IMPROVEMENTS IN CARPET CLEANING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, THOMAS ALDERMAN, of 18, St Georges Street, Battersea Park Road, London,
Upholsterer, in the county of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARPET CLEANING MACHINES". to be as follows:-
That by these means, Carpets may be cleaned without beating, the dust being
extracted independently of that process, which is invariably attended with much
time, trouble, and expense, to say nothing of other inconveniences; and under my
invention they may be taken up and cleaned in the same house or room, and relaid
without further trouble or expense.
The apparatus may be termed "The Alderman Carpet Cleaner" simply because
it is composed of interchangeable sections; for each section may be used separately.
or conjointly, as may be required for different branches and by these means all
sized carpets; Stair-carpets, druggets, hearthrugs, mats, and matting may be cleaned
by any domestic or other person.
For extra business purposes; where carpets are cleaned by contract, and for
Warehousing Depôts; a Mechanical arrangement is made, so that when the
apparatus is fitted up to suit these requirements; the machine may be set in
motion, and worked either by manual, or steam power; the former being accom-
plished by powerful wheels, and cords passing over and around them for the
purpose of pulling or winding, in the latter it only becomes necessary to fit up in
the usual way for steam power.
The sections, are composed of wood and iron; formed into square or oblong
frames or benches, with cross rails and laths, over which is laid; open wirework,
consisting of galvanized-iron-wire lattice-work or net-work made to any size.
To enlarge the apparatus a series of sections may be coupled together, by an
outer frame, made to enclose the whole; by these means a large field or bed is.
formed, over which, when the Machine is set in motion, the carpet travels backwards
and forwards by which action the dust passes or is riddled through the network
into the frames or receptacles below, thus preventing it, from flying or spreading in
any way over the room wherein it is so cleaned.

page_text: I, THOMAS ALDERMAN of 18 St Georges Street Battersea Park Road in the
County of Surrey London, Upholsterer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARPET CLEANING MACHINES," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
.
That by these means Mats and Carpets may be cleaned with or without beating;
the dust being extracted independently of that process, which is invariably attended
with much time, trouble, and expence; to say nothing of other inconveinences.
The apparatus may be termed "The Alderman Carpet Cleaner," simply because,
it is composed, of interchangeable sections for each section may be used seperately
or conjointly, as may be required for different branches, and by these means all
sized carpets, Stair-carpets, druggets hearthrugs, mats, and matting may be cleaned
by any domestic or other person.
For extra business purposes, where carpets are cleaned by contract, and for
warehousing Depôts, a mechanical arrangement is made for a double action so that,
when the apparatus is fitted up to suit those requirements, the machine may be set
in motion and worked either by manual or other motive power; the former being
accomplished by powerful wheels, and cords passing over and around them, for the
purpose of pulling or winding; in the latter, it only becomes necessary to fit up in
the usual way for steam or other motive-power.
The sections, are composed of wood and iron; formed into square or oblong
frames or benches, with cross rails and laths over which is laid open wirework,
consisting of galvanized-iron-wire lattice work or net work made to any size.
To enlarge the apparatus; a series of sections may be coupled together by an
outer frame, made to enclose the whole; by these means a large field or bed of
grating is formed over which, when the machine is set in motion, the carpet travels
backwards and forwards; by which action the dust passes or is riddled through the
grating of iron and net work into the receptacles below, thus, preventing it from
flying or spreading in any way over the room wherein it is so cleaned; see
Drawings, Part 1; the letter M, shows the machine in working order, and the
carpet (L:) as being pulled over the net-work; A, B, C, and I, give the different
sections; C, is intended with D, for mats, and may be fitted to dust-binns for that
purpose; E, and I. small sections for scouring process; J, and K, portions of the
outer frame together with cramps and screws: F, the coupling-irons for coupling
both inner and outer frames together, G, the lashing-irons for securing or fixing the
carpet to while being cleaned, H, are a pair of tuggs for pulling carpets backwards
and forwards; by these means carpets may be thoroughly cleaned all the year
round and in all weathers, besides which the apparatus is made portable for
removals and all domestic purposes.
Part 2, illusterates a mechanical arrangement for winding carpets of extra large
size and thickness over the wire-work or iron grating which is similar to part 1, in
its agency for extracting the dust, which is one of the features of my invention;
this Machine has been constructed for stationary purposes and may be termed the
Manual Machine;" havaing greater power than the former it may require more
management, and men to work it, it is provided with a double-hand shaft on which
is fixed two drums for the purpos of winding with a cord passing over and around
as seen at J, and K, the cord is then passed over the pulley at O, and brought under
to meet the other end which is provided with a hook as seen at V. both sides are

page_text: the same way constructed; the shaft and drums are supported by two upright
standards with a stout beam made of wood or iron passing from side to side, for
the purpose of taking both the bearing or bearings that may be required to carry
and also to steady the shaft which passes from one standard to the other horizon-
tally as may be seen at H. I, J. and K. The drums are made with wood, and
iron-flanges the one screwed to the other, something like a hoop filled-in with a
trencher, turned to the size.
The Manual Machine is provided with four pullies and standard-frames, so as to
fix one at each corner of the outer-frame as seen at O. and in like manner to the
middle standard at I: the sections are made interchangeable but laid on sleepers
for the purpose of affording better means for running the trolley wheels which
support the lashing-bar, by these means the carpet is made to travel over the
net-work more easely than it otherwise would do; the lashing-bar is made of
angle-iron the width and length required and drilled with holes at regular distances
apart for the purpose of tacking or stiching the carpet thereto so as to prevent the
seams from tearing or breaking away while it is undergoing the cleaning process:
The lashing-bars are differently constructed for the Manual machine and are fitted
with axles and brackets for carrying the ropes when fixed to them as seen at U,
and N. in part 2: the brackets are made of a tee shape, the top of which is about
six inches in length and of half-round hollow-iron for the purpose of receiving and
holding the rope which is made secure by a ring for tightening the same as at U,
and P: the other part of the bracket has to be drilled and fitted on to the shoulder
of the bent axle S,"and both bolted and screwed together as at R, part 2, and at T.
(the two ends of lashing-bar.)
Having rendered my plan for the working of the Machine under the Manunl
arrangements: I now turn to the aforesaid Mechanical action for working the same
by steam or other motive-power: In this there is nothing at all complicated in the
scheme, it is only necessary to shift the two winding handles from the axle and
substitute them with a proper crank-action for driving the same, beyond this there
is no difference in the erection or working arrangenents: The only object being the
extra power, whereby it becomes more mechanical and may be so termed as a
distinction from the aforesaid machines.
Part 8. The Portable arrangements, This Apparatus is so constructed that it may
become an artical of general utility under the new process of carpet cleaning, more
particularly as regards removals and all large furniture warehouses and Depôts for
which it is specially adapted for by using the portable apparatus carpets may be
cleaned in one room ready for laying in the next, as the dust is collected and
prevented from spreading duering the process for as the dust leaves the carpet it
naturally deposits itself in the machine below: Door Mats, large and small may
be similarly treated with equel effect.
The Portable sections are formed in such a manner that by gradually deminishing
them they are thus made to fit within each-other, the two outside sections forming
a case for enclosing the whole, these are made secure by corner plates together with
screws and sockets, by which means they can be readily packed or unpacked for
the purpose they are intended.
Part 4, The Domestic Machine, The various sections and applyences belonging
to this apparatus may be better understood by refering to the Drawings Part 1.
(Sheet 1.) The letter M. is placed on the outer frame of the machine which
encloses the whole of the sections and forms a complete bed of wire-work or grating
for the purpose of trailing the carpet (L.) over the same, by the aid of the handles
and tuggs as seen at H: and as atteched to the lashing-bars G. these are intended
for pulling backwards and forwards also for keeping the carpet from collapsion
duering the process of cleaning: The different frames are made secure to each other
by means of the iron-cramps and screws together with iron-couplings as seen at F. F.
and at J. and K. these can be used with screws or without so as to suit the various
requirements: Section A, represent a frame of woodwork with thin iron laths
crossed' at equel distances for the purpose of carrying the wirework or grating as

page_text: seen at B. which has to be securely bound round the edges with zinc-sheeting:
Sections C. and D. are similarly made and intended for cleaning door-mats and
small carpets and may be fitted to dust-binns for that purpose: The small sections
Fig. 1. 2. 3. 4. are intended for scrubbing the surface of carpets when they require
scouring; these are substituted for brushes as more suitable for lifting the pile of
the carpets while they are under the process of cleaning só as to give them a more
finished appearence, these together with the whole apparatus as aforesaid, are
specially adapted for all carpet cleaning grounds and may be used with or without
beating: The beating is not absolutely necessary beyond the simple fact that some
persons may do so from choise, concequently I mention it as a proviso.
Having now particularly described and ascertained. the nature of my said
invention, and what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is as herein aforesaid :-
First, The wire-work or grating arrangements for the purpose of trailing or
pulling carpets over its surface as set fourth in Page 1. and 2. Also the frames as
forming receptacles for the dust; the former acting as an agency for extracting,
while the latter receives and prevents the same from spreading; I do not pretend
to any particular pattern of wire-work or grating or laticework as they are too
multifarious as ansuering the same end if similarly treated.
Second, The Mechanical Contrivence as described Page 4, for a double action so
as to suit manual as well as steam or other motive power, also as illusterated in
Part 2, (Sheet 2,) as showing the winding and pulling process by means of cords or
bands passing over and around powerful wheels or drums for the purpose of givin
or affording a proper rotatory action to the whole machine.
Third, The Portable Apparatus, as explained Page 6, with regard to fitting; and
securing the saine by means of plates, screws, and sockets..
Fourth, The Domestic Machines; as numerated Page 1. 2, and 3. and also
illustrated in Part 1. (Sheet 1.) The purposes for which these have been con-
structed are too multifarious to mention, concequently limit space by saying they
may be used to advantage in all large Houses public or private, also for shops of all
description as regards the cleaning of Mats and matting, for-such purpoes these
Machines surpass all beating, sweeping or brushing.
Dated thin 4th dow of Novembar 100%

page_text: FIG.2.
FIG. 4.