Textile Fabrics or Materials.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 26th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th July, 1888
Textile Fabrics or Materials.
WO THOMAS GUEST NORMANTON of 85 Mount Pleasant Barrow in Furness in the
County of Lancaster Architect & Surveyor and HANNAH ELIZABETH NORMANTON of
85 Mount Pleasant Barrow in Furness aforesaid (wife of the above) do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The first part of our invention consists of the arrangement or construction upon a
plane or other even surface of metal or other suitable material of a series of smooth
projections, each projection being either hemispherical, hemispheroidal, or other
smaller segment of a sphere or spheroid. The clothes or other materials being washed
are prepared with soap or other detergent, and then rubbed over and among the
projections. The action of the projections being similar to the action of the knuckles
of the hand in ordinary hand rubbing.
The second part of our invention refers to improvements in machines for rubbing &
scouring in washing operations and the improvements consist chiefly in the form
given to the surfaces of the rollers and the peculiar motion of the rollers themselves.
Each machine must have at least 2 rollers working together similar to an ordinary
wringing machine, the surfaces of the rollers must be corrugated and in addition to a
rotary motion, either one or both rollers must have a short reciprocal motion in the
direction of their length. When the clothes or other materials are passed between the
rollers the reciprocal motion causes the raised corugated parts to rub the materials
passing between them.

page_text: The arrangement or construction of a series of projecting spherical, or spheroidal
segments upon a plane or even surface which constitutes the first part of our invention
may be applied in a variety of ways in the manufacture of rubbing trays or other
suitable forms of simple labour saving appliances for use with the wash tub.
The projecting spherical or spheroidal segments need not necessarily be perfect!
spherical or spheroidal segments, but may vary somewhat in form so as to be
cylindrical segments having, hemi-spherical or hemi-spheroidal ends, or other form of
projection, it being only indispensible that the projecting parts must be smooth and
well rounded so as to present no sharp angles to cut or tear the materials rubbed over
them.
The projecting spherical or spheroidal segments (or other form) may be formed
upon the surface of sheet metal, or malleable metallic alloy, by punching, pressing,
stamping, or other methods of forming or embossing metal work in relief.
We prefer
sheet zine for this purpose, but other and corosive metals may be used if they be
afterwards tinned, galvanized, or coated with enamel or other non-corosive substance
to protect them from corosion.
They may also be moulded in various metals, or metallic alloys, or in earthenware,
stoneware, glass, or pottery or any other suitable substance of sufficient hardness
which is non-porous and admits of a glazed or smooth surface. They may also be
made of suitable hardwood with the projections formed thereon, or the projections
may be moulded separately, in glass, pottery, metal &c. & fixed upon wood either by
letting them into same or by fixing with nails, screws &c. the projections forming the
heads of the nails or screws. This part of our invention may also be applied in the
construction of improved labour saving washtubs, boxes, troughs, bowls or other
forms of containers used for washing in.
The inner surface of the tub, trough bowl or container is either partially or wholly
covered with a series of projecting spherical or spheroidal segments as previously
described when the clothes or other materials to be washed have been prepared with
soap or other detergent they are rubbed, or are by various means dashed violently
against the inner surface over and among the projections. These projections exert a
very powerful scouring action similar to the action of the knuckles in hand rubbing.
This part of our invention may also be applied to an improved form of appliance for
agitating the clothes &c. in the wash-tub familiarly known as a peggy or dolly stick.
This improvement consists in making the foot of the agitating stick either in the form
of a flat disc, or other circular form of foot or modification of same, tho surface of
which is covered with a series of projecting spherical or spheroidal segments same as
previously described. We prefer to make the foot of the stick of such a form, that in
giving it half a turn in a forward direction, it engages with the materials in the wash-
tub and causes them to be rubbed on the projections on the inner surface of the tub,
in making the backward half turn with the stick it disengages itself from the clothes
and acts itself as the rubber. The foot of the stick and the inner surface of the wash-
tub rubbing alternately. The clothes or other materials being washed are constantly
being turned by the agitator, thus exposing all parts to the action of the rubbers.
These projecting rubbers may be applied in a variety of ways to different forms of
agitators in mechanical washing operations.
In the second part of our invention which relates to improvements in machines for
rubbing & scouring in washing operations, the rollers previously described require to
have fluted or corrugated surfaces. The corrugated ribs & hollows running round
the rollers in the direction of the circumference. These rollers may be made of metal,
hard wood, stoneware or other suitable materials.
The form of corrugated surface which we prefer to give the rollers being a series of
alternate concave, and convex rings (or ridges & hollows) of equal widths. Each
machine will require at least two rollers of similar corrugated surfaces and must be
geared to work together in unison with the same circumferential travel, similar to the
ordinary wringing machine rollers. In addition to the ordinary rotary motion of the
rollers, one roller must have a reciprocal motion in the direction of its length;
the rotary and reciprocal motions being simultaneous.

page_text: The object of this reciprocal motion is to cause the convex surfaces of the rollers to
exert a rubbing or scouring effect upon the materials passing between them. The
longitudinal travel of the roller may be shortened by giving a reciprocal movement to
both rollers in opposite directions. Pressure may be put upon the rollers in the
ordinary way.
This reciprocal motion of the rollers may be dispensed with by making the raised
convex parts of the corrugations upon one of the rollers to run half round the roller
helically in one direction and round the other half helically in the opposite direction
forming a series of cams.
We do not claim that there is anything new in corrugated rollers, or in the
mechanical means for giving a rotary or reciprocal motion but we believe the use of
helical & parallel corrugations as described or the combination of a reciprocal and
rotary motion given to corrugated rollers for a washing machine, so as to produce a
rubbing and scouring action upon the clothes or other materials passing between them
to be a novel and useful improvement, the action being similar to hand rubbing.
Dated this 24th day of September 1887.

page_text: Improvements in Appliances, Apparatus, and Machines for Rubbing,
Scouring, and Cleansing in the Washing of Clothes or other
Textile Fabrics or Materials.
We THOMAS GUEST NORMANTON of 41 Cheltenham Street (late of 85 Mount
Pleasant) Barrow in Furness in the County of Lancaster, Architect & Surveyor and
HANNAH ELIZABETH NORMANTON of 41 Cheltenham Street Barrow in Furness afore-
said (wife of the above) 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 :-
The first part of our Invention consists of the arrangement or construction upon a
plane or other even surface of metal or other suitable material, of a series of smooth
projections, each projection being either hemispherical, hemispheroidal, or other
smaller segment of a sphere or spheroid. The clothes or other materials being
washed are prepared with soap or other detergent, and are then rubbed over and
among the projections. The action of the projections being similar to the action of
the action of the knuckles of the hand in ordinary hand rubbing.
The second part of our invention refers to improvements in machines for rubbing
and scouring in washing operations and tho improvements consist chiefly in the form
given to the surface of the rollers and the peculiar motion of the rollers themselves.
Each machine must have at least two rollers working together similar to an ordinary
wringing machine, the rollers must have corrugated surfaces (the corrugations running
round the rollers in the direction of the circumference forming a series of smooth
ridges and hollows) and in addition to a rotary motion either one or both rollers must
have a short reciprocal motion in the direction of their length, causing the raised
parts of one roller to pass over the raised parts of the other roller and back again.
When the clothes or other materials are passed between the rollers the reciprocal
motion causes the raised corrugated parts to rub the materials passing between them.
The arrangement or construction of a series of projecting spherical or spheroidal
segments upon a plane or even surface which constitutes the first part of our invention
may be applied in a variety of ways in the manufacture of rubbing trays or other
suitable forms of simple labour saving appliances for use with the wash tub.
as to be
The projecting spherical or spheroidal segments need not necessarily be perfect
spherical or spheroidal segments but may vary somewhat in form so
cylindrical segments, having hemispherical or hemispheroidal ends, or other form of
smooth knuckle like projections, it being only indispensible that the projecting parts
must be smooth and well rounded, so as to present no sharp angles to cut or tear the
materials rubbed over them.

page_text: The projecting spherical or spheroidal segments may be formed upon the surface of
sheet metal or malleable metallic alloy by punching, pressing, rolling, stamping or
other methods of forming or embossing metal work in relief. We prefer sheet zinc
for this purpose, but other and corosive metals may be used if they be afterwards,
tinned, galvanized, or coated with enamel to protect them from corosion.
The projecting spherical or spheroidal segments may be moulded upon a plane or
smooth surface in various metals, or metallic alloys, or in earthenware stoneware,
glass, or pottery or other suitable substance (not affected by hot water) of sufficient
hardness, which is non-porous and admits of a glazed or smooth surface. They may
also be made of suitable hardwood with the projection formed thereon, or the
projections may be moulded separately and fixed upon wood either by letting them
into same or fixing with nails or screws, the projections forming the heads of the
nails or screws.
This part of our invention may also be applied in the construction of improved
labour saving wash-tubs, boxes, troughs, bowls or other forms of containers used for
washing in.
The inner surface of the tub trough bowl, or container is either partially or wholly
covered with a series of spherical or spheroidal segments as previously described.
When clothes or other materials to be washed in them have been prepared with soap
or other detergent, they are rubbed or by various means dashed violently against the
inner surface over and among the projections. These projections exert a very
powerful scouring action similar to the action of the knuckles in hand rubbing.
This part of our invention may also be applied to an improved form of appliance
for agitating the clothes in the wash-tub, familiarly known as the peggy or dolly
stick. This improvement consists in making the foot of the agitating stick, either in
the form of a flat disc, or other circular form of foot, or modification of same, the
surface of which is covered with a series of projecting spherical or spheroidal segments
same as previously described.
We prefer to make the foot of this stick of such a form, that in giving it the
forward half turn it engages with the materials in the wash-tub and causes them to be
rubbed on the projections on the inner surface of the tub, in making the backward
half turn with the dolly stick it disengages itself from the materials and acts itself as
the rubber. The foot of the stick and the inner surface of the wash-tub rubbing
alternately. The clothes or other materials being washed are constantly being turned
by the agitator thus exposing all parts to the action of the rubbers.
These projecting rubbers may be applied in a variety of ways to different forms of
agitators in mechanical washing operations.
They may also be advantageously applied to the various forms of washing machines
in which the clothes or other materials to be washed are placed in a closed vessel or
container and are agitated by the rocking, rotating or other motion given to the
container itself, in this class of machines our improvement consists in forming upon
the inner surfaces of the container, the spherical or spheroidal segmental projections
previously described, to act as knuckles or rubbers.
In the second part of our invention which relates to improvements in machines for
rubbing and scouring in washing operations, the corrugated rollers previously
described may be made of metal, hardwood, stoneware or other suitable materials.
The form of corrugated surface which we prefer to give to the rollers, being a
series of alternate concave and convex rings (ridges & hollows) of equal widths.
Each machine will require at least two rollers of similar corrugated surfaces and
must be geared to work together in unison with the same circumferential travel
similar to the ordinary wringing machine rollers. In addition to the ordinary rotary
motion, one roller must have a reciprocal motion in the direction of its length, the
rotary and reciprocal motions being simultaneous. The object of this reciprocal motion
is to cause the convex surfaces of the rollers to exert a rubbing or scouring effect
upon the materials passing between them.
This longitudinal travel of the roller may be shortened by giving a reciprocal move-
ment to both rollers in opposite directions.

page_text: Pressure may be put upon the rollers in the ordinary way as may be required, or
in some cases the weight of the roller itself may be sufficient.
Although we believe the arrangement of rollers having rotary and reciprocal
motions as described to be the best form to adopt, a similar rubbing effect may be
obtained by making the rollers with a rotary motion only and by making the raised
convex parts of the corrugations upon one of the rollers to run half round the roller
helically in one direction and round the other half helically in the opposite direction
forming a series of cams, or by making the corrugations run helically round both
rollers.
Fig. 1 shews the bottom of dolly stick covered with the rubbers as described and
shews the notch for engaging with the clothes and rubbing them against the projections
lining the wash-tub.
Fig. 2 shews the application of a plate with the projecting rubbers embossed thereon
fitted in a frame for a rubbing board.
Fig. 3 shews a machine fitted with a pair of corrugated rollers as described, in this
sketch the top roller is fitted with the reciprocal motion, this motion is obtained by
fitting to each end of the roller a metal hoop projecting beyond the end of the roller,
the outer edges of these hoops are formed into a wave line running round the circum-
ference forming two raised convex parts and two concave hollows, the convex parts at
one end of the roller are set at right angles to the convex parts at the other end.
The bush at each end through which the shaft of the reciprocating roller works is
fitted with one or two small pulleys into the grooves of which the wavy edges of the
roller hoops work.
The wavy edges of the roller hoops running in the pulleys causes the roller to travel
backward and forward longitudinally between the frames.
The gearing wheel on the reciprocating roller shaft is not keyed upon the shaft but
it is provided with a long boss, having a longitudinal slot in same, a pin or set screw is
fixed to the shaft the projecting end of which is fitted to travel in the slot. This
arrangement enables the gearing wheel to drive the reciprocating shaft without giving
a reciprocating motion to the wheel.
The gearing wheel on the bottom roller is flanged to keep the wheel on the
reciprocating roller in gear.
Fig. 4 shews another machine with the corrugations running spirally round the
roller so as not to require the reciprocal motion.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged end view of the corrugated rollers with a soap box fitted
over the top roller, the soap resting on the roller is gradually rubbed away on the
roller.
We do not claim that there is anything new in corrugated rollers or in the mechanical
means employed for giving a rotary or reciprocal motion but we believe the use of
helical and parallel corrugations as described or the combination of a reciprocal and
rotary motion given to corrugated rollers for a washing machine so as to produce a

page_text: rubbing & scouring action upon clothes or other materials passing between them to be
a novel & useful improvement the action being similar to hand rubbing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1st. The arrangement or construction upon a plane or other even surface of metal
or other suitable inaterial or materials of a series of smooth projections which may be
either sections of a sphere, spheroid, or cylinder with spherical or spheroidal ends, or
modifications of same to act as rubbers in washing clothes or other textile fabrics or
materials.
2nd. The application of the above rubbers in the construction of rubbing boards or
other simple appliances for use with the wash tub.
3rd. The application of the rubbers to the interior lining of wash-tubs, boxes,
troughs bowls or other containers for washing in, or in the case of malleable metal
containers embossing the rubbers upon the interior of the container itself.
4th. The application of the rubbers to the foot of improved dolly sticks as described.
5th. The application of the rubbers to the interior surface of the containers of
various kinds of washing machines in which the container is, rocked, rotated or other
motion communicated to the container to agitate the materials being washed, (in the
case of malleable metal containers we prefer to emboss the rubbers upon the interior
of the container itself).
6th. The combination of rollers having corrugated surfaces with a simultaneous
rotary & reciprocal motion (the reciprocal motion being applied to one or more rollers)
so as to produce a rubbing or scouring effect upon materials passing between them
during washing operations.
7th. The application of helically (or spirally) corrugated rollers to a washing
machine to produce a rubbing effect without the rollers themsolves having a reciprocal
motion.
8th. The application of corrugated rollers to a washing machine in which the
corrugations on one or both rollers are parallel but in which the corrugated rings
are formed diagonally on one or both rollers so as to produce a rubbing effect upon
the materials passing between them.