Improved Apparatus for Cleansing Clothing and other Fabrics.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 12th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Jan., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Cleansing Clothing and other Fabrics.
I FREDERICK JOHN BROUGHAM, Managing Clerk to Mr. William Lloyd Wise, of
No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me
from abroad by Ernest Desjardins, of 56 Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, Spinning
Mill Manager) to be as follows:--
One of the chief causes of the deterioration of linen, when washed with Ive, is
boiling, which disintegrates the fibres hardens foreign bodies, and destroys the linen
(or other fabrics) as much as does the improper use of chlorine or other substances
sometimes employed.
This invention, which is designed to obviate this disadvantage consists of washing
apparatus having an injection heating device, and a return flow of water producing a
continuous current. This current traverses the vessel containing the linen, such vessel
being isolated from the direct action of the fire so that the liquid within it is not
brought to ebullition thus preserving the linen from deterioration. In the annexed
drawing are shown, by way of example two arrangements of apparatus according to
this invention.
The arrangement shown in section in Fig. 1 is employed. by preference for
small sizes.
The arrangement shown in section in Fig. 2 is more suitable for large sizes, as the
upper part of the outer vessel is of smaller diameter than the lower part so that the
vessel will contain a less quantity of water than would otherwise be the case.
Fig. 3 illustrates an apparatus with the outer vessel D and the return passages C
properly proportioned. In this arrangement the return wafer passages Care provided
with valves H.
Fig. 4 shows a return water passage issuing directly from vessel A between the
bottom of the outer vessel and the perforated bottom B of the vessel A: these return
water passages are also each provided with a valve H.
In all the figures corresponding parts are similarly lettered.
A is the copper or inner vessel to contain the linen to be cleansed. It
shape and in dimensions.
may vary in

page_text: CC are the return water passages.
D is the outer or surrounding vessel in which ebullition takes place.
E are tubes or connections forming injectors through which the boiling water rises
from the reservoir D to be forced into the vessel A, as shown in the drawing.
F is a plug, and F a cock by which to empty the apparatus when desired.
G is the lid or cover.
The bottom of the apparatus may be flat or otherwise shaped according to the
construction of firegrate employed.
In using apparatus according to this invention the linen is placed in the vessel A,
and the water in the vessel D is heated, the ebullition thereby produced causes water
io pass through the connections E into the vessel A and this water or lye having
traversed the linen, is again heated on its way through the return water passages, and
so on, a continuous current of hot water being produced without ebullition occurring
in the vessel A.
In Fig. 3 and 4 valves are employed for checking the impulses which, withou
causing ebullition in the vessel A might give motion to the water in that vessel.
These valves are opened by the upward pressure of the water and closed by the
pressure of the boiling water above them.
Apparatus according to this invention may be made of dimensions large enough to
be employed in trade and large laundries where heating and injecting is done
by steam.
In this case the system of isolation does not need to be altered; the pipes for
supplying the steam are led into the outer vessel, and the jet is led into the injectors.
Dated this 12th day of March 1887.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Cleansing Clothing and other Fabrics.
I, FREDERICK JOHN BROUGHAM, Managing Clerk to Mr. William Lloyd Wise, of
No. 46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, (a communication to
me from abroad by Ernest Desjardins, of 56, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris,
Spinning Mill Manager,) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
One of the chief causes of the deterioration of linen, when washed with lye, is
boiling, which disintegrates the fibres, hardens foreign bodies, and destroys the linen
(or other fabrics) as much as does the improper use of chlorine or other substances
Sometimes employed.
This invention, which is designed to obviate this disadvantage relates to washing
apparatus having an injection heating device, and a return flow of water producing a
continuous current, This current traverses the vessel containing the linen, such vessel
being isolated from the direct action of the fire, so that the liquid within it is not
brought to ebullition, thus preserving the linen from deterioration.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 shows in section an arrangement employed, by preference, for small sizes.
Fig. 2 shows an arrangement more suitable for large sizes, as the upper part of
the outer vessel is of smaller diameter than the lower part, so that the vessel will
contain a less quantity of water than would otherwise be the case.
Fig. 3 illustrates an apparatus with the outer vessel D and the return passages ()
properly proportioned. In this arrangement the return water passages are provided
with valves H.
Fig. 4 shows a return water passage issuing directly from vessel A between the
bottom of the outer vessel and the perforated bottom B of the vessel A; these return
water passages are also each provided with a valve H.
In all the figures corresponding parts are similarly lettered.
E are
A is the copper or inner vessel to contain the linen to be cleansed. It may vary in
shape and in dimensions. B is its perforated bottom. C, C, are the return water
passages. D is the outer or surrounding vessel in which ebullition takes place.
tubes or connections forming injectors through which the boiling water rises from
the vessel D to be injected into the vessel A, as shown in the drawing. F is a
plug, and Fla cock by which to empty the apparatus when desired. G is a lid
or cover.
The bottom of the apparatus may be flat or otherwise shaped according to the
construction of fire-grate employed.
In using apparatus according to this invention the linen is placed in the vessel A
and the water in the vessel D is heated. The ebullition thereby produced causes water
to pass through the connections E into the vessel A, and this water or lye having
traversed the linen is again heated on its way through the return water passages,

page_text: and so on, a continuous current of hot water being produced without ebullition occurring
in the vessel A.
For the sake of economy, the dimensions of the outer vessel should be as small as
possible, which consequently diminishes the cost of heating, and under these circum-
stances it is necessary to modify the construction in such manner as to dispense with
return water passages of the kind shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Two such arrangements
are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Valves are employed for checking the impulses
which, while not causing ebullition in the vessel A, might give motion to the water in
that vessel. These valves are opened by the upward pressure of the water and closed
by the pressure of the boiling water above them.
Apparatus according to this invention may be made of dimensions large enough to
be employed in trade and large laundries where heating and injecting is done by
steam. In this case the system of isolation does not need to be altered; the pipes
for supplying the steam are led into the outer vessel, and the jet is led into the
injectors.
Apparatus according to this invention will be found to possess considerable advantages
in practice. The boiling water being continuously renewed readily removes stains,
and furthermore felting of fabrics composed of wool, silk, or other animal substances
will be avoided and shrinkage lessened."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner it is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. Apparatus for cleansing clothing and other fabrics in such a manner that
ebulation takes place not in the compartment or chamber in which the articles to be
cleansed are contained but in an outer and surrounding vessel or chamber whence water
is projected into the compartment containing the articles to be cleansed substantially
as described.
2. Apparatus for cleansing clothing and other fabrics constructed arranged and
operating as described with reference respectively to Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 and to
Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of December 1887.