IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD AND MEANS OF REMOVING DUST FROM CARPETS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult, of 323, High Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD AND
MEANS OF REMOVING DUST FROM CARPETS." A communication from abroad
by Seth Boughton Ryder, of Elizabeth, in the County of Union, and State of
New Jersey, in the United States of North America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st December 1880.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
in the Kingdom of Great Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD AND MEANS
OF REMOVING DUST FROM CARPETS." A communication from abroad by Seth
Boughton Ryder, of Elizabeth, in the County of Union, and State of New Jersey,
in the United States of North America.
In the annexed Drawings, A and A represent the ends of my cage, which ends
have their peripheries formed of a number of faces a which are curved or extended
inward, as shown, the number of such faces being preferably six. At the points
of intersection of the faces a of the ends A, said parts are connected together by
means of bars B, and between such bars slats b are secured at equi-distant points,
the whole forming a cage which has a periphery composed of a number of open or
slatted panels that curve inwardly. One of said peripheral panels is formed
separately, and hinged so as to be capable of being opened for the purpose of
admitting a carpet into the interior of said cage. The cage described is journalled
within suitable supports by means of axial bearings C attached to its ends, and
means being provided whereby it may be rotated; its operation is as follows, viz. :-
A carpet is placed within the interior of the cage, and after the hinge panel is
closed and secured, said cage is caused to revolve. The carpet is successively
carried upward by each panel to a point considerably above the axial centre of
said cage, when it falls downward upon and engages with the next lower panel,
such operation being repeated while the revolutions of the said cage are continued..
At each fall of the carpet the concussion causes a portion of the dust contained
therein to be loosened and driven outward, while the rolling movement given to

page_text: said carpet causes a different portion to be exposed at each fall, the result being
the speedy and thorough removal of all dust and dirt through the open periphery
of the cage. While the inwardly curving form of the peripheral panels is preferred,
it will be seen that they may have the form of obtuse angles, or the form of saw
teeth, as shown by dotted lines of Figure 2, without departing from the spirit of
my Invention, the object sought by the inward extension of said panels being to
form ledges with which the carpet will engage, and by which said carpet will be
raised while the cage is in motion. In order that dust may be more readily
driven out of the cage I secure to or upon the exterior of the same, at each angle, a
flange D, which is preferably composed of leather or other flexible material, and
has such angle with relation to the circle of rotation as to cause air to be gathered
inward and forced through the open periphery, as shown by Figures 1 and 2 of the
annexed Sheet of Drawings, which Figures represent the machine in perspective
and a vertical transverse section respectively.
The design of the Invention, as will be readily understood, is to enable dirt and
dust to be removed from carpets without the wear which follows the use of
ordinary beating mechanism, as above described.
It consists principally in a cage or drum provided with axial bearings upon
which it may be rotated, and having an open periphery formed by a series of
inwardly extending panels or their equivalents as described. It consists farther
in combining with an open cage or drum peripheral flanges, arranged to cause air
to be forced inward into the same as described. Figure 3 is a vertical transverse
section showing a modification of my machine in which the peripheral panels are
plane, and upon the inside of the cage are provided a series of inwardly projecting
ledges E which engage with and raise the carpet, as before described; this
construction will perform the same office as that preferably used, although not so
efficient.
Having now fully described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same may be carried into practical effect, what I desire to secure by
Letters Patent is,―
1st. The method and means employed therefor for removing dust from carpets,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2nd. A cage or drum provided with axial bearings upon which it may be rotated,
and having an open periphery formed by a series of inwardly extending panels
or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. In combination with an open cage or drum, peripheral flanges arranged to
cause air to be forced inward into the same, substantially as and for the purpose
shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Julius Boult, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.