AN IMPROVED WASHING OR RINSING MACHINE
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HUGH ANDREW MCFARLANE of Rothesay, in the County of Bute, North
Britain, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
WASHING OR RINSING MACHINE to be as follows:-
This Invention which relates to an improved Machine for Washing or Rinsing
clothes or other fabrics, has for its object to effect such work more efficiently, and
with less consumption of fuel and labour than by existing Machines.
The Machine has an outer metallic case with lid on top, and contains a hori-
zontal cylindrical cage consisting of two equal end discs connected together by
several cross tubes or bars. The periphery of the cage is formed of round or
corrugated stripes or ribbons connected to said cross tubes. A segment or section
of said cylindrical cage is made so as to form a door by which the clothes may be
inserted into or taken out of the cage. The cage is or may be provided with four
or more dashers on inside thereof; the said cage being capable of revolving upon its
axis. The outer case is preferred to be of somewhat similar configuration to the
revolving cage inside, but may be of other convenient shape, and is provided with
two or more upright tubes or hollow conductors communicating with two or more
horizontal tubes perforated with small holes forming outlets for steam or water
conveyed thereto; the said holes being made so as to cause the jets of steam or
water issuing therefrom to impinge nearly tangentially into the cage against the
articles lying in the bottom half thereof so as to cause the cage to revolve in one
direction. When the Machine is used for washing purposes I propose to connect
the aforesaid tubes with a small steam generating boiler, or hot water circulating
boiler combined therewith, and when for rinsing purposes, to a water supply pipe
direct. The bottom of the outer case or boiler is or may be provided with a stop
cock for exit of overflow or waste water. Provision is made for fitting a handle on
the axis of revolving cage to actuate it by hand when desired. I provide special
bearings on the end. insides of outer case, said bearings being open at top to allow
the cage being lifted upwards without hindrance, and with grooves on outer ends
into which fit corresponding rings on cage journals, so as to prevent the case sides
from bulging.

page_text: The Machine is intended to operate as follows. The clothes or fabrics to be
operated on are placed within the cylindrical cage, and the steam or water from
the boiler or other supply is turned on and if of sufficiently strong pressure will
impinge from the holes in the horizontal tubes in jets somewhat tangentially
against the clothes inside the cage and cause said cage to revolve, the fabrics con-
tained therein rolling back into the bottom of said cage and exposing a fresh surface
to the action of the steam or water. The exit of the surplus or waste water may
be regulated by means of the cock aforesaid to‘keep the cage partly flooded as
desired. If the impact of the steam or water be not sufficient or not desired to
drive round the cage with the fabrics therein, it may be driven by means of the
handle.

page_text: I, HUGH ANDREW MOFARLANE of Rothesay in the county of Bute, North
Britain, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
WASHING OR RINSING MACHINE and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention which relates to an Improved Washing or Rinsing Machine of
similar type or class to that known as Mortons Steam Washing Machine, has for its
object to render the Machine to effect its work more efficiently and with less
consumption of fuel and labour than by existing Machines.
In order that my Invention may be readily understood and carried into practical
effect I have hereunto appended a sheet of drawings, having marked thereon letters
of reference, similar letters denoting similar parts in the various figures.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a transverse section on line x. x,
Fig. 1 of a Machine as constructed according to my Invention. Figure 3 is a
transverse section of the Machine as modified for Rinsing.
The Machine comprises an outer metallic case A, preferably shaped as shown,
with lid b, which case is or may be seated on an ordinary stand having an atmo-
spheric gas burner or furnace, all similar to Mortons Washing Machines. The
case A contains a horizontal cylindrical cage consisting of two equal end discs c
connected together by cross tubes or bars G, the periphery being formed of metal
stripes or ribbons d (which are shown as at a greater distance apart than desirable)
connected to the tubes or bars G, a hinged section or segment e thereof being made
so as to form a door by which the clothes may be put in and taken out of the cage.
The cage has four of the bars G³ nearer its axis than the others round which the
stripes & are turned and fixed so as to constitute dashers against which the clothes
turn when cage is revolved. The case A is provided with two upright metal tubes
or water conductors ƒ communicating with two horizontal tubes h which are per-
forated opposite the space between the stripes d of cage with outlet holes or
orifices i so as to direct a jet of fluid issuing therefrom into or among the clothes in
the cage. The Machine as constructed for Washing purposes is provided at bottom
with a double boiler J. J' consisting of a preferably rectangular chamber made of
copper plates K. K¹ the bottom plate K¹ against which the flame impinges being
corrugated or ridged to give a greater heating surface. The boiler chamber is
divided by the partition and each boiler is provided with a flap valve m opening
inwards only, the left and right hand valve m being represented on Fig. 1 as open
and shut respectively; and on Fig. 2 by dotted lines. The upright tubes fare
connected to the boilers near the bottom thereof, so as to convey water or steam
therefrom to the holes i. At any convenient place at the bottom of each boiler,
and also at the bottom of the outer case A is fitted a tube provided with a stop
cock (not shown) so as to drain off the water during or after use as desired.
Otherwise the three tubes may connect with one cock. When constructed for a
Rinsing Machine the boilers are dispensed with as shown at Figure 3, and the
upright tubes or conductors f (which may be either inside or outside the case, but
which are shown as inside) are connected direct to a steam or hot or cold water

page_text: supply pipe n with regulating cock o, the case A being provided at bottom with a
drain cock (not shown). The Machine is otherwise constructed as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
The journals of revolving cage are fitted in open bearings so as to be easily
lifted out of case, one of the journals being fitted with a handle p for revolving it,
The operation of the Machine as used for Washing is as follows. The drain
cocks (not shown) are shut, and the case A is filled with water to near the level of
the bottom of cage, the water by gravity opening the boiler valves m and also
filling the boilers J, J. The case A is then placed above or on the gas-burner or
fire. The clothes are inserted into the cage and the door thereof shut, the case lid
being then fitted on to the case.
The heat boils the water and generates steam in the boilers J, J¹, which now
keeps the valves m slut and forces the body of water contained in the boilers
above the level of outlet pipes f, up said outlet pipes into the horizontal pipes h
from which it flows through holes i into or among the clothes in the cage. The
water after saturating and mixing among the clothes, falls back into the bottom of
case A and overbalancing the pressure in the now partly empty boilers, opens the
valves m and again flows into the said boilers to be again reheated and discharged
as before described. The cage containing the clothes is meanwhile revolved by the
handle until the clothes are washed similarly as in existing similar steam washing.
Machines.
J
When used as a Rinsing Machine as shown at Figure 3, the drain cock (not
shown) is kept open and the pipes f connected with a hot or cold water supply.
The water flows from the holes i into or among the clothes and is drawn off at the
drain cock, the cage being meanwhile revolved by hand or otherwise, if the pressure
of water be not great enough to cause the cage to revolve.
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,
1st In combination with a Steam Washing Machine, a boiler or boilers con-
structed and fitted with valves, and operating substantially as described and shown
at Figures 1 and 2.
2nd In combination with a Washing or Rinsing Machine, fitting perforated
pipes for conveying the fluid in among the clothes, as described and shown.
3rd The special construction of open revolving cage as and for the purposes
described and shown.
4th Constructing the bottoms of Steam Washing Machines with a corrugated or
ridged heating surface as described and shown.
Dated this 10th day of Anvil 1884