US343353A - wright - Google Patents

Description

v(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1. T. WRIGHT. SNOW SWEEPER AND MELTER.

No. 343,353. Patented June 8, 1886.

TOR.

[NI/EN I A l 4 5 ATTORNEY WITNESSES;

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. WRIGHT.

SNOW SWEEPBR AND MELTBR.

Patented June 8., 1886.

HVVENTOR A TTORNEY (No Model.) 4 Shets-Sheet 4.

. T. WRIGHT.

SNOW SWEEPBR AND MELT-BR. No. 343,353. Patented June 8, 1886.

WITNESSES:

PETERS. Pholo-Lithogzapher. Washinglnn. n. c.

UNITED "STATES PATENT 'OFFICEO THOMAS WRIGHT, or CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

SNOW SWE'EPER AND MELTER.

SESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,353, dated June 8, 1886.

Application filed January 27, 1886. Serial No. 189,892. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- Y Be it known that I, THOMAS WRIGHT, a citi- 1 tion. sweeping-brush, cylinder, driving-axle of the sweeper, and power-transmitting devices for the brush and condenser. Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly sectional, drawn to an enlarged scale, of one of the adjustable bearings for the sweeping-brush and for the cylinder or condenser and a part of the frame or support for said bearing; and Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of same.

My invention has relation to snow-sweeping vehicles or devices which are particularly adapted for street-railway and other purposes; and it has for its object to sweep the snow off of the street or roadway into arotary condenser or chamber wherein the snow is either wholly or partially condensed into water, then emptying the partially-condensed snow or the condensations into a chamber wherein the condensation is completely, if not already, effected, and then to either retain the water of condensation in the deviceor vehicle and draw it off periodically 'or permit it to drain away from the vehicle or device continuously.

My invention accordingly consists of the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, having reference particularly to a rotating sweeping-brush, a rota y condenser or cylinderfconnected with a'heating device, a heatingchamber backof said condenser for receiving the contents of the latter, and a chamber for containing the water of condensation, from which it is drawn off. periodically or permitted to drip or drain continuously, and to adjustablebearings for the sweeping-brush and rotary condenser or cylinder, and power-transmitting devicesinterposedbetween said sweep- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section at or near one side of the Fig. 4 is a transverse section showing,

ing-brush, condenser, and one of the axles of the vehicle.

In the drawings, A represents a car or vehicle, either mounted upon trucks a, as shown in Fig.1, or otherwise having its wheels at tached thereto, as indicated in'Figs. 2 and 3.

One of the axles, a, of the vehicle is the driving-axle, having preferably a centrally-located pulley, (1 which is in gear by means of a rope or chain, a, with a like pulley, b, on a countershaft, B, having suitable bearings, b, in the sides a" of the vehicle, as more plainly indi cated in Fig.. 4.

Preferably at the forward end of the car is placed a rotary sweeping brush, 0, of any suitable construction, the shaft 0 of which is 'journaled in boXes or bearings c, composed of two plates, 0 and c", (seen more plainly in Figs. 5 and 6,) suitably screwed or otherwise fastened together, as indicated at 0 to form edge grooves c, which are adapted to the sides (Z of an elongated slot, (1, formed in the lower ends of frames or supports D for the bearings c of the brush-shaft C. These frames are suitably fastened to the interior sides of the vehicle, as more plainly shown in Fig. 4.

At the upper end of the frames Dare lugs or bearings d"; and upon the plates 0 of each bearing 0 isa lug, c, which is threaded to engage with the screw portion f of a rod, F, one for each bearing. which passes up through lugs d on frames D. The lower ends of rods F have step or other suitable bearings, f, in lugs d on the lower ends of frames D, and their upper ends are provided with miter or bevel wheels (1 which mesh with like wheels 9 upon a counter-shaft, G, having suitable bearings in the sides of the vehicle, (see Fig. 2,) and a hand-wheel, 9', so that by turning the latter in either direction the rods F are rotated to cause their threaded por tions f to raise or lowerthe bearings c in slots d for the purpose of either elevating or lowering the brush 0 to and from the roadway to either regulatethe extent or depth of sweeping or to take up wear of the brush. At or near the ends of shaft B are grooved or other suitable drivingwheels, If If, for transmitting power to brush-shaft G by means of belts or chains C engaging with like pulleys c c on the ends of shaft 0. As the brush and its shaft-bearings are vertically adjustable, the chains or belts 0 must be in gear with pulleys c in such manner that the belts or chains 0" will not slack or sag when the brush is raised and will not become taut when the brush is lowered. To provide for this described result, I secureidlerwheels or groovepulleys C to the lower ends of the frames D, or said pulleys may be otherwise located on the frames, so as to be in line with the shaft pulleys or wheels 0, and coil or pass one side, U3, of the ropes or chains completely or once around the pulleys c, and then pass the same under or over the idler pulleys or wheels C. as plainly shown in section of Fig. 2, and also in Fig. 4.

G of chains or belting 0 without producing any slack or tightening the same.

To the rear of brush 0, and preferably in as close proximity to the brush as it is possible to get without touching it, is placed a hollow rotary metal wheel or cylinder, H, of a length equal, ornearly equal, to that of the sweepingbrush. This cylinder has suitable hollow trunnions or shafts, h h, journaled in bearings 7t, adjustable or sliding in frames H in the manner above described for the brush-shaft bearings 0, so that the cylinder H is adapted to be raised or 1oweredthat is to say, the bearings h are composed of two plates suit ably screwed together, having side grooves adapted to elongated slots h in the lower ends of frames H, one of the plates of each bearing it having a threaded lug, h, which engages with a screw-rod, H one for each bearing h, each of which rods passes through a lug, h, on the upper end of the respective frame H, upon which it is mounted, and has a step-bearing, If, in a lug, It, at the bottom of the frames, and also at its upper end a bevel-wheel, h, which engages with a like wheel, h", on a counter-shaft, 11, having suitable bearings in the sides of the vehicle, and a hand-wheel, h, by means of which the cylinder is raised or lowered, as desired.

Upon the cylinder-shaft, at each end, are fastened grooved or other suitable wheels or pulleys, It which are-connected by chains or belts '13 to like pulleys or wheels 1) upon the shaft B, and one side of each of these chains or beltsz' is coiled once around the pulleys h", and then passed under or over idler-pulleys h", secured to frames H, as above described for chains or belts G and pulleys c, to permit the cylinder H and its shaft to be either raised or lowered without slacking or tightening said belts or chains; hence both the brush 0 and cylinder H can be raised or lowered without adjustment of their power-transmitting devices.

The power-transmitting devices or the belts and chains i for cylinder H are arranged to rotate it in direction opposite to that in which the brush is rotated, for a purpose hereinafter As the brush and its shaft is either raised or lowered the wheels or pulleys c revolve within the coil of chain or belting around them to ride up or downupon the side described, the direction of rotation of said parts being indicated by arrows at and 3/, respectively, (see Fig. 3,) and as the sweepingbrush 0 is preferably rotated at a greater speed than is the cylinder H the pulleys I) on shaft B for driving the brush are shown of a larger diameter than that for the pulleys b on said shaft for driving the cylinder. This difference in diameter may, however, be varied or regulated as desired, according to the work to be accomplished.

Upon the circumference of the cylinder are formed longitudinal buckets or receptacles h", and to one end of its shaft is suitably swiveled or coupled a flexible or partly yielding and partly rigid pipe, n, which leads to a steam, hot-air, water, or other heating furnace, N, preferably located at the rear end of the car, and to the other end of said shaft is likewise swiveled a similar pipe, at, leading to a steam, hot-air, water, or other heating jacket, L, formed upon the floor and on the end and sides of achamber, M, so as to surround it,or nearly so, and which is located between the cylinder H and the furnace N, as more plainly shown in Fig. 3. The floor m of chamber M, or the top of its bottom heating-jacket, l, inclines downwardly from the cylinder rearward] y, and has an outlet-pipe, m, leading i nto a receptacle or tank, 0, located just below or adjacent to the floor'heating jacket I, and the latter and the tank 0 are connected by a pipe, '0, having a check or stop valve, 0'. The heating-jacket L is connected by a pipe, l, having cock Z, with the heating-furnace N, and if the latter be a steam or hotwater furnace a water tank or reservoir, P, is provided, which is prefera bly placed so as to form the roof of chamber M, as indicated in Fig. 3, and connected bya pipe, 12, with furnace N.

If desired, an outlet or vent, 112?, may be formed in the roof of the car, (see Fig. 3,) for escape of vapor or steam from chamber M, and tank 0 is provided with an outlet-pipe, o, and chamber M has a cleaning-out opening, m.

The operation is as follows: The hot air or steam from furnace or boiler N is circulated by way of pipe at to the interior of cylinder H and by way of pipe n to jacket L, and, if desired, by way of pipe 0, when its valve is open, to tank 0, and also by way of pipe 1' to said jacket and tank, to warm or render hot the metal cylinder and the sides and bottom of chamber, which are also preferably made of metal. The heating of chamber M keeps the water in tank P at a high temperature, to prevent freezing and for economizing in the amount of fuel required for the furnace or boiler N. The snow swept by the brush into the buckets of cylinder H melts more or less as it is carried around by the cylinder, so that as each successive bucket arrivesat or near to the floor of chamber M the partially-melted snow slides out of the buckets into chamber M, or the buckets emptythemselves at the proper time, they being made or fixed at an angle, as shown, to do so. The snow not melted in the cylinder is fully condensed or melted. afterit is deposited in chamber M, and

the water of condensation passes through pipe m into tank 0, and if retained therein is kept warm and cannot freeze by reason of the proximity of said tank to heating jacket L, and also by the hot air or steam passing into it from the pipe 0. The water of condensation may be drawn off periodically along the route of sweeping by stopping the vehicle at sewerinlets or other suitable places and leading such water by attaching a hose to outlet-pipe of to the inlet, or, if desired, the water of condensation may be permitted to continuously overflow or drain away from tank 0 through pipe 0, in which case it may form the outlet-pipe of chamber M, and the tank 0 and pipe 0 are then dispensed with. (See Fig. 1.)

As the chamber M has a vent, m undue heating of the same or the parts of the vehicle or the accumulation of vapor therein is avoided.

The cylinder H is preferably provided with a drip or drain cock, 1", for drawing off any water of condensation collecting therein when in use. (See Fig. 4.)

I do not confine myself to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts comprising my improvements,.as it is obvious that they may bedifferently arranged and constructed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

WVhat I claim is-- 1. A snow-sweeping vehicle or device having a rotary sweeping-brush, a rotary cylinder for receiving the sweepings, and a heating device for said cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A snow-sweeping vehicle having a rotary sweeping-brush, a rotary cylinder for receiving the sweepings, a heating device for said cylinder, a condensing'chamber, and heating devices for the latter, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,in asnow-sweeping car or vehicle, of a rotary sweeping-brush, a rotary cylinder, a condensing-chamber, and a heating device for said cylinder and chamber, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination,in a snow-sweeping car or vehicle, of a rotary sweeping-brush, a rotary cylinder, a condensing chamber, a heatingfurnace for said cylinder and condensingchamber, and a reservoir for the water of condensation having an outlet-pipe, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination,in asnow-sweeping car or vehicle, of a rotary brush, a rotary cylinder for receiving and more or less melting the snow or sweepings, bearings for said brush and cylinder, and means for adjusting or raising and lowering said hearings to elevate or depress said brush and cylinder, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination,in a snow-sweeping car or vehicle, of a driving-axle, a counter-shaft in gear with said axle, a rotary sweeping-brush,

driving belt or chain one side of which is passed or coiled once around the driving-pulley on the brush and over or under an idlerv pulley, a bracket or support for the brush and idler-pulley, and actuating devices for raising or lowering the brush without producing slack or tension of its driving-belt, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a rotary brush having bearings adjustable to raise and lower the brushpulleys or wheels on said shaft, idlerpulleys secured to the frames supporting the bearings and chains or belts having one side coiled once around the pulley on said shaft and passing under or over the idler-pulleys, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a snow sweeping machine, the rotary cylinder H, having adjustable bearings, a shaft having pulleys or wheels on each end, frames or supports for said bearings, idler-wheels on said frames, and driving belts or chains each of which have one side coiled once around one of the pulleys on said shaft and engaging or passing around one of the idler-wheels, as set forth.

10. In a snow-sweeping machine, the combination of a rotating hollow cylinder having outside rim or circumferential buckets placed lengthwise of the cylinder, a heating device for the latter, and a rotary brush for sweeping the snow into the cylinder-buckets, substantially as shown and described.

11. The combination of a shaft having driving pulleys or wheels at each end, sliding bearings for said shaft, frames or supports, and adjusting-screws for said bearings, an idler-pulley attached to each of said frames, and driving belts or chains for each pulley on said shaft, arranged to have one of their sides coiled once around a pulley on said shaft and passed under or over one of the idler-pulleys .to permit the shaft to be raised or lowered without slacking or tightening the belt, substantially as set forth.

12. In a snow-sweeping car or vehicle, the combination of a rotary sweeping-brush, means for raising and lowering it, a rotary snow receiving and melting cylinder, means for] rais- IIO ing and lowering it, a condensing-chamber, a

water-of-condensation reservoir, a pipeconnection between said chamberarid reservoir, a heating device for the two latter and for the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

13. In a snow-sweeping machine, the combination, with a rotating brush and a cylinder for receiving and melting the snow, of a condensing-chamber having at its roof a watertank, and on its sides, bottom, and rear end heating-jackets, a heating device or furnace,

and connection between it and said cylinder and jackets, substantially as shown and described.

14. A snow-sweeping ear or vehicle having a heating furnace or boiler, a rotary cylinder having buckets on its periphery, a stationary condensing-chamber having bottom, side, and end heating-jackets, connection between said chambers and the furnace or boiler, and a reservoir for receiving the water of condensation from said chamber, as set forth.

15. In a snow-sweqpingcar or vehicle, the combination of chamber M, having bottom, side, and end heating-jackets, L, tank 0, and valve-pipe connection between said tanks and jackets, substantially as shown and described.

16. In a snow-sweeping ear or vehicle, the combination, with a rotary brush, of a cylinder having buckets on its rim, pipe-connection with a heating-furnace, and a drip-cock, r, as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In a snow-sweeping ear or vehicle, the condensing-chamber having outlet m for the water of condensation and air-vent of, substantially as set forth.

18. In a snow-sweeping machine or vehicle, a tank, 0, for receiving the water of condensation, having an outlet, 0' and a heating device for said tank, substantially as shown and described.

19. In a snow-sweeping car or vehicle, the combination of a rotary and vertically-adjustable sweepingbrush, a rotary snow receiving and melting cylinder, a condensing-chamber, a tank for receiving the water of condensa tion, and a heating device for said cylinder, chamber, and tank, substantially as set forth.

20. A snowsweeper and melter composed of a car-body having a rotating brush, rotary and stationary snow receiving and melting chambers, and a furnace or heating device for said chambers, substantially as set forth.

21. In a snow sweeper and melter, a rotary and vertieally'adj ustable sweeping-brush, and a rotary cylinder for receiving and more or less melting the snow, and power-transmitting devices for revolving said brush and cylinder in opposite directions, as set forth.

22. In-a snow sweeper and melter, a rotating cylinder having buckets on its face or periphery, and a central or interior heatingchamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS YVRIGHT.

\Vitnesses:

' J. VAN STAvOREN, Uims. F. VAN IIORN...

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