IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SWEEPING AND CLEANING CHIMNIES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anguish Honour Augustus Durant, Esquire, of
Tong Castle, Salop, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR SWEEPING AND CLEANING CHIMNIES."
Sealed the 4th March 1856, and dated the 8th September 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anguish Honour Augustus
Durant at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th September 1855.
I, ANGUISH HONOUR AUGUSTUS DURANT, Esquire, of Tong Castle, Salop, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR SWEEPING AND CLEANING CHIMNIES" to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to simplify the apparatus employed, and to
render such apparatus lighter and more durable. And the Invention consists
partly in applying vulcanized india-rubber and gutta percha in forming the
flexible connections and elastic parts of such apparatus, which I call the
ramonette. For this purpose I form an open frame, consisting of two short
tubes or cylinders, retained at a distance apart by connecting plates, which
have recesses formed in them to receive the heads of the brushes, which are
formed of two or more parts, making up together a circular or a square. The
heads of the brushes are fixed in the recesses of the connecting plates, before
mentioned, which may be fixtures, or have a motion to or from the centre, and
be controlled by vulcanized india-rubber. To the upper tube or cylinder the

page_text: runner or guide is attached flexibly and elastically by means of vulcanized
india-rubber or gutta percha. At the lower end or tube is formed a joint
to the rod or stick, the parts being connected flexibly and elastically by means
of vulcanized india-rubber or gutta percha, such joint, however, being held
from bending when the apparatus is ascending by means of bolts or slides,
which in drawing the apparatus downwards are removed and leave the joint
yielding. Or the brushes may be made capable of movement on arms attached
to a frame of wire, fixed to a frame or tube similar to, and having a runner
such as, that above described, the arms carried by the frame being acted on
by vulcanized india-rubber in such manner as to cause the brushes to stand
off from the centre, or admit of their being pressed in towards the centre.
Scrapers may be also similarly applied to a frame for such purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Anguish Honour Augustus Durant in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th March 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANGUISH
HONOUR AUGUSTUS DURANT, Esquire, of Tong Castle, Salop, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto I,
the said Anguish Honour Augustus Durant, Her special licence that I, the
said Anguish Honour Augustus Durant, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as 1, the said Anguish Honour Augustus Durant, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SWEEPING AND
CLEANING CHIMNIES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Anguish Honour Augustus Durant, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that the said Anguish Honour Augustus Durant, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
The object of my Invention is to simplify the apparatus employed, and to
render such apparatus lighter and more durable. And my Invention consists
partly in applying vulcanized india-rubber and gutta percha in forming the
flexible connections and elastic parts of such apparatus, which I call the
ramonette. For this purpose I form an open frame, consisting of two short
tubes or cylinders, retained at a distance apart by connecting plates, which
have recesses formed in them to receive the heads of the brushes, which are
formed of two or more parts, making up together a circular or a square. The
heads of the brushes are fixed in the recesses of the connecting plates, before
mentioned, which may be fixtures, or have a motion to or from the centre, and
be controlled by vulcanized india-rubber. To the upper tube or cylinder the
runner or guide is attached flexibly and elastically by means of vulcanized
india-rubber or gutta percha. At the lower end or tube is formed a joint to
the rod or stick, the parts being connected flexibly and elastically by means of
vulcanized india-rubber or gutta percha, such joint, however, being held from
bending when the apparatus is ascending by means of bolts, slides, or other
similar means, which in drawing the apparatus downwards are removed and
leave the joint yielding. Or the brushes may be made capable of movement
on arms, attached to a frame of wire, fixed to a frame or tube similar to, and
having a runner such as, that above described. The arms carried by the frame
being acted on by vulcanized india-rubber in such manner as to cause the
brushes to stand off from the centre, or admit of their being pressed in
towards the centre. Scrapes may be also similarly applied to a frame for such
purposes.
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for sweeping chimneys and
flues, by which a light, cheap, and efficient machine for the purpose is
obtained.
I construct the brush back of an annular form, but with the extreme of brush
square, and without the use of metallic springs, but securing expansion and
contraction by means of simple clastic vegetable substances, such as gutta
percha, india-rubber, as shown in the Drawings hereunto anuexed, with
reference to the moveable brushes. Fixed brushes are so arranged, that for
sonic chimneys a simple strong and open framework of plates may be used,

page_text: made either of wood, metal, or gutta percha plates. Elastic joints are also
made of the same or similar material, the elasticity of which on certain occa-
sions in some of them may be overcome and restricted by bolts or slides when
the apparatus is used in ascending a chimney, and withdrawn when stability
and a firm rod is required. In descending, elasticity and flexibility is allowed
to the joints to the head or brush, in order to sweep out the corners or angles.
These heads or brushes are joined to a series of rods, and on the top of the
apparatus is a moveable ball, acting on its own pivot, and having elasticity
by means of the elastic springs, named guide rods, ou rollers, prevent the
brushes catching angles or corners in chimneys. These circular brushes are
either fixed at their ends together for support, strength, and tightness, or
contract laterally when less size or diameter is required for small chimneys
or chimney pots, and the framework being hollow and round, it passes more
readily, not being impeded in ascent by the accumulation of soot thereon in the
ascent, which soot may otherwise also be lost. I will now proceed to explain
the Drawings hereof as annexed hereunto.
Figure represents a side elevation of a fixed frame and brush (the brush
being in section) for sweeping chimneys constructed according to my Inven-
tion. The framework consists of thin plates a, u, of iron or other suitable
material, and rivetted together, as seen in the cross section, Fig. 9. These
plates are riveited to short tubes b, c, one at top and the other at the
bottom, where the pushing rod is attached, which tubes are shown in section
on an enlarged scale in Figs. 3 & 4. The plates a, a, have notches cut for
the reception of the wood backing d, d, of the brushes e, e; the metal is not
cut out to form these notches, but simply slit in three places, and the parts
bent back each way, as seen in Figs. 1 & 2, so as to form a hold for the
brush backs. The brush backs are formed in segments, as seen in the plan,
Fig. 5, and the whole fixed securely together. The brushing material radiates
in all directions, and at the extreme is cut of a rectangular form, to suit the
shape of the chimney. Rollers f, ff, are applied to the frame plates a, a, to
prevent its catching projecting angles in chimnies, to which, however, it is very
little subject, on account of the round form of the brush frame. The soot at
the same time meeting with little or no obstruction, falls freely through the
centre of the brush frame, while the brush being square, the angles of the
chimney are thoroughly cleansed, the whole rendering the machine capable of
being handled with great ease and facility. By this construction of brush
great lightness and strength of frame is obtained, combined with efficient
sweeping power.
The tubes b, c, are rivetted to the plates by flanges bent on the plates, and

page_text: portions thereof removed for the insertion of the tubes, as will be readily under-
stood by inspecting the Drawings. These tubes are shown in section at Fig. 3
and 4, the upper one, Fig. 3, supporting the runner or guide, which is free to
bend or rock in any direction from the shoulder, resting on the upper end of
tube c, but has a constant tendency to remain in an erect position by reason
of the force of an india-rubber or other similar spring g, which is in the form of
a ring, the double of which I insert in the hollow h, and pass a pin i through
the ball of metal & rubber ring g. A similar fastening by a pin k at the
opposite double holds it to the lower part of the tube c. The amount of
motion is limited by the horns 1, 2, coming in contact with the sides of the
tube, and preventing the runner or guide f deflecting to a greater angle than
forty-five degrees. In case of the rubber giving way from long use or wear, a
loose chain connects it with the frame plates. A similar elastic connection
is provided in the lower tube b, to which the pushing rod m is attached. This
joint is free to deflect in the other case when the rod is pulled forcibly down-
wards, as in the position shown in Fig. 4, the ball o forming a centre, on
which the machine oscillates, but which is prevented withdrawing by the
ferrule p, screwed and inserted in the lower tube b. When the rod is not pulled
downwards, the contraction of the india-rubber draws the ball o to the position
shown dotted, when the part q enters ferrule p, and the whole becomes rigid,
for the purposes of pushing up the machine. The india-rubber ring r is fixed
by pins a, a, through the ball joint and the tube, as before described.
Fig. 6 represents an elevation, with the front brush removed, and Fig. 7 a
plan, of a modification of the foregoing arrangement of machine brush, or
ramonette. In this case the thin plates a', a', of metal which carry the brushes
are connected to the lower tube b¹ by joints s, s, in which they are free to move
to a limited extent towards and from the centre, and thereby expand or collapse
the brush frame. In this case the tubes c', 6', are connected by four rods
t, t, t, t, which tubes with their fittings are the same as before described. The
wood backs or frames of the brushes d, d, are not rigidly connected as before,
but have pins u, u, between each, fixed in the one piece, but sliding freely in
the other part adjoining; by this means a limited amount of expansion and
contraction is allowed without liability of deranging the position of the brushes.
Fig. 8 is a section on the line 1, 2, which shows the four plates a', a¹; they are
forcibly thrust by a piece of india-rubber v, placed in a state of tension around
the four rods t, t, the edges of plates a¹ being rounded and thickened to pre-
vent injury to the rubber. This india-rubber or other similar elastic material
always tends to expand the brushes to the utmost, but which is limited by
lugs w, w, or projections on each pair of opposite plates lapping each other, as

page_text: seen in the horizontal section, Fig. 9, on the line 3, 4, Fig. 6; the lapping lugs
have connecting pins traversing in suitable slots thereon for the purposes
required. The upper part of the plates a, a, a, enter an extension of the upper
tube c', in which are suitable slots for their reception, to permit their free
movement to and from the centre, and hold them steadily in position, which is
further assisted by the lapping lugs w, w; a considerable amount of expansion
and contraction of the brush frame is thus ensured, and sufficient to permit
the
passage of obstructions, or pass through passages somewhat smaller than
if the brush were rigid.
Fig. 10 represents an elevation, with the front brush and part of frame
removed, and Fig. 11 a plan; of a ramonette, in which a great amount of
expansion and contraction is obtained. It consists of a fixed ring 9, 9, which
is supported by stays 5, 5, 5, or skeleton framework connected with the tubes
b, c, which are the same as before. A central rod 6 forms the main support
and connectious of such tubes c, b. The brush backs 7, 7, 7, are segmental
as before described, with a square cut brush, the whole being sustained by
their arms 8, 8, of sheet metal, or of other suitable material.
These arms
8, 8, are in pairs, and secured to the brush backs, and forked at the inner ends,
so as to slip on the round parts of the rings 9, 9, on which they are free to
work as joints or fulcra. The hooks formed at the extreme ends receive
rings of india-rubber or similar elastic material, and connect them with fixed
hooks or other fastenings to the rod 6, 6, as seen. These elastic connections
, x, and y, y, being always in a state of tension, but that of y. y, being more
so than a, a, the brushes remain in the position shown in Fig. 10; the elastic
pieces a, a, are, however, of more rigid material than that of y, y, the object
of which is this: When the brush is pushed up the chimney the brushes yield
readily and move on their fulcra, the rubber springs a tending to the deflection
in that direction; but when pulled down, the power of rubber springs a, a, are
directly opposed to the deflection of the brushes in an upward direction, and
offer considerable force in the brushes to the removal of soot, yet at the same
time not so much so but that they will give way on meeting with any rigid
obstruction.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not claim any of the
parts as separately considered, nor do I confine myself to the precise details, so
long as the peculiar character of either part of my Invention be retained; but
that what I claim is, the general arrangement and construction of chimney-
sweeping machines as herein-before described, whereby lightness and strength
are combined in such manner as to afford greater facilities for removing the

page_text: soot in flues or chimnies, while at the same time the soot has ready means
of escape.
I also claim the use and application of vulcanized india-rubber or gutta
percha used as springs or resilient parts of such machines.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anguish Honour Augustus Durant,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
W. CLARK, Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane.
A. H. AUGUSTUS DURANT. (L.S.)