US3839763A

US3839763A - Rotary brush section

Info

Publication number: US3839763A
Application number: US00275570A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Gould
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-07-27
Filing date: 1972-07-27
Publication date: 1974-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-08

Abstract

A cylindrical sweeper brush assembly includes a core provided with a longitudinal external keyway and a plurality of separate spaced side-by-side cirular brush elements mounted on the core. Each brush element includes a split circular channel with an outwardly facing peripheral opening and centrally bent radial bristles anchored in the channel by a wire engaging the bristle bights, which are clamped between the channel legs. The channel side walls on each side of the ring split are joined by a pair of separate connector plates which are affixed to the channel walls and are provided with inwardly directed key defining tongues which slidably register with the keyway.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Gould 1 1 Oct. 8,1974

[5 ROTARY BRUSH SECTION 3,121,245 2/1964 Tilgner 15/181 x [76] Inventor. wmiamfiould, 93 Sagamore Rd. 3,602,936 9/1971 Drumm 15/181 Millburn, NJ. 07041 [22] Filed: July 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 275,570

[52] US. CL. 15/181, 300/21 [51] Int. Cl. A461) 7/10, A46d 3/00 [58] Field of Search 15/181, 198, 199, 195, 15/204, 205, 230.14, 230.19, 230.16, 182, 179, 183, 200; 300/21 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,085,202 6/1937 Sauer 15/198 X 2,447,966 8/1948 Stephens 15/181 UX 2,824,327 2/1958 Van Clief, Jr... 15/182 X 2,935,756 5/1960 Peterson l5/182 2,977,621 4/1961 Tilgner..'... 15/182 3,042,951 7/1962 Tilgner 15/182 3,068,504 12/1962 Peterson 15/198 3,107,381 10/1963 Tilgner 15/182 3,107,382 Tilgner 15/182 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,032,286 6/1966 GreatBritain ...15/181 Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard C. Miskin 57 ABSTRACT A cylindrical sweeper brush assembly includes a core provided with a longitudinal external keyway and a plurality of separate spaced side-by-side cirular brush elements mounted on the core. Each brush element includes a split circular channel with an outwardly facing peripheral opening and centrally bent radial bristles anchored in the channel by a" wire engaging the bristle bights, which are clamped between the channel legs. The channel side walls on each side of the ring split are joined by a pair of separate connector plates which are affixed to the channel walls and are provided with inwardly directed key defining tongues which slidably register, with the keyway.

3Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 I ROTARY BRUSH SECTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates'generally to improvements in brushes and it relates moreparticularly to an improved replaceable circular or disc shaped brush element for rotary sweeper brushes employing groups of these elements.

One type of rotary cylindrical sweeper brushes commonly include a longitudinal shaft and a plurality of side-by-side circular or disc shaped brush units separapossess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. The

coupling is generally of a unitary saddle shaped construction embracing the channel side webs and cross web proximate the split in the ring with end pieces resting on top of the channel and joined to the ring by lancing the coupling member and channel side webs inwardly to form interlocking lugsand openings. The resulting connection is awkward and unreliable and is difficult to accurately and suitably achieve and otherwise leaves much to be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved brush construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved cylindrical rotary sweeper brush construction.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved replaceable circular brush unit for cylindrical rotary sweeper brushes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a member that joins the split ends of a disc section of coupling elements having integrally formed therewith a radially inwardly extending key defining tongue.

According to a preferred form of the improved brush unit the bristles are medially bent to form bights which are located in the channel, the channel side walls being crimpedtoward each other along the outer borders to tightly embrace the'bristles above their bights and 'a,

wire extends around the channel in engagement with the bights. The coupling elements are similarly shaped and symmetrically disposed, each including an outer section which matingly engages the outwardly bulged inner borders of the channel side walls and isspot welded thereto and extends along the channel cross wall. The key defining tongues are rectangular, parallel and longitudinally spaced and extend radially inwardly from the coupling element inner edges.

The improved brush element is simply and inexpen- I I sively assembled to close tolerances and is rugged and a rotary broom which can be assembled quickly and positively and which allows positioning in the keyway of the core.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable brush unit of the above nature characterized by its simplicity, ruggedness, low cost,

high reliability and ease of construction and assembly.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with-the accompanying drawing.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a rotary brush unit comprising a hub definin'g transversely split annular channel including any highlyreliable, versatile and adaptable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary end view of another form of core used by a sweeper brush; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3 3 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the refer ence numeral 10 generally designates the improved brush unit which is assembled with a plurality of similar units to form a rotary sweeper brush 11 of cylindrical Configuration. 3

Each of the brush units 10 comprises'a hub defining split metal annulus or ring 12 of channel shaped cross section. The ring 12 includes an inner cylindrical base or cross wall 13 and flanges or side walls 14 directed outwardly from the side edges of cross wall 13 and joined thereto by curved elbows 16. The split ends" of the channel ring 12 are in end to end substantially adjacent alignment at a transverse radial split line 17.

A plurality of bristles 18 are anchored in the hub channel 12 about the full circumference thereof, the

bristles projecting radially from the hub and diverging longitudinally outwardly. The bristles 18 are formed of any suitable material, such as wire or a stiff, highly abrasive resistant thermoplastic polymeric resin such as high tenacity polypropylene or nylon monofilaments or the like. The bristles 18 are-double bristle units bent at their middles to form bights 19 which nest in the hub channel 12 and a cable 20 engages the bases of the gathered bights 19 and extends around the hub channel 12 in engagement with the bases of the outer bights. The outer borders of the channel side walls 14 are crimped or bent toward each other to tightly compress and embrace the bristles 18 above their bights 19 to firmly anchor the bristles 18 in the hub channel 12 and to form an outwardly bulged portion along the inner pair of longitudinally spaced similarly shaped coupling elements 21. Each of the coupling elements 21 comprises a flat radially and peripherally extending rectangular outer section 22 joined by a curved elbow section 23 to a longitudinally projecting lip 24 extending the length of the coupling element 21. Projecting radially inwardly from the edge of lip 24 is a key defining rectangular tongue 26 medially located along and of lesser length than the lip 24. The tongues 26 are longitudinally spaced and parallel.

A coupling element 21 registers with and overlies each pair of coplanar channel side wall sections on peripherally opposite sides of the split line 17, the coupling element elbow 23 and lip 24 engaging and embracing the channel bulged inner side wall and elbow 16 and cross wall 13 respectively. The outer section 22 of each coupling element 21 is secured to the underlying sections of channel side walls 14 by spot welds 27 interconnecting the coupling element outer section 26 with the respective underlying channel side walls 14 in the area proximate the

corresponding elbows

16 and 23. It should be noted that the coupling element sections 22 extend outwardly of the channel side walls 14 and that their outer borders are longitudinally spaced. ZY t l thiqssiaeai pf urlns. lemen 21 and their configuration and relationship to the channel 12 the spot welding thereof in an accurate and reliable manner is greatly facilitated and expedited and may be performed in any suitable manner such as with the use of positioning jigs or the like.

The improved brush elements may be employed with a hollow tubular member or shaft 28 provided on its outer face with a longitudinally extending rectangular channel or keyway 29. Advantageously, the core or central framework can be a group of longitudinal rods or angle irons spaced radially about a tube or transverse discs to form a support for the brush element. As shown in FIG. 2A, four angle irons 30 are supported about a central generally tubular member. The hubs 12 of brush elements 10 are slid onto the angle irons 30 with keys 26 between facing angle irons. Keys 26 are adapted to engage the angle irons in either direction of ibtardfi of the brush s tructure and to take up motion 3 from the brush driving mechanisms. In assembling the rotary brush 11 the brush elements 10 are mounted in side by side relationship on shaft 28 by sliding the hubs 12 along the shaft 28, with the keys 26 being slidably received in the keyway 29 or between angles 31, the

hubs 12 slidably mating with the shaft 28. Advantageously the brush elements 10 are spaced from each other by spacers 31. The assembled cylindrical brush is mounted on the sweeper in drive relationship therewith, the rotation of shaft 28 effecting the positive rotation of the brush elements 10 by way of the keys 26 and keyway 29 or angle 30. The worn brush elements l0 may be individually replaced on the shaft 28 or they may be all replaced since they may be removed from the shaft and are thus separate from one another.

, While there has been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and addi tions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A- rotary brush unit comprising a hub defining transversely split annular channel including an inner cross wall and outwardly directed side walls and having its ends in alignment and delineating said split, radially projecting bristles extending around said hub and having their inner ends anchored in said channel, said bristles being bent to form medial bights located in said channel, an anchoring wire engaging said bights and extending in said channel about said hub, said channel side walls being inwardly crimped along their upper borders to tightly embrace said bristles above said bights and form bulged borders along the inner portion of each side wall and a pair of separate coupling elements engaging each of said side walls and welded to sections of said side walls on opposite sides of said split, each of said coupling elements being similarly shaped and symmetric to a transverse plane and having integrally formed therewith a radially inwardly extending key defining tongue and each of said coupling elements further including an outer section with an inner border matingly engaging said side wall bulged borders and the adjacent border of said channel cross wall, said coupling element inner border and said side wall bulged border being joined by welding.

2. The brush unit of claim 1 wherein said tongues are parallel and longitudinally spaced and extend radially inwardly from the confronting inside edges of said cou pling element outer sections.

3. The brush unit of claim 2 wherein said key defining tongues are of rectangular configuration.

Claims

1. A rotary brush unit comprising a hub defining transversely split annular channel including an inner cross wall and outwardly directed side walls and having its ends in alignment and delineating said split, radially projecting bristles extending around said hub and having their inner ends anchored in said channel, said bristles being bent to form medial bights located in said channel, an anchoring wire engaging said bights and extending in said channel about said hub, said channel side walls being inwardly crimped along their upper borders to tightly embrace said bristles above said bights and form bulged borders along the inner portion of each side wall and a pair of separate coupling elements engaging each of said side walls and welded to sections of said side walls on opposite sides of said split, each of said coupling elements being similarly shaped and symmetric to a transverse plane and having integrally formed therewith a radially iNwardly extending key defining tongue and each of said coupling elements further including an outer section with an inner border matingly engaging said side wall bulged borders and the adjacent border of said channel cross wall, said coupling element inner border and said side wall bulged border being joined by welding.

2. The brush unit of claim 1 wherein said tongues are parallel and longitudinally spaced and extend radially inwardly from the confronting inside edges of said coupling element outer sections.