AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CHIMNIES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Smith, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Ironmonger, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE
OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CHIMNIES."
Sealed the 11th July 1871, and dated the 13th January 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 13th January 1871.
I, SAMUEL SMITH, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Iron-
monger, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CHIMNIES," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to clean chimnies without passing
brushes or other appliances through them to avoid the labour of
removing soot and the unpleasantness and inconvenience consequent
thereupon, and to render damage to the brick, stone, or other work of
which the internal surfaces of chimnies are built or formed impossible.
For these purposes I proceed to clean a foul chimney either when
combustion is taking place in the fire-grate or otherwise, but preferably.

page_text: the former, as follows:-I first ignite the soot by throwing a sheet of
burning paper or other light combustible substance up or into the
chimney, and when combustion has commenced I check the area for
the supply of air at or near the fire-place, and allow only a limited
quantity of air to pass up the chimney..
The most convenient apparatus for reducing the said area consists of
what I call a "closed blower," that is to say, a plate fitted either with a
balanced or regulating valve, the said plate is placed over the front
opening of the grate.
I have found that by the means described slow combustion of the soot
is induced, and that the chimney is thoroughly cleaned without ejecting
black smoke, flame, or sparks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th July 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
Smith, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Ironmonger, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors;
give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Smith, Her special license
that I, the said Samuel Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Samuel Smith, 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 might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR
CLEANING CHIMNEYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Samuel Smith, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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

page_text: 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 Samuel Smith, do hereby declaré
the nature of my 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 accompanying Sheet of
illustrative Drawings and to the figures and letters of reference marked
thereon, that is to say :-
The object of my Invention is to effect the cleaning of chimnics
without passing brushes or other appliances through them to avoid the
labour of removing soot from apartments and the unpleasantness and
inconvenience consequent thereupon, and to render damage to the brick,
stone, or other work of which the internal surface of chimnies are built
or formed impossible.
For these purposes I proceed to clean a foul chimney either when
combustion is taking place in the fire-grate or otherwise, but preferably
the former, as follows:-I first ignite the soot by throwing a sheet of
burning paper or other light combustible substance up or into the
chimney, and when combustion of the soot has commenced I check the
area for the supply of air at or near the fire-place and allow only a
limited quantity of air to pass up the chimney.
The most convenient apparatus for reducing the said area consists of
what I call a close. blower, that is to say, a plate fitted either with a
balanced or regulating valve.. The said valve is placed over the front
opening of the grate.
I have found that by the means described slow combustion of the soot
is induced and that the chimney is thoroughly cleaned without emitting
black smoke, flame, or sparks.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents a front
clevation and Figure 2 a vertical transverse section of a close blower
with sliding valve under my Invention, applied to a register fire-grate.
Like letters indicate, the same parts on both views.
a denotes the fire-grate and setting; b, metal plate of the close blower,
this is arranged to rest on the hearth and to fit close to the fire-grate all
round at c; d, lifting handle; e, sliding valve, this can be opened more
or less, and a larger or smaller quantity of air allowed to pass through
to support combustion of the soot. Figure 3 is a front elevation and

page_text: Figure 4 a vertical transverse section of a close blower composed under
my Invention of three pieces applied to a kitchen fire-grate. Herefis
the grate and setting; 9, 9, and g³, close blower plates; h, ', and h³,
lifting handles; i, balanced valve to admit air. The pieces g¹ and g²
are fitted with hooks to catch on the bars; the piece 9 rests on the upper
bar.
The quantity of air to be admitted past the sliding or balanced valve
will vary, as will be obvious with the shape, direction, size, length, and
foulness of the chimney to be cleaned.
.
In using my system and apparatus care must be taken that after the
soot is ignited the supply of air is checked. The supply of air admitted
past the valve may be increased so long as black smoke is not given off;
the moment black smoke appears at the top of the chimney it is evident
the supply of air is in excess.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particu-
larized the same in such manner that others will be enabled therefrom
to carry my improvements into practice, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the shape and number of pieces of the
close blower,' what I do claim is, the mode of and apparatus for cleaning
chimnies substantially as described and delineated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Smith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
In the presence of,
J. T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
SAMUEL SMITH. (L.S.)