GB2092887A - Fibres for brooms or brushes - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fibre for brooms or brushes used in road-sweeping machines constituted by at least two parallel steel cables, 1, embedded in a binding elastomer, 3. The cross-section of the fibre is oblong. The present invention finds an interesting application in the production of brushes, especially brushes for use in road-sweeping machines. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fibres for brooms or brushes The present invention relates to a new fibre for use in the manufacture of brooms or brushes which are mainly required to be adapted on sweeping machines such as motorized road-sweepers used for cleaning roads and in particular gutters.

It is known that the fibres used for certain roadsweeping brushes, have an oblong cross-section and are so implanted on a support that their cross- sections show a special predetermined orientation with respect to resisting forces. Such fibres of oblong or rectangular cross-section which have been used up to now, are either synthetic fibres (polypropylene, polyamide etc.) with a low module of elasticity and poor resistance to wear, orthey are flat steel fibres with a strong scouring power but too often breakable and as such rather dangerous. It is also known to produce a material for brushes which is composed of parallel strands embedded in a rubber or the like, and forming either a cylindrical fibre or a reinforced strip.Beside the fact that neither form of this material can be used in an orientation such as indicated hereinabove, their manufacture causes uneven tensions in the metallic wires which results in a deformation of the final product (curving or undulating).

It is the object of the present invention to propose a fibre of oblong or rectangular cross-section, whose cross-section is orientable with respect to the direction of the resisting forces and which shows a high module of elasticity, a high sweeping and scouring power and a good resistance to wear. Said fibre is also more resistant to breaking and is quite safe due to the fact that any parts that may break remain attached to the rest of the fibre.

To this effect, the present invention relates to a fibre for a road-sweeping brush, which is constituted by two stranded cables made from parallely disposed wires, embedded in that orientation in an elastomer.

The cross-section of the resulting fibre is substantially oblong.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a crosssection of a preferred embodiment of the invention Referring to said drawi! rg, there is shown two cross-sections of cables 1 and 2, each one constituted by a central steel wire and six peripheral wires stranded around the central wire. Said wires are kept in a parallel position and embedded in a bonding elastomer 3 which may be a natural or synthetic rubber, or polyamides, or the like. The resulting fibre is then of oblong cross-section (rectangular in the illustrated example). The said cables can have any desired composition (for example three central wires and nine peripheral wires) depending on the stiffness required for the fibre.The wire used is produced by extrusion, continuous vulcanizing and by cutting into sections of required length, the two cables being equally stretched.

The steel cables used according to the invention produce a fibre which shows an excellent resistance to wear and to breaking. The bonding elastomer contributes to increasing the module of elasticity of the fiber and its resistance to deformations and wear, to proleeting from any projection of fragments in cases of breaks and to improving the sweeping power. In addition, from a manufacturing standpoint, the use of two cables procures a rectilinear fibre, the tension of which may be equal from one cable to the other, each one of the cables being in itself subjected to no strains liable to bend it.

The invention is in no way limited to the description given hereinabove but on the contrary covers any modifications that can be brought thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

1. Fibres for brooms or brushes used in roadsweeping machines, constituted by at least two elongated elements parallely disposed and embedded in that orientation in a binding material, wherein said elements are constituted by portions of cables in stranded steel wires, the binding material is an elastomer and the cross-section of the fibre is substantially oblong.

2. Afibre substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. A brush or broom including fibres according to any one of the preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fibres for brooms or brushes The present invention relates to a new fibre for use in the manufacture of brooms or brushes which are mainly required to be adapted on sweeping machines such as motorized road-sweepers used for cleaning roads and in particular gutters. It is known that the fibres used for certain roadsweeping brushes, have an oblong cross-section and are so implanted on a support that their cross- sections show a special predetermined orientation with respect to resisting forces. Such fibres of oblong or rectangular cross-section which have been used up to now, are either synthetic fibres (polypropylene, polyamide etc.) with a low module of elasticity and poor resistance to wear, orthey are flat steel fibres with a strong scouring power but too often breakable and as such rather dangerous. It is also known to produce a material for brushes which is composed of parallel strands embedded in a rubber or the like, and forming either a cylindrical fibre or a reinforced strip.Beside the fact that neither form of this material can be used in an orientation such as indicated hereinabove, their manufacture causes uneven tensions in the metallic wires which results in a deformation of the final product (curving or undulating). It is the object of the present invention to propose a fibre of oblong or rectangular cross-section, whose cross-section is orientable with respect to the direction of the resisting forces and which shows a high module of elasticity, a high sweeping and scouring power and a good resistance to wear. Said fibre is also more resistant to breaking and is quite safe due to the fact that any parts that may break remain attached to the rest of the fibre. To this effect, the present invention relates to a fibre for a road-sweeping brush, which is constituted by two stranded cables made from parallely disposed wires, embedded in that orientation in an elastomer. The cross-section of the resulting fibre is substantially oblong. The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a crosssection of a preferred embodiment of the invention Referring to said drawi! rg, there is shown two cross-sections of cables 1 and 2, each one constituted by a central steel wire and six peripheral wires stranded around the central wire. Said wires are kept in a parallel position and embedded in a bonding elastomer 3 which may be a natural or synthetic rubber, or polyamides, or the like. The resulting fibre is then of oblong cross-section (rectangular in the illustrated example). The said cables can have any desired composition (for example three central wires and nine peripheral wires) depending on the stiffness required for the fibre.The wire used is produced by extrusion, continuous vulcanizing and by cutting into sections of required length, the two cables being equally stretched. The steel cables used according to the invention produce a fibre which shows an excellent resistance to wear and to breaking. The bonding elastomer contributes to increasing the module of elasticity of the fiber and its resistance to deformations and wear, to proleeting from any projection of fragments in cases of breaks and to improving the sweeping power. In addition, from a manufacturing standpoint, the use of two cables procures a rectilinear fibre, the tension of which may be equal from one cable to the other, each one of the cables being in itself subjected to no strains liable to bend it. The invention is in no way limited to the description given hereinabove but on the contrary covers any modifications that can be brought thereto without departing from the scope thereof. CLAIMS

1. Fibres for brooms or brushes used in roadsweeping machines, constituted by at least two elongated elements parallely disposed and embedded in that orientation in a binding material, wherein said elements are constituted by portions of cables in stranded steel wires, the binding material is an elastomer and the cross-section of the fibre is substantially oblong.

2. Afibre substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. A brush or broom including fibres according to any one of the preceding claims.