Improvements in Washing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Cate of Application, 15th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left. 15th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I, JAMES THOMSON TULLIS, of the Firm of D. and J. Tullis, of Carkhead,
Glasgow, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in washing machines, and has for its
object in the first place to so construct the machine that when it is stopped both
the inside and outside doors will he opposite each other; and in the second place,
to have an arrangement whereby the clothes will be supplied with a continual
shower of water, so as to increase the washing capacity of the machine and to
thoroughly rinse the goods or clothes free of soap.
The first part of the invention consists in providing a clutch with friction wheel
working in feather and shaft coming in contact with friction pulley keyed to shaft
of inside shell, causing it to revolve till door is in position. When at this point
part of the friction is missed out and ceases to act, and the machine is ready for
opening, the two doors being exactly opposite each other. When the machine is
at work the clutch is geared with pinions by means of hand wheel and bell crank
lever.
The second part of the invention consists in providing lifters at a certain pitch
round circumference of inside of shell, the lower part of the one side of each lifter
being perforated and the points being also perforated, so that the water will enter
the lifters by the lower perforations and escape by the upper perforations as the
shell revolves.
Dated this 14th day of December 1893.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I, JAMES THOMSON TULLIS, of the Firm of D. and J. Tullis, of Kilbowie,
North Britain, 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:—
My invention relates to improvements in washing machines, and has for its
object in the first place to so construct the machine that when it is stopped both
the inside and outside doors will be opposite each other; and in the second place,
to have an arrangement whereby the clothes will be supplied with a continuaĺ
shower of water so as to increase the washing capacity of the machine and to
thoroughly rinse the goods or clothes free of soap.
The first part of the invention consists in providing a clutch with friction wheel
working in feather on shaft. coming in contact with friction pulley keyed to
shaft of inside shell, causing it to revolve till door is in position. When at this
point part of the friction is missed out and ceases to act, and the machine is ready
When the machine
for opening, the two doors being exactly opposite each other.
is at work the clutch is geared with pinions by means of hand wheel and bell-crank
lever.
The second part of the invention consists in providing lifters at a certain pitch

page_text: the inters by the lower periorations,
and escape by the upper perforations as the shell or chamber revolves.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect have hereunto appended three explanatory sheets of drawings in the
several figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 1 is a plan of the washing machine.
Figure 2 is a part elevation and part vertical section of the same.
Figure 3 is an end view of the machine illustrating an arrangement for revolving
the inner or containing chamber of the washing machine in order to bring both
doors opposite.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of bracket drawn to an enlarged scale for carrying
hand wheel and spur pinion.
Figure 5 is a fragmental transverse section of frictional cone wheel and pinion.
Figures 6 and 7 are transverse section and plan respectively of inside door and
arrangement for securely locking the same as hereafter more fully described.
It will be seen from Figures 1 and 2 that the washing machine, marked A,
consists of an inner or containing chamber B capable of receiving rotary motion,
and an outer chamber C which is stationary and forms part of the framework.
D is the driving shaft. Motion is communicated from the said driving shaft D to a
second shaft E by means of spur gearing F. The pinion f of the said spur
gearing F is loosely mounted on the said shaft D, which is provided with a feather
projection. A clutch D' is also mounted upon the shaft D, and turning with it by
virtue of the feather as last mentioned, is capable of being thrown in and out of
gear with either the said spur pinion f, or cone wheel H. The said clutch Dis
thrown in and out of gear by means of hand wheel g and bell crank lever g'. 'In
the normal working of the machine the motion given to the inner or containing
chamber B is obtained through the said spur-gearing F, due to the clutch arrange-
ment. To bring the doors immediately opposite each other when the machine is
brought to a stand, in order to withdraw the contents therefrom, I provide the
clutch with a cone pinion G, and mount on the second shaft E a corresponding
cone wheel or pulley H. This pinion G and wheel H gear in frictional contact
with each other, reference being made to Figure 1. The wheel or pulley H is so
constructed that at a certain point of its circumference a recess or notch h is formed,
as seen more particularly in Figure 5. When the pinion G has driven the said
pulley or wheel H round a certain distance it will be seen that it must cease to be
in frictional contact, and therefore cease to impart motion to the machine.
It is at
this period of rest that the doors will be opposite each other.
Around the inside circumference of the inner or containing chamber B of the
washing machine a series of longitudinal lifters I is distributed which consists of
bent plates of convex or conoidal section perforated at their upper and lower ends
as seen in Figure 2. When these lifters I, in the rotary travel of the chamber B,
enter and leave the water they carry it and the articles under treatment up with
them to a certain point, when the water and the articles with it fall by gravity to
the bottom of the machine. It will be obvious therefore that by this action a
constant shower of water is continually falling among the articles, thereby
increasing the washing capacity of the machine and also allowing the clothes to be
thoroughly rinsed free from soap.
The arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4 illustrates a method of rotating the
inner chamber by means of hand power to bring the doors opposite each other, and
consists of a bracket J, on which is mounted a spur pinion K and hand wheel L.
By turning the said hand wheel.L motion is imparted to the pinion K, and this
again to the spur wheel R which is rigidly connected to the inner or containing
chamber B. By turning the handle T the gearing becomes locked. It will be
readily understood that by suitable marks made on the gearing wheels the position
indicating the doors when opposite each other will be easily found.

page_text: The spring locking device for the door as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 consists
of a rectangular formed plate M, having at its outer end a catch m, and hollowed
at its under side. This plate M is pivoted to one half n of the sliding door N.
In the hollow between the snugs 00' a coiled spring or springs P is or are
inserted, which keep the catch m always engaging with the bolt projection Q
formed on the other half n¹ of the said sliding door N. The door of the outer
chamber C is represented by the letter C¹, Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In washing machines, the arrangement of mechanism for operating the same
whereby when the machine is stopped the inside and outside doors are immediately
opposite each other, thus facilitating the removal of the articles which have been
washed, substantially as described and shown on Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
2. In washing machines in combination with the arrangement of mechanism for
operating the same the method of fixing or locking the doors substantially as
described and illustrated on Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying sheets of
drawings.
3. In washing machines, in combination with the inner shell or chamber B, the
lifters I having perforations at their upper and lower ends, substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and shown on Figure 2 of the accompanying
sheets of drawings.
Dated this 13th day of September 1894.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.