Improvements in Washing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
We, SAMUEL MARTIN WINDMILLER, and LEE HOLFORD, both residing at
Nebo, in the County of Pike, and State of Illinois, in the United States of America,
Gentlemen 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 has relation to improvements in the construction of washing
machines, and the object of the invention is to provide a simple aud convenient
washing machine for general family use; and to this end the novelty consists in the
construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts of the same, as will
be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing the same reference numerals indicate the same parts
of the invention.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved washing machine; and
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the machine.
1 represents a cylindrical corrugated sheet metal tub, provided with ears 2-2,
which receive the detachable legs 3-3. 4 represents the concave bottom, formed
with a central depressed recess 5, provided with an orifice 6 closed with a removable
stopple 7.
8 represents the top of the tub 1, having a central orifice or opening 9, formed
with radial rectangular recesses 10, 10 and lugs 12, 12. This top is set in the tub
a sufficient distance below the top edge 13 of the sides to leave a continuous
flange 14 around the upper edge of said tub, for conveniently securing a suitable
wringer to.
15 is the removable cover, which is provided with handles 16, 16 and radial
recesses 17, the metal cut out from said recesses being severed only on the sides
and left solid at the back, which is then hent downwardly to form tongues 18, 18
which fit the recesses 10, 10. The cover is then turned to the right or left so as to
engage said tongues under the edge of the opening 9, while at the same time the
lugs 12 project over the outer edge of the cover 8, to assist in securing it in place.
19 represents the vertical shaft mounted in the cover 15, said shaft being
cylindrical as far down as the cross pin 20, and from that point it is square in cross
section to its lower end. This square portion 21 passes freely through a corre-
spondingly shaped central orifice 22 in the frame 23, and 24 is a set screw, 'the
enlarged head of which prevents the frame 23 from coming off.
25 is a spiral spring encompassing the square portion 21 of the shaft, its lower
end being held in operative contact with said frame by the cross-pin 20, the spring
allowing the frame 23 to play up and down on the square portion, while it is at the
same time imparting a rotary motion to it.
This frame is formed with the integral radial arms 26, the outer ends of which
terminate in integral cross bars 27.
28, 28 represent a series of spindles, having journals 29 formed on their upper
ends, by means of which they are inserted in circular orifices 30 in the frame,
being held in place by a screw 31, and these journals are slightly smaller than
the orifices in which they are mounted so as to permit them to rotate freely therein
when the machine is in operation,

page_text: 32, 32 are integral arms on the yoke 42, and their upper ends are joined to
form an integral bearing block 33 in which is journaled the horizontal shaft 34,
which is formed with a central circumferential groove 36 into which projects the
end of a set screw 35 secured in the bearing block 33, which allows said shaft
to rotate freely, but prevents any end movement thereof.
37, 371 represent mutilated bevel gear wheels mounted on the outer ends of
this shaft 34 so as to rotate with said shaft and travel in unison therewith. Each
of these wheels is provided with a suitable handle 38.
A bevel pinion 39 is secured to the shaft 19 by a set screw 40, the upper end of
the shaft being journaled in a bearing 41 in the block 33. The teeth on the
mutilated gear wheels 37, 371 mesh with the pinion 39 and serve to rotate said
vertical shaft 19 alternately in opposite directions.
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. A washing machine comprising the vertical shaft 19 provided with the bevel
pinion 39, and the horizontal shaft 34 having circumferential groove 36 and mutilated
gear wheels 37, 37¹, provided with handles 38, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. A washing machine comprising the circular tub 1, provided with the concave
bottom 2, having depressed recess 5 and orifice 6, the top 8 having orifice 9, radial
recesses 10, and lugs 12, the circular flange 14, the removable cover 15 having radial
recesses 17 and 'integral tongues 18, the shaft 19 having square portion 21, cross
pin 20 and set screw 24, the spiral spring 25, and the frame 23, having central
square orifice 22, integral cross bars 27, and the spindles 28 mounted so as to rotate
freely in said frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 9th day of March 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.