IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SWEEPING AND CLEANSING CHIMNEYS AND FLUES
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, OSMAN
GIDDY, of Hereford Lodge, Old Brompton, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twentieth day of April,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, in the tenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Osman Giddy, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial license, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Osman Giddy, my exors, admors,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Osman Giddy, my exors, admors,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town.
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
SWEEPING AND CLEANSING CHIMNEYS AND FLUES;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso that I, the said Osman Giddy, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to
be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar

page_text: that is to say:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows an arrangement in section of brushes and apparatus for
sweeping or cleansing chimneys or flues constructed according to the first part
of my Invention, and Figure 2 shews an external view of the upper part of the
apparatus. Figure 3 shows another arrangement of brushes and apparatus,
partly in section, for carrying out the first part of my Invention, which consists
in so mounting the brushes on springs that the separate brushes may be caused
to approach a central point, so as to contract the dimensions or diameter of the
brush apparatus by the sliding of the ends of the springs on which the parts
of the brush apparatus are mounted. a, a, are springs, on which four brushes
b, b, are mounted, one brush to each spring, so that the brush apparatus as
shown consists of four brushes; but this may be varied. The springs a are
each fixed at one end, the other end of each being free to slide up and down,
as is shown at c, c. By this arrangement the brushes can be brought into a
small diameter, and be so held till the brush apparatus has been passed up or
through a chimney or flue, and then caused to expand by freeing the apparatus,
when in drawing back the brush apparatus, the same will have assumed its
largest dimensions or diameter, the parts of the brush apparatus, however,
readily giving way in case of impediments or projections in the chimney or
flue; and to facilitate the movement or sliding of the ends of the springs I
apply rollers d, d, as shown. In Figure 8 the springs a, a, are allowed to
slide at each end, and there being a slot or opening formed at each end of the
springs a through which studs or projections a¹ pass. The springs have at all
times a tendency to be opened out to the largest diameter, and the short
chains e, e, are for the purpose of controlling the springs as to the distance
they shall expand. In moving through a chimney or flue, owing to the
freedom of the springs at each end, the apparatus will contract or expand,
and at all times act on all surfaces of the chimney or flue. I have

page_text: shown this apparatus with brushes applied without scrapers, but it will be
evident that scrapers may be mounted on the springs a, a, in place of all or.
any of the brushes.
The second part of my Invention has for its object a mode of employing
cords, straps, chains, or wires, with bolts, as a means of retaining the parts of a
brush apparatus contracted till the same has been passed up or through a
chimney or flue, and then to allow the brush apparatus to expand. This part
of my Invention is shown at Figure 1. And for this purpose I prefer to have
the rods of the brush apparatus below, as shewn, for the passage of the cord
or strap f. At the upper part there are branch ropes f³, which are each
attached to a sliding bolt g, and the heads of the brushes 6 have each a staple
h fixed thereto, into which the bolts enter and thus retain the springs a from
expanding the brush apparatus; but so soon as the brush apparatus has been
passed along a chimney or flue, and it is desired to draw the same back, then
by simply pulling down the cord the bolts will be removed and the brush
apparatus will expand.
The third part of my Invention consists of an arrangement or combination
of parts for allowing brush apparatus for cleaning and sweeping chimnies to
move freely in varied directions. This apparatus may be made in various
forms, but the principle of the arrangement will be substantially the same.
Figure 4 shews a vertical section, and Figure 5 a plan of one arrangement of
this part of the Invention full sized. i is a four-sided stem fixed to the upper
part of the rods by which the brush apparatus is carried. This stem passes
through the lower platej fixed to the brush apparatus, there being a square
hole slightly bushed or inclined through it. k are springs, which rest on the
upper part of the stem i, which is rounded at the top. The parts are put
together so as to compress the springs, as shewn, by means of which the brush
apparatus may be caused to incline on either side, and in the event of turning
the rods the brush apparatus will turn also, owing to the stem i having square,
or it may have other number than four sides, but it must not be cylin-
drical, otherwise the turning of the rods would not carry round the brush
apparatus.
Figure 6 shews a vertical section, and Figure 7 a plan of another arrange-
ment, slightly varying from that just described. In this arrangement the
spring passes over the top of the stem i and is fixed down by a screw nut
Figure 8 shews a vertical section where two springs are used, and Figure 9
shows a plan and side view of a spring such as is used in Figure 1. In all
which cases the portion of the stem i which passes through the plate j is to be
square, or of other angular figure, passing through a corresponding hole in

page_text: the plate, so that the brush apparatus may turn with Le rou used
therewith.
I will now describe the fourth part of my Invention, which relates to a
mode of mounting brushes for sweeping and cleansing chimneys and flues.
Figure 10 shews a plan, and Figure 11 a vertical section of an apparatus
constructed according to this part of my Invention. a, a, are the springs on
which the brushes are mounted, and these springs are so arranged as to allow
of their being shortened in their length. The inner ends of these springs
move on axes, and they have notched springs c, c, to keep them expanded to
their largest diameter, and yet, in the case of impediment, the brushes 6 will
be allowed to give way and assume either of the two positions shown by
the dotted lines. The springs a will in the first place offer the requisite
elasticity for the general purpose of sweeping or cleansing a chimney or flue,
but in case of considerable obstruction the pressure will come on the springs c,
and the brushes will be able to give away by the. ends of the springs a moving
out of the notches in the springs c, c. The forms of brushes may be varied as
shown at Figures 10 and 11 and Figure 11*.
I will now describe the fifth part of my Invention. Figure 12 shows an
external view, and Figure 13 a section of two parts of a rod used for chimney
sweeping apparatus. In carrying out this part of my Invention, these rods
may be tubes, or they may be of cane or other suitable material, with ferules
fixed on their ends. k, l, are the two parts of a rod, the end of one slides
into the end of the other. m, m, are springs with studs n, n, which pass
through holes formed in the parts k, l, of the two parts of the rod, as shown.
In Figures 1 and 14 this part of my Invention is shewn applied to sweeping
apparatus made according to other parts of my Invention.
I will now describe the sixth part of my Invention, which has for its object
the application of apparatus to chimney sweeping apparatus, consisting of
radial spring arms carrying brushes, so that the spring arms may be held
contracted till the brush apparatus has passed through a chimney pot or
contracted opening, and then, in returning, be allowed to expand. Figure 14
shows the section of apparatus for sweeping chimneys or flues, arranged
according to this part of my Invention. The apparatus consists of four springs
a, a, each carrying a brush b, the springs a having at all times a tendency
to expand the brush apparatus to the largest dimensions.
0,0, are chains to
retain the brushes from being forced out too far. To each brush there is a
jointed lever p, which can bend freely downwards by its joint at p'; those bring
a spring g to bring back the part of the lever. By this arrangement the
levers can pass through a chimney pot or contracted opening, and yet retain

page_text: the brush apparatus in a contracted state, but on returning back through
the chimney pot the ends of the levers will come in contact with the chimney
pot or contracted opening, and move out the studs r, r, and release the
springs a, a.
I will now describe the seventh part of my Invention. Figure 15 shows a.
longitudinal section of a flue, and Figure 16 a transverse section thereof,
together with apparatus for cleansing the same. This apparatus consists of
brooms 6 arranged on springs a, similar to those described in Figure 14, and
the means of retaining and releasing the brush and scraper apparatus by a
cord and bolts is similar to what is described in respect to Figure 1. s is a
metal split scraper shown separately at Figure 17. The red lines in Figure 16
show that there may be more scrapers than one on the same stem. This
apparatus is shewn suitable for horizontal flues, but split scrapers may be
applied to other arrangement of apparatus for like purposes, particularly to
any
of the apparatus above described; and apparatus may be made with all
split scrapers in place of using part brushes and part split scrapers, which
would be found useful in putting out fires in chimneys and flues.
I will now describe the eighth part of my Invention, which consists of a
mode of making the joints of the rods and parts of chimney-cleansing appa-
ratus flexible, by the use of what is called vulcanized india rubber, which is, as
is well known, india rubber rendered permanently elastic by the aid of sulphur.
Figure 18 shows the section of two parts of a rod combined according to this
part of my Invention. t, v, are the two parts of the rod, and w is the
connection of vulcanized india rubber, which will allow the rod to bend, yet by
its elasticity has at all times a tendency to draw the parts straight. The
manner of applying vulcanized india rubber may be varied, but I believo the
arrangement shown to be the best for the purpose.
I will now describe the ninth part of my Invention. This apparatus is
shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, 14, and 15. is a wheel at the upper part of the
brush apparatus; this wheel carries other wheels y. By the use of this arrange-
ment of friction wheel the cleaning apparatus will be greatly facilitated in its
movements; and it is the application of such a compound wheel to apparatus
for sweeping and cleansing chimneys which constitutes this part of my
Invention.
Having thus described my various improvements, I would remark that I
do not confine myself to the details shown and described, so long as the
peculiar character of either part of my Invention be retained. But what
I claim is,-
First, the so arranging of the springs on which brushes or scrapers of

page_text: apparatus for cleansing or sweeping chimneys and flues, that one or both
ends of each of such springs may be free to slice or move.
Secondly, I claim the mode herein described of employing cords, straps,
chains, or wires, as means of retaining a brush apparatus in a contracted state,
and allowing it to expand, as explained.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of arranging apparatus for obtaining freedom of
movement to the brush apparatus, by employing the stems i, as described, in
combination with a flat spring or springs, as described.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of applying springs a, a, and c, c, in apparatus
Figures 10 and 11 for cleansing or sweeping chimneys.
Fifthly, I claim the mode of connecting the parts of the rods used with
apparatus for sweeping chimneys and flues, as described in respect to
Figures 1, 12, 13, and 14.
Sixthly, I claim the application of lever apparatus for retaining and releasing
brush apparatus, as described in respect to Figure 14.
Seventhly, I claim the application of split metal scrapers when in combina-
tion with suitable apparatus for cleaning chimneys or flues.
Eighthly, I claim the rendering the parts of chimney-cleansing apparatus
flexible by employing vulcanized india rubber. And,
Ninthly, I claim the application of the friction wheel x, y, in combination
with apparatus for cleansing chimneys.
In witness whereof, I, the said Osman Giddy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.