US352152A - Frank stilson - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. G. ROCK.

STREET SWEBPER.

No. 352,152. v Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

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' I .3 Sheets-Sheet 2. HG. ROCK.

(No Model.)

STREET SWBEPER.

No. 352,152. Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

no Model.) 7 I Y asheets-shet 3.

E. G. ROCK.- V

4 STREET SWBEPER- Patented Nov. 9,1886

WITNESSES v 'UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE c. noon, on WASHINGTON, DISTRICT oEcoLuMBIA;

STREESTY-SWEEPER.

'SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,152, dated November 9, 1886.

' Application filed August 19, 1885. Serial No. 174,817, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, EUGENE G. BooK, a citizen of the Unit d States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street- Sweepers, of which. the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

' This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in street-sweepers; and

A it has for its objects, first, to provide means for sustaining the broom-shaft, and which, while admitting of its up-and-down adjustment, will also hold it against its'tendencyto spring rearward; second, to dispense, as far as possible, with shafts and pinions, and to operate the broom from about the middle of its shaft by means of sprocket-wheels'an'd a chain, in such manner as to leave but a small gap between the broom-sections adjacent to the sprocketwheel on the broom-shaft, whereby, first, considerable friction is obviated, and, secondly, liability to leave an unswept strip prevented.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and on which similar letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding features, Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improved sweeping-machine; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the same with the broom removed from the shaft; Fig.3, an elevation of the broom-shaft and its supporting-frame; Fig. 4, an end view of the broom-shaft, showing only one set of brushes in position; Fig. 5, one form of drum for adjusting the broom; and Fig. 6, an elevation of the elevating-drum, the operating-shaft, and pin'ions.

The letter A designates the supportingwheels, the same being of any approved construction, and mounted loosely upon the front andrear axles, B and C, respectively, a clutchconnection, 1), being employed on the rear axle to cause the wheels to rotate the axle when the machine is advancing.

The letter E designates a frame constructed, essentially, of two side pieces composed of an upper and lower strip of angle-iron connected together at intervals by suitable braces, as seen more clearly in Fig. 2, whereby rigidity and lightness are obtained. Each side piece is arched, the arch of one being in advance of that of the other, so as to allow of the oblique disposition of the broom-shaft, over which the 'cident with the axis of the broom-shaft.

arches span. The side pieces of the frame are also braced together by lateral and oblique braces F and G, and at the forward ends are provided. with suitable bolsters and a fifthwheel, whereby connection of the frame is made with the springs of the front axle. The forward end of the frame is also provided with a platform, H, and a drivers seat, I.

The letter J designates a strong frame, c0nstructed, preferably, of wrought-iron, and consisting of end pieces, and upper and lower pieces, K and L, secured together, the upper and lower pieces being secured,respectively, to the upper and lower edges of the arches by means of bolts or rivets, or otherwise, their position being oblique to the frame and 0011111- T e pieces K and L areslotted and bored near their ends, and in the slots are fitted thebroomshaft hangers M, so as to be adjustable up and down, and to which are connected the supporting and adjusting ropes or chains N, which pass through the holes in the strips K and L, and thence over pulleys O, mounted upon said pieces, and thence around vertical pulleys or rollers P, also mounted upon the piece K, and from these latter pulleys to the drum Q, mounted in the frame near the forward end in any convenient manner, and provided with a bevel-pini0n which intergears with a like pinion secured to the upright shaft R, having a hand-wheel, S, and a ratchet, T, with which engages a pivoted pawl, U, whereby the hangers M are adjusted and held in any'given position, and the broom accordingly adjusted.

The letter V designates the broom-shaft, which is mounted so as to rotate in the lower ends of the hangers M. To this shaft are se cured a convenient number, inthe present instance four, broom-sections W, each section bein'gcomposed of three rows of brushes disposed equidistantly around the shaft and in a spiral line, the frame of each section consisting of triangular plates X, secured to the broom-shaft, and the barsY, secured to said plates. These bars are perforated and the broom straws or switches are bunched and secured to the bars in any convenient manner. l I

In some instances it may be desirable to lengthen the sweep of the broom without lengthening the broom-shaft, and this is done by placing upon the ends of the shaft longer broomsections, as seen in Fig. 3. These sections consist of three bars provided with brushes and held together and braced at one end and in the middle by the plates X, through which extends the broom-shaft, and at their outer end by the triangular plate or frame 7. As seen in Fig. 3, the frame, consisting of the three bars and the plates, as just described, is slightly twisted or bent longitudinally, so that the brushes will partake of a spiral form.

About the middle of the broom-shaft V is secured a sprocket-wheel, a, the comparatively narrow face of which admits of the inner broom sections being brought quite close together, whereby all liability to leave an nnswept strip is prevented. Over this sprocket-wheel passes an endless s1'nocket-chain, I).

A driving-shaft, c, is mounted in journals secured, preferably, to the under edges of the frame E of the machine, its position being parallel to the broom-shaft. It is provided at one end with a sprocket-wheel, 0, over which also passes the chain 1), and at the other with a pinion, f, which meshes with a bevel-cog, 5 loosely mounted upon the axle O, and having its hub constructed at one end, so as to form one member of a clutch.

A clutch, F1, is also mounted upon the axle O, and a feather-key is employed, so as to cause the clutch to turn with the axle, yet to be free to slide. A red, i, at its lower end is fastened to one of the members of the clutch-connecting rod, and at its upper end is secured to a rod, j, having suitable bearings at the rear and forward part of the machine, and provided near the latter cnd'with a hand-lever, 7;, which engages with a rack, Z, secured to the platform H, whereby the clutch is operated to engage and disengage the gear-wheel g by the driver from his position on the machine. lhus it will be observed that when the gear-wheel g is engaged by the clutch and the machine is advancing forward a rotary motion will be imparted to the drive-shaft 0, and through the chains and sprocket-wheels, already described, alike motion will be given to broom-shaft in the direction of the arrow, as seen in Fig. 2. lhe relative speed of the broom-shaft and the axle will be governed by the relative size of the pinion and gear and the sprocket-wheels a e, a speed of about three or four revolutions of the broom'shaft to one of the axle being found effective.

It will be observed that the space between the pieces K and L of the sustainingframe is sufficient to hold the hangers in a vertical position against the rearward strain upon them occasioned by the action of the broom upon the ground. As an additional safeguard, however, in case the broom be brought in contact with some obstruction, I provide a brace, m, preferably constructed of channel-iron, and secure it firmly to the under edges of the framepieces E, and brace its projecting end by a rod, 11, as seen clearly in Fig. 1.

To the outer end of the brace m is pivotally connected a bar, 0, which is also pivotally connected with the broomshaft. By this means thebroomshaft is additionally braced and the frame of the machine made stiffer, the arches being also relieved of some of the strain.

My machine, above constructed, has its brooms composed of three rows, and by reducing the friction in transmitting the power from the axle to the broom-shaft I am enabled to drive the latter at a higher speed, thus accomplishing as much work with this broom as with a broom with a greater number of rows. This reduces expense and weight.

In some instances it is found desirable to elevate and lower one end of the broom without affecting the position of the other end. To do this, I substitute for the drum already described the form of drum shown in Fig. 5, which consists of the two cylindrical bodies 1, mounted upon a shaft, 2, suitably journaled under the platform of the machine. Each of these drums or cylinders is provided with a cogged rim, 3, and an operating-shaft, 4:, having a pinion which intergears with said rim, and provided with a handovhcel, a locking ratchet and pawl being also employed to engage the ratchets.

To the respective drums are secured the re spective ropes or chains for raising and low ering the broom, and by actuating one or the other of the drums either end of the broom may be adjusted.

Instead of the cogged rims 3, worm-wheels may be secured to the ends of the cylinders or drums and the shafts 4 provided with worms to mesh into the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

1. In astreetsweeper, the combination, with the main frame having arches, the sustainingframe secured thereto above and below the arches, and the oblique brace and bar connecting with the broomshaft, of the broomshaft and the hangers carrying the broom-shaft and adjustably fitted to the sustaining-frame.

2. In a street-sweeper, the combination, with the mainframe having arches, the sustainingframe secured thereto above and below the arches, the oblique brace secured at the lower part of the frame, and the bar connecting it with the broom-shaft, of the broom-shaft, the hangers carrying the broom-shaft and adjustably connected with the sustaining-frame, and the ropes or chains and the drum for actuating the same.

3. In astreet-sweeper, the combination, with the main frame of arched form, and thesustaining-frame secured thereto above and below the arched portion and consisting of end pieces, and upper and lower pieces, the upper pieces being provided with rollers, of the broomshaft connected to the sustaining-frame.

4. In a street-sweeper, the combination, with the broom-shaft, of a spiral broom-section secured thereto and extending beyond the end thereof, for the purpose of enlarging the area ive drums with the broom-shaft, whereby the of the broom-sweeps at one passage of the mabroom may be adjusted at either end. IO chine. In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in 5. In astreet-sweeper, the combination, with presence of two witnesses. 5 the main frame, of the broom-shaft and the EUGENE G. ROCK.

hangers which support said shaft, the inde- Witnesses: pendent drums and their operating-shafts, and v FRANK STILSON, the ropes or chains which connect the respect- 4 L. F. BOISEAU.

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