Improvements in Washing-machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Washing-machines.
I, CHARLES DUNSFORD JENKINS, M.D., of 130, Huntington Avenue, Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to washing-machines, and more particularly to machines
of that kind or class in which the clothes or the like to be washed are placed in
a revolving drum or chamber wherein they are subjected to the action of jets of
soapy water or other detergent liquid. And my said invention is chiefly designed
to render such machines more efficient in their operation than heretofore.
One feature of my said invention is the provision which I make for effectually
cleaning those portions of the clothes or the like which lie next the ends of the
revolving drum or chamber as well as those portions which lie in the middle of
the said drum or chamber. For this purpose I provide at one end of the said
drum a central chamber in the circumference of which are fixed perforated pipes
that extend radially to or nearly to the circumferential wall of the revolving
drum, then longitudinally along the interior thereof and then inward towards the
axis of the drum at the other end of the said drum. The liquid is forced under
pressure into the said central chamber and through the said perforated pipes,
whence it issues in a large number of jets, some of which are directed from the
ends of the drum towards the middle thereof, while others are directed from the
periphery of the said drum inward or towards its axis. The efficient washing of
all parts of the clothes or the like is thus ensured.
Another feature of my said invention is the employment of a steam-jet injector
for inducing a current of the liquid into the said central chamber and forcing it
under a suitable pressure into and through the said perforated pipes. In some
instances I also provide for the circulation of the liquid through the revolving
drum and its casing by means of the said steam-jet injector.
I find it advantageous to connect a stationary liquid-supply-pipe with the afore-
said central chamber in the revolving drum by means of a suitable stuffing-box,
and to combine the injector-nozzle with the said supply-pipe in such a manner
that the jet of steam together with the induced current of the liquid will be forced
into the said central chamber. I also, in some instances, connect the said supply-
pipe by means of a branch-pipe with the lower part of the casing in which the
drum revolves, and provide one or more suitable cocks or valves so arranged
that the said injector can be used, when desired, for drawing the liquid from the
lower part of the said casing and forcing it into the said central chamber, thus
causing the liquid to circulate through the revolving drum and act repeatedly
upon the clothes or the like therein.
Dad the 16th day of Santamber 1897
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, CHARLES DUNSFORD JENKINS, M.D., of 130, Huntington Avenue, Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to washing-machines and more particularly to machines
of that kind or class in which the clothes or the like to be washed are placed in
a revolving drum or chamber wherein they are subjected to the action of jets of
soapy water or other detergent fluid. And my said invention is chiefly designed
to render such machines more efficient in their operation than heretofore.
One feature of my said invention is the provision which I make for effectually
cleaning those portions of the clothes or the like which lie next the ends of the
revolving drum or chamber as well as those portions which lie in the middle of
the said drum or chamber. For this purpose I provide at one end of the said
drum a central chamber in the circumference of which are fixed perforated pipes
that extend radially to or nearly to the circumferential wall of the revolving
drum, then longitudinally along the interior thereof and then inward towards the
axis of the drum at the other end of the said drum. The fluid is forced under
pressure into the said central chamber and through the said perforated pipes,
whence it issues in a large number of jets, some of which are directed from the
ends of the drum towards the middle thereof, while others are directed from the
periphery of the said drum inward or towards its axis. The efficient washing of
all parts of the clothes or the like is thus ensured.
Another feature of my said invention is the employment of a steam-jet injector
for inducing a current of detergent liquid into the said central chamber and forcing it
under a suitable pressure into and through the said perforated pipes. In some
instances I also provide for the circulation of the said liquid through the revolving
drum and its casing by means of the said steam-jet injector.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter
described.
+
1
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of one form of washing-machine
having my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the rotary drum on the liner, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal section of a washing-machine, illustrating
another form or modification of my invention.
A is the outer closed tank of the washing-machine; B is a cylindrical (or poly-
gonal) vessel or drum which is mounted on trunnions C, C in the interior of the
said tank A, and to which rotary motion is imparted through suitable gearing.
On the inner end of the trunnions C₁ of the drum B is formed or fixed a central
chamber D, and in the circumference of this chamber are fixed perforated pipes E
which extend first radially outward close to the head 13 of the drum, then along
the circumferential wall 13 thereof to the other head B33 and then inwards or to-
wards the axis of the said drum, where they are, if desired, connected with a
central chamber D₁ formed or fixed on the trunnion C, which chamber. may also
be perforated.
The trunnion is made with a longitudinal passage through it, which com-
municates at one end with the chamber 1); the other end of this hollow trunnion
is connected, by means of a gland and stuffing-box F, with a stationary pipe G
through which a supply of hot water, steam, or other detergent fluid can be forced

page_text: into the chamber 1) in any suitable manner, for example, by means of a pump,
or by arranging a water supply-tank at a suitable elevation; a drain-pipe A' or
the like can be provided for carrying off the surplus liquid from the tank A, or
the liquid in the machine may be circulated by means of a pump or the like.
When water or other detergent fluid is thus forced into the chamber D, it will
issue from the perforated pipes E in a large number of jets, those jets from the
heads B1, B3 being directed towards the middle of the drum, and those from the
circumferential wall B towards the axis of the drum, thus all parts of the clothes
or other articles in the drum B will be very efficiently washed.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, the pipe G is put into communication
with the tank A below the level of the liquid therein, by means of a pipe G¹; and
a steam-jet injector H is arranged in a suitably-formed chamber G³ at the upper
end of the said pipe G¹ and is supplied with steam through a pipe H¹, for the
purpose of drawing the liquid up through the pipe G¹ and forcing it through the
hollow trunnion C into the chamber D and perforated pipes E. In this manner
the liquid is continuously circulated through the tank A, pipe G¹, trunnion C¹,
central chamber D, and perforated pipes E, and, after coming into contact with
the articles to be washed in the drum B, returns to the tank A through
the perforations in the said drum.
Instead of forcing liquid through the perforations in the pipes E as above
described, I can, if desired, force steam only through the said pipes. For this
purpose, I provide a cock G³ in the pipe G¹ so that the liquid from the tank A will
be prevented from rising in the said pipe, and only steam from the nozzle H will pass
into the chamber D.
If desired, hot air can be introduced through the chamber I) and perforated
pipes E for the purpose of drying the articles or for carrying off the vapour of any
volatile cleansing material such as benzine or benzoline, which, in this way, could
be recovered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:--
First. A washing-machine in which the clothes or other articles to be washed
are subjected to the action of jets of detergent fluid directed from the ends of the
rotary drum towards the middle thereof and also from the circumferential wall
towards the axis thereof, substantially as, and for the purpose, hereinbefore
described.
Second. A washing-machine constructed with a central chamber communicat-
ing with a hollow trunnion of the rotary drum, and with perforated pipes extending
outward from the said chamber towards the wall of the said drum, then along the
said wall and then towards the axis of the said drum, with or without a steam-jet
injector, all substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing
and for the purposes specified.
Dated the 16th day of June 1898
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.