IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DRYING VARIOUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1885

page_text: HERBERT SMITH Grocer and JOHN EDWARD SHARMAN PERKINS Engineer, both
of Peterborough in the County of Northampton do hereby declare the nature of
their invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DRYING
VARIOUS SUBSTANCES to be as follows:-
This invention consists of an improvement in machines for Washing and drying
various substances and materials For this purpose we use a perforated circular
vessel mounted on a spindle on which it may be revolved by hand or other
power, this revolving vessel we enclose in another cylindrical vessel containing
water.
The latter outer vessel we construct so as to be capable of a vertical motion and
it may be raised when it is desired to immerse the inner perforated vessel in
the water.
When the outer vessel is raised the water covers the bottom of the inner
perforated vessel.
The substance or material to be washed is then placed in the inner perforated
vessel, and the vessel revolved as long as may be necessary to wash the substance,
fixed or moveable brushes of beaters being used if required..
The outer vessel containing the water is then lowered and the inner perforated
vessel, rapidly revolved, the superfluous water is expelled from the substance, to be
dried by centrifugal force.
In another arrangement, we make the inner perforated vessel moveable vertically
and the outer vessel fixed.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Washing and Drying Various
Substances.
HERBERT SMITH, Grocer, and JOHN EDWARD SHARMAN PERKINS, Engineer, both
of Peterborough, in the County of Northampton do hereby declare the nature of
their invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DRYING
VARIOUS SUBSTANCES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists of an improvement in machines for washing and drying
various substances and materials especially currants and dried fruits. For this
purpose we use a perforated circular vessel mounted on a spindle on which it may
be revolved by hand or other power.
This revolving vessel we enclose in another vessel containing water.
The latter outer vessel we construct so as to be capable of a vertical motion
and it may be raised, when it is desired to immerse the inner perforated vessel
in water.
When the outer vessel is raised the water covers the bottom of the inner
perforated vessel.
The substance or material to be washed is then placed in the inner perforated
vessel, and the vessel revolved as long as may be necessary to wash the substance;
fixed or movable brushes or beaters being used if required.
The outer vessel containing the water is then lowered, and the inner perforated
vessel being rapidly revolved, the superfluous water is expelled from the substance,
to be dried by centrifugal force.
.
In another arrangement we make the inner perforated vessel. movable and the
outer vessel fixed.
The invention is illustrated by figures 1, 2, 3; 4, 5, and 6, 7, on the accom-
panying drawings.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, fig. 2 a cross section, and fig. 8 a plan of our Machine for
washing and drying various substances.
A perforated circular vessel A is mounted on a vertical shaft A', which may be
revolved by turning the wheel C. which drives the vertical shaft. through the
belt C¹ shaft and pully C and mitre wheels C³. D. is an outer vessel partially
filled with water through which the vertical shaft A¹ passes, and which can be
raised or lowered by means of the foot lever E., which is pivoted at E¹ to the frame
of the Machine. The other end of the lever acts on the bottom of the vessel D
which moves in guides F. F.
The material to be operated upon is placed in the perforated vessel A, and the
foot lever E being pressed down, the outer vessel D which is partially filled with
water is raised till the material to be washed is immersed. The vessel A is then
turned backwards and forwards till the material is sufficiently washed; brushes or
beaters G. G. being attached to the machine for the purpose, when required, or the
vessel may remain stationary, and the brushes or beaters be revolved or agitated.
The outer vessel D is then lowered till the perforated vessel A is clear of the water.

page_text: The wheel C. is then turned, and the perforated vessel A. revolved rapidly, thus
expelling the moisture by centrifugal force from the material which has been
washed.
In the drawing the outer vessel is shewn in its higher position.
Figs. 4 and 5 are views of a similar machine with the outer vessel D fixed to the
framing of the Machine, and the perforated vessel A made adjustable on the vertical
shaft, on which it slides, and is fixed by means of a pin A', which passes through
a hole in the centre boss of the vessel, and in the vertical shaft, when it is
required to rotate the perforated vessel rapidly by means of gearing similar to that
before described. Handles B. B. are fixed to the vessel A for turning it slowly
backwards and forwards, and for lifting it on the spindle or removing it from the
Machine.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a similar Machine with the shaft that carries the perforated
vessel horizontal instead of vertical. In this case the perforated vessel A has both
ends closed and the circumference only perforated. Part of the casing is removable
for the purpose of filling and emptying the vessel. The outer vessel D. is in this
case made with a movable cover, and the shaft A¹, on which the perforated vessel A¹
revolves is carried in bearings attached to frame G. The frame G. is pivoted at G¹.
In the position shewn, the perforated cylinder is partially immersed in water, in
which position the material may be washed by rotating the perforated vessel or by
means of brushes or beaters H attached to a spindle passing through the vessel.
The brushes or beaters are so arranged that they do not touch the circumference
of the vessel, when it is being revolved rapidly.
When it is desired to dry the material, the frame G. is raised to the position G*
and fixed by a pin. This lifts the perforated vessel clear of the water. The
perforated vessel is then revolved rapidly by the spur gearing shewn, and the
moisture expelled by centrifugal force. To empty the perforated vessel, the cover D1
of the outer vessel D is removed, and the frame G. moved into the position G³. The
slide A is then removed and the vessel emptied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
The construction of machines for washing and drying various substances, having
the novel combination and arrangement of
1. A perforated vessel which may be immersed in water contained in an outer
vessel for washing the said substances, and which may be afterwards raised from
the water and rapidly rotated in order to expel the moisture by centrifugal force.
2. A perforated vessel which may be immersed in water contained in an outer
vessel, the outer vessel being subsequently lowered, and the perforated vessel
rotated clear of the water to expel the moisture.