US1288028A - Street-sweeping machine. - Google Patents

Description

B. KERN.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED NOV. 19, |914. BQSDQS Y Patented Deo. 17, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. KERN.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED N.o\.'.19. 1914.

Patented Deo. 17, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

B. KERN.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I9. 1914.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

B. KERN'.

STREET SWEEPING MAcHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.19, |914. 1,288,028. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

B. KERN. STREET swEEPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NQVI9, 1914.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHED' 5.

J4/manic@ www B. KERN.

STREET swEEPlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19. |914.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERNARD KERN, OF SANDUSKY, 0R10.

STREET-SWEEPIN G MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. l

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Application led Noveniber 19, 1914. Serial No. 878,009.

erence being had therein to the accompany- Y ing drawing."

This invention relates to improvements in street sweeping machines of that type wherein brushing means are utilized to loosen the refuse from a street surface, in the zone of influence of a volume of air for lifting and conveying such refuse to a suitable point of deposit, as for example, toV a separating system, or dump cart, not necessary to be referred to in detail herein.

An object of the present invention is to provide a suitable conduit, in conjunction with an exhaust fan, said conduit being provided with a suitable inlet nozzle or mouthpiece, the latter being of an elongated flexible nature enabling the sections thereof to adjust themselves in keeping with the road surface over which the machine travels; and more specifically a mouthpiece having telescoping pivoted sections furnished with means for maintaining the sections in alinement, independent of their respective adjustments, to'preserve at all times a continuous channel throughout the mouthpiece.

A further object of the invention is the association of a suitable brush, preferably of a rotary type, with a mouthpiece, and improved means for connecting together and 'adjusting the relative positions of the mouthplece and broom; this combination, in a practical embodiment thereof, including a brush of a flexible nature adapted to adjust itself in consonance with the adjustment of the flexible mouthpiece to which I have hereinabove alluded.

The invention further embraces a construction wherein a mouthpiece is employed in conjunction with an air lifting and conveying means, and with a brush adapted to throw the refuse material from the street surface into the influence of the air passing into the mouthpiece, a baile or deflecting means being carried by the mouthpiece to prevent t -c throwing of the refuse therebeyond.

The invention still further contemplates the provision of improved counterbalancing means for the mouthpiece and brush enabling the latter to rise and fall to follow the contour of the road surface; and, preferably, such counterbalancing means coperatively related to mechanism for raising the mouthpiece and broom out of operative association with the surface over which the machine travels.

The foregoing and many other features of Vdetail and combinations of parts constituting refinements of the present invention will be more readily understood from the accompanying' drawings forming part hereof, when considered in connection with the specic description thereof hereinafter contained, and wherein the preferred embodi ment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a street sweeper possessing the improvements desired to be protected herein,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the connecting and adjusting means between the mouthpiece and broom,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the flexible mouthpiece,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sectional brush,

Fig. 5 is a partial end view,

Fig. v6 -is a front view of the counterbalancing means and associated parts, parts being shown in section, Y

Fig. 7 is a top plan view thereof,

F ig. 8 is a detail longitudinal section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7 showing one of the counterbalancing weights and connections therefor, v y

Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, and

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional View.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the corresponding parts in the Several views, A represents a rotary brush designed to loosen the refuse from the street or road surface and throw it into the range of infinence of a volume of air passing into the mouth of a conduit B, the latter being coupled through branches b b and flexible tubular connections C, C to the opposite sections D, D constituting the mouthpiece.

The sections of the mouthpiece are tapered at their upper portions, as shown, to merge into the cylindrical coupling members C, C', while at their lower ends they are elongated and combined to constitute a substantially oblong inlet opening E, the adjoining inner sections of the mouthpiece overlapping, as at l?, and being pivotally united by a bolt G to permit the sections to move relative to each other around the axis of said bolt, in keeping with the surface of the ground, while at all times maintaining the continuity of the inlet opening of the mouthpiece. rlhe sections of the mouthpiece are maintained in aline-ment and reinforced against lateral strains by means of a bar secured at 7L to the section D and working through a bracket h on the section l), the bar being formed on an arc concentric to the pivot bolt G.

At the. upper surface of the mou-thpiece, l arrange a correspondingly sectional deflector l provided with adjustable mountings c' for determining the projection of the sections with reference to the mouthpiece, these sections, or baiiies, serving to prevent the throwing of the dirt upwardly beyond the opening of the mouthpiece by the brush. The adjustable mountings c' enable the projecting and retracting of the delector, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2, the sections being locked in place by bolts t" and nuts 2, passing through slots 3 in the brackets at the ends of the mouthpiece, (Figs. 2 and 3).

lt is observed that the opening E in Ithe mouthpiece inclines upwardly and rearwardly owing to the curvature of the mouthpiece throughout the body portion thereof, and that said opening faces rearwardly of the direction of travel of the vehicle, the :bottom of the mouthpiece being provided with a trailing exible contact strip d adapted to wipe along over the surface of the ground to prevent the dirt being thrown beneath the mouthpiece, following in that respect the general purposes of the adjustable deflector l at the top of the mouthpiece.

1n advance of the mouthpiece l may, should occasion require, secure sectional Scrapers in the n-ature of brushes l ,-one carried by each section of the mouthpiece,- designed to loosen the. matter to be collected from the street, prior to the lifting of such 4matter by the brush A to be thrown by such brush toward the inlet opening of the conduit mouth.

The brush A is mounted to rotate upon an axle la mounted at its opposite ends in bearings li/l', swiveled upon the swinging supporting bars U, the lower ends of the bars passing through sleeves n integral with the bearings and headed, as at N, to prevent withdrawal thereof. The opposite ends of the arms are pivoted upon a supporting shaft P. f rlhis mounting of the brush upon the arms 0 permits the same to rise and fall following its contact with the road surface, and to insure the same movement of the mouthpiece so as to maintain the xed operative relation of the mouthpiece and brush insane@ at all times, the brush and mouthpiece are rigidly and adjustably united as follows, to wit: Q are rearwardly extending bars securely fastened to the ends of the mouthpiece, the free ends of said bars being formed into. T-heads having vertical slots g therein enabling the relative adjustment ofA the broom and mouthpiece in a. vertical direction; these =lheads lying adjacent to similar projecting portions R on the bearing members M provided with horizontal slots r permitting relative horizontal adjustment of the mouthpiece and brush, bolts S passing through the slots Q and 7 at the intersection thereof and binding the parts in the desired xed adjustable position.

lo relieve the bearings of lateral strains, the side bars or arms (l) are slotted as at 0 for the accommodation of depending guide arms '1` xedly secured to the frame of the machine in position to have the arms 0 work up and down freely thereover, as the brush and mouthpiece rise and fall, it being understood that the flexible connections C, C for the mouthpiece,which is conveniently formed of strong metal,-permit the mouthpiece to move vertically while maintaining its operative association with the conduit.

'llo enable the broom to adjust itself vertically in keeping with the surface of the ground, the axle L thereof is formed in sections (shown as of equal length), the inner end of one of the sections being formed into av Socket Z and the inner end of the other section being formed into a rounded knob Z affording a universal union at .the center of the brush A, the latter being correspondingly formed of sections, alining with the sections of the mouthpiece, and having the bristles a at the juncture of the sections converging outwardly to meet at the center of the brush and close over and around the space required for the coupling members Z, Z just defined.

ll represents the exhaust fan, to the eye of which the conduit B is fastened, and u is a fragmentary/ portion of a conduit leading from the disch-arge portion of this fan to the point of deposit desired. rlhe fan is driven from any suitable motor driving the shaft V, and the brush A is driven from the same shaft through the medium of the chain connections c transmitting motion to the sprockets c on the shaft P and from thence through a chain c2 to the sprockets c3 on the brush sha-ft or axle L, Fig. l, it being understood that the driving connections for the brush are duplicated at the opposite end of the brush on the other side of the machine. By this means, it will be seen that the driving power for the brush may always exert its operating energy upon the brush independently of the vertical adjustment of the latter.

To facilitate the rise and fall of the combined brush and mouthpiece, it is desirable that counterbalancing means therefor be provided, and it is also expedient that means be provided additionally to said counterbalancing means, for elevating the brush and mouthpiece to a position away from operative association with the ground when the machine is not in service. To these ends the following instrumentalities are furnished:

`W, W are a pair of bars disposed transversely of the machine, the outer ends of the bars being twisted and oset so as to be bolted as at w to the opposite ends of the.

mouthpiece, this fastening being'a rigid one. The opposite, or meeting ends of the bars are formed so that they have an interfitting, or overlapping, relation, that is, the bar W is continuously straight, whereas the bar W is forked or bifurcated as at w; a roller wz passing through slots w3, u# in the overlapped ends of the bars to permit said ends to play over each other upon the roller acting as a pivot disposed in the vertical plane of the pivot G of the mouthpiece sections.

To the opposite ends of the bolt or other aXle w5 of the roller, to which I have just referred, I secure a clevis we, from which is suspended a link X, nthe latter being split at its upper end m to receive the closed lower end of the clevis, and carrying a roller rocking in the latter. The lower end of the link X is connected to the pivot G of the mouthpiece sections, as illustrated (Fig. 5). Also, passing through the split upper end of the link X is the end of an arm Y, the same being slot-ted as at y to receive a roller y mounted upon a pin y2 supported for adjustment in any of the apertures g3 of the link X. The arm Y is carried rearwardly for some distance and in a horizontal direction from the link, and then bends downwardly and terminates in a bearing sleeve y1 .surrounding the cupped or socketed end l of the shaft section L, all of the connections now being described being in the plane of the pivot of the mouthpiece sections, so as to permit the broom sections and mouthpiece sections to rise and fall together, and the rollers to which I have alluded' being provided for antifriction purposes, as will be obvious. From the bearings y* an integral arm Y extends forwardly to pivot upon the shaft P.

Intermediate the ends of the bars W and V, I provide eyes z to which the lower ends of chains z are attached, the upper ends of the chains being secured to levers e2, piv-V oted to the frame of the machine, as at z3, the outer or free ends of the levers carrying counterbalancing weights Z.

The weights are designed to counterbalance the combined weights of the broom and mouthpiece, and through the eXible connections hereinabove set forth the broom and mouthpiece are normally free,-when the counterbalancing weights are in action,-to rise and fall to automatically accommodate themsedves to irregularities in the ground surface.

At times, as when the machine is being movedV from place to place, it is expedient that the brush and mouthpiece be raised ar substantial distance from .the ground, and be held in inoperative position, this being accomplished by means of a hand or foot lever 2 rigidly connected to a transverse shaft 3 rotatably mounted in bearings 4 on the framework of the machine, and said shaft having projecting arms 5 rigidly connected thereto,one formed integrally with the lever 2,-the arms having oset notched fingers 6 adapted to engage the under side of the weight levers 22 at the ends thereof opposite to the weights Z, so that when the arms 5 are raised the weighted ends will fall, and the brush and broom raised by engagement of the arms with the levers z2, any suitable means as a ratchet and pawl being employed to lock the lever 2 in adjusted positions. It will be observed that the pivoting of the weight levers e2 at z3 is uponl the shaft 3, and that the weight levers are arched at their middle portions e4 to pass over the cross beam z5 of the frame of the machine.

While I have herein disclosed one lspecific embodiment of 'the invention, it isjgo be understood thatA the invention is capable of embodiment in other forms and devices without 'departing from the spirit thereof, and as 1. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a sectionalbroom, of a flexible sectional mouthpiece associated with a conductor to carry off the refuse liberated by the broom, means for mounting the brush and broom to permit them to rise and fall relatively to the ground, and a common counterbalancing means for the brush and mouthpiece comprising bars secured to the outer ends of the mouthpiece and flexibly connected together` connecting instrumentalities between said flexible connection and the corresponding connection between the broom lsections, and counterbalance weights associated with the bars, substantially as described.

2. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a sectional broom, of a ieXible sectional mouthpiece associated with aconductor to carry oli the refuse liberated by the broom` means for mounting the brush and broom to permit them to rise and fall relatively to the ground, a common counterbalancing means for the brush and mouthpiece comprising bars secured to the outer ends of the mouthpiece and flexibly connected together, connecting instrumenneeaoae means between the exible connection of the.

bars and the corresponding connection ot the broom sections comprising an adjustable link coupling member, substantially as described. y

3. ln a street sweeping machine, the combination with a sectional broom, ot a tlexible sectional mouthpiece associated with a conductor to carry 'o the refuse liberated by the broom, means for vmounting the brush and broom to permit them to rise and tall relatively to the ground, a common counterbalancing means for the brush and mouthpiece comprising bars secured to the outer ends of the mouthpiece and flexibly connected together, connecting instrumentalities between said flexible connection and the corresponding connection between the broom Sections and counterbalance weights associated with the bars, and the connecting means between the i'iexible connection of the bars and the corresponding connection ,ot the broom sections comprising an adjustable link coupling member, one end ot said link coupling member being connected to the tlen'ible connection between the sections o'f the mouthpiece.

Ll. 1n a street sweeper, the combination with a broom having sections movable with reference to each other and with reference to the street surface, ot a mouth piece having portions similarly movable with reference to each other and with respect to the street surface, means tor connectin the outer ends ot the broom sections wit the corresponding outer ends ot the mouth piece whereby they may rise and tall together, coupling means between the inner portions of the broom sections and the mouth piece, and counterbalancing means tor the mouth piece and broom sections, substantially as described.

5. lln a street sweeper, a conduit, and a mouthpiece for the conduit mounted to occupy a position in close proximity to the ground, said mouthpiece comprising a plurality of sections arranged in substantially longitudinal alinement and pivotally connected at their ends to adjust themselvesV engaging both of said sections :for prohibiting transverse play oit the pivoted sections with respect to each other.

6. ln a street sween er, a conduit, and a mouthpiece tor the conduit mounted to occupy a position in close proximity to the ground, said mouthpiece comprising a plurality of sections arranged in substantially longitudinal alinement and pivotally connected at their ends to adjust themselves in keepingcwith the irregularity of the surface of the ground and the ends of said sections overlapping each other to form substantially continuous front and rear walls of the mouth piece, in combination with rigid arms pivoted at one end to the trame orn the machine and at the other end connected to and carrying the outer ends of the outermost sections.

7. ln a street sweeper, a conduit, and a mouth piece for the conduit mounted to occupy a position in close proximity to the ground, said mouth piece comprising a plurality of sections arranged in substantially longitudinal alinement and pivotally connected at their ends to adjust themselves in keeping with the irregularities of the surface ot the ground, in combination with a rotary brush mounted in rear of said mouth piece and formed ot freely movable sections corresponding to the sections ot1 the mouth piece, and connections between the brush and mouth piece sections, whereby they are elevated and lowered in consonance with each other.

8. ln a street sweeper, a conduit, and a mouth piece tor the conduit mounted to occupy a position in close proximity to the ground, said mouth piece comprising a plurality ot sections arranged in substantially longitudinal alinement, and pivotally connected at their ends to adjust themselves in keeping with the irregularities of the surtace ot the ground, in combination'with a rotary brush mounted in rear of said mouth piece and formed or" freely movable sections corresponding to the sections ot' the mouth piece, and connections between the brush and mouth piece sections whereby they are elevated and lowere in consonance with each other, in combination with rigid pivoted arms carrying the mouth piece and brush and counterbalancing in strumentalities for the brush and mouth piece operatively associated with said rigid pivoted arms.

9. :in a street sweeper, a conduit, and a mouth piece for the conduit mounted to occupy a position in close proximity to the ground, said mouth piece comprising a plurality ot sections arranged in substantially longitudinal alinement and yivotally connected at their ends to adjust themselves in keeping with the irregularities ot the surface of the ground, in combination with a rotary brush mounted in rear of said mouth piece and formed ot reelv movable sections corresjiaonding1 to the sections of the mouth piece, and connection between Leashes the brush and mouth piece sections whereby they are elevated and lowered in consonance with each other, in combination with counterbalancing instrumentalities for the brush and mouth piece, a part of said counterbalancing instrumentalities being connected substantially at the point of juncture between the sections of the brush.

10. In a 'street sweeper, a conduit, a mouth piece therefor mounted .for free movement with respect to the` ground, a

brush in rear of said mouth piece movable therewith, and means for both vertically and horizontally adjusting the positions of the mouth piece and brush relative to each other and for holding them in rigid relation after adjustment.

11. 1n a street sweeper, a conduit, a mouth piece therefor self adjustable with reference to the ground, a brush adjustable therewith, counterbalancing instrumenta-lities for said mouth piece and brush normally free to move therewith, and means for adjusting the positions of the mouth piece and brush relative to each other and for holding them in rigid relation whereby the one cannot rise and fall without the other after adjustment.

12. In a street sweeper, a conduit, a mouth piece therefor composed of a plurality of movably connected sections having their adjoining end walls cut away to provide a continuous inlet, and a rotary brush in rear of said mouth piece composed of a plurality of pivotally connected sections, the bristles of the adjoining ends of the sections projecting toward each other toform a continuous brushing surface substantially co-extensive with said inlets of the mouth piece.

13. 1n a street sweeper, a conduit, a mouth piece therefor, a brush in rear of said mouth piece, yieldable means for supporting the mouth piece and brush whereby they may automatically rise and fall, and adjustable connecting instrumentalities intermediate the broom and mouth piece for relatively adjusting them laterally and vertically whereby the one is compelled to rise and fall simultaneously with the other to conform to irregularities in the surface of the ground while maintaining their predetermined relation.

14. In a street sweeper, a conduit, a sectional mouth piece therefor, a rotary brush arranged to throw the material into said mouth piece, a correspondingly sectional deflector at the top of the. entrance to the. mouth piece for preventing the escape of the brushed material beyond the mouth piece, and means for adjusting any of the sections of the deflector independently of the other sections thereof.

15. In a street sweeper, a conduit, a mouth piece therefor having an approximately vertically disposed inlet opening, a brush mounted outside of saidopeningfor throwthe sections assisting in supporting the same.

16. In a street sweeper, a conduit, a mouth vpiece therefor, a brush-for throwing the material into said mouth piece, supporting means including a substantially free vertically swinging@ arml connected to said brush, and a rigid approximately vertically disposed guiding member depending from the frame of the machine engaging an apertured portion of said arm for preventing lateral play of the arm.

17. In a street sweeper, a conduit, a mouth piece therefor, a brush for throwing the material into said mouth piece, supporting means including a substantially free vertically swinging arm connected to said brush and mouth piece, a rigid approximately vertically disposed guiding member depending from the frame of the machine engaging an apertured portion of said arm for preventing lateral play of the arm.

18. In a street sweeper, a conduit, a mouth piece therefor, a .flexible sectional brush for throwing the material into said mouth piece, substantially free vertically swingingarms, swivel connections between said arms and the ends of the outer sections of the brush, and a counterbalance connected to the coupling intermediate the sections of the brush.

19. In a street sweeper, a conduit, a mouth piece therefor, a flexible sectional brush for throwing the material into said mouth piece, spacing connections between the brush and mouth piece, substantially free vertically swinging arms swiveled at the ends of the outer sections of the brush, and a counterbalance connected to the coupling intermediate the sections of the brush.

20. 1n a street sweeper, a conduita mouth piece therefor, a flexible sectional brush for throwing the material into said mouth piece, spacing'connections between the brush and mouthpiece, whereby they will rise and fall to the same extent, substantially free vertically swinging arms swiveled at the ends of the outer sections of the brush, and counterbalancing means operatively associated with the swinging arms.

21. 1n a street sweeping machine, an eX- haust fan, a conduit leading thereto, a narrow elongated mouth piece for said conduit disposed in proximity to the roadway and consisting of interftting sections associated to form a continuous receiving opening and pivotally connected together, whereby said elongated mouth piece may be deflected and caused to conform to the contour of the roadway.

22. In a street sweeper, its frame, guide f naeaoae arms pivotally supported at one end to the frame of the machine and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a broom journaled at the opposite end of said guide arms, an exhaust fan, a conduit leading from the broom to the fan, a mouth piece for said conduit supported by the guide arms, and means for the vertical adjustment of said mouth piece in relation to said guide arms.

23. 1n a street sweeper, its frame, guide arms pivotally supported at one endby the frame of the machine and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a broom journaled at the opposite end of said guide arms, a fan, a conduit'leading from the broom to the fan, a mouth piece for said conduit supported by the guide arms, and means for the hori- Zontal adjustment of the mouth piece in relation tothe broom. j

24. ln a street sweeper, its. frame, guide arms pivotally supported at one end by the frame of the machine and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a. broom journaled at the opposite end of said guide arms, an

exhaust fan, a conduit leading from thev broom to the fan, a mouth piece .for said conduit supported by the guide arms, means for the horizontal adjustment of the mouth piece in'relation to the broom, and means for the vertical adjustment of said mouth piece in relation to said guide arms.

25. 1n a street sweeper, a revolving broom, a suction device, a conduit leading to said suction device and opening approxi-v mately rearwardly whereby to face in the direction of the revolving broom, and a deflector at the top of the mouth of said conduit adapted to project from said mouth and prevent throwing of the vmaterial beyond the conduit.

26. 1n a street sweeping machine, a broom, a f-an, a tubular mouthed conduit leading from a point near the broom to the fan, adjustable connections compelling the mouth of the conduit and the broom to move up and down together, a portion of the conduit being flexible to permit the mouth of the same and the broom to rise and fall in keeping with the irregularities of the ground surface.

27. 1n a street sweeper, a broom, a fan, a conduit leading from the broom to the fan, a mouth piece for the conduit having a delector adjacent its inlet opening, and means enabling the adjustment of said deflector.

28. ln a street sweeping machine, a`

brush or broom, a fan, a conduit leading from the brush or broom to the fan, pivotal supports for said conduit, flexible connections in said conduit intermediate its inlet and the fan, and means for automatically controlling the vertical movement of the conduit.

29. ln a street sweeper, a cylindrical for the broom, boxes or journals for said shaft, swiveled connections between said boxes or journals and the other end of said pivoted guide arms, which permit said shafts to be deflected at angles to the plane of said guide arms.

31. ln a street sweeping machine, a fan, a broom, a conduit leading from the broom to the fan, a mouth-piece for said conduit supported by guide arms, meansv enabling horizontal adjustment of the mouth-piece in relation to the broom, and means enabling vertical adjustment of said mouth-piece in relation to the guide arms.

32. ln a street sweeping machine, a cylindrical broom, a sectional shaft therefor,

means for pneumatically removing dust and dirt from in front of the broom, a conduit for the dust and dirt, a sectional mouth piece for the conduit, swiveled bearings for said shaft, connections intermediate the Abroom and the mouth piece which cause duit, a corresponding mouth piece thereforv having an approximately rearwardly disposed inlet opening, a suction device for said conduit, a rotary brush mounted outside of and opposite to saidopening, for throwing material into the mouth piece, and means connecting said brush and mouth piece together, said means being formed for adjustf ing the mouth piece and brush toward and from each other to enable the maintenance of a normal relation between the two.

35. 1n a street sweeper, guide arms pivotally supported at one end upon the machine and free to swing in a vertical plane, a broom having -a substantially continuous sweeping surface, a shaft therefor, said shaft being in flexibly connected sections whereby the brush is yieldable in keeping with the ground surface at a point intermediate the ends of the brush, bones for tions, connections between the broom and the mouth piece,- which permit them to be deflected in harmony with each other, and

counterbalancing means for the broom and 15 mouth piece.

In testimony Where-of I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. BERNARD KERN. Witnesses:

L. N. WERNER, D. RoBB.

Images