IMPROVEMENTS IN, AND IN CONNECTION WITH STEAM WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: Machines.
I, GEORGE WALLIS HARRIS, of Cobden Place, Leeds, in the County of York,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN, AND IN CONNECTION WITH STEAM WASHING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object a simple and cheap arrangement and construc-
tion of machine or apparatus for washing clothes, etcetra, by the direct action and
application of steam only, in contradistinction to the so called "Steam Washing
Machines" in which the water from which the steam is produced is also used; and
in effecting this object, I employ an ordinary household or domestic boiler or "set
pot," as the steam generator, and I prefer to use gas as the means of heating the
same, although when this may not be availablo, an ordinary coal or other fire may
be substituted.
"
The whole of the machine or apparatus I employ, is applied to, and fixed upon
and above, the upper level or horizontal surface of the "setting" of an ordinary
"set pot" or boiler, and consists of an encasing or
"closo stand, a revolving
cylinder or "drum," and a lid or cover, and which may be thus described.
The stand consists, by preference, of a rectangular oblong chamber, bottomless,
or thoroughly pierced, perforated, or otherwise opened, for the free admission of
the steam from the boiler, and having a broad, strong, horizontal, external flange,
for resting and fixing upon the boiler "setting," and also fitted with adjustable
prods or claws, for steadying and holding the whole in position; the height of this
case being rather more than half the diameter of the revolving cylinder or drum
it is to receive; and the top edge or surface being constructed with half circlo
bearings, for the spindles or axies of the said drum.
One or both of the ends of this stand, I sometimes construct to "turn down," or
remove, to allow of the drum being slid along, upon its spindle bearings, after the
removal of the cover, to facilitate the removal of the articles, from the drum, when
washed. The lid or cover, for completing this stand or case as, or into, a steam
chamber, is fitted or jointed to it in the usual manner, and upon or in the "joint
line," the corresponding "half circle bearings," for the spindles, or axies of the
drum, are provided, so that when the case is complete, the external bearings for
the spindles are also complete, and when the cover is removed the upper half of the
enindlea or anindle bearings is exposed

page_text: The handle for the lid or cover, is constructed to answer a double or two fold
purpose; it is placed upon the "crown" of the cover, and made hollow and
partially open, and is attached by means of one, two, or moro tubes, which pass
through, to the interior, and terminate in "rose jets," to act as "spray condensers";
as, by pouring in,-through the handle, a little cold water, before removing the
cover, not only will the handle be cooled, but the steam will also be so far condensed
or reduced, as to prevent annoyance and danger from scalding.
The internal revolving drum or cylinder I employ, for the reception of the
articles to be washed, is a little less in length than the internal width of the case,
"between the bearings," and is constructed with a series or number of flat portions
or surfaces, on or round its periphery, and these are furnished, about midway
between the uniting angles, with semicircular or V shaped ribs, bent or projecting
inwards, to act as beaters, whilst the drum is revolving; and the whole is well
perforated, pierced, or wired, for the purpose of allowing free access and action of
the steam.
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Connection with Steam Washing
-
Machines.
I GEORGE WALLIS HARRIS, of Cobden Placo, Leeds, in the County of York,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN,
AND IN CONNECTION WITH, STEAM WASHING MACHINES, and in what manner the
samo is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
This Invention has for its object a simple and cheap arrangement and construc-
tion of a machine or apparatus for washing clothes, etcetera, by the direct action
and application of steam only, in contradistinction to the so-called "Steam
Washer," or Steam Washing Machines," in which the water, from which the
steam is produced, is also brought into direct contact with the clothes being
washed;
and in effecting this object, I employ an ordinary household or domestic
"set-pot," boiler, or copper, as the steam generator, and I prefer to use gas as the
means of heating the same, although when this may not be available, or not deemed
advisable, on the ground of cost or other objection thereto, then an ordinary coal
or other fire may be substituted.
'
I apply a movable atmospheric gas burner in coil to the under surface of, tho
set-pot, and resting on the fire bars of the ordinary grate thereof.
The machine or apparatus I employ, is applied to and placed upon the upper
level or horizontal surface of the "setting" of an ordinary "set-pot," copper, or

page_text: boiler, and consists of an encasing or "close" -stand, a revolving cylinder, or
"drum," and a lid, or cover, and which may be thus described :-
The stand consists, by preference, when the " set-pot," or boiler, is entirely open
and available, of a square or nearly squaro chamber, and in cases where it is
partially stoned over, of a rectangular, oblong chamber, but, in either case, wholly
bottomless, or thoroughly pierced, perforated, or otherwise open, or opened, for tho
free admission of the steam from the boiler, and having, if in the latter form, when
necessary, a broad, strong, horizontal external flange, for resting upon the boiler
"setting," and also fitted with, either a stout rim running round, or partly round,
the inner circle of the said boiler "setting," or else adjustable prods, or claws, for
steadying and holding the whole in position; the height of this case being rather
more than half the diameter of the revolving cylinder, or drum, it is to receive,
and the top edge, or surface, being constructed with half-circular bearings for the
spindles or axes of the said drum. One or both of the ends of this stand, I some-
times construct to lower, or " turn down," or remove, to allow, when required, of
the drum being slid along upon its spindle bearings, after the removal of the cover,
to facilitate the removal of the articles from the drum when washed. The lid, or
cover, for completing this stand, or case, as or into a "steam chamber," is fitted or
jointed to it in the usual manner, and upon or in the "joint line," the corresponding
"half-circular bearings" for the spindles, or axes, of the drum are provided, so
that when the case is complete, the external bearings for the spindles are also
complete, and when the cover is removed, the upper half of the spindles is
exposed.
The handle for the lid, or cover, is utilized to attain, by its mode of construction,
other useful purposes than its ordinary object; it is placed upon the "crown" of
the cover, and made hollow and partially open, and is attached by means of one,
two, or more tubes, which pass through to the interior, and terminate in "roso
jets," to act as a "spray condenser"; as, by pouring in,-through the handle,-a
little cold water, before removing the cover, and while continuing to revolve the
cylinder, not only will the additional water required for the boiler, to make good
the loss by evaporation, be supplied, the handlo be cooled, and the cylinder rinsed
and cleansed, but the steam will also be so far condensed, or reduced, as to prevent
annoyance and danger from scalding, through its escape in large volume upon the
removal of the lid,
•
The internal revolving drum, or cylinder, I employ, for the reception of the
articles to be washed, and which is turned by the use of a winch, in the usual
manner, is a little less in length than the internal width of the case," between tho
bearings," is provided with one or two doors hinged to open for the admission and
delivery of the clothes, etcetera, and is constructed either with a series, or number,
of flat portions, or surfaces, on or round its periphery, furnished midway between
the uniting angles, with semicircular or V shaped ribs, bent or projecting inwards,
to act as beaters, whilst the drum is revolving, the whole being well perforated,
pierced, or wired, for the purpose of allowing free access and action of the steam;
or the periphery of the drum may be formed of one continuous sheet of well
perforated zinc, or other suitable material, bent, at intervals, into angular projec-
tions upon its inner surface to act as rubbers whilst being revolved in the process
of washing.
To further illustrate the nature of my Invention, I have attached hereunto a
Sheet of Drawings, which I will now explain.
Figure 1, is the front elevation, and shews the "setting" of the "set-pot"--with
the fire inlet thereto. The "set-pot" is shewn in dotted lines, and the machine, or
apparatus, in position on the "setting" over the "set-pot." The handle of the lid,
or cover, being shewn on the "crown. "The inside view of the cylinder shews tho
V shaped ribs, or beaters, of one form of its construction. Figure 3. is a cross
5 section of the cylinder after another form of construction with the projections, or
rubbers, upon its inner surface.

page_text: '
'
Figure 2. is a plan, shewing by the dotted circle the rim which fits round the
inner circle of the "set-pot setting." The handle of the lid, or cover, is shewn in
the centre, which is "dished" out at the top to convey water down the pipes at
each end to the "rose jet," or jets, on the inside to act as a "spray condenser."
The winch is at the side by which the drum is rotated. The outer lined square
shews the top outer area and edge of the "set-pot setting." The next inner
squared space is the flange of the stand, or lower part of the case, resting on the
"setting" for support and steadying.
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. The application of a so-called "Steam Washer," or "Steam Washing Machine,"
or apparatus, unto or upon the ordinary domestic, or washhouse, "set-pot," copper,
'or boiler.
2. The employment of steam only, as generated in such “set-pot,” copper, or
boiler, for the washing of clothes, etcetera.
3. The construction generally of the hereinbefore described machine, or apparatus,
for the purpose of washing clothes, etcetera, by the action of steam generated in
such "set-pot," or boiler.
'
"
4. The construction and employment of the handle of the lid, or cover, of the
lierein before described washing machine, or apparatus, as a spray condenser,"
whether in connection with this or any other form of the so-called "Steam
Washer," or washing machine.
"
"
5. The application and adaptation of gas unto the before-named "set-pot,"
.copper, or boiler, as a means of heating the same for the purpose of utilizing the
so-called "Steam Washer," or washing machine, thereupon or in connection
therewith.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1895