US3643283A

US3643283A - Centrifugal roller for street cleaning devices

Info

Publication number: US3643283A
Application number: US65470A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fritz Jahnert; Martin Schollhorn
Original assignee: Keller and Knappich GmbH
Current assignee: Keller and Knappich GmbH
Priority date: 1969-09-30
Filing date: 1970-08-20
Publication date: 1972-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-22
Also published as: FR2063073A1; AT305350B; SE375350B; DE1949304C3; DE1949304A1; NO127600B; DE1949304B2; CH508103A; FR2063073B1; NL7012882A

Abstract

In a centrifugal roller mounted on street cleaning devices having pivotable broom carriers which pivot parallel with respect to the rotational axis of the roller so that the brooms engage the circumference of the roller at a defined point, there is provided a connecting rod joining each of the broom carriers to a collar which is slidably mounted on a roller so that when the collar is positioned on the roller, the broom carriers can be easily adjusted in order to equalize the wear on the broom bristles during the operation of the street cleaning device.

Description

United States Patent Jahnert et al.

[ Feb.,22,1972

[54] CENTRIFUGAL ROLLER FOR STREET CLEANING DEVICES [72] inventors: Fritz Jahnert, Stadtbergen near Augsburg; Martin Schollhom, Kissing near Augsburg,

both of Germany [73] Assignee: Keller 8: Knappich GmbH, Augsburg,

Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 20, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 65,470

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 30, 1969 Germany ..P 19 49 304.0

US. Cl ..15/183, 15/82 ..A46b 13/02, E01h 1/02 [58] Field otSearch ..l5/l83, 179, 230.14, 230, 102, 15/82, 83, 55, 48, 41, 21 D, 21 E; 37/20, 24, 25, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,545,026 12/1970 Beer 15/183 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlICATlONS 621,237 l2/l962 Belgium ..l5/l83 Larsen 15/82 Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney-Allison C. Collard [5 7] ABSTRACT In a centrifugal roller mounted on street cleaning devices having pivotable broom carriers which pivot parallel with respect to the rotational axis of the roller so that the brooms engage the circumference of the roller at a defined point, there is provided a connecting rod joining each of the: broom carriers to a collar which is slidably mounted on a roller so that when the collar is positioned on the roller, the broom carriers can be easily adjusted in order to equalize the wear on the broom bristles during the operation of the street cleaning device.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CENTRIFUGAL ROLLER FOR STREET CLEANING DEVICES This invention relates to a centrifugal roller mounted on a street cleaning device having pivotable broom carriers.

Broom carriers are arranged on the rotational axis of a hollow roller. The brooms engage the circumferential surface of centrifugal rollers at defined points, in order to equalize the wear of the broom bristles. The centrifugal rollers are rotated against the direction of drive of the street cleaner. The collected dirt thus is centrifuged into a guide cover and gathered in a collection container. This type of operation, however, requires that the circumference of the centrifugal roller cooperate with the guide cover for the collected dirt, since the effectiveness of the device would otherwise be significantly impaired. The broom carriers in these conventional devices are mounted on rotatable pivot axis which rotate parallel and simultaneously with the centrifugal roller. The necessary equipment for pivoting the broom carriers must, therefore, be designed to withstand the forces exerted thereon. Furthermore, the device should not be subjected to contamination.

Accordingly, the present invention arranges the pivoting means for the broom carriers to withstand the pressure exerted on the bearings so that they are stable. The pivot arm for each broom carrier is coupled to a collar which is slidable in the longitudinal direction on the rotational axis of the centrifugal roller. The pivot arms and the slide are connected by means of a guide rod which is provided with universal or ball and socketjoints on each end. The collar thus acts like a sliding block. The collar may be actuated either manually or pneumatically by means of a threaded spindle and a pair of screw caps, and by means of positive or nonpositive spring pressure.

It is, therefore, an object according to the present invention to provide an apparatus which permits the broom carriers of a centrifugal roller for a street cleaning device to be adjusted in order to equalize the wear on the broom bristles.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide a broom carrier equalizing apparatus for use with a street cleaning device which is simple in design, inexpensive in cost, and reliable in operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose the embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows the device in folded position;

FIG. 2 shows the device in straight position; and,

HG. 3 shows an enlarged section of the device. Referring to FIG. 1, a hollow roller 1 forms a roller axis and carries two discs 2 which are rigidly mounted to the roller. A plurality of fixedly mounted carrying arms 3 extend radially from the discs. Only two arms are shown in the drawing. Arms 13 of broom carrier plate are pivotably mounted by means of pivot axis 4 or the ends of arms 3, and are arranged parallel with respect to the rotational movement of hollow roller 1. A ball and socket or universal joint 6 is provided on broom carrier plate 5 and forms an effective pivot point. Joint 6 is connected to one end of a connecting or guide rod 7. A ball and socket or universal joint 8 is also provided on the other end of guide rod 7 and secured to a collar 9. Collar 9 is slidably mounted for movement along the longitudinal direction on the outer face of hollow roller 1. Collar 9 is preferably formed as a casing engaging a corresponding longitudinal cutout or groove 10 in roller l. Collar 9 serves as a sliding block. Slidable collar 9 is mounted as a travelling or floating nut for movement on a correspondingly threaded spindle l1. Threaded spindle 11 extends outwardly from within hollow roller 1 and has an adjustable hexagonal cap screw 12 mounted at one end. Adjustable capscrew 12 permits collar 9 to be adjusted from either the left position of FIG. 1 in which the broom carrier plate 5 is folded with respect to arms 3, or into the right position of FIG. 2, when arms 13 are in a straight position with respect to arms 3. Bristles 16 of the brooms are thus always in engagement on the outer circumference of the roller even when bristles 16 are shortened due to wear.

By comparing FIGS. l and 2, it can be seen that the straight or extended position for the carrier brooms can be altered since the linear distance between ball and socket or universal 10 joint 8 and the mathematical or imaginary axis of pivotal axes 4 in direction of guide rod 7 can be shortened. Referring in detail to FIG. 3, there is shown a baseplate 14 secured to broom carrier 5. Secured perpendicular to base plate 14 is a mounting plate l5 having universal or ball joint 6 secured on one surface thereof. The distance a represents the displacement between the axes of joint 6 and pivot 4 of broom carriers 5. Displacement a which serves as an offset distance for connecting rod 7, permits broom carriers 5 to be selectively pivoted with respect to arms 3 in order to equalize the wear on broom bristles 16. Therefore, connecting rod 7 affects the pivotal movement of broom carrier plates 5 because of the fixed length of the rod. Ball and socket or

universal joints

6 and 8 are not subjected to contamination, as is well known from the automotive art. Pivotal axes 4 maintain broom carriers 5 in a rigid and stable position without allowing any tolerance. Carriers 5 are preferably mounted on rubber roller type bearings. Longitudinal groove or slot 10 may be sealed by an accordion-type seal (not shown) to prevent contamination. In such an arrangement, the connecting rod would consist of two parts connected with each other. The two parts of the guide rod would be pivotable with respect to each other along the longitudinal direction of the rod.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A rotatable, adjustable brush for a street cleaning device. comprising:

a centrifugal roller mounted on the street cleaning device;

a plurality of rigid mounting members, coupled therefrom;

a plurality of broom carrier members, pivotably afiixed to the ends of said mounting members so that carrier members are pivotable parallel to the longitudinal axis of said centrifugal roller, for mounting brooms on the street cleaning device;

a collar, slidably disposed on said centrifugal roller between said mounting members, and longitudinally movable thereon; and

a plurality of connecting rods, pivotally coupled at the ends thereof to said slidable collar and to said broom carrier members, for pivoting said broom carrier members and the brooms parallel to the longitudinal axis of said centrifugal roller simultaneously in response to longitudinal movement of said collar along :said centrifugal roller, thereby compensating for wear of the brooms during use of the street cleaning device.

2. The brush as recited in claim I, further comprising ball and socket joints affixed to the ends of said connecting rods, for pivotably coupling said connecting rods to said collar and said broom carrier members.

3. The brushes recited in claim 1, further comprising universal joints, affixed to the ends of said connecting rods, for pivotably coupling said connecting rods to said collar and said broom carrier members.

4. The centrifugal roller as recited in claim I, additionally comprising adjusting means coupled to said slidable collar for positioning said collar on said centrifugal roller.

5. The centrifugal roller as recited in claim 4, wherein said adjusting means comprises;

a threaded spindle disposed within said roller and threadably coupled to said collar, and

a capscrew mounted on end end of said spindle to facilitate rotation of said spindle with respect to said roller.

Claims

1. A rotatable, adjustable brush for a street cleaning device, comprising: a centrifugal roller mounted on the street cleaning device; a plurality of rigid mounting members, coupled therefrom; a plurality of broom carrier members, pivotably affixed to the ends of said mounting members so that carrier members are pivotable parallel to the longitudinal axis of said centrifugal roller, for mounting brooms on the street cleaning device; a collar, slidably disposed on said centrifugal roller between said mounting members, and longitudinally movable thereon; and a plurality of connecting rods, pivotally coupled at the ends thereof to said slidable collar and to said broom carrier members, for pivoting said broom carrier members and the brooms parallel to the longitudinal axis of said centrifugal roller simultaneously in response to longitudinal movement of said collar along said centrifugal roller, thereby compensating for wear of the brooms during use of the street cleaning device.

2. The brush as recited in claim 1, further comprising ball and socket joints affixed to the ends of said connecting rods, for pivotably coupling said connecting rods to said collar and said broom carrier members.

4. The centrifugal roller as recited in claim 1, additionally comprising adjusting means coupled to said slidable collar for positioning said collar on said centrifugal roller.

5. The centrifugal roller as recited in claim 4, wherein said adjusting means comprises; a threaded spindle disposed within said roller and threadably coupled to said collar, and a capscrew mounted on end end of said spindle to facilitate rotation of said spindle with respect to said roller.