IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Oates, of Mirfield, in the County of York,
Cabinet Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 4th July 1862, and dated the 10th January 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Oates at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
January 1862.
I, JAMES OATES, of Mirfield, in the County of York, Cabinet Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WASHING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to combining and arranging machinery or apparatus
for washing domestic linen or wearing apparel, and other textile fabrics and
fibrous substances, and consists of a tub or cylindrical vessel mounted centrally
on the top end of a vertical spindle or pivot supported in suitable framing.
On the spindle is a cog wheel, into which two racks gear, one on each side of
the spindle. One end of each rack is connected respectively to two hand
levers, which are actuated alternately in opposite directions, thereby giving
partial rotary motion to the tub or vessel. A circular lid or disc fits loosely
within the tub, which is also mounted centrally on the bottom end of another
vertical spindle, which is supported by a suitable fixing on a portable rail
placed across the tub, but clear thereof, and attached to the framing, in which

page_text: fixing the said spindle is free to rotate and slide up or down. A stud or arm
is fixed in the top of the lid at a suitable distance from the centre, to which is
attached a rod connected to one of the hand levers, by the action of which
partial rotary motion is given to the lid in a contrary direction to the motion
of the tub. The under side of the lid and the upper side of the tub bottom
are provided with ribs or projections.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Oates in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
OATES, of Mirfield, in the County of York, Cabinet Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Oates, Her special license that I, the said James Oates,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Oates, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WASHING MACHINES," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said
James Oates, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Oates, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to combining and arranging machinery or apparatus
for washing domestic linen or wearing apparel, and other textile fabrics and
fibrous substances, and consists of a tub or cylindrical vessel mounted centrally

page_text: on the top end of a vertical spindle or pivot supported in suitable framing.
On the spindle is a cog wheel, into which two rack gear, one on each side of
the spindle. One end of each rack is connected respectively to two hand
leyers, which which are actuated alternately in opposite directions, thereby giving
partial rotary motion to the tub or vessel. A circular lid or disc fits loosely
within the tub, which is also mounted centrally on the bottom end of another
vertical spindle, which is supported by a suitable fixing on a portable rail
placed across the tub, but clear thereof, and attached to the framing, in which
fixing the said spindle is free to rotate and slide up or down. A stud or arm
is fixed in the top of the lid at a suitable distance from the centre, to which
is attached a rod connected to one of the hand levers, by the action of which
partial rotary motion is given to the lid in a contrary direction to the motion
of the tub. The under side of the lid and the upper side of the tub bottom
are provided with ribs or projections.
In order that the Invention may be clearly understood I have given
reference to an accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an
elevation of a machine or apparatus, partly in section, and Fig. 2 is a
plan of
the same.
A is the tub or cylindrical vessel, which is shewn in section, and mounted
on the top end of a spindle B, which is supported in framing C. On this
spindle is a cog wheel D, into which gear two racks E, F, (a separate view
of which is given at Fig. 3.) These racks are capable of sliding betwixt the
cheeks G, H, of the frame, and are connected or attached to two hand
levers I, J, which, on being actuated or operated alternately in opposite
directions, will give partial rotary or backward and forward motion to the tub
or vessel; K is the circular lid or disc mounted on the bottom end of a
spindle L, which is supported in a fixing or boss on the portable rail M, in
which it is free to rotate and slide up or down; N is the stud or arm fixed to
the lid or disc, and O is a rod connected thereto, and to one of the hand levers,
by the action of which partial rotary or backward and forward motion is given
to the lid in a contrary direction to the motion of the tub. Fig. 4 shews the
ribs on the under side of the lid and on the bottom of the tub. It will be
seen that the rod O and rail M can be readily detached, and along with the
lid K soon removed, to admit of domestic linen or other fabrics being placed
in the tub to be washed, which on being replaced, the lid will rest upon the
linen or fabrics; when the tub is is supplied with water and soap, or other
cleansing agent, and motion given to the tub and to the lid, the ribs thereof
will rub or operate to wash or cleanse the said linen or fabrics.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the

page_text: manner in which the same is to be or may be performed, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction,
combination, and arrangement of the apparatus, as herein set forth; but I
claim, the constructing, combining, and arranging apparatus, substantially in
manner and for purposes as herein described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Oates, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of July, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by the
within-named James Oates in the
presence of
WM. TASKER, Patent Agent,
JAMES OATES. (L.S.)
Halifax.