are preferably attached to each band in one position only at or about the middle of
one of their sides so that when they pass over the upper roller a stop or catch fitted
on the casing may so check or agitate them as to ensure that their contents will be
properly discharged into the receptacle.
These scoops also can most conveniently be longitudinally divided and hinged
together at their lower parts and then they are expanded and held by a coiled or
other spring at each of their ends it may be near the lips thereof. Rails or guides
can also most conveniently be fitted in the proper positions along the. sides of the
casing and rollers can be correspondingly mounted at the ends of the scoops to bear
,on these rails and thus to govern and render the easier and steadier the travel of
these scoops and even if and when desired as for example on their downward
journey to slightly collapse the same if they are so made.
Dated this 18th day of November 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Roads and other
Surfaces.
I HENRY AUGUSTUS ALLEN of 28 Lower Addiscombe Road Croydon in the
County of Surrey Builder 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 my invention relates to the improved apparatus for cleaning roads and other
surfaces that is described in the Specification of the Patent dated the 16th day of
September A.D. 1891 and numbered 15717 of 1891 and its object is the
improvement of the same in various details as will hereinafter be described.
have found in practice and by experience that the travelling plates or other
appliances described in the aforesaid Specification do not sufficiently or properly
carry off what is thrown by the revolving brush or other appliance into the lower
part of the casing for they do not and indeed cannot reach far enough or close
enough to such brush or other appliance and therefore a certain quantity of this
matter continually remains in this position and under some circumstances and
conditions may increase so rapidly and to such an amount as practically to choke
the apparatus and prevent the same from properly performing its. function., I have
also found in practice and by experience that in all cases and whatever may be the
description or kind and condition or state and quantity or volume of the matter
that is to be treated travelling transverse buckets or scoops act far better than
plates and that in order to properly fill these buckets they always preferably are
and in some cases and with some matters they must be moved whilst they are being
so filled against the direction in which the matter is being thrown into the lower
part of the casing and therefore the buckets elevate the matter at or on the outer
side of the casing and not on the inner wall thereof as is described in the aforesaid
Specification.
In order the more clearly to explain this my invention and in. what manner I
remedy the aforesaid evil and effect and perform the desired improvements I refer
to the accompanying drawing wherein
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus for cleaning roads and
other surfaces with the outer side thereof removed.
The receptacle A for the matter can be mounted on wheels A¹ and drawn along
by animal power or otherwise and on the rear end thereof is inclinedly, fitted the
proper casing B the passage D being made between the upper parts of the casing B
and of the receptacle A and in the bottom of the casing B close to the rear end
thereof is made the opening E immediately whereabove is adjustably mounted in
the casing B the transverse horizontal cylindrical brush For other suitable

page_text: appliance which is caused to properly revolve from and by the wheel A' through
the band F or otherwise and near the top and bottom of the casing B are also
mounted therein two transverse horizontal and parallel rollers H and H₁ the upper
roller H being preferably adjustable and caused to revolve from and by the
wheel A' through the band H or otherwise and round these two rollers H and H'
is or are passed the endless band or bands J all as is described in the aforesaid
Specification of the Patent No. 15717 of 1891.
On the band or bands J round the rollers H and H¹ in the casing B are secured
at the desired intervals or distances apart any suitable transverse buckets or scoops
and I shew in the drawing one most convenient and efficient form and style of con-
struction of such buckets or scoops whereof Figure 2 is the transverse section on an
enlarged scale.
According to this method of construction the bucket K made it may be of sheet
metal is longitudinally divided into two parts which are hinged together along the
bottom of the bucket as is shewn at K¹ and one side of the bucket K is secured to
each band J in any usual or other manner at one position only so that it will not
interfere with the proper passage of such band or bands J round the rollers H
and H and the other side of the bucket K is normally maintained in an expanded
or extended position by a coiled or other spring L in compression which spring L
is preferably so fitted near each of the ends of this bucket K and the end pieces of
the bucket K can be made in the ordinary manner to overlap each other so that the
matter may be retained in the bucket K. All these parts are preferably so fitted
and arranged and proportioned and the buckets K are so secured on the band or
bands J which is or are caused so to travel that when each bucket K has passed
under the lower roller H and has been duly filled with the matter it can freely
travel upwards at and on or along the outer side of the casing B until it passes
over the upper roller H' when its contents are discharged into the receptacle A
through the passage D in or near which position if desired any suitable stop or
catch or other device may be fitted to agitate the bucket K and ensure such
discharge and then the bucket K travels downwards with its outer lip touching or
pressing against the inner wall of the casing B and it may be somewhat com-
pressing the spring or springs L and to such extent collapsing the bucket K to
ensure that no matter will be left on this inner wall of the casing B and this com-
pression and collapsion is preferably somewhat increased as the bucket K
approaches and passes under the lower roller H to ensure that it shall duly and
properly pick up all matter deposited in the lower part of the casing B within its
reach and thus will be duly filled.
In the same manner whensoever desired other and it may be rigid and non-
collapsible buckets or scoops of any ordinary kind may be fitted and used and
perhaps especially in this case rails or guides can be fitted in the proper positions
along the walls or sides of the casing and rollers correspondingly mounted on the
buckets or scoops can bear on these rails or guides and thus govern and render the
easier and steadier the travel of these buckets or scoops.
When the revolving brush F or other appliance has thrown the refuse or other
matter on the road or other surface into the lower part of the casing B it will not
as is hereinbefore stated be so thrown far enough to be completely carried off even
by the buckets K for it will not be entirely within their reach and to remedy this
evil I fit the apparatus shewn in Figure 1.
A transverse horizontal scraper or plate M or other similar and suitable
appliance is properly mounted across the lower part of the casing B in such wise
that it can be moved along therein with its lower edge in very close proximity to
the lower wall of the casing B which movement is effected by and through a
connecting rod N one end whereof is connected to one end of the scraper M or
other appliance while the other end thereof is connected to an eccentric pin N¹ on
the hub of the wheel A' or to other corresponding and usual or other device and
this connecting rod N is preferably so fitted on each side to each end of the
scraper M or other appliance and to each wheel A'. The travel of this scraper M

page_text: or other appliance is so arranged and proportioned that in its rearmost position it is
quite close to and in front of the revoluble brush F or other appliance while in its
foremost position it is preferably within the reach of or within the path of the
buckets K or it may be is only very close to the same whereby as is obvious this
scraper M or other appliance will bring what has been thrown by the brush For
other appliance into the lower part of the casing B into such position therein that
it will surely and certainly be picked up by the buckets K as is desired.
It is evident however that as the wheel A' revolves and when the scraper M or
other appliance is thereby pushed backwards it must be lifted over what has been
thrown by the brush F or other appliance into the lower part of the casing B
behind it as it was travelling forwards and to effect this object I fit the apparatus
which is shewn in situ in Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof on an
enlarged scale and Figure 4 is a transverse section taken at a. b. in Figure 3.
In the side of the casing B in the proper position is fitted a double guide con-
sisting of a frame P on the lower part whereof which is parallel with the lower wall
of the casing B in this place are fitted on both sides the guides R while the upper
part thereof is not parallel with such lower part but is inclined thereto the leading
end of such upper part being elevated only a little distance above the leading end
of the lower part while the rear ends of the two parts are more widely separated
and on the upper part of the frame P are similarly fitted on both sides the guides T
which guides R and T may be of any convenient style and shape and do not extend
the whole length of the frame P but only occupy a desired portion of the middle of
such length. A sliding block V is fitted for and to this frame P on the upper and
lower surfaces whereof are such corresponding jaws as can engage the guides R
and T successively but not contemporaneously and to this block V are properly
connected in any usual or other manner the ends of the connecting rod N and of the
scraper M or other appliance and this apparatus is so fitted in and on each side of
the casing B. In a suitable position on the side of the casing B or of the
receptacle A is mounted on a transverse stud a rocking lever W through the upper
arm whereof loosely passes a link X the leading end of which is jointed to the
connecting rod N in the proper position while on its rear end is a stop X and the
lower arm of this lever W terminates in and as an hook W' or other suitable device
under the connecting rod N whereto it can act as a tripping lever and a spring
may if desired be applied to this lever W to prevent its too sudden movement and
this tripping lever Wis likewise preferably so fitted on each side to each connecting
rod N.
Therefore when this apparatus hereinbefore described is in the position shewn in
Figure 1 and afterwards when by the forward progression of the same and in and
by the revolution of the wheels A' the scraper M is drawn forwards until the
supporting blocks V thereof are disengaged from the guides R and reach the leading
ends of the frames P the stops X' on the links X so draw the upper arms of the
levers W forwards that the hooks W' or other devices thereof trip or lift the
connecting rods N in such wise as to raise the blocks V off the lower parts of
the frames P into such positions against the upper parts of such frames P that
afterwards when in and by the revolution of the wheels A' the scraper M or other
appliance is pushed backwards the supporting blocks V thereof are engaged with
the guides T along which they travel obviously lifting the scraper M or other
appliance higher and higher off the lower wall of the casing B and therefore over
what has been thrown by the brush F or other appliance thereupon until these
blocks V reach the rear ends of the frames P and are disengaged from the guides T
when the blocks V are allowed to fall down on the lower parts of the frames Pas
very obviously the levers W have long been released and afterwards in and by the
revolution of the wheels A' the scraper M or other appliance is again drawn
forwards and the supporting blocks V thereof are re-engaged with the guides R
and so on.
All these parts of this apparatus are so fitted and arranged and proportioned as
preferably to allow the scraper or other appliance to be brought within the reach

page_text: of or within the path of the buckets as is hereinbefore stated and in this case it is
obvious that the buckets must be at such a distance apart and their speed or rate
of travel must be so regulated and their positions must be so arranged as to allow
the scraper or other appliance to reach its foremost position and to be retired from
the same without coming into collision with a bucket.
It is perhaps very convenient and more especially when the receptacle A is
carried by only one pair of wheels A' that other one or more pairs of small
wheels Z should be fitted to the casing B to ensure that the bottom of this casing B
shall always be at the proper small elevation above the ground or road or other
surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination with a receptacle A a casing B a passage D between the
receptacle A and the casing B and a revoluble brush F or other appliance over
an opening E in the bottom of the casing B of revoluble_rollers H and H¹ with a
band or bands J and buckets K on the band or bands J divided into two parts
hinged together at K' and provided with a spring or springs L substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and declared.
2. A receptacle A a casing B a passage D between the receptacle A and the
casing B a revoluble brush F or other appliance over an opening E in the bottom
of the casing B revoluble rollers H and H¹ with a band or bands J in the casing B
and buckets K on the band or bands J in combination with frames P in the sides of
the casing B having guides R and T blocks V sliding in the frames P a scraper M
or other appliance supported by the blocks V eccentric connecting rods N between
the wheels A' and the scraper M and tripping levers W actuated by links X on
the rods N substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
declared.
3. The improvements in apparatus for cleaning roads and other surfaces sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
1902
HART & Co.,
186, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.
HART & Co.,
186, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.