US1861681A

US1861681A - Street sweeping apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1861681A
Application number: US715881A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward T Birdsall
Original assignee: Butler Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Butler Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1924-05-26
Filing date: 1924-05-26
Publication date: 1932-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 1949-06-07

Description

June 7, LL

STREET SWEEPING APPARATUS .Original Filed May 26, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet l June 7, 1932. T BRDSALL 1,861,681

STREET SWEEPING APPARATUS Original Filed May 26, 1924 7 Shets-Sheet 2 fly MM M June 7, 1932. E. T. BIRDSALL STREET SWEEPING APPARATUS Ori ginal Filed May 26, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Tmw 1,---

June 7, 1932.

E. T. BERDSALL 1,861,681

STREET SWEEPING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 26, 1924 Original Fild May 26, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 JJMMW June 7, 1932. T B|RD$ALL 1,861,681

STREET SWEEPING APPARATUS Original Filed y 26, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 O O O June 7, 1932. E. T. BIRDSALL STREET SWEEPING APPARATUS 1924 7 SheetsSheet 7 Original Filed May 26,

Patented June 7, 1932 U N l T ED S TATES rarest @ESFWE EDWARD T. BIBIDSALL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE BUTLER MANIT- EAC'IURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, .A CORPORATION OHIO STREET 'SWEEPING APPARATUS Application filedMay 26, 1924, Serial No. 715,881. Renewed April 6, 1931 This invention relates .to street sweeping machines, and more particularly to machines of the pneumatic or vacuum type which are propelled along the streets and which, as they travel :therealong, sweep up the refuse, separate the lighter particles of refuse from the air, and discharge the cleansed air into the atmosphere, and collect the refuse. One of the general objects of the invention is to provide a practical, sa=n1-. tary and dustless machine of this character which is capable of sweeping the streets efficiently, without theneed ofspraying or wet-.

ting the streets before the sweeping operation and without the need of spraying or treating the material after it is taken .into the machine-the machine, however, being capable of use in either dry or wet weather. Other general objects of the invention are: to provide a machine which is capable -of operating in close proximity to the curbs and of removing rubbish efliciently from the gutters alongside such curbs; to providean improved means for driving, from :the crank, or engine, shaft, the various operating parts of the machine; to provide a 'sim'ple,- efficient and strong construction of frame or chassis for such sweepers; to provide efficient means for mounting and adjusting 'the broom; to provide an improved mounting for thebroomhousing; and, to provide an improved construction and arrangementof parts for handling the material separated from the dustladen air. Further and more limitedaobjects of the invention will appear hereinafter fand wlll be realized in and through theconstruction and arrangement of the parts shown in the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a sweeping machine constructed in accordance with my invention; 2 a sectional side elevation of such :ma chine. the chassis being shown in elevation; Fig. 3 a plan view, and Fig. 4 asideelevation, of the frame or chassis; Fig. 5a detail in section corresponding to the line 5"5 of Fig. 3; Fig. '6 a sectional plan view showing 'the mechanism for transmitting the drive from the engine or crankshaft to the rear wheels and to the various sweeper mechanisms of the machine; Fig. 7 adiagrammatic view of the rear portion of the machine, illustrating the lllctIlDi-IIilll which the frame is ofiset onthe right hand 'or curb side thereof for access 'of the broom .to curbs and gutters; 'Fig. 8 a planview of the hoppers which collect the llglltIIGfllS separated from the dust-laden air, the door-closing;springs being omitted;

Fig. 9a sectional view corresponding to the line 99 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 a detail in section showing :the manner of constructing and "mounting the end of the arms which close the hopper doors; and 'Fig. 11 a diagrammatic plan view showing the means for raising and lowering the broom.

.Describing 'the various parts by reference characters, A represents a truck or carriage which is adapted to 'be propelled along the ground or street in the usual manner; that is to say, by means of an engine X, drlve or wihich the rubbish and the dust-laden air are conducted, the endless belt or conveyor which handles the rubbish, the tubes which "separate the dusty material from the air, and the'hoppers into which such material is delivered. I

"Proj ecting rearwardly from and constituting extensions of the housing B are the fan housing C and the broom housing D. 'The housing D is of appropriate shape for the mount-ing therein of the rotary broom E, the casing being open at the bottom and being flexibly connectedto the housing B bymeans of a bellows-like connection E. The housing D is movably supported by means of a il-shaped frame F, the front ends of the arms of the frame being pivoted to the rear ends of the chassis side members 7, as indicated at- F'. This frame is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the housin'gand the rear of the frame carries caster wheel 8 at each side thereof, the frame being connected to the rear side of the housing D by means of straps 8 projecting from the caster-wheel mountings and secured to the bottom reinforcing member 8 011 said housing. The construction described enables the housing D to move up and down about the pivots F and to accommodate itself and the broom therein to irregularities in the road or pavement.

The broom is mounted upon a shaft 9 the opposite ends of which are mounted in journal blocks 9 which are slidably mounted in vertical guides 10, at the opposite sides of the housing D. Each journal box is mounted on a rod 11, the upper ends of the rods eX- tending through transverse guide members 12. The rods are intended to be operated in unison to raise and lower the shaft 9 and the broom. For this purpose, I prefer to use a transversely extending worm shaft 13 having worms 13 thereon adapted to mesh with worm gears 11 on the rods 11, within the guide members 12. The left hand end of the shaft 9 is provided with a pulley 9* for driv-' ing the same. I

For the purpose of facilitating the delivery of rubbish into the housing B, the lower front portion of the latter is made in the form of an arcuate dust pan 14, which extends from side to side of the forwardly projecting side extensions D of the housing D, said extensions constituting lower rear extensions of the housing B and having their lower edges in close proximity to the road or pavement. The lower end of the dust pan is adapted to ride upon the grounder pavement and its upper end is secured to a plurality of brackets 15 carried by a rock shaft 16 which is mounted in journals 17 carried by the rear transverse frame 18 of the chassis (see Figs. 2 and The rock shaft is provided with an operating arm 19 which is connected by a suit able cable 20 with the lower arm 21 of a lever, pivoted at the front of the housing B, as indicated at 22, the upper operating arm of the lever being indicated at 21, in convenient po sition for operation by the driver. Should the sweeper be passing over an obstruction which it is undesirable that the dust pan should strike, or should it be desired to back the vehicle the pan may be swung upwardly out of theway by merely pulling upwardly on the lever arm 21.

Within the housing Gris the fan G which draws up the dustladenair from the space within the housing B belowthe rear hopper H into the fan housing and discharges the same into a distributing passage or chamber J located above a series of dust-separating tubes K, the lower ends of which are located above the hoppers H and H. The sides of the vehicle body are provided with discharge openings or slots L located below louvers L. The tubes consist of thin but closely-woven cloth which will allow the air to pass through the meshes thereof, but which will "and H. The first mentioned hopper is the principal hopper and receives the greater portion of the material delivered through the tubes K, the hopper H receiving the portion delivered through the front tubes. The hopper sections are provided with a common in termediate bottom member H The hopper H is provided witha door 24 and the hopper H with a door 25, respectively, which doors are adapted to be opened from time to time by mechanism and under conditions to be described hereinafter.

Adjacent the front of the housing B, the side members 7are connected by a transverse metal plate 26, the edges of the said plate being strengthened by means of angle irons 27 secured thereto. Deep angle iron brackets 28 are secured to the plate 26 by flanges 28* and secured to the said members by means of flanges 28", and brace the projecting ends of the-plate. This plate not only strengthens the chassis construction but provides a platform for cans or receptacles 29 which are insertible into and removable from the housing B. by means of an opening or openings provided in the side or sides thereof and closed by a suitable dooror doors. The cans or receptacles 29 are arranged below the hopper H, the rear can or receptacle being shown directly beneathlthe upper end of an endless conveyor 31 which is so located as to receive heavier refuse delivered thereto by the broom E and from the hopper H and to deliver such refuse into the said can or receptacle. This conveyor is mounted on suitable rollers 32 (driven by means to be described hereinafter) and passes over upper intermediate supporting idle rollers 33 and over

lower idle rollers

34 and 3 Beneath the roller 35 is a light canvas apron 36 mounted upon a rod 36 the purpose of this apron being to prevent material being driven therebeyond by the broom should the dust-pan be raised, as by striking an obstruction.

The hopper doors 2& and 25 are normally retained closedby means of arms 37 each adjustably secured to a rock shaft 38 by means of jaws 37 and bolts 37*. Each rock shaft is provided with an arm 39, the said arms being connected by a cable 40. Connected with. the front rock. shaft 33 is an operating arm or lever 41. extendin in convenient relation to the seat M. A spring 22 is connected to the arm at the front of the hopper. extending through the door 25 forthis purpose,

and a like-spring 43is-connectedto anextension 37 of the arm 37which closes the rear door 2%. llhese springsservetohold in doorclosing position the arms with which they respectively cooperate and to close the doors when the driver releases the operating lever 41. The inner end of each arm 37 is provided with'a roller 4% (see Figs. 9 and 10) and the roller-provided end of each lever projects into a housing 45, secured to the appropriate door, the'said housings being U-shaped in section and-each having its larger opening presented toward the shaft 38 adjacent thereto.

Thebroom, the conveyor, and the fanare driven from the engine or crank shaft by -means of a power-takeoff located in front of the main clutch as well in front of the transmission gearing, enabling the said broom, conveyor, and fan to be driven irrespective of the movements of the truck. To accomplish this result, the following con struction is provideclz- Tlie pulley 23 on thefan 'shaft22 is driven by means of a belt 46 passing over a pulley 47. The pulley 9 on the broom shaft9 is driven by a belt '18 passing 'over a pulley 49. The pulleys 47 and 49 are mounted respectively on shafts 47 and 49* each having a sprocket 50 and 51, respectively, thereon; and the driving roller 32 at the upper end of the conveyor 31 is provided with a shaft 32 having a sprocket thereon. These sprockets are driven by means of a transverse shaft 53 having asprocket 54L thereon and a sprocket chain 55 extending around all of the said sprockets, the shaft thus driving the broom, convevor'and fan an d being itself driven from the engine shaft independently of the main clutch and transmission gearing as will be pointed out hereinafter.

For the purpose of automatically taking in the slack of the belts 46 and, 48, belt-tightening pulleys are provided. One of these pulleys 56 is mounted on a lever 57 which is pivoted intermediate of its ends at and is adapted by upward movement of the lever arm 57 to against the lower reach of the belt 46. The other pulley 59 is mounted on one-arm 60 of an angle lever which pi oted at 61 and which is adapted, by downward movement of the arm 66min press a eiainst the upper reach of the belt or rope 4-8. The other arms 57 and. 60* of these levers are con; nected by a snring'62 and rods 63 ccnnectinq the ends of the springs with the r nective lever arms 57 and 60. This con Q insures a non-slipping drive between the, belts 46 and 48 and their cooperating pnllevs.

Returning now to the manner of driving the broom, conveyor and fan from the engine shaft through the shaft 53, attention is invited to Fig. 6. In this view, the engine sh aft or crank shaft 1 extends into a housing 64. This housing terminates in a bell-housing 65 containingthe fly-wheel 66 and the ordinary clutch-67, at the rear of which is located the transmission box 68 containing-the ordlnary shaft 7 2, the said shaft being provided with a gear 73, by means of which and asilent chain74, the shaft is driven fromithe shaft 1 through the gear 70. The parts 7O, 71, 173 and Mare all mounted within the bell housing. denotes a shaft at the rear of the shaft 7 2 and provided with a miter gear 76 which meshes with a miter gear :77 on the shaft 53,the adjacent ends of the shafts 53 and 7 5 and the miter gearsthereon being en closed within a housing 78 which is fastened to the lower side'of the plate 26. 7 9 denotes a clutch for connecting the shafts i7 2 and '75,

the clutch being provided with a collar 80' which is operated by a rod 81 pivoted at-one end to one of the side frames '7 and connected at its other end by means of a link'82 with a lever 83 having its operating end in :convenient relation to the seat M.- It will'be evident that, by virtue of the constructi'onzand arrangement of theparts described,thebroom, V

conveyor and fan can be driven from the engineshaft irrespective of the mainclutch and transmission by means of whichathepropeller shaft is-operated.

The machine shown herein is intendedfor sweeping gutters and for operating in close proximities to curbs. With that object in view, it will be noted that all ofthe projecting parts are on the left or street side ofthe considerable distance in front of the rear of the housing B and also in front of the-broom. A generally rectangular frame 18 is secured machine,'with the sole exception of the link to the rear ends of the side members 7, the

front member 8l-of such frame being secured to sald side members by means of gusset plates'85. The, rear member 86 of said frame carries the ournals 17 for the rock shaft 16 while the front'member carries the bearings 87 for the studs or pins F which pivotally support the forward ends of the arms F. The downwardly and rearwardly extending side will be members of the rectangular frame are provided with bearings 91 for the shackles 92 which support the rear ends of the springs 93; also with bearings 94 for the roller 35; also with bearings 95 for the roller 32. The

rear member 86 is extended beyond the front member 84 at the right hand side of the chassis, as indicated at 96. The opposite ends of the member 86 carry the uprights 97 and 98 to which the rear vertical corner members of the housing B are secured; and an inwardly and forwardly extending member 99 connects the upright 98 with the front member 84 of the frame, the member 99 being formed as a 'flange on the side member 90. The inclinahand edge of the broom to operate in substantial contact with curbs, thereby to sweep gutters in an efficient manner. This will be apparent from Fig. 7, wherein the right hand side D of the broom housing is shown as extending rearwardly from the vertical corner member 100 which projects upwardly from the upright 98. g V I The plate 26, in addition to forming the only intermediate cross member connecting the said members 7 and connecting the platform for the receptacles 29, constitutes a sup- .port for the front end of the housing B, the housing being supported from the four corners of the said plate by means of the angle irons 101 which form vertical posts, the said angle irons being secured to the housing and to the said plate.

VVit-h the parts constructed and arranged as described, it is believed that the operation will be readily understood. Assuming that the engine is running, when it is desired to operate the sweeping mechanism it is necessary only to operate the clutch 79 by the lever 83 to connect the shafts 7 2 and 75. This will drive the shaft 53 and, through the chain '55 and sprockets 50, 51, 52 and 54, will drive the fan, the broom, and the endless conveyor 3L- The heavy refuse materialwill be delivered by the broom upon the conveyor and will be conducted by the latter to one or more of the receptacles 29. The lighter particles, suspended in the air, will be drawn into the fan casing C and forced by the fan G into the'distributing chamber J. The air will be forced laterally through the tubes K and delivered, thoroughly cleansed, through the discharge openings L below the louvers L. The refuse material that was in suspension in such air will be collected by the tubes and discharged into-the" hoppers H and H. From time to time, as occasion may require, the

doors

24 and 25 will be opened by the driver by operating the lever 41. Material in the hopper H will be discharged directly into the receptacle 29 therebeneath, while the material in the hopper H will be discharged upon the conveyor and delivered by the latter into one or more of the said receptacles.

By locating the power takeofi" for the fan, broom and conveyor, in front of themain clutch 67 I am enabled to operate the sweeping and separating mechanism at any time when the engine is running and irrespective of whether the truck is being driven as well as of the manner in which the same is being driven. This is decidedly advantageous, and particularly where the matter to be cleaned is packed in such manner as to require a longer brushing operation than will be afforded by merely driving over the particular spot or zone where such has accumulated. Furthermore, it permits me to suspend the operation of the sweeping and separating mechanism whenpassing over a street or section of street which has already been cleaned. It also makes it possible to operate the sweep ing and separating mechanism when the vehicle is being backed, as the fan, broom and conveyor are always operated in the same 'direction by reason of the location of the power takeoff in-advance of the transmission gear- 111 V i Should it be necessary or desirable to adjust the position of the broom with reference to the road or pavement, this adjustment can' be conveniently and quickly obtained by means of the shaft 13. The purpose and advantages of the dust pan 14 and the manner of mounting the same have been pointed out hereinbefore; so also have the purposes and advantages of the belt-tightening mechanism and the offsetting of the rear right hand side of the housing and broom, with the absence of projections on such side of the machine. I

It will be evident that by reason of the construction and arrangement of parts shown and described herein, I have produced s a machine, which is easily and conveniently operable, which is capable of cleaning streets in an efiicient manner, and which will meet and withstand all ordinary incidents of use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a street-sweeping machine, the combination, with a chassis having driving wheels, of an engine on said chassis, a shaft driven by said engine, means including a clutch and transmission gearing for operating the driving wheels from the said shaft, a housing on said chassis, a broom carried'by the chassis and arranged to sweep refuse into said housing, air-moving means in said housing, a shaft additional to the first shaft, driving connections between the second shaft and the said broom and air-moving means, and

connections for driving the second shaft from the first shaft, the said connections being arranged in front of the clutch and transmission gearing whereby the broom and the airmoving means may be operated irrespective of the movements of the said machine.

2. In a street-sweeping machine, the con bination, with a chassis having a housing thereon, an engine and driving wheels, a shaft driven by said engine, means including a clutch and transmission gearing for operating the driving wheels from the said shaft, a broom arranged to deliver refuse into said housing, air-moving means and dust-separating means in said housing, a conveyor arranged to receive refuse from said broom, a shaft additional to the first shaft, driving connections between the second shaft and the said broom, the conveyor, and the air-moving means, and power take-off mechanism connecting the second shaft with the first shaft in front of the said clutch and transmission gearing whereby the broom, the conveyor and the air-moving means may be operated from the first shaft irrespective of the movements of the said machine.

3. In a street-sweeping machine, the combination, with a chassis having driving wheels and a housing, of an engine on said chassis having a shaft, means including a clutch and transmission gearing for operating the driving wheels from the said shaft, a shaft additional to the first mentioned shaft and the wheel-operating means, a broom for delivering refuse into said housing, air-moving and dust-separating means in said housing, power take-off mechanism connecting the second shaft with the first shaft in advance of the said clutch and transmission gearing, and means, including a clutch, for driving the said broom and the said air-moving means from the second shaft.

l. In a street-sweeping machine, the combination, with a chassis having a housing and driving wheels, of an engine mounted 011 said chassis and having a shaft, means including a clutch and transmission gearing for operating the driving wheels from said shaft, aire moving means carried by the said chassis, street-sweeping means adapted to deliver refuse into said housing, a conveyor for refuse in said housing, a shaft additional to the first shaft and the connections for operating the driving wheels, power takeoff mechanism connecting the second shaft with the first shaft in front of the said clutch and transmission gearing, a shaft additional to the first two shafts, driving connections between the last mentioned shaft and the said conveyor and the said sweeping and air forcing means, and means including a clutch for driving the last mentioned shaft from the second shaft.

5. In a street-sweeping machine, the combination, with a chassis having a housing and driving wheels, of an engine mounted on said chassis and having a shaft extending rearwardly from said engine, a bell housinginto which said shaft extends, a fiywheel on-said shaft within-said-bell housing, means includ' ing a clutch and transmission mechanism'for.

operating. the driving wheels fromthe; said shaft, a shaft having one end journaled in the bell housing, driving connections, also located in said bell housing. and in front of said clutch, for driving the second shaft from the first shaft, a third shaft, dust-separating means carried by said chassis in said housing, sweeping and air-moving means also carried by the said chassis in saidhousing, connections for driving the said sweeping and airmoving means from the last mentionedshaft, and means including a clutch for driving the last mentioned shaft from the secondxshaft.

6. Ina street-sweeping machine, the' combination, with a chassis having. driving wheels, of anengine mounted'on saidcliassis and having a shaft, a bell housinginto which said shaft extends, means including a clutch and transmission mechanism for operating the driving wheels from the said shaft, journal bearings at one side of said housing, a shaft having one end mounted in saidbear ings and extending rearwardly therefrom, a gear on the first shaft in said housing, a gear on the second shaft between the bearings in said housing, a chain in said housing connecting said gears, the first gear being. located in front of said clutch, sweeping and air moving means carried by the said chassis, and connections for driving the said sweeping and air-moving means from the second shaft.

7. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a chassis having driving wheels, of an engine carried by said chassis and having a crank shaft, a rearwardly'extending drive shaft for said wheels, a clutch forming a driving connection between said engine crankshaft and said drive shaft and including a transmission, a housing on said'chassis, a'broom arranged within said housing and disposed so as to sweep refuse within said housing, air moving means connected with said housing and including a shaft for operating the same, driving connections forsaid broom and air moving means, said driving connections being arranged in advanceofsaid clutch and directly connected with said" crank shaft whereby the broomand air moving means may be operated entirely independent of said clutch, transmission and drive shaft. 7

8. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a chassis having driving wheels,

s of an engine having acrank shaft, means including a clutch, a transmission and a drive shaft for driving said wheels from said engine, a housing carried by said chassis, a shaft j ournaled in said housing and having a broom thereon, air moving means communicating with said housing, a counter shaft disposed parallel with said crank shaft and operatively connected with said broom shaft and air moving means, and a positive direct driving connection between said crank shaft and counter shaft whereby said broom and air moving means are operated entirely independent of said clutch, transmission and drive shaft.

9. The combination, with a chassis having driving wheels, of an engine on said chassis, d a crank shaft driven by said engine, means including a clutch and transmission for operating the driving wheels from said crank shaft, a countershaft extending subtsantially parallel with the crank shaft, mechanism carried by said chassis and connections for driving said mechanism from said countershaft, a driving connection between said crank shaft and the countershaft in advance of said clutch and transmission, a housing enclosing 2 said driving connection and having bearings for the adjacent endof the countershaft, a housing constituting an extension of the first mentioned housing and enclosing the clutch and transmission and having its open front 5' end registering with an opening in the rear of the first housing, and a partition interposed between said housings and constituting a bearing for the portion of the crank shaft adjacent the clutch and separating the driving connections between the crank shaft and the counter shaft from the clutch and transmis sion. 7

10. The combination, with a chassis having driving wheels, of an engine including a crank case and a crank shaft therein mounted on said chassis, a fly Wheel on said crank shaft, a housing attached to said crank case and enclosing the fly wheel, a closure for said housing through which an extension of the m crank shaft extends, a transmission, a clutch connecting the crank-shaft extension and the transmission, a second housing enclosing the transmission and the clutch and attached to the first mentioned housing, a propeller shaft connecting the transmission and the driving wheels, a countershaft extending into the first-mentioned housing, driving connec tions between the crank shaft and the countershaft for constantly driving the same with the crank shaft, the said connections being within the first-mentioned housing and interposed between the fly wheel and the clutch, mechanism carried by said chassis, and driving connections including a clutch between "said mechanism and said countershaft.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

EDWVARD T. BIRDSALL.