Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Washing Clothes and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application 26th June. 1894
Complete Specification Left. 26th Mar. 1895-Accepted, 18th May, 1895
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Washing Clothes and
the like.
I WILLIAM BERRIMAN of Pietermaritzburg, in the Colony of Natal, Engineer
and Plumber do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide a simple inexpensive and efficient
machine or apparatus for washing clothes and other articles without the necessity
for scrubbing or rubbing as in the ordinary method of cleansing clothes and .
the like.
"
According to this invention there is provided a metal pot or vessel of any
suitable shape the said pot or vessel being open at top and having a close fitting
lid or cover. This pot or vessel is preferably of a tapering form decreasing in size
from the top towards the bottom and is provided with a false bottom preferably of
a curved form with the concave side downwards between which false botton and
the bottom proper of the pot or vessel a space is left for the circulation of water
therethrough as hereinafter described. Connected to, or formed in one with, this
false bottom are tubes, preferably tapered tubes, which communicate at their lower
larger ends with the space beneath the false bottom. These tubes extend to
within a short distance of the top of the vessel and are closed at their upper ends,
perforations being provided at a short distance below the said upper ends which
perforations communicate with the interior of the pot or vessel above the false
bottom. The false bottom has an opening or openings therein fitted with a valve
or valves arranged to open downwards into the space beneath. When the
apparatus is in use it is placed in position on a "box-stove or fire place so
constructed that the pot or vessel rests thereon or therein so that the fire acts only
on the bottom of the pot or vessel, the said stove preferably having a recess into
which the bottom of the said pot or vessel fits snugly to prevent the escape of
smoke from the fire between the junction of the stove and the vessel. This stove
or fire place is provided with a chimney to conduct away the products of
combustion from the fire. The clothes or other articles to be cleansed are placed
in the pot or vessel above the false bottom, and the cleansing liquid being placed
in the vessel the said vessel is closed. The fire is then started in the stove or fire
place and the liquid contained in the space beneath the false bottom becoming
heated the pressure thereof closes the valve or valves herein before described
against the under side of the false bottom thereby preventing the passage of the
water through the openings therein, the said water passing up through the tube or
tubes and through the perforations near the upper end thereof onto the clothes or
the like in the pot or vessel above the false bottom. When sufficient liquid has
entered the vessel above the false bottom to exert pressure on the valve or valves
greater than the pressure acting beneath, the valve or valves will open and the
water will pass from above the false bottom through the openings into the space
below until the excess of pressure is again reversed. This process goes on
continually while the liquid continues to boil whereby a continuous circulation of
the boiling liquid is maintained and as the lid or cover of the pot or vessel is kept
closed very little steam can escape and a continual stream of boiling liquid is
caused to pass through the clothes or the like contained in the vessel whereby the
dirt is efficiently removed from the said clothes.
When a charge of clothes or the like has been treated in this manner a sufficient

page_text: length of time the said articles may be removed bodily from the vessel by means of
the false bottom which may be removable and provided with suitable handles for
the purpose.
The vessel may be provided with a cock or valve through which the dirty liquid
may be discharged from the vessel.
Dated the 26th day of June 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Washing Clothes and
the like.
I WILLIAM BERRIMAN, of Pietermaritzburg in the Colony of Natal Engineer
and Plumber 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 :-
This invention has for its object to provide a simple inexpensive and efficient
machine or apparatus for washing clothes and other articles without the necessity
for scrubbing or rubbing as in the ordinary method of cleansing clothes and
the like.
.
I will describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are elevations at right angles to each other and Figures 3 and 4
are vertical sections at right angles to each other and Figure 5 is a plan with the
cover removed of an apparatus constructed according to this invention.
Figure 6 is a plan of the furnace.
· Figures 7, 8 and 9 shew the false bottom and its adjuncts Figure 7 being a half
vertical section and half side elevation. Figure 8 a plan one half shewing the false
bottom and the other half the parts beneath and Figure 9 a half elevation and half
vertical section at right angles to Figure 7.
According to this invention there is provided a metal pot or vessel a of any
suitable shape the said pot or vessel being open at top and having a close fitting lid
or cover a². This pot or vessel is preferably of a tapering form decreasing in size
from the top towards the bottom and is provided with a false bottom between
which false bottom and the bottom proper a³ of the pot or vessel a space is left
for the circulation of water therethrough as hereinafter described. The said false
bottom is convex on the upper side and concave on its under side and is provided
with a rim which rests on the bottom of the vessel a which rim projects upwards to
the same height as the highest part of the convexity of the false bottom or the said
bottom may be made a fixture in the said vessel. Connected to, or formed in one
with this false bottom are tapered tubes d which communicate at their lower larger
ends with the space beneath the false bottom b. These tubes d extend to within a
short distance of the top of the vessel a and are closed at their upper ends,
perforations d² being provided at a short distance below the said upper ends which
perforations communicate with the interior of the pot or vessel a above the false
bottom b. The false bottom b has an opening or openings therein fitted with a
valve.or valves c arranged to open into the space beneath.. When the apparatus is
in use it is placed in position on a "box-stove" or fire place so constructed that the
pot or vessel rests thereon or therein so that the fire acts only on the bottom of the
pot or vessel a the said store preferably having a recess into which the bottom of
the said pot or vessel fits snugly as at h (Figures 3 and 4) to prevent the escape of
smoke from the fire between the junction of the stove and the vessel. This stove
or fire place is provided with a grate g door e and chimney f to conduct away the
products of combustion from the fire. The clothes. or other articles to be cleansed
are placed in..the pot or vessel a above the false bottom b and the water or

page_text: cleansing liquid being placed in the vessel a and passing by the openings 63 and 64
into the space beneath the false bottom the said vessel is closed by the lid a².
The fire is then started in the stove or fire place and the liquid contained in the
space beneath the false bottom becoming heated and boiling the pressure thereof
closes the valve or valves e thereby preventing the passage of the water through
the openings the said water passing up through the tube or tubes d and
through the perforations near the upper end thereof onto the clothes or the like
in the pot or vessel a above the false bottom b. When sufficient liquid has entered
the vessel above the false bottom 6 to exert pressure on the valve or valves c
greater than the pressure acting beneath, the said valve or valves will open and the
water will pass from above the false bottom through the openings 63 64 into the
space below until the excess of pressure is again reversed. This process goes on
continually while the liquid continues to boil whereby a continuous circulation of
the boiling liquid is maintained and as the lid or cover a² of the pot or vessel is
kept closed no steam or very little steam can escape and a continual stream of
boiling liquid is caused to pass through the clothes or the like contained in the
vessel whereby the dirt is efficiently removed from the said clothes.
Flat false bottoms have been in use in washing apparatus of this description but
it has been found that when the water is boiling it is liable to keep the valves open
so that the water passes through them as well as through the tapered tubes
whereas by making the said false bottom concaved on its underside, as described
and shewn, when the water is in violent ebullition it rises to the highest part of the
concavity of the said false bottom and falls back against the sides of the space
beneath the said bottom keeping the valves closed and compelling the water to
ascend the tapered tubes.
Instead of or in addition to the openings d² there may be openings at the top of
the tubes d which may be provided with a lid as shewn. This will be useful for
cleaning purposes if the false bottom be a fixture in the vessel a.
The vessel a may be provided with a cock or valve through which the dirty
liquid may be discharged from the vessel.
The stove furnace or heating device may be of any suitable kind which will beat
only the bottom of the vessel a. I do not limit myself to the number of tubes d
and openings and valves e shewn as one, two, or more can be used as desired.
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. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting a machine or
apparatus for washing clothes or the like substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In machines or apparatus for washing clothes or the like the combination
with the vessel for containing the clothes of a false bottom baving a concave under
surface a space beneath the false bottom, a channel or channels up which the
water or cleansing liquid can pass, and an opening or openings controlled by a
valve or valves down through which the water or liquid can pass the water or
liquid passing alternately up from and down into the said space beneath the false
bottom substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination with the subject matter of the last preceding claim of the
fire stove or furnace provided with a recess into which the bottom of the washing
vessel fits so as to prevent the escape of smoke between the stove and the washing
vessel substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 26th day of March 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX, .
47, Lincoln's Inu Fields, London, W.C., Agents.