CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEARING, CLEANSING, WATERING, OR WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY COVERING WITH SAND OR OTHER MATERIALS, ROADS STREETS, OR WAYS; AND WHICH MACHINERY IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STEPHEN
GEARY, of Hamilton Place, King's Cross, in the County of Middlesex,
Architect and Civil Engineer, 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 Thirteenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-three, in the seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Stephen Geary, my exors,
admors, and assigns, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Stephen Geary, my exors, admors, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said Stephen Geary, my exors, adiñors, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Her Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark,
and Man, and also in all Her Majesty's. Colonies and Plantations abroad,
my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
CLEARING, CLEANSING, WATERING, OR WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY COVERING WITH SAND
OR OTHER MATERIALS, ROADS, STREETS, OR WAYS; AND WHICH MACHINERY IS
ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent
there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Stephen Geary, to par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what

page_text: 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, 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
Stephen Geary, do hereby declare 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 thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:-
The first part of my said Invention has reference to the machinery or
apparatus to be employed for clearing or cleansing roads, streets, or ways, and
consists in the combination and arrangement of certain parts, constituting a
machine for that purpose; and, in order to explain this first part of my said
improvements as completely as possible, I will proceed to describe the arrange-
ment of parts which I consider well calculated for that purpose, and for
carrying out this part of my said Invention, and which arrangement will be
found to answer extremely well.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS MARKED FIGURES 1, 2, 3.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine or apparatus for clearing
or cleansing roads, streets, or ways. Figure 2 an end view thereof, a portion
of the exterior of the machine being removed so as to expose to view the
arrangement and disposition of the several parts situate in the interior.
Figure 3 a sectional elevation of the machine or apparatus as it would appear
when divided through the line A, B, in Figure 2. A, A, the running wheels,
to one part of one of which a spur wheel B is keyed, or otherwise securely
made fast, taking into a corresponding wheel C, keyed upon the wrought-
iron axle D, being for the purpose of imparting motion to the brushes,
brooms, or scrapers hereafter fully described. E, E*, two solid or hollow
wheels or circular pieces of wood or metal, keyed or otherwise made fast
upon the wrought-iron axle, or, instead of the above arrangement, I use the
following modification, as shewn in Figure 2*-A, A, the running wheels,
keyed upon or otherwise made fast to the wrought-iron axle B, B. Upon one
part of this axle a spur wheel C, C, is keyed, or otherwise securely made fast,
being for the purpose of imparting motion by the agency of a train of wheels
marked 1, 2, 3, to the brushes, brooms, or scrapers hereafter fully described.
D, D*, two cast or wrought iron wheels, keyed or otherwise made fast upon

page_text: a hollow axle E, E. This axle works around and independently of the solid
axle B, B, and revolves in bearings, as shewn, and in an opposite direction,
so as to obtain, in conjunction with the wheelwork and running wheels above
mentioned, the proper velocity and direction of the brushes, brooms, or scrapers.
Upon the peripheries of the wheels D, D*, or upon the peripheries of these
wheels or circular pieces of wood or metal E, E*, in Figure 2, and at certain
convenient distances asunder, brooms, brushes, or scrapers are arranged or
disposed in the manner following:-I take two or more pieces of wood or
metal, and between these (which I denominate the "stock," I place or
arrange brushes or brooms F, F, formed of any suitable elastic material,
such as "birch, cane, or whalebone," or scrapers of wood or iron), and I secure
them in the said stock, or between the said pieces of wood or metal, by screws
or rivets, or in any other convenient manner. The said brushes, brooms, or
scrapers may be connected to the circular picces E, E*, or wheels D, D*, by
inserting the said stocks in notches G, formed in the peripheries of the said
pieces, and further secured as shewn by hinged pieces H and staples, which
I employ as a ready means of connection; also, of substituting new brushes,
broonis, or scrapers, as occasion may require. I would here remark, that the
brushes or brooms may be disposed or arranged either in consecutive order or
alternately with scrapers, or scrapers only may be used, which, however, will
depend upon circumstances, according to the state of the surface of the road,
street, or way required to be cleansed. The brushes, brooms, or scrapers
thus arranged and connected to the picces E, E*, are actuated in the following
-Upon motion being imparted, by horse or any other power, to the
running wheels A, A, the spur wheel B, which is in connection therewith,
will impart rotary motion to the wheel C, and from thence to the brushes,
F, F, brooms or scrapes, which, acting against the surface of the said road,
street, or way, will remove any accumulations of dirt therefrom, and the said
brooms or brushes, in their rotation, will conduct the dirt up the curved
surface, with which they should be in close contact, until each brush or broom
arrives at such a height as to allow the dirt to fall of its own gravity, and
thus be deposited in the receptacle I (which, for distinction, I call the receiver),
as shewn in Figure 3. The brooms or brushes, in their rotation, may be
caused to act against a scraper or doctor, situate at any convenient part of
the machine, for the purpose of removing, as much as possible, the dirt or
mud which may adhere thereto. The vessel I, when filled from the "delivery
cart," can be readily removed therefrom (through the opening, as shewn), and
conveyed (by horse or other power) to depôts, the distances between which
should be such as to admit of the said full vessel I being taken away, emptied,
manner

page_text: and reproduced to substitute in the place of the vessel, attached to or in
connection with the cart, which vessel should by that time be filled or nearly
SO. That the operation may be conducted with as little interruption as
possible to the traffic of the said road, street, or way, when it is required to
transport the machine or apparatus from place to place without working the
brushes, brooms, or scrapers, the wheelwork communicating between the
running wheels and brushes may be thrown out of gear by the lever K, and
vice versa. To avoid unnecessary friction, it is advisable, in the construction of
the machine or cart, to arrange the said brushes or brooms so as to touch
only at that portion thereof forming a segment of a circle marked L, in
Figures 3, 7, 8, and 9, against which the said brushes or brooms act.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS MARKED FIGURES 4 AND 6.
Figures 4 and 6, which represent two several views of another machine to
be employed for similar purposes to the foregoing. Figure 4, a side elevation
of the said machine. Figure 6, a longitudinal sectional elevation of this
machine as it would appear when divided through the line A, B, Figure 4.
It will appear evident that similar arrangements and combinations of parts
to those employed in the foregoing machine may be advantageously employed
for distributing water or sand or other suitable materials over or upon the
surface of roads, streets, or ways, as also for actuating the brushes, brooms,
or scrapers of the machine lastly above-mentioned, which is described by
similar letters of reference being placed upon parts corresponding with those
in the machine mentioned and referred to in the former part of this Speci-
fication. I would here remark, that either of the machines above described
may be worked by a horse or by manual labor, the size of the machine being
varied accordingly. When the machine lastly above described, and marked
Figures 4 & 6 in the annexed Drawings, is of a size for a horse, it will
be found more convenient to place the front receptacle T for the dirt on a
pair of wheels, and to detach and wheel it away, than to deposit the dirt upon
the road side, which would only be advisable when the said machine is of a
size to be worked by manual labor, in which case the receptacle should be
constructed with axes at its extremities working in suitable bearings, the said
receptacle being furnished with a handle or handles X, for tipping or dis-
charging the contents of the said receptacle, as represented by the Drawings
referring to this machine, and marked Figures 4 & 6.
Having now described the nature of this first part of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be particularly
understood that I do not claim as of my Invention, or the exclusive use of

page_text: any of the separate parts of the machinery or apparatus above described and
referred to, except so far as the same may be employed for the purposes of
this part of my said Invention. But what I claim as of my Invention is, the
construction and application of the revolving brushes or brooms, when acting
against a fixed curved surface or portion of a cylinder, with which they should
be in close contact, for the purpose of collecting or raising accumulations of
dirt from off the surfaces of roads, streets, and ways, and depositing the same
in a vehicle attached to or in connection with the said machine or apparatus
as above described.
Another part of my said Invention relates to watering roads, streets, or
ways, and consists in the application of certain parts to the last-mentioned
machine or apparatus, whereby the same machine may likewise be rendered
available for the purposes of distributing water over or upon the surfaces of
roads, streets, or ways, when the machine is not required for the purposes
of removing soil from the said surfaces. And in order to explain this part of
my said improvements as completely as possible I will proceed to describe
the arrangement of parts which I consider well calculated for that purpose,
and for carrying out this part of my said Invention, which arrangement will
be found to answer extremely well.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS MARKED FIGURES 7 AND 8.
Figure 7 represents a sectional elevation of the machine or apparatus
(above referred to, and marked Figure 3 in the Drawing), shewing the
arrangement of the several parts to be employed for the purpose of watering
roads, streets, or ways. Figure 8 an end view thereof, a portion of the
exterior of the cart being removed. In order to adapt the machine employed
for sweeping to the purposes of watering it will be found necessary to remove
some of the brushes (care should also be taken to keep the wheelwork
communicating with the remaining brushes out of gear). Having done this,
the next step is to fill the reservoir L* with water. This reservoir (which
may either remain permanently fixed or suspended from the axle D, or be
made removeable) is constructed with openings at the lower part thereof, for
discharge pipes M, M, to which is attached a branch pipe N, somewhat similar
to that employed in ordinary watering carts, the longest portion N of the
said pipe having perforations therein, so as to divide the water into small
jets or streams. At the upper part of the machine or cart a screwed flango
piece N, Figure 7. is made fast, for the purpose of connecting the end of a
leather hose O, which is furnished with a hollow piece of metal, having a

page_text: screw cut around it, corresponding with that in the flange piece N. The hose
being thus connected to the machine or cart at one end, and the other end to
the water main or reservoir, may be readily filled, and the contents distributed
through the pipe N, by means of a valve or ball cock, in connection therewith
and under the controul of the attendant, or in a similar manner to that
employed in watering carts generally.
Having now described the nature of this part of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
do not claim as of my Invention, or the exclusive use of any of the separato
parts of the machinery or apparatus lastly above described and referred to,
except so far as the same may be employed in the general combination and
arrangement of parts constituting a machine or apparatus for watering streets,
roads, or ways, as above described.
Another part of my said Invention relates to covering roads, streets, or
ways with sand or other materials, and consists in the application of certain
parts to the above-mentioned machine, whereby it may be rendered available
for the purpose of distributing sand or other suitable materials over or upon
the surfaces of roads, streets, or ways, so as to afford a better foothold to
horses, as also rendering the said roads, streets, or ways more secure for foot
passengers. It will thus be seen that one machine is capable of being
readily converted into and made to answer the several purposes of three
distinct machines, and since the operations of cleansing, watering, and covering
with sand or other materials" are seldom if ever required at one and the
same time, and considering that these several operations have hitherto been
conducted by the employment of distinct machines, it will obviously occur
that a considerable saving of expence will thus be effected, since the expence
of a machine serving the above-mentioned purposes will not exceed that of
some of the machines hitherto employed for the sole purpose of cleansing, and
will be found more effective for that purpose. And in order to explain this
part of my said Invention as completely os possible, I will proceed to describe
the arrangement of parts which I consider well calculated for that purpose,
and for carrying out this part of my said Invention, which arrangement will
be found to answer extremely well.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 9.
Figure 9 represents a sectional elevation of the machine or apparatus
referred to and marked Figure 3 in the Drawing) shewing the
Lahova

page_text: sand or other materials over or upon the surfaces of roads, streets, or ways.
In order to adapt the machine employed for sweeping and watering before
mentioned to the purposes of distributing sand it will be found necessary.
as in the former instance, to remove some of the brushes. The same precau-
tion should also be observed of keeping the wheelwork communicating with the
remaining brushes out of gear. The next step is to place the reservoir L in a
position to receive the sand or other materials to be distributed over the before-
mentioned surfaces. In order to effect this I construct the reservoirs K and
L with flanges, by which I am enabled to connect the two reservoirs together
by bolts and nuts, or in any other ready and convenient manner, and, having
done so, I turn these reservoirs partly round, until that marked L is nearest
to the surface of the road, street, or way, as shewn, and I proceed to fill this
reservoir with sand or other materials, through an opening P, the same being
prevented from escaping by a hopper Q, which covers the opening or outlet
R. When the machine is in use this hopper may be withdrawn by means of
a lever S, and retained in that position by a pin, as shewn, or in any other
convenient manner. Thus, as the machine or apparatus advances, the sand
or other material will, by its own gravity, be deposited upon the surface of
the road, street, or way, through the opening or openings formed in the
bottom of the reservoir for that purpose, the said openings being of such
dimensions as practice may suggest.
Having now described the nature of this part of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be particularly under-
stood that I do not claim as of my Invention, or the exclusive use of any of
the separate parts of the machinery or apparatus above described and referred
to for distributing sand or other materials over or upon the surfaces of roads,
streets, or ways, except so far as the same may be employed in the general
combination and arrangement of parts constituting a machine or apparatus for
that purpose as above described. The machines herein-before described may
be applied to cleansing, watering, and sanding any surfaces usually subjected to
those operations, or any of them, the size of the machine and the manner in
which it is worked be adapted accordingly.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Geary, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
STEPHEN (L.S.) GEARY.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirteenth day of January, in
the year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid Stephen Geary came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-four.