US2828498A - Brush adjustment mechanism for sweeper apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 1958 F. J. MACHOVEC 2,828,498

BRUSH ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR SWEEPER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR, F960 cf. MQCHOVEC April 1, 1958 F. J. MACHOVEC 2,828,498

BRUSH ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR SWEEPER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR, F250 1/. MQCHOI EC' FIG. CE?

April 1958 F. J. MACHOVEC 2,828,498

BRUSH ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR SWEEPER APPARATUS Filed 001:. l, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q 8 ENE-V United States atent Q BRUSH ADJUSTMENT MECHANHSM FGR SWEEPER APPARATUS Fred 5. Machovee, Pasadena, Calif.

Application @ctober 1, 1954, Serial No. 459,604

7 Claims. (Cl. -83) This invention relates to a sweeper apparatus, and more particularly to a means for effecting fine adjustment of the vertical position of a sweeper brush in order to compensate for wear thereon, and additionally to disengage the brush completely from the underlying surface when it is desired to propel the sweeper without effecting a brushing action.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 392,117, filed November 16, 1953, for a Sweeper Construction, now abandoned, and in Serial Nov 409,823, filed February 12, 1954, for a Sweeper Drive and Adjustment Construction, there is shown and described a greatly improved power sweeper apparatus for cleaning relatively small surfaces such as sidewalks, factories, etc, and in which the driver rides in a seated position on the forward portion of the sweeper instead of standing on a trailer or walking behind the sweeper as is conventional. Application 409,- 823 also illustrates a means for vertically adjusting the main horizontal cylindrical brush of the sweeper in order to compensate for wear on the brush bristles, and for disengaging completely the brush from the underlying surface being cleaned wh n it is desired to operate the sweeper without brushing action. An improvement on the construction described and claimed in said applications, particularly with relation to the forward and reverse drive means, is described in my co-pending application Serial No. 488,869, filed February 17, 1955, for a Sweeper Apparatus Incorporating improved Forward and Reverse Drive.

in the construction shown in said applications Serial Serial Nos. 392,117 and 409,823, the sweeper and all of its components were supported on forward and rear wheels, there being a main drive wheel at the rear of the sweeper frame and a pair of caster and steering wheels at the forward portion of the frame. Since the horizontal main brush of the sweeper was mounted on the sweeper frame generally between the forward and rear wheels, or at the mid-portion of the sweeper, it follows that the dipping of the forward wheels into a depression in the underlying surface would result in a condition in which the brush was pressed excessively tightly against the underlying surface, yet by the time the brush itself reached the depression the forward wheels would have left it and the brush would not engage the underlying surface at all. Accordingly, the use of the sweeper on relatively irregular surfaces was not completely satisfactory both with regard to excessive wear on the brush, and with regard to inadequate cleaning of any debris present in the depressions.

In view of the above factors characteristic of sweeper apparatus in general and brush adjustment mechanism in particular, it is the object of the present invention to provide a sweeper apparatus embodying an improved means by which the main sweeper brush is caused to follow the contours of the surface being swept, so that the engagement between the brush and underlying surface is uniform and satisfactory cleaning is achieved without excessive brush wear.

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A further object of the invention is to provide a greatly improved floating cam arrangement for effecting fine adjustment of the vertical position of the main sweeper brush.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for effecting complete disengagement between the sweeper brush and the underlying surface, and which operates in conjunction with cam means for effecting an accurate adjustment of the vertical brush position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following specification and claims considered in connection with the attached drawings to which they relate.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a sweeper apparatus embodying the invention, portions being broken away to better illustrate the construction and mounting of the brush adjustment device;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the sweeper shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view corre sponding generally to the portion of Figure 1 in which the brush adjustment mechanism is illustrated, but with portions broken away to show the sweeper brush and attendant bearings;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 corresponds to Figure 3 but shows the brush adjustment device in its position at which the brush is completely disengaged from the underlying surface.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus may be seen to comprise gen erally a suitable frame 10, formed of a number of welded bar components, and forward and rear wheels 11 and 12 journalled in frame 10 a fixed distance above the underlying supporting surface such as a sidewalk or factory floor 13, the rear wheel 12 being power driven and serving to propel the sweeper. A brush housing 14 having vertically disposed end walls 16 is provided for enclosing the main cylindrical brush 17 (Figures 3-5) of the sweeper, and a trash receptacle 1% is mounted rearwardly adjacent the brush housing 14 and in communication therewith in order to receive trash and debris swept up by the brush.

The heavier debris sweptby brush 17 into trash receptacle l8 falls immediately to its bottom, but the dust incident to the operation is sucked through a conduit '19 (Figure 2) and into a suction pump 21 for discharge through a conduit 22 and subsequent filtering by a filter means 23. The filter means 23 is mounted on the cover of trash receptacle l8 and incorporates means to permit periodic discharge of the filtered dust into the receptacle 1% by the operator of the apparatus. A gasoline motor 24 mounted at the upper forward portion of frame 10, adjacent the drivers seat 26 and attendant controls, serves not only to drive suction pump 21 but also to drive the rear wheel 12 and the shaft 27 of brush 17, all as 'described in detail in my copending application Serial No. 488,869, mentioned previously.

As best illustrated in Figures 3-5, the opposite ends of main brush 27 are journalled in suitable bearings 28 disposed within relatively large openings 29 in end walls in of the brush housing 14. A relatively large 'cover plate 31 is mounted on each bearing 23 exteriorly adja cent the associated wall 16, the arrangement being such that shaft 27 and its bearings 28 may be moved vertically within openings 29 yet the cover'plates 31 will effect substantial covering of the openings. A sprocket 32 (Figure 1) is provided at one end of shaft 27 and associated through a chain 33 with a spro cket not shown, driven from motor 24 and as described in detail in my co-pending applications, in order to effect rotation of brush 17 in the desired direction.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, generally horizontal bars or arms 34' and 35 -are-provided on opposite sides of the sweeper and have their forward ends pivotally connected at points 37 to sweeper frame generally above the front wheels 11. The other or rear ends of both bars or arms 34 and 35 are'bolted to the bearings 28 as by bolts 39, so that the bars 34 and 35 serve to locate and guide the bearing 23 while permitting vertical movement thereof and thus of shaft 27 and brush 17. Mounted on the rear portion of bar 34, at the drive side of the sweeper and shown in Figures 1 and 35, is a generally U-shaped bracket 41 of such size as to avoid contact with the brush drive chain 33 and sprocket 32. The bracket 41 is pivotally connected outwardly of sprocket 32 with the lower end of a generally vertical bar 42. Similarly, and at the other side of the sweeper as shown in Figure 2, a bracket 43 bolted to horizontal bar 35 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a vertical bar 44 corresponding to bar 42.

Welded to the outer surface of each of the bars 42 and 44 are two journals or collars 46 and 47, the first collar 46 being at the lower end of each bar and the second collar being preferably at the upper portion of each bar but spaced from the upper end thereof. Slidably mounted in the journals or collars 46 and 47 at both sides of the sweeper are cylindrical rods 48 having caster wheels 49 at their lower ends and in engagement with the underlying surface 13. The upper ends of rods 48' are provided with cam follower members 51, and collars 52 are provided on the rods 48 above collars 47 on bars 42 and 44.

According to the invention, cam or eccentric means are provided to adjust the longitudinal positions of vertical bars 42 and 44 (and thus horizontal bars 34 and 35 and the brush shaft 27) relative to rods 48 which are supported on caster wheels 49 and thus are fixed relative to surface 13. The cam or eccentric means preferably comprise a pair of eccentrics or cams 53 which are fixedly mounted at opposite ends of a shaft 54, the latter extending for the full width of the sweeper as shown in Figure 2 and being rotatably mounted in the upper ends of vertical bars 42 and 44. A crank 56 is fixedly secured to shaft 54 at the drive side of the sweeper in order to permit manual rotation thereof and thus of the eccentrics 53, and is provided with a detent mechanism including a detent 57 journalled in crank 56 for movement longitudinally thereof. A spring 58 mounted around detent 57 is adapted to bias the same toward shaft 54, or selectively into one of a plurality of notches 59 on the periphery of a semi-circular sector plate 61. The sector plate 61 in turn, is welded to a lever arm 62 one end of which is pivoted at 63 to frame 10 of the sweeper, the sector plate 61 and arm 62 additionally serving to rotatably receive shaft 54 as best shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 2, a corresponding lever arm 64 at the other side of the sweeper is pivoted at 65 to the frame, and rotatably receives the corresponding end of shaft 54.

Eccentrics 53 rest at all times on the generally horizontal end portion of the cam followers 51 at the upper ends of rods 48, and the distance between the peripheral surfaces of the eccentrics and their common shaft 54 is determinative of the vertically adjusted positions of bars 42 and 44 and thus of the brush shaft 27 associated therewith. When the parts are in the positions illustrated in Figure 3, with detent 57 in a notch 59 at the rearmost end of sector plate 61, the eccentrics 53 are turned to such positions that cam followers 51 engage the eccentric portions most remote from shaft 54. This means that the brush 17 is then in the uppermost sweeping position, which is assumed when the brush is new and has relatively long bristles.

. As the brush wears down so that the bristle length is decreased, detent 57 is grasped and pulled against the bias of spring 58 out of the notch 59 shown in Figure 3, after which the crank 56 and thus shaft 54 and eccentrics 53 are rotated counterclockwise, for example until the detent reaches the next notch 59, and the detent is released to lock the parts firmly in position. Eccentrics 53 are thus turned so that the portions of the eccentric peripheries engaging cam followers 51 are spaced a shorter distance from shaft 54, so that the bars 42 and 44 are lowered slightly to decrease the elevation of brush shaft 27 a corresponding amount, it being remembered that rods 43 and cam followers 51 are fixed in elevation due to the fact that their caster wheels 49 rest on the underlying surface 13. In the described manner, therefore, the elevation of shaft 27 and brush 17 may be readily and accurately adjusted merely by releasing the detent means and rotating crank 56 to various positions. Preferably, the collars 52 on rods 48 are in engagement with collars 47 on bars 42 and 44 when the brush 17 is in its uppermostbrushing position as shown in Figure 3. It follows that when the crank 56 is turned to effect lowering of the bars 42 and 44 and thus of the brush, collars 47 will be lowered relative to the then stationary collars 52.

There are many situations in which it is desired to disengage completely the brush 17 from the surface 13, for example when the sweeper is being driven from a central storage point to a place where the sweeping action is to be effected. According to the present invention, the brush 17 is lifted off the underlying surface by cam means comprising generally horizontal cam follower plates 66 welded to the undersides of lever arms 62 and 64. Plates 66 are adapted to be engaged by cam cranks 67 which are fixedly secured at opposite ends of a shaft 68 extending parallel to shaft 54 for the full width of the sweeper as shown in Figure 2. Shaft 68, which is journalled in bearings 69 on thesweeper frame 10, is provided adjacent the drivers seat 26 with an actuating crank 1 which rests on a stop post 72 when not in use.

In order to disengage brush 17 from the surface being swept, the operator seated in seat 26 merely grasps crank 71 and lifts it to effect clockwise rotation of shaft 68 as viewed in Figures 3 and 5, so that cam cranks 67 ride under plates 66 and thus effect pivoting of lever arms 62 and 64 about their pivot points 63 and 65 and to the positions shown in Figure 5. Shaft 54 is thus elevated a substantial distance as are the vertical bars 42 and 44 l in which it is journalled, so that the brush shaft 27 associated with bars 42 and 44 is also elevated to lift the brush off the ground. As shown in Figure 5, the position of cranks 67 is such that they will hold the arms 62 in the elevated position until the actuating crank is manually shifted back to its original position, so that it is unnecessary for the operator to maintain his grasp on crank 71 in order to hold the brush off the ground.

In the operation of the brush adjustment and raising and lowering means, and assuming that the parts are initially in the Figure 3 positions, the periphery of cylindrical brush 17 will be maintained in the desired contact with the surface 13 due to the floating relationship by which brush shaft 27 is supported by the caster wheels 49 acting through rods 48, eccentrics 53, shaft 54, bars 42 and 44, brackets 41 and 43 and bearings 28. The caster wheels engage surface 13 directly beneath brush shaft 27, so that if the caster wheels ride into a depression in the surface 13 the brush 17 will be lowered as desired and the proper engagement between the brush and surface will be maintained. This is to be contrasted with arrangements in'which the brush is supported solely by the sweeper frame 111 and thus by front and rear wheels 11 and 12 of the sweeper, since in such apparatus a local depression beneath the brush but not beneath the wheels 11 and 12 would not be swept at all.

When it is desired to lower the brush shaft 27 and brush 17 slightly to compensate for wear on the brush bristles, it is merely necessary to release the detent 57 and rotate crank 56 counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 3 to the next notch 59 in sector plate 61. Shaft 54 and eccentrics 53 are then likewise rotated counterclockwise to lower the bars 42 and 44 and thus the brush shaft relative to rods 48 and cam followers 51, the elevation of the latter being fixed by caster wheels 49. To disengage the brush 17 from surface 13, the operator merely elevates crank 71 to rotate shaft 68 and thus cause cam cranks 67 to ride beneath plates 65 to the position shown in Figure 5. Arms 62 and 64 are thus pivoted clockwise about pivot points 63 and 65, causing elevation of shaft 54 and thus of bars 42 and 44 and the brush.

While the particular apparatus herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sweeper apparatus comprising a frame, forward and rear wheels to support said frame, a cylindrical sweeper brush mounted transversely of said frame and intermediate said forward and rear wheels, said brush including an axial shaft adapted to move vertically relative to said frame, bearing means for the opposite ends of said shaft and vertically movable therewith, movably supported upwardly extending members connected to said bearing means, wheel mounting means mounted on said upwardly extending members for vertical movement therewith, additional wheel means mounted on said wheel mounting means and resting on the supporting surface for said sweeper at substantially the same longitudinal position relative to the frame as said shaft, and means mounted on said upwardly extending members and supported on a generally horizontal surface portion of said wheel mounting means to adjust the vertical position of saidupwardly extending members, bearing means, shaft and brush relative to said wheel mounting means and wheel means whereby said brush can be moved as a unit toward and away from a surface to be swept.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which the vertical adjustment means comprises a camshaft journalled in said upwardly extending member, carn means fixedly mounted on said camshaft and resting on the generally horizontal surface portion of said wheel mounting means, and crank means to rotate said camshaft and cam means.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which detent means are provided to lock said crank means in a number of predetermined rotated positions effecting adjustment of said brush shaft to different elevations.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which means are provided to lift said camshaft, and thus said 6 upwardly extending member, bearing means, shaft and brush, until the latter is completely disengaged from said supporting surface.

5. A sweeper apparatus comprising a frame, forward and rear wheels to support said frame, an elongated brush housing provided on said frame transversely of the sweeper and intermediate said forward and rear wheels.

a pair of generally horizontal bars pivotally connected to said frame forwardly of said brush housing and extending longitudinally of said frame, bearing means mounted on said horizontal bars at the ends of said brush housing, a cylindrical brush mounted in said brush housing transversely of the sweeper and having an axial shaft journalled in said bearing means, a pair of generally vertical bars pivotally associated at their lower ends with said horizontal bars and said bearing means, said vertical bars extending upwardly to above said brush housing, a pair of rods slidably associated with said vertical bars and parallel thereto, said rods having caster wheels at their lower ends for engagement with the underlying supporting surface at approximately the same longitudinal position relative to said frame as said brush shaft, a camshaft journalled in the upper ends of said vertical bars and extending transversely of the sweeper above said brush housing, cams mounted on said camshaft and supported on the upper ends of said rods, and a crank mounted on said camshaft to rotate the same and thus said cams in order to adjust the vertical position of said brush shaft.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which an arm is pivotally connected to said frame at a point spaced longitudinally from said camshaft and rotatably receives said camshaft, a sector plate is secured on said arm and shaped with peripheral notches, and detent means are mounted on said crank for selective insertion into said notches.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6, in which a cam follower plate is mounted on said arm, a second shaft is journalled above said brush housing and parallel to said camshaft, a cam crank is mounted on said second shaft for actuating engagement with said cam follower plate to lift the same and thus said brush, and an actuating crank is mounted on said second shaft for rotation thereof and thus of said cam crank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 220,376 Hedges Oct. 7, 1879 1,044,052 Humm Nov. 12, 1912 1,072,713 Gaul Sept. 9, 1913 1,348,585 Rosenfield Aug. 3, 1920 2,314,381 Arnett Mar. 23, 1943 2,657,408 Machovec Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 380,596 Great Britain Sept. 22, 1932

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