AN IMPROVED SPRING FOR USE IN WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hirst, of the Britannia Works, Halifax, in the County
of York, Manufacturer of Washing, Wringing, and Mangling Machines, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED SPRING FOR USE IN WASHING, WRINGING, AND
MANGLING MACHINES."
Scaled the 21st October 1876, dated the 4th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hirst at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th May 1876.
JAMES HIRST, of the Britannia Works, Halifax, in the County of York, Manufac-
turer of Washing, Wringing, and Mangling Machines. "AN IMPROVED SPRING
FOR USE IN WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING MACHINES."
This Invention, which relates to an improved spring for giving pressure to the
usual rollers of washing, wringing, and mangling machines, has for its objects the
cheapening of the production of such springs, the lessening of their weight and of
the material required to be used in their construction, the increasing of their
strength and elasticity, the reduction to a minimum of friction, and the consequent
rendering of the more durable and reliable in action, and capable of receiving and
exerting more pressure with a less liability to sustain injury.
The Invention consists in constructing a semi-elliptic spring (which is the shape
most applicable for the purposes of the Invention) of a series of bars of a round,
square, oval, or elliptic section, arranged in directions parallel with each other, and
secured at their ends in cap bearings or fixings (made or cast whole, or in parts
united by screws, bolts, or rivets) having rounded and smooth under (or upper)
boaring faces, and held in position centrally of their length by another bearing
piece made whole, or in parts united similarly to the end cap bearings. In certain
applications the spring may be formed of one such bar fitted as above described,
but I prefer to form it of two, or of a series of such bars.
The spring as thus constructed is or may be applied to washing, wringing, and
mangling machines cither over or above the rollers, or under them on the usual
lower or bottom framing of the machine or otherwise, in the same manner as the
usual lap-upon-lap semi-elliptic spring is, and the desired pressure is imparted to
it through the medium of the centre bearing piece by the (usual screw, cam, or other
usual contrivance, and such imparted pressure it exerts (to attain the purposes of
its application) through the medium of the end cap bearings to the usual roller
journal blocks or to the usual projecting lovers.
[Price Gd.]

page_text: Thus as the application of the improved spring is similar to that of the ordinary
lap-upon-lap spring which it is intended to supersede, no alteration is necessitated
in the frauning or other parts of the washing, wringing, or mangling machines to
which it is applied, and the improved spring can thus be applied with many
advantages in addition to those above alluded to to such existing machines in lieu
of the said usual lap-upon-lap spring, the use of which in this class of machines is
attended with many disadvantages, including very great friction, and the conse-
quent liability to wear quickly and snap asunder at the lap joints, and which
disadvantages are overcome by the application and use of the above described
improved spring. The improved spring may be applied to such machines in such
a manner as to impart the desired pressure to either the upper or lower roller, and
its application will dispense with the usual cross bar which lies immediately over
the top roller in the cheaper classes of such machines, or the improved spring may
be applied in combination with such cross bar.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Hirst in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st November
1876.
JAMES HIRST, of the Britannia Works, Halifax, in the County of York, Manufac-
turer of Washing, Wringing, and Mangling Machines. "AN IMPROVED SPRING
FOR USE IN WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING MACHINES."
This Invention, which relates to an improved spring for giving pressure to the
usual rollers of washing, wringing, and mangling machines, has for its objects the
cheapening of the production of such springs, the lessening of their weight and of
the material required to be used in their construction, the increasing of their
strength and clasticity, the reduction to a minimum of friction, and the consequent
rendering of them more durable and reliable in action and capable of receiving and
exerting more pressure with a less liability to sustain injury.
The improved spring is illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings in
Figures 1 to 3, of which Figures 1 and 2 are elevations, and Figure 3 a section
through the line -x, Figure 1. The Figures are drawn full size, but I do not
confine myself to any particular size of spring.
The Invention consists in constructing a semi-elliptic spring (which is the shape
most applicable for the purposes of the Invention) of a series of bars 1 of a round,
square, oval, or elliptic section arranged in directions parallel with each other and
secured at their ends in cap bearings or fixings 2 (made or cast whole or in parts,
as shown, united by screws, rivets, or bolts 3) having rounded and smooth under
bearing faces 4, and held in position centrally of their length by another bearing
piece 5, made whole or in parts (as shown), united similarly to the end cap bearings 2.
In certain applications the spring may be formed of one such bar 1 fitted as above
described, but I prefer to form it of two or of a series of such bars.
The spring as thus constructed is or may be applied to washing, wringing, and
mangling machines, either over or above the usual rollers, or under them on the
usual lower or bottom framing of the machine or otherwise, in the same manner as
the ordinary lap-upon-lap semi-elliptic spring is, and the desired pressure is im-
parted to it through the medium of the centre hearing piece 5 by the usual screw,
cam, or other usual contrivance, which presses upon the centre bearing piece or
passes into or through the centre hole or slot 6, and such imparted pressure it
exerts (to attain the purposes of its applications) through the medium of the end
cap bearings 2 to the usual roller journal blocks or to the usual projecting levers,
the end bearings 2 being made with suitable recesses 7 or equivalent projections 8
to keep the spring true and prevent it moving sideways.
Thus as the application of the improved spring is in all respects similar to that
of the ordinary lap-upon-lap spring which it is intended to supercede, no alteration

page_text: is necessitated in the framing or other parts of the washing, wringing, or mangling
machines to which it is applied, and the improved spring can thus be applied with
many advantages in addition to those above alluded to to such existing machines
in lieu of the said usual lap-upon-lap spring, the use of which in this class of
machines is attended with many disadvantages, including very great friction and
the consequent liability to wear quickly and snap asunder at the lap joints, and
which disadvantages are overcome by the application and use of the above described
improved spring. The improved spring may also be applied to such machines in
such a manner as to impart the desired pressure to either the upper or lower roller,
and its application will thus allow of the usual cross bar, which lies immediately
over the top roller in the cheaper classes of such machines, being dispensed with, or
the improved spring may be applied in combination with such cross bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of my
said Invention for "An Improved Spring for Use in Washing, Wringing, and Mangling
Machines," together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be carried
into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention
the above described improved construction of spring substantially as described and
ns illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and the use thereof in and
application to washing, wringing, and mangling machines, for the purpose of giving
pressure to the usual rollers thereof:
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hirst, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JAMES HIRST. (LS.)