IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR O APPARATUS FOR WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING CLOTHES OR OTHER PETEXTILE FABRICS.
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bradford; of the Cathedral Steps, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, and Fleet Street, London, Washing Machine
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
O APPARATUS FOR WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING CLOTHES OR OTHER
PETEXTILE FABRICS.".
Sealed the 31st July 1863, and dated the 4th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bradford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
February 1863.
I, THOMAS BRADFORD, of the Cathedral Steps, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, and Fleet Street, London, Washing Machine Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING CLOTHES, OR
OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS," to be as follows:-
My. Invention consists of an arrangement for utilizing atmospheric air or
steam in the process of washing by a suitable arrangement aud formation of
vessel or washing compartment, and a novel construction of floating rubber or

page_text: dash for the collection of atmospheric air or steam, and its forcible distribution
through the washing ley and fibre simultaneous with a rubbing action thereon,
and which dash I propose to work upon one or more suitable inclines, one or
both ends of which dash (as may be found desirable in its application either
for hand or steam power) to be made in the form of and to act alternately as a
suction valve or float and air piston, the centre of metal, wood, or other open
work for rubbing purposes, and for the admission and emission of air, steam,
and water as alternately drawn in and expelled by the other part of the dash.
In that part of the single or double dash which works at the top of the incline
I propose to fix a weighted roller to act as a rolling or sliding anchor or
working centre for the float, and the floating power of which end I also
propose to assist by a suspensory elastic spring or band, or other convenient
and suitable means.
I
For wringing and mangling I introduce an improved combination and
application of spring lever and spring, which spring lever and spring I propose
to make of spring steel or any other suitable material, so that while the
maximum of pressure is obtainable by the fulcrum of such lever, any required
minimum is obtained by the ends of the lever coming into contact with any
fixed resistance; or more particularly, and for my purpose more effectively,
when the end of such lever comes into contact with spring bars or plates, or
fixed buffer of india-rubber or spiral spring, or any other similar combination
of spring and lever. For mangling the application of this form or means of
pressure is particularly desirable, for which I propose to adopt a combination
of wood and cylindrical metal roller alternately for the portable roller, and a
cylindrical metal roller covered with vulcanized india-rubber for the stationary
roller.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Bradford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS S
BRADFORD, of the Cathedral Steps, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
and Fleet Street, London, Washing Machine Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of 3.

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Bradford, Her special license that I, the said Thomas
Bradford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Bradford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING CLOTHES
OR OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Thomas Bradford, my executors or administrators by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and eause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Bradford, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
:
This Invention consists of an arrangement for utilizing atmospheric air or
steam' in the process of washing by a suitable arrangement and formation of
vessel or washing compartment, and a novel construction of floating rubber or
dash for the collection of atmospheric air or steam, and its forcible distribution
through the washing ley and fibre simultaneous with a rubbing action thereon,
and which dash I work upon one or more suitable inclines, one or both ends
of which dash (as may be found desirable in its application either for hand or
steam power) to be made in the form of, and to act alternately as a suetion
valve or float and air piston, the centre being of metal, wood, or other open
work for rubbing purposes, and for the admission and emission of air, steam,
and water, as alternately drawn in and expelled by the other part of the dash.
In that part of the single or double dash which works at the top of the incline
I propose to fix a weighted roller to act as a rolling or sliding anchor or
working centre for the float end, the floating power of which end I also
propose to assist by a suspensory elastic spring or band, or other convenient
and suitable means.
For wringing and mangling I introduce an improved combination and
application of spring lever and spring, which spring lever and spring I make

page_text: of spring steel, or any other suitable material, so that while the maximum of
pressure is obtainable by the fulcrum of such lever, any required minimum is
obtained by the ends of the lever coming into contact with any fixed resistance;
or more particularly, and for my purpose more effectively, when the end of
such lever comes into contact with spring bars or plates or fixed buffer of
india-rubber, or spiral spring, or any other similar combination of spring and
lever. For mangling the application of this form or means of pressure is
particularly desirable, for which I adopt a combination of wood and cylindrical
metal roller alternately for the portable roller, and a cylindrical metal roller
cover with vulcanized india-rubber for the stationary roller.
This Invention will be clearly understood by referring to the figures and
letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal
section, and Fig. 2 a front view, with a part removed, of this arrangement of
my improved washing, mangling, and wringing. machines; and Fig. 3 a plan
of the dash.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the washing tub or vessel is shewn at a; it has an inclined
bottom b, on which the floating rubber or dash c rides by means of the roller d.
At the front of the dash there are handles e, and also a cross bar f, for con-
necting it by a spring g with a stud h, fixed to the framework, so that the dash,
when pushed upon the clothes and driven backwards and forwards, shall also
be pulled up by the spring g. The under side of the dash, at the front, is
formed with a number of projecting ribs or rubbers i, and at the hinder or
central part there are a number of openings k, Fig. 3, for the admission and
emission of air, steam, and water, which are drawn in and expelled by the
movement of the dash. The roller d acts as a rolling anchor or working
centre for the float end, the floating power of which is assisted, when required,
by a spring or elastic band, or other suitable means.
My improved spring levers and spring for wringing and mangling apparatus
are shewn in Fig. 2. The levers 7 work on studs fixed at each end of the
cross frame m, in the centre of which there is a screw n, working in a nut
fixed in the cross frame m. On the screw n there is a guide plate o and
spring p, resting on the ends of the levers l. Underneath the said levers, near
their fulcrum, is placed the slide blocks q which press on each end of the shaft
of the top roller, so that when the screw is turned the guide plate and spring
press on the ends of the levers, and the required pressure is obtained.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I claim the improvements in machinery or apparatus for washing,

page_text: wringing, and mangling clothes or other textile fabrics, as herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bradford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Thomas Bradford
in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
THOMAS BRADFORD. (L.s.)