Improvements in Street Sweepers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Street Sweepers.
A communication by JOHN C. SLAWSON, of Indianapolis, in the County of Marion
and State of Indiana, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 invention relates to street sweepers, and it will be understood from the
following description.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a street sweeper embodying the improvements;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;
Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section through the rear end of the machine;
Figure is a detail perspective view of one of the brushes;
Figure 5 is a central cross section through the same, showing it clamped in
place;
Figure 6 is a front view of the extension brush and its connections;
Figure 7 is a detail view partly in section of one of the arms connecting the
oscillating apron with the operating eccentric.
In detail, 1 are the wheels of the front truck 2, and 3 the rear wheels supported
loosely on the axle 4 carried in boxings 5 on the under side of the frame work 6.
7 are gear wheels rigidly mounted on the axle 4, and adapted to be thrown into
connection with the main wheels 3 through a suitable clutch 8 of any ordinary
form secured to the wheels 3, and operated by hand wheels 9 on either side. The
gear wheels 7 engage with the smaller ones 10 mounted on the ends of the shaft 11,
which are journalled in arms 12 secured to the sides of the brush casing 13, and
pass through the same, the arms 12 and the casing being supported and swung
from the main axle as shown. 14 is a counter shaft having bearings through the
walls of the casing and its ends supported in adjustable boxings 15 at the upper
end of the arms 12, the shaft 11 aud the counter-shaft 14 being connected on the
inside of the casing by two sprocket chains 16 connecting the sprockets 17 and 18,
the lower being larger than the upper ones, as shown in Figure 3, and at suitable
distances the links of the sprocket chain are formed with flanges or brackets
thereon, as shown in Figure 5, in which the removable brushes 20 are adapted to
fit, the brushes being formed as shown in Figure 4 of birch or other switches, and
held together at their lower ends by two flat strips 21 which are bolted together,
the bolts passing through the brushes. The brushes thus formed are retained
within the flanges on the links 16 by bolts which also pass through the base of the
entire brush on either side. On the inside of the strips 21 of the brushes are pins
or hooks 22, over which the eyeletted edges of the flexible aprons 23 are adapted
to be caught and retained, and being supported in a loose manner, as shown in
Figure 3, when it turns around the sprockets, it is stretched out in nearly a straight
line. The arms 12 secured to the sides of the brush casing have extensions 24
out beyond the front of the same, and in their ends bearings are formed for the
shaft 25 carrying on one of its ends a sprocket 26 which is connected by a chain
with a smaller one mounted on the end of the shaft, 11, 27 and 28 being eccentrics
mounted on the shaft 25, and through which connecting rods 32 operate the
oscillating apron 29 pivoted at its top to the shell or casing 13, this apron, as
shown in Figure 3, being formed in two sections hinged to each other, the lower

page_text: one provided with an adjustable extension 30 attached to such section by headed
pins operating in vertical slots. This extension carries on its lower edge a
roller 31, and is adapted to operate on the surface of the street.
The eccentric
arms 32, shown in detail in Figure 7, are adjustable so as to regulate the apron in
its backward and forward movement, springs also being provided on the inside of
the eccentric arms to take up any jolt or jar caused by the lower end of the
apron striking against any obstruction in the street while in operation. 33 is a
chain connected on either side of the casing to brackets 34 formed on the arms 12,
and passes over and around suitable pulleys 35, the chain being connected at the
forward end of the machine to another one, which is in turn secured to the
operating lever 36 pivoted on the forward truck of the machine, where there is a
rack 37 for holding it in any desired position. 38 is a shaft, one end having ก
bearing in a boxing 39 which is pivoted on the lower end of the vertical arm 40
pivoted at 52 to the framework 6 of the machine and projecting below.. The outer
end of the shaft 38 is supported when the extension brush 43 is not being used by
a chain 41 which passes up and over a suitable pulley 42 where it is connected to
the main chain 33, by which the casing is lifted, the object being to lift the
extension brush which is formed on the outer end of the shaft 38 simultaneously
with the lifting of the inner end of the casing 13 for removing the brushes from
contact with the street. By the use of the extension brush, the machine is enabled
to sweep a wider space, drawing in the refuse in front of the machine, where it is
taken up by the main brushes in the ordinary manner. 44 is a spring secured
around the shaft 38, one end bearing against a collar 45 ou such shaft, and the
other against the boxing 39, its object being to take up any jar from the end of
the brush. 46 are chains carrying coiled springs on their lower ends, one secured
to the shaft 38, and the other to the vertical pivoted arm 40, the other end of the
chain being attached to the framework 6 of the machine, and are for the purpose
of retaining the brush in a horizontal position in front of the casing 13 and
supporting the gutter brush while it is in operation, the chain 41 being then relaxed.
The extension brush is driven through a sprocket wheel 47 carried on the opposite
end of the shaft from the brush, and is connected to a sprocket wheel 48 mounted
on one end of the counter-shaft 11 by a chain 49 (Fig. 2).
The operation of the machine is as follows-
Upon reaching the street which it is desired to sweep, the brushes are let down
into contact with the same, and the main wheels 3 of the machine are thrown into
connection with the gear wheels 7 through the clutches 8 and, the machine being
started, will operate through the gears 10 to rotate the brushes mounted on the
sprocket chains. At the same time, through the sprocket chains which connect
the sprockets on the countershaft 11 and the shafts 25 and 38 carrying respectively
the eccentrics for operating the apron 29 and extension brush will both in turn
be operated. The eccentric shaft operating through the eccentrics to oscillate
the apron backward and forward in front of the brushes, and the dirt as it is
swept up by the brushes will be forced against the apron on its inward movement
and be carried up and caught in the pockets formed by the flexible aprons between
the brushes, whereby it is carried to the rear of the machine. At the same time
the extension brush is sweeping the dirt from the side of the machine towards the
centre, where it is removed by the main brushes as before mentioned.
In this machine, no means of disposing of the dirt and refuse at the rear of
the machine have been shown, for there are several plans which operate with
equally good results, the first being by securing a platform to the rear of the
machine and catching the dirt and refuse in bags as it is discharged by the brushes
after being elevated. 2nd. By having a receptacle secured directly to the mouth
of the casing, with means for dumping the same when it is full, either directly into
a wagon for conveying it away, or in a single pile upon the street which may be
afterwards disposed of, and, lastly, by having a wagon or cart drawn behind and
below the outlet of the casing into which the dirt will fall, and when full may be
removed and another substituted.

page_text: The large gear wheels 7 of the machine are of such size in relation to the
gears 10 mounted on the counter-shaft 11 as to greatly increase the revolution of
such counter shaft over the main shaft, thereby operating the sweeping brushes
about such counter shaft at a high rate of speed, whereby the centrifugal force is
sufficient to effectually discharge the refuse between the brushes. The extension
brush is also operated at a high speed and the sizes of the sprockets 47 and 48
are such as to give this result, while the sprockets through which the eccentric
shaft is operated are of such size as to give that shaft about one revolution to one
of the main wheels, thereby slowly operating the oscillating apron.
By the construction of the main brushes as shown, they may be readily removed
when worn out and new ones substituted, and owing to the construction of the
casing they may be worn down very short, for, as shown in Figure 1, the sides of
the casing being formed with an adjustable extension 50 on each side hinged at 51,
as the brushes wear down these extensions may be raised, and upon lowering the
casing itself the brushes are thus lowered into contact with the ground, the sides
of the casing always remaining the same.
Any suitable mechanism besides that described may be employed to elevate or
lower the main sweeping brushes and the extension brushes either simultaneously
or independently of each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be employed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a street sweeper, sweeping and elevating mechanism consisting of a series
of brushes with flexible aprons between such brushes and secured to them only,
substantially as shown and described.
2. In a street sweeping machine, the combination of a brush casing swung from
an axle thereof, a main shaft in the lower part and a countershaft in the rear end
of such casing, a series of sweeping and elevating brushes operated in such casing
about such shafts, and flexible aprons detachably secured between such brushes to
form pockets, whereby the refuse is swept, elevated and discharged at the rear of
the machine, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a street sweeping machine, a brush casing, an endless chain carried on
sprockets mounted on shafts having bearings in the walls of the same, removable
brushes fitting in sockets formed on the links of such chains, with detachable
flexible aprons between such brushes forming pockets for receiving the refuse
collected, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a street sweeper, the combination of a frame mounted upon suitable wheels,
a brush casing swung from the rear axle thereof, brushes carried upon chains
connecting sprocket wheels mounted on countershafts having bearings in such
casing and operated through the rear wheels, flexible aprons between such brushes
and an apron formed on the front wall of the casing composed of sections hinged
together and automatically movable towards and from the brushes as the latter
revolve, substantially as shown and described.
5. In a street sweeping machine, a brush casing supported from the rear axle
thereof, shafts having bearings in the walls of such casing, sprocket wheels
mounted thereon, chains connecting such wheels and carrying detachable brushes,
flexible aprons of any suitable material between such brushes forming pockets for
elevating the material swept up, in combination with an apron composed of sections
forming the front wall of the casing, and connected to eccentrics or similar
mechanism, whereby the apron is oscillated or moved towards and from the
brushes, and in front of the same, substantially as shown and described.
6. In a street sweeping machine, a framework supported upon wheels, the rear
ones being loose on their axle, gear wheels rigidly mounted on such axles and
adapted to be thrown into connection with the main wheels, an enclosing casing
swung from the rear axle of the machine, its forward end adjustably supported, a
shaft passing through such casing, and having bearings in the walls of the same

page_text: •
carrying on its ends gear wheels adapted to engage with the larger ones mounted
on the rear axle of the machine, a countershaft having bearings in the upper end
of the casing, and carrying thereon sprocket wheels connected by suitable chains
with larger sprocket wheels carried on the lower shaft, removable brushes with
pockets formed between secured to such chains, and an apron forming a front
wall of the casing and adapted to oscillate backward and forward in front of the
brushes within such casing, substantially as shown and described.
7. In a street sweeper, the combination of the main sweeping mechanism, with
extension brushes having pivoted bearings and buffers to take up lateral jar, such
brushes adapted to sweep the refuse from the sides of the machine in front of the
main sweeping brushes, and with suitable mechanism to elevate and lower the main
sweeping brushes and the extension brushes simultaneously, substantially as shown
and described.
8. In a street sweeper, the combination of a brush casing swung from the rear
axle thereof and carrying therein suitable sweeping and elevating brushes, with
flexible aprons between such brushes, an oscillating apron forming the front wall
of the casing and adapted to oscillate in front of the brushes revolving within
such casing, and an extension brush supported in front of and to one side of such
oscillating apron and adapted to be operated simultaneously with such apron and
the main brushes or independently, substantially as shown and described.
9. In a street sweeper, the combination of a framework, a brush casing swung
from the rear axle of the sweeper, suitable sweeping and elevating brushes
operated within such casing by the movement of the rear wheels of the sweeper,
an oscillating apron forming the front wall of such casing adapted to move
backward and forward in front of such brushes, such apron formed in sections and
provided with an adjustable extension at its lower end, a roller carried on the
lower end of such adjustable extension, and an extension brush supported at one
end in pivoted boxings and at the other end swung from the framework in front of
and to one side of such brush casing, mechanism for operating such extension
brush simultaneously with the elevating brushes or independently, and mechanism
for raising and lowering the extension and the main brush casing simultaneously
or independently, substantially as shown and described.
10. In a street sweeping machine, a framework supported upon wheels, the rear
ones being loose on their axles, an enclosing casing swung from such axle, suitable
shafts having bearings in the walls of such casing, the lower one having gear
wheels on its ends adapted to engage with and be operated upon by larger ones
carried on the rear axle of the machine, sprocket wheels mounted on the shafts
within the casing, and connected by sprocket chains having brushes removably
secured thereto, with pockets formed between the brushes, an apron forming the front
wall of such casing and adapted to oscillate in front of such brushes, in combination
with an extension brush supported from the framework in front of such oscillating
apron, and adapted to be operated simultaneously with the main brushes, and
means for raising and lowering the extension brush and the main brushes at one
and the same operation, substantially as shown and described.
11. In a street sweeper, the combination of a framework supported on wheels,
the rear ones being loose on their axles, gear wheels rigidly mounted on such axle
and adapted to be thrown into connection with the main wheels, a brush casing
swung from the rear axle, its forward end adjustably supported from the frame-
work, shafts having bearings in the walls of the brush casing, gear wheels
mounted on the outer end of the lower shaft adapted to be operated from the main
axle of the sweeper, sprocket wheels mounted on such shaft within the casing and
connected by sprocket chains with brushes mounted thereon, a flexible apron
secured between such brushes for supporting the refuse as it is being elevated, an
oscillating apron forming the front wall of the casing, a roller carried on the
lower end of such apron, and suitable mechanism for oscillating such apron, an
extension brush adjustably secured to the front of the oscillating apron and
extending to the side of the machine, suitable mechanism for operating such

page_text: extension brush, and suitable mechanism for raising and lowering such brush casing
and extension brush together, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 25th day of September 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.