IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL BRUSHES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for, Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL BRUSHES."-A communication
from abroad by Pierre Nos d'Argence, of Rue St. Sebastien, Paris,,
in the Empire of France..
Sealed the 4th November 1862, and dated the 18th June 1862. '
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th June 1862.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL BRUSHES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention of improvements in electrical brushes consists in a novel
combination with a brush made of wire of an electro-magnet, the poles of
which are connected with the projecting wires of the brush, so that when the
latter is passed through the hair, or over the surface of the body, a current of
electricity shall be conducted to the body, and act as a remedial agent.
In carrying out the Invention, the electro-magnet or galvanic apparatus,
together with the exciting liquid, and the regulator for modifying the intensity.
of the current of electricity, together with the vibrating armature and its

page_text: may
regulating screw for controlling the vibration, are contained within the back
of the brush, which is provided with a hinged cover to enclose the same. A
thumbscrew or milled head connected with the regulator projects from one
end or other convenient part of the brush, so that the strength of the current
be adjusted with facility by drawing out or pushing in the regulator
without the necessity of raising the cover to obtain access to the interior of
the brush. The space in the back of the brush is divided into two com-
partments, one of which contains the parts above mentioned, together with a
small glass tube or bottle for holding a certain quantity of the chemical
exciting substance, and a small spoon for measuring out the same. The
second compartment only contains the battery, which consists of a gutta
percha vessel provided with blocks of carbon and zinc plates, and a space to
contain the chemical substance, which in this instance is. the deuto-sulphate of
mercury. The battery and its accessories are covered up and enclosed by a
lid, which is secured in such a manner that no liquid can escape therefrom, so
that the brush may without inconvenience be held in any desired position.
The metallic wires of the brush are placed in metallic contact with a copper
plate, which is let into the back of the brush, and is connected to one of the.
poles of the electrical apparatus. The cover or handle of the brush is either
metallic, or provided with a metal conductor, so that the operator's hand forms
a part of the circuit.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th December 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others.
as I, the said William Edward Newton, my 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

page_text: might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL BRUSHES," being a communication
from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I; the said William
Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, 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 Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention of improvements in electrical brushes consists in a novel
combination with a brush made of wire of an electro-magnet, the poles of
which are connected with the projecting wires of the brush, so that when the
latter is passed through the hair, or over the surface of the body, a current of
electricity shall be conducted to the body, and allowed to act as a remedial
agent.
"
In carrying out the Invention, the electro-magnet or galvanic apparatus,
together with the exciting liquid and the regulator for modifying the intensity
of the current of electricity, together with the vibrating armature and its
regulating screw for controlling the vibration are contained within the back
of the brush, which is provided with a hinged cover to enclose the same. A
thumbscrew or milled head connected with the regulator projects from one end
or other convenient part of the brush, so that the strength of the current may
be adjusted with facility by drawing out or pushing in the regulator without
the necessity of raising the cover to obtain access to the interior of the brush.
The space in the back of the brush is divided into two compartments, one of
which contains the parts above-mentioned, together with a small glass tube or
bottle for holding a certain quantity of the chemical exciting substance, and a
small spoon for. measuring out the same. The second compartment only
contains the battery, which consists of a gutta percha vessel provided with
blocks of carbon and zinc plates, and a space to contain the chemical sub-
stance, which'in this instance is the deuto-sulphate of mercury. The 'battery
and its accessories are covered up and enclosed by a lid; which is secured in
such a manner that no liquid can escape therefrom, so that the brush may
without inconvenience be held in any desired position. The metallic wires of

page_text: the brush are placed in metallic contact with a copper plate, which is let into
the back of the brush, and is connected to one of the poles of the electrical
is
apparatus. The cover or handle of the brush is either metallic, or pro-
.vided with a metal conductor, so that the operator's hand forms a part of
the circuit.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of
the brush; Fig. 2 is a plan, or bird's-eye view of the same; Fig. 3 represents
the brush set in a box specially adapted for it, and its various accessories.
The box or frame ✗ of the electric brush, which may be of an oval or
other suitable shape, is divided into two compartments, one of which contains
the induction coil B, and also the regulator A, the vibrating armature t, and
its adjusting screws; the other compartment contains a vessel G of gutta
percha, or other analogous substance, at the bottom of which is placed the
piece of carbon o; upon this charcoal are placed one or more discs of felt d
(which are saturated with the exciting liquid as required), and above these
is placed the plate of zinc Z. The two points of contact K and K', Fig. 2,
which communicate with the platinum wires or conductors in connection' with
the zinc and charcoal distribute the electric. current to the induction coil B
Care must be taken that the platinum points be kept clean, in order that
there may be no interruption in the transmission of the current. The wires F
forming the brush are set in a sheet of caoutchouc, and are brought into
connection with the current by the interposition of a wire gauze f. The two.
orifices H, H, Fig. 2, serve for the insertion of the extremities of two cords, at
the other end of which may be adjusted manipulators M, or sponge, or other
rubbing surfaces may be adapted thereto. Fig. 4 represents a manipulator
with a handle N fitted. to it.
The method of putting this apparatus into operation is as follows:-The
vessel G is first taken out of the back of the brush, and its cover removed,
the zinc is then taken out, and the felt is saturated, a spoonful of salt of
mercury is then added, together with a sufficient quantity of water to allow
the lower surface of the zinc plate to dip into it, or be moistened thereby.
The vessel G is then replaced in the brush box X, care being taken that the
conducting wires shall be brought well into contact with the points K and K'.
The noise caused by the vibration of the armature will shew that the current
is passing. The force of the current may be regulated by drawing the
regulator A in or out as may be required by means of the thumb-piece
outside. The battery being thus set in action, the lid of the brush is closed,
and it is passed over the parts to be electrised, care being taken to take hold
of it in such a manner as to touch the two metal plates m, Fig. 3, at the

page_text: sides. When the brush is done with, the battery vessel G is taken out, and
the felt well drained, and the zinc plate is then insulated from the felt by
means of a disc of cautchouc, oil cloth, or other suitable insulating material.
Fig. 3 represents the brush and its accessories all enclosed in one box, which
may be made of wood, papier mâché, or other suitable material. The brush
has a rim round it at a of the same form as the body of the brush, and the
accessories, such as the manipulators M, the handle N, and the salt vessel I,
are placed in the corners, and are consequently out of the way. The whole
forms an article which is very portable, and the component parts of which are
not liable to be injured or lost.
I would here observe that these electric brushes may be made of any shape
or size desired, and may be either plain or ornamented, according to fancy.
They may also be constructed as regards the body or case of any suitable
material, such as ivory, bone, shell, hard rubber, gutta percha, and wood of
various kinds.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention of improvements in
electrical brushes, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and
having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be
understood that I do not confine myself to the forms or dimensions of the
several parts above described and shewn in the Drawing, as they may be
varied according to circumstances without departing from the nature and
object of the Invention; but that which I consider to be new and desire to
claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid is, the
mode herein set forth of constructing electrical brushes.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.B.)