US2970333A - Quick-change brush means - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1961 l.. E. JONES 2,970,333

- QUICK-CHANGE BRUSH MEANS Filed Aug. 18, 1955 QUICK-CHANGE BRUSH -lVIEANS Lloyd E. Jones, Arcadia, Calif., assgnor to Industrial Brush Company, Arcadia, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Ang. 18, 1955, Ser.;No. '529,277

12 claims. (ci. is-1ss) This invention frelates to .industrial brushes and, more particularly, to lbrushes utilized to clean :external vwalls and roofs of vehicles :such as :railway cars, buses, Vand rthe like which 'areslowly moved past acleaning and washing station. A

Exterior wall surfaces 'of vehiclestinclndemanyjrregw larities principally caused lay-windows, zdoors,:other=open ings, and theflike fSu'ch exteriorfirregularities cause unfeven wear along the1len'gth1fof brush :means @position-ed zat :a cleaning station. Obviously',ffor .thorough icleaning worn brush portions 'mustrb'e promptly replaced iand for this Vpurpose such brushm'e'ans aremadein longitudinally -disposed brush .sections fof #selected 'length nnounted on ia `suitable .driving shaft. I:Heretofore 4suoli brush @sections rwere lusually removed 'by disassembling :the :entire fbrush means from the brushdriving .rmeans :and support-therefor, the .worn -brush sections `being .fslipped endwise off Ithe shaft. .Afnew brush sectioniwas'then'substitutediand fthe several Ybrush 'sections assembled fand-connected Vto the driving shaft. n

Sometimes .a worn :brush fsection iwas reconditioned :by

`removingworn brush 'strips lfrom a fcylindrical memberfholdingthebrushstrips. iEach brush'strip ,wastusually -uushed lengthwise fout o'f`longitudinallyl disposed gripping `means' for the strip. :Since `the cylindric'al .member was Voften :made of 4wood or `plastic material, the tbrush strip 'gripping fmeans :formed .'there'on 'were 'brok'en' for scarred so that when ,a new brush tstrip was :installed therein, difculty was .encountered :in properly positioning `and in holding the brush fstrip during operation.' Generally, such rehabilitation ofworn brushsectionswasextremely difficult, tedious, and costly in terms f'of flabor Afand .the `resulting product. This `invention contemplates 'a :quick-change :industrial brush :means vwherein 'worn -portions or 'sections may be readily ireplaced'without disassemblingthe brshmeans from its 'supporting `carrier-or 'driving means fand without slipping wornbrush-sections over the endofan Jassociated 'driving 'shaft during disassembly. A brush :means v'embodying this inventionperniits Y.the worn brush sections thereof to be laterally separable ffrom the driving shaft, thereby facilitating and .saving v'considerable time lwith respect to vreplacement of A:intermediate -worn 'brush sections. The invention contemplates Vthe construction-of a brush means which -is adaptedto be utilized on shaft means on which prior proposed "brush means have been installed and'to replacesuchrpriorproposedbrush means. lt is, therefore, the primary'object of this invention 'to disclose .and lprovide Aa quick-change brush means jfor use incleaning-exterior wall sufacesof vehicles and embodying a novel assemblyof brush holdingmeans.

An object kof .this .invention `is to disclose `and provide a vehicle brush meansV wherein 4brush.holdingsegments provided thereon are longitudinally positioned with respectto each other and laterally-selectively andindependently'separable from theb'rush means.

. Another object :of this `invention is Lto .discloses and .pro-v 2 vide an industrial brush means which'is inexpensive to manufacture and is of simple, eflicient construction.

A further object of this invention :is `to disclose and provide Aa `brush means wherein novel support or collar means'fare selectively longitudinallywspaced along a shaft for longitudinally positioning 'laterally removable brush holding segments.

'Still another object'of this inventionfis to disclose vand provide an industrial'brush means wherein-a shaft means carries brush strip holding means laterally and longitudinally yseparable and wherein locking means are provided for holding said brush strip holding means in 'assembly on said shaft means.V

Generally speaking, this yinvention contemplates an industrial brush means `comprising an elongated yshaft carrying thereon :a'plurality o'f selectively longitudinally spaced supporter collar'members-in vaccordance with the length of brushstrip fholding means tobearranged and supported thereon. Each'brus'hstripholding means may comprise a plurality .of :part-cylindrical brush holding segments which, wheniassembledyencircle said-shaft land which Aare Ylongitudinally positioned ahy 'means on said collar members. Each part-cylindricalbrush holding segment includes longitudinally extending pairs Yof brush strip retaining ribs. "Certain of said ribs provide engage- -ment means 'cooperable wwith a locking "means for removably securing 'and kholding-'brushtsegments supported by each collar .in assembly therewith-and in such amanner that brush v:segments may bereadily removed or installed 'by Ylateral movement :of `the brush segment Withtrespecjt :to the collar and shaft, 'thereby permittingV rapid replacement of intermediate brush 'strip fholding'means V:when

worn." i f @ther fobjects and yadvantages :ofthis invention zwill be readily vapparent from the followingfdescription fof-the drawings in which an Vexemplarly l'embodiment iof r'this invention .is shown.

ln the drawings:

Fig. K lv is a fragmentary fside viewf'df atbrush-tme'ans embodying this invention, a portion of fthebrus'h bein broken away land shown in fsection.

Fig. .2 is atop viewlofthe Jbrushsnreans shownlin Fig. 1, the' view beingtaken in "the ILp'lane indicated Eby lline II-:IIof Pig. 111. f f

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary fside fview, rpartlyfin .'sect'ion, of asupportorfcollar means shownrin Fig. i1, /thesection being ltaken in the .plane indicated 'by line Ill-IIIfof Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is 'a'transverses'ectional 'viewrthrough thefsupportmean'staken' in the 'planes indicated by flines INT-IV of'FigLB. .y .-'1

An industrial 'bru'sh means embodying 'this invention', generally indicated `at .10, Vvis only fragmentarily fshown and may comprise brush `portions :11 fand .'llaof 'selected different lengthlandsometimesfof diiferent .outer .diameter depending upon the exterior configuration 4offthe lvehicle to be cleaned by lsaid brushes. Usually vthere may 'be more than two brush portions, the length of each brush portion being determined Aby -the lcharacter-of the surface tobe'cleaned. VA `surfacehaving aflarge-.numberof-irregularities Awill .generally be contacted b y -a .brush tportion of relatively short vlength which is-subjected to wear more rapidly than other brush'portions and which maybe readily replaced. Since the various'brush portions forming brush means 10 involve the same vfeatures of this invention, only brush Vportions 11 and Ila'havebeen ,illustrated for the purpose of brevity. l

vThe brush means 10 includes'a longitudinally extending shaft 13 of selected length and diameter to carry lbrush portions 1-1 and 11a. The klshaft '-13 lis 4Aadapted-toibo rotated by any suitable well known .drive lm'eans f'(not shown).v :Shaft 513 includes .a longitudinally" extending Patented Feb. 7, 1961 l 3 keyway 14 adapted toreceive a key 15 for locking brush means to the shaft for rotation therewith.

Means for supporting brush portions 11 and 11a on shaft 13 may include a plurality of longitudinally spaced support or collar members 17, said support members being spaced apart from center to center the approximate length of a longitudinally disposed brush strip holding means generally indicated at 18. The support w member 17 may be of split collar type including a pair of semi-circular collar elements 19, said elements 19 being clamped about shaft 13 by a pair of diametrically opposite securing nut and bolt assemblies 20. The nut and bolt assemblies 20 extend through aligned flanged portions 21 formed by recesses 22 cored out of the collar elements 19 between end faces thereof. The securing bolts and nuts 20 lie in recesses 22 within the circumference of support member 17.

Each collar element 19 includes a keyway 23, one of said keyways 23 of a pair of collar elements 19 being adapted to receive key for locking the support member 17 on shaft 13 for rotation therewith. Support members 17 may be readily longitudinally adjusted and positioned on shaft 13 by loosening bolt and nut assemblies and sliding support members 17 along the shaft into selected spaced positions and then tightening bolt and nut assemblies 20..

Each support member 17, when assembled and secured about shaft 13, includes a generally cylindrical exterior surface 25. Cylindrical surface 25 includes diametrically opposite recessed face portions 26 and diametrically opposite bearing face portions 27, said bearing portions 27 lying centrally of the semi-cylindrical surface of each collar element 19 and with the face portions 26 extending therefrom. The bearing face portions 27 provide seats for brush strip holding segments 29 forming the brush strip holding means 18. Brush strip holding segments 29 are generally semi-cylindrical and hollow, the recessed face portions 26 providing clearance for irregularities in curvature and width of said segments and to permit drawing of said segments into tight, snug relation with the support members as further'described hereinafter.

Each collar element 19 may also include a pair of outwardly projecting lugs 30 formed at extremities` of bearing face portions 27 and centrally of the collar element, said lugs 30 serving to longitudinally position brush holding segments 29 by abutment of ends of said segments thereagainst and to limit longitudinal play thereof.

thicker section rib providing at opposite ends lock engagement means.

Means to removably lock semi-cylindrical brush holding segments 29 at each end to support members 17 includes a locking member 38 positioned exterior of bearing face portions 27 of each-collar element 19. Each locking member 38 may be secured to collar element 19 as by `a recessed set screw bolt 39 which extends into a threaded bore 40 in collar element 19. Locking member 33 may be of rectangular curved configuration to correspond with the curvature of the cylindrical brush holding means 18. Each locking member 38 includes outer inwardly directed, spaced lock engagement portions 41 and an intermediate inwardly extending portion 42. Lock engagement portions 41 may be provided with Wedge faces 43 and 44 adapted to be received within and to correspond to opposed faces on ends of adjacent pairs of retaining ribs 32. Intermediate portion 42 extends between ultimate or edge retaining ribs 32 of assembled semi-cylindrical segments 29 and serves to properly, circularly space said segments 29. The portions 41 and 42 define parallel recesses 45 adapted to l receive edge pairs of retaining ribs 32.

'Y engagement means on said segments.

The brush strip holding means 18 is positioned on and between the spaced support means 17 and encircles shaft 13. Each brush strip holding means 18 includes the pair of semi-cylindrical hollow brush holding segments 29, said brush segments 29 having longitudinal internal surface areas at each end adapted to seat on said bearing face portions 27. Each brush holding segment 29 is made preferably by extruding a suitable'lightweight metal alloy such as aluminum. The brush segments 29 carry on their exterior face a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced converging pairs of external retaining ribs 32. Ribs 32 stiffen the semi-cylindrical hollow segments 29 so that relatively long segments are substantially rigid.

Each pair of retaining ribs 32 is adapted to longitudinally receive therein, as by endwise insertion, a brush strip 33 which may include a generally U-secton elongated metal holder 35 Within which is received and securedV a plurality of bristles 34 in well known manner. Bristles 34 may be made of any suitable material and may project from brush segments 29 a selected distance. The brush strips 33 are secured in said pairs of retaining ribs 32 by pinching ends of said ribs, said converging ribs serving to retain the brush strips intermediate their length. It should be noted that the penultimate rib adjacent each longitudinal edge of brush holding segment 29 is of slightly thicker rmetal section as at 36, said In assembly of a brush means described above, support member 17 may be first secured to shaft 13 in selected spaced relationship to accommodate the brush portions 11 and 11a of preselected length. The brush means 18 may then be positioned about the shaft 13 by placing each brush holding segment 29 laterally against the support member 17 and between and against longitudinal positioning lugs 30. The semi-cylindrical elements 29 may then be secured in position by locking members 38 which extend over adjacent corner portions of adjacent cylindrical segments, the lock engagement means on said segments beingy engaged in wedge relation with locking portions 41 of the locking member. Tightening of the set screw bolt 39 on each locking member 38 secures the brush means 18 to the support means 17 and thereby to shaft 13.

When a brush portion 11, for example, becomes worn, it will be readily apparent that brush means 18 forming said portion may be readily removed and replaced by releasing the set screw bolt 39 from each locking member 38 which engages brush means 18, laterally withdrawing the cylindrical brush holding segments 29 from support means 17 and then replacing said worn segments with new segments. It will be apparent that in this operation adjacent brush portion 11a is retained on the shaft in assembled relation therewith. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that removal and replacement of a brush portion on a brush means which utilizes this invention may be quickly and rapidly made since only worn brush portions are handled.

The brush holding segments 29 of extruded lightweight metal alloy are of such low cost that they may be thrown away when the brush strips carried thereby are worn. However, if it is desired to replace brush strips 33, spreading apart the pinched ends of the retaining ribs 32 will permit relatively easy extraction of the brush strip held thereby. Since the extruded ribs are relatively smooth, a new brush strip can be readily inserted if desired.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a quick-change brush means has been provided which reduces to a minimum the time and labor required to recondition or rebuild a worn brush means. Under prior {proposed-brush constructions, a day 'Jor "more rwasnecesfsary to repair a worn brush. Under-the brush-:construc- ,ftion described above, a wornportionmay be vreplaoedin .rless than 1an hour. v

All changes and `modifications in Ythe brush means described above coming within'the scope of the appended claims, are :embraced thereby.

1. .Inf arquick-changebrush rmeans, sthercombination of: 'a .'shaftfadapted .to .be rotated; .support means :on asaid shaftin longitudinalspaced relation; .1a zpluralityof lbrush strip holding means supported in longitudinal, slightly spaced, end to end relation by said support means and encircling said shaft, each brush strip holding means comprising a plurality of brush holding segments of curved transverse section arranged in adjacent lateral relation to form a cylinder, each segment being provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel external ribs for retaining a brush strip therein; and means to releasably lock longitudinally and laterally adjacent holding segments to said support means and tolongitudinally align said ribs comprising lock engagement means on each seg- `ment in adjacent relation to lock engagement means on an adjacent segment, and an external locking member provided with engagement means cooperable with each of said adjacent lock engagement means on longitudinally and laterally adjacent holding segments.

2. A quick-change brush means as stated in claim l wherein said locking member includes a body portion overlying portions of longitudinally and laterally adjacent segments and wherein the engagement means on said external locking member and the engagament means on said holding segments include wedge surfaces for drawing laterally adjacent segments toward each other.

3. In a quick-change brush means; the combination of: a shaft; spaced support means on said shaft, each support means including an external surface; a plurality of brush support holders in cylindrical arrangement about said shaft and having end faces seated on said external surfaces, each holder including a longitudinally extending wall arcuate in section and provided with a plurality of Ilaterally spaced external longitudinally extending ribs cooperable to retain a plurality of brush strips; and means to removably lock in assembly laterally adjacent holders including lock engagement means provided on ends of certain of said ribs, and an external locking member overlying and extending across portions of adjacent holders and having radially inwardly directed wedge lock engagement portions cooperable with said lock engagement means.

4. In a quick-change brush means, the combination of: a shaft; support means fixed to said shaft in longitudinal spaced relation, each support means including an external cylindrical surface; a plurality of longitudinally disposed brush strip holding means positioned on said support means in end-to-end relation, each holding means encircling said shaft and including a pair of semi-cylindrical segments having internal semi-cylindrical end surfacesmfor seating on a portion of the external cylindrical surface on said support means, each segment being provided with longitudinally extending parallel external retaining ribs for brush strips, certain of said retaining ribs providing lock-engagement means; and means to removably lock adjacent ends of said semi-cylindrical brush segments to each support means, said locking means including a locking member overlying said adjacent ends of said segments 'and provided with lock-engagement portions cooperable with the lock-engagement means on certain of said external ribs.

5. A brush means as stated in claim 4 wherein the said lock-engagement portions and said lock-engagement means on said ribs include cooperable wedge faces. l

6. A brush means as stated in claim 4 wherein saidvsupport means includes a positioning lug on said external surffaceto .longitudinally position .eachf segmentbetween lsaid support means.

f7. ,Abrushfholding segment 'for use withzone or more .laterally Iadjacent corresponding -brush .holding segments to :form brushstrip holding means for a-plurality of brush :strip e. elements `and securement means vfor :said segment, .said segment comprising an extruded-wall of arcuate transverse cross section providing an external convex surface, a-,pluralityof.longitudinallyextending continuous parallel ribs longitudinally coextensive and integral with the said Wall and projecting outwardly from said convex surface, said paralleli-ribs providing continuous Ilongitudinally extending recesses .adapted-toereceivebrush strip elements, said wall havinginternal concave surfaces adapted to seat vv'on fsupportrneans -for said -segment,"and certain tof `said ribs adjacent longitudinal edges of said wall having wedge surface portions adapted to cooper-ate with said securement means for said segment. p

8. In an industrial brush means, the combination of: a shaft means; a plurality of longitudinally disposed brush holding means in end to end relation and of selected length positioned along said shaft means; each of said brush holding means including atleast two laterally adjacent brush holding segments, each segment having an external convex surface and having end locking portions; and a lock member at adjacent end portions of laterally and longitudinally adjacent brush holding segments and extending over said adjacent end portions, said lock member having radially inwardly directed wedge means cooperable with the end locking portions of said segments whereby a selected segment may be laterally separated from said shaft means without disassembly of longitudi nally adjacent segments.

y9. In a quick-change brush means, the combination of: a sh-aft having an axis of rotation; a plurality of collar means fixed to the shaft in longitudinal spaced relation, each collar means providing external uninterrupted cylindrical surface portions; a plurality of longitudinally aligned elongated segments of arcuate transverse crosssection land havin-g means to hold brush strips and arranged circumaxially about said axis of rotation, longitudinally aligned segments being in end to end relation with ends longitudinally adjacent, each segment having end surfaces seated on said surface portions of adjacent elements and `a securement member comprising: an extruded wall of arcuate transverse cross-section providing an external convex surface, a plurality of longitudinally extending continuous parallel ribs integral with said wall, projecting outwardly -from said convex surface, and extending for the length of said wall, said plurality of ribs including at least two ribs at each longitudinal edge of said wall, said parallel ribs providing continuous longitudinally extending recesses adapted to receive brush strip elements, said wall having internal concave surfaces adapted to seat on support means for said segment, said two ribs at each longitudinal edge of said wall having end portions with wedge surfaces adapted to cooperate with said securement member.

12. A brush holding segment for use with one or more laterally adjacent corresponding brush holding segments to for-m brush strip holding means for a plurality of brush strip elements and a securement member for said segment, said segment comprising an extruded wall of arcuate transverse cross-section providing an external convex surf'e'efa plurality of'longitudinally extending continuous parallel ribs longitudinally coextensive vand integral with 'the' said wall and projecting outwardly from said ronvex surface, said parallel ribs providing continuous longi- "tudinally extending recesses adapted to receive brush strip elements, said wall having internal concave surfaces adapted to seat on support means for said segment, and certain of said ribs on said wall having wedge surface Vportions adapted to cooperate with said securement member for said segment.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,953' :lo ,e 11,094,079

Baker Jan.20,1s91 ,i

8 A A v Collins l .f. Sept.r4', Anderson ef June 1, Sawyer i-; Mar'.30, Blydenburgh Oct. 25,

. FOREIGN PATENTSl A Great Britain Sept; 13, Great Britain Oct.Y 5, Great Britain Aug. 15, FranceA Dec. 1,

France Dec.. 29,

Images