IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, GEORGE COOPER, of the Electric Works, The Wicker, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Coppersmith, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES” to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for washing clothes, and
other similar articles or materials, and refers more particularly to such apparatus as
consists of a revolving drum to contain the clothes, enclosed in an outer casing or
boiler; such as are described in the Specification of Patent No 220, 1876.
My invention consists in the peculiar arrangement of the driving gear, for
imparting the rotary motion to the drum, by which a more regular speed, may be
obtained, which is a matter of much importance, and a material factor in producing
the desired result; also in a novel arrangement of the various parts of the
apparatus, so as to permit the Cylinder to be lifted out of the boiler or hot water
pan with ease.
In washing apparatus of the description above referred to, the rotary motion is
usually given by hand through the medium of a direct acting crank handle; it
follows that by reason of the unequal balance, caused by the ever varying position
of the clothes, the rotary motion is very irregular. Also as the axle of the drum
being passed through the side of the boiler or hotwater pan, and secured to the
crank handle on the outside, it is practically impossible to lift the drum out of the
boiler which is a disadvantage.
To overcome these disadvantages, the short axles upon which the drum revolves
when made according to my invention, do not project through the side, of the
boiler, but terminate in the bearings in which they revolve, and which are open
at the top to admit the axles. The bearings are attached to the inside surface of
the Boiler. Upon one of the axles I fix a toothed wheel, and I gear with it a second
wheel, by preference of smaller diameter, (a suitable proportion being half size.)
This smaller wheel or pinion is carried in a bearing preferably formed through
an arm or extension of the central bearing, and is fixed on a level with, or below
the centre of the drum, as being the most convenient position for releasing the
drum; but in any case the pinion is fixed in such a position that the teeth of the
Drine G1

page_text: wheels will not prevent the drum from being disengaged and lifted out by suitable
handles, for cleaning, emptying out the clothes, and for other purposes.
The axle of the pinion is carried through the side of the boiler or hot water pan
and connected to a handle, or other equivalent means of imparting a rotary motion
to the drum.
By this mechanical arrangement of a wheel and pinion the operator obtains
increased control over the action of the drum, and consequently greater regularity
of motion may be attained.

page_text: Fig. 2, a similar elevation in section.
Fig. 3, an end view partly in section.
In washing apparatus of the kind described in the specification refered to, the
rotary motion is imparted by a Crank handle fixed upon the shaft or axle J, and it
follows that by reason of the constantly varying position of the clothes, the motion
of the Cylinder is irregular and intermittant.
The axle also being passed through the sides of the outer casing or boiler, it is
practically impossible to take out the Cylinder to clean, which is a disadvantage.
To overcome these disadvantages I make my "Washer" as shown in the drawings.
The axle upon which the Cylinder D revolves, does not project through the sides
of the outer case or boiler A, but each end terminates at the bearings, in which the
axle revolves, having suitable necks for that purpose. The bearing's are formed in
the supporting stays I, and on one end of the axle J, I fix a toothed wheel K,
geared into a pinion L, of one half its size or thereabouts, the axle of which is
passed through a bearing formed in an arm of the supporting stay I, and through
the side of the outer case, and is there connected to a handle M, or its equivalent to
enable the operator to impart a rotary motion to the Cylinder.
The pinion is so placed that the teeth of the two wheels when in gear will not
prevent the Cylinder being lifted vertically (by means of suitable handles) out of
the outer case or boiler, for cleaning purposes, or for emptying out the clothes.
I have shown the boiler as heated by gas passed through a Bunsen burner, but
I also apply a compactly arranged fire grate for the same purpose.
The washer may be made of copper, tin or other suitable material.
A is the outer case or boiler, B the lid, C the stand on which it is fixed. D is
the revolving Cylinder for the Clothes. E the corrugated or bont plates forming
the cylinder, F the lid to admit the clothes G, stays, H openings to admit water
and steam to Cylinder, I supporting stays, J, the axle, K L wheel and pinion.
M the handle, N overflow tap-P Bunsen Burner-Q perforated metal or gauze for
flame of Bunsen burner,
By the above arrangement of the axles not projecting through the sides of the
boiler or outer case, and the combination of the wheel and pinion, with the axles ;
the operator obtains increased control over the action of the Cylinder, resulting in a
more regular rotary motion, which is a mattor of importance, and it also permits of
the Cylinder being lifted out of the boiler.

page_text: When it is desirable to heat the boiler by an ordinary coal or coke fire, I con-
struct a fireplace of a suitable shape to fit under the boiler, having a bottom grate,
and feed door; at the opposite end is the entrance to the flue, but to prevent the
heat or flame passing away direct to the flue, I fix a partition plate rising from the
bottom to within a short distance from the top of the stove, so that all the heat and
flame has to pass upwards and close under the bottom of the boiler before it passes
over the partition plate to the chimney or flue, this arrangement also prevents the
coal or coke being pushed into the entrance of the flue and choking the draught.
The top plates are arranged to serve for holding a saucepan or kettle, or for heating
irons, when not required for boiling the washer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is:-
1. In washing machines such as are described in the Specification of Patent
No 220, 1876, having an outer casing or boiler, and an inside revolving Cylinder
to contain the clothes or articles to be washed; the use of a wheel and pinion
(K and L) in connection with the axle J of the Cylinder, which terminates inside
the boiler, instead of passing through the side;-for the purpose specified, and
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In washing machines of the above description, the combination of the short
axle J, the wheel K, the pinion L, and the stays I-for the purpose specified.
Dated the 19th day of November 1884.