IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANING CARPETS AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Fisken, of 17, Wharf Road, City Road; in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANING
CARPETS AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS."
Scaled the 24th December 1878, and dated the 5th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Fisken at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th July 1878.
JAMES FISKEN, of 17, Wharf Road, City Road, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANING CARPETS AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS."
This Invention relates to a means of cleaning textile fabrics, but more especially
carpets, after the loose dust has been removed from them by beating or otherwise.
The ordinary process consists in scrubbing the materials by hand brushes, a suitable
cleansing liquid being used.
This mode of proceeding has many disadvantages,-
1st. A great amount of time is wasted.
2nd. It is very costly.
3rd. It is unequal in its operation.
This Invention consists in employing one or more revolving cylindrical brushes,
which is or are mounted in adjustable bearings, and may be driven by hand, or
steam, or other power. The cleansing liquid is contained in a reservoir, and is
allowed to drop through small holes in a pipe placed over the material to be
cleaned. This material is drawn through cylinders placed in front of the revolving
brush or brushes so as to put a tension upon it. It then passes slowly between the
brush or brushes, which is or are driven at a great speed, and a board which is fixed
beneath the brush or brushes, and it is thereby thoroughly cleaned, and the colours
are revived.
Behind the brush or brushes is placed a roller, to which cords are attached for
drawing the carpet or other material slowly forward. After it has passed this
roller it passes through wringing cylinders, whereby the cleansing liquid is
pressed out.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Fisken in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd January
1879.
JAMES FISKEN, of 17, Wharf Road, City Road, N., in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANING CARPETS AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS."
This Invention relates to a means of cleaning textile fabrics, but more especially
carpets, after the loose dust has been removed from them by beating or otherwise.
The ordinary process consists in scrubbing the materials by hand brushes, a suitable
cleansing liquid being used.
This mode of proceeding has many disadvantages :-
1st. A great amount of time is wasted.
2nd. It is very costly.
3rd. It is unequal in its operations.
=
This Invention consists in employing one or more revolving cylindrical brushes,
which is or are mounted in adjustable bearings, and may be driven by hand, or by
steam, or other power. The cleansing liquid is contained in a reservoir, and is
allowed to drop on to the face of the material to be cleaned through small holes
in a pipe placed over it. This material is drawn through cylinders placed in front
of the revolving brush or brushes so as to put a tension upon it. It then passes
slowly between the brush or brushes, which is or are driven at a great speed, and a
board which is fixed beneath the brush or brushes, and it is thereby thoroughly
cleaned and the colours are revived without causing shrinking or taking out the
stiffness of the carpet or other material.
Behind the brush or brushes is placed a cylindrical roller, to which cords are
attached for drawing the carpet or other material slowly, forward. After it has
passed this roller it passes through wringing cylinders, whereby the cleansing liquid
is pressed out.
But in order that my Invention may be more clearly understood I will proceed to
describe the saine by aid of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1
is an end view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a transverse section;
Fig. 4, a plan.
and
A represents the carpet or other material to be cleaned, and which travels slowly.
in the direction shown by the arrows; B, B¹, are a pair of rollers through which the
material is drawn, and which put a tension upon it. The rollers run in bearings
fixed to the framework C. The cleansing liquid is contained in the reservoir or
trough D, which is divided into compartments, so that one or more may be filled as
required, according to the width of the material. The liquid falls upon the face of
the material through holes in the bottom of the reservoir or trough. A flexible or
other pipe having holes in it may be used instead of the reservoir or trough. E is
the revolving brush, which is mounted in bearings on the framework, and which is
driven at a high speed. A metallic or other cover F is placed over the brush, so to
to prevent splashing. G is the board over which the material passes whilst being
cleaned by the brush. This board rests upon india-rubber H, so as to adapt itself
to the various thicknesses of the material; I, I', are wringing cylinders, which
are covered with india-rubber and mounted in bearings on the framework.
These cylinders are driven at the same speed as the rollers B, B². After the
material has passed through the wringing cylinders it is delivered on to the table or
platform J.
The material may be drawn from the brush by means of cords attached to a
roller, but it is not absolutely necessary, as it may be fed directly between the
wringing cylinders as shown.
•
Having now described the nature of any Invention, and the manner in which the
same may be carried out, I would have it understood that what I consider to be.
new and original, and therefore claim as my Invention to be protected is, the

page_text: employment of one or more revolving brushes for the purpose of cleaning carpets
or other textile fabrics by a liquid process, as herein described, and shown in the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Fisken, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
41, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn, W.C.
JAMES FISKEN. (L.S.)