Improvements in Street Sweeping Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Street Sweeping Machines.
We, ADAM CHARLES ANATAUL DUPUY (Carpenter and Joiner), of 1702, Laharpe
Street, and JOSEPHI RAY (Undertaker), of No. 1308 No Rampart, both in the
City of New Orleans, in the Parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention consists of a street sweeping machine adapted to automatically
and separately gather small stones and the like, and dust and the like, and
provided with a receptacle for hand gathered rubbish or matter.
The machine comprises a four-wheeled frame provided with independent box
receptacles the one forming the swivelling fore carriage, the other the body
portion carried by the main frame. The former is situated between the wheels
of the fore carriage and has a transverse bottom opening in which a pocket or
pallet drum mounted to revolve in said opening and in such proximity to the
ground as to gather up small stones and other objects by its radial pallets, the
drum being rotated by its shaft being geared with wheels fast with the fore-
carriage wheels. At the leading side of the inlet opening an apron is pivoted
so as to project down at a slightly rearward inclination so as to assist in conduct-
ing into the receiving box the matters gathered and delivered to it by the drum.
The said box is metal-lined and provided with an upstanding lip or barrier next
the bottom opening to prevent the stones, etc., falling out. It has a door at
front and an opening in the top, which is usually covered by the driver's foot-
board. This box is connected by a king-bolt and a turning plate with a
forwardly-reaching upper main frame upon which the driver's seat is supported,
the turning plate being formed preferably by a flanged disc or segment on
top of the box fitted to turn in an annular groove in the main frame above with
which it makes a sort of tongue and groove joint spacing discs and wearing
plates being also provided. The axles of the fore wheels are mounted on the
side of the box and the pallet drum shaft is removably mounted in slots in the
sides of the box with provision for vertical adjustment.
The main body portion or receptacle is mounted between the main side frames
carried by the rear wheels. It descends within a short distance of the ground
and is divided into compartments. In the main compartment which is closed
at top and has a bottom opening, is mounted to revolve a cylindrical brush of
large diameter which projects down through the bottom opening into contact
with the ground and is driven by its shaft being directly geared with gear wheels
fast with the main travelling wheels. A dust-gathering apron is pivoted at
the lower end of a concave breast or directing plate up which the brush sweeps
the dust gathered, the pivoted apron having lugs which support the apron in
proper working position. The concave leads the dust up to an aperture lead-
ing to a dust-receiving compartment, the aperture being in the form of a narrow
transverse slot against the upper edge of which the bristles strike in revolving

page_text: so as to free themselves of dust. The brush shaft is mounted to turn in slots
with provision for vertical adjustment both the brush shaft and the stone
collecting drum shaft being simultaneously raisable out of working position
by means of rope or other gear operated by a winch near the driver's seat.
The brush is of peculiar construction the bristles being carried by bars or
holders supported parallel to the shaft by radial screw arms or spokes provided
with regulating nuts whereby the diameter of the brush drum may be deter-
mined. The bunches of bristles are made preferably of two lengths and of two
kinds of material, rows of bunches of longer and softer material being alternated
with rows of bunches of shorter and stiffer material, the concave dust-directing
plate being shaped to the lesser diameter of the harder bristle surface of the
brush.
The rear part of the body has a detachable compartment or tool receptacle
across which the axle of the rear wheels passes and an upper open receptacle for
hand-collected rubbish.
We, ADAM CHARLES ANATAUL DUPUY (Carpenter and Joiner), of 1702, Laharpe
Street, and JOSEPH RAY (Undertaker), of No. 1308 No. Rampart, both in the
City of New Orleans, in the Parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, United
States of America, 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 object of our invention is to construct a street sweeping machine which
will not only gather up dust, dirt and the like particles, but which will also take
up separately from the dust or dirt any small stones or obstructions that may
be in the path of the machine.
Another object of the invention is to so construct the machine that a receptacle
will be provided for brush and all such trash as cannot be taken up automatically
by the machine, the brush or other large articles of like character, or large
stones, being delivered by hand to the machine. A further object of the inven-
tion is to provide a machine which may be used with especially satisfactory
results upon smooth streets, such as concrete or macadam roads, and which may
likewise be used in the cleaning of yards or parks, paths and pavements, and which
will necessitate but one attendant to operate the machine and a second attendant
to deliver by hand to the machine such articles as can not be automatically taken
up. A further object of the invention is to provide an especially constructed and
convenient brush, and a means for raising and lowering the stone gathering
drum and the brush, and furthermore to construct the machine in a very simple,
durable and economic manner.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the
several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the
claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine

page_text: Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken centrally of the machine;
and
Figure 5 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of
Figure 4.
In the construction of the body of the machine two side pieces 10 are employed,
the rear portions whereof are much wider than the front portions, a seat 11 being
suitably supported upon the front portions of the side pieces at their upper
edges, as shown in Figures 1 and 4; and at the rear of the seat 11 a strong cross
bar 12 is provided, and between the front end of the side pieces 10 and the cross
bar or sill 12, a flooring 13 of suitable construction is formed, having an open-
ing 14 near the front. A second cross bar 15 connects the side pieces 10 in
advance of the main sill 12, as is particularly shown in Figure 4, and a foot
rest 16 is hinged to or connected in like manner with the forward cross bar 15,
the foot rest being provided with a suitable front board 17, which is secured
thereto. Normally the foot rest 16 rests upon the top of the flooring 13, cover-
ing the opening 14 therein, while the front board 17 extends downward in front
of the said flooring, as shown in Figure 4.
A king pin 18 is journalled in the forward cross bar 15 at the longitudinal
centre thereof, the said king pin or king bolt extending through the partial top
portion 19 of the stone-receiving compartment 20. This stone-receiving com-
partment is of box-like construction, comprising suitable sides and a front, the
front having a door 21 secured by a suitable bolt 22, the box-like compartment
being further provided with a bottom 23 at its front portion, ordinarily between
six and ten inches from the ground, an opening 24 intervening between the
bottom 23 and the back 25 of said stone compartment.
Thus it will be observed
that the contents of the stone compartment may be removed through the opening
in the top usually closed by the foot rest 16.
A lining 26, preferably of metal, is provided for the upper surface of the
bottom 23 of the stone compartment, the said lining being carried upward at the
forward edge of the opening 24, forming a barrier 26. A stone receiving drum A is
mounted to revolve partially within the stone-receiving receptacle or compartment
20 and partially in the opening 24 in the bottom of the said receptacle or compart-
ment. This stone receiving drum usually consists of two heads 27, a suitable
hub and rotary plates 28 attached to the hub and to the heads, forming a series
of compartments 29, as is also best shown in Figure 4. The shaft 30 on which
the stone-receiving drum is mounted is made to pass through suitable openings
in the sides of the box or stone receiving compartment 20, the said openings
being vertical and closed by slides 31 dove-tailed in strengthening plates 32
removably attached to the outer faces of the stone compartment or box 20, as
shown in Figure 1; and in the said sides of the stone compartment a horizontal
opening 33 is made, in order that when the back 25 is removed the shaft 30
may be introduced into the vertical openings in which the shaft of the rock or
stone receiving drum is capable of vertical adjustment. When the shaft of
the drum is to be removed, the reinforcing or strengthening plates 32 are
detached from the frame of the machine, enabling the shaft to be withdrawn
through the horizontal openings 33. A pin 34 (Figure 5) is located in each
side 31. said pins being adapted to enter openings in the frame in order that
the slides when vertically adjusted may be held in their adjusted positions.
An apron 35 is pivoted at the forward end of the opening 24 in the stone
receiving compartment 20, which apron extends downward below the stone or
rock receiving drum but removed therefrom, and serves to assist in conducting
the stones &c. gathered by the drum A, in an upward direction into the com-
partment 20 behind the barrier 26.
The forward axles 36 of the machine are secured to the side portions of the
stone compartment 20, and upon each of these axles 36 a forward supporting

page_text: wheel 37 is mounted to revolve and each wheel is provided with a gear 38 secured
thereto in any suitable or approved manner. The gears 38 are made to mesh
with pinions 39 (Figure 5) secured to the outer end portions of the rock or
stone drum shaft 30. When the shaft 30 is to be raised the pinions 39 are
loosened to slide on the shaft. The stone compartment 20 is given a fifth wheel
or pivotal attachment to the flooring 13 at the front of the main frame of the
machine. To that end a disk 40 is loosely mounted on the king pin or king
bolt 18, and is held to turn in an annular groove 41, provided in the flooring 13
which is suitably recessed at the bottom. A spacing disk 42 engages with the
bottom of the fifth wheel 40 being also mounted loosely on the king bolt, and
a washer 43 engages with the spacing disk and with the top 19 of the stone
compartment, to which top the washer may be secured, and serve as a wear plate.
A tongue or pole 44 (Figure 1) is suitably attached to the front of the rock or
stone-receiving compartment 20, so that the draft is brought directly thereon.
A box receptacle B is located at the central portion of the frame of the machine
between the side pieces 10, to which it is attached in a removable manner.
The box receptacle 13 consists of sides 45, which extend from a point above the
sides 10 of the main frame to a point approximately on a level with the bottom
of the stone compartment 20, being also removably secured by bolts and screws.
The rear end of section 46 of the box compartment extends from one side 45
to the other the full depth of said sides, but the forward end of said box recep-
tacle is made in two sections, namely, an upper portion 47, which extends from
side to side and stops at the lower edge of the sides of the main frame 10, as
shown in Figure 4, while at the lower end of the board 47 a plate 48 is attached
in a removable manner, the said plate extending downward as far as the lower
edge of the sides 45, being then carried horizontally rearward, as shown at 49,
and upward parallel to the main section 48, as illustrated at 50 in Figure 4,
providing what I denominate a dust compartment 133, a well hole B¹ being situated
above the dust compartment, and at the rear of the well hole and dust compart-
ment, a brush compartment B2 is located.
A directing plate 51 extends from the upper edge of the member 50 of the
dust box or compartment downwardly and rearwardly, terminating on about a
level with the lower edge of the side pieces, and a strengthening or stay block 52
is made to intervene between the directing plate 51 and the upwardly extending
rear member of the dust box, as is also shown in Figure 4.
A dust gathering apron 54 is hinged at the lower end of the directing plate 51,
the said apron being provided at each of its extremities upon its forward face
with preferably curved lugs 55, which may stand from two to four inches clear
from the ground and hold the dust-collecting apron in proper relation with the
directing plate 51 and with the brush C to be hereinafter described.
When the machine is to be carried to or from a surface to be cleaned, the
apron is adapted to be carried up within the brush compartment B2, and this is
accomplished by opening doors 53 made in the sides of the box receptacle B,
as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and then carrying the apron upward or upon the
directing plate. The apron 54 is however prevented from moving too far upward
while in service by means of projections 53, shown in Figure 4, formed upon
the inner surfaces of the said doors 53.
The well hole B', which is for the purpose of enabling the driver to ascertain
if the dust box has received a proper load, is completed in its construction by a
partition 56, which extends from the top portion of the sides 45 downward
slightly beyond the opening 57 leading into the dust box, as shown in Figure 4,
thus providing a transverse edge 56, against which the bunches of bristles on
the brush will strike as the brush rotates, compelling the bunches to free them-
selves from earth and deliver the same into the dust box. The well hole B¹ is
provided with a suitable hinged cover 59, and the dust box is provided
with a dust-proof door 58 at each end, from which the dirt or dust

page_text: accumulated therein may be readily removed by means of a rake, hoe, or suitable
implement. A top 60, preferably removable, is provided for that portion of the
box receptacle B in which the brush compartment B is formed.
The brush is of peculiar construction, said construction being best shown in
Figure 3, in which it will be observed that heads 61 are secured upon a shaft 62,
the outer surfaces of the heads, which are inwardly inclined, being made to face
the inner surfaces of the box receptacle B, and therefore the heads do not bind.
That portion of the shaft 62 on which the heads are located is preferably poly-
gonal, and the end portions are round or circular in cross section, being carried
through vertical openings 63 made in the sides of the box receptacle, as shown
in Figure 3, which openings correspond to the openings in which the shaft
of the rock or stone wheel has movement. The heads 61 are preferably poly-
gonal in general contour, and a spoke 65 extends from each space on each head
a predetermined distance beyond the heads, the outer ends of the said spokes
especially being preferably threaded.
The bunches of bristles, or bunches of other material employed, are secured
upon blocks 66 of sufficient length to extend from one head 61 to the other. The
outer ends of the brush blocks are preferably provided with a band 67, in
order that they shall not split, since the spokes pass through the end portions
of these blocks. The brush blocks are furthermore strengthened by passing
plates 68 transversely across the end portions at both sides, and lock nuts 69 are
secured upon the spokes, bearing against the said tie or strengthening plates.
The bunches of bristles or other material provided for the brush, are preferably
made in two lengths and of two kinds of material, namely, a hard and a soft
material, the bunches of the soft material being an eighth of an inch longer than
the bunches of hard material, and ordinarily bunches of the same kind of
material are secured upon the same block, and the rows of bunches are alternately
arranged around the hub of the wheel. The dust plate 52 is shaped in
accordance with the diameter of the harder bristle surface of the brush, and its
top should never be lower than the upper face of the axle.
At the rear end of the machine I have provided a receptacle D, which is prefer-
ably attached by screws or like devices to the rear end of the central box
receptacle B in order that the receptacle D may be detached from the recep
tacle B when desired. The rear receptacle D is divided by a horizontal
partition 70 into a lower tool-box compartment D₁ and an upper compartment 1)³,
which is open, and is adapted to receive briers, large stones and other material
that cannot be taken up automatically by the machine. The compartment 1)³
is water-tight, and is provided with an outlet for the water. The tool box D)₁
is provided with one or more doors 71, and the doors have suitable locks. When
the doors are closed their upper portions close the outlet r, as shown in Figure 4.
In attaching the rear box 1) to the central box B a cross bar 72 is provided at
the upper forward portion of the rear box, which is secured by screws or other-
wise to the central box B, and the body of the said rear axle 73, which is poly-
gonal, is received within recesses 74 made in the sides of the rear box, as is
particularly shown in Figure 4.
Supporting wheels 75 of proper diameter are mounted on the projecting
portions of the rear axle 73, and each supporting wheel is provided with an
attached gear 76, made to mesh with pinions 78, which are secured upon the
outer end portions of the brush shaft 62. When the brush shaft is raised or
lowered which will be while the machine is in motion the pinions 78 will be
raised or lowered, while reniaining in mesh with the gears 76.
The stone or rock receiving drum and the brush are adapted to be raised
simultaneously and held raised while the machine is going to and from a surface
to be cleaned. The raising and lowering of these parts are accomplished by
journalling a shaft 79 at the rear of the driver's seat, the shaft being adapted
to be operated by a crank at each end or at both ends. The shaft is provided
at each end with a drum 80, a ratchet wheel 81 adjacent to the drum operating

page_text: right and left, as shown in Figures
and 5, the ratchet wheels being engaged
by pawls 82 carried by the body frame of the machine. Each machine is
preferably provided with two brushes, so that one can be repaired when the other
is in use.
Two ropes, cords or chains 83 and 84 are attached to each of the drums, being
wound therein in the same direction, and the cords or chains 84 are carried down-
ward, and terminate in rings 85 at their lower ends, which encircle the outer
end portions of the shaft of the rock or stone receiving wheel, as shown in
Figure 5. The cords or chains 83 are carried rearwardly over, guide pulleys 86,
then downwardly, and terminate in rings 87, shown in Figure 3, which encircle
the outer end portions of the brush shaft 62.
Slides 88 (Figure 3) are adapted for use in raising and lowering the brush
shaft, corresponding to the slides 31 of the rock drum shaft, the said slides 88
having movement in guide plates 90 (Figure 1) which surround the openings 63
through which the brush shaft extends. Pins 89 are provided to hold the
slides 88 in the position to which they are set (as shown in Figure 3) any
desired number of holes being provided in the sides of the box receptacle B for
the reception of these pins, but I desire it to be distinctly understood that any
approved form of adjustable bearing may be substituted for the bearings shown
as provided for the brush and rock drum shafts.
In operation, small stones and small articles will be taken up by the front
pocket wheel or drum A, and will be deposited in the rock or stone receiving
compartment 20, while the dust and dirt will be taken up by the brush and
delivered to the dust box B3 without the dust escaping from the box receptacle,
since it is preferably made dust-proof at all points. In this manner the road,
or other surface to be treated, may be expeditiously and properly cleaned without
inconvenience or discomfort to any persons near the machine.
It is intended that the driver shall have an attendant whose business it will
be to work in advance of the machine and pile up any brush, briers, stones or
other encumbrances that the machine is not capable of automatically taking up,
and when the machine reaches such pile the accumulated debris is loaded into
the rear upper compartment D³.
The machine is exceedingly simple, durable and economic, and will be effective
in operation. A bell 91 is placed convenient to the driver's seat, in order that
an alarm may be sounded when necessary.
The screw spokes are very important, since the diameter of the brush must be
continuously preserved.
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 a street sweeper, a wheeled support provided with independent compart-
ments, each compartment having a section adapted to receive and hold material,
a pocket wheel or drum adapted to take up stones mounted to revolve in one of
the said compartments, and a brush mounted to revolve in the other of the said
compartments, the drum and brush being located adjacent to the inlets of the
receiving sections of the said compartments, as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a street sweeper, a wheeled support provided with a forward pivoted box
compartment having a section adapted to receive objects, and an apron at the
inlet for the said receiving section, a pocket wheel or drum mounted to revolve
adjacent to the said apron and the inlet for the receiving section of the said box
compartment, a second box compartment provided with a dust receptacle, a
directing plate leading to the inlet of the dust receptacle, an apron located at
the lower end of the directing plate, and a brush mounted to revolve in engage-
ment with the said directing plate and apron and across the inlet of the said
dust receptacle, for the purpose specified.

page_text: 3. In a street sweeper, the combination with a wheeled supported frame, of a
box receptacle carried by the said frame, having an opening in its bottom and
a receptacle for objects adjacent to the said opening, a drum mounted to revolve
within the said box compartment, provided with a series of pockets open at
their peripheral portions, and an apron located between the forward edge of the
opening in the box receptacle and the said pocket wheel or drum for the purpose
specified.
4. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a wheel supported
frame and a box compartment pivotally carried by the said frame, the said box
compartment being provided with an inlet opening in its bottom and a recep-
tacle for objects located likewise in its bottom, the said box receptacle being
likewise provided with outlet openings, and an apron pivotally mounted at the
inlet opening adjacent to the said receptacle within the box compartment, of a
shaft journalled in the said compartment, means for driving the said shaft from
a supporting wheel of the frame, and a stone or rock receiving drum secured
on the said shaft at the inlet opening of the box compartment, the said drum
comprising head sections, a hub and partitions secured to the said heads and
radiating from the said hub, for the purpose specified.
5. In a street sweeping machine, the conibination with a wheel-supported
structure provided with a compartment having an open bottom, a dust receptacle
located at the bottom portion of the said compartment and in communication
therewith, a concaved directing plate extending from the open portion of the
compartment to the bottom of the inlet of the dust receptacle, a wall extending
downwardly over the upper portion of the inlet for the dust receptacle, and an
apron attached at the lower end of said directing plate, of a brush mounted to
revolve in the said compartment, the rows of bristles from said brush being
arranged for engagement with the apron, the directing plate and the upper wall
of the dust receptacle, and means for raising and lowering the brush as and for
the purpose specified.
6. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a wheel supported
frame, a box compartment pivotally attached to the lower portion of the frame,
having a bottom inlet opening and upper outlet openings, a rear box compart-
ment open at the bottom, and a dust receptacle communicating with the interior
of the rear box compartment, of a pocket wheel or drum mounted to revolve in
the forward pivotal compartment at the inlet opening thereof, an apron pivoted
at the inlet opening of the forward box compartment forward of and below the
pocket wheel or drum, a directing plate extending from the open bottom of tho
rear box compartment to the lower portion of the inlet of the dust receptacle,
an adjustable apron pivoted at the lower end of the said directing plate, a brush
mounted to rotate in the rear box compartment, its brush surface being arranged
for engagement with the apron and directing plate and to cross the inlet of the
dust receptacle, means, substantially as described for raising and lowering the
brush and the pocket wheel or drum and devices for driving the brush and
pocket wheel from the supporting wheels of the frame, as specified.
Dated this 12th dow of Jul. 1800
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.