Improvements in Hydraulic Attachments for Washboards.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1896-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Attachments for Washboards.
I LEWIS PETERSON of Madrid, in the County of Boone and State of Iowa,
United States of America, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an hydraulic attachment for an ordinary washboard,
which is adapted to throw a stream of hot or cold water from a wash tub, onto
clothing or other material that is being rubbed on the washboard, and thus greatly
facilitate the washing operation, reduce time consumed in rubbing the goods and
lessen the labour incidental to such operation.
According to this invention the side bars of the washboards are pivoted at their
lower ends to a frame made of such length as to be capable of being seated in a
wash-tub of ordinary dimensions, so that the washboard can be rocked on its
pivots, and maintained in an inclined position by a bent spring arm secured to
the support which carries the rubbing surface, the free end of said arm being
projected downwardly and outwardly so as to engage with one or other of the
teeth of an inclined rack carried upon the cross frame which supports the wash-
board, and thus sustain it at any desired inclination. The water lifting and
ejecting device is constructed of a cylinder composed of two sections sliding
telescopically the one in the other. The lower section is pivoted at its lower
end in a yoke piece screwed to the cross-bar of the frame. Near the upper end
of the lower section of the cylinder is a transverse partition provided with a flap or
other valve, adapted to open upwardly, by the pressure of water that may be
caused to rise in said lower section. The upper section of the cylinder is also
provided with a transverse partition, having a flap or other valve, adapted to open
under the pressure of water, or air on its under side. The upper portion of the
cylindrical section is preferably contracted in diameter and terminates in a laterally
projecting nozzle, which is preferably Hattened and adapted to throw a thin sheet
of water. Or the nozzle may be made separate and attached thereto. The upper
section of the cylinder is attached to the washboard at its upper end, by a rocking
connection preferably consisting of a yoke similar to that described for the lower
section, carried upon the upper cross bar of the washboard. Thus arranged the
cylindrical sections form a pump for raising water from the wash tub, and
discharging it over the rubbing surface of the wash board, or any article placed on
the latter.
If the device is located in a tub or other receptacle containing water, and the
operator assumes a position at the tub near the elevated end of the washboard to
rub clothes or other soiled goods thereon, for the renovation of such material,
the act of pressing down and reciprocating the goods on the washboard in the
usual
way, will correspondingly depress the upper section of the pumping device,
and a few strokes of the pump produced by work at the washboard, will
exhaust the air from the lower section and effect an elevation of water, a
continuation of the operation forcing the suds water in a thin stream from the
nozzle.
It is obvious that the adjustment of the spring arm on the rack will give any
desired range of stroke for the pump, the up-stroke of the latter being produced
5 by the arm assuming its normal shape after depression.
By the aid of this improved hydraulic attachment, the work of washing or

page_text: rubbing soiled articles to clean them with suds water is expedited, as the water
is constantly thrown on the goods while undergoing renovation.
The yielding action of the spring arm restricts the application of excessive force
on the goods, and thus prevents injurious wear thereon, and as the degree of
pressure can be gauged by an adjustment of the arm on the rack, a proper pressure
on different kinds of material that is being rubbed on the board, can be readily
obtained. If considered of advantage, the articles that have been rubbed with
soapy water to eliminate dirt and stains, may be rinsed and rubbed at the same
time with a supply of clean water, that is introduced in the wash tub after the
dirty suds has been removed; which operation will thoroughly rinse the suds from
the goods and whiten the same effectively.
Dated this 1st day of October 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in Hydraulic Attachments: for Washboards.
I, LEWIS PETERSON, of Madrid, in the County of Boone and State of Iowa,
United States of America, Farmer, 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 :-
This invention relates to an hydraulic attachment for an ordinary washboard,
which is adapted to throw a stream of hot or cold water from a wash tub, onto
clothing or other material that is being rubbed on the washboard, and thus greatly
facilitate the washing operation, reduce time consumed in rubbing the goods and
lessen the labour incidental to such an operation.
To these ends my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts,
as is hereinafter described and claimed.
.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in
both of the views.
Figure 1 is a perspective side view of the improvement applied to a washboard,
and also showing in dotted lines a wash tub wherein the apparatus is located; and
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement connected to an end
portion of a washboard.
The improvement is particularly well adapted for use in connection with a
common washboard, and an ordinary movable or stationary wash tub, and
in carrying out the invention it is shown in connection with such laundry
apparatus.
In Figure 1, a frame is shown, comprising two strips 10 preferably of wood, and
held spaced apart by cross bars 10%, the strips having such a length as will permit
the frame to be seated in a wash tub of ordinary dimensions, and which may be
such as is indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1.
The washboard 11 is of common construction, having any approved rubbing
surface 11, and as shown, the lower ends of the side bars 11° of the washboard
are pivoted to the ends of the frame strips 10, so that the washboard may be held
inclined and rocked on said pivots 10b. The washboard is maintained in an
inclined position by a preferably bent spring arm 12 that is fastened by one
end to the lower surface of the back piece 11° that supports the rubber 11
the free end of the arm being projected downwardly and away from the pivoted
end of the frame for engagement with an inclined rack 13 secured on the cross
bars 10.
The elasticity of the arm will permit it to receive such adjustment as will

page_text: ause its toe to enter between different teeth on the rack and thus sustain the
oard 11 at any desired inclination with regard to the frame strips 10 which are
upposed to be in a horizontal plane when the improved washing apparatus is
eady for use.
The most essential feature of the improvement comprises a water lifting and
jecting device constructed essentially as follows:-
A cylinder composed of two sections 13 14 is provided, which sections have a
telescopic connection with each other and preferably the lower section 13 is
adapted to slide with a tight joint in the upper section 14.
The lower section 13 has a rocking connection between its lower end and the
adjacent cross bar 10 the preferred means for connecting said parts consisting
of a ring 15 encircling and affixed to the lower end of the section 13 and provided
at diametrically opposite points with projecting pins engaging freely in perfora-
tions in the semi-circular yoke-piece 16 the latter being provided with a screw
shank 17 screwed into the side of the said cross bar 10³, as clearly shown in
Figure 2.
It is evident that the ring 15 may be dispensed with and the pivot pins be
formed on the section 13, or the ring 15 may be perforated and said pins be
formed on or secured to the yoke piece 16 and project inwardly therefrom for
engagement with the perforations in the ring, and the same result be attained.
is therefore to be understood that the construction of the device in this particular
is not to be limited to the exact construction shown in the drawings.
It
A valve 18 is located in or on an apertured transverse partition 19 secured in
the lower section 13, near its upper end, aud which may either be a flap valve as
shown or any other style of valve that is suitable for the purpose, it being
essential, however, that the valve be adapted to open upwardly when pressed
on from below the partition 19, by water that may be caused to rise in the
section 13.
There is an apertured transverse partition 20 affixed in the upper cylindric
section 14, and a valve 21, preferably of the flap style is arranged within the
section named above said partition or diaphragm, so as to be adapted to open
the aperture in said partition when water or air presses on the lower side of the
valve 21. The upper portion of the cylindric section 14 is preferably constricted
in diameter as represented, and terminates in a laterally projecting nozzle 22, that
for efficient service is flattened and thus adapted to throw a thin sheet of water
from its slit-like opening. It is feasible to make the nozzle separate from the
cylindric section 14 and attach it thereto, and the latter may be shaped differently.
at its upper end from the form represented, but it is essential that there be only an
escape for air or water afforded through the nozzle 22.
The upper cylindric section 14 is attached to the washboard at its upper end by
a rocking connection, preferably like the connection of the lower section with
the cross bar 10", consisting of the ring 23 which is secured on the section 14
and is pivoted between the prongs of the yoke 24, the latter having a screw
bolted connection with the upper cross bar of the washboard, as is clearly shown
in Figure 2.
It will be seen that in effect the cylindric sections 13, 14, produce a pump for
the elevation of water from the wash tub, and discharge of the same over the
rubbing surface of the washboard, or any article placed on the latter.
If the device is located in a tub or other receptacle containing water, and the
operator assumes a position at the tub near the elevated end of the washboard, to
rub clothes or other soiled goods thereon, for the renovation of such material, the
act of pressing down and reciprocating the goods on the washboard in the usual
way, will correspondingly depress the upper section 14 of the pumping device,
and a
Tew strokes of the pump produced by work at the washboard, will
5 exhaust the air from the lower section 13 and effect an elevation of water, a
continuation of the operation forcing the suds water in a thin stream from the
nozzle 22.

page_text: It is obvious that the adjustment of the spring arm 12 on the rack 13 will give
any desired range of stroke for the pump, the up-stroke of the latter being
produced by the arm assuming its normal shape after depression.
It is claimed for this improved hydraulic attachment, that the work of washing
or rubbing soiled articles to clean them with suds water is expedited, as the water
is constantly thrown on the goods while undergoing renovation.
The yielding action of the spring arm 12 restricts the application of excessive
force on the goods, and thus prevents injurious wear thereon, and as the degree of
pressure can be gauged by an adjustment of the arm on the rack 13, a proper
pressure on different kinds of material that is being rubbed on the board can be
readily obtained.
If considered of advantage, the articles that have been rubbed
with soapy water to eliminate dirt and stains, may be rinsed and rubbed at the
same time with a supply of clean water, that is introduced in the wash tub after
the dirty suds has been removed; which operation will thoroughly rinse the suds
from the goods and whiten the same effectively.
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 combination with a movable washboard, of a pumping device operatively
-connected thereto to discharge water on the board when the latter is used,
substantially as described.
2. The combination with a pumping device, of a washboard having one end
pivoted and its other end yieldingly supported and secured to the pumping device
to operate it, whereby the pumping device will be operated to discharge water on
the board by the reciprocating motion imparted to the board in the act of rubbing
the goods thereon, substantially as described.
3. An apparatus for the renovation of fibrous material, comprising a frame, a
washboard pivoted at one end on said frame, a spring support for the washboard,
and a water pumping device connected to the frame and washboard, and adapted
to receive motion from the rocking movement of said washboard, substantially as
.described.
4. The combination with a washboard having one end pivoted and its other end
yieldingly supported, of a pumping device consisting of two telescoping cylindrical
sections, each section having a diaphragm provided with a valve, the upper section
being secured to the upper end of the washboard and provided with a nozzle
projecting over the said board, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a washboard having one end pivoted and its other end
yieldingly supported, of a pumping device consisting of two telescoping cylindrical
sections, each having a diaphragm provided with a valve, the lower section having
rocking connection with a fixed support and the upper section a rocking connection
with the upper end of the washboard and provided with a nozzle projecting over
the said board, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a fixed frame, of a washboard having one end pivoted
to the frame, a rack carried by the said frame, a spring having one end secured to
the washboard and its other end engaging the rack, and a pumping device
connected with the upper end of the washboard and adapted to be operated
by the rocking movement of said board, substantially as herein shown and
.described.
Dated this 12th day of June 1896
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.