Karrier's Latest Road Sweepers
Page 47
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An Improved RSC Type With a Curved Broom, and a New Machine Embody ing the Colt Chassis
AMONGST the several exhibits of Karrier Motors, Ltd., of Huddersfield, at the demonstration to be held at Olympia, London, in connection with the forthcoming International Puha Cleansing Conference, will be two new models.
For many years the RSC-type sweeper and collector has been familiar. In this machine, the broom collects the sweepings and passes them from the side nearest the pavement to the opposite side. Owing to the angular setting of the straight brush hitherto employed, some of the sweepings have been thrown beyond the end of the broom at the collecting side, consequently forming a " trail " as the vehicle travels.
When it is possible quickly to sweep the entire width of the road, this " trail " can be picked up on the second trip, but modern high-speed traffic tends to blow the line of refuse back into the ratter after the sweeper has passed. Therefore, the maker decided to obviate this " trail " altogether, and now em
ploys a curved brush in place of the former straight one. After considerable research a special brush shaft has been prepared. It consists of a number of rotating,hexagon steel members mounted on a stationary shaft which is bent to give the required curvature in plan. Each hexagon is geared to its fellow and is carried on suitable bearings. The sectional brush is slipped over these hexagons and is driven by them. Each portion of the brush has one concave end and one convex end ; thus each part of the brush mates closely with the next one, avoiding any gap between the bristles of the various sections.
On this machine the drive for the rotors and broom has been strengthened, the road-brush drive being now direct from the main drive and not through the rotor transmission, as hitherto. Bevel gearing in oil-bath housings is
the system now used. To facilitate maintenance, the rotor unit at the bottom can be removed in tote from the
easing and replaced as easily, the whole operation requiring less than one hour. The bearings for the rotor shaft have been modified to give a longer life; rubber vanes substitute the cane rotor brushes previously standardized. It has been feund that these have a much longer life than the cane type and decrease the number of adjustments required, whilst the wear of the rotor easing is considerably reduced.
The new Colt three-wheeled sprinkler and sweeper will make its first public appearance at the Olympia demonstration. The chassis has a turning circle of 21 ft. ; it is mounted on pneumatic tyres, that on the front wheel being 21 ins. by 5 ins., whilst those at the 'rear are 27 ins. by 6 ins. The brush is 7 ft. long and is set at an angle of 30 degrees. It is driven by a skew gear and propeller shaft from a third sprocket in the compensating gearbox. The track swept is 6 ft., and water is fed from the 180-gallon tank to a sprinkler pipe in front of the brush.