Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning Lawn Tennis Balls.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning Lawn
Tennis Balls.
I, THOMAS WARDMAN, of 53 Ashgrove, Ilkley, in the County of York, Lawn
Tennis Groundsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a new and improved method of, and apparatus for cleaning
the exterior surfaces of lawn tennis balls which have become soiled through use, and
consists in using a mechanical apparatus in place of the present method of cleaning
the balls with hand brushes.
My improved apparatus consists of a circular brush, mounted by suitable bearings
in a cylindrical box, and which occupies almost the whole of the interior of the latter,
sufficient clearance being left for the brush to be revolved by means of a handle fixed
on its axis for that purpose. The interior of the cylindrical box I cover with cocoa
nut matting or other material, and I also divide the box into a number of circular
compartments by means of light partitions fixed to the inside of the box.
The balls are put into the box through a door at the top, while a door at the bottom
serves as an exit for the balls, as well as for the dust and dirt brushed off them. By
revolving the circular brush the balls are carried round with it, and by coming in
contact with the lining of the box they turn on their own axes, thereby getting a
thorough cleaning, the partitions keeping the balls in rows and preventing them
collecting together.
Dated this 7th day of March 1888.
RHODES & CRITCHLEY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning Lawn
Tennis Balls.
I, THOMAS WARDMAN, of 53 Ashgrove, Ilkley, in the County of York, Lawn
Tennis Groundsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to a new and improved method of, and apparatus for cleaning
the exterior surfaces of lawn tennis balls which have become soiled through use, and
consists in using a mechanical apparatus in place of the present method of cleaning
the balls with hand brushes.
In order to show more clearly my invention reference must be given to the
accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents the end view of my apparatus,
Fig. 2 a plan of the interior, a portion of the casing being, in section, Fig. 3 a section
on line ab in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a section on line c-d in Fig. 2.
I mount within a cylindrical or decagon box or casing A, the latter shape being
preferable, a circular brush B which can be revolved by a handle C, the brush B
being of such a size as to leave a space between it and the inside of the casing less
than the diameter of the tennis balls, thus no ball can be placed in the space around
the brush without the bending of the bristles of the brush B. The box or casing A
is supplied with doors D and D' at the top and bottom respectively, and is supported
by suitable legs, while the inside lining E consists of some soft material such as cocoa
nut matting. The space around the brush B 1 divide by means of a partition or
guide F into compartments G and G¹, the guide F being also covered with some soft
material similar to the inside of the casing. The width of the compartments G and G
should be greater than the diameter of the balls, the number of such compartments
depending upon the width of the brush B.
The balls are introduced into the compartments G and G' through the door D one
by one, the handle C being revolved so as to carry the balls away from the opening.
When the compartments are filled, or the number of balls which it is desired to
clean are in the same, the door D is fastened by means of a catch, and the brush
revolved until the balls are cleaned.
The
Owing to the space around the brush being less than the diameter of the balls, the
latter are pressed against the lining E thereby receiving a twofold motion, as besides
being carried around by the revolving brush they revolve on their own axes.
superiority of a decagon box or casing over a perfectly cylindrical one is owing to the
pressure upon the balls being reduced at every angle, which gives the balls ease, and
at every angle the balls change their positions, thus every part of the surface of each
hall is forced to be turned to the brush B, but with a perfectly cylindrical box or
casing I find the brush carries the balls around on one portion of their peripheries
only. By dividing the space around the brush B into compartments G and G¹ I am

page_text: enabled to clean more balls at one time, as by keeping them in rows I prevent them
collecting together, and by lining the box or casing A with cocoa nut matting or some
other similar material the balls are more thoroughly cleaned than if I depended upon
the brush alone.
When the balls are brushed clean they are let out of the box or casing through
the door D' at the bottom, which also acts as an outlet for dirt brushed off the balls.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
Cleaning lawn tennis balls by means of a circular brush revolving within a box or
casing, the interior of such box or casing being arranged substantially in the manner
as shown and described and for the purpose herein set forth.
RHODES & CRITCHLEY,
Agents.