Rotary brush apparatus having controlled slippage

Claim 1

Rotary brush apparatus comprising a shaft, a plurality of individual coaxial elements rotatably mounted on said shaft and having bristle members eXtending radially therefrom, said coaxial elements disposed in side-by-side relation to define an axially elongated brush, and means coupling said coaxial elements to said shaft so that said elements normally rotate in unison with said shaft, said means coupling said coaxial elements to said shaft including torque-limiting means whereby said coaxial elements are adapted to rotate with respect to said shaft and coaxial elements to said shaft comprising a collar coupled to said shaft for rotation therewith and frictionally coupled to one side of said brush, a second collar coupled to said shaft for rotation therewith remote from said first collar, said torque-limiting means comprising means frictionally coupling said second collar to the other side of said brush, and selectively adjustable means coupled to said second collar and said brush for adjusting the predetermined amount of torque above which said brush member rotates with respect to said shaft.