An Improved Oscillating Apparatus Applicable as a Churn and a Washing Machine.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 19th July, 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Oscillating Apparatus Applicable as a Churn and a
Washing Machine.
I, SAMUEL WRIGHT, of 96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Machinist,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:―
My Invention comprises a new or improved general construction of the parts of an
apparatus in which a box, applicable as a churn or a washing machine, is oscillated
on fulcrum levers and centres below it, either by hand, or it might be reciprocating
motive power mechanism, the box being fitted with a re-acting pendulous weighted
lever which tends to bring back the box to its normal vertical position, and assists and
steadies the action and re-action of the oscillatory box, so that it is easier worked by
the person or the motive power employed than such oscillatory apparatus heretofore
in use, in an equivalent manner to the action of the pendulum of a clock.
In order that the nature and novelty of my said invention, and the manner of
performing and carrying the same into effect or practice may be properly understood,
I have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of Drawings in which the same
reference letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures where
shown. Figure 1, is a sectional side elevation of one modification or arrangement of
the parts of my improved apparatus or pendulous lever and box applicable as a churn
or a washing machine, as shown oscillated to one side. While Figures 2 and 3, are a
transverse section, and a plan respectively, with the top removed of the same box
corresponding to Figure 1, but as set vertically in its normal position to which it
would be brought by the weighted pendulum lever when not set in motion by hand or
motive power.
Referring to these Figures, my improved apparatus consists of a long rectangular
box A made of tight jointed boards bound together by strong side and bottom
frames A¹, the central limbs of which extend down and are fitted with oscillating

page_text: metal bush feet or centres A³ on each side, working on pin joints in strong snugs
at B₁, cast on the supporting basement frame B, preferably hollow and substantial,
to give steadiment to the whole when made portable or removable, but it might also
be screwed at B2 to the floor of the house. At the back side of this frame, a strong
standard C would be formed or secured, carrying a centre pin projecting out
laterally at the top, on which is mounted the oscillating weighted double armed
pendulous lever D, D¹, on the lower arm D of which is mounted a shifting heavy
weight d secured to the arm by a pinching screw d', for setting it to approximately
balance the weight of the milk or other contents tilted from side to side in the box.
The upper arm D¹ of this pendulous weighted lever D is fitted with a lateral pin D'
projecting forward towards the vessel, and carrying an anti-friction roller, or it might
be a sliding bush working in a strong slotted arm or bracket E secured to and
projecting up from the back centre frame A¹ of the milk box A, A'. All constructed
so that as the box A, A¹, is oscillated to the one side, as shown in Figure 1, the
weighted lever D, d, is oscillated to the opposite side, and reacts in falling to the
plumb line to bring back the box to the level position, and even carry it beyond that
to oscillate it in the opposite direction, assisted in this action continuously to and fro,
from one side to the other, by the person standing in front and oscillating the box by
the handles A³ on top, or it might be otherwise standing at the end and pulling the
box up and down by the handles. This pendulum mechanism D, D', d, has the effect
of minimising the power and shock necessary in displacing so much of the milk or
other contents at each oscillatory action of the box A, A', while yet permitting of the
sudden displacement and mixing or breaking up of the contents. The box A, A¹, is
preferably fitted inside with two angular fixed open racks a, a, on each side of the
centre where for large apparatus a central rack a¹ would also be fitted, for better
mixing or agitating or breaking up the milk or other liquid contents. All preferably
under a central loose removable lid a³, so that these racks a, a, a¹, may be removed at
will from their retaining chocks a³, for cleaning and insertion again, and for removing
the contents. The liquid can be run off by a tap 6 fitted at one end for that purpose.
The top parts at of the box on either side of the loose lid a would preferably be made
fixed to prevent the escape of the milk or liquid during its agitation in the end boxes
at each oscillation, over which the handles A would preferably be secured as stays for
securing the upper ends of the frames A'. The agitating and breaking racks a, a',
are preferably made of square bars placed vertically as seen particularly in Figures 2
and 3, but the bars might be made in other forms and laid horizontally or at other
angles, or other forms of agitating divisions might be used; in any case when used
as a churn they would tend to collect the butter in the central space where the least
breaking motion was imparted to the milk, and thus facilitate the collection and
making up of the butter.
The whole general arrangement of the machine would answer for a washing
machine. Or the fittings inside the box A, A¹ might for that purpose be varied by
having the sides and bottom formed of corrugated sheet zine or galvanized iron.
Although the pendulous lever D, D', d has been described as made double armed
and fulcrumed on a pin C in the centre, it will be understood that the standard C, C¹,
might be made higher, and the pendulous lever D, D', d be made to oscillate from its
upper centre and pin C as a single weighted lever, and actuate the slotted bracket E
and its box A, by a pin D² in the lever D, D', d, secured some distance from the
fulcrum, all as shown in side and edge elevation in Figure 4 of the Drawings, which
would answer either for a milk churn or a washing machine in the same manner as
described in reference to Figures 1 to 3, although the weighted lever would then
oscillate to the same side as the box A, A', was tilted. Although the weighted
lever D, D', d has been described as connected to actuate the box A, A' by a pin D²
moving in a slotted arm E, it is to be understood that this might be effected in other
equivalent ways, such as by a loose link or connecting rod and fixed pins in both
members. When the apparatus is to be driven by motive power, this might be done
from any counter rotative motive shaft mounted close to the machine, having a crank

page_text: or eccentric on the shaft connected by a reciprocating rod either to a pin in the
pendulum weighted lever or to the side of the box A, A³, so as to reciprocate this, all
as described, otherwise by manual power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1
First. The general construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of an
oscillating apparatus applicable as a churn and a washing machine, having an
oscillatory re-acting weighted pendulum mechanism, all substantially as, and for the
purposes and advantages herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The mounting of box shaped apparatus for churning, agitating, mixing,
washing and the like, to oscillate on pin centres, and assisted in its action by the
oscillatory action of a pendulum lever, substantially as herein described in reference
to and shown in the accompanying Drawing.
Third. In an oscillating apparatus applicable as a churn and a washing machine,
the fitting of a re-acting weighted pendulum lever to oscillate or assist the oscillation
of the box of the apparatus substantially as herein described, in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.