AN IMPROVED ROTARY APPARATUS FOR DOMESTIC USE FOR CLEANING BOOTS, KNIVES AND PLATE, WASHING BOTTLES AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, HENRY CHURCHMAN, of Horsham, in the County of Sussex, Provision
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED
ROTARY APPARATUS FOR DOMESTIC USE FOR CLEANING BOOTS, KNIVES AND PLATE,
WASHING BOTTLES AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The object of my said invention is to provide a machine for the purpose of
saving labour attending many domestic operations such as boot, knife and plate
cleaning, bottle washing and many other operations to which a rotary motion may
be applied.
My invention consists in an arrangement hereinafter described for producing
a rotary motion together with fittings and attachments for performing the various
operations indicated.
The apparatus consists of a light frame preferably of iron, supporting a horizontal
crank shaft connected with treadles below and such shaft carries a wheel which
acts as a fly wheel and is furnished on its circumference and on one side near its
circumference with friction surfaces for driving the small wheels next described.
One of the small wheels driven by that just mentioned and which gears with it by
means of friction gearing, is mounted on a vertical axle which is fitted at its upper
end with a screw or other contrivance for carrying the attachments.
The other small wheel which I mount on a horizontal axle is also driven by
means of friction, and to the end or ends of its horizontal axle I attach brushes
and attachments for washing bottles and for various other purposes.
The upper part of the frame supports a tray or screen for catching the dust
produced in some of the operations. I provide a series of attachments in the form
of circular brushes of various shapes and kinds and other surfaces for performing
the various operations.
The attachments and fittings before referred to consist of the following that
is to say:
For cleaning boots. A brush to revolve on a vertical axis, of approximately
cylindrical shape but bulbed so as to produce a surface in a series of curves to
enable the different parts of the boot to be reached.
For cleaning knives the attachment consists of a pair of discs, the surfaces
facing inwards being composed of bristles or composition or a combination of
bristles and composition. :

page_text: For cleaning plate I provide a vertical cylindrical or conical brush, with or
without a changeable top, one such top consisting of a small round-headed brush,
and the other a Chamois leather pad, to be used alternately as required.
For washing bottles I employ an attachment to fit the horizontal shaft, such
attachment consisting of a circular or cylindrical brush of long flexible hairs or
bristles arranged and suitable for reaching all parts of the insides of bottles.
I also provide, when required, on the crank shaft already referred to, in addition
to the cranks, (or instead of them) a pulley to receive a driving belt from an engine
or other source of power.
My said labour saving machine combines the qualities of simplicity, cheapess,
strength, and of being easily worked by unskilled labour, which are essential in a
machine intended for general domestic use.
I, HENRY CHURCHMAN, of Horsham, in the County of Sussex, Provision
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED
ROTARY APPARATUS FOR DOMESTIC USE FOR CLEANING BOOTS, KNIVES AND PLATE,
WASHING BOTTLES, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES" and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement reference being had to the accompanying sheets of drawings
forming part of this my specification and to the letters and figures marked
thereon:-
The object of my invention is to provide a machine for the purpose of lessening
labour attending some domestic operations such as boot, knife and plate cleaning,
bottle washing, and other operations to which.a. rotary motion may be applied.
My invention known as "The Domestic Help" consists of an arrangement
hereinafter described for producing a rotary motion together with fittings and
attachment for performing the various operations indicated.
Fig 1. in the accompanying drawings is a side elevation of the case containing
the machine. Fig: 2. is an end elevation taken with the doors open to show the
working parts Fig: 3 is a vertical section through the line X, X, Fig: 24.
showing the principal moving parts in elevation, Figi 4, represents the brush

page_text: used for cleaning boots and shoes, Fig: 5, is a plan and Fig: 6, an elevation of
the attachment for cleaning knives. Fig: 7, is the attachment for cleaning spoons, s
forks and other plate. Fig: 8, represents the arrangement for washing bottles and
Fig: 9, is a stool which fits into the case and which the user draws out when
about to commence work. Figs. 4, 5 6 7 and 8 are drawn to double the scale of the -
other figs.
The apparatus consists of a frame A preferably of iron, supporting a horizontal
crank shaft B, connected with treadles C, C, and such crank shaft carries a wheel D,
which acts both as a fly-wheel and driving wheel, its circumference d, and one side
near its circumference d, being turned true and finished to act as friction surfaces
for driving the small wheels E. and F, E is a wooden roller in close contact with
the smooth surface d' of side of the wheel D, so as to be driven by it, and is keyed
on a vertical spindle e the lower end of which works in a socket in the bracket a,
and the upper part of which works in a bearing in the frame A, above which it
projects as a head or arbor e¹ on which the brushes or other appliances to which a
rotary motion is to be given are fitted, screwed or keyed, according as it is made
square or cylindrical, with a screw-thread, or with a slot for a key, or otherwise.
The contact between the roller E, and the wheel D., is regulated by means of the
two screws 8. 8. by which the wheel D. may be made to press or be removed from
the roller E G is the brush used for cleaning boots and shoes, the upper conical
portion of it g is for blacking, the lower rim or edge gl is made of hard bristles for
brushing off dirt and the central portion g" is for shining.
For cleaning knives I use an attachment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which H
represents a cylindrical brush on a vertical spindle. the lower end of which is made
to fit the head or arbor e¹² and which is contained in a light frame or case which is
shown partly in section with an arrangement at top for holding six knives and
turning them over so that both sides may be cleaned, Of this arrangement c is a
cogged wheel actuated and controlled by the user by means of the handle c³,
I, I, I, are small wheels gearing with the wheel c and each carrying a frame h for.
holding a knife while it is being cleaned. The handle c' is held firmly while the
knives are being cleaned so as to press them against the surface of the brush h, and
when one side is finished the wheel c is by means of the handle c' rotated about
one quarter of a revolution on its axis, by which means the pinions I, I, I, and
with them the knife holders and knives are turned half way round so as to bring
the other side of the knives on to the brush, which should then be rotated in the
opposite direction to that given when cleaning the opposite side of the knives.
I prefer to use with this apparatus, the substance known in commerce as "Kent's
Knife Powder;" or Bath Brick may be used and answers the purpose well.
Fig 7. represents the attachment for cleaning plate.
It consists of a conical brush J, and fits on to the head or arbor e¹ and it is
intended to be used with any suitable plate powder, I find whiting answers well
for this purpose.
For cleaning bottles I employ the device shown in Fig: 8. in which a horizontal
roller F is brought into friction contact with the circumferencial surface of the
wheel D. The roller E being thrown out of contact by means of the screws 8 8; or
a pulley of smaller diameter than the roller F, shown in the drawings, may be
substituted for it, and driven with a belt from the wheel D. The roller F is keyed
onto a horizontal spindle K, the ends of which are provided with screws or clamps
for holding the brush M used for cleaning bottles, or any other attachment which
may be required. The spindle K if worked with a belt and pulley may be placed
in open or Y bearings instead of the closed ones shewn in the drawings.
The outer cases provided at one end with doors shewn at L in Fig 1 and
brackets i, i, upon which the parts j, j, of the top of the case open and rest to form
tables for the use of the operator. It has also a lid at the end opposite to that at
which the operator sits affording access to that part of the interior, where there is
room to stow the attachments when the machine is not in use.

page_text: Fig: 9. represents a stool which fits into the case and which the user draws out
when about to commence work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1 Constructing rotary machines for giving rotary motion to attachments for
various purposes such as cleaning boots, knives and plate, washing bottles, and
other similar purposes, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein before described
and set forth and shewn in the drawings.
2 Constructing brushes to be used with such or similar machines for cleaning
boots and shoes substantially as described and set forth, and shewn in the
drawings.
3 Constructing attachments to be used with such or similar machines, for
cleaning knives on a cylindrical brush substantially as and for the purpose
described, set forth, and shown in the drawings.
4 Constructing brushes to be used with such, or similar machines for cleaning
plate substantially as and for the purpose described and shown in the drawings.
5 Constructing for such machines, the attachment shown in Fig 8 for producing
rotation of a horizontal spindle intended to carry a brush or brushes for washing
bottles and similar purposes substantially as described, set forth, and shown in the
drawings.