Improvements in Washing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I, WILLIAM WELLS of 9 St. Catherine's Terrace, Lincoln in the County of
Lincolnshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in washing machines and consists in using
two friction discs furnished with grooves, channels, flutes indentations or otherwise
roughened and made of wood, brass, galvanized iron or other suitable material,
these two discs operating conjointly for the purpose of rubbing the clothes placed
between them and being actuated by suitable driving mechanism forming likewise
an important feature of my invention.
In carrying my invention into practice I provide a frame supporting the tub in
which the washing operation is carried out and furnished with a centrally perforated
hinged lid. Upon the bottom of the tub I fit one of the above mentioned discs the
other disc which is somewhat smaller in diameter than the former being furnished
with a central spindle passing through the lid aforesaid and carrying a gland
beneath the latter and a bevil wheel a collar, a lifting block and a fast collar or
nut outside the same. Motion is imparted to the bevil wheel by means of a similar
pinion actuated by a crank handle or by power in such a manner as to impart to
the upper disc a turn in one direction and then a turn in the other direction so as
to cause the same to move backward and forward these two alternate motions being
successively repeated during the whole operation. The lid of the machine is
provided on the hinged side with a bracket to which are pivoted a lever and an
arm furnished with a counterweight at its outer end, and capable of being moved
forward and backward. When this arm is moved forward it comes to bear upon
the lever aforesaid and as the latter is connected by its outer forked end to the
lifting block before mentioned a pressure is thus exerted upon the spindle and its
disc corresponding to the ponderosity of the said weight. But when the arm is
moved backward its end which is recessed near the pivot bears upon the corre-
spondingly recessed end of the lever which will successively raise the lifting block
the spindle and its friction disc and the hinged lid so that the tub can now be
emptied of its contents.
For small size washing machines I dispense with the outer frame and I connect
the upper end of the spindle to a horizontal lever furnished with a handle at each
end and resting outside the tub on the top of a bearing through which the spindle
passes and which is furnished with central flanges whereby it rests upon the
tub lid.
Dated this 25th day of July 1891
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I WILLIAM WELLS of 9 St. Katherine's Terrace, Lincoln in the County of
Lincolnshire 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 consists in using

page_text: two friction discs furnished with grooves, channels, flutes, indentations or otherwise
roughened, and made of wood, brass galvanized iron or other suitable material these
two discs operating conjointly for the purpose of rubbing the clothes placed between
and being actuated by suitable driving mechanism forming likewise an important
feature of my invention.
In order that my said invention may be well understood I have hereunto annexed
a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and will refer thereto by figures and letters
marked thereon and as will appear in the following more particular description that
is to say:
-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in section of a construction of washing machine
according to this invention.
Fig. 2 a plan of the roughened surface of the scouring discs.
Fig. 3 a section at line A B of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 a central section of a small machine made according to this invention.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 1. a is a fraining supporting the tub b in
which the washing operation is carried out, said tub 6 being furnished with a
centrally perforated lide hinged at c. Upon the bottom of the tub b, I fit one
of the roughened surfaced discs d, and the upper disc e which is somewhat smaller
in diameter than the lower disc d is furnished with the central spindle ƒ passing
through the lid c aforesaid and the gland indicated at g.
The spindle carries the bevil or motion wheel, a lifting block k with a fast
collar or nut, above outside the lid c.
Motion is imparted to the bevil wheel 7, by means of a corresponding pinion (not
shown in the drawings) actuated by a crank handle, hand wheel, or by power in
such a manner as to impart to the upper disc e a turn or partial turn in one
direction and then a turn in the other direction so as to cause the same to move to
and fro around or partially around. These two alternate motions are successively
repeated during the whole scouring and washing operation. The lid c of the
machine is provided ou the hinged side with a bracket m, to which is jointed a
forked ended lever n, and arm n', provided with a counterweight o, at its outer end.
When this weighted arm n' is folded forward it will bear upon the lever
and as
this latter is connected by its outer forked end to the lifting block k pressure is
thus exerted upon the spindle f, and its disc e, corresponding to the ponderosity of
the said weight. When the arm n¹ is folded outward and backward its end at the
point of jointing which is recessed bears upon the correspondingly recessed end of
the lever which will successively raise the lifting block k, the spindle f and its
friction disc e together with the hinged lid or cover c so that the contents of the
tub b can be removed.
n,
For washing machines of small size I dispense with the outer frame and employ
the tub and fittings in modified form such as is represented in Fig. 4, wherein the
upper end of the spindle f, has a horizontal lever or hand wheel /, attached for
giving the to and fro movement around the disc e. The lid is provided centrally
with a flanged bearing or socket y for the central spindle, said bearing resting by
its flange g, upon and secured thereby to the lid c. The disc e, may when desirable
carry weights to increase the pressure and enhance the scouring effect between the
discs d, and e, but generally any extra weight or pressure required would be put on
or be exercised by the operation. In working it would be well to occasionally turn
the spindle and its disc quite round so as to change the position of the clothes in
relation to the discs surfaces.
The lid of the machine shown in Fig. 4 may be conveniently secured in position
after the linen or articles to be washed have been placed between the discs d, e, by
means of the hinged flaps c', and staples c³. The flap c' on the left hand side of
the figure is shown turned up free from the staple c³, so as to leave the lid free to
be removed along with the spindle and disc e, for removing the articles when the
washing and scouring operation has been finished.
The discs d, e, are represented in Figs. 1 and without the clothes between same.
A layer of clothes of about from four to six inches deep between the discs may be

page_text: recommended as sufficient for a good result. The tubs or containers may be fitted
with draw off cocks or plugs for discharging the liquid contents after use.
It may be remarked that with this class of apparatus the heat and steam will be
kept in whilst the washing is going on.
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 :-
1st. The improvement in washing machines as described characterised by the
fixed and movable discs de operating spindle container bas and for the purpose
herein set forth and shown by the drawings.
2nd. In washing machines as herein described the hinged lid c, carrying the
spindle f, and operating means therefor, the bracket m, jointed lever n, and ann n¹
and counter weight o constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose
herein described in reference to and shown by the drawings.
3rd. The modified construction of washing machine as herein described in
reference to and shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1891
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lanc, W.C., Agents for Applicant.