Improvements in and relating to Washing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Washing Machines.
We, JOHN JUNKIN FRANCIS, D.D., Clergyman, and LOUISE CUMMINS FRANCIS, Lady,
both of 621, Mound Street, in the City of Cincinnati, County of Hamilton, State of
Ohio, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The nature of our invention is a washing machine which combines in a single
structure means whereby all of the operations or steps of treatment in cleansing
fabrics may be accomplished on a single machine, thereby dispensing with separate
wash-tubs, wash-boards, wash-boilers, detachable wringers, stoves for heating the
water and the irons, and the like.
The object that we have in view is to provide a machine in which the labour and
time required to perform an ordinary family washing is reduced to a minimum,
without requiring the operator to directly handle the fabrics or immerse the hands
in the water to rub the clothes. Clothes washed in our improved machine are
rapidly and thoroughly cleansed from all dirt and stain, are free from soapy odors,
and present a pure, white and wholesome appearance.
The leading features of our improved washing machine consist, first, of a receptacle
constructed in a simple and substantial manner to withstand heat and rough usage
and provided with a partition which divides the receptacle in two compartments or
tubs; secondly, a heater, preferably adapted for consuming a hydrocarbon fluid such
as gasoline, arranged below the receptacle and constructed with burners of different
heat-generating capacity, one burner adapted to heat the water in one compartment
up to a boiling temperature, and the other burner to heat the water in the other
compartment to such a temperature as to enable it to wash the fabrics in the ordinary
way, such heater being so combined with the machine that it may be turned or
swung outwardly from beneath the receptacle to stand at a right or other angle
thereto and without detaching the heater from the machine, whereby the heater may
be used for heating irons, cooking, or for other domestic purposes; and thirdly, a
clothes wringer appliance which is adjustably combined with the divided tub and
which is arranged to sustain or carry the weight of the wringer, such wringer appliance
being capable of adjustment over the central partition, to enable it to be used for
wringing the fabrics out of the washing compartment into the boiling compartment,
and also adapted to be adjusted over one end wall of the receptacle, for the purpose
of wringing the clothes out of the boiling compartment into a tray, all of which
adjustments may be quickly effected without detaching the wringer from the
machine and without fatigue or taxing the strength of the operator.
With these and such other objects in view as pertain to our invention, it consists in
the combination of devices, and in the novel construction and arrangement of parts,
which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.
To enable others to understand our invention, we have illustrated the preferred
embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,
and in which,

page_text: Figure 1 is a perspective view of our washing machine, showing the lid raised, the
wringer attachment in position over the middle partition, and the stove or heater
swung out to adapt it for use in heating irons, etc.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine with the wringer out of position and
the heater adjusted beneath the receptacle.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine with the heater
adjusted beneath the receptacle and with the wringer adjusted at the end of the
receptacle.
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the machine on the plane
indicated by the dotted line x-x of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a detail view of the agitator.
Figure 6 is a detail view of the sectional clamp in which the agitator shaft is
fitted.
Figure 7 is a detail view of the preferred form of stove or heater which we have
invented, showing the form of the horizontal pipe, the vertical pipe, and the swiveled
coupling between said pipes; also showing the hangers by which the stove is sus
pended beneath the receptacle.
Figure 8 is a detailed detached perspective view of the preferred form of the
adjustable wringer attachment, the parts being separated to inore clearly illustrate
their construction..
Figure 9 is a view of a modified construction of the adjustable wringer support.
'Figure 10 is a detail view of the perforated false bottom for use in the compart-
ments of the receptacle.
Figure 11 is a detail view of the removable locking bar to hold the false bottom
in place.
Figure 12 is a detail view of one pair of legs to support one end of the receptacle.
Figure 13 is a detail view of the brackets in which the handle lever is to be
fulcrumed.
Figure 14 is a detached view of the stop hinge by which the cover is hung to the
receptacle.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings, referring to which,-
A designates the receptacle, B is the adjustable heater or stove, and C is the
adjustable wringer support. Our improved washing machine is constructed to
utilize the well known principle that textile fabrics, like most other substances
expand under the influence of heat and contract when subjected to cold water. By
immersing the fabric in water of increasing temperature, the pores or interstices
of the fabric are opened and the dirt, softened or loosened by soap, is then easily
shaken out and removed by agitation without in any way rubbing the fabrics, either
by hand or mechanically. On the other hand, any lowering of the temperature of
the water, either by gradually cooling of the water or by pouring cold water into the
tub, causes the clothes to contract and retain the dirt. We combine the heater B with
our receptacle in order to heat the water economically and rapidly, to have the heater
readily accessible and under the control of the operator, and save the time and labor
of heating the water on a separate stove and transporting it to the machine. We also
construct the receptacle A partly of wood and partly of metal, for economy in
manufacture, lightness in weight and durability; and said receptacle is constructed
in a novel way to resist the action of heat from the stove B and prevent the heat
from charring the wooden walls of said receptacle. The receptacle consists of the
side walls, a, a, the end walls a¹, a¹, the transverse central partition a², and the
metallic bottom a³. The walls. a, a¹, and partition a² are preferably made of wood
and the bottom a³ of galvanized sheet steel. The side walls a, a, are provided
near their ends with vertical grooves, in which are fitted the end-edges of the
walls a¹, and said side walls are also provided with central grooves to receive the
edges of the middle partition a²; each end wall having, near its top edge, a
horizontal groove for a purpose to be explained. The receptacle is supported
at each end by a pair of legs D, D¹, preferably made of strong bars of metal. The

page_text: legs of each pair D, D¹, are bent somewhat below the tub A and they are braced at
their lower bent ends by the metallic cross bar, d, the ends of which cross bar are
bent to form the angular ends, d¹, which are fitted against the opposing sides of the
legs D, D¹, and are fastened to the legs by the short bolts or screws d¹¹, thereby
presenting a strong structure. The upper ends of each pair of legs are fitted
against the outside of the side walls a, a, of the receptacle, and the legs are fastened
to the receptacle by means of the tie bolts or rods e, e, e¹. The upper tie bolt el, passes
through the legs D, D', side walls a, a, and through the horizontal groove in the
inner side of the end wall a¹, of the receptacle, but the tie bolts. e, e, are arranged
outside of the end wall a¹ of the receptacle, the bolts e, e, passing through the legs
and the projecting ends of the side walls a, a, as shown by Figure 3, each of said
tie bolts having a head at one end and a nut screwed on its threaded end. In
building the receptacle, the grooves in the side walls a, a, are filled with a binding
water-proof composition, preferably white lead, the walls a, a, a¹, a¹, and partition a²
are assembled and properly fitted together, the legs are adjusted to the outside of the
side walls, and the tie bolts are fitted and the nuts thereon screwed up tightly, thereby
binding all the parts securely together and securing water tight joints where the walls
are joined together. The metallic bottom a³, is fastened to the lower edges of
the walls, a, a, a², of the receptacle in a manner to provide water tight joints and
protect the wooden walls from being charred by the heat from the stove B, and to the
accomplishment of these ends we provide a strip or layer of asbestos as, which has
been dipped in or saturated with white lead. Said strip or layer a¹ is interposed
between the metallic bottom a³, and the lower edges of the wooden walls, and the
parts are united by strong barbed nails a5 which are driven in alternating rows
through the metallic bottom a³, the asbestos strip at, and into the walls a, a¹, a²,
thereby securing the parts together in a simple, strong and durable way.
E designates the lid or cover of the divided receptacle A, said lid being hinged at
one of its longitudinal side edges to one of the side walls of the receptacle and
having a lift or pull handle ex fastened to its upper side, near the free edges thereof.
Each hinge, two of which are provided, consists of two cast metal parts ell, e², one of
which e is of curved form to fit over the top of the rear side wall a, and against the
end wall a¹ to which walls the hinge member e¹¹ is securely fastened by screws, the
other hinge member e² has a forked end fitted over the edge of the cover E and
screwed thereto, said forked end having an angular pendent lug e³ that fits against
the outside of the end wall when the cover is closed down upon the receptacle. The
member el which is fastened to the receptacle rises above the rear side wall a, for a
suitable distance, and against it is fitted one end of the other member e², the parts,
being pivotally joined by a pivotal bolt et. The member e2 has its pivotal enlarged
end formed with a stop shoulder e which, when the lid is raised to an inclined
position beyond the perpendicular is adapted to abut against the upwardly projecting
edge of the member ell and thereby arrest the opening movement of the lid and
assist in holding the lid in the opened position.
This lid or cover E is made with a view slot f at its middle, over which slot is
fitted a heavy pane of glass f¹, whereby the operator is enabled to look into the
divided receptacle to ascertain the condition of the fabrics. The lid or cover E is
reinforced and prevented from warping under the influence of the heat and moisture
arising from the divided receptacle A by the lining F, F¹, which consists of two pieces
of wood united to the inner surface of the wooden cover with the grain of the wood
lining running across or at right angles to the grain of the wooden cover. These
lining pieces F, FI are recessed at their inner ends and are so arranged on the cover
that their recessed ends do not obstruct the view slot f; and said lining pieces
are smaller than the cover so that they may fit into the compartments of the
receptacle when the lid is closed.
The lid is hung so that it may rest squarely and solidly upon the top edges of the
receptacle, and the lining F, F1 fits upon cleats f2, 3 fixed to the inside of the side
end walls of the receptacle a suitable distance below the top edges thereof, thus
forming practically tight joints between the receptacle and its cover, to prevent, to a

page_text: great extent, the escape of steam from the receptacle. The cleats fs which are
fastened to the end walls a¹ of the receptacle are arranged over the horizontal grooves
in the said end walls a¹ in order to conceal and protect the tie bolts e¹ which are
fitted in said grooves of the end walls. The inner adjacent ends of the lining
pieces F, F, do not abut, or come in contact, but are spaced apart to form a notch or
slot extending transversely across the inner surface of the cover, so that when
the cover is lowered the notch or slot f4 receives the upper edge of the middle
partition a².
It will be observed that the partition a² divides the receptacle A into two non-
communicating compartments or tubs which we have designated by the letters A2, A³,
in one of which receptacles A2 the ordinary process of washing is performed while in
the other compartment A³ the operation of boiling or steaming the clothes is
effected. We shall hereafter call the compartment A2 the "washer" tub and the
compartment A³ the "boiling" or "steaming" tub for the sake of clearness.
In these tubs or compartments A2, A3, are provided the agitators G, G¹, which are
substantially the same in construction so that a description of one agitator will answer
equally well for the other. Each agitator consists of the spider g, having a plurality of
arms, preferably four in number; a series of pins gl; the cap ring or plate 92, and
the spindle or shaft g³. The arms of the spider have sockets cast on their outer ends,
in which sockets are tightly fitted the upper ends of the pins g¹, and on top of the
spider is fitted the cap ring or plate g², the latter having apertures formed therein at
points to lie over the pin sockets, whereby screws may be passed through the
apertured cap ring and into the wooden pins g¹ in order to secure the cap ring
and the pins to the spider g. The spindle or shaft g³ has its lower end soldered
and headed to the centre of the spider g, and this spindle or shaft extends
upwardly from the spider a suitable distance, the spindle having two or more
notches formed therein.
The spindles g³, g³, of the two agitators pass through openings h4, ht, provided in
the cover E, said agitators being arranged in the middle of the tubs A2, A3 of the
receptacle. The two agitator spindles are clamped in the gears H, H¹ which are
actuated from a slidable rack bar H2 which is common to, and meshes with, both of
the gears H, H¹, whereby the two gears and the agitators are actuated simultaneously
from a common source of power.
Each gear H or H¹ and the spindle of each agitator is upheld and supported by a
clamp I, two of which clamps are provided on the cover E, one for each gear and
agitator. The clamp or support for each gear is made in two parts i, i¹; the former
part or member i being in the form of a flat apertured plate having a perforated
pendent boss 2 and the other member i being formed of a bent or angular plate
which is adapted to lie upon the member i, to overhang the gear, and to serve as a
guide for the slidable rack bar H². The lower member i¹ of the clamp or support is
fitted flat down upon the cover E and its pendent perforated boss 2 fits in one of the
openings h in said cover, this boss serving as a journal for the short tubular shaft of
the gear H or H¹ because the short shaft gear is fitted in said boss 22. The upper
member of the clamp or support I has one end fitted flat down on the plate or
member ¹, and said parts i, i¹ are fastened together and to the cover E by screws
which pass through aligned holes in the two plates or members i, i¹ and into the
cover E. The overhanging end of the angular upper member 21 is enlarged and
formed with an eye or opening 23. The gear is provided with the short tubular shaft h
which is rigidly united centrally to the gear and which projects a short distance from
each side of the gear. This gear is fitted between the upper and lower plates i, i¹ of
the clamp or support, and the lower end of the short tubular shaft h fits or is
journaled in the boss 2 of the lower member while the upper end of the tubular
gear shaft h fits in the eye 13 at the free overhanging end of the upper member i of
said clamp or support. The gear is thus rotatably journaled in the two part
clamp, and through the tubular shaft h of said gear is passed the spindle or shaft g³
of the agitator. This agitator spindle and the gear are coupled together for simul-
taneous rotation by means of the coupling cap h¹, which is fitted over the upper end

page_text: of the shaft h to rest upon the overhanging eye-formed end of the upper clamp-
member i, said coupling cap being provided with a threaded socket in which is
screwed a binding screw h² that passes freely through an opening or slot h³ in the
tubular shaft h and adapted to fit in one of the notches gf in the agitator spindle g³.
It will be noted that the binding screw h² serves to hold the cap h¹, the slotted
tubular gear-shaft h and the agitator spindle g³ rigidly together so that the agitator
will turn with the gear; and as the coupling cap h¹ rests upon the clamp-member i¹,
the agitator is suspended in the receptacle by the cap h¹, its binding screw h², and
the clamp-member i. The agitator may be adjusted vertically within the
receptacle by sliding the spindle 93 through the tubular shaft h of the gear until
the agitator is at the proper height, and then the screw h² is operated to force its
point into one of the notches g4, in the spindle g³, thus holding the agitator spindle
rigidly coupled to the gear H or H¹.
The rack bar H2 rests upon the lower members i, i, of the two spaced clamps I, I,
on the top of the lid E, and its cogs or teeth are arranged to mesh with the teeth of
the two gears H, H¹. The rack bar is held in proper relation to the gears by means
of the adjusting wear plates h5, 15, which are slidably fitted between the rear neutral
side of the rack bar and the offset or bent parts of the upper clamp members ¹, i¹;
the upper ends of said plates 5 being fitted in slots formed in said clamp-
members ¹, ¹, and the positions of the plates relative to the rack bar being
determined by the adjusting screws he which work in tapped openings provided in the
angular portions of the clamp-members i', '.
To one end of this rack bar is connected a pitman J, the joint between the bar and
pitman being a pivotal one effected by the bolt j. This pitman is bent or made
angular, and at its free end it has a notch j¹ provided in its lower edge. Said pitman
is loosely and detachably connected to the handle or lever J', the latter having a
longitudinal slot and a transverse bolt or pin j³. The notched end of the pitman
is fitted in the slot 2 and is dropped over the pin or bolt 3, thus permitting the
pitman to be easily and quickly detached from the lever J¹ when it is desired to lift
the cover E and with it the agitators, the gears, the rack bar, and the pitman, as
shown by Figure 1. The lever Ji is fitted and guided between the brackets J2, J2,
each cast in a single piece. These brackets are rigidly fastened to one end wall of
the receptacle and are arranged parallel to each other; and the lever J¹ is fulcrumed,
near its lower end, on a pin or bolt, j* which passes through an opening in the lever
and is supported in the brackets J2. These brackets are provided, on their opposite
faces and below the fulcrum j³, with lugs j, integral with the brackets, and arranged
in the path of the lower end of the lever so as to limit the downward movement of
the upper end of the lever and prevent it from dropping out of operative position
when the pitman is detached therefrom. When the lever is shoved inward toward the
machine, the rack bar H2 is moved to actuate both gears H, H¹ and turn both
agitators G, G¹, a certain distance, and as the lever is drawn back, the rack bar
reverses the rotation of the gears and the agitators, whereby the agitators are caused
to stir up the contents in both tubs A2, A3 of the receptacle.
The sediment and dirt eliminated from the fabrics during the operation of the
machine is not permitted to remain in the water used in the tubs A2, A3, for sub-
sequent washing of the fabrics. As is well known, this sediment is heavier than
water and precipitates itself to the bottom of the receptacle. In our machine we
provide the tubs, A2, A3, with the perforated false bottoms K, K¹ which are fitted
snugly in the tubs, near the bottoms thereof. Each perforated false bottom has
cleats k, on its under side, which cleats are adapted to rest upon the metallic
bottom a³ of the receptacle and each false bottom is held in place by the fixed cleat k¹
and by the removable locking bar 2. The cleat is fastened to the partition a² near
the lower rear corner of the tub A2 or A³, and the locking bar 2 is arranged in a
vertical position near the opposite edge or corner of the false bottom and the tub in
which said bottom is located. Said locking bar has a squared tenon ³, at its lower
end, which is adapted to fit in a notch provided in one edge of the false bottom so
that shoulders, formed on the lower end of the bar by the tenon, will rest upon the

page_text: false bottom and prevent it from lifting up. This locking bar is fitted against one
end wall a of the receptacle, and its squared end lies in a notch cut in the lower
edge of the fixed rail f³ so that the locking bar cannot be lifted vertically out of place
and it operates efficiently to hold the false bottom against upward movement. The
locking bar 2 is held against horizontal displacement by means of a catch which
consists preferably of cast piece of metal eccentrically hung or pivoted to the rail f
to lie over the upper end of the bar 2 and the notch 5 in the fixed rail f³. To remove
the false bottom when it is desired to cleanse the bottom a³, the latch is raised,
the upper end of the bar k² drawn horizontally out of the notch 5, the bar when lifted out
of the tub, and the false bottom raised so as to clear the cleat k¹. In adjusting the
false bottom, it is placed in the tub so that one corner. fits beneath the cleat ¹
and its cleats k rest firmly upon the metallic bottom a³, after which the locking
bar 2 has its lower shouldered end fitted to the notched false bottom and its upper
end is slipped into the notch of the cleat, and finally the latch is dropped down
over the notched cleat f³ and the upper end of the locking bar.
We will now proceed to describe the heater or stove B. In the accompanying
drawings we have illustrated as the preferred embodiment of this part of our inven-
tion a stove adapted for consuming a hydrocarbon fluid such as gasoline, but we
would have it understood that we do not limit ourselves strictly to a stove adapted
for consuming this particular fuel as we are aware that stoves or other constructions
for utilizing other substances may be substituted, such for example as a stove to
consume either natural or artificial gas, or an electrically heated stove.
In our improved machine employing a divided receptacle, one tub A² is designed
for performing the work that is ordinarily accomplished by washing the fabrics to
eliminate the dirt to a certain extent and the other tub A³ is to complete the work
by boiling or steaming the fabrics, in order to make them pure, clean and white.
We have found that to secure these results the water in the boiling or steaming
tub A must be heated to a higher temperature than is required for the water in the
washing tub A2, and we have therefore constructed and arranged the heater B with
three burners, b, 61, 62, of which the burners b¹, 62 are grouped quite close together
and arranged to operate beneath the boiling or steaming tub A³ while the burner b
is arranged to operate beneath the washing tub A². These burners are similar in
construction to the ordinary well known type of gasoline burners, or they may be of
any other preferred construction, and they are so combined that one or more burners
will supply a larger volume of heat to the boiling or steaming tub than the other
burner supplies to the washing tub.
The frame of the stove consists of the end pieces l, l, and the drip pan m. These
end pieces 1, 1, are each cast in a single piece in the form of an open work plate to
provide a slot and the solid bearing 12, and said end pieces are arranged so that
openings in the bearings 2 are in line with each other and the slots coincide. The
drip pan m has its ends fitted in the slots 1, so as to be supported by the end pieces
below the burners. The end pieces are rigidly coupled together by the horizontal
supply pipe 3, and this pipe is provided with two clamps m³, m², which are fastened
by screws m² to the bearings (2 of the end pieces and by other screws m³ to the
pipe L, whereby the pipe L serves as the binding medium to hold the ends 1, and
the drip pan in proper relation to one another. The burners b, b1, b2, are suitably
attached to the pipe L and they communicate therewith to receive the fuel from the
same. One end of this pipe L is closed by means of a plug or cap, as at n, but the
other end of the pipe is bent horizontally to form the angular arm n¹ having a short
upturned end n² which is securely attached to the swivel coupling N the latter serv-
ing as the means for attaching the pipe L³ to the vertical pipe O in a manner to
permit the entire stove B to be swung out from the receptacle A and at a right
angle to said receptacle, as shown by Figure 1, without detaching the stove from the
laundry machine, whereby the stove B may be used for other domestic purposes in
addition to its primary office of heating the water in the divided receptacle. . The
vertical pipe O has two bends made therein at intermediate points of its length, at o, o,
to provide the horizontal branch o¹, the vertical pendent branch o², and the

page_text: vertical riser or upright branch o³. The horizontal branch o' is fitted against the end
wall a¹ opposite from the handle or lever, J¹, the pendent branch o2 is fitted in the.
front left hand corner of the machine, and the riser branch o³ is fitted in the back
left hand corner of the machine. The branches o¹, os are held in place by means of
the bracket plates 0¹ which embrace the branches o¹, 03 and are screwed to the end
and back walls a¹, a, respectively. On the upper end of the riser branch o³ is
fastened the supply tank 02, having the usual controlling valve, and the lower end of
the pendent branch o² is fastened to the swiveled coupling N. This manner of bend-
ing the pipe O enables the supply tank to be located a safe distance from the burners
of the stove and obviates the liability of explosions of the hydrocarbon fluid; and by
clamping the pipe O to the receptacle at different points it is securely braced and
held in position.
When the stove is used beneath the receptacle for heating the water in the tubs,
we omit the top plate P (indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings to
avoid confusion and to more clearly show the construction of the stove) in order that
the full heat from the several burners may be applied directly to the metallic bottom a³.
of the receptacle, but when the stove is swung out, on the branch pipe o² and.
coupling N as a pivotal centre, we apply the top plate P, to the ends 1, l, of the.
stove frame. This top plate is flanged to adapt it to rest firmly upon the stove frame
when the stove is used for heating irons, cooking or other domestic purposes.
To strengthen the pipes L, 0, and relieve the swivel coupling N from undue
strain, we have provided the hanger q, which is fastened to the receptacle A, and has
a horizontal foot q¹, in an opening in which is fitted the lower part of the pendent
branch o² of the pipe O, whereby the foot braces the pipe and prevents it from
being twisted out of position as the stove B is, swung back and forth on the swivel
coupling N to adjust it beneath, or out from, the receptacle A. We have also.
provided another hanger Q near the opposite end of the machine, the latter hanger
being rigidly fastened to the receptacle and having its lower end provided with au
inclined notch, q², which forms a seat for the closed end of the pipe L. When the
stove B is adjusted beneath the receptacle, the pipe L and stove are lifted slightly
so that the end of the pipe L may fit into the inclined seat in the hanger Q
whereby the stove is suspended beneath the receptacle, clear off the floor and its
burners are adjusted close to the metallic bottom of the receptacle, to better apply.
the flame and heat thereto.
R, R¹ designate the shields of metal which are fastened to the lower edges of the
receptacle around the sides and ends thereof and which are extended or projected a
suitable distance below the bottom of the receptacle; the shield R¹ at the ends of the.
receptacle being extended lower down than the shield at the front of the receptacle,
the front shield terminating above the end shields for the purpose of permitting the
stove B to be swung out or in below the receptacle without hinderance from the
shield. These shields serve a three fold purpose; i.e. to protect the flames from
the burners from drafts of wind; to confine the heat below the receptacle as much as
possible; and to protect the paint or finish on the receptacle from the blistering or
marring effects of the heat.
On the front and back, or side walls, a, a, of the receptacle we apply the
metallic brace plates or straps r, r, which are perforated to permit screws to pass
through the walls a, a, and into the central partition a², to secure the latter firmly in
place.
S, S, designate ordinary spigots or draw-off cocks which are soldered and riveted to
the metallic bottom a³ of the receptacle so as to communicate with the tubs A2, A3,
to empty the water. These cocks have threaded nipples at their lower ends, to enable
hose couplings to be screwed thereon for the purpose of conducting the water off to
any desired place of discharge.
We will now proceed to describe our adjustable wringer support C by means of which'
a wringer may be adjusted in place over the partition a², or over the end wall a¹ at'
the end of the machine where the handle J' is applied, or the wringer may be held out'
of place when the cover E is lowered, all of which adjustments may be quickly and'

page_text: easily effected without detaching and attaching the wringer, proper, to the machine,
and without requiring the attendant to lift and handle the wringer. In the preferred
construction of the wringer support C shown more clearly by Figure 8 of the drawing,
we employ a swinging crane which consists of a straight horizontal bar or arm c and
a brace c¹, the latter having one end attached to the bar or arm c and being bent
downwardly away from the bar as shown. The bar c and its brace c¹ are pivotally
attached, by vertical bolts, to brackets c² which are fastened one below the other on
the outside of the receptacle A at points about midway between the partition a² and
the end wall a¹ of the boiling or steaming tub A³, whereby the crane may be swung
horizontally to receive its free or unconfined end opposite either the partition a²
or end wall a¹ of said tub A³. On this crane is mounted a swiveled bracket T which
consists of a yoke shaped metallic part which is placed in an upright position on the
arm or bar c near the free end of the crane, and which bracket is pivotally attached to
the crane by means of the bolt t, which passes through the head of the bracket T,
the bar c and the brace c¹, whereby the single bolt unites the bracket,
bar and brace c¹ together. This swiveled bracket serves as the support for the.
wringer-bar U, which has one end fitted between the jaws of the bracket T and is
pivotally fastened to the same by a horizontal bolt t¹ which passes through the jaws.
of the bracket and the end of the bar U to enable said bar to swing in a vertical plane;
and said pivoted end of the wringer bar has a notch which forms the shoulder ut, said
shoulder being adapted to strike against the head or cross bar of the yoke shaped bracket
when the wringer bar is turned to an upright position and thereby limit or arrest the
swinging movement in a vertical direction of the wringer-bar.
The wringer, proper, U¹, may be of any preferred construction and it is clamped or
fastened in a suitable way to the wringer bar. This wringer U¹ may remain attached
at all times to the wringer bar, U, because the crane and bar T are adjustable in such
a manner that the wringer does not interfere with the operations of the washing
machine, but for the sake of convenience we employ an ordinary wringer which, as
is well known, is equally equipped with means for clamping it in place. To hold
the crane and wringer securely in place when it is adjusted for use on the machine,
we employ fastening devices V, VI, adapted to engage with the crane, one fastener V
being arranged close to the partition a² so as to engage with the free end of the crane
when the wringer is adjusted over the partition a² while the other fastener V1 is placed
close to the end wall a¹ of the tub As to engage with the crane when the latter is swung
around to support the wringer over the end wall a¹ for the purpose of wringing the
clothes out of the tub A³ into a tray or other support which may be placed upon the
lever J¹ and its supporting backets. Each fastener V, and VI, consist of a cast plate
having spaced jaws, v, and in the jaws of each fastener plate is formed vertically
aligned openings, vl, through which may be passed a locking pin or key v2 which is
attached to the receptacle by means of a cord or chain. The fastener is attached to
the receptacle in such a position that the free end of the crane bar c (which has a
vertical opening formed therein) is caused to fit between the perforated jaws when
the crane lies parallel to the receptacle, and the pin 2 can be readily slipped
through the perforated jaws and the vertical opening in the end of the crane,
whereby the crane is held in a locked stationary position on the receptacle. To
adjust the wringer over the partition a², the lid E is raised and then the crane
is swung horizontally until it lies parallel to the receptacle and its free end fits
in the fastener V; the swiveled bracket T is turned horizontally on its vertical
pivot so that the bar U and the wringer attached thereto can be lowered or swung
over the partition a², the bar U resting on the partition 2 and the free end
of the bar U fitting in the notch formed between the free end of the lining
pieces F, F. The outer end of the bar U is securely held by the bracket T and
crane, while its inner end is confined by the notch in the lid E, but to securely hold
the bar and wringer in place, we provide the holding plates us which are pivoted to
opposite sides of the bar U and are adapted to be turned down to embrace the sides
of the partition a². To throw the wringer out of position, the plates u³ are raised
clear of the partition a²; the wringer bar U and wringer are lifted or turned on the

page_text: ,
horizontal bolt tuntil the shoulder u strikes the head of the bracket T and then the
bar wringer and bracket T are turned, on the vertical bolt t, around parallel to the tub.
The bar U and wringer may stand in an upright position, or they may be turned
downward parallel to the receptacle, but in either position the bar and wringer
are out of the way of the lid E which can be closed down tightly over the
receptacle. To wring the clothes out of the boiling or steaming tub A³ onto a tray at
the end of the receptacle, the crane is released from the fastener V; the crane,
support T, bar U and wringer are swung horizontally out from the tub and back
again parallel thereto in order to reverse the position of the crane and enable its free
end to be held by the fastener V1, after which the bracket T is turned around,
and the bar and wringer are lowered over the end wall a¹ of the tub A³, the plates
u being adjusted to clasp the end wall a' and assist in holding the bar Û and
wringer in position over the end wall.
In the modified construction of our wringer support shown by Figure 9 we employ
a stationary bar X which is fastened in a horizontal position on the outside of the
receptacle, alongside of the tub A³, by means of the brackets x, and on this bar X is
fitted the suitable cross-head Y which is adapted to be moved along the bar X. To this
cross-head or slide Y is attached the wringer bar U by means of horizontal bolts, a
wringer being suitably attached or clamped to said bar. The wringer bar can be
turned vertically on the cross-head to adjust the bar and wringer out of the way of
the lid E; and the cross-head, the bar and the wringer can be moved horizontally
on the stationary bar X to bring the wringer over the partition a² or over the end
wall at of the tub A³, as will be readily understood.
The operation of our machine may be described as follows: The perforated false
bottoms are placed in position, the stove is adjusted beneath the receptacle, and the
wringer held outside of the receptacle. The tubs A2, A3, are nearly filled with clean
soft water, and the burners b, 61, 62 are then lighted. When the water boils in tub
A³, enough warm water from the tub A2 is dipped into A³ to fill it nearly to the
cleats, ff, after which the tub A2 is filled to the same height with fresh water,
thus bringing the relative temperatures of the water in the two tubs to the proper
points. An abundant quantity of previously dissolved soap is then put in the two
tubs, about twice as much soap being placed in the washing tub A2 as in the boiling
or steaming tub A³. The washing tub A2 is now filled moderately full with soiled
clothes, the lid is closed down on the receptacle, and the pitman is connected to the
handle or lever, and the lever is worked briskly for two or three minutes to work
both agitators G, G', after which the clothes in the tub A2 are turned over with a
poke stick to loosen them up, and the agitators are again worked, by operating the
lever, for a short time. The lid is now raised, the wringer is adjusted, in the manner
described, over the partition a², and the clothes from tub A2 are passed through the
wringer into the tub A³. The tub A² is then refilled with other soiled clothes, the
wringer is adjusted out of the way, the lid is closed, and the lever J¹ again operated
to work the agitators so that the two tubs are in operation; the clothes in tub A²
being washed while the clothes in tub A³, which have been previously washed in tub
A2, are being boiled and steamed and at the same time they are agitated while the
boiling and steaming operations are under way. The lid E, is again raised, the
wringer is reversed and adjusted over the end wall a¹ of the tub A3, and the clothes
from the boiling tub A³ are passed through the wringer upon the tray or other
receptacle placed on the brackets to receive the clothes. The wringer is now swung
round and adjusted over the middle partition a²; the clothes in the washing tub A²
are passed through the wringer into the boiling tub A3; the washing tub is again
filled with the clothes, the lid is closed, and the operations are repeated until all the
clothes have been washed. The fire is now extinguished, the temperature of the
water is reduced as may be necessary, and the colored clothes which are not to be
boiled are passed through the tubs in the manner described. As a large part of the
dirt which is eliminated from the clothes settles beneath the perforated false bottoms,.
the colored clothes may be washed ordinarily in the same water that is used for
washing the white clothes. When the washing is completed, the water is drawn off
B

page_text: through the cocks; the tubs cleansed of sediment by taking out the false bottoms
and replacing them, the tubs are again filled with clean water, and the blueing is
placed in the tub A³. The clothes may now be rinsed by agitation for a minute or
two in the tub A³; they are then passed through the wringer with the blueing tub A³,
again agitated, and then wrung out upon the tray; the rinsing and blueing process
going on at the same time in the respective tubs.
During this entire process, the wringer is not detached at any time from the
machine, nor is it necessary to lift by hand; but said wringer, can, in a moment, be
thrown back out of the way of the lid, or it can be adjusted either to the middle of
the machine or at the end thereof.
As soon as the clothes are boiled, the stove B can be swung out from beneath the
receptacle, without detaching it from the machine, and the stove can be used for
ironing purposes, cooking or other domestic work.
We are aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details
of construction herein shown and described as the preferred embodiment of our
invention may be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit.or
sacrificing the advantages of our invention, and we therefore reserve the right to make
such modifications and alterations as fairly fall within the scope of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination of a receptacle having separate compartments, and a wringer-
carrier arranged exteriorly to the receptacle and movable bodily in a horizontal
direction thereon to a position opposite an end wall of either compartment of said
receptacle, as and for the purposes described.
2. The combination with a receptacle divided by a partition into two compart-
ments, of a wringer carrying bar, and means substantially such as described for
supporting said bar whereby the bar may be held over the partition or an end wall
of the receptacle, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. The combination with a receptacle, of a pivoted wringer-carrying bar adapted
to be turned vertically and an adjustable support for said wringer bar to hold the
same over the partition or one end of the tub, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4. The combination with a divided receptacle, of a crane, a swiveled bracket carried
thereby, and a wringer-bar attached to said bracket, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
5. The combination with a divided receptacle, of a swinging crane pivoted to the
receptacle, means for locking said crane in either of its adjusted positions, and a
wringer-bar carried by the crane, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a divided receptacle, of a pivoted reversible crane, a
bracket swiveled to the crane, and a wringer-bar carried by the bracket, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
7. The combination with a divided receptacle, of a notched or recessed lid for said
receptacle, a pivoted wringer-bar adapted to fit in the notch or recess of said lid and
having fasteners for engaging with the receptacle to detachably connect said bar to
said receptacle, and a movable support for the wringer-bar, substantially as des-
cribed.
8. The combination with a receptacle having a transverse partition, of a reversible
crane pivotally supported in the receptacle between one end thereof and the partition;
a vertical bracket swiveled by a vertical bolt on the free end of the crane and supported
thereon to turn in a horizontal plane and a wringer-bar pivoted to the bracket by a
horizontal bolt to adapt said bar to turn in a vertical plane, whereby the wringer-bar
may be turned on its pivotal bolt to clear the receptacle and the bracket can be
adjusted to fold with the wringer-bar alongside of the receptacle, substantially as and
for the purposes described.

page_text: 9. The combination of a receptacle, provided with a notched cleat f³ near its upper
end, a perforated false bottom fitted on the bottom of said receptacle and having a
notch, a vertical locking bar having its lower end fitted in the notched false bottom
and its upper end seated in the notched cleat, and a catch to drop over the upper end
of the locking bar and hold the same within the notched cleat, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
10. The combination with a receptacle, of the pendent hanger q attached to said
receptacle, a supply pipe attached to the receptacle and having its lower end fitted
in the hanger q, another hanger attached to the opposite end of the receptacle and
provided with a seat at its lower end, a heater having a horizontal pipe which, when
the heater is adjusted below the receptacle, fits in the seat of the last mentioned
hanger, and a swiveled coupling which unites the supply pipe and the heater pipe
and, furnishes a hinge on which the heater may be swung out bodily from the
receptacle, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 4th day of May 1808
JOHN JUNKIN FRANCIS,
LOUISE CUMMINS FRANCIS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.