IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wilson Morton, of the City of Manchester, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES AND
OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by Albert Preston,
of Belle Ville, Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada.
Sealed the 18th July 1876, and dated the 19th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wilson Morton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1876.
JOHN WILSON MORTON, of the City of Manchester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES." Communicated
to me from abroad by Albert Preston, of Belle Ville, Ontario, in the Dominion of
Canada.
The object of this Invention is to construct a washing machine wherein the clothes
will be washed more efficiently and with less expense of labor than is at present
practicable, and consists in mounting a cylindrical casing upon bearings within a
boiler, and into which cylinder the clothes requiring to be cleansed are placed; upon
the inside of the ends of this cylinder I arrange radial ribs, and also upon the
inside of the cylindrical surface I arrange longitudinal ribs which serve to prevent
the clothes coming into immediate contact with such ends and cylindrical surface,
and at the same time allow the steam to have free access amongst the clothes. The
steam generated in the boiler finds an inlet to the cylinder through slots provided
for the purpose.
A suitable removable cover is applied to the boiler and hinged doors to the
cylinder to permit the ingress and egress of the clothes. The boiler may be heated
by gas or by a fire beneath it, and when undergoing the washing operation the
cylinder may be revolved by a winch handle.
SPECIFICATION in filed pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said John Wilson Morton in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th July 1876.
JOHN WILSON MORTON, of the City of Manchester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES." A communi-
cation to him from abroad by Albert Preston, of Belle Ville, Ontario, in the
Dominion of Canada.

page_text: The object of this Invention is to construct a washing machine wherein the
clothes will be washed more efficiently and with less expense of labour than is at
present practicable, and consists in mounting a cylindrical casing upon bearings
within a boiler, and into which cylinder the clothes requiring to be cleansed are
placed; upon the inside of the ends of this cylinder I arrange radial ribs, and also
upon the inside of the cylindrical surface I arrange longitudinal ribs which serve
to prevent the clothes coming into immediate contact with such ends and cylindrical
surface, and at the same time allow the steam to have free access amongst the
clothes. The steam generated in the boiler finds an inlet to the cylinder through
slots provided for the purpose.
A suitable removable cover is applied to the boiler and binged doors to the
cylinder to permit the ingress and egress of the clothes. The boiler may be heated
by gas or by a fire beneath it, and when undergoing the washing operation the
cylinder may be revolved by a winch handle.
And in order that the said Invention may be the more readily seen and
understood I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings, upon which Fig. 1 is a
side sectional view; Fig. 2, a plan; and Fig. 3, an end view of the improved
washing machine, similar letters marked upon the several view being used to.
indicate similar parts.
A is a boiler which may be of a rectangular form as illustrated, or of any other
convenient shape and be covered with a removable cover B; C is the cylindrical
casing constructed by preference of sheet metal, say of copper or tinned iron plates,
and provided with trunnions D at either end which revolve in bearings formed in
the boiler A, the necessary revolving motion being imparted by the winch handle E.
Upon the inside of the ends of the cylinder C radial ribs G and upon the inside of
the cylindrical surface longitudinal ribs H (seen more clearly in cross section in
Fig. 1) are formed to prevent the clothes placed within such cylinder coming into
iminediate contact with such ends and inner cylindrical surfaces, and at the same
time to constitute a rubbing surface for the clothes undergoing the washing
operation, whilst longitudinal openings I are provided surrounding such cylin-
drical surface to allow the steam and hot water to have free access amongst the
clothes as the cylinder revolves within the boiler.
The clothes requiring to be washed are introduced into the cylinder C through
the hinged door K, when in the open position illustrated by dotted lines in
Fig. 1, and when in its closed position such door K is secured by the hook and
eye L
The method of washing clothes and other similar articles in accordance with this
Invention may be described as follows:-The boiler A being supplied with a
suitable quantity of water (say about one-third full), and being heated either by
gas jets burning beneath it by being placed over a fire-place, or heated in any
other convenient manner. The clothes are then introduced into the cylinder C and
the cover B placed upon the boiler, when the steam which is generated fills such
boiler and also the interior of the cylinder, and the latter being now revolved by
its winch handle E, the clothes and hot water contained within such cylinder are
dashed together and against the ribbed radial and cylindrical surfaces herein-before
described, and so such clothes become effectually cleansed. The washing operation
being considerably assisted by its taking place in the presence of steam.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions, or shape of the
various parts of the apparatus herein-before described and illustrated on the
accompanying Drawing, as the same may be considerably varied without departing
from the Invention, but I claim,-
1st. The method of washing clothes and other similar articles in the presence of
steam, substantially as hercin-before described.
2nd. The revolving casing C when constructed with radial and longitudinal ribs

page_text: and openings, and mounted in an enclosed boiler, as and for the purpose herein-
before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wilson Morton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 19th day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOHN WILSON MORTON. (L.S.)