US2458258A - Suction-type street sweeper - Google Patents

Description

' w. R. FURR SUCTION-TYPE STREET SWEEPER Jan 4, 1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1945 William Fzzrr Jan. 4, w R U 1 2,458,258

SUCTION-TYPE STREET SWEEPER Fi led Sept. 15, 1.945 5 Sheeis-Sheet 2 N 3 1 P15712517; RFzzrr Jan. 4, 1949. w, FURR 2,458,258

SUCTION-TYPE STREET SWEEPER Filed Sept. 15, 1.943

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES i-ATENT OFFICEv 2,458,258 SUCTION-TYPE smear sWEErEn William R. Furr, Washington, n. c=.f Application September 15, Serial l\lo l )2,51 7

This invention is directed to an improvement in suction-type street sweepers, and more particularly'to increasing the efficiency and operation of this type 'of sweeper, while at the same time materially simplifying and reducing the numberand form of the parts required without interfering with maximum efliciency.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a street sweeper including a selfpropelled or otherwise independently moved vehicle,having a collector housing or body toward which air laden with refuse is drawn by suction, and which such refuse-laden air is directed by pressure into the body, with such body provided with a maximum area of screened escape for the air while directing the refuse into the body.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a suction trunk, open at one end to a source of suction, and'formed at' the opposite or inlet end for movement above the surface to be cleaned, with the inlet end of the trunk initially adjustable to provide varying heights above the surface being cleaned as conditions may require, the trunk as a whole being further mounted for bodily swinging movement in any direction in the presence of an obstruction to avoid damage to the trunk or its connections, the trunk automatically returning to initial adjusted position when the obstruction is passed, while permitting continuous suction influence through the trunk in any and all positions thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an independently driven suction fan having a relatively restricted communication with the suction trunk and a relatively large and more or less direct pressure communication with the screened sec-tion of the vehicle body, whereby to provide a relative high suction velocity and a materially lower pressure delivery of the refuseladen air to the body.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fan motor having direct connection with the suction fan to eliminate belts, gears and the like which are liable to be affected by the refuse in the air, to say nothing of reduced cost, the direct connection protecting the motor shaft, while at the same time serving to insure fansuction efiiciency while preventing damage to the parts.

A further object of the invention is the provision of the vehicle body proper as a dump body so that under a load of refuse collected in the operation of the sweeper, the vehicle may be used 1 Claim. (01. rs sio) truck body to transport the load to a place for dumping, the sweeper trunk being readily movable to a'pos'ition to arrange its inlet end above the plane of the axles of the vehicle'to avoid damage to the trunkdurin'g transporting travel of the vehicle. "The invention further comprehends certain important and'specific details of construction and arrangement, which will be clear from the appended detail description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figurel is a sideelevation of the improved sweeper. l

Figure 2 is a top plan view with parts omitted of the body section of the sweper.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the sweeper with the screen sections in place.

Figure 4 is "a rear transverse section taken through the'body of the sweeper. l

Figure 5 is a detail, view of the inlet suction section'of the main duct.

"The vehicle on which the sweeper parts are mounted is preferably an ordinary truck, usually of the dump-body type, and while the term truck as used'herein is generally intended to identify such a vehicleLit will'be understood that the use of any conventional or specially-constructed vehicle for the-purpose is contemplated.

As illustrated, the vehicle includes a conven'- tional dump-body truck l, having a dump body 2, mounted on a wheeled chassis 3, provided with the usual power and control means (not shown) and having the usual drivers compartment 4, in which the usual controls for the speed, direction and steering of the truck are arranged. Aside from certain details to be specifically referred to, the parts of the truck form no part of the-present invention and need no specific description" or showing.

For the purpose of the present invention, the 2 is moved rearwardly on the chassis from its usual position adjacent the cab d to pro vide an'un'obstructed space between the drivers compartment and the fro 't end of the body to receive the essential parts of the present invention. A platform base 5 is arranged in this space and removably bolted to the chassis frame bars of the truclr. A platform 6, on which the essential operating parts are supported, is removably mounted on the base 5. A structural frame is mounted on the platform 6.

An independent motor, such as an internal combustion engine I, is supported on the struc'- line, the mouth will not ordinarily tural frame above the platform. A fan housing 8 having an inlet opening 9 is arranged at one end of the platform 6, being secured at ID to the motor I and the structural frame on the platform 6. The housing is arranged close to the motor, and the motor shaft H extends through the rear wall of and into the housing. A suction-pressure fan i2 is mounted directly on the motor shaft II.

The inlet opening 9 of the fan housing 8 is centered with respect to the motor shaft II, and the fan I2. i

The fan housing 8 is arranged to provide a somewhat eccentric path surrounding the fan, and terminates in a peripheral outlet '22.

The inlet opening 9 of the fan hOUSiIlgB is.

provided with an outstanding encircling flange 23, to which is connected by a universal'joint 24,

a short trunk elbow conduit 25, to the terminal 4 volume of air necessary for efiicient operation and to be disposed of through the filtering cloth. The fan housing inlet 9 opens transverse'the length of the vehicle, the trunk conduit extends slightly outwardly and downwardly, and the trunk proper 21 inclines rearwardly on an angle, The universal joint connections permit substantially any necessary relative swinging and rotative movement between the connected parts to afford maximum eflficiency of the suctionac tion. The axial line of the fan housing 8 is transversethe vehicle, and thehousing outlet 22 opens toward the rear of the vehicle and above and substantially in line with the vehicle body 2.

The body 2 is, for the purposes of the present invention, to be provided with means whereby the refuse-laden air delivered through the fan housof which conduit 25 is connected the trunk proper,

indicated at 21, The trunk proper, of metal or any appropriate material, comprises a hollow length terminating at the lower end in a fitting to form one member of the universal. joint 24,

the other member of which is formed or provided on the meeting end of the trunk conduit 21. The trunk'proper 21 extends toward the inlet 9, being circular for a portion of its length beyondthe conduit 25, and then formed to present a slightly inclined outer edge portion and a pronounced sharply inwardly and downwardly inclined inner edge portion 3i, the sides 32 being slightly convergent toward the inlet 33. This provides a substantially rectangular or tapering inlet opening, the outer end near the edge 30 being normally slightly beyond the plane of travel of the truck wheels, while the opposite end is located inwardly and beneath the vehicle chassis to pro- Vide a relatively long open suction mouth 33 for movement over the surface to be cleaned. The lower end of the trunk is provided with chains or other connectors 34 to be adjustably connected to hooks or the like 35 on the chassis of the vehicle to adjust the operative height of the trunk mouth at will relative to the surface being cleaned. The chain connectors 34 readily permit the suction mouth to move freely inwardly or upwardly when meeting obstruction, and also serve to permit adjustment of suction height 0f the mouth 33 at will.

In street cleaning particularly, the heaviest volume of debris is found closely adjacent the curbstone, and outwardly from the curbstone, the debris is of lighter character. As the improved sweeper is designed to pick up articles of considerable size, the trunk proper is of an unusual diameter-say for example from fifteen to twenty inches, and while this dimension is somewhat reduced at the trunk end of the suction mouth 33, it is apparent that laterally beyond the trunk encounter such large and heavy debris, and thus there will exist no necessity for a full width mouth throughout its length. Therefore, the mouth is gradually. reduced in its dimensions, both as to width of mouth and height, toward'its free end. There is another and important reason for such reduction. This is for the purpose of reducin the necessary suction power and air volumeof the fan as compared with that necessary if the mouth was the full dimension throughout. Thus the motor may be of less horsepower than would otherwise be the case, the diameter of the fan may be reduced, and a saving in weight and expense provided without sacrificing any efficiency. Primarily, the purpose of this arrangement is to reduce the cubic ing outlet 22 is substantially freed of the dust and refuse and permitted to escape. The contemplated structure comprises a collector housing formed by side walls and end walls 37, fitted to rest on the upper-edges of the sides and ends of the body 2 and constructed for screening the air.

v Each housing wall has a length commensurate with that part of the truck body '2, with which 'it cooperates. Each wall comprises an inner and an outer frame, 33 and 39, covered with screen material 40 and held in predetermined spaced relation by transverse end bolts 4!, or' other means. The inner frame 38 of. each side screen wall is maintained in vertical alignment with the sides of the dump body and is provided at each endwith posts 42 fitting into the corners of the dump, body but terminating short of the bottom of that body. The posts 42 are provided with angle brackets 43 to fit over the upper edges 44 of the sides of the dump body and withthe posts 22 hold the screen wall removably in upright position. The outer frame 39 of each side screen wall terminates above the lower end of the inner frame 38 and is provided at its lower end with a bottom section 45, inclining downwardly and inwardly to the side wall ofthe dump body and is provided at its lower inner edge with channel bars to slidably fit over the upper edges 44 of the dump body.

The rear screen wall is identical to that of the side screen walls, having its inner frame 38 provided with posts 46 to fitv within the dump body and abut posts 42 of the side screen walls. Removable clips 41 are used to hold abutting posts together for rigidity. The rear screen wall has the inclined bottom 48 to correspond with the inclined bottoms of the side screen walls, the inclined bottoms being connected at their ends to maintain continuity. v

. The screen wall at the front of the dump-body includes a single frame, as 419, having posts 50 and angle brackets 5! for clamping them toadjacent posts 22. v

A top screen section 52 is arranged to cover the space between the inner frames 38 of the side and end screen sections, that is, such top screen section is commensurate with the space between the side and end walls of the dump body.. This top screen section 52 has spaced frame bars 53 extending transversely of the dump body and is provided with a plate 51 through which extends ashort air-discharge pipe 58.

The screen sections, or more particularly the frames constituting such sections, are designed to receive independently removable screen elements 59, which aside from variation in dimensions are identical. a

the front wall of The screen elements, each completely independent, are supported in the various frames by providing the ends with hook-like extensions 6'! to rest on the connecting bolts 4! and On the frame bars 38.

The end screen section next the fan motor '1' is formed in line with the fan housing outlet 22 with an opening 63 framed for strength, through which the refuse-laden air delivered by the fan through the outlet 22 enters the screened collector housing of the truck body 2. In order to utilize the improvement as a sweeping or cleaning unit only and provide other vehicles as transportation factors, one side wall screen section 3'! at the end adjacent the opening 63 in the end section is formed with a closable opening 69 framed for strength.

Secured to the screen walls 3'! at a point in line with the opening 68 for the incoming refuseladen air is a deflector strip 12 of sufficient dimension vertically to direct a considerable portion. of the air stream to effect a centrifugal whirl to the air stream. The tendency of this travel of the air is to accumulate the dust and refuse toward the outer limit of the whirl and gradually discharge by gravity into the body 2. As the air approaches the center of the whirl, it will lose considerable of its force and be practically free of dust or other refuse. At the approximate center of the whirl, the relatively clear air that does not escape through the porous sides and top of the body is directed upwardly for discharge through the conduit 58, the lower open end of which extends into the center of the centrifugal whirl.

The front end of the truck is provided with a refuse box 13 open at the top and mounted for swinging to a dumping position when desired. A step platform 74 is mounted adjacent the box on which an attendant may stand during sweeping operation of the truck, and from his advance position, note and pick up from the surface being cleaned any object of a size, weight or shape beyond the suction lift of the fan. Such objects may be picked up by hand and placed in box 13 and dumped therefrom by tilting the box at any convenient depository.

A flexible hanger 75 is suspended from a bar carried by the truck; such hanger, such as a length of chain, depends in contact with the surface of the ground and marks the line of operation of the outer edge of the suction trunk. The flexible indicator is at all times within the Vision of the driver of the truck so that he may guide the machine accordingly. The chain 15 mounted on the end of a pipe 76, slidably mounted in guides 'a'l and fixed at Will in any longitudinal adjustment by set screws 18.

A scraper IE-3 is mounted transverse and beneath the body of the vehicle at a proper angle for leveling debris for convenient pick-up by the suction mouth. This scraper is mounted to yield automatically and to pass over any obstruction which it cannot level, or to raise above the plane of the axles of the vehicle when not in use.

The operation of the sweeper will be fairly plain from the above description. The truck either of special or of conventional form, except for the spacing of its body to receive the motor equipment, is provided with this equipment, removably secured in place, which thus positions the suction trunk and suction mouth, the former being at one side of the truck and the latter extending laterally beneath the body of the truck forward of the rear wheels of the vehicle.

The various screen section frames are applied to the sides. and end walls. of the truck and the top screen section positioned. asfdesorib'ed. The air deflectors are applied and the air discharge pipe is applied to the top screen section. The triangular screen elements, each complete in itself, are then placed in position and the machine is ready for use.

In driving adjacent the curb line, where ordinarily in street cleaning the heaviest debris is found, the driver by noting the flexible hanger is constantly aware of the operative position of the larger end of the suction mouth relative to the curb line and can steer the vehicle accordingly.

Material picked up by suction is delivered as described into the truck body, the refuse, even to the fine dust, is screened from the stream delivered by the fan and the clean air permitted ready escape. When the truck body has accumulated a desired load, the suction mouth may be swung up to a position above the plane of the axles of the truck wheels and secured by the connecting chain. The sweeper may thus serve as a truck and carry the accumulated load directly to the dump for discharge. Of course, the sweeper, as such, through the provision of the outlet or side openings, may deliver the refuse directly outside of the sweeper or to another truck.

It is noted that the suction trunk may swing fore and aft, inward, upward and downward, to permit the suction mouth to pass over an obstruction too high to be handled or swing inward if contacting the curbstone, and then instantly resume its proper suction relation, entirely without attention on the part of the operator.

What I claim is:

A street cleaner unit for removable mounting on a dump truck having a chassis frame supporting a cab and a dump body, which unit comprises, in combination, a support for removable mounting on the chassis frame between the cab and dump body, an open bottom collector housing for removable mounting on said dump body, a source of power mounted on said support transversely of the chassis frame, a centrifugal suction fan casing mounted on said support in alignment with said source of power, a fan in said casing connected to the drive shaft of said source of power to be driven thereby, an outlet peripherally of said fan casing and opening into said collector housing, an inlet axially of said fan casing, a universal pipe connection surrounding said inlet and secured to said casing, an elbow pipe secured at one end to said universal connection and with its other end extending downwardly in spaced relation to said casing to be beyond the side of the truck, a straight section of pipe secured at one end to the downward end of said elbow to be positioned downwardly alongside the truck, a nozzle member secured at the lower end of said straight pipe section and extending substantially at right angles thereto for positioning beneath the truck, said nozzle member having a nozzle opening extending longitudinally along the bottom thereof, from a point outside the adjacent truck wheels to a point inside the opposite truck wheels, and chains secured to the top of said nozzle member for adjustable attachment to the underside of the truck chassis.

WILLIAM R. FURR.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 485,577 678,451 953,201 978,784

Name Date Ethridge Nov. 1, 1892 Allington July 16, 1901 Harn Mar. 29, 1910 Rutherford Dec. 13, 1910 Vogelzangs Dec. 24, 1912 Murray et a1. Oct. 14, 1913 Finch Feb. 3, 1914 Fish Nov. 2, 1915 Number Number Name Date Sullivan Feb. 5, 1918 Bungay Dec. 12, 1922 Meyer Sept. 2, 1924 McClatchie June 28, 1927 Owen Aug. 23, 1927 Birdsall Oct. 29, 1929 Kern Oct. 29, 1935 Smith Mar. 12, 1940 Bernal Nov. 7, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1938

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