Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 23rd Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
I, HARRIET AUGUSTA HANCOCK, of 29 "The Parade," Uxbridge Road, Acton,
Middlesex, Gentlewoman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention relates to certain novel construction or arrangement of endless web
or webs over rollers for use in combination with a brush or brushes adjustable to angle
and to pressure so that clothes or articles under operation can be moved through
between the brush or brushes and the upper roller in one direction or to and fro.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Harriet Augusta Hancock.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Family Washing Machines.
I HARRIET AUGUSTA HANCOCK of 29 "The Parade," Uxbridge Road, Acton,
Middlesex, Gentlewoman do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 certain novel construction or arrangement of endless web
or webs over rollers for use in combination with a brush or brushes adjustable to angle
and to pressure so that clothes or articles under operation can be moved through
between the brush or brushes and the upper roller in one direction or to and fro.
My invention is shown on the annexed drawings in which Figure 1 is a view of a
machine partly in section.
A, A, are two rollers tapered at each end or otherwise carrying an endless web or
band B capable of travelling in either direction when the handle C is rotated by hand
or instead of the handle a strap pulley may be set upon the axle D to work the rollers
and web by treadle or any desired power.
E, E, are tapes buttoned or sewn transversely on the endless web or band B for
looping, pinning or otherwise temporarilly securing the clothes or other fabrics that
have to be washed or cleaned. F is a brush loosely dropped into end bearings G, G,
so that said brush has free play on the article passing under, the weight of the brush
being sufficient to act upon the clothes to remove the dirt therefrom.
Figure 2 represents a part sectional view of a machine provided with two bands B, B,
on rollers A, A.
The casing H in which the rollers and band are enclosed may be charged with water
containing the usual cleansing ingredients such as soap, alkali or the like, which water
when done with can be drawn off by the tap J.
The brush may be in two or more pieces and can be set to act at different parts of
the apparatus and the said brush or brushes may have pressure applied and be of any
shape, such as circular, concave convex or flat, and be stationary or in motion by spur
gear operated from the pinion L.
I purpose placing a fly wheel K upon the axle D to ease hand labour and to steady
the motion.
Instead of the upper roller A being driven direct as at Figures 1 and 2 its shaft or
axle D may have a spur pinion L upon one end to receive motion from the gear.
wheel M and handle C as at Figure 3 said wheel M being carried by an intermediate
axle N (encased in wood) and with the fly or balancing wheel K.
Although I have described the machine for washing purposes, if no water be put
into the casing, carpets and other fabrics may be put into the machine to be brushed
for cleaning the surface, the loose dust falling to the bottom of the casing.
The carpet or other fabric is passed out of the casing at the top or otherwise.

page_text: 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 machine shown on the 'annexed drawings as a family washing machine in
which the essential features, are; The two rollers A, A, carrying the endless web B,
and the loose fitting brush F, acting as and for the purposes described.
2. The employment of one or more brushes in a washing machine, said brush or
brushes being arranged to act upon the clothes or fabric under operation substantially
in the manner described.