AN IMPROVED FLOOR SCRUBBER AND SWEEPER FOR CARPETS,UL
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Burrow, of Ashford Parsonage, Bakewell,
in the County of Derby, Clerk in Holy Orders, and William Newton
Wilson, of 144, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED FLOOR SCRUBBER AND SWEEPER FOR CARPETS,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Burrow and
William Newton Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 3rd June 1859.
We, JAMES BURROW, of Ashford Parsonage, Bakewell, in the County of
Derby, Clerk in Holy Orders, and WILLIAM NEWTON WILSON, of 144, High
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
said. Invention for "AN IMPROVED FLOOR SCRUBBER AND SWEEPER FOR CARPETS,
FLOORS, LAWNS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in applying to the front of a suitably-con-
structed dust or other receptacle a rotary sweeping brush of a. helical form,
which shall be self-cleaning, and have multiplied power; secondly, in applying
to a suitably-constructed water trough a rotary scrubbing brush that shall be
self-supplying, and have a drying roller; and, thirdly, in combining the two
(before mentioned) in such a manner that they shall act simultaneously and as
one instrument.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Burrow and William Newton Wilson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 3rd December 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
BURROW, of Ashford Parsonage, Bakewell, in the County of Derby, Clerk in
Holy Orders, and WILLIAM NEWTON WILSON, of 144, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
James Burrow and William Newton Wilson, Her special licence that we, the
said Jamies Burrow and William Newton Wilson, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Burrow and William
Newton Wilson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree 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 "AN IMPROVED
FLOOR SCRUBBER AND SWEEPER FOR CARPETS, FLOORS, LAWNS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE
USEFUL PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James
Burrow and William Newton Wilson, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and
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 I, the said William Newton Wilson, on behalf of
myself and the said James Burrow, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
that is to say:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in applying to the front of a suitably con-
structed dust or other receptacle a rotary sweeping brush of a helical form,
which shall be self-cleaning, and have multiplied power; secondly, in applying
to a suitably constructed water trough a rotary scrubbing brush that shall be
self-supplying, and have a drying roller; and, thirdly, in combining the two

page_text: as one instrument.
In order to explain our said Invention as completely as possible, we now
proceed to describe the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of refer-
ence marked thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end view of our improved sweeper with one end detached
shewing the interior; Figure 2, end view of exterior; Figure 3, end view of
floor scrubber; Figure 4, end view of another sweeper, with end detached ;
and Figure 5, lowering plate. Similar letters of reference denote corresponding
parts where such parts appear at each of the Figures respectively.
In constructing sweepers upon our improved principle, we take a sheet of
iron, tin, or other metallic plate of the required dimensions, and bend it into
any suitable form, the elliptical a, a, Figure 1, being preferable, and having
a longitudinal opening towards the front of a such a width as to. admit of a
rotary brush. On the under edge is fixed a piece of metal c, about two inches
broad, and at an angle of about 45°; this forms the receptacle for the dust,
&c. In the centre of the outer or front edge is placed a small wheel d, in
such a manner as to raise the edge a little from the floor, and as this wheel
projects slightly in front, it is covered with a band of caoutchouc or other soft
material to prevent its injuring the skirting board or furniture.
In a covered
recess under the sweeper, and towards the right hand, is fixed another small
wheel d', and on the end of the left-hand side (or that side shown in the
Drawing) is fixed another wheel of about four inches in diameter o, Figure 1
and 2, grooved to such a depth as to admit of a band of leather, caoutchouc,
or other similar substance, which, when stretched over another small grooved
pulley fixed upon the projecting pole of the axis e of the brush, causes the
brush to rotate when the sweeper is propelled. The wheels are made of wood
or metal, and placed at such an elevation as to allow the under edge of the
sweeper or brush just to graze the ground. In the end at the right hand is
made a hole of sufficient size to remove the dust, &c., and covered with a
sliding piece. In the ends of the sweeper are inserted the two extremities of
the axis of the brush, one end being made with holes one under another as at
Figure 1, the other end being slotted and hooked as at Figures 2 and 3. By
this means the brush can be placed from time to time nearer the ground as it.
becomes worn, in nearly a vertical position; over the brush is fixed projecting.

page_text: teeth, which clean the brush at every revolution. When making the brush,
we take a rod of metal, and fasten upon it bristles, whalebone, or other such
like material in the manner well known in making bottle brushes.
When the sweepers are required to be made larger for lawns, walks, or
spacious places, a grooved wheel and pulley, before described, are placed at
each end, or in lieu thereof three or more toothed multiplying wheels, the
centre one of which is placed at a slight elevation from the others to give
the required speed and purchase to the sweeper or brush.
Our improved scrubber, Figure 3, is made in the same way as the sweeper
before described, but with the following additions:-The brush is made stiffer
and heavier by using a thicker metallic rod, and instead of bristles or whale-
bone, cane or what is termed "bass" may be used, the receptacle for the
waste water being where the dust receiver is in the sweeper, and is divided
longitudinally into two compartments; and in the case of large scrubbers, a
receptacle is made so divided both in front and behind the brush. On the top
of the scrubber, and inclining towards the front, is fixed a water vessel, the
base at the front of which is perforated with a few small holes through which
the water runs, and falls immediately in front of a roller f, which rotates in.
front of the scrubber, and which being covered with flannel or woollen cloth,
spreads the water in the line of the scrubbing brush. In the bottom of the
water vessel is made an aperture, through which the water flows to the holes
in its front base, and through which (by means of a plug) the supply of water
is regulated. When rapidity of drying is required, a metallic cylinder g, con-
taining a heater, is fixed to the back of the scrubber, the same being covered
with any absorbent material. We sometimes intend to make the scrubber
and sweeper into one instrument by connecting them together with metallic
bands or straps; these are to be propelled, either singly or together, by means
of a handle running on a short transverse rod fixed in the centre line.
At Figure 4 will be seen another arrangement of moving the brush, either
for a sweeper or scrubber, by means of an endless band around grooved wheels,
the lower part of the band being on the ground. Figure 5 shews a lowering
plate, so that on loosening the top and bottom screws, the plate with its centre
axis carrying the brush can be lowered to the ground as it becomes worn.
The handle shewn at Figure 4 in part section springs on to a stud pin at each
end of the sweeper, and is to be lengthened by applying a wooden handle to the
screw shewn.
Having now fully described the nature and object of our said Invention of
"An Improved Floor Scrubber and Sweeper for Carpets, Floors, Lawns, and
other such like Useful Purposes," together with the manner in which the

page_text: same is to be performed, we would remark, in conclusion, that we do not
confine or restrict ourselves to the precise shape of the outer casing of either
the sweeper or scrubber, as various shapes may be used, nor the form of the
brushes, as many of well-known construction would give the same results; but
what we claim as our Invention is, making sweepers and scrubbers in the
manner and for the purposes herein fully described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Newton Wilson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
W. N. WILSON. (L.S.)