US2263722A

US2263722A - Power sweeper

Info

Publication number: US2263722A
Application number: US215989A
Authority: US
Inventors: Drumm Floyd
Original assignee: IDEAL POWER LAWN MOWER Co
Current assignee: IDEAL POWER LAWN MOWER Co
Priority date: 1938-06-27
Filing date: 1938-06-27
Publication date: 1941-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1958-11-25

Description

POWER SWEEPER Fild June 27, 1958 INVENTOR.

FLO/0 DRUMM.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 25, 1941 POWER SWEEPER Floyd Drumm, Lansing, Mich., assignor to Ideal Power Lawn Mower Company, Lansing, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application June 27,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to power driven sweeping machines, and more particularly to sweeping machines embodying rotary brushes and. refuse collecting hoppers.

This invention is an improvement on that disclosed in my prior co-pending application Serial No. 126,350, filed February 18, 1937.

In a power sweeping machine of the type to which this invention relates, it is necessary to support the rotary brush and hopper in the proper relationship to the surface to be swept. Where the surface to be swept is perfectly flat the solution of this problem is relatively simple. On the other hand, where such surface is uneven, particularly in the case of floors having different levels connected by ramps, the problem becomes more difficult as it'is not only necessary that the brush and hopper be maintained in the proper relation to the floor, but also that they be held in proper relationship to each other. Furthermore; some provision must be made for adjustment of the supports to compensate for brush wear.

My invention overcomes the aforementioned difiiculties by novel means for connecting the brush and hopper together and to the traction frame. Broadly the invention comprises an articulated power sweeper consisting of a brush carrying frame pivotally attached at the back to a main or traction frame, and at the front pivotally attached to a refuse collecting hopper. The pivotal connections are on horizontal axes whereby the three parts may swing vertically with respect to each other. The invention also includes a novel form of pivotal connection between the brush carrying frame and hopper, and a novel ground engaging support for the brush carrying frame, both of which are adjustable to allow the brush to be lowered as it wears, but provides for maintenance of the proper relationship between the hopper and the brush.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete power operated sweeping machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1 taken on substantially the line 2-2 thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a por tion of the mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View showing the manner in which the three units of the device may move relative to each other; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

1938, Serial No. 215,989

In general, the sweeper comprises a traction unit H], a rotary brush unit ll pivotally connected thereto, and a hopper I2 pivotally connected to the brush unit ll, both pivots being 5 located on horizontal axes transverse of the structure.

The traction unit comprises a traction frame [3 supported at its forward end on a pair of traction wheels l4 and at its rear end on a caster wheel l5. Mounted on the frame I3 is a suitable power plant l6, which in this instance is an internal combustion engine. The drive shaft of the power plant is connected by any suitable means to the traction wheels M in order to furnish motive power thereto. A pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending arms 18 to which handles l9 are connected provide a means for guiding the sweeper.

Mounted on the forward end of the frame I3 is a transverse shaft 20 which carries a pair of arms 2| having pivotal movement about the axis thereof. These arms 21 are fixed to a brush carrying frame 22. The brush carrying frame has depending side walls 23 on which are mounted bearings 24. A brush 25 is mounted on a transverse shaft which is rotatable in the bearings 24. One end of the shaft carries a sprocket, not shown, which is connected by a drive chain I! to the drive shaft of the power plant I6 whereby the brush may be rotated.

An upstanding arm 26 is mounted on the shaft 26 and its upper end is connected by a rod 21 to a bell crank 28 mounted on a cross bar 30 secured to the arms [8. A chain 3| is also connected at one end to the upper end of the arm 26, and at its other end the chain is connected to the top of the brush carrying frame 22. With the arrangement just described it is possible to lift the brush from the floor by applying a downward force to a handle 29 in the bell crank 28 which is applied through the bell crank 28 and link 21 and chain 3! to the brush frame.

The foregoing structure is all more fully described in my aforesaid co-pending application.

Rigidly secured to the forward ends of the side walls 23 of the brush carrying frame are a pair of supporting blocks 32, one at each side of said frame. The outer faces of the blocks 32 are serrated. These faces engage serrated faces of a pair of complementary supporting blocks 33. In the outer face of each block 33 is a channel shaped groove and slidable in this groove is a bar 34. The bar 34 has an elongated slot 35 therein. A bolt 36, with a nut 36a thereon, ex- 55 tends through the slot 35 and through centrally The bar 34 carries an extension 31 integral herewith, which forms a bearing bracket for a caster wheel 38. The caster wheel 38 has a shaft 39 which extends upwardly through the bearing bracket, and preferably anti-friction bearings 48*- are employed between the caster wheel and the bearing bracket. From the foregoing it 'will be readily apparent that the relative height of the brush may be varied at will by merely ad-- justing the positionof the bar 34. Incthis manner, as the brushbecomesworn, it can be lowered sothat. it will always make-the proper contact with-the floor;

Near the upper front corner of the side walls. 23 of the brush carrying frame is another pair. of supporting blocks 4| and 42 similar .to the blocks, 32v and 33' previously described. The inner blocks 42 are rigidlysecured to side walls 23, and ethe adjacent faces of the blocks are serrated. The outer block 4|" has. a horizontally extending channel-shaped groove in which a supporting baru43-ises1idab1y mounted. This supporting bar 43has an-elongated-slot 44 through which a bolt 45 provided with a nut-.43 passes. It will be readily-seen that the bar 43..ma.v be adjusted longitudinally as wellas rotatably with respect to the brush frame by loosening the nut. 46 and moving the block 4Ior sliding ,the,bar. 43 in the samemanner as the bar. 34l. previously described.

The side walls i2a. of the hopper ,I2 are pro-v vided at their. upper edges-with inwardly extending-flanges 12b. Mounted on the flanges 12b are a pair of brackets 43-. The brackets 48. have upstanding face portions 48a .in which are arcuate slots 49. The forwardly extending portionsof the brackets 48 are slotted at 53., These. brackets 48 are secured to theflanges l2b bymeans of handles 54 from which.extend.threaded shafts 55.. The shafts 55 pass throughholes in the flanges lzband are threaded into bosses secured to the underside of therflanges [21). When the handles 54 are screwed tightly against the brackets 48.the hopper is securely attached thereto, but the latter maybe easily removed by merely loosening. the handles, whereupon the hopper may beslipped from the brackets as shafts 55 .slide out of the slots 53.

Extending outwardly from the upstanding face portion 48a of each bracket 48 is an integral. boss 59 which is provided with an axial bore 50?). Each arm 43 is also provided with an integral boss 41 which extends laterally thereof toward the bracket 48. Extending axially through the boss 4'! is a threaded bore 47a. The arm 43, is also bored at 50a and thisbore is also threaded. A cap screw 52 extends throughthe bore 5% in the bracket 48 and is secured in the bore 50a in the arm 43. A cap screw 5| extends through the slot 49 inthe bracket 48 and is threaded intov the bore 47a in the arm43- The cap screw 52 forms the pivot about which, the bracket 48 and the attachedhopper, mayrotate, while .theflcap The cap screw 5| may be drawn up tightly to clamp the bracket 48 to the arm 43 if it is desired to hold them rigidly together.

With the pivotal connection just described it is possible to dump the hopper without removing it from the brackets 48. It is merely necessary to lift the front end of the hopper, thereby tilting the hopper about pivots 52. The brush 25 may then be lifted over the pile of refuse by operating the handle 23 in the proper manner.

It is also possible to tilt the hopper about pivots 52--to a position above the brush carrying frame, where it rests against the brush carrying frame. The sweeper and hopper may then be raised simultaneously from the floor by means of the handle 29 in order to transport the sweeper from one place to another, without the friction of the casters and brush on the floor.

At the forward end of the hopper i2 a reinforcing channelbar 58is attached, to which :a pair ofbearing brackets 51.- are rigidly secured.v Cast.- er wheels 58. having .vertical pivotshafts-fi aaremounted in bearings in these bearing .blocks...

From the foregoing it willbe apparent that.;the hopper is supported at its front end by. the :cast-.

ers 58 and at its rear. end by thepivotson-the-.-

brackets 48 andthe bars 43.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, it will be seen that the articulated connectionsof the traction frame-,the brushframe andithe hopper are such as to allowa considerable amount of relative movement of the threeeunits The supporting'casters 38.: and 58 hold the brush and the hopper respectively.- in the proper relationship to the surface which:- is being swept, while the two pivotal connections. allow the brush and hopper to-follow-an .irrege. ular surface such as.- the .threeseparate inclines shown in Figure 4. Inasmuch as hopper is -piv-. oted toithe brushframe there will be little dis-. placement of the hopperrelative to the brush.-. as the brush passes over the irregularities of the.

[0, and I2.

floor. Consequently, the hopper willalways be in a position to receive the refuse to be swept intol.

it by the rotating brush.

It will be evident that as-the brush wears, "thebrush'carrying frame 22 must be lowered-with:- It is also necessary: to move the hopper toward the brush Thus. when the brush has been reduced in diameter to: a degree such that it does not properly contact respect to the hopper I2.

the floor, the bar 34 may beadjusted vertically relative to the block 33, the bar 43 maybe adjusted horizontally relative to block 4|; and the adjustably connected to the brush carrying frame.

adjacent the front end thereof for regulating the position of the brush relative to the ground,

a hopper located forwardly of the brush carrying frame, said hopper ,havingan open side in close proximity to the rotatable, brush, and adjustable pivot means connectingqthe hopper to the. brush carrying frame. for-vertical oscillation relative thereto, said means being adjustable both vertically and horizontally relative to the brush carrying frame.

2. An articulated power sweeper comprising a main frame supported on wheels, a hopper spaced longitudinally from said main frame, a brush carrying frame between said main frame and said hopper, a rotatable brush mounted on said brush carrying frame, said brush carrying frame being pivotally connected to the main frame on an axis extending transversely of said frame and located adjacent one side of said brush carrying frame, means pivotally connecting the brush carrying frame to the hopper on an axis extending transversely of said frames and located adjacent the opposite side of the brush carrying frame, ground engaging supports mounted on the side of the hopper remote from the brush carrying frame, and ground engaging supports mounted on the side of the brush carrying frame adjacent the hopper.

3. In a power sweeper, a traction frame supported on wheels, a brush carrying frame pivotally connected adjacent its rear end to the traction frame, a brush rotatably mounted on the brush carrying frame, a hopper located forwardly of the brush carrying frame, said hopper having an open side in close proximity to the rotatable brush, and adjustable pivot means connecting the hopper to the brush carrying frame for vertical oscillation relative thereto, said means being ad-' justable both vertically and horizontally relative to the brush carrying frame.

4. An articulated power sweeper comprising a main frame supported on wheels, a hopper spaced longitudinally from said main frame, a brush carrying frame between said main frame and said hopper, a rotatable brush mounted on said brush carrying frame, said brush carrying frame being pivotally connected to the main frame on an axis extending transversely of said frames and located adjacent one side of said brush carrying frame, means pivotally connecting the brush carrying frame to the hopper on an axis extending transversely of said frames and located adjacent the opposite side of the brush carrying frame, said means comprising an arm slidably connected at one end to the brush carrying frame and pivotally connected adjacent the other end to the hopper whereby the position of the hopper with respect to the brush may be varied.

5. An articulated power sweeper comprising a main frame supported on wheels, a hopper spaced longitudinally from said main frame, a brush carrying frame between said main frame and said hopper, a rotatable brush mounted on said brush carrying frame, said brush carrying frame being pivotally connected to the main frame on an axis extending transversely of said frames and located adjacent one side of said brush carrying frame, means pivotally connecting the brush carrying frame to the hopper on an axis extending transversely of said frames and located adjacent the opposite side of the brush carrying frame, said means comprising an arm pivotally connected at one end to the brush carrying frame and pivotally connected adjacent the other end to the hopper whereby the position of the hopper with respect to the brush may be varied.

6. An articulated power sweeper comprising a main frame supported on wheels, a hopper spaced longitudinally from said main frame, a brush carrying frame between said main frame and said hopper, a rotatable brush mounted on said brush carrying frame, said brush carrying frame being pivotally connected to the main frame on an axis extending transversely of said frames and located adjacent one side of said brush carrying frame, means pivotally connecting the brush carrying frame to the hopper on an axis extending transversely of said frames and located adjacent the opposite side of the brush carrying frame, said means comprising an arm slidably and pivotally connected at one end to the brush carrying frame and pivotally connected adjacent the other end to the hopper whereby the position of the hopper with respect to the brush may be varied.

7. An articulated power sweeper comprising a main frame supported on wheels, a hopper spaced longitudinally from said main frame, a brush carrying frame between said main frame and said hopper, a rotatable brush mounted on said brush carrying frame, said brush carrying frame being pivotally connected to the main frame on an axis extending transversely of said frame and located adjacent one side of said brush carrying frame, means pivotally connecting the brush carrying frame to the hopper on an axis extending transversely of said frames and located adjacent the opposite side of the brush carrying frame, a ground engaging support mounted on the hopper remote from the pivotal connection between the hopper and the brush carrying frame, and a ground engaging support mounted on the brush carrying frame remote from the pivotal connection between the brush carrying frame and the main frame.

FLOYD DRUMM.