IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Mitchell, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Engineer, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES." A communication
from abroad by John Storey, of Brockville, Ontario, Canada.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Mitchell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th November 1880.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
JAMES MITCHELL, of Newcastle on Tyne, Engineer.
WASHING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by John Storey, of
Brockville, Ontario, Canada.
This Invention, which relates to improvements in washing machines, has
reference to those machines which consist essentially of a revolving cylinder, into
the interior of which the clothes or articles to be washed are fed.
According to this Invention the revolving cylinder has its periphery made up of
a number of plates with angular formations upon their inner surfaces, the metal or
other material of which the plates may be composed being preferably bent for this
purpose. The said plates are separate, but overlap each other, a side aperture being
left between the ends of the plates for the entrance of the washing liquid, as
hereinafter explained.
One of the plates is hinged in order to provide an inlet through which the
articles to be washed are fed into the cylinder.
The cylinder containing the articles to be washed is caused to revolve upon a
horizontal axis within a case or tank containing the washing liquid, the said case
being provided with a moveable top or cover. Sufficient liquid is run into the case
to immerse the lower plates of the cylinder. Upon rotating the cylinder by means
of a cranked handle operated from the exterior of the case, or by other convenient
means, each plate as it dips into the liquid takes up a certain quantity, and the
liquid and steam as it enters through the aperture between the plates coming in
contact with the angular formation upon the inner surface of the plate is deflected
into and towards the centre of the cylinder, the other plates in their turn operating
upon the liquid, in a similar manner, by which means together with the steani
generated from the boiling liquid the articles within the cylinder are thoroughly
and rapidly washed.
The plates may be of any convenient number, but preferably six are employed,
and they may be made of any suitable material.
In order to keep the washing liquid at a suitably high temperature, and to
produce steam for washing, a gas or other stove is provided beneath the case
containing the revolving washing wheel.
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Mitchell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th May
1881.
.
JAMES MITCHELL, of Newcastle on Tyne, Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN
WASHING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by John Storey, of
Brockville, Ontario, Canada.
The said Invention, which relates to the improvements in washing machines, has
reference to that class of machines which consists essentially of a revolving
cylinder, into the interior of which the clothes or articles to be washed are
introduced.
According to the said Invention the revolving cylinder has its periphery
composed of a number of plates with angular formations upon their inner surfaces,
the metal or other material of which the plates are constructed being preferably
bent for this purpose. The plates are separate, but overlap each other, a side
aperture being left between the ends of the plates for the entrance of the washing
liquid.
One of the plates is hinged in order to provide an inlet through which the
articles to be washed are introduced into the cylinder.
The cylinder containing the articles to be washed is caused to revolve upon a
horizontal axis within a case or tank containing the washing liquid, which is raised
to a suitably high temperature, the said case being provided with a moveable top or
cover. Sufficient liquid is run into the case to immerse the lower plates of the
cylinder, and upon rotating the cylinder by means of a cranked handle operated
from the exterior of the case, or by other convenient means, each plate with its
angular formation is caused to dip into the liquid, and take up with the clothes a
certain quantity of water which is deflected into and towards the centre of the
cylinder, the other plates in their turn operating upon the liquid in a similar
manner, by which means together with the steam generated from the boiling
liquid, the articles within the cylinder are thoroughly and rapidly washed.
In order to keep the washing liquid at a suitably high temperature, and to
produce steam for washing, a gas or other burner or series of burners is provided
beneath the case containing the revolving washing cylinder.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in both the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a transverse section, and
Figure 2 a longitudinal section of a washing machine constructed and operating
according to the said Invention.
A is a revolving drum or washing cylinder mounted within a case or tank B
on trunnions a, the latter being bolted or suitably secured to the sides b of the
cylinder, and working within the bearings c arranged on the inner sides of
the case or tank, or if desired the axis of the cylinder may be prolonged through
the sides of the casing, and be adapted to bearings secured on the sides of such
tank or case. The revolving cylinder is composed of two side plates b, b, of
any convenient size and material, and of circular, elliptical, or polygonal con-
figuration, to the circumference of which the longitudinal angularly bent plates D
are suitably attached. These latter plates of W or other suitable angular section
may be of any number (but preferably six are employed), and each alternate
plate is made to overlap the edge d of the next one slightly below it, while
in some places they are additionally supported and strengthened by radial
ribs E, which likewise serve to facilitate the washing operation by preventing the

page_text: clothes from being continually turned or tumbled over as the cylinder revolves, and
also by conducting the water, steam, and heat to thoroughly intermingle with and
permeate the articles to be cleansed.
These ribs may be carried by a central spindle provided in the cylinder, or (as
represented in the Drawing) they may be fixed to the sides, and be constructed of
metal or wood as desired.
The tank case or boiler B in which the washing cylinder is contained may be of
any suitable material, size, or configuration, and provided with a removable lid or
cover to form a complete closure, and beneath the tank case or boiler is arranged a
gas or other burner, or series of such burners I, for the purpose of raising and
maintaining the temperature of the washing liquid, and for generating steam.
When the case is made of wood, the water may be boiled by means of a
circulating coil similar to the hot water arrangements provided for cisterns or
baths.
Before the machine is used the washing liquid is introduced into the tank in
sufficient quantity (by removing the top lid G), until the bottom plate of the
cylinder is immersed, when the articles to be washed may be introduced into
the interior of the cylinder by opening the hinged plate F, as indicated by dotted
lines in Figure 2, after which the hinged plate is again closed and the tank lid
is replaced.
The cylinder is then rotated by means of the handle H by hand or other
convenient motive power, and the clothes therein contained are mechanically
cleansed of their impurities in the following manner :-
The cylinder being caused to rotate in the direction of the arrow, as indicated at
Figure 2, the circumferential angular plates D successively dip into the detergent
liquid or washing water containing suitable solvents, and thereby permit the said
liquid to enter the cylinder by passing between the plates d; the liquid then
striking the angular formations d' is deflected centrally and caused to intermingle
with the clothes, which in their turn are carried upwards and prevented from
slipping back by the radial ribs E; as the wetted articles are carried up out of the
liquid into the surrounding steam space, the water contained in the clothes is
caused to expand by its conversion into steam, when the cylinder in course of its
revolution again redips them, and so on repeatedly throughout the operation,
whereby the articles are rapidly and effectively deprived of their impurities.
Although the circumferential plates for giving ingress and engress to the liquid
and for facilitating the washing are shown of this particular configuration, they
may be of somewhat different formation and arrangement to attain the same end
without departing from the principle of the said Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The peculiar construction of washing machine hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Mitchell, have to this My Spécification
set my hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of May, One thousand eight
hundurd and sights and
JAMES MITCHELL. (L.S.)