A New Three-wheeled Sweeper-collector
Page 46
Page 47
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A Well-known French Concern Produces a Handy New Municipal Appliance
AN interesting and useful little machine has just been produced by the noted French S.0.14.1.1.7.A. concern, which specializes in municipal motor vehicles of all kinds. This is a small motor-driven sweeper-collector designed on the lines of a carpet sweeper, for cleaning up footpaths, railway stations, narrow city streets, etc. The machine is really a development of the successful little Scanua motor cultivator for vineyard work, which has for many years been popular on the Continent. It has been mentioned more than once in these columns.
The Soma sweeper-collector has a tricar-type chassis and is steered by twin rear wheels, to which the movement is conveyed from the steering wheel by means of bevel pinions and a vertical shaft. The engine is a single-cylindered water-cooled two-stroke unit of 85 mm. bore and 120 mm. stroke, running at a normal speed of only 1,300 r.p.m.
The clutch casing and gearbox are built up as a unit with
the engine.. The clutch is of the cone type with a Ferodo facing, and the gearbox. gives one forward speed and a reverse. Transmission is direct from the gearbox to the front wheels by means of a solid axle.
The brush is carried on an articulated sub-frame (springloaded) and is driven by chain in the usual manner. A novelty is the addition of a side brush for cleaning the lower parts of walls, corners, etc. This brush, which is the subject of a patent, can be adjusted to any desired angle and throws the dirt down in front of the main brush, where it in promptly picked up and deposited in the container.
The action of the main brush and refuse container may be compared exactly with that of the household carpet sweeper. A small water tank is carried, and when the machine is working under exceptionally dry and dusty conditions a fine spray can be directed in front of the brush.
The front wheels are mounted on pneumatics, whilst the rear twin steering wheels have solid rubber tyres. Contracting-band brakes are fitted to the front wheels and are controlled by pedal. A feature of the Somua machine when in action is its remarkable silence. The exhaust passes first into a long expansion chamber and then into a silencer of unusual dimensions.
It may be mentioned that one of these interesting little sweeper-collectors is at the moment running experimentally in the Gate St. Laaare.
A robust steel tube is carried from the steering box, in front of the steering wheel, to the front of the chassis. This stiffens up the whole chassis and forms a point of anchorage for the container supports, etc.
The weight of the machine is 790 kilos, and the working width of the main brush 1 m. 30 cm. The refuse container has a capacity of about 100 litres. The outfit can travel forwards at speeds ranging from 3 k.p.h. to 8 k.p.h. Theoverall dimensions of the machine are; length, 3 m. ; height, 1 m. 20 cm.; width, 1 Tn. 60 cm.
The turning radius allows the sweeper to turn on a footpath only 3.5 m. wide. Fuel consumption, when running on petrol, is said to be 1.5 litre per hour. ,
The side brush, which works at all angles up to the vertical, is m. wide, and the sweeping and cleaning capacity of the machine is said to be at least 6,000 sq. in. per hour.