CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROADS, AND WHICH MACHINERY IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
WHITWORTH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Second day of August, in the sixth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph
Whitworth, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Joseph Whitworth, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said Joseph Whitworth, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Planta-
tions abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man,
my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
CLEANING ROADS, AND WHICH MACHINERY IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging
me, the said Joseph Whitworth, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to
be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
-

page_text: Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Whitworth, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference heing had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say):-
My improvements in machinery or apparatus for cleaning roads, which
machinery is also applicable to other similar purposes, have reference to the
machinery or apparatus for which Her present most Excellent Majesty was
pleased to grant me Her Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth
day of April, One thousand eight hundred and forty. The improved apparatus
is shewn in detail in the Drawings accompanying my present Specification.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 an end elevation, and Fig. 3 a horizontal view
of the machine. The following Figures represent detached portions of the same
corresponding parts, are severally marked with the same letters or numbers ip
all the Figures. A is the outline of the cart, B are the side frames of the appa-
ratus, formed of wrought iron, and connected together by cross stays C. The
apparatus is attached to the cart by brackets D, carrying the hollow bosses E,
screwed to the side frames B. The bosses E, form bearings for the. axis F,
carrying the chain pulleys G and wheel H. This wheel is loose on the axis F,
to which it is connected by the sliding clutch I; it geers with the cog wheel K,
attached by staples to the off-side wheel of the cart. When the sliding clutch I
is in geer, the rotary motion of the running wheel, as the cart goes forward, is
communicated by the wheels K, H, and axis F, to the pulleys G. A second
pair of chain pulleys L is fixed on the axis M, carried by the adjustable steel
centres N in the side frames B; the chains o, with the brooms P attached,
are stretched over the corresponding pulleys, and move round with them; as
the cart proceeds forward, each broom is successively brought into contact with
the ground, and the loose soil on the surface is swept up the carrier plate Q
at the top of which it is thrown forward into the cart. R is a flap or apron,
connected by a hinge to the top of the plate, to prevent any portion of the
soil, &c. from falling between the plate and the back of the cart. The carrier
plate Q is suspended from the side frames B by screws S, and has no direct
communication with the cart; it may be made of sheet iron, and should have
on the lower edge a strip of steel to defend it from the effect of occasional
friction with the ground, but a hinge, as described in my former Specification,
is not necessary. As the brooms wear, the position of the carrier plate requires

page_text: adjustment by the screws S, in order to keep it in contact with the shortened-
brooms as they pass upwards. For the beard of the brooms I find piassava
(a product of South America,) to be particularly serviceable; it may be directly
inserted into the broom stock, small portions being separately placed in conical.
holes drilled through the stock at short intervals, and each separate portion
being secured by pitch and by a small wedge driven in from the back, as
shewn, Figures 11 and 12. The chains by which the brooms are connected
are formed of open and closed links, as shewn, Figures 13 and 14; the open
link. T has two flat ends U, between which the stock W of the broom is
secured by a screwed pin and nut.. To facilitate the management of the chain,
one of the open links (out of the entire series of each chain) has a joint X,
which, when the nut is removed, allows one of the flat ends to be drawn
through the adjoining link, whereby the continuous connexion of the endless
chain is resolved. The tension of the chain over the pulleys G, L, is regulated
by substituting longer or shorter links at the joint X, as occasion may require..
Provision is made for regulating the pressure of the brooms on the ground,.
according to the state of the surface. The bearings E have rotary play in the
brackets D, by which they are attached to the cart, and hence, the entire
apparatus swinging in the brackets D, the lower brooms bear on the ground
with considerable pressure; this pressure is relieved by weights which counter-
balance a certain portion of the weight of the apparatus; Y is a weight placed in
the front of the cart for this purpose; it hangs in the recess z, from the chains a
wound on the pulleys b. The axis c of the pulleys has its bearings in steel
centres fixed in standards on the cart, and carries the pinion d, taking into the.
wheel e on the axis f; this axis is parallel with the former, and is similarly
supported; it carries the grooved pulleys g, for the chains h, the ends of
which are fastened in one direction to the pulleys g, and in the other to the
segments, screwed to the side frames B; the weight Y will thus tend
to counterbalance the sweeping apparatus, and thereby relieve the pressure of
the brooms on the ground. A series of holes is formed in the weight Y, for
loose weights, whereby the pressure may be regulated to any nicety; other
methods might be adopted for the same purpose; but not so advantageously.
One advantage of the weight consists in the equality of its action, whatever
may be the position of the apparatus, as affected by the inequalities in the
surface of the ground. By the chains h the apparatus may be raised from the
surface into an horizontal position; for this purpose the wheel e is made to
slide from the pinion d into gear with the worm k, by the lever 1; the driver,
by means of the handle m, can then raise the apparatus, whenever occasion.
may require, and it will continue suspended by the action of the worm on the

page_text: wheel. The worm k is placed close to the pinion d, that it may receive the
teeth of the wheel e partially into gear before they are entirely slided out of
gear with those of the pinion, and the state of suspension of the apparatus be
thereby maintained. As the apparatus is raised, the clutch I is thrown out of
gear by the lever n, baving its fulcrum at o on an arm p, fixed on the bearing E.
One end of the lever is moved sideways as the apparatus rises by the inclined
piece g, fixed on the cart, and the revolution of the broom ceases. When
the apparatus is lowered, the clutch I is carried into gear by a spring r,
fixed on the arm p. The side pieces s carry the bars t (commonly called
doctors), for cleaning the brooms as they revolve; these pieces are slotted,
to afford the opportunity of adjusting the position of the doctors to the
length of the brooms; u is a covering of tarpauling or light boards. The
brackets D, by which the apparatus is attached to the cart, are made with a
joint V, and secured by a split key. The entire apparatus may thus be
detached from the cart, as shewn in Fig. 4, which represents a side view
of the apparatus, and Fig. 4*, which is an oblique elevation of the same with-
out the brooms. The cart itself is constructed of two distinct parts, as shewn
in the Drawings, in which the upper part is marked w, and the lower x, having
their junction-at the line y. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the upper portion of
the cart. Fig. 6 is the lower portion of the same; Fig. 7, a horizontal view
of the lower portion of the cart; and Fig. 8, an elevation of the back of the
same. Fig. 9 represents the top of the upper portion of the cart, shewn in
horizontal view; and Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the same, taken trans-
versely. Both parts of the cart have a strong framing of angle iron, with
cross ribs, to which are fastened boards of timber or plates of sheet iron. The
cart axle z passes round the upper part; it is forged of great strength, and
supported by the cross stay 1. The lower part of the cart, which contains
the load of soil, &, is suspended from the axle z by the chains 2. The weight
of the loaded part a is thus confined to the axle, and has no tendency to
derange the action of the apparatus. The opportunity is also afforded of
conveniently attaching and detaching the part a. For this purpose the shaft 3,
bearing in projections 4 on the axle z, carries the grooved pulleys 5 for the
chains 2, the ends of which are fastennd in one direction by hooks to the eye
pieces 6 on the part a, and in the other to the pulleys 5. The wheel 7 on the
axis 3 gears with the worm 8 on the shaft 9, which has its bearings at 10, and
is worked by a handle at 11. The part & may thus be lowered to the ground,
and the chains unhooked, when the sweeping apparatus (raised into the hori-
zontal position, as before described) may be drawn with the part w over the
part x, the latter being thus completely disengaged. If loaded at the time it

page_text: may be emptied at leisure, or hoisted and made to discharge its contents
instantaneously, provided suitable apparatus be at hand. To reattach the part x
the part w should be moved backwards over it, and the chains applied as it is
drawn up by the handle at 11, the pieces 12, fixed to the part w, guide it into
the proper position. In working the carts, it will be found convenient and
economical to provide an extra number of the lower parts, to afford oppor-
tunity for substitution, as occasion may require. It will be observed that the
cart is not symetrical, the near side being made to expand outwards as much
as the running wheel will allow. This form is given to enable the brooms to.
act near the curbstone along the side of streets or roads.
The apparatus I have now described might be modified by substituting for
the brooms, scrapers formed of hoop iron or strips of wood, and attached to the
endless chains in precisely the same manner as the brooms. After scraping
the surface of the ground they would move up the carrier plate, carrying the
soil, &, with them. This change may be found advantageous in certain states.
of the ground surface, when there is a large quantity of snow or other soft
substance to be removed. It would involve no other alteration on the appa-
ratus, except that the doctors would then be dismissed. The scrapers or brooms.
move with sufficient velocity to throw the soil, &, from the top of the carrier
plate with considerable force into the cart; but in dry weather the soil accu-
mulates rather more at the hinder part, and it is necessary, in order completely
to fill the cart, that the driver should distribute the load. This he can easily
do by entering the cart through an opening provided in the top. 13 is a pipe
for drawing off from the interior of the cart the water which, in wet weather,
is swept into it from the surface of the street. The pipe has its orifice about.
fourteen inches from the bottom of the cart, and is fitted with a plug 14. The
cart being drawn to the side of the street, and the plug withdrawn, the water
above the orifice of the pipe will be discharged into the gutter.
Referring to the Drawings annexed to my former Specification, inrolled the
Fourteenth of October, One thousand eight hundred and forty, I will here
suggest certain modifications of the apparatus therein described. In the
apparatus shewn, Fig. 8, vessels formed of wood or iron (or other suitable
material) might be substituted for the series of brooms connected to an endless
band of cloth. If, in place of each broom, a piece of wood, of suitable size
and shape, were connected to the endless band, it would form with the band a
vessel capable of receiving the soil, &, thrown up by the circular broom, and
would afterwards deposit it in the cart. Again, in the machine shewn, Fig. 5,
instead of a single scraper R, an apparatus, such as before described, might be

page_text: used, consisting of scrapers or scoops attached to endless chains passing over:
pulleys suspended from the cart in such a position that the scrapers might be
brought successively to act on the loose soil thrown by the circular broom into
the recess formed by the plate Y, with the incline T, and carry it into the
cart, such an apparatus might be conveniently driven from the cart wheel,
either by chain and pulleys or by toothed wheels, in the manner shewn in the
Drawings which accompany my present Specification. By making the circular
broom larger in diameter, and somewhat reducing the depth of the cart, the
soil, &, could be conveyed up the carrier plate directly into the cart without the
aid of any intermediate scraper or scrapers. Whenever the circular broom is used
a carrier plate of similar form as shewn in Fig. 5 is indispensably necessary.
Instead, however, of attaching it directly to the cart, as shewn in that Figure,
it will be more advantageous to suspend it from the arms d, carrying the axis
of the circular broom. As the diameter of the circular broom will be reduced
by wear, it will be desirable to form the broom of separate stocks, similar to
those composing the endless broom before described. These stocks should be
attached to arms radiating at the sides of the broom from its centre, and thus
the opportunity would be afforded to adjust the broom to the carrier plate.
.
The improved machinery which I have described may be used in cleaning
the surface of ground, not being part of roads, and is therefore applicable to
other similar purposes.
Having now described my said improvements, I would have it understood
that I make no claim to any of those parts of the machinery or apparatus,
herein-before described, which were previously described in my said. former
Specification.
I claim, first, the counterbalancing a certain portion of the weight of the
apparatus (composed of brooms or scrapers and an incline or carrier plate),.
so as to relieve and regulate the pressure of the said brooms or scrapers on.
the ground, and also the mode of raising the apparatus entirely off the ground
when occasion may require..
Second, the mode of constructing the cart to which the apparatus of brooms
or scrapers and carrier plate is applied, so as to admit of the said apparatus
working near to the side of road or curbstone..
Third, the mode of forming the cart to which the apparatus of brooms or
scrapers and incline or carrier plate is attached of two parts, so that the
lower may be conveniently separated from the upper.
T
Fourth, the mode of forming the brooms or scrapers into endless chains by
means of open and closed links, as described..

page_text: Fifth, the so combining rotating brooms with an incline or carrier plate that
the incline or carrier plate and the framing which carries the brooms may be
adjusted as the brooms wear away.
Sixth, the modifications herein-before described in respect to Figures 5 and 8
of the machinery of my former Patent, above alluded to.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Whitworth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Second day of february,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Joseph Whitworth came before our
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And
also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Second day of February, in the year above written.