Improvements in Brushes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1899
1000
1000
Improvements in Brushes.
I, FRANK GUNN FARNHAM, residing at Park Street, Honesdale, in the County
of Wayne, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows; -
This invention relates to brushes, and to that class commonly known as wheel
brushes designed for use in polishing metal, glass and other substances, and the
ebject of the invention, is to provide a brush of this class which is simple in
construction and strong and durable in operation.
Brushes of this class as heretofore made have generally consisted of a solid
wooden centre called the stock or hub, the rim of which was bored full of small
holes into which the fibre of the brush was drawn by hand by means of a wire,
With the larger size of these brushes, the fibre when worn out was removed from
the hub, and the latter refilled, the hubs or stocks being too costly to throw away.
This is an expensive process, and I have aimed to make a brush more efficient
than those heretofore used, and one cheaper to manufacture and accurately
balanced from the inside, former brushes used for a similar purpose being balanced
by screwing a weight on the outer rim of the stock or hub which is a source of
great danger in the operation of the brush.
In the practice of my invention, I employ a central hub having a loose bushing
to adapt the brush to different sizes of spindles, and around this hub I place a
core made from three ply veneer parts secured together. I do not limit myself
in this connection as each core may be in one piece, but I find that the veneer
sections are stronger and less liable to warp. To this core, I nail or otherwise
secure a disc made preferably from knife-cut veneers to prevent cleavage, and
the rims of these veneers are mailed or otherwise secured together.
The outer portions of the said disc overlap and support the inner ends of the
fibre of the brush, and the said ends of the fibre of the brush are laid in in tiers
or layers, said ends of the fibres being first dipped in suitable liquid cement, pitch,
glue or similar adhesible material to a depth equal to the distance between the
rim of the core and the rim of said disc, and abut against the core.
Between each layer of the fibre of the brush, I place a ring of cloth or other
suitable material, and these cloth rings have a central hole equal in diameter
to the diameter of the core, and the total diameter equal to the diameter of said
disc.
In making a brush, I first fasten one end of the hub to one end of the
dises to which the core has been fastened. I then place on the said disc a layer
of the brush fibre previously dipped in some adhesive material, one on this, I
place one of the cloth layers or rings, and then another layer of the brush material
or fibre, and so on until the brush is built up to the desired thickness. I then
put on the duplicate top plates or dises, and put the brush thus constructed under
pressure until properly seasoned. If a portion of the hub extends above or beyond
the upper disc or plate, I cut this down flush with said dise or plate. This con-
strution will leave a cavity between the butts of the central rows or layers of
fibre and the hub which I fill in with hot lead to secure an accurate balance to

page_text: hold in said hub, or by having the hub only temporarily fastened to the lower
disc and core so that when the brush is seasoned, the hub may be driven back and
the cavity exposed, the lead may be poured into the said cavity direct and the
balance thus secured.
It will be understood that I do not confine myself to the use of cloth alone in
the Construction of the brush as above described, as I may employ strong manila
paper or similar material, but I have found on the whole that cloth is the cheapest
and best material for this purpose, and also the most strong, durable and efficient
for use in a brush of this class. Neither do I confine myself to hot lead for
balancing the brush as described, since other metals may be used or other
material may be substituted for metal. The hub is permanently fastened to the
core and discs by gluing and nailing through said dises and core into the hub.
I also sometimes employ a modification of the foregoing construction which is
practically the same as that described, but I find that as I reduce the diameter of
the brush, I at last reach a point where I cannot use a core inside of the brush,
and also desire to make a narrow brush. In this case, the cores will strike one
another and prevent telescoping of the two plates along the hub, as the brush
gradually shrinks. To over come this I use a flanged metal ferrule which is an
equivalent outside for the core inside. I also nail or otherwise socure this
ferrule to the outside disc, and allow the hub to project through said disc, and
I then secure said ferrule to said hub. The layers of fibre or brush material with
cloth bevelers are then made, and the brush built up similar to that heretofore
described, excepting where a brush with a very wide face is made, in which case
I strengthen the centres by using an anchor which is made preferably of a piece
of canvas to which a circular disc. of sheet tin has been fastened by means of
tacks or otherwise. There is too much weakness and liability to stretch in the
canvas and cloth where used alone, while thin wood will warp and split and paper
has proved too weak.
The tin has a hole the size of the hub formed therein with an outer diameter
equal to the distance between the butts of the fibre and the hub. I have also
found it necessary to employ this thin disc to prevent the hot lead from burning
away the cloth or canvas, and thus causing the parts to become loose.
I sometimes employ another modification adapted for so called thrown or beveled
brushes. The discs in this form, I prefer to form from vulcanized fibre to which
a pitch has been given by subjecting it to pressure. I clinch, nail or rivet the
flanged ferrule herein before referred to the disc as in the other forms, and the
fibre is placed in layers as in the former cases, but the separate rings or plates
either of cloth of paper extend back to the hub, each one acting as an anchor.
The two outer rows converge, leaving a central row of straight fibre, thus forming
a cavity which I level up by using paper or cloth alone.
The hub in the small sized brushes has no bushing, and as they are generally
employed in jewelers and dentists work on a spindle. I form a tap or hole in
one or both ends thereof.
In the manufacture of the last above referred to form of brushes, the said discs
may be made previously to the formation of the bush, and thoroughly seasoned,
and the brush or the parts thereof afterwards assembled, and in some cases where
it is desired to have an open form of brush, I take out or cut out the fibre back
to the rim of the disc, and lay them in alternately in making the brush, thus
giving an open construction. The word fibre is used in the foregoing description
to cover all forms of material used for making the brushes for polishing either
tampico, bristles, cloth or wire, either steel or brass, the latter two forming when
employed scratch brushes. Small brushes from six inches down require no
balancing, therefore I carry the fibre back and forth toward the hub, leaving a
similar cavity adjacent to the hub to be filled in as herein before described, or if
preferred the said cavity may be filled up entirely by the brush material. Larger
brushes, say, from sixteen to twenty inches in diameter may also be balanced by
boring a hole vertically through the disc, and core, and fill the same with lead,

page_text: and then cover the whole with a metal disc, but I prefer to use the central cavity,
in which construction, the outer discs are free to slide down upon the hub, as the
fibre part or filling shrinks away.
By means of my improvement, I provide a brush which is efficient in operation
and strong and durable in construction and comparatively inexpensive, and it will
be apparent that other changes in and modifications of the construction herein
described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or
sacrificing its advantages.
Tatad this 9041 dar f Al 1800
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents,
I, FRANK GUNN FARNHAM, residing at Park Street, Honesdale, in the County
of Wayne, and State of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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 wheel brushes, and to that class thereof particularly
designed for use in polishing metals of all kinds, also for polishing glass and
other hard material; and the object thereof is to provide a brush of this class
which is simple and economical in construction and also strong and durable.
Heretofore brushes of this class have generally been made with a solid
wooden centre called the stock, the rim of which is bored full of small holes into
which the fibre or other material which constitutes the brush proper is drawn by
hand by means of a wire. With the larger size of brushes when the fibre or other
brush material is worn out the heads are refilled, said heads or stocks being too
costly to be thrown away. This is an expensive process and I have aimed to make
a brush more efficient than the ones now in use, cheaper to manufacture and
accurately balanced from the inside. Brushes of this class as heretofore con-
structed have usually been balanced by securing a weight to the outer rim of
the stock, but this is a source of great danger in the operation of the brush and
one of the chief objects of this invention is to obviate the necessity of weighting
the brush.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which; —
Fig. 1 is a central transverse section of a brush made according to my inven-
tion;
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 similar views showing modifications;
Figs. 4 and 4 are detail views showing the cavity which is bored in the hub
in the construction illustrated in Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 a side view of a brush made according to my invention; and,
Fig. 6 a plan view of the central portion thereof; and one of the discs or plates
which constitutes a part of the brush.
In the drawing forming part of this specification the separate parts of my
improvement are designated by the same letters of reference in each of the views,
and in the practice of my invention, I provide a central hub a, composed of
wood or other suitable material having a bushing to adapt the brush to different
sizes of spindles, it being understood that the bushing may be removed when

page_text: desired. Around the rim a I place a core d, composed of separate layers of
veneer, paper or other suitable material, although I do not limit myself in this
connection as the said core may be composed of one piece if desired, but I find
the separate layers or sections are stronger and less liable to warp.
To one end of the core d I clinch nail or otherwise secure a disc c made
of separate layers of paper or preferably from knife cut veneers to prevent
cleavage, and these veneers are rim-nailed adjacent to the edge as shown at c²,
and the outer edges of the disc overlap and support and strengthen the fibre
or other material e from. which the brush proper is made. The fibre or other
material is laid in tiers or layers and is first dipped in suitable pitch, glue,
cement or other adhesive material to a depth equal to the distance between the
rim of the core d and the rim of the disc c and said fibre or other material abuts
against said core.
Between each layer of the fibre or other material I place a leveling and
strengthening ring or disc f, composed of cloth or other suitable material, and
said ring or discs have a central hole or opening equal in diameter to the diameter
of the core d, and a total diameter equal to the diameter of the disc c.
In making a brush, I first fasten one end of the hub a to the said disc e
to which the core has been fastened. I then lay onto the inside of the disc c,
a layer of fibre or other material preferably dipped in cement or other adhesive
substances as hereinbefore described. Then over this I place one of the cloth
rings or discs 'f, and then another thin layer of the fibre or brush material is
placed in position and so on until the desired thickness of the brush is secured.
I then put on the duplicate side disc g which is similar. in all respects to the
disc and said duplicate side disc g is also nailed or bolted to the core d.
Pressure is then applied to the brush or the sides thereof until the brush is properly
seasoned. If a portion of the hub extends beyond either of the side discs c
and g it is cut down flush with said discs.
In the construction of my improved brush, the core d is preferably composed
of two parts, each of which is composed of separate layers of veneer or paper
or other suitable material as shown in Fig. 1, and between these parts is an
annular cavity or space h. Between the inner ends or buts of the fibre or other
material and the hub a, this annular cavity or space is filled in with lead in a
molten condition so as to properly balance and weight the rim, the lead being
poured in through an opening, formed in the hub a, before the bushing
is placed therein. Other means may, however, be provided for pouring the lead
into the cavity or space and my invention is not limited in this respect.
Although I have described the discs or levelers f as being composed of cloth,
any other material may be substituted, and I have found strong manila paper
very serviceable for this purpose, and other material may be substituted for lead
for the purpose of balancing the brush and the hub a is permanently fastened
to the core by gluing or in any desired manner, and the side discs and y are
fastened to said hub by nailing or by other preferred means.
In Figs. 2 I have shown a modification which is practically the same as that
shown in Fig. 1, but I find that as I reduce the size of the brush I at last
reach a point where I cannot use the core d on the inside of the brush, and
also when I desire to make a narrow thin brush, the separate parts of the core
will strike one another and prevent the telescoping of the two side plates or discs
along or on the hub a. To overcome this I use the flanged metal ferrules k
which is an equivalent outside for the core inside, and I clinch nail the ferrules k
to the hub a and said hub projects through the side discs for this purpose, and
said ferrules are also secured to the hub a by a punch or by any other desired
ineans. The layers of the fibre or other material with the leveling discs are placed
in position and the brush built up in the manner hereinbefore described excepting
when a brush with a very wide face is made it becomes necessary to strengthen
the centre by using an anchor m which is preferably composed of a piece of canvas
to which a thin disc of sheet tin or other suitable metal m² has been fastened

page_text: in any desired manner, the tin or other metal being designed to give strength
to the cloth so as to prevent the stretching thereof, and this anchor is mounted
on the hub a as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and may be secured thereto in any
desired manner, and the outer diameter of the metal disc which forms a part of
said anchor is equal to the distance between the huts of the fibre or other brush
material and the hub a, and said tin or metal disc which forms a part of said
anchor also prevents the lead from burning away the central portion of the anchor,
and the said disc or anchor also, as will be seen, divides the annular space or
cavity into two separate parts or compartments.
In Fig. 3 I have shown another modification by which I provide what is known
as a beveled brush, the perimeter thereof being much thinner than the central
or hub portion, and in this form of construction. I substitute for the discs c
and g, the side plates or discs and o, composed of vulcanized fibre or other
suitable material and said discs are given the necessary pitch, the outer perimeters
thereof being much closer together than the inner or hub portions. I also, in
this form of construction, employ the flanged ferrules which are nailed or other-
wise secured to the discs and o as in the other forms of construction herein-
before described. In this form of construction the fibre or brush material is laid
in layers as in Figs. 1 and 2, but the separating and leveling rings or discs f
composed of cloth or other suitable material extend inwardly to the hub, and said
discs or rings act as an anchor. The two outer leveling discs or rings f, converge
and the perimeters of the outer layers of fibre or other material also converge,
while the inner layers are straight, and between the converging outer rings or
discs f. and the rings or discs adjacent thereto at each side is a space p, which
is filled in with paper or cloth or any other suitable substance. In the con-
struction shown in Fig. 3, the fibre may abut against and be cemented to the
hub, if desired.
The hub in this form of construction, (see Fig. 3) when small brushes are to
be made, is not provided with a bushing and said hub is so formed as to be
used on a tapered spindle such as is usually employed by jewellers, and in the
form of construction shown in Fig. 2, the bushing, is also tapered for a similar
purpose, and this taper may be either at one or both ends of said hub or said
bushing.
In Fig. 4, I have shown a modification in which the fibre abuts against the
hub and is cemented thereto. This construction comprises the hub a. the bush-
ing b. and, preferably, a knife cut veneer (of either three or five ply) rim, c,
nailed as at . In this construction. I have shown nails -, driven clear through
the disc c. fibre e, and rings f and cement, into the opposite disc.
I also illustrate in Fig. 4, and in Figs. 4ª and 4b, a modification in construc-
tion which I employ in balancing small brushes. I bore a hole or opening,
as ats, through the hub a, and also bore a larger recess, as at t, partly through
the hub at the outer side and intersecting the opening s; this forms an anchor
for the lead filling h, which is inserted in the openings sand and corresponds
thereto, and by this construction the lead filling is prevented from coming out.
In this connection, it will be understood that the enlarged recess or opening t
operates as an anchor to prevent inward movement of the lead filling, while
outward movement of the latter is of course prevented by the abutment of the
fibre fand the separating rings d.
In case of very small brushes, no balance is needed, and in said brushes, when
they are of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3, of the drawings, the cavity
between the fibre and hub (as shown in said figure) may be omitted, and the
fibre may abut directly against the hub and be cemented thereto, or, in the con-
struction illustrated in Fig. 3, if a balance is needed. I may employ the anchor
balance construction just above described and shown in Figs. 4 and 4" and 4b.
Brushes made according to my invention may be used for polishing purposes
whenever desired, and are much stronger and more durable than brushes of this
class as usually constructed, and it will be apparent that changes in and modi-

page_text: fications of the construction herein described may be made without departing
from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
T claim is:-
1. A brush, the central portion of which is composed of separate layers of
material secured together, side discs or plates secured thereto, and extending
beyond the perimeter thereof, and fibre or brush material secured between the
perimeters of said side discs or plates, substantially as shown and described.
2. A brush comprising a central hub, a core mounted thereon and composed
of separate layers secured together, side discs or plates secured to said core and
extending beyond the perimeter thereof, and fibre or other brush material secured
between the perimeters of the side discs or plates, substantially as shown and
described.
3. A brush comprising a central hub, a core mounted thereon and composed
of separate layers secured together, side discs or plates secured to said core and
extending beyond the perimeter thereof, and fibre or other brush material secured
between the perimeters of the side discs or plates, said side discs or plates
being composed of separate layers of paper or other suitable material, substan-
tially as shown and described.
4. A brush comprising a central hub, a core mounted thereon and composed
of separate layers secured together, side discs or plates secured to said core and
extending beyond the perimeter thereof, and fibre or other brush material secured
between the perimeters of the side dises or plates, said side discs or plates
being composed of separate layers of paper or other suitable material, and the
fibre or other brush material being separated by leveling discs or plates placed
therein between the perimeters of the side discs or plates, substantially as shown
and described.
5. A brush, composed of a central hub, side dises or plates secured to the ends
thereof, brush material secured between the perimeters of the side discs or plates,
and leveling discs or rings secured between the perimeters of the side discs or
plates, and separating the separate layers of the brush material, substantially
as shown and described.
6. A brush composed of a hub, a core mounted thereon and composed of separate
layers, side discs or plates secured to said core, a central space formed in said
core around said hub, and designed to receive lead or other balancing material, the
brush material being secured between the perimeters of the side discs or plates,
substantially as shown and described.
7. A brush, comprising a central hub, side discs or plates secured to the ends
thereof, brush material secured between said side discs or plates, and a recess
or space provided in the hub and adapted to receive lead or other balancing
material, substantially as shown and described.
8. In a brush of the class described, the recessed hub adapted to form an
anchor balance, substantially as shown and described.
9. A brush, comprising a hub, side dises or plates carried by the same, and a
brush material secured between the side discs or plates, a space being formed
in the core of the brush, around said hub, substantially as shown and described.
10. The improved brush, in its general structure and detail features, substantially
as shown and described.
Dated this 11th dor of Tannawr 1000
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents,