US795059A - Street-flushing machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JULY 18, 1905. v

L. F. OTTOFY.

STREET FLUSHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10,1902.

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No. 795,059. PATENTED JULY 18, 1.905.

L.F.0TTOPY. STREET FLUSHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IjOV. 10,1902.

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L. F.-0TTOFY.

- STREET PLUSHING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1902.

No. v795,059.

UNITED STATES Patented July 18, 1905. I

PATENT OFFICE.

LEOPOLD FRANK OTTOFY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO AMERI- CAN STREET FLUSHING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

A CORPORATION.

STREET-FLUSHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 795,059, dated July 18, 1905.

Application filed November 10, 1902. Serial No. 180,795-

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I,LEoroLD FRANK OTTOFY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a Street-Flushing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to street flushing or washing carts in which water is stored in and discharged from a tank under pressure in such IO manner as to flush or wash the streets as distinguished from the heretofore well-known sprinkling-carts, inwhich water not under pressure is merely sprinkled upon the street to allay dust, &c.

I 5 The object of the invention is to devise a street-flushing cart in which the discharge of the water is easily and accurately controlled by the driver, in which the delivery of the water shall be such as to secure the maximum washing effect without excessive use of water and without damage to the street, and in such manner that the effect of the water upon the street is easily under the observation of the driver, and at the same time shall be so con- 2 5 cealed as not to interfere with pedestrians or passing vehicles.

In watering or sprinkling devices the object is to distribute the water in the form of spray evenly over as large an area as possible and 0 in sufiiciently small quantity to avoid flooding. These devices may be operated upon the gravity or pressure system with the same effect. In flushing or washing devices, on the contrary, it is necessary to localize the distribu- 3 5 tion of water and to have it strike with considerable velocity at an angle depending upon the nature of the surface, so as to have first a scouring and then a flushing effect to carry off before it the loosened material.

4 To this end the present invention comprises a reservoir provided with means for exerting pressure upon water contained therein, combined with nozzles especially constructed for discharging the water in suitable manner.

In such devices an important practical element affecting the efficiency resides in the construction and position of the nozzles relatively to the surface to be washed, the wheel,

and the propelling means, and I have illustrated herein a combination of these respec- 5 tive instrumentalities which I have found best adapted to the conditions of actual practice.

Other features of the invention will be more fully described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whiclr- 55.

Figure l is a side elevation of one form of cart embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan elevation, of the same.

1 is a liquid -containing vessel or tank mounted on wheels, 2 an inlet-valve through which the tank can be charged with liquid under pressure from a suitable source, and 3 an air-inlet valve through which it is desirable to pump by means of a suitable air-pump 5 a certain amount of air into the tank before filling with water. It is advantageous to use an initial pressure of about five pounds abovev the atmosphere; but for special purposes for instance, where work to be done requires a 7 very violent discharge of the watera pressure as great as twenty pounds may be used.

The machine is provided with nozzles L 4:, through which the water is discharged, and is generally constructed, as shown, with three wheels only, the two rear wheels 5 5 being placed so as to take the greater part of the weight of the tank and thethird wheel 6 being located at the front on the center line of the cart and having attached to it the shafts or pole for the horse or horses, so that a delivery of Watersay from somewhere near the center of the tank and underneath it-can take place in a forward direction'at even a small angle to the direction of movement of the cart with- 5 out any danger of the water striking the legs of the horse. As will be seen from Figs. 1 and 3, the nozzle 4 is made fiat transversely and will consequently throw a broad substantial fiat stream, which, by adjusting the posi- 9 tion of the nozzle, can be made to strike the pavement at the angle necessary to give the maximum scouring effect. As shown in the drawings, the nozzles are located close to the ground, within a few inches, and are directed outwardly and forwardly. They are also between the forward and rear wheels and substantially underneath and concealed by the tank. In operation, therefore, the water is delivered free of the wheels under easy observation by the driver, and at the same time the stream is not readily noticeable by pedestrians or passing vehicles. At the same time the water is delivered in a flat sheet nearly parallel with the street and washes the dirt forward and outward without injuring the pavement.

It is obvious that instead of one wheel 6 two such wheels arranged side by side and at less distance apart than the wheels 5 5 may be employed without interfering seriously with the forward discharge of the water.

The nozzles 4 4 are attached to the tank preferably by means of swivel or ball-andsocket joints 10, which enable them to be adjusted in any direction horizontally or vertically or to allow thenozzle itself to be twisted. The object of this is to enable the driver to adjust or set the nozzles so that they will di rect the flow of the water in such wise as to suit the different requirements of streets or roads in different states of weather or of different degrees of dirtiness or of different contour. The nozzles may be placed in about the positions shown upon the ends of transverse supply-pipes 8, extending from the well or casing 9 connected with the tank, which is between the front and back wheels; but the position of the nozzles may be varied. Each pipe 8 has a cock 8, the plug of which is geared to crank-handle 8 in proximity to the drivers seat 10. The water may be directed ac'oss and underneath the cart from either s1 e. paratus can be driven down the center of the road, and by using the two nozzles the whole width of the road can be washed, or by using only one of the nozzles one side of the road can be washed on the one journey, the other side being washed on the return journey.

It has been found in practice with those sprinkling-carts which deliver the waterwfor:

sward ly that the horse and the wheels interfere with the stream of water and prevent its operation to the best advantage on the road. Moreover, the constant splashing of water on the wheels damages the bearings to such an extent that they have to be constantly oiled and cleaned, generally as often as twice every day. This does not occur in the use of my cart, which not only enables the driver to see the stream of water, and thereby to see that the water is efliciently washing the street and to more readily control the flow of water, so as to avoid wetting anyvehicles or pedestrians, but by enabling the stream of water to be kept near the ground and quite clear of the wheels gives a greatly-improved washing action on the road and also prevents damage to the wheels above referred to, the bearings of the wheels The arrangement is such that my ap-' remaining dry and being kept free from water and grit.

A washing-cart constructed as illustrated is capable of being turned in a narrow street, the wheel-base being short and the front wheel turning freely in any direction.

If preferred, the tank may be mounted upon acranked axle 11, so as to be nearer the ground, and thus increase the stability of the wagon. The king-bolt 12 of the fore-carriage works in bracket 13, is fixed to the front of the tank, as shown. 14 14: are bearing-springs. It will be obvious that the length of axle and diameter of wheels may be varied as desired and that the usual straight axle may be used instead.

15 is a float carried by a lever 15, secured to a spindle 16, which extends through stuffing-boxes in the walls of a hollow bracket 17, and at the exterior is provided with a pulleyquadrant 18, to which is attached one end of a cord 19, whose other end is attached to the counterweighted pointer of a doublefaced dial 20 at the front of the tank in full View of the driver. As the level of the water varies the movements of the float will correspondingly move the pointer of the dial, which latter is graduated so as to show the quantity of water which is left in the tank. It may also indicate the air pressure, which also ought to be shown on an air-pressure gage.

22 is a float near the bottom of the tanks. Then the water is above a certain level, the float holds closed a cock or valve 23, to which it is connected, and which then prevents the passage of air from the tank through pipes 24: 24: to a whistle 25. When the water drops below the said level and it becomes advisable to stop further discharge, the float 22, which has been straining upward but unable to move, falls with the further delivery of water. This movement of the float operates the suitable cook or valve 23 and allows a flow of air to take place from the tank through the open-ended pipe 2 1, cock 23, and pipe 24 through the whistle, so that the driver is warned that it is time for him to stop the further delivery of water. Instead of or in addition to an audible signal a visual one may be operated by the opening of the cook or valve 23, as described. I may also use a further device by which if water continues to be discharged from the tank after one or both of the signals previously mentioned have been given a jet of water will strike the driver, thus compelling him to close the valve. For this purpose the float 22 may have connected to it a cock or valve 26, controlling the passage of water from the lower part of the tank through the pipe 27, the outer end of which is directed toward the driver.

It may be advantageous to attach to the forecarriage a suitable shield 29, which, moving with the horse, will become interposed between the flow of water and the animal should the driver thoughtlessly attempt to turn the horse when the water is being delivered so as to bring it intoline with the stream of water.

As the conditions required for washing are variable and it is of importance for the driver to closely Watch the action of the water, in some cases I use the two forwardly-directed nozzles 4 4 for washing and provide one or two nozzles 30 at the rear end of the cart for specially sprinkling or watering purposes. This arrangement has the advantage of supplementing the flushing action of the forward nozzles and insuring that the particles of dirt will all be carried off by the additional water suppiied by the rear nozzles.

I may provide my cart with an additional outlet-cock 81 and a small hose 32 of asuitable length with a nozzle for use in washing the-sidewalks of the streets or for taking upinto courts or alleys, so that they can be washed from the water-supply in the cart. In the latter case the cart of course would be stationary; but in the former, for washing the sidewalks of streets, the cart would move slowly along the street, while the hose is manipulated along the pavement, washing the dirt into the gutter.

In the case of a power-driven cart four wheels may be used in combination with the motor, and the delivery-nozzles 4 4 can be brought right in front of the cart, as there will be no obstruction in the form of a horse.

It will be understood that some of my improvements may be used Without others, and various modifications may be made Without departure from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a traveling street-Washing machine, the combination with a tank adapted to contain water under pressure, of a nozzle or nozzles located near the plane of the points upon which the machine is supported, and having narrow elongated delivery-apertures which open toward the front of the machine and are substantially parallel to said plane, said nozzles being constructed to deliver water under pressure nearly parallelto said plane.

2. In a traveling street-washing machine, the combination with a tank adapted to contain water under pressure and mounted upon forward and rear wheels, of a nozzle or nozzles located near the plane of the points upon which the machine is supported, and having narrow elongated delivery-apertures which open toward the front of the machine, and are substantially parallel to said plane, said nozzles being constructed and arranged to deliver water under pressure nearly parallel to said plane and forward of the rear wheels.

3. In a traveling street-washing machine, the combination with a tank adapted to contain water under pressure and mounted upon forward and rear supports, of a nozzle or nozzles located sufficiently near the plane of the points upon which the machine is supported to be substantially concealed from view, and having narrow elongated delivery-apertures which open laterally toward the front of the machine and are substantially parallel to said plane, said nozzles being constructed and positioned to deliver water underpressure at the side or sides of the machine nearly parallel to said plane, forward and laterally of the rear support and avoiding the front support.

4. In a traveling street-washing machine, the combination with a tank adapted to contain water under pressure, of an adjustablymounted nozzle or nozzles located near the plane of the points upon which the machine is supported, and having narrow elongated deliveryapertures Which open toward the front of the machine and are substantially parallel to said plane, said nozzles being constructed to deliver water under pressure nearly parallel .to said plane.

Signed at 46 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, England, this 1st day of November, 1902.

LEOPOLD FRANK OTTOFY.

WVitnesses:

EDWARD SHAW, G. LIVINGSTONE SHAW.

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