IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING MACHINES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wheeler, of the Albion Iron Works, in
the City of Oxford, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING MACHINES."
Saled the 7th January 1859, and dated the 14th July 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wheeler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th July 18 8.
I, THOMAS WHEELER, of the Albion Iron Works, in the City of Oxford,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WASHING. WRINGING, AND MANGLING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to various improvements in the details and general
construction and arrangement of washing, wringing, mangling, and steaming
machines.
The reservoirs or receptacles for the water in these machines may be
either tiuned or galvanized.
The rubbers consist of circular pieces of wood, or any other suitable
material possessing sufficient buoyancy; they may be of various dimensions,
and of a round, angular, or oblong form, and inade with one or more shoulders
to fit into each other, side by side, in which case 1 propose to make them
either flat, hollow, or round. I also propose to make them in separate pieces,
and combine as many hollows and rounds, or concave and convex surfaces as
may be considered desirable; semicircular headed or edged rubbers, made
with hollows and rounds turned upon them to represent the form of the
knuckles, may also be used.

page_text: These hollows and rounds may be made and grooved at any convenient
angle. Worm or screw-shaped rubbers having a worm cut on them to any
required length, with a round top and bottom, square or V-thread, similar
to that of ordinary screws and cut either right or left handed, may also be
used, but I propose to make these rubbers all upon a floating principle; I
.propose also to use long bars as rubbers for some purposes, the bars to
float in oblong holes or slots, and formed with either plain, round, oblong,
or triangular holes in them. These rubbers, in some cases, are to be
threaded upon bars of wood, iron, or any other suitable material, or upon
cords, and I propose to use them with a reciprocating motion in any required
direction. They are to be used on an incline, at any convenient angle, work-
ing in frames made to hold them. I also propose to use round rubbers,
floated longitudinally. I also propose to use square rubbers in a
square frame made hollow and round alternately in a diagonal direction. I
also propose to use, in some cases, one or more cranks or eccentrics and rota-
tory or oscillatory barrels or drums with the rubbers working loosely inside.
a
The wringing and mangling machine may be used either in connection
with the washing machine or separately. The mangling machine consists of
two or more rollers of iron or other suitable material, made hollow,and having
jet of steam passed through them for the purpose of keeping them hot
when wringing and mangling. This machine is to be formed of a suitable
reservoir, of any convenient shape, and to be so made that a fire can be
applied beneath, and conveyed to the upper or lower chamber for supplying
the hot water for the washing machine or rubbers. I also propose applying
or connecting a small steam cylinder in connection with a small crank on the
main shaft, for the purpose of giving motion to the mangle, wringing, and
washing machine, which will be fastened to the side of the furnace in con-
nection with the hot water apparatus of the washing machine. This appa-
ratus for washing, mangling, wringing, and drying may be fixed in one machine,
and to be either portable or stationary; the exhaust steam from the cylinder
passes through the mangle roller, or it may be conveyed round the tank, to
assist in heating the water for the washing machine. This machine is
intended for washing garments, fabrics, and piece goods of all kinds.
According to another modification, I propose to employ a rotatory or
oscillating box or barrel, with its working spindle or axis placed in a
diagonal direction as regards the centre line of such box or barrel, and
having rubbers inside, working either fast or loose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Wheeler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th January 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WHEELER, of the Albion Iron Works, in the City of Oxford, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fitfy-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reigu, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Wheeler, Her special license that I, the said Thomas Wheeler,
my executors,administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1,the said Thomas
Wheeler, my executors, administrators, or 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,
WRINGING, AND MANGLING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thomas. Wheeler; by an instrument in writing under my,
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,aud 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 Thomas Wheeler, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to various improvements in the details and
general construction and arrangement of washing, wringing, and mangling
machines; the reservoirs or receptacles for the water in these machines may
be either tinned or galvanized. The rubbers consist of circular pieces of
wood or any other suitable material possessing sufficient buoyancy; they may
be of various dimensions and of a round, angular, or oblong form, and made
with one or more shoulders to fit into each other, side by side, in which case I
propose to make them either flat, hollow, or round, I also propose to make
them in separate pieces, and combine as many hollows and rounds or concave
and couvex surfaces as may be considered desirable; circular edge rubbers

page_text: made with hollows and rounds turned upon them, to assimilate to the form of
the knuckles, may also be used. These hollows and rounds may be made and
grooved at any convenient angle; worm or screw-shaped rubbers may also be
used, but I propose to make all these rubbers upon a floating principle, I
propose also to use long bars as rubbers for some purposes, the bars to float
in oblong holes or slots, or in plain round holes,or iu triangular holes. These
rubbers in some cases are to be threaded upon bars of wood, iron, or any other
suitable material, or upon cords, and I propose to use them with a recipro-
cating motion in any required direction. They may be used on an incline at
any convenient angle, working in frames made to hold them. I also propose
to use round rubbers floated longitudinally, and having cork or other light
material fitted there to to increase their buoyancy; I also propose to use
square rubbers in a square frame, make hollow and round in a chequered
manner; I also propose to use in some cases one or more rotatory barrels
with the rubbers inside. The wringing and maugling machine may be used
either in connection with the washing machine or separately.
The mangling machine consists of two or more rollers of iron or other
suitable material made hollow, and having a jet of steam passed through
them, for the purpose of keeping them hot when wringing and mangling.
This combined machine will consist of a suitable reservoir of any convenient
shape, and so made that heat can be applied beneath for keeping the water hot
in the washing machine. I also propose applying or connecting a small steam
cylinder or portable engine with a crank on the main shaft, for the
purpose of
giving motion to the mangling, wringing, or washing machine, which will
be fastened to the top or sides of the boiler in connexion with suitable heating
apparatus. The machines for washing, mangling, wringing, and drying may
be combined into one machine and be made either portable or stationary.
The exhaust steam from the cylinder may pass through the mangle roller, or
it may be conveyed round the tank to assist in heating the water for the
washing machine. This machine is intended for washing garments, fabrics,
flax, wool, and piece goods of all kinds.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, 1 shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
corresponding Figures.
Figures to 9 inclusive, on Sheet 1 of my Drawing, represent.detailed
views of the various shaped rubbers, which I propose to adopt to my several
washing machines. These rubbers may be composed of wood or other

page_text: buoyant material, and in the case of the rubbers shewn at Figure 9 stamped
metal may be employed. Figure 1 is a side and edge view of what I call
my
"shouldered rubber," it consists simply of a disc A, having a shoulder B
turned upon one or both sides thereof; a round, square, oblong, or triangular
opening C is made through the centre of the rubber, for the purpose of
enabling a series of them to be mounted in a frame or holder, as shewn in the
plan view of my reciprocating washing machine Figure 10, herein-after
described Figure 2 is the shouldered rubber combined with a ring rubber D,
the shoulder being made to enter and play freely within the opening of the
ring rubber. Figure 3 is what I call my corrugated rotatory rubber, consist-
ing of a cone or cylinder, having corrugations, undulations, or projecting rings
c. turned or formed upon its surface with a central aperture C; and
Figure 4 is another corrugated rubber, having both its projecting rings or
corrugations c of the same diameter.
All these four different rubbers are to be used in the same manner: they
may be fitted into frames for receiving a reciprocating motion, as shewn at
Figures 10, 11, and 14; they may be fitted on to cylinders to receive a rotatory
or partial rotatory motion, or carried on pegs or pius for working in inclined
slots, or applied in the form of endless bands, by being threaded on cords in
any convenient manner to form aprons of rubbers, or as shewn in the Diagram,
Figure 12, in which a, a, are the rubbers, and b, b, the cords of an endless
net, the rubbers being secured therein at each knot, or at the centre of the
mesh. Figures 5, 6, and 7, are shank rubbers, intended to be used either
in the reciprocating frames or in rotatory cylinders, as shewn in the latter case
at Figures 18 and 19. The shanks a fitting into suitable holes in the frame
or cylinder to allow of the rubbers floating or working freely therein. These
rubbers are formed with a head b at each end, one or both heads being
corrugated or turned into concentric rings, as in Figures 5 and 6, or formed
with other hollows and projections thereon, as in Figure 7, which represents
the form of the knuckles in washing. Cork or other buoyant materials may
be added, or they may be made hollow to increase their buoyancy. The whole
of my rubbers assimilate in their action to that of the knuckles of the hand,
and therefore I term them all knuckle rubbers. Figure S represents two
of a series of spiral rubbers, to be arranged side by side in a reciprocating
frame, and Figure 9 is a reciprocating rubber composed of a number of
imitation hands or knuckles a formed of stamped brass or other metal, or
composed of wood, gutta percha, india-rubber, or other suitable substance, and
secured to a flat board b, or to a cylindrical or curved surface. Figure 10
represents a plan of my reciprocating washing machine fitted with the

page_text: "shouldered rubber," (Figure1.) This machine consists of an oblong box or
tank A, fitted at the bottom of the tank with a uumber of my shouldered
rubbers, or with any of the forms of floating rubbers herein-before referred to.
When the revolving rubbers are employed, that is, any of those illustrated at
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, they are threaded upon wooden or metal spindles,
which are placed side by side in suitable holes in the side pieces a, a, fixed
into the tank A, the holes being sufficiently large or of such a shape as to
allow the spindle to float and play freely therein, whilst the holes in the
rubbers are also.made large enough to allow the rubbers themselves to float
and play freely upon the spindles. The reciprocating frame B is similarly
furnished with a set of floating rubbers, as shewn at Figures 10 and 11, these
rubbers are arranged at right angles, or otherwise, to the rubbers beneath
them in the tank. The frame is worked to and fro by a connecting rod and a
crank or eccentric C on the second motion shaft D, which receives a quick
motion from a spur wheel E, or by a driving band on the first motion shaft F,
which may be driven by hand or by a small engine attached to the side of the
tank; the escape steam from which may be passed into the tank, and
employed for heating or keeping hot the water therein. The bottom set of
rubbers may, in some cases, be made reciprocating or rotatory, as well as the
upper ones.
Any of my rubbers may be fitted into frames, as at Figures 9, 11, 13,
and 14, and used in the machine, Figure 10. The rubber 13 consists simply of
a brush, whilst the rubber 14 is merely a combination of the rubbers shown at
Figure. Figure 15 represents a washing machine composed of a tank A, a
rotatory cylinder B, and a number of floating rubbers in the form of levers C,C,
fitted with brushes at their extremities, and bearing against the surface of the
cylinder, to which cylinder the clothes, flax, wool, or other materials to be
washed are attached, by means of loops or bands D, D, as shewn at Figure 17,
which is a plan of a modified machine, a section of which is shewn at Figure 16.
In this machine the levers are replaced by circular floating rubbers C, C, con-
structed and arranged after any of the methods herein-before, described.
Figure 18 represents a rotary washing machine composed of a pair ofhollow
cylinders A, A, revolving on a spindle B passed through a slot. C in the vertical
shaft D, which is driven or rotated in any convenient manner. The cylinders
may be fitted on their surface with any of my rubbers. I have represented
the corrugated rubbers (Figures 5 and 6) as being applied thereto, and
working in conjunction with similar or with any of my other rubbers in a
frame or species of false bottom E. The spindle and cylinders are free to rise
or fall in the slot Caccording to the varying thickness of the clothes or other

page_text: substances between the two sets of rubbers. I am aware that rollers revolving
in a tub or vessel have been previously employed in washing machines, and
therefore I claim only theapplication of hollow cylinders fitted either internally
or externally, or on both surfaces with any of my improved rubbers. Figure19
shews another view of a similar machine to Figure 18, but with a different set
of rubbers beneath the cylinder. These rubbers, which may be any of those
shewn at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, are connected by cords or pins in the form of
a ring, so as to form an annular path or track of connected floating rubbers
to travel upon.
When I use cylinders, as in the machines shewn at
Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, I propose to wash smaller or lighter articles
by placing them inside such cylinders, and submitting them to the action
of any of my rubbers strung together, as shewn at A', Figures 15 and 16, or
otherwise placed loosely therein. By these machines three different sets of
clothes or goods may be washed simultaneously; thus some articles may be
attached to the tapes or loops on the outer surface of the cylinder, others con-
tained inside the same,and a third set laid npon the floating or other rubbers
at the bottom of the tank. A series of any of the rubbers shewn at Figures 1,
2, 3, and 4, may be connected by cords in the form of an endless band of
rubbers, and placed on the surface of the cylinder to be used in combination
with other rubbers in the tank or washing vessel.
Figure 20 represents a washing machine composed of circular brushes
A, A, acting in combination with an endless travelling net B, of open or
large mesh, and combined or not with rubbers, as before referred to in
respect to Figure 12. This net is carried on rollers C, C, and has the
articles to be washed attached thereto in any convenient manner, whilst the
brushes A well act through the net so as to cleanse or rub both sides of the
linen simultaneously. In place of rotatory brushes a reciprocating rubber
in combination with the open net may be employed and fitted either with
benches or with any of my other rubbers as shewn at Figures 13 and 14.
Figure 1, on Sheet 2 of my draft, represents my barrel washing machine;
it consists of a barrel or other similar vessel A, having its axis of rotation B
ata considerable angle or inclination to the true axial centre line of the vessel.
This vessel is fitted internally on its sides with any of my rubbers herein-before
referred to, and is provided with a door C for the admission and discharge of
the linen or other articles to be washed. A rotatory motion is imparted to the
vessel by the winch haudle D, or other suitable means whereupon the articles
to be washed will be violently agitated, and rubbed against the knuckle or
other rubbers placed inside the vessel. Figures 2 and 3 represent respectively
a vertical section and corresponding plan of a hot water heating apparatus

page_text: applied to the tank of a washing machine, for the purpose of maintaining the
temperature of the water therein. A is the tank of the washing machine,and
Bis a boiler fitted with an internal fire-place, and connected by means of the
circulating hot water pipes C, C¹, with the tank. One of these pipes may be
conveyed round the bottom of the tank beneath the perforated or open false
bottom D, which is fitted therein in the form of a coil, as shewn in the plan,
and discharge the hot water at or near the centre of the tank, as shewn at a.
Ir lieu of hot water steam may be blown into the tank from an apparatus for
that purpose, or from the boiler or the cylinder of a steam engine, when such
is employed for driving the machine. Figure 4 is a side elevation, and
Figure 5 an end view of a portable steam engine combined with a washing,
wringing, mangling, and drying machine. The engine itself may be of any
convenient or suitable construction, portable or otherwise, and the tank A of
the washing machine is applied either to the top or sides of the engine boiler,
as shewn. The rubbers of the washing machine are driven from the main
shaft B of the engine, and the water of the tank is kept hot by admitting
steam: or hot water therein from the boiler by either of the pipes C, D, or the
waste or exhaust steam from the cylinder E may be allowed to escape into the
tank; but I prefer to convey such exhaust steam by the pipe F to the rollers
G, G, of the wringing, mangling, or drying machine, for the purpose of
heating the same. This latter machine is combined with the washing machine
by being secured to the side or end of the tank A, and is driven by a strap H
from the main shaft of the engine. These combined portable steam washing,
wringing, mangling, and drying machines may be used as travelling or
itinerant machines, or as stationary steam washing machines.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating
from the principles or main features of my said Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is is,-
First, the general constructions and arrangements of washing machines
for washing clothes, piece goods, flax, wool, or other substances, as herein-
before described.
Second, the herein-before mentioned various forms of rubbers and modes
of using or applying the same, whether in reciprocating or rotatory washing
machines, as herein-before described.

page_text: Third the application and use of the before-mentioned rubbers fitted into
reciprocating frames or on to rotating cylinders, and working in con-
junction with other stationary floating rubbers, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the combining of my floating rubbers with cords, or with endless
nets, so as to form endless bands of rubbers, and using them in conjunction
with other floating rubbers, or with rotatory or reciprocating brushes, as
herein-before described.
Fifth, the application and use of rotatory bands fitted, internally with my
improved rubbersfor washing orcleansing purposes, as herein-beforedescribed.
Sixth, the combination of a stationary or portable steam engine with a
washing, wringing, or mangling machine, or with a combined machine for
performing all these operations, as herein-before described.
Seventh, the systems or modes of heating the water of washing machines,
as herein-before described.
Eighth, the system or mode of heating the rollers of steam-power
mangling, wringing, and drying machines, when combined with a washing
machine, by passing the exhaust steam from the engine through such
rollers, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wheeler, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
THOMAS WHEELER.
(L.S.)