IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gilbert Ray Willett, of the City of Montreal, Canada, at
present residing at Newington, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gilbert Ray Willett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th August 1876.
GILBERT RAY WILLETT, of the City of Montreal, Canada, at present residing at
Newington, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in washing machines.
I proceed as follows:—
Into any ordinary washing tub or box I fix an apparatus constructed in the
following manner:- -To a suitable base piece, made either of of wood or metal, I
attach at either end two uprights or end pieces which may also be made either of
wood or metal. Such uprights are provided at their tops with suitable slots.
Into these slots I place a large corrugated roller of suitable dimensions, having a
suitable metal spindle passing through the centre thereof, one end of such spindle
terminating in a crank handle, whilst the other end thereof projects sufficiently to
permit of its resting in the slot formed in the top of the upright, as before described.
Placed in a suitable position on the internal faces of such uprights when made of
wood are two strips of zinc or other metal fastened to such uprights in any suitable
manner. Such metal strips or liners are for the purpose of imparting strength to
the uprights, and have two, three, or any requisite number of holes formed therein
to receive the projecting metal spindles of two, three, or any suitable number of
smooth round rollers of suitable dimensions, which rollers are so arranged as to form
a suitable hollow or recess for the reception of the large corrugated roller as it
revolves, and which is placed above them in the slots formed in the uprights, as
before described. The two ends of the base piece project somewhat beyond each of
the uprights, and have broad slots formed therein so as to allow one end of such
base piece to be slipped over a bracket fixed to one side of the tub or box, such
bracket being formed with a projecting tongue, which tongue passes through the

page_text: slot in one end of the base piece and thus serves to hold it in position, whilst a
second bracket affixed to the opposite side of the tub or box is formed with two
notches in the middle thereof to permit of the opposite end of the base picce being
inserted therein, and thus being securely held in position when the machine is being
worked. These brackets may be affixed to the inside of the tub or box by means
of screws or in any other suitable manner. The two uprights are also secured by
means of screws, pins and nuts, or any other suitable arrangement, to the base pieco.
On either side of the machine outside such uprights I fix stout spiral springs, pre-
ferably of brass wire. Such springs are each furnished at the bottom with a hook
which takes into a metal pin or bar fixed in and passing through the slots formed
in either end of the base piece. The upper end of each spiral spring is attached to
the metal spindle passing through the centre of the large corrugated roller by a
metal cap which slips over the ends of such spindle and is then fixed on to the top
of each such spiral spring. Such metal caps are made movable so as to allow of
their being turned downwards somewhat in a similar manner as a corkscrew is
inserted into a cork only with a reverse action. This permits of the spiral springs
being shortened at will, whereby increased power is obtained, and the undue
expansion of the spiral springs by constant use is to a great degree counteracted.
In order to prevent the clothes catching in the base piece I fix to the bottom of
the uprights a suitable strip of wood which thus forms a screen and thus effectually
prevents the ends of the clothes in any way catching between the base piece and
the under rollers, and enables the clothes to pass down unimpeded into the bottom
of the tub or box.
If desired metal holdfasts may be inserted in the tops of the uprights to impart
an appearance of finish thereto, but they may be dispensed with without detriment.
The process by which the fabrics are washed is by placing the machine into the
tub containing the suds, then passing the clothes backwards and forwards between
the rollers, said clothes getting a fresh supply of water cach time, the pressure
obtained by the spiral springs forcing the suds through the fabric and cleansing it
thoroughly.
One advantage of my improved machine is that those portions of a garment or
other article which may require more thoroughly cleansing than others can be
thoroughly cleaned by passing it repeatedly through the rollers with short strokes
until the dirt is thoroughly extracted therefrom; whilst another advantage is that
although the work is expeditiously and easily performed not the slightest injury or
damage is sustained by the articles in the process.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gilbert Ray Willett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
February 1877.
GILBERT RAY WILLETT, of the City of Montreal, Canada, at present residing at 4
Newington, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES."
My said Invention has for its object improvements in washing machines.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I hereunto
append a Sheet of Drawings, on which,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.
Figure 2 is an elevation of one of the end standards and spiral spring.
Figure 3 is a section through the centre of the machine shewing the large
corrugated roller and also the small smooth rollers.
Figure 4 is a part plan of the end of the machine.
Figures 5, 6, and 60 are details of the brackets to affix to the sides of the tub or
vessel.
Figure 7 is a part side elevation of the machine shewing shewing bolt, straps, and

page_text: thumbscrew; and Figure 8 is an end elevation of the machine also shewing the
bolt, straps, and thumbscrew.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in each of the Figures.
And in carrying out my improvements I proceed as follows:-
Into any ordinary washing tub or vessel 1 affix an apparatus constructed in the
following manner-To a suitable base piece F, made either of wood or metal, [
aflix at either end uprights, end pieces, or standards D, D, which are provided at
their tops with suitable slots d'; into these slots I place a large corrugated roller A
made of wood or other suitable material and of suitable dimensions, having a metal
spindle B passing through the centre thereof, one end of such spindle terminating in a
crank handle B¹, and the other end thereof is made to project sufficiently to permit
of its resting in the slot d' formed in the top of the upright, end piece, or standard D,
as before described. Placed in a suitable position on the internal faces of the
uprights, end pieces, or standards D, D, when made of wood, are two strips of zinc
or other metal o, o, fastened to them in any suitable manner, such metal strips or
liners being for the purpose of imparting strength and durability to the uprights or
standards D, D, and having two, or three, or any requisite number of holes formed
therein to receive the projecting metal spindles of two, or three, or any requisite
number of smooth round rollers C, C, C, made of wood or other suitable material,
which rollers are so arranged that the middle roller or rollers are fixed at a lower
level than the outside ones so as to allow the large corrugated roller A to revolvò
easily. The two ends of the base piece F are made to project somewhat beyond
each of the uprights or standards D, D, and have broad slots f¹, f¹, formed therein
so as to allow one end of such base piece F to be slipped over a bracket I which is
fixed to one side of the tub or vessel, such bracket being formed with a vertical
projecting tongue, which tongue passes through the slot in one end of the base
piece F, and thus serves to hold it in position at that end. A second bracket H is
affixed to the opposite side of the tub or vessel, which bracket is formed with two
notches 2,2, in the middle thereof to permit of the opposite end of the base piece F
being inserted therein, and thus being securely held in position while the machine
is being worked. When the machine is made of metal I affix either by straps m, m,
cast on or attached to the base piece in any suitable manner a bolt K, which may
be either square or round, which when the machine is placed in the tub or vessel
is slipped into the bracket N placed to receive it, and is then clamped by turning
the thumbscrew L from the upper side of the base piece F. I do not confine
myself to any particular form of brackets, the object being to readily adjust the
machine to and remove it from the tub or vessel, such brackets being fastened to
the sides of the tub or vessel by means of screws or in any other suitable manner
and at a convenient height. The two uprights or standards D, D, are also secured
by screws, pins, and nuts, or other suitable means to the base piece F. At both
ends of the machine and outside the uprights or standards D, D, I fix stout spiral
metal springs E, E, preferably of brass wire, such springs being each furnished at
the bottom with a hook which is attached to a metal pin fixed in the base piece F
and passing across the slots f¹, f¹, to receive the said hook. The upper ends of the
spiral springs E, E, are attached to the metal spindle B passing through the centre
of the corrugated roller A. by moveable metal caps, g, which slip over the ends of
the said spindle and are attached to the upper ends of the said spiral springs E, E,
by being turned up at both sides and inserted in the first or second coils of the said
spiral springs, so that by means of such metal caps the spiral springs may be
loosened or tightened as may be necessary, thus obtaining increased or diminished
power at will, and also counteracting any undue expansion of the spiral springs.
In order to prevent the clothes while being passed through the machine from
getting between the smooth round rollers C, C, C, and the base piece FI fix to the
bottom of the uprights or standards D, D, a strip of wood or other suitable material,
which thus forms a screen J, which enables the clothes to pass unimpeded to the
bottoin of the washing tub or vessel.
If desired metal holdfasts may be inserted in the top of the uprights or standards

page_text: D, D, to impart an appearance of finish thereto, but they may be dispensed with
without detriment to the machine.
The working of the machine is performed in the following mauner:-The machine
having been placed in the tub or vessel containing the suds, to which tub or vessel
have previously been fixed the brackets H and I, as before described, to receive it,
the clothes or fabrics intended to be washed and operated upon aro passed back-
wards and forwards between the large corrugated roller A and the smooth round
rollers C, C, C, by means of the crank handle B, B', the said clothes or fabrics
obtaining a fresh supply of water each time, the pressure obtained by the spiral
springs E, E, and transmitted by them to the rollers, forcing the suds through the
clothes or fabrics and thus thoroughly cleansing them, and if any portion of a
garment requires more thoroughly cleansing than another it can be easily and
thoroughly cleaned by simply passing it repeatedly backwards and forwards
through the machine by moving the handle to and fro by short strokes until the
dirt is thoroughly extracted therefrom, and no damage or injury is rendered to the
clothes or fabrics such as must necessarily be occasioned by scrubbing.
What I claim by my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of the fluted roller A with the smooth rollers C, C, C,
substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the standards D, D, with the base pieco F, as
described.
Third. The spiral springs E, E, so connected with the base piece F that they may
readily be detached therefrom, substantially as described.
Fourth. The spiral springs E, E, connected to the spindle B by the caps g, g, by
means of which the pressure of the springs upon the spindle and the fluted roller A
may be regulated, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of the base pieco F with the brackets H and I, sub-
stantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of the base piece F with the bolt K, thumbscrew L, and
straps m, m, substantially as described.
Sevonth. The combination of the metal plates o, o, on the uprights or standards
D, D, for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gilbert Ray Willett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
GILBERT RAY WILLETT. (L.S.)