IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC BRUSHES, AND IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE EXCITING LIQUID
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Mary MoMullin of 127 Strand in the County of
Middlesex. Manufacturer for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC BRUSHES, AND IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE
EXCITING LIQUID"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Mary McMullin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1883.
MARY MOMULLIN, of 127 Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC BRUSHES, AND IN THE
COMPOSITION OF THE EXCITING LIQUID,
The object of my said invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
electric brushes, in the composition of the exciting liquid, and in the means and
appliances in connection therewith.
My improvements relate to :-
1 A novel application of batteries to electric brushes.
2ndly The construction of electric brushes.
3rdly The composition of the exciting liquid applied to such batteries.
In carrying out the first part of my invention each element is composed of a
platinum, silver, or carbon plate or disc, enclosed in an insulating case of ebonite,
or other suitable non-conducting material, with a metallic conductor or wire in
contact with the plate or disc, and projecting through the insulating envelope.
On the top of this plate, but insulated therefrom, is a zinc plate of equal size and
shape; the two plates being separated by a pad of cloth, felt, or other suitable
material. In contact with the zinc plate is also a metallic conductor or wire
projecting through the insulating envelope.
In and through the side of the insulating envelope, I fit a small tube, of any
suitable material, through which the exciting liquid can be injected in sufficient
quantity to saturate the cloth or felt pad between the two plates. The inner end
of the tube is sufficiently long, & projects into the interior of the insulating envelope,
to form a trap therein, & prevent the surplus liquid, if any, from escaping out-
wards, & the tube at the same time admits air into the interior for the purpose of
depolarisation, &c.

page_text: In carrying out the second part of my invention, I construct the brushes with
two or more rows of metallic bristles of suitable material, each row being insulated
by non-conducting and intervening rows of hair bristles, on the front of the brush,
the ends of the metallic bristles being level with those of hair. The wire that
binds the metallic bristles, at the back of the brush is in metallic contact with each
bunch of bristles, and runs the whole length of each row, leaving one free end to
each separate row of metallic bristles, the free end of each being connected with the
projecting wires of the battery herein before described. The metallic bristles
thereby form the two poles of the battery In the case of four rows of metallic
bristles, the two rows on each side may be connected together, thus forming two
double rows.
Each double row may be connected with the projecting wires of the
battery, as in the case of two single rows. Or if three rows of metallic bristles
are used, the centre row may form one pole, and the two outer rows the other pole.
The wires which bind the metallic bristles are kept from contact with those of
the hair bristles, by suitable insulating material, which fills up the holes made for
the reception of the bristles, both metallic and hair, in order that the brush may be
used with a liquid if desired; the insulating material preventing the passage of
any liquid to the back of the brush.
The rim of the brush is of sufficient depth; to admit the battery, which securely
fits therein, and is entirely covered and enclosed thereby and by the back cover of
the brush.
The brush can also be used as a portable battery, the bristles forming the two
poles thereof respectively.
These brushes are constructed for use for the hair, skin, or teeth; and may be
used also for horses, dogs, or other animals
They may also be used for localising currents as may be desired
In carrying out the third part of my invention, I prefer to use vegetable acids,
which possess the advantage of neither corroding or injuring the brush or
irritating the skin. For this purpose I pour 4 parts of strong acetic acid on one
part of sulphur in small lumps, and, after allowing it to stand for 2 days, I add
40 parts of hot water, in which one part of sulphur has been boiled.
preparation is suitable for charging the batteries.
This
In preparing the mixture for external use, I use 2 parts only of the acetic acid
instead of 4 parts as mentioned above.
The object of the application of the mixture to the skin is to assist the passage
of the electric currents to the body from the brush, the body itself being a bad
conductor; and in using it the points of the bristles are first wetted therewith.
The liquid preparation may be kept ready for use in stone jars or opaque
bottles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the sail Mary M Mullin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st August
1883.
MARY MCMULLIN of No 127 Strand in the County of Middlesex Manufacturer,
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC BRUSHES AND IN THE
COMPOSITION OF THE EXCITING LIQUIDS.
The object of my said invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
electric brushes; in the composition of the exciting Liquid -and in the means and
appliances in connection therewith
My improvements relate to :-
1st A novel application of batteries to electric brushes
2nd The construction of Electric brushes :-
Thirdly. The composition of the exciting liquids applied to such batteries:-
In carrying out the first part of my invention each clement is composed of a
platinum, silver, or carbon plate or disc enclosed in an insulating case of ebonite
or other suitable non conducting material with a metallic conductor or wire in
contact with the plate or disc and projecting through the insulating envelope-On
the top of this plate but insulated therefrom is a zinc plate of equal size and shape
the two plates being separated by a pad of cloth felt or other suitable material. În
contact with the zinc plate is also a metallic conductor or wire projecting through
the insulating envelope.
In and through the side of the insulating envelope I fit a small tube of any
suitable material, through which the exciting liquid can be injected in sufficient
quantity to saturate the cloth or felt pad between the two plates.-The inner end of
the tube is sufficiently long and projects into the interior of the insulating envelope,
to form a trap therein, and prevent the surplus liquid, if any, from escaping
outwards, and the tube at the same time admits air into the interior for the purpose
of depolarization &c.
In carrying out the second part of my invention I construct the brushes with
two or more rows of metallic bristles of suitable material, each row being insulated
by non-conducting and intervening rows of hair bristles on the front of the brush,
the ends of the metallic bristles being level with those of hair The wire that
binds the metallic bristles at the back of the brush is in metallic contact with each
bunch of bristles, and runs the whole length of each row, leaving one free end to
each separate row of metallic bristles, the free end of each being connected with
the projecting wires of the battery hereinbefore described-The metallic bristles
thereby form the two poles of the battery-In the case of four rows of metallic
bristles, the two rows on each side may be connected together thus forming two
double rows. Each double row may be connected with the projecting wires of the
battery as in the case of two single rows.
Or if three rows of metallic bristles are used the centre row may form one pole,
and the two outer rows the other pole.
The wires which bind the metallic bristles are kept from contact with those of
the hair bristles, by suitable insulating material which fills up the holes made for
the reception of the bristles both metallic and hair, in order that the brush may be
used with a liquid if desired, the insulating material preventing the passage of any
liquid to the back of the brush
The rim of the brush is of sufficient depth to admit the battery, which securely
fits therein, and is entirely covered and enclosed thereby and by the back cover of
the brush. The Brush can also be used as a portable battery, the bristles forming
the two poles thereof respectively.

page_text: These brushes are constructed for use for the hair, skin or teeth; and may be
used also for horses, dogs, or other animals.
They may also be used for localising currents as may be desired.
In carrying out the third part of my invention, I prefer to use vegetable acids,
which possess the advantage of neither corroding nor injuring the brush, or
irritating the skin.
For this purpose I pour 4 parts of strong acetic acid on one part of sulphur in
small lumps, and, after allowing it to stand for two days, I add 40 parts of hot
water in which one part of sulphur has been boiled. This preparation is suitable
for charging the batteries.
In preparing the mixture for external use, I use 2 parts only of the acetic acid
instead of 4 parts as mentioned above.
The object of the application of the mixture to the skin is to assist the passage
of electric currents to the body from the brush, the body itself being a bad
conductor ; and in using it the points of the bristles are first wetted therewith.
The liquid preparation may be kept ready for use in stone jars or opaque
bottles.
And in order that my said invention may be clearly understood reference is
hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
Fig. 1 is a diagram of a brush with the back cover removed to show the space
available for the battery. Fig. 2 is a section on the line. x x of Fig. 1 with the
back cover in its place. a is the space occupied by the battery, which consists of
platinum silver or carbon plates and zinc plates, laid in the usual manner with
insulating and absorbent materials.
The whole space a is either occupied by single plates fitting the same, or this
space may be divided as shown in Fig. 3 where a¹ a2 and a³ are three spaces
separated by divisions b b, in which spaces separate batteries are placed which may
be used separately or all or any number of them, s is the waterproof non-conducting
lining or casing.
In Fig. 2 the position of the wires c, c are shown, shaded black: the inner ends
of which are in electrical connection with the opposite poles of the battery or
batteries, the group on one side being attached to and forming the positive pole,
and that on the other side the negative pole. The bristles d, d of ordinary
material, make up the remainder of the brush. The groups of wire cc may be
arranged in any number of rows, either longitudinally, diagonally or transversely,
care being taken to attach positive and negative electrodes alternately to the
groups.
The tubes e e are for the purpose of admitting air into the interior to neutralise
polarisation, and also for the purpose of admitting the injection of the exciting
fluid and retaining the same when injected, in case the brush is held with that
side downwards
Fig. 2 is so drawn as to assist the description and not as limiting the number of
wires and bristles, which may be much more numerous than as shown in the
figure.
The arrangement in Fig. 3 enables the operator to increase or diminish the
battery power. By injecting fluid into only one of such batteries, say, that
occupying a2, only one third of the battery power is used. Two or three may of
course, be used, when increased power is required and a switch arrangement is
used therewith in order to disconnect or put out of action one or more of the
batteries.
Instead of placing the battery or batteries in the back of the brush, as herein-
before described, the back may be made solid and the battery may be placed in a
circular or elliptical recess in the handle of the brush as shown at f in Fig. 3 (in
'dotted lines)
Fig. 4 represents one form of this battery (drawn to a large scale) The outer
portion g is a tube of glass or other suitable material. This is enclosed at each
+

page_text: end with metallic caps h h¹. Next to and in contact with the glass tube, is a tube
or coil of platinum or any other suitable material (shown in the figure by dark
lines ii) This platinum electrode is in metallic contact with the cap h. kk is a
cylinder or roll of felt, cloth or other suitable material, for receiving and retaining
the exciting fluid. m is a zinc rod, attached to the handle-tip n, and screwed
into h, as shown, by which means the zinc rod is in metallic contact with the
cap h. The rod m can be readily withdrawn, dipped into the fluid, and again
inserted, or a small quantity of fluid may be injected while the rod m is
withdrawn in order to saturate k, and cause electric action to take place, when the
brush is applied. The wires o o are united to the respective groups of wire
bristles.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section, on the line y y of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 represents another form of tubular battery, in which discs of platinum,
felt and zinc or any other suitable material, are fitted upon the non-conducting
rod p which is fixed to n and has a metallic screw q, which screws into the
metallic cap h, as before described. The button is in contact with the adjoining
disc and also with the cap h, and by these means the two poles of the battery are,
as before, connected with the wire bristles. On withdrawing the rod and discs
together, the whole may be dipped into the fluid and re inserted in its place for
use. Fig. 7 is a section of Fig. 6 on the line z z.
I sometimes fit one or more of these tubes in the back of the brush instead of
into the handle, suitable recesses being formed therein for that purpose.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of iny said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it to be understood that
I am aware that electric brushes have been proposed to be made, but that such
attempts to produce electric brushes have generally failed from the constructive
details not having been efficiently worked out and I claim :-
1. The use and manufacture of electric brushes constructed substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described and shewn on the drawings or any mere
modification thereof
-
2. In electric brushes such as above described, the use of tubes, such as 6,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In electric brushes such as above described the construction at the back
thereof of one or more insulated receptacles or cells together with batteries
connected with polar wires such as c c substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4 In electric brushes such as above described, the construction in the handles
thereof of receptacles or cells together with batteries connected with polar wires
such as cc substantially as shewn in Figs: 3, 4 5. 6. 7 and for the purposes
described
5. In electric brushes, the use of exciting liquids composed of the several
ingredients for generating electric currents substantially as herein described:
In witness whereof I the said Mary McMullin have hereunto set my hand and
seal the thirty first day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three
TYTT