Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Clothes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1892-Accepted. 26th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Clothes.
I, CHARLES SMITH, of 99 Chapel Street, Stratford, London, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the construction and arrangement of apparatus
for cleaning clothes whereby greater economy of cleaning agent is required for use
in the process of cleaning, and greater expedition ensured than is at present
possible with the existing apparatus in common use for such purposes.
*
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a copper," boiler or vessel
for receiving the water or liquid, and the clothes which are to be cleaned, and in
which the water or liquid is to be heated or boiled together with the clothes;
this boiler I construct with its body portion and bottom surface formed with
corrugations or flutings so as to increase the amount of heating surface and also
to give a number of projecting ribs for the clothes to be brought into contact with,
when my improved stirring vane or paddie is employed in conjunction with the
boiler. 1 construct the boiler or vessel of any desired shape, although I prefer to
employ the circular form for convenience of manufacture, and I arrange a lid over
the boiler so that it may be kept as far as possible steam tight when in use.
I sometimes provide my lid with horn like projections to fit into corresponding
recesses or staples which I place upon the framework of my copper, to permit of
the lid or cover being more securely held in position, and I further provide in
some coppers or boilers a revolving or vibrating spindle or arm carrying a number
of blades or vanes, for giving the clothes a circular motion when being boiled and
for cleaning them by causing them to be brought into contact with the corrugations
or fluted surface of the interior of the vessel. I make the vanes or blades of my
stirring spindle of wood, metal or any other suitable material and I carry the
spindle within a bearing which I arrange within the cover of my vessel, and I
place an ordinary handle or lever upon the outside or projecting end of the spindle
for convenience of manipulation. The paddles or vanes 1 sometimes cover on the
outer edges with india rubber, or other elastic material, and I also in some cases
mount bristle brushes or other scrubbing devices of similar nature upon the blades
for the better cleaning of the clothes within the copper.
I do not limit the application of my improved form of corrugated boiler or
copper to any peculiar kind of lid having any special fastening but I employ any
ordinary kind of cover or lid with or without any fastening when it is required to
construct a boiler or copper without the revolving scrubber as hereinbefore
described.
Dated this 15th dox of Nov 1801
CLERK & MARKS,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Clothes.
I, CHARLES SMITH, of 99 Chapel Street, Stratford, London, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention has for its object the construction and arrangement of apparatus
for cleaning clothes whereby greater economy of cleaning agent is required for use

page_text: in the process of cleaning, and greater expedition ensured than is at present
possible with the existing apparatus in common use for such purposes.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a copper, boiler or vessel for
receiving the water or liquid, and the clothes which are to be cleaned and in which
the water or liquid is to be heated or boiled together with the clothes. This
boiler I construct in the manner illustrated in the two accompanying sheets of
explanatory drawings; the body portion A and bottom surface B1 form with
corrugations or flutings a, so as to increase the amount of heating surface and
also to give a number of projecting ribs for the clothes to be brought into contact
with when my improved stirring vanes or paddles C is employed in conjunction
with the boiler. I construct the boiler or vessel of any desired shape, although
I prefer to employ the circular form for convenience of manufacture, and I arrange
a lid D over the boiler so that it may be kept as far as possible steam tight when
I fit my improved boiler on to any ordinary setting or outer casing of
brick (E), metal or other suitable material, employing the usual fire place grate F
and flue G or I arrange gas burners for giving the heat to the vessel B.
in use.
I sometimes provide my lid with horn like projections K as shown in Figures 6
7 and 8 to fit into corresponding recesses or tapered staples H. which I place upon
the framework of my copper to permit of the lid or cover being more securely
held in position, and 1 further provide in some coppers or boilers a revolving or
vibrating spindle or arm L carrying a number of blades or vanes C Figure 1 and
Figure 2 for giving the clothes a circular motion when being boiled and for
cleaning them by causing them to be brought into contact with the corrugations
or fluted surface of the interior of the vessel. I make the vanes or blades of my
stirring spindle of wood, metal or any other suitable material, and I carry the
spindle within a bearing D', D² which I arrange within the cover of my vessel,
and place an ordinary handle or lever M upon the outside or projecting end of
the spindle for convenience of manipulation. The paddles or vanes I sometimes
cover on the outer edges with india rubber, or other elastic material, and I also
in some cases mount bristle brushes or other scrubbing devices of similar nature
as shown at C2 Fig. 2 upon the blades for the better cleaning of the clothes within
the copper.
I give the vanes a vibrating motion by means of the slotted lever M which
lever I cause to oscillate by the handle N, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.
I give a continuous circular motion to the vanes by means of a plain handle or
by means of bevil gear as illustrated at Figure 4 and Figure 5, the bevil wheels O
being carried by a shaft P supported within a bracket from any convenient
position.
I arrange my improved copper or vessel with a lid constructed as shown in
Figures 6, 7, and 9 when it is desired to employ the ordinary form of washing
"maid
or beater C, and I provide suitable collars or stops L², L³ to prevent too
great an upward or downward movement being given from the handle N. I
sometimes make the lid in halves one half being fixed and the other hinged.
I do not limit the application of my improved form of corrugated boiler or
hopper to any peculiar kind of lid having any special fastening, but I employ any
ordinary kind of cover or lid with or without any fastening when it is required
to construct a boiler or copper without the revolving scrubber as hereinbefore
described.
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 construction of " coppers or vessels for heating liquids for cleaning
clothes having fluted or corrugated surfaces substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
33
(2) The construction and arrangement of "coppers or vessels employed for
cleaning clothes having corrugated or fluted surfaces together with a revolving or

page_text: 39
vibrating paddle or stirrer substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, of the accompanying drawings.
(3) The construction and arrangement of " coppers or vessels employed for
cleaning clothes having corrugated or fluted surfaces and a centrally operated
beater or stirrer such as C' substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated
in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of February 1892.
CLERK & MARKS,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.