IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR SWEEPING CARPETS AND OTHER SURFACES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO CLEANING AND GROOMING HORSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Spencer James, of Mina Road, Old Kent Road,
"
in the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR SWEEPING CARPETS AND OTHER SURFACES, ALSO APPLICABLE
TO CLEANING AND GROOMING HORSES."
Sealed the 30th May 1879, and dated the 3rd December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Spencer James at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1878.
THOMAS SPENCER JAMES, of Mina Road, Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR SWEEPING CARPETS AND OTHER
SURFACES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO CLEANING AND GROOMING HORSES."
My Invention has reference more particularly to the class of carpet sweeping
machines described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to George Somer-
ville Norris, and dated 22nd November 1876 (No. 4538), and the main object of
my improvements is to generally improve the construction and working of the
machines.
upon
I construct the beaters of the machine in such manner that the beating action.
the carpet or other surface is continuous, instead of intermittent as heretofore:
For this purpose, instead of each beater extending across the machine in a straight
line, so that an interval elapsed between the action of two successive beaters, I
arrange a series of short beaters in one; two, or more spirals.
I make the inner part of each beater, that is to say, the part next the spindle, of
tin, iron, zinc, or other suitable rigid material, instead of flexible, as heretofore, the
outer or acting portion of the beater being of leather scored at the edges, and
secured to the rigid portion by rivetting, clamping, or otherwise; or in some cases
I make a beater of one piece of leather, tapering like a wedge, and scored at the
thin end; or a beater may be formed by clamping leather in a cylinder made of any
suitable material. I dispense altogether with the fans or fan floats which have
hitherto been fitted between the beaters.
1

page_text: I make the case which covers the beaters of iron, zinc, tin, cardboard, or other
suitable material, with inlets at the side, as heretofore, and with the usual outlet or
mouth at the rear; but in order to prevent the ends of the case warping I make
such ends from turned pieces of wood, the piece at each end having recesses to
receive the metal piece which forms the bearing for the beater spindle. On the
inner side of each turned end there is also a recess to receive the edge of the body
of the case.
A dust proof case is thus obtained, which is then braced by means of
stretchers, two of which form the mouth or outlet for the dust, to which mouth
a bag or box is fitted. I prefer that the beater spindle should turn in coned bearings
or on centre points, so that the friction may be as little as possible.
I make the metal piece with a projecting cup on each side, so that when placed
in position in the machine part of the revolving spindle is covered or protected.
The object of these cups is to protect the bearings from being clogged by dust,
string, or other material that may be accidentally caught up by the machine. The
pulley wheel on the spindle likewise protects that part of the bearing which is next
to it.
In order that all parts may be easily taken in and out of the machine I prefer
that all bearings shall be separate from and not in the body of the machine as
heretofore.
In order that the pulley wheel may be readily disconnected from the spindle in
case of need I connect them by means of a clutch joint, so that they will come apart
when screws which fix the metal piece to the box are unscrewed.
I sometimes fit to the machine, at each side of the beaters, what I call a trailer,
that is to say, a piece of cloth or other suitable material, which as the machine is
moved along the ground trails on the carpet or floor. These trailers are placed
behind the drop pans, and catch any dust that may escape from under them, and
prevent dust escaping into the surrounding atmosphere. The trailers are protected
by strips of wood or other material to prevent them from leaving the floor.
The machine may be fitted with ball or other casters, so as to run either with a
positive forward and backward motion, or to turn, as may be desired.
I construct the holder for the driving wheel, which is also the handle of the
machine, in a shape approaching that of the letter A, the upper part of which on the
right hand side contains a longitudinal slot, in which the spindle of the driving
wheel is adjustable by means of a screw and nut, so as to regulate the tension of the
cord which transmits the motion to the beater spindle. The lower ends of the handle
being pivotted to the centre of the machine, the said handle adapts itself to different
heights, according to the person using it.
Sometimes I arrange the machine so that instead of having to be pushed along by
the attendant it travels at a given rate, according to the revolutions of the beaters.
One way in which this may be effected is as follows:-On the axis of the driving
wheel I mount a small wheel, which is connected by a cord or strap with a wheel
bearing on the floor. Thus in accordance with the speed of the hand wheel so will
the wheel on the floor be caused to travel at a greater or less speed, and propel the
machine along the ground.
Sometimes again instead of driving the beaters by means of a hand wheel and
connecting cord, I arrange the machine so that the fact of pushing or pulling it
causes the beaters to rotate. This may be effected by fitting the machine with a
wheel at each side to run on the floor, one of such wheels being connected by band
or other gearing with the spindle of the beaters.
I sometimes also fit a clack valve to the mouth leading to the dust bag or box
for the purpose of preventing a return blast of air or wind, which would carry
dust with it. Similar valves may be fitted to the cylinder ends for the same
purpose.
I also make the mouth of the bag or dust receiver in the shape of a slide fitting
in two V pieces, one of which is fastened firmly to the machine, the other being
fixed by means of hinges. To this latter is attached on each side india rubber rings
or a suitable spring arrangement, so that when the mouth of the bag is placed in

page_text: its proper position the hinged slide or V piece presses on the mouth, and so holds it
firmly in its place.
The mouth of the bag is also fitted with a wooden piece inside, which drops much
lower than the real opening of the mouth piece. This effectually prevents the return
of the dust, by reason of the dust dropping below the current of air caused by the
revolving beaters.
I also enclose in a false cnd the wheel at the end of the case which receives the
motion from the driving cord. The cord will then pass through a slot or hole in
the top of such false end. I thus protect the wheel from striking against furniture
or other articles.
Finally, I in some cases make the beaters of short pieces of wire or other like
suitable material, instead of scored leather. The machine is then specially adapted
to the cleaning and grooming of horses.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Spencer James in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd June 1879.
THOMAS SPENCER JAMES, of Mina Road, Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR SWEEPING CARPETS AND OTHER
SURFACES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO CLEANING AND GROOMING HORSES."
My Invention has reference more particularly to the class of carpet sweeping
machine described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to George Somer-
ville Norris, and dated 22nd November 1876, No. 4538, and the main object of
my improvements is to generally improve the construction and working of the
machines.
I construct the beaters of the machine in such manner that the beating action
upon the carpet or other surface is continuous, instead of intermittent as heretofore.
For this purpose, instead of each beater extending across the machine in a straight
line, so that an interval elapses between the action of two successive beaters, I
arrange a series of short beaters in one, two, or more spirals.
I make the inner part of each beater, that is to say, the part next the spindle, of
tin, iron, zinc, or other suitable rigid material, instead of flexible, as heretofore, the
outer or acting portion of the beater being of leather or other suitable flexible
material scored at the edges, and secured to the rigid portion by rivetting,
clamping, or otherwise; or in some cases I make a beater of one piece of leather,
tapering like a wedge, and scored at the thin end; or a beater may be formed by
clamping leather in a cylinder made of any suitable material. I dispense
altogether with the fans or fau floats which have hitherto been fitted between the
beaters.
I make the case which covers the beaters of iron, zinc, tin, cardboard, or other
suitable material, with inlets at the side, as heretofore, and with the usual outlet or
mouth at the rear; but in order to prevent the ends of the case warping I make
such ends from turned pieces of wood, the piece at each end having recesses to
receive the metal piece which forms the bearing for the beater spindle. On the
inner side of each turned end there is also a recess to receive the edge of the body
of the case. A dust proof case is thus obtained, which is then braced by means of
stretchers, two of which form the mouth or outlet for the dust, to which mouth a
bag or box is fitted. I prefer that the beater spindle should turn in coned
bearings or on centre points, so that the friction may be as little as possible.
I make the metal piece at one or both ends of the machine with a projecting cup,
so that when placed in position in the machine part of the revolving spindle is
covered or protected. The object of these cups is to protect the bearings from being
clogged by dust, string, or other material that may be accidentally caught up by the
machine. The pulley wheel on the spindle likewise protects that part of the bearing
which is next to it.
In order that all parts may be easily taken in and out of the machine I prefer
that all bearings shall be separate from and not in the body of the machine, as
heretofore.
The machine may be fitted with ball or other casters, so as to run either with a
positive forward and backward motion, or to turn, as may be desired.
I construct the holder for the driving wheel, which is also the handle of the
machine, in a shape approaching that of the letter A, the upper part of which on
the right hand side contains a longitudinal slot, in which the spindle of the driving
wheel is adjustable by means of a screw and nut, so as to regulate the tension of
the cord which transmits the motion to the beater spindle. The lower ends of the
handle being pivotted to the centre of the machine, the said handle adapts itself to
different heights according to the person using it.

page_text: I also enclose in a false end the wheel at the end of the case which receives the
motion from the driving cord. I thus protect the wheel from striking against
furniture or other articles.
Finally, I in some cases make the -beaters of short pieces of wire or other like
suitable material, instead of scored leather. The machine is then especially adapted
to the cleaning and grooming of horses.
Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying Drawings represent a machine constructed
according to my improvements. Figure 1 is a side view; Figure 2, a section
through the line 1, 1, of Figure 3; and Figure 3, a front view of the machine;
Figure 4 is a front view of the revolving spindle and beaters, with the case aud
bearings in section; Figure 5 is a view of the metal piece at the left hand side of
the machine; Figure 6, a back view of this piece; and Figure 7, a section. These
Figures are drawn on a larger scale than Figures 1 to 4. a is the revolving spindle;
b, b, are the beaters arranged spirally on the spindle a. Each of these beaters is
made of a piece of tin or other suitable rigid material fixed to the spindle, and of
an outer acting piece of leather or other suitable flexible material, scored at the
edges, and secured to the tin or rigid piece by rivetting or otherwise. It will be
seen that there are no fans or fan floats on the spindle. c is the body of the case,.
which may be made of zinc, cardboard, or other suitable material. d, d, are the
ends of the case, which I make from turned pieces of wood, so as to prevent
warping. These end pieces have each a recess at e, to receive the edge of the
body c, as seen in Figure 4. The end piece at the left hand side is also recessed at
the outer side to receive one of the metal pieces f, f, which form the bearings for
the spindle a, which is shown as turning on centre pivots. The body c of the
machine is formed with the usual outlet or mouth g at the rear, while the metal
pieces f, f, are openworked to allow air to pass into the case by the openings h, h,
in the end pieces d, d. i, i, are stretchers to the case, two of them forming the
mouth g. is the bag; it is fitted to the mouth g of the machine by means of a
frame in the mouth of the bag, which is held against the mouth g by a hinged
piece and spring hooks m, one near each end. The metal piece f at the left hand
side of the machine has a projecting cup n (Figures 6 and 7) to receive freely the
end of the spindle a, and thereby protect the bearing from getting clogged by dust,
string, or other material. The right hand end of the spindle may be similarly pro-
tected, but this will not be necessary when the wheel at this end is enclosed in a
false end, as shown in the Drawing, and hereinafter explained. o, o, represent the
handle of the machine, which, as is seen in Figure 3, is constructed of a shape
approaching that of the letter A. It is jointed at p, p,, for convenience of packing,
the two parts being secured in position when required by screws q, q, the heads of
which serve to hold the loops at the outer end of the bag, as seen in Figures 1
and 2. The right hand side of the handle has a longitudinal slot, in which the
spindle of the driving wheel is adjustable by means of a screw and a nut 8. The
lower ends of the handles are attached to brackets h¹, h¹, which are pivoted at the
outside of the metal pieces f. f. t is the wheel on the end of the spindle a, round
which the driving cord u from the wheel r passes. This wheel t is enclosed in a
false end formed by a bracket v fitted to an opening in the centre of the piece f.
The bearing for the spindle a is in the centre of the bracket v. The cord u passes
between the piece f and the bracket. w, w, are the drop pans hung loosely on
pivots taking into bearings in the ends of the case. x, x, are rollers on which the
machine is supported and travels. Instead of these rollers I sometimes use casters,
so that the machine may be readily turned when desired.
Figures 8 and 9 represent in side and front views respectively a machine especially
adapted for cleaning and grooming horses. Letters of reference, the same as those
in Figures 1 to 7, indicate corresponding parts. In this machine the beaters & are
formed of short pieces of wire or other like suitable material, arranged spirally on the
spindle a. The spindle is driven by means of teeth on the driving wheel r gearing
into a smaller wheel or pinion t on the spindle. The body c of the machine is
recessed into the ends d, d, as in the sweeping machine already described. The ends

page_text: d, d, are also recessed to receive the metal pieces f, f, and these pieces have cups at
their inner side to freely receive the ends of the spindle.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. Constructing sweeping machines, such as are hereinbefore referred to, with
beaters arranged spirally on their spindle, and without fans or fan floats, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described, and represented in the annexed Drawings.
Second. Constructing sweeping machines, such as are herein before referred to,
with the body of the case recessed into end pieces formed of turned pieces of wood,
the said end pieces (one or both) being also recessed to receive the metal pieces
which form the bearings for the beater spindle, and the said case being suitably
braced, and having inlets for air and an outlet or mouth, all substantially as herein-
before described, and represented in the annexed Drawings.
Third. Constructing sweeping machines, such as are hereinbefore referred to, with
the wheel at the end of the case enclosed in a false end, substantially as hereinbefore
described, and represented in the annexed Drawings.
Fourth. The combination or arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinbefore
described, and represented in Figures 1 to 7 of the annexed Drawings, forming an
improved machine for sweeping carpets or other surfaces.
Fifth. Constructing machines for cleaning and grooming horses, substantially
as hereinbefore described, and represented in Figures 8 and 9 of the annexed
Drawings.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Thomas Spencer James, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty first day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy nine.