IMPROVEMENTS IN BRUSHING AND SWEEPING MACHINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Stidolph, John Stidolph, and
Thomas Simpson, of Woodbridge, in the County of Suffolk, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRUSHING AND SWEEPING MACHINES."
Sealed the 17th October 1868, and dated the 23rd April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick
Stidolph, John Stidolph, and Thomas Simpson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 23rd April
*1868.
We, GEORGE FREDERICK STIDOLPH, JOHN STIDOLPH, and THOMAS
SIMPSON, of Woodbridge, in the County of Suffolk, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRUSHING AND
SWEEPING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the constructing a cheap portable
and effective brushing and sweeping machine, more especially adapted
for sweeping floors and carpets or roads and paths without raising dust.
For this purpose we employ a cylindrical brush of hair, whalebone, or

page_text: other suitable material; in the centre of the length of the brush a space is
left without hair (or other material). Against the central portion of the
cylindrical body or axle of the brush which is thus left uncovered with hair
or material is pressed the periphery of a disc or wheel which when
the machine is being used runs behind the brush upon the ground or
surface which is being swept, and by so doing transmits a rotary motion
to the cylindrical brush, thus allowing the ends of the brush to be used
against walls or projections. The axes of the brush and of the disc or
wheel are both carried by a frame, which is so constructed as to act also
as a spring to press the periphery of the disc or wheel against the centre
of the axle or body of the brush. The disc or wheel is made of greater
diameter than the axle of the brush, so that the brush will be caused to
revolve with great rapidity. In some cases we employ more than one
driving wheel or disc with or without cogs. In the latter case we
employ round pins fixed in the body of the brush, and around the side of
the wheel near its circumference we also in some cases employ an
endless band of india-rubber or other material passing around the
peripheries of the disc or wheel and the body of the brush. In order
that the hairs or material of the brush may not enter between the disc
or wheel and the body of the brush where they are pressed against one
another a guard of bent wire carried by the framing is employed to prevent
the hairs or material of the brush being drawn in between the peripheries
of the wheel and body of the brush. In front of the brush is placed a
dlust pan, bag, or box, which is supported by axes carried by the frame
of the machine; 'this dust pan receives the dirt or dust taken up by the
brush, and when filled it can be emptied by lifting the machine and
allowing the pan to turn on the axes which carry it, so 'that the open
side of the pan or 'box which when the mechine is in action is towards
the brush may turn downwards, the dust or dirt in the box will then drop
out. The machine is moved along the ground by a handle or handles
fixed to the framing. In some cases we form the revolving brush of
.sweeping machines from short lengths of india-rubber inserted edgeways
into the cylindrical body of the brush, the several pieces of india-rubber
being by preference arranged around it spirally. In some cases we
dispense with the dust pan.

page_text: SPECIFICATION. in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Frederick Stidolph, John Stidolph, and
Thomas Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd October
1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE.
FREDERICK STIDOLPH, JOHN STIDOLPH, and THOMAS SIMPSON, of
Woodbridge, in the County of Suffolk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign,, did,. for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said George Frederick Stidolph, John Stidolph,
and Thomas. Simpson, Her special licence that we, the said George
Frederick Stidolph, John Stidolph, and Thomas Simpson,, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George
Frederick Stidolph,, John Stidolph, and Thomas Simpson, our executors,.
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agrec with, and no
others,. from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the
term. therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BRUSHING AND SWEEPING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said George Frederick Stidolph, John Stidolph,
and Thomas Simpson,, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the seal of
one of us or them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after. the date of the said Letters,
Patent..
:
NOW KNOW YE,. that we, the said George Frederick Stidolph, Jolin,
Stidolph, and Thomas Simpson, do hereby declare the nature of. the
said Invention, and in what manner, the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and. by the following state-
ment thereof, that is to say.
This Invention has for its object the constructing ar cheap portablė-
and effective brushing and, sweeping machine, more especially-adapted

page_text: for sweeping floors and carpets or roads and paths without raising dust.
For this purpose we employ a cylindrical brush of hair, whalebone, or
other suitable material; in the centre of the length of the brush a
space is left without hair (or other material). Against the central
portion of the cylindrical body of the brush which is thus left uncovered!
with hair or material is pressed the periphery of a disc or wheel which
when the machine is being used runs upon the ground or surface which
is being swept, and by so doing transmits a rotary motion to the
cylindrical brush. The axes of the brush and of the disc or wheel are
both carried by a frame with springs to press the periphery of the disc
or wheel against the centre of the body of the brush. The disc or
wheel is made of greater diameter than the body of the brush, so that
the brush will be caused to revolve with great rapidity. In some
cases we employ more than one driving wheel or disc with or without
cogs. We also in some cases employ an endless band of india-rubber
or other material passing around the peripheries of the disc or wheel
and the body of the brush. In order that the hairs or material of the
brush may not enter between the disc or wheel and the body of the
brush where they are pressed against one another a guard of bent wire
carried by the framing is employed. In front of the brush is placed
a dust pan, bag, or box; this dust pan receives the dirt or dust taken
up by the brush, and when filled it can be emptied. The machine is
moved along the ground by a handle or handles fixed to the frame. In
some cases we dispense with the dust pan.
And in order that our said Invention may be most fully understood
and readily carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings
hereunto annexed.

page_text: extend from the handle horizontally along the front of the brush, and
are then bent at right angles so as to overlap its ends, as is clearly
seen in Figure 3. At the end of each arr farthest from the handle is
a slot into which the axis of the brush is received. The axis also-
passes through an eye at one end of a rod C, and at the other end a,
screw thread is formed. This end is passed through the spring D and
secured by a nut. The spring keeps the body of the brush constantly:
pressing upon the driving wheel D', and by turning the nut the pressure.
of the body of the brush upon the driving wheel can be regulated.
The driving wheel may be made of iron, wood, or other material, and
it turns on a bolt or pin passing through the arms B, B. The driving
wheel acts upon the centre of the length of the brush, as is seen at
Figures 2 and 3. Sometimes around the stock of the brush where the
driving wheel impinges is attached a band of india-rubber or other,
material; in other cases we place the india-rubber or other material
around the driving wheel. On pressing the machine forward the driving
wheel is made to revolve, and its action is communicated to the brush
with multiplied velocity. The brush throws the dirt or other matter
to be swept up forward into the receiving box or pan G. A bent loop
of wire H-fixed to the handle prevents the hairs or other material of
the brush from being drawn in between the body of the brush and the
driving wheel and thus choking the machine. At the back of the brush
an apron I is sometimes placed to prevent dust or light substances
from being scattered by the revolution of the brush. The dust box or
pan is provided with running wheels J, by means of which the machine
:can be wheeled from place to place without using the driving wheel,
which then by slightly raising the handle is lifted just clear of the
ground. A sloping flanch K is attached to the box or pan up which
the matter to be swept is thrown by the brush. At the top of the
box is a lid L to allow the contents of the box to be emptied out. The
receiving box or pan Ġ is connected with the machine by the axes of the
brush entering slots in its sides, as is seen at Figure 1, and by pins M
on the sides of the box or pan entering notches in the arms B, and
being there held by turn buttons N, thus securely fastening the box
to the other portion of the machine while allowing it to be readily
removed if required; the machine can then be used without the box.
The driving wheel can be placed either behind or before the brush, by
preference we use it in front, as shown in the Drawings. By using
one wheel in the centre of the brush great advantages are gained, but

page_text: two or more wheels intermediate of the length of the brush may be
used.
In some cases we use two brushes of different materials on one
handle, as shown at Figure 4, the various parts of the machine are the
same as in the previous Figures, except the alteration of having the
double arms. In machines of large size the body of the brush is divided
into two or more lengths, each having its own driving wheel. In some
cases in place of driving the brush by the surface friction of the driving
wheel we groove the driving wheel and the body of the brush and pass
an elastic driving band around them. The driving band in this case
is crossed. Also in some cases we form cog teeth on the driving wheel
and on the body of the brush.
What we claim is the constructing, brushing, and sweeping machines
in such manner that the brush is driven by a driving wheel or wheels
acting on the body of the brush intermediate of the length of the
brush, either by direct contact or through an interposed band.
We also claim the constructing brushing and sweeping machines
substantially as herein described. .
In witness whereof; we, the said George Frederick Stidolph, John
Stidolph, and Thomas Simpson, have hereunto set our hands a
and seals, this Twenty-first day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
G. F. STEDOLPH. (L.S.)
G. F. STEDOLPH. (L.S.)
JOHN STIDOLPH. (L.S.)
THO. SIMPSON. (L.s.)