An Improved Apparatus for Cleaning Flues and Chimneys.
Year: 1886

page_text: An Improved Apparatus for Cleaning Flues and Chimneys.
We, DAVID WEBSTER, Machinist, and PHILIP PFEIFFER, Nurseryman, both of
Sedalia, in the county of Pettis and state of Missouri, one of the United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our invention relates to an improvement in chimney cleaners, the object of the
same being to provide a portable device adapted to be introduced into any ordinary
chimney or flue for the purpose of scraping the soot from the sides of the flue and
removing it therefrom; and with these ends in view our invention consists in the
parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully described, and pointed out in
the claims.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view showing our
improvement in closed adjustment or in position to be introduced into a chimney.
Fig. 2 is a plan view in open adjustment showing bag in dotted line; and Fig. 3 is
a view in longitudinal section showing our improvement in closed adjustment.
A represents a rectangular frame, made of wire and provided with one or more
cross bars or braces, a, of similar material. This frame is slightly smaller than the
ordinary chimney flue, and forms the support or body of the device.
To the sides and ends of this frame A are secured the springs B, the outer ends
of which engage the bars C, or the material forming the bag or receptacle. The
bars C, four in number-two long and two short-are arranged around and parallel
with the sides and ends of the rectangular frame A, the long bars being located at
the sides of the frame A, and the short bars parallel with the end bars of the
frame A. These bars are provided with the bent ends b, which latter are journaled
in the side and end bars, respectively, of the frame A. The springs B, formed of
steel wire or other suitable material, preferably engage the bars C in such a manner
as to permit the springs to have a sliding movement thereon; but, if desired, the
springs can rest under the bars and in contact with the same and answer all
purposes. The tendency of the springs is to yieldingly hold the bars C in an
elevated position.
E is a bag or receiver, secured at its upper end to the bars C. When the bars C
are in their elevated position, or that is approximately in a plane with frame A,
the mouth of the bag is open to its greatest capacity to receive the soot as it is

page_text: scraped from the sides of the flues by the bars C, which latter are yieldingly held in
contact with the sides of said flues by the springs B.
When it is desired to introduce the cleaner into a flue, the side and end bars, C,
are depressed until they rest below and approximately in the same vertical plane
with the sides and ends of the frame A, and are held in this position by the hook F,
pivoted to the frame A and engaging the links G, secured to the end and side bars, C.
A cord or rope, H, is secured to the hook for the purpose of releasing the same
after the cleaner has been lowered into the chimney.
To clean a chimney or flue, the side and end bars, C, are locked to the hook F.
When the parts are in this position, the cleaner is lowered by means of a rope
attached to the frame A into any size, shape, or form of flue. When it has reached
its proper position, the hook F is withdrawn from the links G by the rope H, and
the side and end bars, C, permitted to fly out in contact with the sides of the flue.
As the cleaner is drawn upwardly, the side and end bars, being yieldingly held in
position against the sides of the flue, scrape off the soot, which falls into the
receptacle, which is attached to the end and side bars, C. After the cleaner has
been withdrawn from the chimney the soot is dumped from the receptacle or bag
and the machine is again ready for use.
It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the details of construc-
tion and materials employed without departing from the spirit and scope of our
invention; hence we would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves to
the exact construction shown and described, but consider ourselves at liberty to
make such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
1st. The combination, with a rectangular frame and a yielding frame made of
sections secured to the sides and ends of said rectangular frame, of a bag or
receiver secured to said yielding frame, substantially as set forth.
2nd. The combination, with the main or supporting frame, the end and side bars,
pivotally secured thereto, and springs secured to the main frame and engaging said
side and end bars, of a bag secured to said side and end bars for holding the soot.
3rd. The combination, with a main or supporting frame, the side and end bars
pivoted thereto, springs secured to the main frame and engaging said side and end
bars, and the hook and links for holding the side and end bars in a depressed
position, of a rope for withdrawing the hook from the links, and a bag secured to
the side and end bars, substantially as set forth.