IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINES FOR WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING CLOTHES AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Windle and Philip Dickson Davey, both of Liver-
pool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO MACHINES FOR WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING
CLOTHES AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 24th June 1879, and dated the 28th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Windle and Philip
Dickson Davey at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
28th December 1878.
JOHN WINDLE and PHILIP VICKSON DAVEY, both of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINES FOR WASHING,
WRINGING, AND MANGLING CLOTHES AND OTHER ARTICLES."
In machines for the above purposes we fix a horizontal vessel or receptacle, here-
after called the "tub," of wood or other suitable material, semi-cylindrical in shape,
having flat ends, curved bottom and sides, and flat top, watertight, and the whole
of the inside except the top being provided with longitudinal ribs or flutings
extending the whole length of the vessel. Within this tub are two arms or paddles
extending nearly the whole length of the tub, and provided with ribs or flutings
upon a part or the whole of one or both sides, and holes for water, etcetera, to pass
through. One of these arms is fixed to a shaft passed through the centre longi-
tudinally of the tub, the shaft being actuated by a lever at the end of the machine,
and so causing the paddle to describe part of a circle, preferably about a quarter, at
every stroke. The other paddle is hinged to the top of the tub, and held in position
by springs of any suitable material. It will thus be seen that when the two paddles
come together, or nearly so, with the clothes or other articles to be washed between
them, a frictional or rubbing motion is produced in addition to the squeezing
between the surfaces of the paddles, the articles to be washed being thus very
thoroughly scoured. Upon the return of the reciprocating paddle the clothes or
Doine B77

page_text: other articles falling on to the fluted or ribbed sides of the tub turn partly over of
themselves, and present fresh surfaces to the paddles at the next stroke.
The wringing and mangling apparatus consists of a pair of horizontal rollers, as is
customary in machines for this purpose, the improvement consisting in the method
of fastening the spindles, gear wheels, and rollers securely together, and in such
manner that the rollers cannot be split, as frequently happens under the old system.
In our improved method the gear wheels have a collar projecting towards the roller,
into which the roller fits. A midfeather also projecting divides the circle enclosed
by the collar, and a suitable groove or slot being cut in the end of the roller to
admit the midfeather, and the two brought together, the roller is forced to turn
with the wheel, while the collar prevents any likelihood of the roller splitting. A
holo is bored down the centre of the roller, and an iron rod or shaft, provided with
nuts for tightening up, passed through it, forming the axis by means of which it
revolves. The rollers are kept at a proper tension by means of plate springs and
an adjusting screw or screws as is customary.
The whole machine is supported by standards or frames of cast iron or other
suitable material connected by suitable stays, and preferably provided with castors
or rollers to facilitate removal. The tub previously referred to is fixed at such a
height from the ground that a bucket or other vessel can be introduced underneath
to remove the water, et cetera, when desired, and a vent peg or other appliance is
provided for letting the water off.
Both the washing apparatus and the rolls are worked by means of a shaft (with
or or without a fly wheel) having one or more gear wheels upon it, the whole being
connected together by suitable gearing, cranks, levers, and connecting rods, working
in suitable bearings and supports. These machines are made in different sizes, and
can be worked by hand or power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Windle and Philip Dickson Davey in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th June 1879.
JOHN WINDLE and PHILIP DICKSON DAVEY, both of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINES FOR WASHING,
WRINGING, AND MANGLING CLOTHES AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Fig. 1 is an end view, with part of tub removed; Fig. 2, side view, also with part
of tub removed; Fig. 3, sectional view of bottom roller.
In machines for the above purposes we fix a horizontal vessel or receptacle, here-
after called the "tub" A, of wood or other suitable material, semi cylindrical in shape,
having flat ends, curved bottom and sides, and flat top, watertight, and the whole
of the inside except the top being provided with longitudinal ribs or flutings
extending the whole length of the vessel. Within this tub are two arms or
paddles B and C, extending nearly the whole length of the tub, and provided with
ribs or flutings upon a part or the whole of one or both sides, and holes for water,
etcetera, to pass through. One of these arms B is fixed to a shaft D passed through
the centre of the tub longitudinally, the shaft being actuated by a lever or crank E
at the end of the machine, and so causing the paddle B to describe part of a circle,
preferably about a quarter, at every stroke. The paddle is hinged to the top of
the tub A, and held in position by springs G of any suitable material. It will thus
be seen that when the two paddles come together, or nearly so, with the clothes or
other articles to be washed between them, a frictional or rubbing motion is pro-
duced in addition to the squeezing between the surfaces of the paddles, the articles
to be washed being thus very thoroughly scoured. Upon the return of the recipro-
cating paddle the clothes or other articles falling on to the fluted or ribbed sides of
the tub turn partly over of themselves, and present fresh surfaces to the paddles at
the next stroke.
:
The wringing and mangling apparatus consists of a pair of horizontal rollers H, I,
as is customary in machines for this purpose, the improvement consisting in the
method of fastening the spindles, gear wheels; and rollers securely together, and in
such manner that the rollers cannot be split, as frequently happens under the old
system. In our improved method, shewn in Fig. 3, the gear wheels J have a
collar K projecting towards the roller, into which the roller fits. A midfeather L
also projecting divides the circle enclosed by the collar. A suitable groove or slot
being cut in the end of the roller to admit the midfeather the two are brought
together, and thus the roller is forced to turn with the wheel, while the collar
prevents any likelihood of the roller splitting. A hole is bored down the centre of
the roller, and an iron rod or shaft M, provided with nuts N for tightening up, is
passed through it, forming the axis by means of which it revolves. The rollers are
kept at a proper tension by means of plate springs O, O, and an adjusting screw or
screws as is customary. The whole machine is supported by standards or frames P
of cast iron or other suitable material connected by suitable stays, and preferably
provided with castors or rollers to facilitate removal. The tub previously referred
to is fixed at such a height from the ground that a bucket or other vessel can be
introduced underneath to remove the water when desired, and a vent peg or other
appliance is provided for letting the water off. Both the washing apparatus and
the rollers are worked by means of a shaft or sleeve Q (with or without a fly
wheel R) having one or more gear wheels upon it, the whole being connected
together by suitable gearing, cranks, levers, and connecting rods, as shown, working
in suitable bearings and supports. These machines are made in different sizes, and
can be worked by hand or power.
Further Description of Drawings.-S, wood stay and part of cover for carrying
top arin, with spiral spring to press it down; T, cover of washing compartment;
U, second purchase wheel, and U¹ crank shaft for same; V, connecting rod for con-

page_text: necting second purchase crank and shaft with arm shaft; W, sliding caps for pressing
down top roller; X, iron bar; P¹, bridge; P¹¹, cast iron stands with rim or flange
for casing in cog wheels.
Having now described our Invention, and the best design known to us for carrying
it into effect, we wish it to be understood that what we believe to be new, and desire
to protect under the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The partially cylindrical trough, such as A, preferably fluted, with an arm
swinging on a pivot or axis at the centre of the cylindrical trough, and apparatus
for moving that arm in a reciprocal manner, and forcing it forward and against one
or more obstructions, preferably moveable, at one or both extremities of its stroke.
2nd. The combination of the two arms B and C, or their equivalent, with each
other and with the circular trough A, and also the method of washing textile
materials by means of the various parts herein mentioned, operating substantially
as described.
3rd. The general arrangement and construction of rollers and cup ends, wheels,
and bearings, substantially as described, and shown in Fig. 3, whereby the cup ends,
wheels, and bearings are rigidly fitted to the rollers, and held in position by bolt
and lock nuts or their equivalent.
4th. The combined arrangement of washing machine with framing, casing, and
gearing, substantially as herein described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Dickson Davey, for and on behalf of
myself and the said John Windle, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twenty sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-nine.
TALY DICKSON DAVEY. (LS.)
Witness,
E. GARDNER COLTON,
of Wm. P. Thompson & Co.'s Patent Agency,
6, Lord St.,
L'pool.,
& 323, High Holborn, W.C.,
London.