THE

London

JOURNAL AND REPERTORY

OF

Arts, Sciences, and Manufactures.

CONJOINED SERIES.

No. CXXXVII.

Recent Patents.

TO JOSEPH WHITWOTH, of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, engineer, for his invention of certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for cleaning roads; and which machinery is also applicable to other similar purposes.-[Sealed 2nd August, 1842.]

THESE improvements have reference to the machinery or apparatus, for which a patent was granted to the present patentee on the 15th day of April, 1840.

In Plate XI., the improved apparatus is shewn in detail. Fig. 1, is a side elevation; fig. 2, an end elevation; and fig. 3, a horizontal view of the machine ;—the following figures represent detached portions of the same. A, is the outline of the cart; B, are the side-frames of the apparatus, formed of wrought-iron, and connected together by cross-stays c. The apparatus is attached to the cart by brackets D, carrying the hollow bosses E, screwed to the side-frames B. The bosses E, form bearings for the axis F, carrying the chain-pullies G, and wheel H. This wheel is loose on the axis F, to which it is connected by the sliding

VOL. XXII.

2 D

clutch I. It gears with the cog-wheel K, attached, by staples, to the off side-wheel of the cart.

When the sliding-clutch 1, is in gear, the rotary motion of the running-wheel, as the cart goes forward, is communicated, by the wheels K, H, and axis F, to the pullies G. A second pair of chain pullies L, are fixed on the axis M, carried by the adjustable steel centres N, in the sideframes B. The chains o, with the brooms P, attached, are stretched over the corresponding pullies, and move round with them, as the cart proceeds forward. Each broom is successively brought into contact with the ground, and the loose soil, on the surface, is swept up the carrier-plate Q; at the top of which it is thrown forward into the cart. is a flap or apron, connected, by a hinge, to the top of the plate, to prevent any portion of the soil, &c., from falling between the plate and the back of the cart.

R,

The carrier-plate Q, is suspended from the side-frames B, by screws s, and has no direct communication with the cart. It may be made of sheet-iron, and should have, on the lower edge, a strip of steel, to defend it from the effect of occasional friction with the ground. As the brooms wear, the position of the carrier-plate requires adjustment, by the screws s, in order to keep it in contact with the shortened brooms, as they pass upwards.

For the beard of the brooms, the patentee prefers the use of "piassava," the product of South America. It may be directly inserted into the broom-stock, small portions being separately placed in conical holes, drilled through the stock, at short intervals, and each separate portion being secured by pitch, and by a small wedge, driven in from the back, as shewn at fig. 4. The chains, by which the brooms are connected, are formed of open and closed links, as shewn at fig. 5. The open link T, has two flat ends u, between which the stock w, of the broom, is secured by a screwed pin and nut.

To facilitate the management of the chain, one of the open links (out of the entire series of each chain) has a hinge-joint x, which, when the nut is removed, allows one of the flat ends to be drawn through the adjoining link,

whereby the continuous connection of the endless chain is obtained. The tension of the chain, over the pullies &, and L, is regulated by substituting longer or shorter links, at the joint x, as occasion may require.

The bearings E, have rotary play in the brackets D, by which they are attached to the cart; and hence, by the entire apparatus swinging in the brackets D, the lower brooms bear on the ground with considerable pressure. This pressure is relieved by weights, which counterbalance a certain portion of the weight of the apparatus. Y, is a weight, placed in the front of the cart for this purpose. It hangs in the recess z, from the chains a, wound on the pullies b. The axis c, of the pullies, has its bearings in steel centres, fixed in standards on the cart, and carries the pinion d, taking into the wheel e, on the axis f. This axis is parallel with the former, and is similarly supported. It carries the grooved pullies g, for the chains h, the ends of which are fastened in one direction, to the pullies g, and in the other to the segments i, screwed to the side-frames B. A series of holes is formed in the weight y, for loose weights, whereby the pressure may be regulated to any nicety.

By the chains h, the apparatus may be raised from the surface into an horizontal position. For this purpose, the wheel e, is made to slide from the pinion d, into gear with the worm k, by the lever l. The driver, by means of the handle m, can then raise the apparatus, whenever occasion may require, and it will continue suspended, by the action. of the worm on the wheel. The worm k, is placed close to the pinion d, that it may receive the teeth of the wheel e, partially into gear, before it is entirely slidden out of gear with the pinion d; and, by this means, the state of suspension of the apparatus is maintained. As the apparatus is raised, the clutch 1, is thrown out of gear, by the lever n, which has its fulcrum at o, on an arm p, fixed on the bearing E. One end of the lever is moved sideways, as the apparatus rises, by the inclined piece q, fixed on the cart; and the revolution of the brooms ceases. When the apparatus is lowered, the clutch 1, is carried into gear by a

spring r, fixed on the arm p. The side-pieces s, carry the bars t, (commonly called doctors,) for cleaning the brooms as they revolve. These pieces are slotted, to afford the opportunity of adjusting the position of the doctors to the length of the brooms. u, is a covering of tarpauling, or light boards. The brackets D, by which the apparatus is attached to the cart, are made with a joint v, and secured by a split key. The entire apparatus may thus be detached from the cart.

The body of the cart is constructed of two distinct parts, as shewn in the drawings, in which the upper part is marked w, and the lower x, having their junction at the line y. Fig. 6, is a side elevation of the upper portion of the cart; fig. 7, the lower portion; and fig. 8, an elevation of the back of the same.

Both parts of the cart have a strong framing of angle iron, with cross-ribs, to which are fastened boards of timber, or plates of sheet-iron. The cart-axle z, passes round the upper part. It is forged of great strength, and supported by the cross-stay 1. The lower part x, of the cart, which contains the load of soil, &c., is suspended from the axle x, by the chains 2. The weight of the loaded part x, is thus confined to the axle, and has no tendency to derange the action of the apparatus. An opportunity is also afforded of conveniently attaching and detaching the part x. For this purpose, the shaft 3, bearing in projections 4, on the axle, carries the grooved pullies 5, for the chains 2; the ends of which are fastened, in one direction, by hooks, to the eye-pieces 6, on the part x, and in the other, to the pullies 5. The wheel 7, on the axis 3, gears with the worm 8, on the shaft 9, which has its bearings at 10, and is worked by a handle at 11. The part x, may thus be lowered to the ground, and the chains unhooked; when the sweeping apparatus (raised into the horizontal position, as before described), may be drawn, with the part w, over the part x, the latter being thus completely disengaged. If loaded, at the time, it may be emptied at leisure, or hoisted, and made to discharge its contents instantaneously, provided suitable apparatus be at hand. To re-attach the part x,

the part w, should be moved backwards over it, and the chains applied. As it is drawn up by the handle 11, the pieces 12, fixed to the part w, guide it into the proper position. In working the carts, it will be found convenient, and economical, to provide an extra number of the lower parts, to afford opportunity for substitution, as occasion may require.

It will be observed, that the cart is not symmetrical; the near side being made to expand outwards, as much as the running-wheel will allow. This form is given, to enable the brooms to act near the curb-stone, along the side of streets or roads.

The apparatus, above described, might be modified, by substituting for the brooms, scrapers formed of hoop-iron, or strips of wood, and attached to the endless chains, in precisely the same manner as the brooms. After scraping the surface of the ground, they would move up the carrierplate, carrying the soil, &c., with them. This change may be found advantageous in certain states of the ground surface; for instance,-when there is a large quantity of snow, or other soft substance, to be removed. The scrapers, or brooms, move with sufficient velocity to throw the soil &c., from the top of the carrier-plate, with considerable force into the cart. But, in dry weather, the soil accumulates rather more at the hinder part; and it is necessary, in order completely to fill the cart, that the driver should distribute the load. This he can easily do, by entering the cart through an opening provided in the top.

13, is a pipe, for drawing off, from the interior of the cart, the water which, in wet weather, is swept into it from the surface of the street. The pipe has its orifice about fourteen inches from the bottom of the cart, and is fitted with a plug 14. The cart being drawn to the side of the street, and the plug withdrawn, the water, above the orifice of the pipe, will be discharged into the gutter.

Referring to the drawings annexed to the patentee's former specification, enrolled the 14th of October, 1840, he here suggests certain modifications of the apparatus therein described.