IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF WASHING AND DRYING HOUSES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Combe, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT
OR CONSTRUCTION OF WASHING AND DRYING HOUSES, AND IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Combe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1880.
WILLIAM COMBE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF WASHING AND
DRYING HOUSES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in the arrangement or construction
of washing and drying houses, is more especially designed for use in towns or cities
where washing and drying houses are used for the accomodation of that portion of
the inhabitants occupying small houses or tenements without sufficient area or
space for washing and drying purposes.
The improved washing houses are constructed in compartments on each side of a
drying stove, each compartment being sufficient for the accomodation of one person.
Each such compartment is provided with a washing tub and boiler fitted with hot
and cold water, and steam pipes and cocks for charging and discharging the tub
and boiler, and for heating the water therein to the desired temperature. A
drying frame is also provided in each compartment which passes into the stove
through an opening of the proper dimensions, the same being carried upon wheels,
preferably both at top and bottom, to facilitate the drawing of the frame out of and
the pushing of it back into the stove.
The division plates by which the compartments are formed are preferably equal
in depth to the length of the drying frame, and they also partly enclose the ends
of each compartment. The underside of each division plate is a short distance
clear of the floor, whereby facility is afforded for cleaning the washing house.
The drying closets are constructed of iron framing with panels filled in with
iron plates, and lined on the inside with a wall of brick or other non-conducting
material. The boiling tub in each compartment is fitted into a recess in the
thickness of the wall or drying closet, whereby a space is formed to enclose and
carry off both vapour and heat, which are conveyed away by a ventilating tube
or passage to the main ventilating trunk on the top of the closets.
The pipes leading from the cocks herein before mentioned are arranged under
the top line of the tubs, whilst the cocks are placed beneath the tubs, the handles
for working them being brought to the front thereof. This same arrangement of
the cocks is also applied for operating the discharge pipes both of the tubs and
boilers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Combe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August
1880.
WILLIAM COMBE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF WASHING AND
DRYING HOUSES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.”
My said Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement or construction
of washing and drying houses, being more especially designed for use in towns or
cities where washing and drying houses are used for the accommodation of such of
the inhabitants as occupy small houses or tenements without sufficient space for
washing and drying purposes..
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents in vertical section (taken on
the line 1, 2, Figure 2), Figure 2 in horizontal section (taken on the line 3, 4,
Figure 1), and Figure 3 in front elevation a portion of a washing and drying house
arranged or constructed according to my Invention.
The improved washing houses A are constructed in compartments on each side
of a drying stove, chamber, or closet B, each compartment A being of a size
sufficient for the accommodation of one person, and being provided with a
washing tub c fitted with hot and cold water inlet pipes and a discharge pipe and
a boiler d provided with a steam inlet pipe and a cold water inlet pipe and a
discharge pipe, all the said pipes being furnished with cocks or valves for charging
and discharging the said tub and boiler, and for heating the water therein to the
desired temperature, the cold and hot water inlet pipes to the said tub being
arranged under the top line of the tub, as shewn at d², Figure 1, the cocks or
valves being beneath the tub, and the handles for working all the said cocks or
valves thereof being situated at the front of the tub, as at c³ and d³, Figures 1
and 3. The handles for operating the valves for supplying cold or hot water or
steam to the boiler, and for discharging both the tub and the boiler may be
similarly situated at the front of the tubs, the discharge pipes d* being situated so
as to discharge the water into channels e (Figure 1). The steam pipes in the
boilers & are marked d. In connection with each compartment A is a drying
frame C, which passes through an opening in the side of the drying chamber B.
These drying frames C consist of side plates c² supporting the rails c³ for carrying
the articles to be dried, the front plate c* being preferably covered at its outer side
with wood to prevent radiation of heat, and being provided with a handle f.
The said frames C are mounted upon wheels g whose axes engage by preference
in slotted bearings as at h, which slots reduce friction and consequently render
the said frames capable of being more readily moved; Figure 4 represents one of
the frames C in transverse section. The wheels g are grooved and run upon rails i
laid in the floor or ground, and extending through both the drying chamber B and
the adjacent washing house A.
The division plates; by which the compartments A are formed extend preferably
outwards to an extent corresponding with the length of the frames C, the said
plates j also partly enclosing the ends of each compartment A and carrying shelves k
at this part. There is a space 2 between the said division plates j and the floor
whereby facility is afforded for cleaning the compartments A.
The drying chamber B is constructed of iron framing with panels filled in with
iron plates and lined on the inside with a wall of brick or other non-conducting
material. The boiling tubs d are fitted into a recess in the thickness of the wall of
the drying chamber, whereby a space is formed at l in each compartment A to
enclose and carry off both vapour and heat which are conveyed away by passages
or flues m opening from the said spaces to the main ventilating trunks n at the
is separated from the interior of the
top of the drying chamber. The space

page_text: P,
drying chamber by plates, as at 12. In place of there being recesses in the wall of
the drying chamber the arrangement shewn in Figure 5 may be employed, that
is to say, the boilers d may each be covered by a hood p, the front of which is
formed by a hinged lid p2, a shaft or chimney p³ opening from the said hood and
leading to the ventilating trunks above. The drying chamber is heated by hot
water, air, or steam, circulating through coils of pipes, as at D, Figure 2, and where
hot water or steam is used, the pipes which supply hot water or steam to the tubs c
or boilers d may communicate with these coils of piping D and draw their supply
therefrom. The drying chamber B may be one compartment, or it may be divided
into a number of compartments, each compartment accommodating one of the
frames C. The said drying chamber B may be of any suitable length to afford
room for any number of compartments A along its sides. When the articles to be
dried are to be placed on a frame C, the said frame is withdrawn from the drying
chamber B by grasping the handle f, and running the said frame along the rail i
into the washing house A, the back plate c² when the frame is drawn out closing
the opening in the wall of the drying chamber B through which the said frame
passes and preventing loss of heat. When the articles are placed on the frame it
is run back into the drying chamber, and the front plate c² closes the opening
through which it passed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and orginal, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
washing and drying houses herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The combination with washing and drying houses of the ventilating
flues or shafts and trunks, essentially as and for the purpose herein before described
with reference to the flues, shafts, and trunks m, n, and p³, illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Combe, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM COMBE. (L.S.)