Improvements in or relating to the Removal of Dirt, Stains, and the like from Fabrics and other Materials or Articles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Removal of Dirt, Stains, and the
like from Fabrics and other Materials or Articles.
I, SYDNEY SIMMONS of Pleasant Grove, York Road, King's Cross, in the
County of Middlesex, Carpet Beater, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the removal of dirt, stains, and the like impurities from
various kinds of textile and other fabrics and articles, skins, furs and so forth, and
may be carried out in the following manner.
It is well known that benzine, turpentine and similar rapidly evaporating
materials are effective in the removal of stains etc. from various materials. The
agent most commonly used is benzine and this is usually rubbed in with a piece of
flannel or the like, but this has the disadvantage that with delicate fabrics injury is
almost sure to occur and generally it is an inconvenient way of applying the agent.
Now by my present invention I apply the cleansing agent by means of compressed
air or the equivalent thereof which will apply the agent to the material to be
operated upon in a spray so as to accomplish the needful cleaning. I do not bind
myself to use any particular cleansing agent as a large number of different agents
may be employed; for example, in some cases soap and water will be the most
suitable, in others benzine or turpentine. Plain water may also be used.
A convenient way of applying the invention with portable apparatus is to employ
a suitable form of jet or nozzle to which the compressed air and the cleansing agent
are conducted and from which they are delivered upon the material to be operated
upon. The compressed air may be supplied in any convenient manner as by any
small apparatus such as a compressible rubber ball, or by an air pump air compressor
or other similar means according to the requirements of the case and the size of the
apparatus.
Dated this 25th day of June 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Removal of Dirt, Stains, and the
like from Fabrics and other Materials or Articles.
I, SYDNEY SIMMONS of Pleasant Grove, York Road, King's Cross in the
County of Middlesex, Carpet Beater, 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 :-
This invention relates to the removal of dirt, stains, and the like impurities from
various kinds of textile and other fabrics and articles, skins, furs and so forth, and
may be carried out in the following manner.
It is well known that benzine, turpentine and similar rapidly evaporating
materials are effective in the removal of stains etc. from various materials. The
agent most commonly used is benzine and this is usually rubbed in with a piece of
flannel or the like, but this has the disadvantage that with delicatè fabrics injury is
almost sure to occur and generally it is an inconvenient way of applying the agent.
Now by my present invention I apply the cleansing agent by means of compressed
air or the equivalent thereof which will apply the agent to the material to be
operated upon in a spray so as to accomplish the needful cleaning. I do not bind

page_text: myself to use any particular cleansing agent as a large number of different agents
may be employed; for example in some cases soap and water will be the most suitable,
in others benzine or turpentine. Plain water may also be used.
A convenient way of applying the invention with portable apparatus is to employ
a suitable form of jet or nozzle to which the compressed air and the cleansing agent are
conducted and from which they are delivered upon the material to be operated upon.
The compressed air may be supplied in any convenient manner as by any sinall
apparatus such as a compressible rubber ball, or by an air pump, air compressor or
other similar means according to the requirements of the case and the size of the
apparatus.
The accompanying drawing serves to illustrate one form of apparatus adapted
for carrying this invention into practice.
In this drawing A is an enclosed tank or vessel adapted to contain the liquid
agent by which the cleansing is to be effected, B a pipe extending from the tank A
to the nozzle carrying tube or vessel C supported in brackets D secured to any
convenient portion of the apparatus; between B and C is a portion of flexible or
jointed piping E to allow of the tube C being reciprocated in its supports as will
presently appear. F is a cage roller or equivalent device which may be positively
operated as by a belt upon the fast pulley F2 secured upon the shaft F¹ or F may
be merely carried freely in the bearings H so as to allow of its being turned when
the articles to be cleaned are passed through the machine, F3 is a loose pulley on
shaft F, G is an open trough underneath the roller F and is connected with the closed
tank A by the pipe I in which may be located an injector or other pump K. Lis
an air-pipe or jet adapted to deliver air under pressure into the liquid agent passing
through the pipe B. B' is a stop cock on the pipe B, M is an inlet pipe for com-
pressed air, steam or the like, and N is an escape pipe provided with a stop cock or
valve for the purpose of allowing the escape of the pressure in A when required.
The pipe M would be controlled by a valve or stop cock for shutting off or
admitting the pressure as required. P is a circular cam engaging with jaws Q
preferably provided with anti-friction rollers fixed upon the shaft C of the nozzle-
carrier C for the purpose of reciprocating it. P¹ is a pulley which through the
sleeve or tubular shaft P2 mounted loosely on shaft F rotates the cam P at a speed
preferably considerably greater than that of 5. 02 are the nozzles by which the
jets of the cleansing agent, and compressed air or equivalent, are discharged upon
the articles to be cleaned. The operation is as follows:-
The closed vessel A is charged in any convenient manner as by the funnel R
with the cleansing fluid which may consist as above explained of benzine or other
similar volatile agent mixed if desired with water or other diluent whether for the
purpose of reducing its strength or increasing the volume or total quantity of fluid
without seriously increasing the cost. When the tank A is charged the stop-
cock R¹ is closed and the air or water under pressure admitted by the pipe M.
Generally air would be the medium employed for imparting the requisite velocity
to the cleansing medium. By the pressure introduced into A the liquid is forced
out through the pipe B to the nozzle carrier C and through the nozzles C2 on to
the articles placed beneath them and upon the roller F, the said articles being
carried beneath the nozzles and thus receiving the cleansing fluid as discharged
from the nozzles. As already explained the roller F may be operated by any
suitable means in which case it would assist in drawing the articles underneath the
nozzles, or the articles may be placed by hand or feed rollers or the like under-
neath the nozzles and pushed through, turning the roller F as they pass.
Instead
of the roller F a suitable table or equivalent which may be a fixture may be
provided but it should preferably be perforated or means should be provided for
causing the cleansing fluid to pass to the trough G. From the trough G the
cleansing agent is returned to the tank A by means of the injector K or other
suitable pumping device, or when the pressure is off as by the closing of the valve
upon the pipe M and the opening of the cock O upon the pipe N, the liquid may
be allowed to gravitate into the tank A by simply running through the injector.

page_text: Rapid reciprocating motion may be imparted to the nozzle-carrier C for the
purpose of causing the jets to reach every part of the articles by means of the
cam P which as it revolves moves the jaws backwards and forwards and with it
the shaft C and nozzle carrier C as will be readily understood.
The object of the air-pipe L is as it were to revivify the fluid passing through
the pipe B and apply fresh pressure to it near the nozzles so as to make it spray
well as it leaves the nozzles.
In using this apparatus the articles to be cleaned are placed upon the roller F
underneath the nozzles C2 as already explained either by hand or by suitable feed,
and the cleansing agent being forced under pressure from the nozzles C² cleanses
the article as it passes while the longitudinal reciprocating motion imparted to the
nozzles C2 causes them to cover every part of the article to be dealt with. The
fluid passes through or over the roller F into the trough G and is from there
pumped by the pump or injector K through the pipe I into the closed vessel A.
Here the pressure supplied through the pipe M forces the fluid through the pipe B
back again to the nozzle carrier C and so through the nozzles, the cycle of
operations being continued as long as necessary and the air pipe L delivering the
pressure afresh into the pipe B near its end. When it is desired to stop the
machine the supply of pressure to the pipe M is cut off by the closing of its cock
or valve and atmospheric pressure established in the closed vessel A through the
pipe N and cock O, or if time be allowed the pressure will escape through the
nozzles C. Any liquid contained in the trough G can now gravitate through
the pipe I and the injector or pump K if suitable for the purpose into the
vessel A.
The vessel A may be re-charged when required through the funnel R and
cock R'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I am aware that volatile fluids such as those specified have before now been
used for cleansing purposes but have been hitherto applied by rubbing as with
flannel, sponge or the like; also that soap and similar materials or compounds have
been similarly applied for a similar purpose. So far however as I have been able
to ascertain the application of these materials for the purpose of removing dirt,
grease stains, and the like from articles of clothing and other goods, in such a
manner that the mechanical scrubbing operation is accomplished by the velocity
imparted to the fluid by the pressure with which it is applied has never before been
attempted. I claim :-
1. The method of removing dirt grease stains and the like from articles of
clothing fabrics and the like by subjecting the said articles or goods to a spray or
jet of the cleansing agent substantially as described.
2. The method of applying a cleansing agent by means of a jet of air or other
fluid under pressure substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In apparatus for cleansing articles of clothing fabrics and the like the employ-
ment of a closed tank or vessel containing the cleansing agent and from which it
is expelled by the introduction of air or other fluid pressure substantially as
described.
4. In apparatus for cleansing articles of clothing fabrics and the like the com-
bination with a closed tank or vessel such as A of a jet carrier such as C connected
with A by a suitable pipe or conduit a cage or openwork roller such as F and an
open trough such as G connected with A by a pump or injector substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
5. In apparatus for cleansing articles of clothing fabrics and the like the com-
bination with a closed tank such as A and open trough such as G of a pump or
injector K for the purpose of transferring the fluid collected in G into A without
the necessity for lowering the pressure therein substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

page_text: 6. In apparatus for cleansing articles of clothing fabrics and the like a closed
tank such as A having a pressure inlet a pressure outlet or relief a jet supply pipe
a pump or injector and charging funnel and cock substantially as and for the
purpose described.
7. In apparatus for cleansing articles of clothing fabrics and the like the com-
bination with a closed tank and jet supply pipe of a pressure reviving pipe 'or
nozzle such as L substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 10th day of Annil 1901
SYDNEY SIMMONS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.