US3190672A

US3190672A - Sulky attachment

Info

Publication number: US3190672A
Application number: US236933A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert S Swanson; Merville O Kroll
Original assignee: Tennant Co
Current assignee: Tennant Co
Priority date: 1958-12-08
Filing date: 1962-11-13
Publication date: 1965-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-22

Description

l June 22, 1965 A. s. swANsoN ETAL 3,190,672

SULKY ATTACHMENT Original Filed Deo. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 14.45621' S .SW/WMM BY MMV/z5 Kean s E www/wrm Arron/sys June 22, 1965 A. s. swANsoN ETAL 3,190,672 sULKY ATTACHMENT Original Filed Dec. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 d] l" "I". ein@ INVENTORS ,4arg7 5'. SUA NSO/V 0. kwa

rroRA/fxs United States Patent O 3 Claims. (Cl. 23m-32.7)

The present application is a restriction or division of our copending application,V Serial Number 778,995, filed December 8, 1958, now abandoned. This invention relates generally to a sulky attachment an-d more particularly to a sulky attachment to be used in conjunction with a walk behind power sweeper. p

An object of this invention is to provide for a power sweeper, a new novel attachment on which the operator may ride. Still another object of this invention is to provide a fold-up sulky for a walk behind power sweeper.

Other and further objects are those inherent in the invention herein illustrated, described and claimed, and will be apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment ofthe foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of this invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated by reference to the drawings in which the corresponding numerals refer to the same part and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a left side elevation of a power sweeper with the sulky attachment of this invention attached thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a power sweeper with the sulky attachment of this invention connected thereto, said sulky attachment being shown in full lines with the power sweeper moving in a straight line and in a power sweeper turning position in dotted line;

FIGURE 3 is a plan-view of a power sweeper with the sulky attachment of this invention in a folded up position; f

FIGURE 4 is a left side elevational view of a power sweeper with the sulky attachment of this invention in a folded up position; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical elevational view of the power sweeper unit showing the handles and mounting of the rear wheel. Y

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGURESI and 2 there are illustrated a left side view and a plan view of a self propelled power sweeper unit 11 and a fold-up sulky attachment 12 of this invention. First the structure of the power sweeper unit will be briefly described, a detailed description of said unit being described in our copending application.

The power sweeper unit 11 is designed for maintaining surfaces such as the surface of a floor 14 and includes a frame 13 made up of various panel portions, a refuse container 75 mounted on said frame, a dust bag 50 attached to said container and a side arm brush assembly designated 155 that includes a dependingly mounted side brush 164.

The frame 13 includes a main brush chamber (not shown) having a main brush (not shown) mounted therein.

The frame 13 includes a rear panel 1'7, a left side wall 23, a left side panel 19, a left side guard 38, a right side panel 18, a top wall 24, an elongated right cover plate 4d mounted to extend from the upper edge of the rear panel, a left top cover plate 39 and support plates (not shown). r1`he aforementioned frame 13 is mounted on a pair of ice front wheels 25, one wheel being located on either side and forward of the main brush chamber. The front Wheels are driven through one way drive clutches and are mounted for rotation on structure (not shown) that extends outwardly beyond each of the support plates, said structure not forming a part of this invention and therefore not being further described.

Secured to the rear wall 17 to extend rearwardly therefrom is a rear wheel support Z7, said support lying in a horizontal plane and being generally triangular in shape and having an upright perimetric flange 27a. Two bearing mounting members 34 are secured in the apex portion of the rear wheel support for pivotally mounting the yoke pivot pin 33 of the yoke 29, said pivot pin having a vertical axis of rotation. The rear wheel 26 is rotatably mounted on axle 30, said axle being journalled in yoke 29. A rear wheel support cover 28 is provided for covering the open end portion of the rear wheel support. The rear wheel and the aforementioned front wheels support the frame 13 and the skirts 20 attached thereto above the floor.

An air cooled gasoline engine 32 is mounted on the right side portion of the top wall 24 adjacent the right side panel 18. A gasoline tank 31 having -a cover 31a is secured to the upper portion of the engine by appropriate means such as brackets 31h. The structure forming the driving connections between the engine and the driven members, including the front wheels, does not form a part of this invention and therefore will not be described. A vacuum fan generally designated 45 is mounted on the top wall 24 to be located intermediate the engine and the left top cover plate 39, the fan 45 including a fan housing assembly 46 connected to a fan outlet housing 52. which in turn is connected to the dust bag 50.

Also attache-d to the top wall 24 and rear panel 17 are right and

left handles

64, 66 respectively, said handles also being connected to anchor plates (not shown) which in turn are secured to the rear portion of the top wall and top portion of rear panel. The aforementioned handles are sharply inclined in an upward direction and slightly inclined in a rearward direction from the top wall. A pair of elongated openings are provided in the rear panel and in the top wall (openings not shown) so that handles may be extended therethrough.

As may be noted in FIGURE 3, the

handles

65, 66 are mounted to be widely spaced at their lower ends, converge in an upward direction, and then bend outwardly from one another at 64. The outwardly bent portions have grips 67 mounted thereon to provide hand-holds. The portions of the handles slightly below the bend por.-

, tions are connected by a top control plate 68 and a bothand is rotated in the direction of the arrow 237'.

When the right hand grip is depressed, the front wheels are drivingly rotated in the direction of the arrow 210 through drive connections that do not form a part of this invention; and when the right handle grip is released, a spring (not shown) Awill return the handle 65 in a direction opposite the arrow 287 to break the aforementioned drive connections. The aforementioned spring provides a safety feature in the event the operator releases the` handle grip 67.

`The speed of the power sweeper unit is controlled by use of the hand throttle 292 which is pivotally mounted on the top control plate 68. YA conventional throttle cable 293 extends from the hand throttleto the engine for controlling the speed of said engine in a conventional manner.

The sulky attachment 12 of this invention includes a V-shaped frame comprising a pair of spaced V-shaped tubes 385, one end of the tubes forming draw bars 386 and the opposite ends forming support bars 387. The upper end of support bars are bent forwardly to form seat support members 387a to have a seat 389 mounted thereon.

A transverse U-shaped bracket 395 interconnects the pair of V-shaped tubes at the juncture of the legs 386, 3257 and also forms a member for mounting the axle 394. A wheel 383 is rotatably mounted on either end portion of the axle outwardly from the U-shaped bracket.

Between the wheels 388 and the forward end portions of the V-shaped draw bars 386 there is mounted a transverse foot rest 392. The foot rest has a web portion that spaces the draw bars and has depending portions depending from either side thereof, the lower end of said depending portions being bent in an outwardly direction to form foot supports 392a.

The sulky attachment 12 is pivotally connected to the sweeper unit at the rear wheel support and rear

wheel support cover

27, 28 respectively, there being an upright pivot tube 381 mounted in said support and support cover. The V-shaped pivot bracket 383 has a downwardly extending pivot shaft 382 secured to he apex portion thereof, said pivot shaft being removably secured in the pivot tube. The outer end portions of the V-shaped pivot bracket have apertures formed therein so that the pivot bolts 384 may be mounted therein for securing the end portions of the V-shaped draw bars to their respective end portions of the pivot bracket.

By providing a pivot shaft 382 the sulky attachment may be pivoted about said shaft in a horizontal plane as, for example, when the power sweeper unit is going around a corner (see FIGURE 2). The dotted line position X illustrated in FIGURE 2 shows the power sweeper unit making a right hand turn while the sulky shown in dotted line position Y illustrates the power sweeper unit making a left hand turn (said sulky being shown in its relative position with respect to the power sweeper unit). In other words, the position Y of the sulky illustrates its position relative to the power sweeper unit when said unit makes a left hand turn while the position X of the sulky illustrates the relative positions of the sulky behind a power sweeper unit when said unit is making a right hand turn. By pivotally attaching the V-shaped bracket to the support member and support cover, the forward end portions of the sulky are spaced from the power sweeper so that the power sweeper may make a sharp turn without interference from the sulky.

In the event that the operator no longer desires to ride the sulky or if some close work is being done wherein it may be necessary to frequently back the sweeper unit away from protruding structures, then the sulky may be moved to a folded position as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. As illustrated in FIGURE 3 the `sulky is folded to be on the left hand side of the power sweeper unit; however, the sulky may be placed in the folded up position on the right hand side of the unit. When the sulky is in a folded up position, it does not interfere with the steering of the unit nor does it extend any substantial distance rearwardly of said unit to get in the way of the operator. Further, by providing the pivot tube 381 and the pivot shaft 382, the sulky unit may be readily disconnected from the power sweeper unit in the event that the operator does not desire to have it connected thereto.

An additional feature of the sulky is that the seat is at a low elevation so that the operator, by removing his feet from the foot rest 392, may push the sweeper unit in a backward direction without getting up from the seat; however, this is seldom necessary since the sweeper unit may make very sharp turns.

As many widely apparent different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the specific embodiments herein.

What is claimed:

1. For a self powered walk behind unit having a unit frame, wheels mounted on the unit frame to mount it for movement and a handle mounted on said unit frame to extend upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a sulky attachment attachable to said unit frame for being pulled in a forward direction by said unit frame and alternately moved to a supported folded up position at least in part overhanging said unit frame, said sulky attachment cornprising a seat, a frame having a draw bar portion and a seat mounting portion joined to one end portion of said draw portion, at least one wheel mounted on said frame portion and mounting said seat in spaced relation to said draw bar adjacent the juncture of said draw bar portion and said seat mounting portion, an elongated member pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said draw bar portion for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis and means for connecting the other end of said elongated member to the rear portion of said unit frame for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, said elongated member, draw bar portion and seat mounting portion being of relative lengths to position the draw bar portion to one side of said handle and the seat in overlaying relationship to said unit frame when said draw bar is pivoted about said horizontal axis and the elongated member about said vertical axis to said folded up position.

2. For a self powered wheeled unit having a unit frame and a handle mounted on said unit frame to extend upwardly and rearwardly of said unit frame, a sulky attachment attachable to said unit frame to be pulled in a forward direction thereby and alternately moved to a folded up position to be supported by said unit frame, said sulky attachment comprising a seat, a frame having a draw bar portion and a seat mounting portion joined to one end portion of said draw bar portion and mounting said seat in spaced relation to said draw bar portion, at least one wheel mounted on said frame adjacent the juncture of said draw bar portion and said seat mounting position, and means for connecting said draw bar to said unit frame to pivot about both horizontal and vertical pivot axes between a draw bar pulling position and a folded up position positioning the draw bar portion to one side of said handle and said seat overlaying the unit frame, said sulky frame and means being of sizes and shapes respectively to position said seat in said overlaying relationship relative to the unit frame in said folded up position.

3. For a self powered unit having a unit frame, wheels mounted on said frame to support it for movement and a handle including lower end portions connected to the fratrie to converge in an upwardly and rearwardly direction, said unit frame having a support member extending rearwardly of and beneath the connection of said handle end portions to the unit frame, a sulky attachment attachable to said unit to be pulled by said unit and alternately supported in a folded up position comprising a seat, a V-shaped sulky frame having an elongated draw bar portion land a seat mounting portion joined to one end portion of said draw bar portion, at least one wheel mounted on said sulky frame adjacent the juncture of said frame portions, said seat mounting portion extending upwardly and mounting the seat vertically above said wheel when the sulky attachment is being pulled, an elongated member pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the draw bar portion to pivot about a horizontal pivot axis and means for pivotally connecting the other end of said elongated member to said support member to pivot about a vertical pivot axis, said means, draw bar portion and seat mounting portion being of lengths relative to one another and to the handle to support said seat in overlying relationship to the unit frame with the draw bar portion to one side of the handle when said draw bar portion is 5 pivoted upwardly about said horizontal axis and the elongated member pivoted about -said vertical axis to a sulky folded up position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 4/56 Stegeman 280-327 4/58 Chouinard 280-494 X 7/59 Schrage 180-11 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1/54 Australia. 5 39 France. 9/ 46 France.

Gentsch 280-492 X l0 A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,190, 672 June 22, 1965 Albert S. Swanson et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent reqiiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as cozreotedbelow.

Column 3, line Z7, for "he" read the Column 4, lines 16 and 17, strike out "at least one wheel mounted on said frame portion"; same column, line 18, after "bar" insert portion, at least one wheel mounted On said frame Signed and sealed this 30th day of November-1965.

(SEAL) mest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER meeting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. FOR A SELF POWERED WALK BEHIND UNIT HAVING A UNIT FRAME, WHEELS MOUNTED ON THE UNIT FRAME TO MOUNT IT FOR MOVEMENT AND A HANDLE MOUNTED ON SAID UNIT FRAME TO EXTEND UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY THEREFROM, A SULKY ATTACHMENT ATTACHABLE TO SAID UNIT FRAME FOR BEING PULLED IN A FORWARD DIRECTION BY SAID UNIT FRAME AND ALTERNATELY MOVED TO A SUPPORTED FOLDED UP POSITION AT LEAST IN PART OVERHANGING SAID UNIT FRAME, SAID SULKY ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A SEAT, A FRAME HAVING A DRAW BAR PORTION AND A SEAT MOUNTING JOINED TO ONE END PORTION OF SAID DRAW PORTION, AT LEAST ONE WHEEL MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME PORTION AND MOUNTED SAID SEAT IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID DRAW BAR ADJACENT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID DRAW BAR PORTION AND SAID SEAT MOUNTING PORTION, AN ELONGATED MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF SAID DRAW BAR PORTION FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL PIVOT AXIS AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBER TO THE REAR PORTION OF SAID UNIT FRAME FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A GENERALLY VERTICAL AXIS, SAID ELONGATED MEMBER, DRAW BAR PORTION AND SEAT MOUNTING PORTION BEING OF RELATIVE LENGTHS TO POSITION THE DRAW BAR PORTION TO ONE SIDE OF SAID HANDLE AND THE SEAT IN OVERLAYING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID UNIT FRAME WHEN SAID DRAW BAR IS PIVOTED ABOUT SAID UNIT FRAME WHEN SAID DRAW BAR MEMBER ABOUT SAID VERTICAL AXIS TO SAID FOLDED UP POSITION.