Improvements in Washing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 15.94
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I, JOHN PHILLIPS of No. 2 Friars Road Stafford in the County of Stafford,
Engineers Laborer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The object of my invention is the construction of a washing machine which shall
imitate the action of a woman using an ordinary washing tub and "dolly."
Upon an ordinary washing tub I provide a lid furnished with upright standards
suitably constructed to carry a handle, handle shaft, and gearing.
The power exerted on the handle is communicated thro' the gearing by means of
a crank shaft or other suitable means to a "dolly" to which is thereby imparted an
up and down motion in the line of the axis of the washing tub.
In addition to the up and down motion of the "dolly" I also provide suitable
mechanism, actuated from the handle, for imparting to the "dolly" a reciprocating
rotary movement on its own axis.
The whole of the mechanism is constructed in such fashion as to allow the
working position of the "dolly," above the level of the bottom of the tub, to vary
automatically according to the quantity of clothes being operated upon.
I preferably may mount the tub upon a stand of sufficient height to allow a
bucket to be placed upon the floor to receive the water from the tub when drawn
off through a tap placed at a convenient height above the bottom of the tub.
To permit the placing in and removal of the clothes from the tub I provide a
suitable arrangement of mechanism for disconnecting the "dolly" from the driving
gear and for lifting the lid of the tub and the mechanism attached thereto and
swinging it to one side, until the clothes have been changed, when the lid may
again be lowered into position upon the tub and retained in place by means of
suitably arranged catches.
Dat this 90th day of Antahan 1802
JOHN PHILLIPS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I JOHN PHILLIPS, of 2 Friars Road, Stafford, in the County of Stafford,
Engineers Labourer, 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:-
The object of my invention is the construction of a washing machine which shall
imitate the action of a woman using an ordinary washing tub and "dolly."
Upon an ordinary or if desired specially constructed washing tub, or, as it is
sometimes termed "dolly" tub, I provide a lid and upon the lid I arrange a
machine to operate the "dolly." The machine may consist of two upright stands
formed in one with a frame and secured to the lid. Within this frame 1 arrange a
second frame which is free to slide up and down in a vertical direction and which
carries the whole of the working parts of the machine. In the second frame is a
bearing which carries a crank shaft upon which is mounted a handle or driving
pulley. The crank engages a cross head connected to the "dolly" which is within
the tub and the cross head is guided in upright stands at right angles to the stands
Price 1

page_text: first named. By turning the handle or applying power to the pulley the crank is.
revolved and the cross head with the attached "dolly" is made to move up and
down in a vertical direction. Springs may be provided to press down upon the
second frame so as to prevent it rising too readily when the tub is occupied by
clothes and to give more effect to the blow of the "dolly."
In order to give a
turning or reciprocating rotary movement such as a washer-
woman gives to the "dolly" after or during each impact a slotted arm is secured
upon the "dolly" or socket which carries the same and this arm is engaged by
another crank which is revolved by gearing and a cross shaft from the first named
crank and thus a partial revolution on its own axis is given to the dolly at each
stroke.
A greater or less amount of clothes placed in the tub causes the second frame to
assume a higher or lower position in accordance therewith.
The dolly is fitted in a socket with a pin or otherwise so as to be easily
disconnected from the machine and the lid may be lifted or swing aside upon a
pivot so as to permit easy access to the interior of the tub.
The relative speed of the "dolly" to that of the handle or driving pulley may be
either increased or decreased by the gearing as found convenient.
The tub may stand upon a stool and have a tap to draw off the water and may
be fitted with a treadle and catch for lifting and holding up the lid and the
machine while the same are swung aside for insertion or removal of the clothes and
if desired the spring which presses down the "dolly" may be applied to a stem in
connection with the "dolly" instead of to the frame as previously described.
The "dolly" or (as is sometimes used) the "peggy" may be as large in diameter
as the tub will allow so as to act over the entire surface of the clothes and may be
of any suitable pattern for the nature of the work required to be done.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1. is a front view and
Fig. 2. is a vertical section of one form of my improved washing machine.
Fig. 3. is a view shewing the "dolly."
Fig. 4. is a front and
Fig. 5. is a side view of another form of my improved washing machine.
The dolly tub a (Figs. 1 and 2) stands upon a stool 6 and is furnished with a lid c
which may be swung aside upon a pivot d for the purpose of putting in the water,
the clothes and the "dolly" or for removing the same. A tape is provided for
convenience of drawing off the water into a pail e¹. A frame stands upon the lid c
and has fitted within it a second frame which is free to slide up and down. The
frame 9 rests normally upon supports fi and is pressed down thereon by springs g¹.
It is provided with a bearing g2 carrying a crank shaft g³ which can be revolved by
a hand wheel. The crank 9 engages by a die 9 a cross head h which is free to
slide vertically in guides which are carried upon the lid c. The cross head h
carries a socket i in which the "dolly "j is secured by means of a pin ¹ so as to be
easily removable. The socket i has a stem which passes through a hole prepared
for it in the cross head and is retained by a collar and pin This connection
leaves the "dolly"; free to be turned on its vertical axis and by revolving the
hand wheel g an up and down movement is given to the dolly j.
For the purpose of giving a turning movement to the dolly similar to that which
a woman usually gives when dollying, a slotted arm k is provided upon the collar 3
which is engaged by a crank . The crank k¹ is carried in a bearing k² in the
frame g and is furnished with a second crank k³ which is connected by a coupling
rod to another crank formed on a shaft k carried in bearings k in the frame g.
Revolution is imparted to the cranks by a pair of spur wheels k and k³ the latter of
which is mounted on the shaft g3 so that the revolving of the hand wheel g* imparts
a turning movement to the "dolly "j in addition to the up and down movement
already described.
Fig. 3 shews a "dolly"
made of sufficient diameter to nearly occupy the tub a¹
so as to act upon the entire surface of the clothes at once.

page_text: Figs. 4 and 5 shew a rather different construction.
For the purpose of raising the lid c' and the machine 2 a treadle is provided
which is pivoted upon a pin supported beneath the tub a². The treadle / engages a
rod upon which the pivot d rests and is consequently raised with the lid and
machine by the action of the treadle /.
To maintain the lid c' and machine in the raised position a catch ³ is provided
to hold down the treadle and to keep the lid e' in place when lowered upon to the
tub a a dowel pin is furnished which enters a socket upon the tub a. The
washing instrument ³ illustrated in this case is that known as a peggy which is
secured upon a vertical stem j by means of a pin so as to be easily disconnected
and a 66
dolly" such as or may of course be substituted.
66
"
The stem is pressed down by the spring 97 which takes under the arm f³ and
upon the adjustable collar g³ which is capable of being set in different positions upon
the stem and held fast by the cramping screw . By this means the "dolly
or peggy" may be set relatively to the height of the clothes in the tub a².
66
.
"
The hand wheel is mounted on the shaft g¹º carried in the bearing of the
machine frame and gears with the pinion g12 upon the shaft g3 which is carried in
the bearings g. The shaft 13 carries a crank disc 15 which is connected by a
rod g¹ to the collar g" which is free to slide upon the stem and takes under the
collar 9 on the up stroke so as to raise the stem j and "peggy" which are then
driven down upon the clothes by the spring g'.
The gear is carried upon the front end of the shaft 10 and engages the
pinion which is mounted upon a stud k in the frame f2 and is provided with a
crank pin which operate in a vertically slotted arm k¹ mounted by means of a
feather upon the stem. The bracket prevents the arm 4 from rising with the
stem and the action of the crank pin k³ in the slot gives the desired turning
movement which has been previously described.
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. A washing machine consisting of a washing tub and "dolly" the latter of
which is mechanically operated in a similar manner to that of a washerwoman in
the operation of washing clothes.
2. A machine for imparting to a "dolly" an up and down movement in the line
of its axis for the purpose of washing clothes.
3. In a washing machine in which a "dolly" is used imparting to such "dolly" a
reciprocating turning movement about its vertical axis similar to that given by a
washerwoman when using the same.
4. In a washing machine in which a "dolly" and dolly tub are used the arrange-
ments by which the height of the "dolly" is automatically varied according to the
amount of clothes contained in the tub.
5. In a washing machine the method of raising the cover or lid for the purpose
of gaining access to the interior of the tub or clothes receptacle.
6. In a washing machine pivoting the lid so that it can be swung aside for gaining
access to the interior of the tub or clothes receptacle.
7. The combined machine as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 for
the purpose of washing clothes.
8. The combined machine as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, for
the purpose of washing clothes.
Dated this 27th day of July 1894
JOHN PHILLIPS.