CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SWEEPING AND CLEANSING CHIMNIES AND FLUES, AND IN EN- CREASING THE DRAFT THEREIN, AND IN PREVENTING THE SAME PROM SMOKING
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
EVANS, of Coleshill Street, Eaton Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Second day of November, in the seventh year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
David Evans, my exors, adñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said David Evans, my exors, adñiors,
and assigns, and such others as the said David Evans, my exors, adñiors,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN SWEEPING AND CLEANSING CHIMNIES AND FLUES, AND IN EN-
CREASING THE DRAFT THEREIN, AND IN PREVENTING THE SAME PROM SMOKING;"
in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
David Evans, to particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, and to cause the same to be enrolled in

page_text: Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
David Evans, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be fully described and repre-
sented in and by the following statement thereof, and by the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
The first part of these improvements relates to sweeping and cleansing
chimnies and flues, and consists in a novel and peculiar arrangement and
combination of certain parts (hereafter fully described and represented) consti-
tuting an apparatus for the purpose of removing soot and other accumulations
therefrom, whereby the operation is rendered more simple and the apparatus
less expensive than those hitherto employed for that purpose; moreover the
necessity for cutting or disturbing the brickwork of chimnies for inserting or
fixing friction rollers, plates, or other iron work at the angles or bends is by
these improvements entirely dispensed with, as also soot doors or other open-
ings for a similar purpose, whereby the nuisance arising from the emission of
sulphurous vapour or smoke at these parts is entirely avoided, and the safety
of buildings considerably enhanced; and further, by the above-mentioned
improved apparatus (which requires little exertion to work it) the angles or
bends of the chimney undergo scarcely any change, whilst with the apparatus
hitherto employed, great exertion being required to work them, the chimney
at these parts soon becomes damaged by the friction of the different parts of
the said apparatus forcing out the bricks in the "withs or partitions, as like-
wise injuring the pargetting or plastering, thus rendering the chimney not
only unsound but liable to smoke. In order to explain this first part of my
said improvements as completely as possible, and to point out the means of
obviating the objections attending the apparatus or machines hitherto employed
for cleansing chimnies or flues, I will proceed to describe the arrangement of
parts which I consider well calculated for that purpose, and for carrying out
my said Invention, which arrangement will be found to answer extremely
well.
"
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS, FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, AND 5*, 6, 7, AND 8.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a chimney, shewing the internal
arrangement of some of the parts of the apparatus to be employed in sweeping
or cleansing the same. Figure 2, a vertical section of a chimney, shewing the

page_text: apparatus as in use. Figure 3, a detached plan view of a brush to be employed
in sweeping chimnies. Figure 4, a vertical section of the same. Figure 5, a
detached front view of a metal chimney pot. Figure 5* an isometrical view
of a chimney stack, with improved metal pots. Figures 6, 7, 8, represent
detached parts of the apparatus. In Figure 1, a, a, represents the inside of a
chimney, at the top of which a chimney pot b, b, of metal or other suitable
material, is securely fixed; at the upper part of this metal pot a hook'e is made
fast, for the purpose of carrying a pulley d, which is suspended therefrom by
an eye e (see detached Figures 6 and 7); over this pulley a wire rope or
chain f, f, is passed, the ends of which are furnished with hooks, which are
passed over hooks 4 and 5 fixed to the brickwork at each side of and at a
convenient distance above the fire grate or stove, so as to remain suspended in
the chimney, when it is not required to use the other parts of the apparatus, in
the employment of which the operation of cleansing chimnies is conducted in
manner following:-Metal hooks (similar to that shewn at detached Figure 8)
being attached to the ends of a hempen rope g, (which for durability I prefer
being of similar construction to that known as Patent "sash line,") the
operator connects it to one end of the wire rope f by the hook fixed thereto,
when by pulling the other end of the wire rope in the direction of the arrow's
flight, the hempen rope will be passed over the pulley d, the operator con-
tinuing to pull until he has brought the entire length of the wire rope down
the chimney, and disconnecting the ropes, proceeds next to connect the brush h
to the rope g, by passing the hook fixed thereto through an eye 3, fixed to the
brush, as shewn, and subsequently passing the other end of the rope through
the centre of the brush (which is constructed with a hole through it for that
purpose (see detached Figures 3 and 4), connects it to the under side of the
brush in manner as before. This comprises the whole of the apparatus, the
action of which is as follows:-The operator having introduced the brush into
the chimney, imparts to the same an upward motion by pulling the cord 1; but
in order that the brush as it advances may be more effectual in the removal of
the soot, it will be found necessary to pull the cord 2 slightly, which will
impart to the brush a rocking or vibrating motion, thereby rendering it very
effective, particularly at the angles or bends of the chimney, which require
more than the ordinary motion of the brush to remove the accumulation of
soot at these parts; the operator having worked the brush a sufficient time
according to his judgment, traverses the brush downwards, and disconnecting
the saine from the rope g, proceeds to replace or suspend the wire rope f in
the chimney; to effect which, similar means are employed to those for passing
the cord over the pulley. This being done, and the ends of the wire rope or

page_text: chain placed upon the hooks 4 and 5, the other parts of this apparatus may
be put away until again required. It will appear evident that the wire rope
or chain which is left in the chimney is employed solely for the purpose of
conducting the hempen cord over the pulley d.
Having now described the nature of this first part of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not claim the exclusive use of any of the separate parts of the improve-
ments in sweeping and cleansing chimnies and flues, as above described and
referred to, except so far as the same may be employed for the purposes above
mentioned; neither do I claim the exclusive use of wire rope, the same having
been used for a similar purpose; but what I do claim is the construction and
application of the combined apparatus of the brush and parts connected there-
with, constituting an apparatus for sweeping and cleaning chimnies and flues,
as above described and represented by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
The second part of these improvements relates to a method of increasing the
draught in chimnies, and in preventing the same from smoking, and consists,
firstly, in a novel and peculiar arrangement and construction of certain parts
of a stove, by which the quantity of air passing up the chimney may be easily
regulated by an arrangement hereafter described for increasing or diminishing
the area of the opening thereof, and consequently preventing the chimney from
smoking; secondly, in a new mode of introducing or supplying atmospheric
air to the fire by directing the same through the fender, and subsequently
between the bars of the stove; the air being thus caused to pass through the
fire, renders combustion more perfect. And in order to explain this second part
said improvements as completely as possible, I will proceed to describe
the arrangement of parts which I consider well calculated for that purpose, and
which will be found to answer extremely well.
of
my
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS, FIGURES 9, 10, 11, 12, AND 13.
Figure 9 represents a front view of a stove, shewing the arrangement of
some of the parts for the air to pass through. Figure 10, a vertical section of
a stove and chimney, taken through the 'line A, B, (Figure 9,) and also a
transverse section of a fender and air drain. Figure 11, a detached view of a
fender and air drain. Figure 12, another form of construction of fender.
Figure 13, a detached enlarged isometrical view of one of the parts of a stove.
k, k, a stove somewhat similar to that known as a register stove; 1, 1, a move-
able back, constructed with pivots m, m, working in bearings n, n, formed in
the casting o, o, which is set in the brickwork of the chimney, as shewn; the
construction and arrangement of the parts of this moveable back will be better

page_text: -
understood by referring to the detached Figure. 13, in which the moveable
back 1, 1, is represented as being constructed with a sliding piece p, having.
openings q, q, q, corresponding with openings r, r, r; formed in the moveable
back I, I, which has a holes formed therein (see Figure 9) for the purpose of
inserting a poker or other instrument. The action of this moveable back is as
follows: Assuming the fire to be lighted, and the back in the position shewn
at Figure 10, the draught of the chimney may be regulated by bringing
forward the back until it rests upon the casting o, o, when by inserting a poker
in the hole s and corresponding hole formed in the boss t upon the sliding
piece p, the openings q, q, and 2, 7, may thus be brought opposite to each
other, or be made to cover one another partially or wholly, thereby regulating
the draught by the quantity of air admitted up the chimney, and also to prevent
the rain or wind descending to the fire-place, or the annoyance from the smoke
of other chimnies. t*, a flue to prevent lodgement of ashes or soot, and fur-
nished with a small door, for the purpose of removing any accumulations
therefrom. I would here remark, that although I employ air drains for sup-
plying air to the fire, they do not form any part of my said Invention, further
than as relates to the application of them in conjunction with my improved
fender (which I-designate a pneumatic fender); the same being constructed in
the following manner :-u, u, a fender, the external configuration of which is
somewhat similar to that of an ordinary fender, with these exceptions: the
sloping part of the fender is constructed with a series of perforations or
openings ***
(see detached Figures 11 and 12), and the bottom part thereof
has likewise openings v, v, formed therein, which fit over corresponding openings
w, w, formed in the hearthstone, as shewn; these openings communicate with
an air drain x, x, which extends to the outside of the building. It will appear
evident that the air passing along the drain a cannot escape by any other way
than through the openings formed in the drain and fender, which being placed
at an angle, directs the current of air between the spaces of the bars forming
the bottom of the stove, or through the front of the stove, as found most con-
venient, the advantages of which arrangement are obvious.
Having now described the nature of the second part of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not claim the exclusive use of any of the separate parts therein
referred and above mentioned, except so far as the same may be employed for
the purposes of my said Invention, which I hereby declare to consist in and I
claim the general combination and arrangement of parts to be employed for
regulating the draught in chimnies. And I further claim the mode herein set
forth of supplying air to fires in stoves for the purpose of supporting com-

page_text: bustion, disclaiming the use of air drains for that purpose, except when
employed in conjunction with a fender or fenders constructed as above de-
scribed and represented by the Drawing hereunto annexed, and for the purposes
before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Evans, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-three.