US1372988A

US1372988A - Method of car-cleaning

Info

Publication number: US1372988A
Application number: US281304A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilson John Macnaull
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1919-03-07
Filing date: 1919-03-07
Publication date: 1921-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 1938-03-29

Description

J. MAcN. WILSON.

METHOD OF CAR CLEANING. APPLICATION manmam-1919.

Patented Mar.29,1921.

lNVENTOR BY QM Eva/4 wan/W; z izww 4% ATTORNEY5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

METHOD OF CAB-CLEANING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mal. 29, 1921.

Application filed March 7, 1919. Serial No. 281,304.

new and useful Improvements in Methods of Car-Cleaning; and I do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a cleaning method, and has among other objects the purpose of increasing cii'iciency in cleaning the surface of cars and the like, preserving and restoring the finish thereof and leaving it in a brilliant condition comparable with original appearance.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be a iiparent, as it is better understood, by reference to the following specification in which the best modes of procedure according to my invention are described, a cleaning device capable of use in connection therewith being illustrated in the drawing, in which Figure l is a view in perspective of a rotary power driven brush and Fig. 2 is a transverse section therethrough.

The surface of railway passenger cars become more or less discolored and stained in service and must be cleaned periodically to present a reasonably pleasing appearance, as well as an economic measure to pre serve the varnished surface and reduce expense of repainting. Various caipedicnts have been resorted to in the treatment of such surfaces. Alkalis and soapy mixtures suggest themselves but are particularly damaging to varnished surfaces and are therefore to be avoided. Water alone is inefficient since it removes only superficial dust or dirt leaving oil, grease or other stains to accumulate. Neutral oil and grease cleaners with. or without abrasives are only effective when the surface is energeticalily scrubbed therewith, which in creases labor expenses. Neutral. oil and grease cleaners, moreover, leave a moist nondrying finish, only serving to attract and hold more dust and dirt, which with gas absorbed eventually stains the surface. So lutions of oxalic acid in water have. been tried but are detrimental to the varnished surface unless the latter is thoroughly rinsed. The problem of cleaning windows is also present and none of the foregoing means is suitable for this purpose, having in mind the adjacent varnished surfaces which are more or less injured by careless use ofthe cleaning materials.

I have discovered that suitable acid solutlons may be safely and eiiiciently used in conjunction with a novel cleaning compo sition or emulsion which I have devised. This composition or emulsion is of a character which neutralizes any free acid remaining after the preliminary treatment therewith and, in addition, differing from oil, provides a drying body comparable with varnish, which preserves the varnished surface and leaves it in a condition approxianating its original brilliancy.

My composition is, moreover, of a nature which permits of its use alone as a detergent, so that it may be employed without acid to clean varnished and similar surfaces. It may be used successfully upon windows without preliminary treatment with oxalic acid and when the latter is employed the subsequent treatment with my composition or emulsion neutralizes the acid and insures the preservation and. restoration of the surrounding varnished surfaces. A. composition or emulsion which I have found to be well adapted to accomplish the desired re sults may comprise certain ingredients, hereinafter specified, for which various equivalents may be substituted. Other clnmges, such as the omission of one or more of the ingredients or wiriation of the proportions thereof, may be made without departing from the invention, it being essential only that the composition or emulsion has the properties of acting as a cleansing agent and providing a drying body capable of producing a dry glossy finished surface. Vl hen used in connection with a preliminary tre.tment with suitable acid, the composition or emulsion should also be capable of neutralizing any such acid remaining on the surface.

My composition or emulsion being capable of use either with or without preliminary treatment with oxalic or other acid having detergent properties, may obviously be used in connection with cleaning agents, other than oxalic acid, and such use is contemplated by me. It is my intention, therefore to include in this application the composi tion or emulsion with such variations in its composition as may be expedient, having in mind its intended purpose and the variation in the character of surfaces to which it may be applied. It is my further intention to include the use of such composition or emulsion, either alone or in connection with a preliminary treatment, with oxalic acid or other cleaning material.

In order that my invention be fully understood and practised, without recourse to experiment, I shall describe a composition or emulsion which has provcn entirely suc- Pine oil 15.5% Paraffin or mineral oil 53.0% Lime soap-made from whale oil 13.5% Turpentine 5.5% Water 13.0%

A proportion of mineral abrasive or pulverized soap bark may, if desired, be included in the composition.

Such a composition, the ingredients of which are thoroughly incorporated or emulsified, is itself a detergent and may be used for cleansing surfaces of various kinds. It embodies sufficient oil of a drying character to form a brilliant film on a varnished sur face. This film is substantially water and weather proof, does not collect and hold dust, and when the original varnish is not wholly destroyed, treatment with the composition or emulsion will restore the varnish to substantially its original condition.

In the preferred mode of employing my composition or emulsion, the surface to be. cleaned is first treated with a solution of oxalic or equivalent detergent acid or cleansing agent. This treatment loosens the dirt and stains without scrubbing or other labo rious treatment. After the acid has remained on the surface for a short period and preferably before drying, the surface is coated with the composition or emulsion. This surface is then wiped clean with waste or other suitable material, leaving the surface clean and dry and with a permanent high gloss which has the appearance of a fresh coat of varnish.

The composition or emulsion destroys the acid remaining on the surface, so that it can I have no deleterious effectupon the varnish or metal construction of the car, It is not, ther fo e, e n ia o jwater follow ng the rinse the surface with Nevertheless, rinsing may be practised, if

treatment with acid.

considered desirable, and will not adversely affect the results accomplished with the emulsion following.

Under certain conditions, as where the surface is badly discolored, it is expeditious and desirable to mechanically brush the surface treated. I have, therefore, provided a device particularly adapted to the accomplishment of this object, with a minimum application of labor. This device is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which 5 indicates a casing supporting a spindle 6 for a turbine or similar wheel 7 adapted to be driven by an air blast entering from any suitable source of supply through an inlet 8 provided with a valve 9 and exhausting through an outlet 10. A pinion 11 connected to the turbine wheel 7 meshes with a gear 12 on a shaft 13 carrying a brush 14 which is adapted to be rotated through a connection with the turbine wheel 7, at a speed of approximately 1000 R. P. hi. Handles 15 are provided at opposite sides of the casing 5. whereby the bristle brush 14 may be firmly held in engagement with the work or swept over it as desired, the object being to clean the surface, rivet and bolt heads with great rapidity and thoroughness. An electrically driven portable motor will answer the same urpose as an air motor and may be substituted therefor.

In an embodiment of my method. the surface, after preliminary treatment with oxalic acid or other acid or cleanser. is brushed, preferably with the mechanical device illustrated and described herein, though possibly by a hand scrubbing brush, until all dirt and stains have been removed. The surface is then, either following or without rinsing, coated with the composition or emulsion herein described or its equivalent and immediately wiped off with the waste or other suitable material leaving a dry highly polished surface My invention is particularly useful in carrying out the cleaning of car surfac s during the winter months-t Such work is generally carried out in unheated buildings or possibly in yards, and during periods o f low temperatures the possibility of frec7ing precludes the use of water in cleaning operations. Under such conditions l preferably mix with the acid solution a relati ely slight percentage of commercial glycerin. for example, 2 to 1 ounces per gallon of solution. I have discovered that the addition of glycerin to the solution precludes freezing in the coldest weather and also retards drving of the solution thus permitting it to more effectively accomplih its purpose. The prevention of freezing is highly important in cold weather as it materiallv reduces the labor required in cleaning cars.

The addition of glycerin is equally advantageous in summer to retard dryin of the acid solution. When the acid solution containing glycerin is employed it may be followed by a treatment with the composition or emulsion. hereinbefore described. If there is danger of freezing intermediate rinsing with water is omitted. In warmer weather an intermediate rinse with water may be employed or not as desired. As will be noted, my method requires no water for the successful cleaning and restoring of car surfaces. Thus, the most difficult problems in car cleaning are fully met by my invention in eliminating water and establishing a high and dry gloss on the finished surface likewise in neutralizing the possible corrosive action of acid.

Various modifications of the emulsion composition and mechanical method described herein will suggest themselves in the application of my invention under peculiar conditions, which may arise from time to time in cleaning surfaces of varying character. Such modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages.

1. A method of cleaning surfaces which comprises treating the surface with a cleansing agent and subsequently applying a composition thereto capable of neutralizing said agent and forming a dry lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of said composition is removed.

2. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surface with a water solution of an acid cleansing agent and subsequently applying an emulsion thereto capable of forming a lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of said emulsion is removed.

3. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surface With a water solution of an aciu and subsequently applying an emulsion embodying a neutralizing agent for said acid and a drying body capable of forming a lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of said emulsion is removed.

a. A method of cleaning surfaces which comprises treating the surface with an acid cleansing agent, rinsing said surface and subsequently applying a composition capable of neutralizing any remaining acid and of forming a lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of said composition is removed.

5. A method of cleaning surfaces which comprises treating the surface with a cleansing agent, scrubbing the surface and subsequently applying an emulsion capable of forming a lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of said emulsion is removed.

6. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surface with an acid solution containing a non-drying ingredient and. subsequently applying a composition capable of neutralizing said acid and forming a dry lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of said composition is removed.

7. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surface with an acid solution containing a proportion of glycerin and subsequently applying a composition capable of neutralizing said acid and forming a dry lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of said composition. is removed.

8. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surface with a cleansing agent containing a small proportion of glycerin and subsequently applying a composition capable of forming a dry lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of said composition is removed.

9. A method of cleansing surfaces which comprises treating the surface with a cleansing agent containing a proportion of glycerin, subsequently applying a composition capable of forming a dry lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of said composition is removed, brushing said surface while said composition remains in contact therewith and removing the surplus of said composition.

10. A method of cleaning surfaces which coi'nprises, treating the surface with a cleansing agent, subjecting the surface to the scrubbing action of a mrnwhanically driven brush while coated with said cleansing agent and subsequently applying a composition capable of neutralizing any remaining acid and of forming a lustrous film on said surface when the surplus of said composition is removed.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

JOHN MAoNAULL WILSON.