Improvements in Washing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb., 1892-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I, WILLIAM PINKERTON, of Larne Engineering and Wood Works, Larne, in
the County of Antrim, Ireland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object the construction of an improved simple and
efficient washing machine suitable for domestic and other use.
My improved machine comprises a partly cylindrical or polygonal box or cage
arranged to rotate upon a horizontal axis in a trough of any simple convenient form
provided with a cover or partial cover in one or more parts. Journals or short
spindles are fixed to the ends of the rotating box and are carried in bearings in the
sides of the trough, a winch handle being fixed on one of the spindles for turning
the box by hand; or arrangements may be made for turning it by power.
The principal improved constructive details are in the rotating box. The
circumferential parts of the box comprise two diametrically opposite close parts
and two diametrically opposite parts occupied by gratings, each grating having
two parts inclined inwards and joining at the middle which is innermost. The
gratings consist of bars shaped so that the spaces between them are wider at their
outer parts. The close circumferential parts of the box, and the ends of the box
are made with their internal surfaces corrugated. One of the gratings is made
removable or so as to open for introducing the clothes or articles to be washed.
A suitable quantity of water or washing liquid being put into the trough, the
box with the articles in it is made to rotate, whereupon water alternately passes in
and out through the gratings, being, on entering, concentrated in narrow jets by the
form of the grating openings. At the same time, as the box turns, the articles in it
are raised and fall over down along and against the corrugated internal surfaces,
and are thereby subjected to a moderate but quite sufficient rubbing action, and to
a continual changing of the parts in contact with the interior of the box.
The machine is by preference made principally of wood; but more or less of it
may be made of any suitable metal.
Dated this Second day of May 1891
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I, WILLIAM PINKERTON, of Larne Engineering and Wood Works, Larne in
the County of Antrim, Ireland, Engineer, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object the construction of an improved simple and
efficient washing machine suitable for domestic and other use.
My improved machine comprises a partly cylindrical or polygonal box or cage
arranged to rotate upon a horizontal axis in a trough of any simple convenient
form provided with a cover or partial cover in one or more parts. Journals or
short spindles are fixed to the ends of the rotating box and are carried in
bearings in the sides of the trough, a winch handle being fixed on one of the
Paino71

page_text: by power.
The machine is by preference made principally of wood; but more or less of it
may be made of any suitable metal.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to and showing two simple and convenient examples of my
improved washing machine.
Figure, 1, on the accompanying drawings is a side elevation, Figure, 2, a vertical
section, and Figure, 3, a horizontal section of a modification of my improved
washing machine suitable for hand power.
Figure, 4, is a vertical section of a modification suitable for steam or other
power but drawn to a smaller scale.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
According to the modification shown in Figures, 1, 2, and 3, of the drawings
the washing machine comprises a partly cylindrical and partly polygonal box or
cage, A.
The circumferential parts of the box comprise two diametrically
opposite close parts, B1, B2, and two diametrically opposite parts occupied by
gratings, C1, C2. The close circumferential parts, B1, B2, of the box, A, and
the ends, D1, D2, of the box are made with their internal surfaces corrugated.
The gratings, C1, C2, consist of bars extending across between and fastened to
the end disks, D1, D2, and shaped so that the spaces between them are wider at
their outer parts. A part of one, C 1, of the gratings is hinged (or it may be made
removable) so as to open for introducing the clothes or articles to be washed.
Journals or short spindles, F 1, F 2, are fixed to the end disks, D1, D2, and are
carried in bearings, G 1, G 2, in the sides of a trough, H, in which the box, A,
rotates, a winch handle, J, being fixed on one of the spindles, F 2, for turning the
box by hand. The trough, H, is formed with a partial cover, K, at one side and is
carried on suitable framing, L.
A suitable quantity of water or washing liquid being put into the trough, H, the
box, A, with the articles in it is made to rotate, whereupon water alternately passes
in and out through the gratings, C 1, C2, being on entering concentrated in narrow
jets by the form of the grating openings. At the same time as the box, A, turns
the articles in it are raised and fall over down along and against the corrugated
surfaces and are thereby subjected to a moderate but quite sufficient rubbing
action, and to a continual changing of the parts in contact with the interior of the
box, A.
In the modification which is shown in Figure, 4, and which as hereinbefore stated
is suitable for steam or other motive power but delineated on a smaller scale, the
box, A, is made with three parts occupied with gratings, C1, C2, C3, and three
intermediate close parts, B1, B2, B3. One, C1, of the gratings is hinged at the
middle to permit of its parts opening for the introduction of the articles to be
washed. If considered desirable in any case the box may be made with more than
three grated parts alternating with close circumferential parts,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In washing machines a partly cylindrical or polygonal box or cage the
circumferential parts of which comprise two or more opposite close parts and two
or more parts occupied by gratings each grating having two parts inclined inwards
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved washing
machine substantially as herein before described and as shown in Figures, 1, 2, and 3,
of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved washing
machine substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figure, 4, of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this First day of February 1892
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.