US764426A - Cleaning-machine. - Google Patents

Description

v. Cim/ALLI. QCLEANING MACHINE.

AIPLATION FILED MAB.. 1B, 1903. 1W() MODEL.

PATENTBD JULY 5, 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904.

VINCENT CIRALLL OF YONKERS, NEX/V YORK.

CLEANING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,426, dated July 5, 1904.

Application tiled March 18,1903.

To LI/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINCENT OIRALLI, a citizen of the United States, residing atYonlers, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cleaning-Machines, of which the following is a specification.`

This invention relates to a cleaner for removing snow and ice and dust and dirt from sidewalks or other surfaces over which the machine may be propelled; and the primary object of the same is to provide a device for the purpose set forth having manually-operative mechanism and capable of effectively clearing snow from sidewalks or other surfaces and cutting an ice deposit that may be present with the snow and remove the loosened ice in an expeditious manner during the winter season, and convertible, by suitable attachments, into a machine for use in removing dirt from sidewalks during the summer season.

VVth these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the features of the invention and shown arranged for use in removing snow and ice from a sidewalk or other surface. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the machine.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a hand-bar arranged at an upward angle of inclination and having on the upper end thereof a cross-grip 2, similar to the hand-bars of lawn-mowers and the like. Secured to the lower end of the bar 1 are laterally-projecting arms 3, having their front extremities disposed in planes parallel with the hand-bar. An axle4 is rotatably held in the front extremities of the arms 3, and on the ends thereof wheels 5 are` secured. Fixed on the axle 4 is a sprocketpinion 6, engaged by a chain belt 7 which extends upwardly along one side of the handle- .7 the axle 4 with the other hand.

Serial No. 148,427. (No model.)

bar land surrounds a sprocket-wheel 8, jour- `naled on a support 9, secured to the upper part of said bar within `easy reaching distance ofthe grip 2. The shaft 10 of the sprocket-wheel 8 is projected at one side and has secured thereon a crank-hamlle 11, and by this means the axle 4iis rotated and the 'machine propelled forwardly without requiring a pushing effort on the part of the operator, who simply guides the machine in its course with one hand while operating the sprocket-wheel 8 and through the chain belt It will be understood that the wheels 5 may be of that well-known class having rubber tires or other traction devices. The axle 4 has also fixed thereon a grooved band wheel or 4pulley 12, and engaging the said axle inside of and close to the forward extremities of the arms 3 are ,the divergent members of a yoke 13, extending rearwardly and having its restricted end secured to the center' of a brush-frame 14 by a center bolt or shaft 24 and nut15, which may be loosened to permit the said frame to swing in the arc of a circle to dispose the brushes carried thereby at anangle to the line of draft or movement of the machine. Extending' across the rear extremity of the yoke is a supporting-bar16, and depending therefrom is an leyebolt 17, having an upper clamping-nut 18.

The eyebolt 17 is inovably engaged by a semicircular holding-bar 19, secured at its rear terminals to the upper portion of the brushframe 14. The purpose of this arrangement is to maintain the brush-frame and brushes carried thereby at an angle of adjustment, and

I clamping the holding-bar 19 iirmly against the The brush-` frame 14 includes opposite dependingl angular extremities 20, in which the opposite ends of Aa brush-shaft 21 are journaled.

under side of the said bar 16.

The shaft 21 has secured thereon at the center a bevel-pinion 22, which is held in continual mesh with IOC a horizontal bevel-pinion 23 on the lower end of the center bolt or shaft 24, depending from the center of the frame 14. On the shaft 24, above the pinion 23, a grooved belt wheel or pulley 25 is secured and engaged by a belt 26, which also surrounds the grooved wheel or pulley 12 on the axle 4. Secured on the brushshaft to rotate therewith are two brushes 27 of the construction usually employed for street or sidewalk cleaning and of cylindrical form. It is obvious that the brushes 27 will become h worn, and to compensate for a diminution in the diameter of the brushes adjusting-legs 28 are provided and have longitudinal slots therein, which iit over the opposite projected ends of the brushshaft 21,and bolts 29, extending outwardly from the depending angular extremities 2O of the brush-frame 14 above the ends of the shaft 21. The bolts 29 have clamping-nuts 30 engaging the same,and when tightened against the legs 28 the latter are firmly held in immovable position. Depending from the legs 28 are caster-supports 31, having casters 32 in their lower terminals, which bear against the surface over which the machine is propelled. The yoke 13 and frame 14 are free to Swingin relation to the axle 4, and hence by gravity the brushes settle or are held down against the surface over which the machine moves. The adjustment of the legs 28 regulates the contact of the brushes with the surface cleaned, and when said brushes become worn a corresponding upward movement of the legs and retention of the latter by the means heretofore described will permit the brushes to be brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned. By this means also a uniformity of brush-pressure on the surface to be cleaned can be maintained, and the said brushes will thus be rendered serviceable after they have become verymuch worn down.

The several parts are disposed for removing snow and ice from a sidewalk, and the brushes are behind the axle 4. It frequently occurs `that a sidewalk or other surface becomes caked with ice, which will resist the cleaning effect of the brushes alone without first being loosened or broken, and to meet this requirement an ice-breaker 33 is carried at the front of the machine and comprises a plurality of arms 34, having their rear terminals removably attached to and freely movable on the axle 4. The front ends of the arms 34 are sej cured to a head-bar 35, from which depend a plurality of pointed breaking-teeth 36. The outer arms 34 have the front ends of springs 37 bearing thereagainst, the rear terminals of said springs being removably attached to the forward extremities of the divergent members or arms of the yokes 13. Attached to one of the arms 34 and projecting above the axle 4 in a plane at right angles to said arms is an actuating-bar 38, having 'its inner end located close to the grooved wheel or pulley 12, and to the said inner end of the member 38 the lower end of a pitman-rod 39 is movto one terminal of a crank 41, fixed on the shaft 10, the pitman 39 having a stop 42 therein to engage the rear edge of the guide 40, th rough which the pitman moves. The springs 37 bear with such tension on the outer arms 34 as to cushion the arms and assist in the operation of the ice-breaking device 33.

In operating the machine thus far described the crank handle 11 is grasped and the sprocket-wheel 8 rotated in a proper direction to actuate the chain belt 7. The movement of the chain belt rotates the axle 4, and the machine is propelled or moved in a forward direction, the operator at the same time guiding the machine with one hand, which is rested on or applied to the cross-grip 2. As the shaft 10 is revolved the crank 41 simultaneously moves therewith, and as the endy ofthe latter moves upwardly and rearwardly a pulling tension is exerted on the pitman 39, which raises the ice-breaking attachment against the resistance of the springs 37, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, showing such attachment in elevated position and illustrating the pulling action of the pitman thereon. The operation of the crank 41 alternately pulls upwardly on and forcefully throws the ice breaking attachment point through the medium of the pitman 39, and in the downward movement of said attachment the teeth thereof come in contact with the ice on the surface over which the machine moves and breaks the ice into small pieces or loosens the same, so as to be swept forwardly and cleaned from the sidewalk or other surface by the brushes 27. The actua-` tion of the chain belt to revolve the axle 4 also causes the brushesr27 to be rapidly revolved through the medium of the connecting mechanism heretofore explained.

In order to support the handle-bar of the machine in upright position at times when the latter is stopped or left by the operator, a prop 45 is pivoted at its upper end to one side of the handle-bar and has a lower pointed end 46, adapted to engage the surface over which the machine is moved or propelled.

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It is obvious that changes in the form, proportions, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A cleaner of theclass described comprising a handle-bar, an axle to which the handlebar is movably attached and provided with wheels, a brush-frame connected to the axle and carrying brushes, manually operated mechanism for rotating the axle, connections between the axle and brush-frame for rotating the brushes, an ice-breaking attachment supported on the axle in advance of the Wheels and having portions thereoil normally held down in contact over the surface over which the machine is propelled, and means for regularly elevatingI the ice-breaking attachment.

2. A cleaner of the class set forth comprising a handle-bar, an axle having Wheels to Which the handle-bar is secured, a brush-frame attached to the axle and oarryingbrushes, and an ice-breaking attachment supported in ad- Vance of the axle and Wheels, and means for holding the ice-breaking attachment normally depressed and for elevating the same at intervals.

3. A cleaner of the class set forth comprising a handle-bar, an axle having' Wheels to which the handle-bar is movably attached, a brushframe carrying brushes, and a vertically-reciprocating ice-breaking attachment carried in front of the axle and Wheels.

4E. A cleaner of the class described comprising a handle-bar, an axle with Wheels to Which the handle bar is attached, rotary brushes supported by the axle, meansi'or rotating the axle and brushes, and a vertically-reciprocating ice-breaking attachment supported in advance of the axle and Wheels.

reciprocatingice-breaking attachment carried in front of the axle and Wheels.

(5. A cleaner of the class described comprising an axle With Wheels thereon, a handle-bar movably attached to the axle, a brush-frame gravitatingly supported by the axle and having rotary brushes therein, means in part carried by the handle-baror manually rotating the axle and the brushes, an ice-breaking attachment carried in advance of the axle and Wheels and having arms, springs bearing on a portion of the said arms to hold the icebreaking attachment down in engagement with the surface over Which the machine moves, and a pitman connected to the icebrealzing attachment and the means for manually rotating the axle and brushes.

In testimony whereofl I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

VINCENT CIRALLI.

Witnesses: WILLIAM J. MCCREADY,

EDWIN C. Mo'm.

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