IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, MARSHALL HENRY PEARSON, of the New Dock Machine Works, Chadwick
Street, Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
to be as
follows:-
"
"
FL
This Invention has reference to that class of washing machines known as
"steam washers" in which the clothes or other articles to be washed aro placed in
the interior of a rotating drum working in a tank or boiler partially filled with
water and heated to such a temperature as to generate steam which passes into the
inside of the drum and amongst the clothes through slits or orifices formed or cut
in its periphery. Frequent complaints are made that the steam in passing through
these slits or orifices is not moist enough to thoroughly wash out the dirt, but only
loosens it, and allows it afterwards to adhere together and roll about amongst the
clothes in minute lumps. Whilst if the clothes are submerged and boiled in water
there is a tendency to drive or fasten the dirt into the fabrics or materials.
Now the object of my invention is to overcome these difficulties and to construct
a washing machine that shall combine all the advantages of the steaming and
boiling processes but at the same time free from their defects.
[
In washing machines constructed according to this invention the drum for
receiving the clothes or other articles is composed of two metal discs or end pieces
mounted so as to revolve freely in suitable bearings within a tank or boiler. The
periphery of this drum is formed of any required number of partially longitudinally
corrugated metal plates so arranged round the discs or end pieces as to leave
openings for the admission of steam and water contained in the tank. Each of
these openings is provided on the inside of the drum with a pair of "scuppets" or
scoops" which are employed for conveying water from the tank onto the clothes
in the manner hereafter described. The "scuppets" or ". scoops are arranged to
run longitudinally the whole distance between the discs or end pieces, and are
formed of metal plates set at an angle with the internal circumference of the drum,
but inclined towards each other in the shape of a V, that is to say, the edges of
these plates that are attached to the circumference of the drum are wider apart at
these points (but at equal distances on each side of the opening) than are the
opposite edges which are made to taper towards each other until there is about
the same distance between them as the steam and water admission opening in
Price A71
"

page_text: "
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the drum. When preferred these "scuppets or "scoops" may be constructed by
bending a portion of the periphery plate towards the " scuppet" or "scoop
similarly made on the plate on the opposite side of the admission opening, and then
joining the corrugated part of the periphery on to it by any well known method.
The inner edge of each "scuppet" or "scoop" is rounded or wired so as to form a
knuckle to assist in the tumbling and washing operations. The periphery of the
drum is corrugated longitudinally between each pair of "scuppets" or "scoops" to
aid in the tumbling process.
The above described drum after receiving the clothes is completely enclosed in a
stationary tank or boiler of ordinary construction (which has been partially filled
with water, and heated in the usual way) is then caused to rotate either by band
or power, amongst the steam and water, and during its rotation, as each part of the
drum, in succession, containing an admission opening is brought to the water a
portion of the water in the tank or boiler rushes in or passes through the admission
opening into the "scuppet" or "scoop,"-which acting as a bucket-carries it round
with the drum, and by the time the "scuppet" has reached the zenith the water
has been discharged onto the clothes, and so washes out the dirt that the action of
the steam and rubbing motions have softened or loosened. By having a sufficient
number of these "scuppets" arranged at suitable intervals or distances a constant
supply of water can be kept falling upon the clothes; and also arranging them in
pairs enables the drum to be rotated in either direction with the same results.
Whilst the water is being carried up by one "scuppet" or "scoop" steam that has
been generated in the tank or boiler is passing into the interior of the drum
amongst the articles being washed through the remainder of the admission openings,
thereby loosening or softening the dirt to be removed by the sluicing operation
produced by the descent of the water as herein before described.
During the rotation of the drum the rounded or wired edges of the " scuppets"
and the longitudinally corrugations act as knuckles and rubbers and assist in
washing out the dirt.
ו בד
1004
WM FAIRBURN HART,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, MARSHALL HENRY PEARSON, of the New Dock Machine Works, Chadwick
Street, Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of the invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES." and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
"
↓
This invention has reference to that class of washing machines known as
'steam washers" in which the clothes or other articles to be washed are placed in
the interior of a metal drum or cylinder that revolves in suitable bearings in a
stationary tank or boiler partially filled with water heated to such a temperature
as to generate steam, which passes into the inside of the drum or cylinder and
amongst the clothes through slits or openings formed or cut in its periphery, and
consists of certain means or apparatus for enabling the water in the tank to easily
enter the drum or cylinder, and to be raised and thrown or poured onto the clothes
as the drum revolves, thereby causing the steam and boiling water to thoroughly
loosen, cleanse, and remove all the dirt or impurities in the articles being operated
upon. It will be best understood by aid of the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation. Fig. 2. a section at right angles to fig. 1. on line x. x,
and Fig. 3. a sectional plan on line y. y. fig. 1.
A is the stationary tank or boiler provided with a lid a for retaining the steam,
and is mounted on a stand or framework a¹, all of ordinary construction.. The tank
is partially filled with water which is heated by gas or other suitable means to such
a temperature as to generate steam. When gas is employed for heating the water
jets or burners may be made or fixed in the pipe a². B. is the drum or cylinder
provided at B with a hinged door or covering which may be opened or closed for
the reception. or removal of the clothes, and is secured in position by suitable
fastenings. The drum B is caused to revolve in the tank A in bearings b (formed
in or fixed to the tank A) by means of a handle b¹. The revolving cylinder or
drum B is composed of two end pieces or discs 62 around which are fixed a number
of perforated plain or corrugated metal plates b³ at suitable distances apart so as to
leave openings or slits for the admission of steam and water into its interior. In
the drawings I have shown the plates corrugated, but I do not limit myself to
them, as I sometimes employ in place thereof, copper wire gauze or plain sheets of
perforated zinc. Immediately under each opening or slit 6, and attached or fixed
to the inner surface 65 of the drum B and parallel to its axis is a pair of "scuppets'
or scoops be with their concave faces facing each other, and having an opening
between them about the same distance as the admission slits or openings b. These
scuppets" be are employed for receiving a quantity of water as each opening or
slit b during the rotation of the drum B passes through the water at C in the
stationary tank A, a portion thereof rushes into the interior of the drum through
the opening or slit, and is carried up by the "scuppets" which acting as a bucket
carries it round with the drum until it reaches D when it commences to empty
itself, and by the time it has reached E it has discharged its contents on to the
clothes in the drum, and washes out the dirt or impurities previously softened and
"

page_text: loosened by the steam passing in through the perforations. By arranging these
"scuppets" or scoops in pairs I am able to raise the water whichever way the
drum is revolved, and they also form a bridge or guard over the openings or slits b
thereby preserving a free and clear entry for the water to pass into the drum from
the tank A regardless of the position of the clothes in the drum. In some cases a
portion of the plates b³ are bent or curved so as to form a scuppet, and the plain
perforated or corrugated portions are attached thereto in any convenient manner.
When copper gauze or perforated zinc is used, the scuppets are by preference made
in separate pieces, and fixed thereto in any suitable manner, so as to prevent the
water running back into the tank whilst it is being raised. In order to better
retain the water in the scuppets as it enters from the tank, lips 67 are provided,
and are formed by slightly bending over the ends of the plates b³ as shown. The
inner edge be of each "scuppet" is rounded or wired to form a knuckle or rubber
which, during the rotation of the drum, assists in loosening and washing out the
dirt. The water after it is thrown or poured onto the clothes passes from the drum
into the tank through the perforations in the plates b³.
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. In a washing machine such as those herein described, and in combination
with the revolving drum B, the scuppets or scoops 66 arranged in pairs with their
concave faces facing each other, and attached or fixed to the inner surface of the
drum B parallel to its axis, immediately under and at or about the same distance
apart as each opening or slit 6 so that whichever way the drum is rotated a free
and clear entry is provided for the water in the stationary tank A to enter the
drum (as the slits or openings pass through the water) and be raised and thrown
or poured onto the articles being operated upon, substantially as herein described
and illustrated.
"
Second. The combination of the revolving drum,B having a series of "scuppets
or scoops arranged in pairs with their concave faces facing each other and attached
or fixed to its inner surface and parallel to its axis, with the stationary tank A for
heating the water substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Third. The washing machine as a whole constructed and arranged substantially
as herein described and illustrated.