IMPROVEMENTS IN SWEEPING CHIMNIES OR OTHER FLUES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Raymond Fletcher, of Derby, in the County of
Derby, Painter, and Edwin Fletcher, of Monk Bretton, in the County of
York, Paper Stainer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWEEPING
CHIMNIES OR OTHER FLUES."
Sealed the 21st November 1856, and dated the 3rd June 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Raymond Fletcher and
Edwin Fietcher at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 3rd June 1856.
We, RAYMOND FLETCHER, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Painter, and
EDWIN FLETCHER, of Monk Bretton, in the County of York, Paper Stainer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWEEPING
CHINNIES OR OTHER FLUES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in the employment of an iron or other pulley, fixed
on the top of a chimney pot or chimney, to which we append a chain which
descends to the fire grate; we then place two hooks upon this chain, and upon
the hooks we attach another small chain, in which we insert a brush, made
either of whalebone, cane, weed, or bristles.
One form of brush which we use is composed ofs everal parts, hooked on to
a rim of iron or other metal; a hollow pin of iron or wood with a flat piece on
the top of it goes through the brush, the flat piece fitting on the top thereof;

page_text: a-hook.is placed at each end of the pin to which we attach the small chain,
the brush being, when completed, round, and capable of expansion and con-
traction. When the brush has ascended to the top of the chimney and the
chain at the bottom of the pin is pulled, the brush expands, and, in descending
the chimney, it removes the soot and dirt. This brush may be employed for
cleansing large perpendicular or horizontal flues. We propose to vary the
brush as occasion may require. We attach a piece of iron at the back of the
fire grate, to guide the chain, and prevent it from twisting in its ascent or
descent.
By this Invention the employment of boys for sweeping flues or chimnies is
superseded, and the flues or chimnies are better swept and more effectually
cleaned. The Invention thus tends greatly towards the prevention of fires
from ineffectual sweeping, resulting from the awkward or irregular construction
of flues or chimnies, and the flues and chimneys may be swept by any person
at the most convenient times.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Raymond Fletcher and Edwin Fletcher in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd December 1856.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, RAYMOND
FLETCHER, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Painter, and EDWIN FLETCHER,
of Monk Bretton, in the County of York, Paper Stainer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Пer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Ler heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Raymond Fletcher and Edwin Fletcher, Her special licence that. we, the
said Raymond Fletcher and Edwin Fletcher, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Raymond Fletcher and Edwin
Fletcher, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during. the,
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWEEPING
CHIMNIES OR OTHER FLUES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Raymond Fletcher and Edwin Fletcher, or one of us, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our

page_text: or their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
:
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Raymond Fletcher and Edwin
Fletcher, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
Our Invention consists in the employment of an iron or other pulley, fixed
on the top of a chimney pot, chimney, or flue, to which pulley is appended a
chain which descends to the fire grate, on which chain are placed two hooks,
and upon these hooks is attached another small chain, in which is inserted a
brush, made either of whalebone, cane, weed, or bristles.
One form of brush which we uso is composed of several parts hooked on to
a rin of iron or other metal; a.hollow pin of iron or wood with a flat pieco on
the top of it passes through the brush, the flat piece fitting on the top thereof;
a book is placed at each end of the pin, to which we attach the small chain,
the brush, when completed, being round, and capable of expansion and con-
traction. When the brush has ascended to the top of the chimney and the
chain at the bottom of the pin is pulled, the brush expands, and, in descending
the chimney, it removes the soot and dirt. This brush may be employed for
cleansing large perpendicular or horizontal flues. We propose to vary the
brush as occasion may require. We attach a piece of iron at the back of the
fire grate, to guide the chain, and prevent it from twisting in its ascent or
descent.
The annexed Drawings represent the manner in which our Invention may
be carried into effect, shewing also a form of brushi.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a flue or house chimney, having a chimney
pot on the top with the apparatus at work therein.
Figure 2 represents, detached, a bar on which are two pulleys, which bar is
built in the top of the chimney if there should be no pot on the top.
Figure 3 shews a contrivance consisting of a round ball of wood or other
substance, in which are inserted bristles, cane, weed, or whalebone over its
whole outer surface, thus forming a spherically-shaped brush; through the
centre of the ball a piece of iron or other metal is passed, the ends projecting
beyond the ball; to these ends are secured the four extremities of two short
chains; in the centre of each of which is a small ring. The chains in this and
the other Figures are represented by a blue line.

page_text: Figure 4 represents a ball of iron, having a groove round it, in which a ring
of iron is free to turn round; to this ring the chain is attached in order to be
conveyed down the chimney in the first instance, it is then detached and the
two ends of the chain are hooked together.
1
a, Figure 1, represents a bar of iron or other metal, on which are two
pulleys near either end, secured to the pot by a thumb screw; over it the
chain is passed, having a spring catch at each end, which, when the chain
is not in use, are booked into each other, and hooked upon the hook c. Tho
chains and all ironwork connected with the apparatus or machine are to
be galvanized or corrugated to render them non-conductors. When the
chimney or flue requires sweeping, the spring catches are separated and
hooked into the small rings in the two chains attached to the spindle of the
brush de is a bar of iron, secured at every bend, slant, or projecting angle
of the flue liable to be rubbed by the passage of the chain, thus preventing the
bricks, &c. being worn away. The chain b passes behind a piece of iron which
is inserted on each side crosswise at the bottom of the flue, so that by pulling
one side of the chain b down after the ends are hooked to the chains on the
brush, the other side of the chain ascends the flue and takes the brush with it;
then, by pulling the other side of the chain, the brush will be brought to the
bottom of the flue or chimney. A little brass label is attached to the chain
on one side near the pulley or wheel at the top of the chimney, so that when
the label is down at the bottom it indicates that the brush is at the top. The
brushes may be made of several sizes to suit different chimneys and when of
the form of a globe cannot pass up the chimney flatwise, as brushes heretofore
in use, so that no part of the walls of the fluo are left unswept..
By this Invention the employment of boys for sweeping flues or chimnies
Is superseded, and the flues or chimnies are better swept and more effectually
cleaned. The Invention thus tends greatly towards the prevention of fires
from ineffectual sweeping, resulting from the awkward or irregular con-
struction of flues or chimmies, and the flues and chimnics may be swept by any
person at the most convenient times. Trap doors in bed rooms, attics, or any
part of the chimney may be dispense.l with. All chimnies and flues can be
swept from the bottom of the chimney, thereby avoiding the dirt and unplea-
santness consequent on sweeps having to go into bed-rooms or attics. A person
employing our Invention may sweep three or four chimnies in the same time
as it would occupy him to sweep one by the mode heretofore in use, and the
chimnies are swept thoroughly clean, no soot remaining therein.
In case a fire takes place, which frequently occurs, through neglect of
sweeping the flues, trap doors not unfrequently become red hot, and if they

page_text: are not air-tight, which they rarely are, (the machines heretofore in use
tending towards displacing the bricks round the door,) the flames will spread
out and around.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim the improved apparatus
for sweeping chimneys and flues herein-before described with reference to the
Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, we, the said Raymond Fletcher and Edwin Fletcher,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Second day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Nottingham.
RAYMOND FLETCHER. (L.S.)
For Self and Brother. (L.S.)