Rotating Brushes

Types of Rotary Brushes

All rotary brushes are round, whether they are wheels or cylinders. Their distinct shape makes it possible for the brushes to rotate as they rapidly move debris, clean, smooth surfaces, or scrape off waste material. They operate quickly and efficiently and are highly durable and resilient.

Cylinder Rotary Brushes

Cylinder rotary brushes have a tube, core, or bar filled with filaments. Many cores are made of steel, aluminum, stainless steel, or brass, although lighter cores can be made of nylon, polypropylene, PVC, or wood. Cylinder rotary brushes are defined as a brush with a filament surface greater than its central wheel's diameter.

The types of filaments for cylinder rotary brushes are determined by their use. For example, brushes for cleaning and polishing have softer and more pliable bristles than ones used to clean hard metal surfaces.

Wheel Rotary Brushes

Wheel rotary brushes are flat wheels with bristles closely placed around the wheel's circumference. For a brush to be classified as a wheel brush, the wheel surface must be less than the diameter of the brush filaments. At the center, or hub, of a wheel rotary brush is an arbor through which a spindle or shaft drives the brush's rotation. Wheel rotary brushes are powered by the rotation of the shaft or a gear mechanism.

Cup Rotary Brushes

Cup rotary brushes have an arbor in the center of their hub, like a wheel rotary brush, but have bristles positioned on one lateral edge and not around the circumference of the hub or disk. Unlike wheel rotary brushes, the bristles point in one direction and fit inside the hub, which is similar to a drinking cup. The design of a cup rotary brush fills one side of the hub with bristles while the other is clear.

The shaft of a cup rotary brush can be permanently attached to the hub or inserted. All cup rotary brushes are powered and can be attached to various power supplies. How they are used depends on their filaments, which can be highly abrasive twisted wire or soft natural material.

Fibers for Rotary Brushes

The types of fibers for rotary brushes vary depending on the abrasiveness needed for the intended application. Fibers for rotary brushes are made of synthetic materials, natural materials, or metals.

Synthetic Fibers

The most common synthetic rotary brush fibers are nylon and polypropylene, which are very durable, waterproof, and chemical resistant. Synthetic fibers are less expensive to manufacture and are antimicrobial and easy to clean.

Metal Wires

Bronze and brass wire filaments are used for cleaning and polishing applications that require electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. At the same time, stainless steel and carbon steel are stronger and used for deburring and burnishing.

Natural Fibers

Natural fibers come from plants and animal hair and are less aggressive and harsh than synthetic fibers or metal wire. They are used for the treatment of delicate and sensitive surfaces. The major benefit of natural fibers is their durability and long work life.

Uses for Rotary Brushes

Rotating brushes are manufactured in several configurations for cleaning and industrial manufacturing applications. They can be stationary for cleaning conveyor belts or mobile for sweeping floors. Their shape and multiple sizes make them the ideal choice for various operations, applications, and uses.

Street Sweepers

Rotating cylinder brushes are used on street sweepers to remove dust and debris. A series of rotating brushes, pointing downward on the front of the vehicle, gather dirt as the brushes spin and make contact with the pavement. In addition, street sweepers have gutter brooms, shaped like wheel brushes, on the outside of the large cylinder brush that spin inward, guiding dirt to a larger rotary brush that sweeps dirt and debris into the street sweeper's vacuum system.

Runway Sweepers

Large rotary brushes are mounted on a long cylinder and are used to clean runways at airports. Runway sweepers are an important safety tool that collects and removes dirt and debris from the surface of runways, reducing the danger of accidents or complications during takeoffs and landings.

Deburring Brushes

Rotary brushes, made with stainless steel wire, are used for heavy-duty cleaning and deburring applications. They are highly abrasive brushes that remove burrs, smooths rough edges, and flatten uneven surfaces. Deburring rotary brushes are commonly used as part of a finishing process after welding and molding.

Conveyor Belt Brushes

Conveyor belt rotary brushes are mounted on a conveyor belt and used as part of an automated cleaning process. Parts or products move beneath the brush on a conveyor belt and are scrubbed as they make contact with it.

An example of using a conveyor belt brush is cleaning potatoes for packaging. After the potatoes have been washed through water, they are moved under a rotary brush that removes gritty dirt before they are dried and packaged. Over time, the bristles of a brush will wear down and need to be replaced for the brush to clean effectively.

Choosing the Proper Rotating Brushes Supplier

To make sure you have the most positive outcome when purchasing Rotating Brushes from a Rotating Brushes Supplier, it is important to compare at least 6 Companies using our list of Rotating Brushes suppliers. Each Rotating Brushes Manufacturer has a business profile page that highlights their areas of experience and capabilities and a contact form to directly communicate with the manufacturer for more information or request a quote. Review each Rotating Brushes company website using our proprietary website previewer to get an idea of what each company specializes in, and then use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple Rotating Brushes businesses with the same quote.