Improvements in Dish-washing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dish-washing Machines.
We, HAMILTON FOSTER Low, 37 New Street GEORGE MARTIN REWELL,
68 Kinsman Street and LUCIUS ALFRED THOMPSON, 1081 Superior Street all
being Manufacturers residing in the City of Cleveland, in the County of Cuyahoga,
and State of Ohio, one of the United States of America, 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in machines for washing dishes.
The objects of our invention are greater efficiency, simplicity of construction,
durability, and ease in loading and unloading the machine.
The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts illustrated and
described and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a central vertical section, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with the dish
rack removed;
Fig. 3 is a central vertical section on the line of Fig. 4, and illustrates a
modification of the invention, and Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3, the cover of the tank
being removed and part only of the screen being shown;
Fig. 5 is a central vertical section which also illustrates a modification of the
invention, and
Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 5 with the dish rack removed.
We first describe the machine as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2.
The tank 1, is cylindrical, having a bottom, 1', through which is an opening 2 for the
admission of water, and an opening 3 for drawing water from the tank. A valve.2¹
is connected with the inlet opening 2, and a valve 3' is connected with the discharge
opening 3.
A gear 4 is firmly fixed to the bottom (11) of the tank 1 in any suitable manner.
A vertical shaft 5 passes through the bottom, 11, of the tank 1, and through the
boss or hub 4 of the stationary gear 4. To the top of the vertical shaft 5 is fixed
an arm 7. A pinion 8 is fixed to the lower end of a pin 9, which passes vertically
through the outer end of the arm 7, below said arm, and an agitator 10, is fixed to
said pin 9 above the vertical arm 7. To the lower end of the vertical shaft 5 is
fixed a drive pulley 11, or other means for operating the machine.
Across the tank 1, above the agitator 10, are placed braces 12, 12', which braces
support the basket or dish-holder 13.
14 is an escape opening for the discharge of surplus water.
The form of machine illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, and 5 and 6, are intended for
hotel and restaurant use, while the form illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 is adapted to
domestic use.
I will now describe the form illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4.
The tank, 1, is fustro-conical, and the bottom 1111, declines at all points to the
central opening 2, which is an outlet for drawing water from the tank.
A gear 4 is held stationary within the tank by means of braces 15 which are
fixed to the spokes 4 of the gear wheel 4". Said braces drop into notches 16'
formed in the brackets 16.
A shaft 5 passes through the hub or boss of the gear 4" and turns freely therein.
A lug or pin 17 prevents the shaft from dropping upon the bottom of the tank and
letting the pinion 8' out of the gear with the stationary gear 4".
An arm 7 is fixed to the lower end of the vertical shaft 5. Projecting upward
froin the arm 7' is a pin 18 upon which the pinion 8' is journaled. This pinion
meshes with the stationary gear 4¹¹.

page_text: Upon the pinion 8' is fixed, or formed integral therewith, an agitator 101. The
agitator illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is inverted V-shape with ribs formed thereon
to aid in breaking up the water. The agitator illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 may be
like that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, if desired. The different forms are shown to
illustrate the different constructions of which the invention is capable.
Instead of a basket (as illustrated by 13 in Fig. 1) for holding dishes, a frame
consisting of uprights 19 secured to the braces 15 and connected by wires 20, is
shown in Figs. 3 and 4. By this arrangement a few dishes may be set on edge and
washed at one time. A screen 21 is placed over the braces 15 to prevent dishes
from falling through and coming into contact with the agitator and thus being nicked
or broken.
A cover is preferably provided for the domestic form of machine.
A crank 22 is fixed to the top of the shaft 5' to operate the machine.
We will now describe the form illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6.
In these forms of machine, the tank 1, with the bottom 11, the outlet 2 and inlet 3,
the outlet valve 21, and inlet valve 3', the vertical shaft 5 and drive wheel 11, and
the braces 12, 121 are exactly like the same parts illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and
therefore are given the same reference marks. The basket 13' is similar to the
basket 13 shown in Fig. 1, except that it has no wire cloth sides.
The stationary gear 23 is like the stationary gear 4', except that its teeth are
upon the top side, or crown instead of around the periphery.
The arm 24 is secured to the top of the vertical shaft 5. The agitator 101 and
the pinion 8 are journaled upon à reduced expansion 24' of the arm 24, and are
kept in place by the pin 25 that passes through the outer end of the reduced
extension 24. This agitator consists of flat vanes radiating from the central hub.
The operation of the machine is simple and readily understood.
By turning the vertical shaft that passes through the hub of the stationary gear,
the horizontal arm that is fixed to the vertical shaft that rotates with it; the pinion
which travels with the horizontal arm meshes with the stationary gear carrying the
agitator in a circle within the tank and causes the agitator to rotate upon its own axis.
In the forms illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 the agitator turns upon its
horizontal axis, while in the form illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the agitator turns
upon its longitudinal axis.
It will be observed that in the form illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4, which is adapted
to domestic use, the parts are arranged to be operated by hand, and to the use of a
comparatively small quantity of water in the tank. To this end the agitator is
placed below the stationary gear.
In the forms illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, and 5 and 6, which are adapted to hotel
and restaurant use, the parts are adapted to use a comparatively large quantity of
water and to be operated by steam, electrical or other motive power. To this end,
the agitator is placed above the stationary gear.
In the domestic form, the tank is filled with water just above the agitator; while
in the other forms the basket is nearly submerged. In using the domestic form
(Figs. 3 and 4), the water is splashed or thrown against the dishes; while in the
other forms, the whole volume of water in the tank is caused to rotate and is thus
forced against the dishes.
In the form illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4, all the parts lift out of the tank
together; while in the others, the basket and screen (not shown) are the only parts
that are to be removed.
Our invention may take on various modifications in details of construction without
departing from the spirit of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of a tank, an
agitator which travels in a circle within the tank and which rotates upon its own

page_text: axis, and a basket or frame supported within the tank, said basket or frame being
adapted to hold dishes, substantially as described.
2. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of a tank, a
stationary gear within the tank, a shaft that turns in the hub of the stationary gear,
an arm fixed upon the shaft, a pinion driven by the arm and meshing with the
stationary gear, an agitator which turns with the pinion, and a basket or frame
supported within the tank, said basket or frame being adapted to hold dishes,
substantially as described.
3. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of a tank, an
agitator which travels in a circle within the tank and which rotates on its own axis,
braces within the tank above the agitator, a screen supported by the braces, and a
basket or frame supported within the tank by the braces, said basket being adapted
to hold dishes, substantially as shown and described.
4. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of a tank, a
stationary gear within the tank, a shaft that turns in the hub of the stationary gear,
an arm fixed upon the shaft, a pinion driven by the arm and meshing with the
stationary gear, an agitator which turns with the pinion, braces within the tank, a
screen, and a basket or frame supported by the braces, said basket or frame being
adapted to hold dishes, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this Fifth day of September 1892.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.