Improved Street Cleaner.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Street Cleaner.
I, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL HOLMS of 3 Fitzroy Crescent, Belfast, in the County
of Antrim, in Ireland, Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to means of raising & collecting snow, mud, dust, or other
like matter from streets and roads, and consists in the use of an inclined shallow
trough sloping from the back of a cart or other conveyance to near the surface of
the street, and a continuous series of webs of suitable material, or brushes, connected
together by chains, which ascend in this trough by suitable mechanism &
having previously swept by a forward motion the street in the rear, so accumulates
the matter to be lifted at the bottom of the trough that it is carried up by the
webs, or brushes, to the top of the trough & dropped into the aforesaid conveyance.
In order to clean a wide area of street there are side sweepers projecting from
the sides at an angle with the machine, which sweeping the street in advance causes
the matter to be lifted, to accumulate at the bottom of the trough.
Dated this 7th day of June 1892.
A. CAMPBELL HOLMS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Street Cleaner.
1 ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL HOLMS of 3 Fitzroy Crescent in the City of Belfast
and County of Antrim in Ireland Surveyor 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, relation being had to
the accompanying sheets of drawings, the same letters of reference marked thereon
indicating the same or corresponding parts of my improved machine applicable for
clearing and cleaning streets and roads and of which drawings:-
-
Fig. I. is a side elevation of my machine as adapted for dealing with mud and
the like and of an attached cart or conveyance for receiving it and shows a trough,
chain-wheels, chains or links, revolving scrapers, side boards and ground scrapers,
a humped quadrant or semicircular bar, span pieces, horizontal bar, bell cranks and
rods, with the various appliances and gearing connected there with and hereinafter
more particularly mentioned and described.
Fig. II. is a plan of the lower part of the trough shown in Fig. I.
Fig. III. is a detail plan, elevation and section of rows of revolving scrapers
shewn in Fig. I.
Fig. IV. is a side elevation of my machine as adapted for dealing with heavy
snow and the like and shows broad revolving scrapers, chute and side boards,
with various appliances and gearing hereinafter more particularly mentioned and
described.
Fig. V. is a plan of the lower part of the trough shown in Fig. IV. and
Fig. VI. is a plan of the humped quadrant or semicircular bar shown on Fig. I.
My invention relates to mechanical means of collecting, raising and removing
snow, mud dust or other like matter from streets or roads and consists in the use
of an inclined trough reaching to the surface of the snow or other matter to be
removed and in some cases to the surface of the streets or roads and of a con-
tinuous series of webs, plates, slabs or blades of wood, india rubber or other suitable
material (hereinafter referred to as the scrapers) or of brushes (hereinafter referred

page_text: to as the sweepers) connected together by endless bands, chains or links making a
circuit over and under a train or trains of pulleys or chain-wheels so arranged as
to pass the scrapers or sweepers forward along and near to or in contact with the
surface of the streets or roads and to scrape or sweep and accumulate the matter
to be removed to and at the bottom or foot of and carry it up the inclined trough
and then to discharge it over the top of the trough into a cart or other suitable
conveyance or into a chute or hopper in front of the trough.
For this purpose I employ a bottomless truck or carriage running upon wheels
and in the fore part of this I place the inclined trough A and at each side I mount
three or more pulleys or chain-wheels two of each of which B. B¹, are further or
less apart at the rear of the truck or carriage but when in working position are
equally distant at the nearest points of their circumferences from the ground and
so that a line drawn tangentially below their circumferences would be parallel with
it and a third B is elevated in front over the top of the inclined trough and so
that a line drawn tangentially below such pulley or wheel B2 and the lower pulley
or wheel nearest to it, B', would be parallel to the bottom of the inclined trough,
the interval between the tangential lines I have mentioned and the surface of the
ground and bottom of the trough respectively being arranged to allow the bands,
chains or links, C, and the scrapers or sweepers, D, D¹, to pass without blocking
or choking. The inclined trough is supported on rollers, E, F, which are severally
attached to the truck or carriage and to the supports of the elevated pulley or
chain wheel, B2, and is raised or lowered by the aid of a hand wheel and pinion
on G, gearing with a rack fastened underneath it or by some mechanical equiva-
lent therefor.
The bottom of the trough is made with a slight longitudinal convexity in order
that the ascending scrapers may press against it and, preferably for dealing with
mud and the like, the lower end of it is specially formed of or furnished with
tongues of metal, HH, which are fixed at I and are spring tempered and thinned
out at J near to their junction with the rigid portion of the trough so that they
may rise or bend up if they come upon or into contact with any obstacle or irregu-
larity of road surface, but they are prevented from falling too low or under a
certain horizontal line by brackets or snugs, K, K, placed beneath them and affixed
to the end of the rigid portion of the trough and they are thickened at the terminal
extremity or lower edge and at the sides near to it to take tear and wear and
prevent jamming.
In order to allow a larger quantity of snow or like matter to pass under the
trough as it is carried forward and at the same time to keep the surplus accumu-
lation thereof at the centre of the trough and in from its sides I form the lower
edges of these tongues preferably so as to describe a curve or segmental line, L,
the longest tongues being at each side of the trough and the shortest midway
between them.
The endless bands, chains or links, C, pass round the several corresponding
pulleys or chain-wheels, B, B1, B2, one on each side of the truck or carriage and
are furnished, at frequent intervals when the machine is intended to be employed
in removing mud or other matter of a similar description, with projections to which
horizontal cross-pieces, M, M, are attached and each cross piece carries a row of
short narrow scrapers, in close array, attached to it by means of broad curved
springs, N, N, by which such scrapers or sweepers are accommodated to irregularities
of streets or road surface and I provide stop-bars, 0, 0, to prevent them from
moving below a fixed or certain point while each of them is, at the same time, free
to rise over any uneven surface or accidental impediment and may be adjusted to
meet exigencies as it wears short. These scrapers may be placed entirely outside
or beyond the periphery of the endless bands, chains or links and are driven at a
moderate speed.
For clearing away deep snow I employ very broad scrapers, D', passing up
between the endless bands, chains or links and the pulleys or chain-wheels and
furnish their outer edges with a pliable substance, such a leather or india rubber,

page_text: and I increase the speed of their revolution and may provide a fly wheel on the
elevated spindle, P, in order to preserve regularity of motion. The scrapers, in
such cases and likewise for the cleaning of smooth streets or roads, are connected
with the cross pieces by means of rigid bolts or to the broad curved springs N, N,
and may advantageously be serrated at their lower edges.
In order to retain snow at the bottom of the trough and prevent it spreading
beyond the ends of the advancing scrapers I provide long side boards, Q, Q, placed
at each side and at the base of the trough between it and a guide bar, R, and
retained in position by means of springs which admit of their motion vertically
when passing over rough surfaces. And for the purpose of extending the range
or reach of the machine and clearing a wider area of street or road I may employ
ground scrapers, Q', projecting outwards at an angle from the forward ends of the
side boards, as shewn in Figures I. and II. and having the lower edge furnished
with a pliable substance. The same arrangements will be generally applicable for
cleaning smooth streets or roads.
But for streets or roads of irregular or uneven surface I employ shorter and
shallower side boards, retaining them in position by the same means as I have
already described, and for the ground scrapers I substitute a row or rows of short
ground scrapers or sweepers, a, a, likewise projecting outwards on each side of the
trough and operating in a forward direction only. These short ground scrapers
or sweepers are attached by springs, b, b, to angle plates or pieces, c, c, carrying
two or more of such scrapers or sweepers and the angle plates or pieces are
themselves pivoted at d, to a horizontal plate S, so that by tilting them the ground
scrapers or sweepers may be lifted up out of action. By attaching the plate, S,
by hinges or springs, e, e, to a vertical plate, T, fixed upon the truck or carriage
the ground scrapers or sweepers are enabled to rock in a vertical plane to suit
variations of road camber or side slope.
The angle plates or pieces of the front rows of ground scrapers or sweepers are
hung on square bars, f, f, so as to slide lengthwise thereon and to be thereby
adjustable for operation upon a varying width of track.
The springs by which each ground scraper or sweeper is attached to the angle-
plates or pieces admit of its accommodating itself independently to irregularities of
road surface and its connection with its springs may be by joints so that it will fold
up if moved backwards. I may employ double rows of ground scrapers or sweepers
in order to clear more thoroughly an uneven or irregular road surface and I may
employ several in a row overlapping one another and may increase their number
and reduce their size, if necessary or desired. I extend them inwards
trough to bring the mud or other matter towards the centre, in which case the side
boards may be dispensed with altogether or be lifted out of action.
I provide a flap or scoop, U, of leather or other suitable material, at the top of
the inclined trough to carry over the lifted matter into the cart or other conveyance
or into the chute or hopper in front of the trough.
I also provide at or near to the flap or scoop a doctor or brush, V, which rises and
is guided in grooves-at each side of the trough and may be balanced by springs, or
mechanical equivalents therefor, so as to clear away any matter adhering to or
otherwise to clean the scrapers or sweepers before rising above or over the elevated
pulley or chain-wheel.
The truck or carriage on which I mount my apparatus runs on two driving
wheels, near its rear end, and on a steering wheel, at the front, pivoted to a
plate or bar which extends across and is bolted or otherwise attached to the supports
of the elevated spindle, P.
This truck or carriage may be linked to the cart or conveyance into which the
snow, mud or other matter is to be emptied by a horizontal slotted or perforated
bar, g, pivoted at to the steering wheel, so as to rise and fall vertically, and
engaging a pin or bolt projecting below such cart or conveyance and I adjust the
horizontal bar and retain it in position by means of an arm, i, extending vertically
from the pivoted end thereof.

page_text: When it is desired to throw the snow on one or each side of the track I dispense
with the cart or conveyance and substitute shafts or a horse pole for the horizontal
bar and I employ a transversely inclined trough A¹ fixed to the top of the
trough, A, previously described and sloping downwards to near the ground, one on
each side of the truck or carriage as the case may be, and shoot the snow beyond
the side of the machine.
The motion of the endless bands, chains or links and scrapers or sweepers is
obtained from the driving wheels on the truck or carriage or by other independent
motor, by means of a crossed driving chain gearing with a driving chain wheel, W,
on the spindle of the elevated pulley or chain-wheel and with another driving chain-
wheel W, keyed to one or other of the shafts or axle of the truck or carriage driving
wheels. In order to allow the two driving wheels to move independently of each
other when turning curves and at the same time to cause each to yield its frictional
power I arrange them to rotate independently on their shaft or axle which they
drive by the aid of a pawl fixed on each wheel engaging in a ratchet wheel keyed
to the shaft or axle in such a way that only the forward rotation of the wheel will
affect the shaft or axle. Or I may, for that purpose, employ a driving-chain
gearing on a segmental chain-wheel fixed to the spokes of each driving wheel and
actuating a chain-wheel at each end of the elevated spindle, P, to which they are
attached by a pawl and ratchet or a clutch with ratchet teeth, similar to the
arrangement above described.
While turning sharp curves the posterior revolving scrapers or sweepers attached
to the endless bands, chains or links and the side boards and ground scrapers or
sweepers are lifted up off the street or road automatically by means of a horizontal
humped quadrant or semicircular bar, k, or of some mechanical equivalent therefor,
fixed by forks, I, to the steering wheel of the truck or carriage and moving with it,
guided where passing over the frame of the truck or carriage by a wheel, m, above
and a wheel, n, below.
When the steering wheel is at or near to the central line of the truck or carriage,
the upper guide wheel rolls on the humped or elevated part, o, of the quadrant or
bar and, when the steering wheel is turned, the quadrant or bar, moving with it,
slides back between the guide wheels and the upper one falls to the level part of it.
In doing so the upper guide wheel carries with it a slide, p, to which it is pivoted
and which by the aid of a bell crank, q, moves back a horizontal bar,, extending
to the rear of the truck or carriage and connected by cranks, 8, t, and rods with the
angle-plates or pieces and by a crank, u, and rod, v, with the side boards and by a
large crank, w, with the posterior chain wheels (whose axle is borne by the large
crank for purposes of adjustment) by the respective operations of which cranks and
rcds and crank only the angle-plates or pieces are tilted and the ground scrapers or
sweepers, the side boards and the posterior revolving scrapers or sweepers attached
to the endless bands, chains or links are automatically lifted as above stated. The
cranks and rods on each side of my apparatus may be similarly actuated or the
motions of those on one side may be communicated to the corresponding cranks and
rods on the opposite side through their spindles.
I employ balance springs, c, x, at the slide to which the upper guide wheel is
pivoted and at the crank, w, bearing the posterior chain wheel, B, for the purpose
of reducing the weight of the parts and assisting the automatic action I have just
described.
The same operation may be accomplished by the turning of a hand wheel, B³,
upon a spindle or rod, C¹, whereon a nut working moves a span piece E¹ which
engages with a projection on the horizontal bar, r, above mentioned and moves it
back, as already described.
By extending this spindle, C¹, and gearing it through bevel wheels, Fi and G₁
with a berel wheel, y, actuating a screw connected to the axle block, X, of one of
the driving wheels the axle block may be moved up and down in guides, X', and
the gearing is carried across by the horizontal spindle of the bevel wheel G¹ to
similar screw gearing connected with the other driving wheel so that the pressure

page_text: of the scrapers or sweepers may be adjusted and the truck or carriage raised on its
driving wheels for transportation.
The driving chain wheel, W, on the elevated spindle, P, runs loose upon it and
is geared to it by a clutch keyed to it.
The train of pulleys or chain-wheels carrying the scrapers or sweepers may be
put out of action by the aid of a vertical lever, I', engaging this clutch, the lever
being pivoted at its centre, Ji, to one of the supports of the elevated spindle and
connected by a horizontal bell crank, L', at its lower extremity with a horizontal
rod, P, extending along the side of the truck or carriage and terminating in a ring
handle, R', to be pulled for the purpose. But the stoppage may also be effected
by the span-piece, S', I have mentioned engaging with a snug or projection, T', on
the horizontal rod Pl.
The endless bands, chains or links may be tightened by shifting back the
pivot, Z, of the large crank, w, by which the posterior pulley or chain wheel is
automatically adjusted or may be lifted when turning sharp curves.
The apparatus may be enclosed or covered with a light casing, V', as shewn by
dotted lines on Fig. I. of the annexed drawings.
I am aware that inclined troughs and revolving bands, chains or links, with
scrapers and brushes or elevators, have already been patented, although not generally
employed, for the purpose of clearing or cleaning snow and mud from streets and
roads and therefore I do not claim any of them nor any of the separate mechanical
parts as of my invention or the exclusive use thereof except when the same are
constructed specially and arranged and employed in the manner and for the
purposes herein before stated by me.
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
1. The manufacture and use of a machine having an inclined trough and an
endless series of scrapers or sweepers passing round a train of pulleys or chain-
wheels on each side of the machine, of which two or more corresponding pulleys or
wheels in each train are arranged so as to carry several of the scrapers or sweepers
simultaneously forward in contact with the street or road or successively over the
same portion of it before ascending the trough, constructed and employed sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in
Figs. I. and IV. of the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. A trough slightly convexed longitudinally and arranged at its lower end with
tongues capable of yielding to obstacles or irregularities of street or road and
curving upwards towards the longitudinal centre of the trough constructed and
employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described
and shewn in Fig. II. of the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. Separate scrapers connected with cross pieces by springs constructed and
employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and shewn in Fig. III. of the drawings hereunto annexed.
4. Side boards at the base of the trough constructed and employed substantially
in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in Figs. I.,
IV. and V. of the drawings hereunto annexed.
5. Ground scrapers projected at an angle from the side boards constructed and
employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described
and shewn in Figs. I. and II. of the drawings hereunto annexed.
6. A steering wheel arranged with a vertical axis and humped quadrant or semi-
circular bar or some mechanical equivalent therefor constructed and employed
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and shewn
in Figs. I. and VI. of the drawings hereunto annexed.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my street and road

page_text: clearing and cleaning machine constructed and employed substantially in the
manner hereinbefore described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 7th day of March 1893.
HYNDMAN & DICKSON,
6, Chichester Street, Belfast, Agents for Applicant.