CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING OR SWEEPING CHIMNEYS AND FLUES
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PARSONS, of Selwood Terrace, 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 Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Second day of April (One thousand eight hundred and forty-
four), in the seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said John Parsons, my exors, admors, and
assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said John Parsons, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as
I, the said John Parsons, my exors, admors, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within that part of Her said United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING OR SWEEPING CHIMNEYS AND FLUES;" in
which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said
John Parsons, to particularly describe and ascertain 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, and to cause the same to be enrolled in
Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,

page_text: as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Parsons, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed or put into practical action and use, to be
fully described and set forth in and by the following statement and Specifica-
tion thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings (which I
declare to be and to form part of this my statement and Specification) by the
letters and numeral figures marked thereon for the purpose of such reference,
that is to say-
My Invention consists in and has reference to the principles of construction
and the modes of arrangement of mechanical parts, and also the several
combinations of the same, as herein-after described, as regards my application
of the same to the object set forth in and by the title of the Letters Patent
granted unto me as herein-before recited. I declare the particular nature and
intention of my said Invention, together with the constructions, combinations,
and methods which I adopt and employ in practice, in order to embody and
carry the same into practical effect, to consist in and to be truly described and
set forth in the following detailed Specification thereof, having reference to
its illustrative Drawings, that is to say, such particular nature and intention
consist,-
Firstly, in the construction and the mechanical arrangement of the parts
of a compound sweeping brush or brush head, for the performance of the
process of cleansing, by sweeping chimney flues and passages of their deposited
soot.
Secondly, in the construction and the mechanical arrangements of the parts
of the supporting rods, shaft, or stem on which the aforesaid sweeping brush or
brush head is fixed for such purpose and application, and the mode of com-
bining the brush head and the shaft or stem together.
Thirdly, in the construction and the mechanical arrangement of apparatus
by which such shaft or stem, together with its attached brush head, is in
practice applied to the chimney flue, in order to effect the aforesaid purposes
with facility and due effect.
In the Drawing No. 1, Figure 1 represents a view in front elevation of the
sweeping brush or brush head, in which A, A, is the supporting rod or stem ;
and B, a screw ferril, by which it is fixed to the upper extremity of the
elevating shaft or rod (which is shown in the Figure 9 of Drawing No. 2);
,C, is a flat and circular brush arranged on a cylindrical block D; the upper
face of this block is furnished with a projecting ring E, around which are

page_text: arranged eight small rollers, five of which are seen in the Drawings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
by which the passage of the rod A, A, is facilitated in turning acute corners
or angles in a chimney flue, or in surmounting accidental obstacles. On the
lower face of the same block, and below the brush, a similar arrangement F,
of eight small rollers, is made of smaller dimensions for the same end; four of
these are also seen in the Drawing 1, 2, 3, 4.
The rod A, A, is formed of whalebone, of malacca, of rattan, or any of the
flexible canes, or of any substance possessing sufficient flexibility and toughness
to bend as much as the free passage of the brush head may require in
sweeping chimney flues of the ordinary dimensions, and to recover its straight
direction when released from such constraint. This degree of flexibility,
toughness, and strength is obtained by constructing the centre of the rod of a
flexible material as aforesaid, and covering it with metal wire wound spirally
around it in close coils, and this for further security may be covered with gum,
caoutchouc, or other elastic substance.
The Figure 3 is a view of the upper face of the cylindrical block D,
shewing the arrangement of its eight small rollers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. At
the centre G of the metal plate which covers the upper side of the block D
is inserted in a screw socket a smaller rod H, Figure 1, of construction
similar to the lower rod A, A; this carries at its upper extremity a small
block I, furnished with eight small rollers, of which four are shewn in the
Drawing 1, 2, 3, 4. These rollers, together with the flexibility of the smaller
rod H, facilitates the passage of the entire brush head.
Figure 4 is a view of the upper face of the block I, shewing the arrange-
ment of its eight small rollers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Figure 5 represents a section, taken longitudinally through the rod A, A,
Figure 1, and its metal screw socket B, by which it is fixed to the upper
extremity of the elevating shaft or rod.
Figure 6 represents a section taken longitudinally through the smaller rod
H, Figure 1, and its metal screw socket, by which it is fixed to the upper
face of the block D. In the Figure 3, the flat circular brush shewn in profile,
or edgewise at C, C, Figure 1, is shewn in plan, or flatwise. The material
of which I construct such circular brush is whalebone or cane, split into such
thicknesses as shall, according to the nature of the material, be required to
afford the necessary flexibility. I also use bass for the construction of such
brushes, or hair of suitable strength, or any of the materials of which sweeping
brushes are generally constructed, the material being varied to suit the
circumstances of the chimney flue, as regards the dimensions of its horizontal
section, and the nature of the surfaces to be swept. The Figure 2 represents

page_text: another construction or modification of the sweeping brush or brush head, by
which it has a power of self adjustment as regards its bearing and pressure
against the sides of the chimney flue, and so affords it a greater facility of
advance in cases of intricacy of construction of the chimney flues, or frequent
changes of direction in their passages.
The Figure represents a front view of a brush head of this construction.
A, A, is the supporting rod or stem; B, a metal plate, fixed transversely upon
it; C, C, are ears projecting from the under side of the plate, and carrying
between each pair a small spindle D, (one of which E is shewn in front,) and
each forming a joint pin on which a metal socket moves, the socket forming
the setting of a portion of the required sweeping brush. Of these sockets, in
practice I arrange four; one of these is shewn in front view E, and two others,
Hand H¹, in profile. The springs L, L, are attached by their lower ends to
the supporting rod or stem, the upper and projecting ends acting against the
under sides of the metal sockets, forming the sweeping brush. The action of
the springs upon the metal sockets by their tension keeps the portions of the
sweeping brush in the horizontal position indicated by the dotted lines I
and I', but when the brush head is thrust into the chimney flue its pressure
against the sides of the passage throws them into the inclined position in
which they appear in the Figure at E, H, and H. When the brush head is
made to descend in the chimney flue, as in the action of forcible sweeping,
they either remain in the horizontal position I, I', or they assume an in-
clination upwards, as shewn at K and K¹, the angular quantity of such
inclination being regulated by the width of the chimney flue.
Figure 7 represents, in front elevation, a guide socket or clip, which is made
hollow through its entire length, allowing it to be set upon the supporting rod
or stem of the machine at any point at which it may be required. The
supporting rod is clipped or enclosed within such guide sockets at the required
points by opening them on their joints, situated on the opposite side to that
presented in the Drawing, and corresponding with the opening shewn at C, C,
and there attached by the tightening screws A and B. Eight small rollers
are set about the larger diameter of the socket, by the action of which the sup-
porting rod is assisted in its passage over or against angles in the chimney flue
or casual obstructions. Four of such rollers 1, 2, 3, 4 are seen in the Drawing.
Figure 8 is a top view of the Figure 7, in which the eight rollers are
shewn, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. A is the upper tightening screw.
In the Drawing No. 2, the Figure 9 represents a side elevation of an
apparatus, by the operation of which the sweeping brush or brush head is
applied to a chimney flue, and passed through its length by the supporting rod,

page_text: in order to operate its sweeping or cleansing either during its ascending or
descending passage.
A, A, is a cylinder or drum of wood, of about three feet in diameter, with
radial arms a, a, a, a, and its circumference or rim of about eight inches
in width. About the rim a semi-cylindrical helical groove or hollow is
formed, of about one inch in diameter; this groove is continued about the cir-
cumference of the drum, making about ten revolutions thereon, and in this
helical groove
I apply the flexible supporting rod, composed as herein-
before described; it is firmly attached by its lower extremity to the first entry
or commencement of the helical groove of the drum, and on its upper ex-
tremity the brush head is attached to it, as herein-before described in the
description of Figure 1 of the Drawing No. 1. The supporting rod thus
applied to the drum is held in contact therewith, and is supported in its
convolutions in the helical groove by metal springs applied to each turn of the
helix upon the drum on the front and on the hinder side thereof. Z is a
curved metal plate, serving as a leading or guiding plane for the passage of
the supporting rod into and through the lower part of the chimney flue, or the
fire-place. B represents a portion of the supporting rod in its passage into
the chimney flue O, O; C, C, is the outer case of the drum A, A; D, D, is an
iron spur wheel, of about eighteen inches in diameter, set on the spindle or
axis of the drum, and attached to the drum. The cross framing F, F,
supports the spindle, and also the outer case of the drum. The spur wheel
D, D, is driven by an iron pinion E, of about six inches in diameter, and this
is actuated by manual labor applied to a winch W, (seen in the Figure 10.)
L is a bottom board or plate on which the machine is built, and at M are
small metal points for the purpose of keeping it steadily held to the floor of
the apartment; K is an iron stay bar, by which the machine is kept at the
proper distance from the back of the chimney or fire-place.
The Figure 10 represents the Figure 9 in an end view, in which the same
parts there drawn, and above described with reference thereto, are respec-
tively marked with the same letters for such references.
The Figure 11 represents the Figure 9 in plan, in which also the same
parts shewn in Figure 9, and described with reference thereto, are respectively
marked with the same letters for such references. At G, a dial plate fixed on
the framework of the drum registers the number of feet through which the
sweeping brush is made to advance in the chimney flue by the index or
pointer g fixed on the spindle of the drum. A smaller dial plate H, placed
above this, is moved by the pointer g of the larger dial, acting on pins set upon
the face of the dial H, so that a fixed pointer on the dial H indicates on its

page_text: own dial the divisions or spaces marked by the large dial G multiplied by ten.
Thus, the dial G indicates by each of its divisions one foot, and by each entire
revolution ten feet; the dial H indicates by each of its divisions ten feet, and
by each entire revolution one hundred feet. By this means the chimney flue
may be guaged or measured before the operator commences the sweeping, and
is thereby informed with precision of the position or place of the sweeping
brush in the chimney flue at any point of its position, and also when the
sweeping brush has arrived at the top of the chimney flue and completed its
required course.
Having thus described the nature and intention of my Invention, and
specified the best methods, constructions, and arrangements for carrying the
same into practical effect, I now proceed to declare the distinct points of my
claim therein.
I claim as of my Invention the particular construction and arrangement of
the sweeping brush or brush head as I have herein described and specified it.
I claim as of my Invention the particular construction of the self-adjusting
sweeping brush or brush head described in Figure 2 of Drawing No. 1.
I claim the guiding heads with rollers applied to the brush head, together
with their flexible rods, as described in the several Figures of Drawing No. 1.
And, finally, I claim the principle of construction and the mechanical
arrangement of the drum and its apparatus as described with reference to the
Figures 9, 10, and 11, in the Drawing No. 2, for the purpose of conducting
the supporting rod through the chimney flues and passages.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Parsons, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-four