AN IMPROVED STREET SWEEPER
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith, of Barnard Castle, in the County
of Durham, Machinist, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED STREET
SWEEPER."
Sealed the 12th February 1867, and dated the 29th December 1866.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 29th December 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, WILLIAM
SMITH, of Barnard Castle, in the County of Durham, Machinist, sends
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED STREET
SWEEPER," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have
made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Smith, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement
(reference being had to the accompanying Drawings).

page_text: Fig. 1 represents a plan of the machine; Fig. 2 represents a side elevation
of the machine.
The nature of my Invention consists, first, in the manner of fixing the
brushes, being fixed at an angle with the direction in which the machine is
drawn along the road, allowing it by that means to clear itself of mud or dust
on the way.
Secondly, the manner of fixing the brushes by means of slanting or
horizontal bars, so as to enable it to press the ground and accommodate itself
to the inequalities of the surface by its own weight.
Thirdly, the manner of causing the brushes to revolve by means of a
slanting or horizontal chain.
Fourthly, the manner of enabling the brushes to conform to the curvature
of the road by means of a joint in the middle.
In the accompanying Drawings A, A, is the hauling frame attached to the
frame B, B, by means of the iron bars C, C. The frame B, B, is so
constructed as to permit of the brushes D, D, being placed at an angle with
the direction in which the machine is drawn along the road. E, E, are the
supporting wheels, and F, F, the axle; the axle F revolves along with the
wheels E, E, carrying round with it the bevelled wheel G; the bevelled
wheel G turns the smaller bevelled wheel H, which carries round with it the
axle K, K, and the pulley M (Fig. 2); the pulley M carries round with it
the endless chain N, N, which turns the pulley P, P. The pulley P is
fastened to the axle of the brushes D, D, causing the brushes to revolve along
with it, and thus enabling the brushes to remove the mud or dust from the
road. Q, Q, Q, are three bars attaching the brushes D, D, to the axles F
and K, and are in a horizontal or slanting position according as the brushes
D, D, are raised or lowered. The bars Q, Q, Q, move freely upon pivots,
so as to permit them to rise or fall. L, L, is a lever attached to the
bar R, R. By pressing down the lever L the bars Q, Q, are raised by means
of the chain S attached to the small bar T, and also the rod U attached to
the small bar V. When the bars Q, Q, are raised by means of the lever L,
they raise the brushes D, D, from the ground. If the brushes D, D, require
to be kept raised for some time the lever L may be fastened down by placing
the catch W in the notches X, X. To increase or decrease the pressure of
the brushes D, D, upon the road the balance weight Y is moved backwards
and forwards upon the lever L. Z, Z, are notched wheels which receive a catch
attached to the driving wheels E, E, which enables the machine at any time
to be thrown in or out of gear. 0, 0, 0, 0, are stays used to strengthen the
frame B, B. 6 is a joint in the brushes D, D, which enables them to bend to

page_text: the curvature of the road; f,f, is a curved iron plate fixed in front of the
brushes D, D, to prevent the mud or dust from being thrown up against the
machinery.
Having thus described the nature and object of this Invention, what I
claim is,
1st, the shape of the brushes D, D, and the method of fixing them at an
angle with the direction in which the machine moves along the road, enabling
them to deliver the mud or dust in the direction a, as the machine
moves along the road.
2ndly, I also claim the method of fixing the brushes D, D, by means of
slanting or horizontal bars (Q, 'Q, Q); the bars Q, Q, Q, moving freely upon
pivots so as to allow the brushes D, D, to rise and fall over the inequalities of
the ground, and also to press the ground by their own weight.
3rdly, I claim the method of placing the endless chain N in a slanting or
horizontal direction, which enables it to keep the brushes D, D, in motion,
however they may change their position by rising or falling over the
inequalities of the ground.
4thly, I claim the method of regulating the pressure of the brushes D, D,
by means of the balance weight Y.
5thly, I claim the method of enabling the brushes D, D, to accommodate
themselves to the curvature of the road by means of the joint b.
6thly, I claim the shape of the frame B, B, which is placed at an angle
with the direction in which the machine is drawn along the road.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 28th day of December, 1866.
WILLIAM SMITH. (L.B.)