Improved Means for Cleaning Tubes, Ordnance, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Cleaning Tubes, Ordnance, and the like.
I ADDISON WILLIS 4 Lansdowne Place Brunswick Square London W.C.
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus which forms the object of the present application for Letters
Patent consists of an expansible metal brush or scraper preferably cylindrical and
60 devised that it can be passed freely into the tubes of locomotive boilers and
similar apparatus and will therein expand to tho requisite dimensions in order to
officiently scrape or cleanse the inner surfaces of the said tubes.
A modification of the apparatus is also applicable to cleaning the bores of cannon
or other firearms. The circular brush is divided into segments preferably three in
numbor each of which is mounted upon a steel spring secured below to a socket
and bent slightly outwards. A ring sliding upon the said springs can be adjusted
to compress the same wholly or partly so that the brush may form a closed oylinder
or expand into three segments at some distance from each other. When partly or
wholly expanded the segments are pressed by their respective springs against the
surface of the tube into which they are passed and are brought efficiently into
contact with the same. When the apparatus is used for the purpose of cleaning
ordnance and the like the wire brushes are preferably replaced by softer
materials.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Oleaning Tubes, Ordnance, and the like.
ADDISON WILLIS, 1 Lansdowne Place, Brunswick Square, formerly of
4 Lansdowne Place, in the County of London Manufacturer 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 :-
The apparatus which forms the object of the present application for Letters
Patent consists of an expansible metal brush or scraper preferably oylindrical and
so devised that it can be passed freely into the tubes of locomotive boilers and
similar apparatuses and will theroin expand to the requisite dimensions in order to
efficiently scrape or cleanse the inner surfaces of the said tubes.
A modification of the apparatus is also applicable to cleaning the bores of cannon
or other fire arms.
In order to more fully explain my invention and the way in which I prefer to
carry the same into effect I will now make reference to the accompanying drawing
in which
Figure 1 réprésents the tube brush in its expanded condition and
Figure 2 represents the same when held closed by the controlling ring and ready
for insertion into the tube or bore of the article to be cleansed.

page_text: The apparatus consists of a socket A bearing a spindle B to which are secured,
preferably by screws as shown in the drawing three flat steel bars C, D, E,
respectively, the said bars being arranged concentrically upon the spindle, and
being somewhat bent outwards as shown in Figure 1 in order to give the requisite
spring to the segments of the brush. F represents a bent iron plate of the shape
shown, divided into three segments and bolted to the springs C, D, E, aforesaid,
for the purpose of carrying the segments of the brush G. The said brash may be
of any suitable material and secured to the divided plate F by bolts or rivets, or
by wire fastenings passing through holes in the base of the brush and of the plate F
respectively, or in any other convenient manner. For the purpose of cleaning the
tubes of locomotive boilers and similar purposes I prefer to form the brush G of
stiff wire, for cleaning the bore of cannons metal pipes and similar purposes, where
the friction of a wire brush would he too injurious to the rifling or interior of the
bore I prefer to have the brush of suitable. wire, combined with bristles, coir,
cocoanut fibre, split cane, or other material. For certain purposes requiring still
more gentle friction, I may replace the brush by pads or rubbers of leather, felt,
indiarubber, or other elastic or yielding material.
The controlling ring H is adapted to slide upon the spring bars C, D, E, and
open or close the brush as required. The action of the device is as follows:-
The socket A which is conveniently provided with an internal screwthread
having been screwed or secured to a bar or handle of sufficient length, the
controlling ring H is pushed up and the apparatus is placed in the position shown
in Figure 2. It can then be freely inserted in the end of a tube of somewhat
greater diameter than that of the brush when in the closed position. The ring H
is then drawn down into the position shown in Figure 1 and the brush expands
more or less as shown in the said figure bringing its active surface into close
contact with the interior of the tube or bore. The apparatus is then rotated and
propelled up and down in the tube until the requisite cleansing effect is obtained.
If desired the ring I may have attached to it a chain, wire or strap of suitable
length so that the apparatus may be passed into the tube to the far end thereof in
the closed position and the ring may be then drawn down and the apparatus
expanded.
It is obvious that my invention may be carried out with certain modifications in
detail without departing from the principle thereof and especially that a number
of spring bars greater than three may be employed with a considerably increased
number of segments of the brush if found desirable.
In place of the brush described I may also use a series of rings or scrapers of
auy suitable pattern for the same object.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for cleansing the interior of pipes, tubes ordnance and the like
a segmental brush or scraping device mounted upon spring bars devised to expand
the said segments and press them against the interior of the tube or bore
substantially as described.
2. The apparatus for cleaning the interior of tubes, pipes, ordnance and the like,
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 6th day of Jul♥ 1898
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.