Powered rotary brush

• US RE29,957 E
• Filed: 12/15/1976
• Issued: 04/10/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1962
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Kasper, Joseph G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US05/750,656
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 15/78, 15/82-87, 15/340, 15/377, 15/375, 15/387, 15/389, 60/DIG. 10, 180/66 F
• US Class Current: 15/83
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/056 having horizontal axes
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0854 Apparatus in which the mechanically dislodged dirt is partially sucked-off, e.g. dislodging- sweeping apparatus with dirt collector in brush housing or dirt container mechanical dislodging machines with independent suction nozzles E01H1/0827; combined with blowing and suction E01H1/0872

Abstract

.Iadd.A sweeping machine having a frame, a pair of support members, and means for mounting the support members on the frame. A brush is rotatably mounted between the support members. A drive mechanism for the brush includes a source of power in a form capable of being transmitted by conduit means and a motor attached to one of the support members and being located substantially within an interior chamber defined by the brush and with the motor being capable of utilizing power from the source to rotate the brush..Iaddend.

Claims

1. The combination with a sweeping machine having a frame .Iadd.including an implement housing with a pair of end walls .Iaddend.a pair of .Iadd.pinstable .Iaddend.support members, means for mounting said support members on said frame .Iadd.closely adjacent said housing end walls, .Iaddend.and a tubular member rotatably mounted between said support members for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, of:

a drive mechanism for rotating said tubular member, said drive mechanism including;

a source of .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.power in a form capable of being transmitted by conduit means,

a motor fixedly attached to a first of said support members, said motor having an output shaft and being capable of utilizing power from said source to rotate said output shaft, said motor being located substantially within the interior chamber defined by said tubular member,

drive means connected between said output shaft for driving said tubular member and supporting a first end of said tubular member,

.Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.conduit means connected between said power source and said motor, and

control means to control the transmission of power through said conduit means to said motor.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said source of power is a source of fluid under pressure and said motor is a fluid motor.

3. The combination with a frame movable over a supporting surface, and a pair of support arms attached to said frame, of:

a source of fluid under pressure on said frame,

a fluid motor fixedly attached to a first of said support arms, said motor having an output shaft and being capable of utilizing said fluid under pressure to rotate said output shaft under power,

a drive flange drivably mounted on the output shaft of said fluid motor,

a tubular implement drivably mounted in surrounding relationship to the drive flange adjacent a first end thereof and rotatably mounted on a second of said arms at a second end thereof,

conduit means connected between said source of fluid under pressure and said fluid motor .Iadd.said conduit means including passageways in said support arms.Iaddend., and

control valve means located in said conduit means to selectively control the flow of fluid under the pressure from said source to said motor, said motor being located at least partially within the interior chamber defined by said tubular implement. .[.4. The combination as specified in claim 3 wherein said support arm to which said motor is attached has passageways

4. therein constituting portions of said conduit means..]. 5. The combination with a power sweeping machine having a main frame and support means comprising first and second arms on said frame, of:

a source of fluid under pressure,

a fluid motor fixedly mounted on a first of said support arms and having an output shaft rotatable under power when said motor receives fluid under pressure,

a tubular implement drivably mounted on and supported by said output shaft of said fluid motor at a first end thereof and rotatably mounted on a second of said arms at a second end thereof, said motor being mounted substantially within the interior chamber defined by said tubular implement, .Iadd.means for adjusting the orientation of said tubular implement so that the axis of said tubular implement may be selectively positioned in opposite angular directions with respect to the direction of travel of said machine, .Iaddend.

conduit means open from said source of fluid under pressure to said fluid motor, and

control valve means located in said conduit means and adapted to selectively control flow of fluid under pressure from said source to said

5. fluid motor. 6. The combination as specified in claim 5 wherein said second arm is substantially planar and said first arm is L-shaped, one of the legs of said L-shaped arm projecting inwardly into the interior chamber defined by said tubular implement, said fluid motor being fixedly attached to the leg of said arm that extends into said chamber of said

6. tubular implement. 7. The combination of specified in claim 5 wherein said support arms are mounted on said sweeping machine through independent means comprising a pusher frame mounted on said main frame and extending forwardly from said power sweeping machine, and means for pivotally

7. mounting said support arms to said pusher frame. 8. The combination with a prime mover having a main frame and adaptable to be propelled along a supporting surface, of:

a pusher frame mounted with respect to said main frame ahead of said prime mover,

a pair of support arms, means for pivotally mounting said support arms on said pusher frame,

a substantially cylindrical implement having a central tubular core member rotatably mounted with respect to, and between said support arms for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said tubular core member,

a source of fluid under pressure mounted on said prime mover,

a fluid motor fixedly mounted with respect to one of said support arms and having an output shaft rotatable under power when said motor receives fluid under pressure, said motor being mounted within the interior chamber defined by said tubular core member,

drive means connected between said output shaft of said fluid motor and said tubular core so that when said output shaft is rotated said implement will rotate about its longitudinal axis,

said pusher frame including adjustable mounting mechanism so that the axis of said tubular core member can be selectively positioned in opposite angular directions with respect to the direction of travel of said prime mover,

flexible conduit means open from said source of fluid under pressure to said fluid motor, said conduit means being of sufficient length and flexibility to permit the angular position of said implement to be changed without disconnecting said conduit means, and

control valve means located in said conduit means and adapted to selectively control flow of fluid under pressure from said source to said

8. fluid motor. 9. The combination as specified in claim 8 wherein said implement is a cylindrical powered brush. .Iadd. 10. The combination with a sweeping machine adapted to move over a surface to be swept comprising:

a frame including implement housing means;

first and second support members;

means for pivotally mounting said first and second support members to said frame housing in spaced apart relationship, said first and second support members being pivotable vertically away from said surface to be swept; and

a tubular implement member rotatably mounted between said first and second support members for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, of;

a drive mechanism for rotating said tubular member, said drive mechanism including;

a source of power in a form capable of being transmitted by a conduit means;

a motor fixedly attached to said first support member;

said motor having an output shaft and being capable of utilizing power from said source to rotate said output shaft;

said motor being located substantially within the interior chamber defined by said tubular member;

drive means connected between said output shaft for driving said tubular member and supporting a first end of said tubular member;

conduit means connected between said power source and said motor;

said conduit means being at least partially flexible to allow pivotable movement of said first and second support members;

control means to control the transmission of power through said conduit means to said motor; and

means connected to raise and lower said first and second support arms and the axis of said tubular member. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 11. A power driven sweeper comprising;

a frame member mounted on support wheels and at least one drive wheel and adapted to move over a surface to be swept, said frame member including a brush housing;

first and second support members;

means for pivotally mounting said first and second support members in said brush housing in spaced apart relationship, said first and second support members being pivotable within said housing for movement vertically away from said surface to be swept;

a cylindrical brush member rotatably mounted between said first and second support member for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the brush member;

a source of fluid under pressure on said frame;

a motor fixedly attached to said first support member;

said motor having an output shaft and being capable of utilizing said fluid under pressure to rotate said output shaft under power;

said motor being located substantially within the interior chamber defined by said brush member;

conduit means connected between said source of fluid under pressure and said motor, said conduit means being at least partially flexible to allow pivotable movement of said first and second support members;

control means connected to control the flow of fluid under pressure through said conduit means to said motor independent of any drive to said sweeper; and

means connected to raise and lower said first and second support arms and

9. the axis of said brush member. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. A power driven sweeper comprising:

a frame member mounted on support wheels and at least one drive wheel and adapted to move over a surface to be swept;

first and second support members each having first and second ends, the second end of said first support member having a protrusion extending inwardly of said sweeper generally transversely at said sweeper;

means for pivotally mounting the first ends of each of said first and second support members to said frame in spaced apart relationship, said first and second support members being pivotable vertically away from said surface to be swept;

a cylindrical brush member having a central tubular core member rotatably mounted between said first and second support members for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the brush member, the protrusion of said first support member extending into said control tubular core member;

a source of fluid under pressure on said frame;

a motor fixedly attached to the protrusion of said first support member;

said motor having an output shaft and being capable of utilizing said fluid under pressure to rotate said output shaft under power;

said motor being located at least partially within the interior chamber defined by said tubular core member;

drive means connected between said output shaft for supporting a first end of said brush member and for driving said brush member;

conduit means connected between said source of fluid under pressure and said motor, said conduit means being at least partially flexible to allow pivotable movement of said first and second support members;

control means connected to control the flow of fluid under pressure through said conduit means to said motor independent of any drive to said sweeper; and

means connected to raise and lower said first and second support arms and

10. the axis of said brush member. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. The combination with a sweeping machine comprising:

a frame;

a pair of support members;

means for mounting said support members on said frame; and

a tubular member rotatably mounted between said support members for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, of;

a drive mechanism for rotating said tubular member, said drive mechanism including;

a source of power in a form capable of being transmitted by conduit means;

a motor fixedly attached to a first of said support members;

said motor having an output shaft and being capable of utilizing power from said source to rotate said output shaft;

said motor being located at least partially within the interior chamber defined by said tubular member;

conduit means connected between said power source and said motor;

control means to control the transmission of power through said conduit means to said motor;

drive means connected between said output shaft for driving said tubular member and supporting a first end of said tubular member, said drive means including;

an internal flange attached to said tubular member within said interior chamber; and

an internal drive member mounted on the output shaft of said motor, said shaft extending through and directly driving said flange. .Iaddend.