A New or Improved Laundry Process and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Laundry Process and Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved laundry process and to apparatus
therefor by which I obtain not only the advantage of efficient cleansing but also
that of efficient purification or disinfection.
My said process consists essentially in applying oxygen to the clothes or other
materials by means of one of two main ways; either by (A) injecting oxygen into
the cleansing water or solution, or by (B) liberating oxygen electrolytically in the
cleansing water or solution.
When I carry out my process by the first of these main ways I inject the oxygen
preferably through a pipe leading to the lower part of the said water or solution
direct from the generator or reservoir of the gas.
When I carry out my process by the second of these main ways I liberate the
oxygen by electrolytically decomposing the cleansing water or the water of the
solution as the case may be. The said electrolytic decomposition may be brought
about as in the case of an ordinary water voltameter for example. The gases
escaping from the cleansing water or solution may be collected when desired.
A convenient form of apparatus for carrying out my process by the first main
way consists of a horizontally rotating cylinder or washing machine with hollow
concentric bearings, oxygen being introduced through the one bearing and the
portion unutilized exhausted through the other. The oxygen is admitted to the
cleansing water or solution by means of a pipe passing from the introducing bearing
(that through which the oxygen is introduced) downwards and ending in a
perforated pipe or tube placed as near the bottom of the cleansing water or
solution as is convenient. The uncombined oxygen is exhausted through a pipe
opening into the space above the cleansing water or solution and passing to the
exhausting bearing. Both the oxygen and the cleansing water or solution may be
introduced and exhausted through the said bearings, the pipes for the oxygen and
those for the cleansing water or solution being concentric. In some cases instead
of injecting pure oxygen I inject atmospheric air by means of a rotary fan or the
like. I occasionally find it convenient to ozonise the oxygen before injection.
A convenient form of apparatus for carrying out my process by the second main
way consists of a somewhat similar cylinder or machine, the electric conductors
passing through the bearings in the same way as do the pipes conveying oxygen in
the previous case. The electrodes to which these conductors lead are immersed in
the cleansing water or solution, the anode lying preferably as near the bottom
of the cleansing water or solution as possible and the cathode at a point above it.
In some cases
make the shell of the cylinder or machine itself, or shelves or
ledges fitted thereto, one of the electrodes. When I carry out my process by the
second main way in a stationary vessel I prefer to connect the electrodes to the
source of electrical energy by means of flexible conductors the anode being placed
below the cathode whenever convenient.
I generally prefer to shield the electrodes with a gauze or
from contact with the clothes or other materials being treated.
stirrers or agitators I sometimes constitute them electrodes.
Dated this 13th day of June 1892.
perforated casing
When I employ

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Laundry. Process and Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting 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 :-
My invention relates to a new or improved laundry process and to apparatus
therefor, by which I obtain not only the advantage of efficient cleansing but also
that of efficient purification or disinfection.
My said process consists essentially in applying oxygen to the clothes or other
materials by means of one of two main ways; either by (A) injecting oxygen into
the cleansing water or solution, or by (B) liberating oxygen electrolytically in the
cleansing water or solution.
When i carry out my process by the first of these main ways, I inject the oxygen
preferably through a pipe leading to the lower part of the said water or solution
direct from the generator or reservoir of the gas.
When I carry out my process by the second of these main ways, I liberate the
oxygen by electrolytically decomposing the cleansing water or the water of the
solution as the case may be. The said electrolytic decomposition is brought about
as in the case of an ordinary water voltameter for example. The gases escaping
from the cleansing water or solution may be collected, when desired, by any of the
well known ways of collecting gases escaping from a liquid.
By whichever of these ways my invention is carried out, the action is the same.
The oxygen combines with the oxidisible impurities in the clothes or fabrics and
thus renders them innocuous.
By the term cleansing solution I mean water having soap or other detergent
dissolved therein.
A convenient form of apparatus for carrying out my process by the first main
way consists of a horizontally rotating cylinder or washing machine with hollow
concentric bearings, oxygen being introduced through the one bearing and the
portion unutilized exhausted through the other. The oxygen is admitted to the
cleansing water or solution by means of a pipe passing from the introducing bearing
(that through which the oxygen is introduced) downwards and ending in a per-
forated pipe or tube placed as near the bottom of the cleansing water or solution as
is convenient.
The uncombined oxygen is exhausted through a pipe opening into the space
above the cleansing water or solution, and passing to the exhausting bearing. Both
the oxygen and the cleansing water or solution may be introduced and exhausted
through the said bearings, the pipes for the oxygen and those for the cleansing
water or solution being concentric. In some cases, instead of injecting pure oxygen,
I inject atmospheric air, by means of a rotary fan or the like. I occasionally find
it convenient to ozonise the oxygen before injection. This I do by any of the well
known ways of ozonising oxygen.
A convenient form of apparatus for carrying out my process by the second main
way consists of a somewhat similar cylinder or machine, the electric conductors
passing through the bearings in the same way as do the pipes conveying oxygen in
the previous case. The electrodes to which these conductors lead are immersed in
the cleansing water or solution, the anode lying preferably as near the bottom
of the cleansing water or solution as possible, and the cathode at a point above it.
In some cases I make the shell of the cylinder or machine itself, or shelves or
ledges fitted thereto, one of the electrodes. When I carry out my process by the
second main way in a stationary vessel, I prefer to connect the electrodes to the
source of electrical energy by means of flexible conductors, the anode being placed
below the cathode whenever convenient.

page_text: I generally prefer to shield the electrodes with a gauze or perforated casing from
contact with the clothes or other materials being treated. When I employ stirrers
or agitators I sometimes constitute them electrodes.
It is unnecessary to illustrate by drawings the apparatus hereinbefore referred to.
From what has been said any competent engineer will be able to proceed to carry
my invention into effect.
At the time of filing my Provisional Specification I contemplated claiming
certain combinations of devices constituting apparatus. I now desire it to be
understood that in this application for Letters Patent I lay no claim to apparatus.
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 new or improved laundry process substantially as described.
2. That part of the new or improved laundry process, hereinbefore described,
which consists in purifying or disinfecting the clothes or materials by injecting
oxygen into the cleansing water or solution in which the said clothes or materials
are immersed.
3. That part of the new or improved laundry process, hereinbefore described,
which consists in purifying or disinfecting the clothes or materials by injecting
ozone (that is to say ozonised oxygen) into the cleansing water or solution in which
the said clothes or materials are immersed.
4. That part of the new or improved laundry process, herein before described,
which consists in purifying or disinfecting the clothes or materials by electro-
lytically liberating oxygen from the cleansing water or solution in which the said
clothes or materials are immersed.
Dated this 14th day of March 1893.