US2272983A - Combined sweeper and brusher - Google Patents

Description

Fb.1o,1942. J. 1 Aw-f 2,272,983

COMBINED SWEEPER AND BRUSHER Filed July 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Shee'rI l Feb.1o,1942'.' J PAYNE 2,272,983

COMBINED SWEEPER AND BRUSHER Patented Feb. 10, 1942 COlVIBINED SWEEPER AND BRUSHER John L. Payne, Covington, Ga., assigner of fortynine hundredths to Arthur A. Cannon, Covington, Ga.

Application July 10, 1941, Serial No. 401,815

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined sweeper and brusher, that is a machine or apparatus for sweeping a horizontal surface such as a floor, simultaneously with a vertical surface or surfaces, such as walls or sides of machines and the like. One use for which the invention is particularly adapted is for cleaning floors and the rails in a spinning room of a cotton mill.

In connection with spinning frames in cotton mills, considerable lint and fibres collect on the rails and oors and thus this invention has been devised to quickly and eiciently clean and remove all foreign material from the rails of such spinning frames and the adjacent floors, particularly between two adjacent frames.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a machine with cleaning means which will simultaneously clean and brush a' floor aisle and the sides or rails of two adjacent machines.

A further object resides in providing means for quickly adjusting the width of the machine as well as to provide means for rotating the vertical brushes for cleaning the rails 'of the spinning frames. A still further object of the invention is to so pivot 'the frame parts of the machine whereby the brushing device can be narrowed by a simple movement of the lhandles of the machine to clear objects or persons in the aisle to be cleaned such as a person who may v be tending a spinning frame during its operation.

Other aims and objects of the invention will appear in the following description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an `end elevation of the combined sweeper and brusher;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sweeper and brusher in a narrowed position of the parts;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sweeper and brusher in its operative position for sweeping to sides and floor; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the combined sweeper and brusher.

The machine according to the invention is adapted to be operated manually by means of two handle members or Shanks 5 each having a 'grip portion 6 fashioned similar to a plow handle. Each shank is securely connected at 1 to a respective brush holding frame 8 by a suitable b'ar or connecting member 9. A connecting link or'bar I0 is secured to each shank 5 at Il at one end and the other end to its respective brush iframe 8 at '41,

Each brush holding frame L8,

bar I0 an-d shank 5 thus forms a rigid triangular brush support and guide member with the handle 6.

In order to sweep the oor l2, a brush unit lI3 is provided consisting of a pair of brushes I4 hinged to each other at I5. Each brush i4 is of suitable width and is provided with a plurality of bristles l2 in such clustered relationship as may be desired. The brush unit I3 is supported yand suspended by pairs of rods or bars I6 and H or if desired, wires or cables may be employed. These bars I6 and I1 are connected to their respective parts, that is the shanks 5 and the brushes I4, by means of hooks I8 so that if desired, the brushes .may be removed for cleaning and other purposes.

Each brush holding frame 8 is pivoted at I9 to a main frame 20 at the upper and lower ends thereof. Also, each frame 8 is provided with a pair of outwardly extending arms 2| in which a cylindrical brush 22 is rotatably mounted on a vertical aXis parallel to the axis of rotation of the frame 8. Each brush 22 is mounted on an axle 23, Fig. l, and lby means of a pair of bevel gears 24 rotated by means of a driving shaft 25 driven by a drive wheel 26 which latter also `acts to support the machine on the horizontal surface or floor l2. Each brush driving mechanism is covered over the top and sides by a U-shaped sheet metal hood 21 as a protecting guard. The shaft or spindle 25 is mounted in a bearing member 28 supported on a depending ange 29 integral with, or if desired, secured to the frame 8, Fig. 1. Each wheel 26 may be provided with a rubber tire or it may be provided with a plain metal tread with or without teeth or indentations, as may be desired..

Each main frame member 20 has a plurality of tubes 30 and rods 3| secured thereto projecting toward each other so that each tube and rod will form a telescoping unit 32, there being a pair of such units 32 at each end of lthe frame member 20 as shown, but a single unit at the top and bottom will serve the purpose of adjustment and rigidity. Centrally of the ends of the frames 20, a lateral adjusting device 3'3 is provided consisting of a threaded spindle 34 secured to the tubular member 35 and slidable in the tubular member 36 so that upon rotation of the crank handle 31 through a pair of bevel gears and nut, not shown, the tubular members 35 and 36 may be adjusted toward and away from each other by means of the spindle 34 to thereby adjust the width of the lateral distance between the vertical brushes 22 to fit against theobjects relation,

or parts of the machines 38 to be brushed. Itis obvious that a rotation of the crank handle 31 will cause relative movement between the rods 3I and tubular members 30, that is the telescoping units 32, to adjust the width of the machine, the hinge I5 permitting an adjustment of the brushes I4 simultaneously by changing the angular relation of the brushes I4 relative to each other. It is of course obvious that the adjusting device operates similar to a well known lifting jack.

Each frame 8 is provided with a suitable comb 4D, Fig. 1, which contacts the periphery of its respective brush 22 to remove lint and other fibres therefrom upon rotation of the brush.

The machine operates as follows: Assuming that the machine is to be used to clean and brush the horizontal surface or floor I2 and Vertical side walls or the rails or parts of machines 38, in other words along an aisle between two machines as for instance cotton spinning frames, theoperator rst adjusts the width of the machine, Fig. 1, so that each brush 22 will contact by its peripheral cylindrical surface the sides or rails of the spinning frames. In such lateral adjustment of the machine, the operator lifts the Shanks 5 by means of handles 6, to the position shown in Fig. 4, and by pushing on the Shanks the rotation of the wheels 26 will cause rotation of the brushes 22 against theV sides or rails of the spinning frames while simultaneously the brushes I4 will sweep and brush the oor. Obviously, the machine may be pushed or pulled, but it will operate more efciently when pushed, that is when moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4. When the machine must pass a person or object 39, Fig. 2, the operator merely pulls on the shank 5 nearest the object or pushes on the shank farthest from the object which will cause a parallelogram motion between the Shanks 5, brushes I4 and frames 20 with its telescoping units 32 around the vertical pivot axes I9 without the slightest diiiiculty, whereby the Width of the machine will be narrowed.

.After the object 39 has been passed it is a simple operation to again bring the parts back to the position of Figs. 3 and 4 which is the normal operating position of the machine when sweeping both sides of two machines.

Many different; applications of the machine will be apparent to those skilled in the art, not only in cleaning and brushing the rails of spinning frames, but also for other machines.

Therefore, the present invention is not restricted to the particular machine shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the machine be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations. Furthermore, the machine is capable of many variations without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A brushing and sweeping machine comprising a pair of frame members, means for adjustably maintaining the frame members in spaced a brush holding frame pivotally mounted on each frame member on a vertical axis, a cylindrical brush rotatably mounted on a vertical axis in each brush holding frame, a traction and supporting wheel for each brush holding frame, and means for rotating each brush from its respective traction wheel to clean vertical surfaces.

2. A brushing and sweeping machine according to claim 1, in which a handle shank is provided for each brush holding frame to manually move the machine on a horizontal surface on its traction wheels, and in which a brush unit is suspended from the Shanks to sweep a horizontal surface.

3. A brushing and sweeping machine comprising a pair of spaced vertical frame members, telescoping units interconnected to said spaced frame members, means secured to said frame members to adjust the space between the frame members, a second frame member rotatably mounted on each spaced frame member on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in each second frame member, a traction wheel for each second frame member for supporting the machine, and means for rotating each brush by its respective traction wheel upon the rotation of the latter.

4. A brushing and sweeping machine comprising a pair of spaced vertical frame members, telescoping units interconnected to said spaced frame members, means secured to said frame members to adjust the space between the frame members, a second frame member rotatably mounted on each spaced frame member on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in each second frame member, a traction wheel for each second frame member for supporting the machine, means for rotating each brush by its respective traction wheel upon the rotation of the latter, and means secured to each second frame member to manually move the machine by means of the traction Wheels.

5. A brushing and `sweeping machine comprising a pair of spaced vertical frame members, telescoping units interconnected to said spaced frame members, means secured to said frame members to adjust the space between the frame members, a second frame member rotatably mounted on each spaced frame member on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in each second frame member, a traction wheel for each second frame member for supporting the machine, means for rotating each brush by its respective traction wheel upon the rotation of the latter, and a shank Secured to each second frame member to manually move the machine by means of the traction wheels.

6. A brushing and sweeping machine comprising a pair of spaced vertical frame members, telescoping units interconnected to said spaced frame members, means secured to said frame members to adjust the space between the frame members, a second frame 'member rotatably mounted on each spaced frame member on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in each second frame member, a traction wheel for each second frame member for supporting the machine, means for rotating each brush by its respective traction wheel upon the rotation of the latter, a shank secured to each second frame member to manually move the machine by means of the traction wheels, and a non-rotary brush suspended from the shanks to sweep the surface on which the machine is manually moved.

7. A brushing and sweeping machine comprising a frame member, means for supporting a pair of rotatable brushes on vertical axes and in spacedY relation to clean two Vertical surfaces, means mounted in the frame to rotate the brushes and to provide traction means for the brushes, 'a pair of shanks secured to the frame member each near one of the brushes, a second brush unit suspended from the shanks, and means for articulating the frame member to narrow the width of the machine by manually forcing one of the shanks ahead of the other and to maintain the brush rotating means in parallel relationship relative to each other.

8. A brushing and sweeping machine compris- I ing a frame member, means for supporting a pair of brushes on vertical axes and in spaced relation to clean two vertical surfaces, a pair of shanks secured to the frame member each near one of the brushes, a second brush unit suspended from the shanks, said frame, shanks and brush unit forming a parallelogram when viewed in plan, and an additional frame means for each of the pair of brushes to form a rotating axis adjacent each of the pair of brushes whereby the machine may be narrowed by a parallelogram motion by manually moving one shank ahead of the other.

9. A brushing and sweeping machine comprising a pair of spaced vertical frame members, telescoping units interconnected to said spaced frame members, means secured to said frame members to adjust the space between the frame members, a second frame member rotatably mounted on each spaced frame member on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in each second frame member, a traction wheel for each second frame member for supporting the machine, means for rotating each brush by its respective traction wheel upon the rotation of the latter, a shank secured to each second frame member to manually move the machine by means of the traction wheels, and a non-rotary brush suspended from the shanks to sweep the surface on which the machine is manually moved, said non-rotary brush having means including a plurality of bars to removably suspend said non-rotary brush and to pull it along when the machine is moved.

10. A brushing and sweeping machine comprising a pair of spaced vertical frame members, telescoping units interconnected to said spaced frame members, means secured to said frame members to adjust the space between the frame members, a second frame member rotatably mountd on each spaced frame member on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in each second frame member, a traction wheel for each second frame member for supporting the machine, and means for rotating each brush by its respective traction Wheel upon the rotation of the latter, each telescoping unit consisting of a tube secured at one end to one of the spaced frame members and a rod secured at one end to the other of the spaced frame members with the rod projecting into and movable relative to the tube upon adjustment of the spaced frame members.

11. A brushing and sweeping machine comprising a frame, means for adjusting the width of said frame, an auxiliary frame rotatably secured to each side of the frame to rotate on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in each auxiliary frame, a bearing member secured to veach auxiliary frame, a traction wheel for each auxiliary frame, a pair of axles for each brush of which one is mounted in the brush and the other in the bearings and its respective traction wheel, and means for transferring the rotary motion from the wheel axle to the brush axle.

12. A brushing and sweeping jmachine comprising a frame havinga plurality of telescoping members', means for adjusting the width of said frame, an auxiliary frame rotatably secured to each side of the frame to rotate on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in each auxiliary frame, a bearing member secured to each auxiliary frame, a traction wheel for each auxiliary frame, a pair of axles for each brush of which one is mounted in the brush and the other in the bearing and its respective traction wheel, and means for transferring the rotary motion from the wheel axle to the brush axle.

13. A brushing and sweeping machine comprising a pair of spaced vertical frame members, telescoping units interconnected to said spaced frame members, means secured to said frame members to adjust the space between the frame members, a second frame member rotatably mounted on each spaced frame member on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in each second frame member, a wheel carried by each second frame member for supporting the machine, means for rotating each brush from its respective Wheel, and means secured to each second frame member to manually move the machine by means of the wheels and to maintain the second frame members in parallel relationship relative to each other.

JOHN L. PAYNE.

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