US1870232A - Rotary scrubbing machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 9, 1 932. H. A; ERIM 1,870,232

ROTARY SCRUBBING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1929 hmmm-f HzZZEr H Efmm Patented Ang. 9, 1932 PATENT OFFICE HILLER A. BEIM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ROTARY soRnBBING MACHINE Application led January 31, 1929. Serial No. 336,494.

My invention relates in general to improvements in rotary scrubbing machines and has reference to that type of machine in which the scrubbing brushes are attached to a movable or wheeled structure upon which a motor and suitable gearing are provided to rotate the brushes over a surface to be cleaned.

My invention is directed mainly to newy andy improved means for supporting the brushes and for driving the same.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide an improved form of brush ring for supporting the brushes and retaining them in position; to 'provide an improved and highly efficient mechanism for supporting and driving the brush ring unit and to generally improve the construction and operation of the machine in such a manner Ias to facilitate manufacture and render the machine more eiiicient and eective.

Further objects and features of improvement not specifically mentioned will appear from a reading of the following detailed description.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the machine of my invention, being a complete sectional view of the brush ring and driving parts and showing the motor in full.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the brush rino structure when removed from the machine.

Fig. 3 is a view looking down on the brush ring assembly when that assembly is removed from the machine.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a brush.

Fig. .5 shows a view of the center part of brush ring structure 13 showing the pin 12 and the key ways 14 and 15.

Referring to the above mentioned drawing, I have shown in F ig.u1 a frame or main structure comprising a metal case 1 which has 4a pair of wheels (only one being shown), one on each side, and a handle which may be attached to bracket 2. This casing 1 has a forward extension 3 of dome shape which supports the brushk ring structure. A motor of any well-known type is supported inside the rear end of the casing as shown and fastened to the bottom of the casing by bolts in the customary manner. 'I he shaft et of this motor extends forward and carries a worm on its far end (not shown) which meshes in known manner with a worm gear 5. A water tank of any desired capacity is mounted on the casing above the motor.

r1`he forward end of the casing 3 has in the upper part a bearing 6 and a rlb or ring 7. The shaft 8 of the brush ring structure is inserted into the bearing 6 and carries the worm gear 5 rigidly secured thereto. The cup 60 shaped bracket 9 is fastened by screws to the rib or ring 7 of the casing, and supports the entire brush ring structure. ln the center of the lower side of ythis bracket is another bearing for shaft 8, and a packing ring 10, which screws into threads on bracket 9. Both upper and lower bearings of shaft 8 are preferably ball bearings and, as will be understood, the worm on the end of shaft a of the motor vmeshes with worm gear 5 inside bracket 9 0 to rotate shaft 8. The bracket 9 may be filled with oil as desired for lubrication.

0n the lower end of shaft 8 is a ball 11 fastened thereto by screw threads. This ball 11 has a pin 12 passing therethrough and eX- 75 tending for a short distance on each of two sides of the ball. The brush ring structure proper comprises a single casting and has a metal ring 13 having down and inwardly turned edges as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The ring 18 has imitary therewith a metal webbing or horizontal structure formed in special design t0 act as supports for the brushes, and in the center'has a cup-shaped portion acting as a. bearingfor bail 11. On two sides of the cup are "key ways or slots 14 and 15, shown clearly in Figs. land .5, into which the ends of pin 12 are fitted. Each key way allows vertical movement of pin12 but not lateral movement, the sides of these slots being engaged by pin 11 to communicate rotary movement of shaft Sto brush ring 13.V This Vconstruction Vcomprises a. universal joint which enables the ring to be rotated with shaft 8 but still allows the brush ring `95l to tilt sideways to a limited extent to take care of unevenness in floors. Above the brush n ring is a bracket 16 which is inserted over shaft 8 before the ball 11 is screwed on. This bracket 16, as will be seen, completes the as- 6.0 pau' and adjustment.

Vsembly of the oint and by means of the bolts 17 and 18 the brush ring is secured to ball 11, bolts 17 and 18 being riveted in bracket 16.

5 Referring now especially to 2 Which shows the'under side of the brush ring 13, I have shown two brushes heldin place in the ring and thenieans for securing them. There are a pair of studs on the under side of the casting which includes ring 13 at 34: and 35,

each of which has a spring clip mounted thereon, as shown, by means of a bolt, Washer,

and nut. The spring 19, as shown, lies in its normal position and its two ends may be bent together to insert brushesas shown by spring WhichV has been flexed together and then allowed to spring back to hold brushes 21 and 22 in place. Each brush is 'formed as shown in Fig. 4, the back 23 hav- 29 ing one straight edge With a groove 2-1 run- "i ning throughout its length and a curved side having a shoulder 25 running throughout its length. Asr shown, the brush ring structure includes a series of inwardly turned ribs such asas 26 and 2T behind which the shoulder 25 of a brush lits. As a further means of locating and holding the brushes, there are the ribs 28, 29, 30, and 31 so placed that one engages the blunt end of the brush back as at 39,28r and another the flat side near they end.

"i Each rib thus spacesthe end and side of two brushes as shown at 29. The spring 20 when allowed vto return after thebrushes are inserted enters the groove such as 24 of each 35 brushV 21 and 22, thus effectively locking two brushes in place. On a stud 32 is a similar spring 33, each end ofivhich engages a groove y in the lower end of bolts 17 and 18 to lock them in place and forming a convenient 4c means of removing the brush assembly as a Wholey from ball 11. l

It will be noted that the pointed4 end of each ofthe brushes 21, etc., point in the same direction around the circumference. of the brush ring structure, and that the structure isrrotavted in a clockwise direction,refe rring toFig. 2, in a manner such as to utilize the shape of the brushes above described to cause the pointed endA of each brush to draw Wash- 5Q ing fluid and powder toward the center of the brush to facilitatel cleaning.

Itwill, therefore, be seen that the assembly including the brush ring 13 and the brushes may be readily removed from the machine and replaced, or each brush may be readily removed and replaced by merely compressing one of the springs 19, 20, or 33. That the machine as a Whole has few Workingy parts and is readily accessible for ren. Furthermore, the

universal joint construction connecting shaft 8 With the brush ring for rotating it is novel in ysuch, a machine and comprises a simpleV and rugged construction giving the ring a` y slde motlon so'that it can follow unevenness in floors and yet acting as an interlock so that rotation of the shaft is communicated to the ring Without appreciable wear or noise.

Having fully described and ascertained the Y features and aspects of my invention, VWhat I consider to be new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent Will be pointed out inthe appended claims.Y

What is claimed is:

1.V In a scrubbing machine, a brush carrier, a vertical shaft, av motor for driving Y the shaft, the brush carrier secured to the lower end of the shaft and rotated therewith, said brush, carrier comprising a unit casting and a plate for 'securing the casting to the endl of the shaft immovable vertically thereon, said carrier and plate having only tilting movement relative to said shaft, a pair of bolts locking the brush carrier and plate to the shaft, and a singley spring y engaging y to lock the assembly ence of the carrier, a single spring` holding tWo of said brushes'in place, and meansfor rotating the carrier to movethe brushes pointed end first. Y

,In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day of anuary, D,

HILLER A.y 13111151.l

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