US2739340A - Power sweeper with multiple dust receiving means - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1956 H. 1.. BLYDENBURGH ETAL 2,739,340

POWER SWEEPER WITH MULTIPLE DUST RECEIVING MEANS Fil ed July 51, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Snventor POWER SWEEPER WITH MULTIPLE DUST RECEIVING MEANS Filed July 31, 1951 March 1956 H. BLYDENBURGH ET AL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EANS Mardl 7, 1956 H. 1.. BLYDENBURGH A POWER SWEEPER WITH MULTIPLE DUST RECEIVING M 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 31, 1951 ISnventor POWER SWEEPER WITH MULTIPLE DUST RECEIVING MEANS Harold L. Blydenburgh, Detroit, and Gerald M. Pence, Lansing, Mich, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Detroit Harvester Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application July 31, 1951, Serial No. 239,566

1 Ciaim. (Cl. 15-649) This invenion relates to sweeping machines and, in particular, to power sweepers.

One object of this invention is to provide a power sweeper having suction pipes or conduits arranged with their inlets disposed near the floor level at opposite sides of the machine, so as to pick up the ridges of dust which otherwise form at the sides of the machine as it pro ceeds along the floor or other surface to be swept.

Another object is to provide a power sweeper wherein a chamber is mounted above the main sweeping brush for receiving airborne dust which is drawn into the chamber by a suction blower, and which is optionally provided with an adjustable slide or damper for regulating the width of the inlet opening to the chamber.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of a power sweeper according to one form of the invention, with the dust bag removed and shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the power sweeper shown in Figure 1 with the dust bag removed and with the inlet of the suction blower broken away so as to appear in central vertical section;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the dust sweeping and collecting unit of the power sweeper, taken along theline 33 in Figure l, with the suction blower and dust bin lifting handle omitted;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along theline 44 in Figure 2, showing the manner of securing the suction blower inlet to the sweeper housing or casing;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along theline 55 in Figure 3, showing the sealing arrangement at the side edges of the dust bin;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken I along the line 6-6 in Figure 2, showing the sealing arrangement at the upper forward edge of the dust bin;

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section through the dust sweeping and collecting unit, taken along theline 77 in Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-section through the dust sweeping and collecting unit, taken approximately along the line 88 in Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a horizontal section through the dust sweeping and collecting unit, taken along the line 9--9 in Figure 2; and

Figure 10 is a top plan view of an improved dust bag used in the power sweeper of Figure 1.

General arrangement Hitherto, in conventional power sweepers, the single large brush employed therein ordinarily throws dust out from beneath the machine without being deposited in the dust bin or other dirt container. Furthermore, finer particles of airborne dust often escape into the open air without being caught by the dust bin. As prior machines of this type move across the floor or other surface 2,739,340 Patented Mar. 2?, 1956 to be swept, they also ordinarily leave two ridges or lines of dust at the sides of the machine at the opposite ends of the brush. In such prior machines, moreover, the removal of the dirt from the dust bin has been a heavy task where it has been necessary to lift the dust bin bodily in order to open up its interior for this purpose.

The power sweeper of the present invention eliminates these difiiculties of prior sweepers by providing a forward or booster brush of small diameter which throws upward into the dust bin any dirt which may have been thrown forward by the large rearward main brush at a level too low to reach the dust bin directly. A pair of suction conduits are provided, one on each side of the machine, to pick up the ridges or lines of dust which otherwise form at the sides of the machine at the opposite ends of the main brush. The dust sweeping and collecting apparatus is also mounted in the form of a unit which may be removed bodily from the machine for repairs or replacement. The heavy dust or dirt is caught in a dust bin which is pivotally mounted in such a manner as to be merely tilted in order to expose its exterior and enable the dirt to be removed, without requiring it to be lifted bodily. The lighter or airborne dust thrown up by the brushes is sucked upward by a power-driven suction blower and deposited in a bag, preferably porous and preferably of a special design which gives it a much greater surface area than ordinary dust bags. The main brush itself is adjustable upward or downward in order to compensate for wear or for the installation of a new brush.

Chassis construction Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 and 2 show a power sweeper, generally designated 10, according to one form of the invention, as consisting generally of a self-propelled chassis 11 containing a separately removable unitary sweeping anddust collecting unit 12 which is quickly and easily removed from the chassis 11 after the drive chain connecting it to the main chassis power outlet has been disconnected and the attachment bolts removed.

The chassis it consists of aframe 13 in the form of an approximately U-shapedchannel member 14. The latter hasside portions 15 interconnected at their forward ends by a bridge portion 16 braced by a parallel channel-shaped cross member 17 welded or otherwise secured at its opposite ends to theside portions 15. Se cured as by thebolts 18 between the channel portions 16 and 17 is a supportingstructure 19 carrying a flanged vertical bushing 20 (Figure 3) which pivotally supports a caster fork 21 by means of apivot shaft 22. The fork 21 is provided with an axle 23 carrying a caster wheel 24. The casterwheel pivot shaft 22 is held in position by a pin 25 and its bushing 20 by a nut 26 threaded up on the threaded upper end of the bushing 2h. Theside members 15 of theframe 13 have rearwardend portions 28 bent toward one another and interconnected by a shaft orcross bar 29 secured to the ends of the portions 23 by the U-bolts 30 (Figure l) and at their opposite ends by across bar 31. Secured to and extending between thecross bars 29 and 31 is abase structure 32 carrying a pair of spacedcars 33 supporting a pivot pin or bolt 34 upon which the lower end of a guiding handle 35 is pivotally mounted. The lower end of the handle 35 has abent portion 36 extending forwardly therefrom and is I Mounted on the crankshaft 41 of the engine is apinion 42 which meshes with agear 43 mounted on anoutput shaft 44 and enclosed in a reductiongear box housing 45. Theshaft 44 carries a sprocket 46 which is drivingly engaged by an endless sprocket chain 47 which drivingly connects it to a sprocket 48 on a countershaft 49 (Figure l). Thecountershaft 49 is journaled at its opposite ends inbearing blocks 50 which are bolted or otherwise secured to theframe side members 15. Also drivingly secured to thecountershaft 49 on opposite sides of thebase structure 32 are twin drive sprockets 51 which are drivingly connected by sprocket chains 52 to drivensprockets 53 mounted on axles 54 journaled in and supported by anaxle housing 55 secured to thebase structure 32. Mounted upon the axle housing '55 and driven by the axles 54 are driving wheels orground wheels 56 carryingpneumatic tires 57. For purposes of simplicity, no clutches or change speed gearing have shown between the engine 40 and the axle or axles 54 but such may be provided, if desired.

Thecountershaft 49 carries aclutch 58 including a sliding clutch member 59 which is splined or keyed to the countershal't 49. The sliding clutch member 59 is toothed and is slidable into and out of engagement with a correspondingly toothed clutch member 60 on the end of the hub 61 of a sprocket 62 which is loosely and rotatably mounted on thecounter'shaft 49. A conventional shift yoke and lever (not shown) enables the sliding clutch member 59 to be moved to and fro along thecountershaft 49 to connect or disconnect the sprocket hub 61 from the power-drivencountershaft 49. Asprocket chain 63 conveys power from the sprocket 62 to the dust sweeping and collecting unit 12 (Figure 2) and its lower course is guided by an idler sprocket 64 (Figure 2) mounted on an axle 65 supported by abracket 66 which is adjustably bolted or otherwise secured as at 67 to one of theframe side members 15. The outer end of theoutput shaft 44 carries apulley 68 for driving abelt 69 by which power is conveyed to a. suction blower subsequently to be described.

The dust sweeping and collectingunit 12 includes a pair of side members orside plates 70 and 71 which have vertically-spaced inwardly-extending upper edge flanges 72 and 73 (Figure 8) and which are interconnected at their rearward ends by atie rod 74 supported byears 75 projecting rearwardly. Thetie rod 74 carries ears '76 to which is bolted aplate 77 extending downwardly and forwardly and carrying aresilient strip 78 of rubber, synthetic rubber or other suitable material (Figure 3). Extending laterally from theside plates 70 and 71 arelugs 79 through whichpass adjusting bolts 80 by which the dust sweeping and collectingunit 12 may be adjusted upward or downward. Theside plates 70 and 71 are interconnected by asheet metal apron 81 to form a housing, generally designated 82, the rearward end of which extends downward almost to the floor level (Figure 3) immediately above theplate 77. Theside members 70 and 71 have irregularly shaped generally inclined forward edges 83 (Figure 2) terminating near their lower ends innotches 84. Thesheet metal apron 81 extends upward and has an integraltop portion 84 beneath which is aparallel plate 85 extending between the flanges 73 of theside members 70, 71 (Figure 8) and forming aboxlike compartment 85a having an inlet opening 86 at its rearward end (Figure 3) and an inlet opening 87 at its forward end (Figure 7) closed by an adjustable slide 88 reciprocable to and fro in spaced guides 89.

Theapron 81 has itstop portion 84 bolted, riveted or otherwise secured to the upper flanges 72 on theside plates 79 and 71 (Figure 8). Thetop member 84 is provided with an aperture 90 forming an outlet for thechamber 86 and aligned with thetubular inlet duct 91 of a suction blower'92 having avolute casing 93 in which is 'joii'rnaled theshaft 94 of an impeller or rotor 95 (Figure 2). Theshaft 94 at its upper end carries apulley 96 driven by thebelt 69 from thepulley 68 previously mentioned as mounted on theoutput shaft 44. Thetubular inlet duct 91 of theblower housing 93 is flanged as at 97 and bolted as at 93 (Figure 4) to thetop portion 84 or" theapron 81. Thebolts 98 pass through slots 93a to provide a means for tightening thebelt 69. Thelower housing 93 is provided with a tangentially-directed tubular outlet duct 99.

Telescoped over the tubular outlet duct 99 of theblower casing 93 is a securing collar 1131) to which is attached theopen end 101 of aporous dust bag 102. The latter, when unfolded, (Figure 10) is approximately sausage-shaped with oppositely-tapered ends 103 and 104. The end 104 is closed by amember 105 carrying an inwardly-extending snap hook 106 adapted to be snapped over a cross member 107 extending across themonth 161 of the dust "bag 102 and supported at its opposite ends by the collar 1%. Optionally, the cross bar 107 may carry 'a loop or eye 168 to which the snap ring Hi6 may be attached. In so attaching the snap ring 1116 to the member 107 or 198, the free end or closed end 104 of the bag 1112 is pulled lengthwise inside the bag 1152 so as to leave an a proximatel conical opening 109 therein (Figure 1). This arrangement provides a short compact dust bag with an extended surface area which facilitates escape of the air from theblower 92, leaving the airborne dust entrapped within thedust bag 102.

Tilt'alfily mounted in thenotches 84 is adust bin 110 having pins 111 extending outwardly from its opposite sides. Thedust bin 110 is of a generally box-like shape havingside plates 112 interconnected by a sheet metal apron orwall 113 welded or otherwise secured thereto and extending in "an approximately U-shaped path (Figure 3) havingcross bars 114 and 115 extending across its upper and lower edges respectively. Mounted on thetop portion 84 of thehousing apron 81 is across bar 116 and extending between the cross bars 114 and 116 is a resilient connecting and sealingstrip 117 of rubber, synthetic rubber or the like. Secured to theside plates 70 and 71 adjacent theirforward edges 118 are side bars 119 (Figures 3 and 5-) which serve to hold sealingstrips 120 of rubber, synthetic rubber or the like adapted to be engaged by therearward edges 121 of theside plates 112. The opposite ends of thecross bar 116 are bent downward adjacent theside plates 70 and 71 as at 122 (Figures 2 and 6') and serve to anchor in position aresilient sealing strip 123 of rubber, synthetic rubber or the like (Figure 6), and the dustbin side plates 112 are provided with outwardly-projectingbosses 124 which engage the sealing strips 123 in the closed position of thedust bin 110. Theside plates 112 of thedust bin 110 slightly overlap theside plates 70 and 71 of the housing 82 (Figures 5 and 6) in order to still further retard the escape of dust.Brackets 125 are secured to the upper edges of the dustbin side plates 112 and carry ahandle bar 126 secured thereto at its opposite ends (Figure 1.). In order to facilitate tilting thedust bin 110, the latter is provided witharms 127 bolted or otherwise secured to theapron 113 and projecting upward and forward and terminating in laterally directed pivot rods or pins 128. Mounted upon and extending between the frame bridge portion 16 and the cross member 17 are auxiliary pivot supports 129 havingnotches 130 disposed in the path of the pivot pins 128 when thedust bin 110 is swung upward into the dotted line position of Figure 2 by means of thehandle bar 126. When this' occurs,o f course, the pins 111 move upward out of theirnotches 84 in theside plates 70 and 71.

Secured by thebolts 131 to the lower cross bar 115 (FigureB) within thedust bin 112 is abafile 132 of arcuate cross-section which extends upward and rearward from the lower edge of the dustbin apron 1'13 and which has elongated adjustment slots 133 (Figure 9) for thebolts 131. Thisbafile 132 not only prevents dirt from coming out of thedust bin 110 through the opening 134 in its rearward wall, but alsoprevents dirt from being carried around back to the floor or surface to be swept by the action of the booster brush described below.

In order to further guard against dirt being thrown out at the sides of the machine, each side of the machine is provided with a dust guard plate 135 (Figures 2, 7 and 8) which is secured by thebolts 136 to theside plates 70 and 71 and which in turn is provided at its lower edge with aresilient strip 137 of rubber, synthetic rubber or other resilient material giving a yielding contact with the surface to be swept. Thebolts 136 pass throughelongated slots 138 by means of which theguard plates 135 may be adjusted upward or downward while thebolts 136 are loosened. Cooperating with theguard plates 135 are sidedust removal conduits 139 leading downwardly thereto from ports 1390 in thebottom wall 85 of thechamber 85a. Theside plates 70 and 71 are provided with inwardly-projecting bosses 140 (Figures 2 and 8) into whichpivot bolts 141 are threaded.

Pivotally mounted on thepivot bolts 141 and tiltable thereon are two main-brush holding arms 142. The up per end of each brush-holdingarm 142 is bifurcated o1 forked as at 143, the U-shaped slot 144 provided there by being engaged by an eccentric or circular cam 145 (Figure 3). The twoeccentrics 145 are mounted upon acam shaft 146 which is journaled in theside plates 70 and 71. The opposite ends of thecam shaft 146 project outwardly beyond theside plates 70 and 71 and carry quadrants 147 (Figure 2) witharcuate slots 148 therein centered on the axis of thecam shaft 146 and adapted to be clamped in a desired position of adjustment by clamping bolts 149. The opposite or lower end of eachbrush holding arm 142 is widened arcuately as at 150 (Figures 2 and 3) and carries aclamping bolt 151 which projects through an arcuate slot 152 in eachside plate 70 and 71 (Figure 2). Eachbrush holding arm 142 is provided with an inwardlyprojecting bearing boss 153 (Figure 8) in which are journaled the opposite ends of amain brush shaft 154. Thebrush shaft 154 projects outwardly through theside plate 71 through an arcuate slot 155 (Figure 2) in theside plate 71 and on its outer end carries asprocket 156 drivingly engaged by thesprocket chain 63 immediately after it passes around anidler sprocket 157 mounted on apivot stud 158 secured in aboss 159 projecting outwardly from the side plate 71 (Figure l).

Mounted on themain brush shaft 154 is the tubular hub 160 of the main brush, generally designated 161. The hub 160 is drivingly secured to theshaft 154 by set screws 162 and has radial arms 163 (Figure 3) projecting outward from the opposite ends of the hub 160 and having theback bars 164 of brushes 165 bolted or otherwise secured thereto, the brushes 165 having bristleclumps 166 secured to and in thebars 164. By this arrangement the brushes 165 may be unbolted and replaced by new brushes when themain brush 161 becomes badly worn. The construction employing the pivotedbrush holding arms 142 enables themain brush 161 to be adjusted quickly and easily relatively to the surface S to be swept, as described in connection with the operation of the invention.

Threaded into the inner sides of theside plates 70 and 71 in the bottom forward portion thereof are coaxial pivot bolts 171) (Figure 9) on which are pivotally mounted a pair of forwardly-projecting substantially horizontal booster brush holding arms 171, the forward ends of which carry clampingbolts 172 which project througharcuate slots 173 concentric with thepivot bolts 170 and providing for upward or downward adjustment of the arms 171. Intermediate thebolts 170 and 172, the arms 171 are provided with bearing bosses 174 (Figalso enables thebooster brush 161 to be adjusted relatively to the surface S to be swept.

Operation In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that themain brush 161 has been adjusted by swinging thearms 142 around theirpivot bolts 141 so that thebristles 166 of the brushes 165 properly engage the surface S to be swept. This is done by loosening the bolts 149 and 151 (Figure 2) and swinging thequadrants 148 which in turn rotate thecam shaft 146 andeccentrics 145 mounted in the U-shaped slots 144 in the bifurcated portions 143 of the mainbrush holding arms 142. After this adjustment has been made, thebolts 149 and 151 are retightened, clamping the mainbrush holding arms 142 in their adjusted positions. In a simiiar manner, thebooster brush 177 is adjusted relatively to the surface S to be swept by loosening thebolts 172 and swinging the booster brush holding arms 171 upward or downward until thebooster brush 177 is properly positioned. Thebaffle 132 for thebooster brush 177 is also properly adjusted relatively to the latter by loosening thebolts 131 passing through the elongated slots 133' (Figures 3 and 9) and retightening thebolts 131 after thebaffie 132 has reached the desired position. The slide 88 (Figure 7) is adjusted relatively to theport 87 in the forward wall of the chamber 8511 until the desired suction is obtained, and theblower 92 moves to and fro by loosening thebolts 98 in the elongated slots 99 (Figure 4) until the belt 69 (Figure 2) has the proper tension for driving the impeller of theblower 92.

The operator starts the engine 419 in operation, whereupon power is transmitted to thereduction gearing 42, 43 from the engine crankshaft 41 to theoutput shaft 44 and sprocket 46 and sprocket chain 47 to the sprocket 62 on theshaft 49. The rotation of the sprocket 62 causes thesprocket chain 63 to drive thesprockets 156 and 180 which rotate themain brush 161 andbooster brush 177 in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 3.

At the same time, power is transmitted from the sprockets 51 on theshaft 49 by the sprocket chains 52 (Figure l) to thesprockets 53 on the axle 54, rotating theground wheels 56 in the direction of the arrow (Figure 2). Guided by the operator through the agency of the handle 35, the power sweeper 16 moves across the surface S to be swept, the major part of the heavy dust or heavier dirt particles being thrown upward into thedust bin 110. Certain of the heavy dust particles which are thrown forward along the surface S being swept, are carried upward by thecounter-rotating booster brush 177 and thrown over thebaffle 132 into thedust bin 110.

Meanwhile, the rotor orimpeller 95 of thesuction blower 92 has been driven by thebelt 69 from thepulley 68 on theoutput shaft 44, and sucks the lighter airborne dust particles upward through theports 36 and 87 (Figures 3 and 7) through thechamber 35a and discharges them into thebag 102. The latter has a widely extended surface area due to its peculiar construction (Figure l) and catches the dust while the air goes out through the porous material of thedust bag 102.

While this is occurring, the dust guard plates with their resilient bottom strips 137 prevent dust from being thrown out laterally from beneath the machine, and such dust is sucked up by thesuction conduits 139 and discharged through theports 139a (Figure 8) through thesuction blower 92 into thedust bag 102.

When the dust sweeping has been completed or thedust bin 110 requires emptying, the operator grasps thehandle 126 and swings thedust bin 110 upward and forward into the dotted line position (Figure 2), the pivot pins 111 moving out of theirslots 84 as the pivot pins 128 move into theirnotches 130. Thedust bin 110 can then be swung upward a sufficient distance or completely inverted so that the operator can insert a shovel into thechamber 112 thereof and remove the heavier dirt particles. Thus, the weight is first carried by the pivots 111 and afterward by thepivots 128. The lighter dirt or dust particles are removed by removing adust bag 102 from the outlet conduit 99 of thesuction blower 92.

If, for any reason, it is desired to make comprehensive repairs to the dust sweeping and collectingunit 12, this may be done by removing thebolts 80 and lifting the entire assembly out of theframe 13. As previously stated, thebolts 80 also serve to adjust theunit 12 upward or downward, as desired (Figures 7 and 8) relatively to theframe members 15 upon which they rest.

As the main and booster brushes 161 and 177 respectively become worn, the same adjustments mentioned above enable this wear to be taken up or the brushes to be removed and replaced entirely, as explained above.

What we claim is:

In a power sweeper having a Wheeled chassis, a housing mounted on said chassis, a rotary sweeping brush mounted in said housing, a dust bin carried. by said chassis and disposed in dust receiving relation with respect to said brush, a manifold disposed transversely of said chassis above said brush and having openings for receiving dust laden air from the region of said housing adja cent the top of said brush, suction producing means connected to said manifold, a power source drivingly connected to said brush and to said suction device, valve means in said manifold for adjusting airflow therethrough, and suction conduits connected with said manifold and having intake nozzles disposed at the sides of the chassis adjacent the ends of said brush.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 460,869 Hill Oct. 6, 1891 913,460 Bishop Feb. 23, 1909 918,896 Noe Apr. 20, 1909 1,085,676 Finch Feb. 3, 1914 1,143,052 Kerr June 15, 1915 1,507,317 Laberge Sept 2, 1924 2,194,297Drumm Mar 19, 1940 2,247,121 Foldes June 24, 1941 2,286,245 Wilson et al June 16, 1942 2,298,054 Howell Oct. .6, 1942 2,537,523 Frost Jan. 9, 1951 2,614,279 Mott Oct. 21, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 280,767 Italy Dec. 19, 1930 701,094 France Jan. 5, 1931 767,351 France May 1, 193-4

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