GB448506A - Improvements in road sweeping machines - Google Patents

Abstract

448,506. Steering motor vehicles. FRIE.DLEIN, H. M., Surth, near Cologne, Germany. Dec. 4, 1934, No. 34858. Convention date, Dec. 4, 1933. [Class 79 (v)] [See also Group X] A road-sweeping machine is provided with a laterally disposed feeler adapted to bear against the kerb and operatively connected with the steering element in such manner that the increased or reduced pressure exerted on the feeler when the machine approaches or leaves the kerb results in the actuation of the steering mechanism to return the machine to its original normal position. In the construction shown, the feeler takes the form of a rotary gutter sweeping brush 2 pivotally suspended from a bracket 70 and spring-urged into contact with the kerb 4. Movements of the brush towards the kerb rotate a vertical shaft 73 through the medium of a link 72, the upper end of the shaft being connected by an arm 74 to a friction clutch on the continuously rotating driving shaft 9 of the machine. Such actuation of the clutch drives a pulley which is connected by a cable 76 to a pulley 6 on the steering shaft 5, and thus steers the machine away from the kerb. Similar mechanism may also be provided for moving the machine towards the kerb. The brush delivers the sweepings into a suction opening 11 of a dust collecting device where it gathers in front of a vertically oscillating shovel 13. The shovel is attached to a rocker 17 pivoted at 17a and having an arm 17b which is rocked by a roller 16 secured to the axle of the machine wheels 15. Behind the shovel, the main sweeping brush 12 is located, the brush being supported by vertical bars 12a which can be raised and lowered by bell-cranks 12b having screw and nut connections with handoperated shafts 12d. The brush is so adjusted that the length s in contact with the ground is greater than the length s<1> of sweepings able to accumulate in front of the shovel. The sweepings are delivered to a container 20 housing a suction fan and a centrifugal separator 28. Adjacent the suction opening 14 of the container, an adjustable stop 22 is provided to spread the bristles and thus to enable a current 21 of air to enter the container after passing through and thereby cleaning the bristles of the brush. The single driving wheel 10 is displaced slightly laterally from the vertical axis about which it swings, so that when power is supplied it balances the torque imposed on the machine by the resistive pressure acting on the brush 2.