IMPROVEMENTS. IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DUST OR DIRT FROM CARPETS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Somerville Norris, of Baltimore, United States of
America, at present, of 123, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS. IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR REMOVING
DUST OR DIRT FROM CARPETS."
Sealed the 18th May 1877, and dated the 22nd November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Somerville Norris at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1876.
GEORGE SOMERVILLE NORRIS, of Baltimore, United States of America, at present
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
of 123, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DUST OR DIRT FROM CARPETS."
This Invention relates to a dust removing machine for carpeted apartments or
surfaces, so constructed that the surface shall not be subject to a rubbing or
frictional action but be lightly but smartly beaten to raise the dust at the same time
that a strong current of air shall be produced, so as to take up and deposit the light
dust and heavier particles of the sweepings in a suitable bag or dust receptacle
attached to the sweeper.
The apparatus consists of a box or case in which is mounted a shaft capable of
rotating and carrying the beaters and fan floats; said box or case being constructed
of a light framework having cross bars or supports at the end, which in addition to
strengthening the framing serve as bearings for the fan shaft and the handle of the
machine. This framework is made with arched bows and is covered with paste-
board, millboard, papier maché, artificially made board, or other kindred light,
strong, and cheap material, that is also a non-conductor of sound and is made open
at the bottom to the floor and with a mouth or opening at the rear part over which
is placed the dust bag.
The side of the case is provided with an opening over which is a hood or cover
extending outwards and near to the ground, so as to allow of the machine being
operated close to the skirting board of rooms or walls where dust may be secreted,
the action of the fan within the case producing the necessary current for drawing
the "sweepings" in a vertical direction through the side opening to the interior of
the case.
The case is mounted upon continuous rollers arranged along the front and rear
edges of the machine, so as to preserve an unbroken contact with the floor for its

page_text: entire length; and two hinged or pivoted flaps or drop pans are arranged in the
case, one in the front and the other in the rear of the revolving beaters, and fans
in such manner as to rest with their lower edges upon the floor a short distance
within the case from the respective rollers, so that should either one of the rollers
be raised from the floor for a moment in passing over any small article the case will
be kept closed by these hinged drop pans coming in contact with the floor, pre-
venting the escape of air or dust, and ensuring that the action of the apparatus is
not interrupted.
On the ends of the case and on the inside thereof are attached pieces of india-
rubber or other elastic or pliable tube or cord, secured and fixed so as to press
gently but positively over the ends of the drop pans and give to said drop pans a
gentle elastic pressure upon the carpet, that will admit of their proper play and at
the same time will hug the carpet and close the ends of the machine to prevent the
escape of air and dust at that part.
The radial arms which support the beaters and fan floats, and attach them to their
shaft, are of leather or other elastic material, which will yield and prevent breakage
when the fans or beaters are brought into contact with heavy or solid articles; the
fan floats being for like purpose made of strips of cardboard, millboard, or papier
maché, and the beaters are made from pieces or strips of leather, the outer edges
thereof being cut as a fringe, thus forming a series of whip-like ends for beating
up the dust which is drawn away by the current of air into the dust receptacle.
The radial arms have transverse cuts about half across their breadth at the
midway part, and these cuts fit together in a cross form thus (+) when passed
through their holding slots in the revolving shaft and are pinned in said slots by
key pieces or plugs.
The handle is formed with a fork arm or spanner at its lower end and is jointed
to the fan shaft, so as to be radiated thereon or raised and lowered at the handle
end, on which handle end a grooved pulley or hand. wheel is bolted and a band
from said pulley is carried over a small pulley on the outer end of the fan shaft by
means of which the said shaft and the fans and beaters are rotated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said George Somerville Norris in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
May 1877.
"
GEORGE SOMERVILLE NORRIS, of Baltimore, United States of America, at present
of 123, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DUST OR DIRT FROM CARPETS."
This Invention relates to a machine for sweeping carpeted and other apartments
so constructed that the light dust, which by the usual mode of sweeping with a
broom or brush rises into the air and eventually settles again on the floor or on the
furniture, may be taken up and deposited in a suitable dust receptacle attached to
the sweeper together with the heavier particles of the sweepings.
Fig. 1 of the Drawings represents a perspective view of the improved sweeper.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section; and Fig. 3 is a section shewing the construction
of the radial arms which support the fans and beaters.
The apparatus consists of a box or case A, in which is mounted a shaft B capable
of rotating and carrying the beaters C and fan floats D, said box or case A being
constructed of a light framework having cross bars or supports E at the end, which
in addition to strengthening the framing serve as bearings for the beater and fan
shaft B and the handle E¹ of the machine. This framework is made with arched
bows or end framing A¹, and is covered with pasteboard, millboard, papier maché,
artificially made board, or other kindred light, strong, and cheap material, that is
also a non-conductor of sound, and is made open at the bottom to the floor and
with a mouth or opening at the rear part over which is placed the dust bag F,

page_text: which is made of such fibrous material that while it retains the finest particles of
dust it freely emits the volume of air through the pores, the mouth of which said
dust bag being made with an elastic cording or edge to facilitate attachment.
The side of the case is provided with an opening over which is a hood or cover G
extending outwards and near to the ground, so as to allow of the machine being
operated close to the skirting board of rooms or walls where dust may be secreted,
the action of the fan within the case producing the necessary current for drawing
the "sweepings" in a vertical direction through the side opening to the interior of
the case.
The case is mounted upon continuous rollers H, H¹, arranged along the front and
rear edges of the machine, so as to preserve an unbroken contact with the floor for
its entire length, and two hinged or pivoted flaps or "drop pans" I, I', are arranged
in the case, one in the front and the other in the rear of the revolving beaters and
fans in such manner as to rest with their lower edges upon the floor a short distance
within the case from the respective rollers, so that should either one of the rollers
be raised from the floor for a moment in passing over any small article the case will
be kept closed by these hinged drop pans remaining in contact with the floor, so
preventing the escape of air or dust and ensuring that the action of the apparatus
is not interrupted.
On the ends of the case and on the inside thereof are attached pieces of india-
rubber or other elastic or pliable tube or cord K, secured and fixed so as to press
gently but positively over the ends of the drop pans, and give to said drop pans a
gentle elastic pressure upon the carpet that will admit of their proper play, and at
the same time will hug the carpet and close the ends of the machine to prevent the
escape of air and dust at that point.
The radial arms L which support the beaters and fan floats and attach them to
their shaft are of leather or other elastic material, which will yield and prevent
breakage when the fans or beaters are brought into contact with heavy or solid
articles, the fan floats being for like purpose made of strips of cardboard, millboard,
or papier maché, and the beaters are made from pieces or strips of leather, the
outer edges thereof being cut as a fringe (as clearly shewn in Fig. 3) thus forming
a series of whip-like ends for beating up the dust, which is then drawn away by
the current of air and driven into the dust receptacle.
The radial arms have transverse cuts about half across their breadth at the
midway part, and these cuts fit together in a cross form thus (+) when passed
through their holding slots in the revolving shaft and are pinned in said slots by
key pieces or plugs M, and it will be understood that the said holding slots will be
longer than the width of the said radial arms to allow of their proper adjustment
and for reception of plugs M.
The handle E is formed with a fork arm or spanner Es at its lower end, and is
jointed to the fan shaft so as to be capable of being radiated thereon or raised and
lowered at the handle end, on which handle end a grooved pulley or hand wheol N
is bolted and a band O from said pulley is carried over a small pulley P on the
outer end of the fan shaft, by means of which the said shaft and the fans and beaters
are rotated.
The beaters O and fan floats D are both made adjustable on their radial arms L,
so that they may be set nearer to or farther apart from the shaft B, as occasion
may require.
The beaters C (one or more being employed, as desired) may be made from any
flexible material other than leather, such as will not have a tendency to scratch
and scrape the surface of the carpet and wear away the nap, but leather is
preferred.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, I claim,―
First. In a dust removing machine, constructed substantially as described, in
combination with the shaft or axle the leather or other elastic arms L, for sup-
porting the beaters C and fan floats D mortised and secured in the axle B and
locked to each other, substantially as shown and described.

page_text: Second. The beater or beaters C formed of leather or other flexible material,
constructed and applied substantially as described and shewn.
Third. In combination with the flaps or drop pans I, I', the elastic picce K
applied substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. In combination with the case A the hood or cover G extending outward
from the side thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifthly. A bag of fibrous material for collecting and retaining the finer particles
of dust and heavier particles of the sweepings whilst freely emiting the volume of
air, in combination with the machinery or apparatus for removing dust or dirt, as
shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Somerville Norris, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of April,. in the year of our
Lord, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
G. S. NUKKIS. (L.S.)