IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES AND CHURNS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Newton Kenworthy, of Oldham, in the County
of Lancaster, Washing Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WASHING MACHINES AND CHURNS."
Sealed the 13th November 1877, and dated the 2nd June 18
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Newton Kenworthy
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1877.
EDWARD NEWTON KENWORTHY, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Washing
Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES AND CHURNS."
My Invention relates more particularly to that description of washing apparatus
in respect of which Letters Patent were granted to Thomas Hawksworth and
Joseph Chatter, dated the 4th November 1874, No. 3808; and it consists chiefly of
an improved arrangement of mechanism to be attached to the side or other con-
venient position on the tub or other washing vessel for the purpose of imparting a
suitable vertical movement to the washer, and in the method of guiding the same.
In carrying out my Invention as applied to a washing machine for performing the
combined operations of washing and wringing, 1 provide a horizontal shaft which
may be driven either directly or from the usual gearing of the machine, and having
at the end nearest the centre of the tub a crank or its equivalent for the purpose
herein-after explained. A long horizontal lever having two longitudinal slots is
arranged so that it is actuated by the pin of the crank, which works in one of the
slots, the other end being connected with the-shaft of the washer. The fulcrum of
the lever is placed near the centre, or in any other convenient position to suit the
required length of stroke, and it bears against the end of the slot on one side, and
against the concave end of a moveable catch on the opposite side. This catch is
carried over and is 'secured to the lever.
When the catch is out of gear with the fulcrum, the lever can be moved back
from the washer out of the way.
•
The washer is connected to the lever by any suitable means, but I prefer to use
a vertical slot in the washer shaft, through which I pass the end of the lever, and I
secure it by means of a cotter or thumb pin passing through the shaft and the
Price 8d.1

page_text: lever, and I provide a side pin or stud on the thumb pin for the purpose of securing
the same from shaking loose.
I prefer to have one or more holes for adjusting the shaft or washer-vertically.
In order to prevent any undue strain upon or breakage of the mechanism
employed, I place a spring of rubber, steel, brass, or any suitable material and
effective shape between the end of the shaft and the bottom of the socket of the
washer, and by passing a pin through the sides of the socket and through a vertical
slot in the shaft I secure the washer to the shaft whilst allowing a given amount of
vertical movement.
For the purpose of controlling any side swing or movement of the washer, I by
preference fix on the inside of the tub two vertical slides or grooves opposite to
each other, and on the washer I fix two projecting arms fitting loosely_in_the__
before-mentioned slides; or Lamay-employ-the-following arrangements, namely:-
"On the bottom of the tub I fix an upright guide rod of convenient length, and fitting
loosely into a corresponding tube or guide arranged in the washer; or a single
guide or arm may project from the inside of the tub, through which a guide rod
attached to the washer may slide.
If desirable, the upper end of the washer shaft may be guided in the following
manner, viz. The top part of the shaft may pass through a bearing secured to the
wringing frame, or arranged in any other convenient position; or there may be
vertical grooves or slides cast or otherwise prepared on the inner sides of the frame
of the wringer, the shaft of the washer being provided with a cross head to work in
the said grooves or slides. These upper guides are to be used in conjunction with
the lower guides.
When both the upper and lower guides are used, the catch attached to the lower
is dispensed with, and the fulcrum pin is arranged to travel in a slot of suitable
length to allow the lever to adjust its motion to the vertical movement of the shaft.
If it is desirable to retain the catch, the same adjusting motion may be obtained
by the use of a short slot in the end of the lever for the thumb pin to pass
through.
The Invention is also applicable to churns.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Newton Kenworthy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st December 1877.
EDWARD NEWTON KENWORTHY, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Washing
Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES AND CHURNS."
My said Invention relates more particularly to that description of washing appa-
ratus comprising a hollow piston or plunger, in respect of which Letters Patent were
granted to Thomas Hawksworth and Joseph Chaffer, dated the Fourth November,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, Number 3808, and which apparatus
consists of a funnel-shaped hollow piston or plunger which is moved up and down
in a tub or other washing vessel so as to draw and force currents of water through
the articles to be washed, and thereby effectually and rapidly cleanse the same.
The object of my said Invention is chiefly to provide more ready and efficient
means for operating the said hollow piston or plunger, so as to impart a vertical
motion thereto, and also at the same time to guide the same in its vertical motions;
and these objects are effected by combining with the tub or other washing vessel the
several appliances herein-after described.
In carrying out my said Invention as applied to a combined wasliing and wringing
machine, for example, I attach to the upper end of the shaft or stem of the hollow
piston or plunger a long horizontal lever, to which an oscillating motion is imparted
by a crank or its equivalent on a horizontal shaft, which is carried by the tub, or
washing vessel, or an attachment thereto, and may be driven either directly or from
the usual gearing of the machine. The fulcrum of this lever is arranged in a con-
venient position to suit the required length of stroke, and it bears at one side against
the end of a slot formed in the lever, and at the opposite side against the concave
end of a moveable catch secured to the said lever in the manner herein-after
described, so as to be capable of being thrown out of gear with the fulcrum when it
is desired to detach the lever from the hollow piston or plunger.
3..
The stem of the hollow piston or plunger is provided with a vertical slot, into
which pass the end of the lever, and I secure it therein by means of a cotter or
thumb pin inserted through the stem and the lever, and provided with a stud or
projection which, when the said thumb pin is partially rotated, engages in a curved
slot or recess formed in the stem of the hollow piston or plunger, and prevents, the
thumb pin from becoming displaced.
In order to obviate any undne strain upon or liability to breakage of the
mechanism employed connect the stem to the hollow piston or plunger by
inserting a pin through a socket formed on the latter into a vertical slot provided
in the stem, and I place an india-rubber or other spring between the end of the stem
and the bottom of the socket, thus admitting of a given amount of vertical move
ment to the hollow piston or plunger independent of the motion of the stem.
da
For the purpose of preventing or controlling any lateral or swinging motion of
the hollow piston or plunger, I provide either on the tub or other vessel, or on the
frame of the wringer, or on both, suitable guides whereby the vertical movement of
the hollow piston or plunger when operated by the appliances herein-before referred
to is insured.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood. I shall now pro
ceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indi
cating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents a sectional clevation
of a combined washing and wringing machine with my improvements applied
thereto; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a horizontal section
taken along the line 1. 2, in Figure 2; and the remaining Figures are details and
modifications which will be herein-after referred to.

page_text: A is the tub or vessel in which the articles to be washed are placed, and which is
by preference mounted upon rollers or wheels B for the facility of its removal from
one place to another, and arranged at a sufficient height above the ground to admit
of a bucket or other similar vessel being placed beneath the cock a to receive the
water discharged from the tub. C is the framing of the wringing machine, secured
to the upper part of the tub in the usual manner, and provided with the ordinary
squeezing rollers D, D', hand wheel E, and driving gear F. G is a hollow piston or
plunger constructed in the manner described in the Specification herein-before
referred to; it is connected to its stem H by means of a pin b passed through a
socket c formed on the plunger into a vertical slot d, provided in the lower end of
the stem H, as shewn in the enlarged detail, Figure 4.
.
Between the end of the stem and the perforated bottom c² of the socket.c.Linter-
pose a spring-e-which-by-acting upon the plunger tends to maintain it in position
at the end of the stem, but admits of it sliding up the same to the extent of the
length of the slot d upon coming in contact with the articles contained in the tub,
or with any unyielding obstruction, thus preventing the mechanism from becoming
strained or injured, and at the same time causing the air contained in the socket c
to be forced through the perforated bottom c¹ into and amongst the articles con-
tained in the tub; or I may employ a perforated false bottom supported by springs
above the fixed bottom of the tub. The upper end of the stem H is also provided
with a slot e for the reception of the inner end of a horizontal lever I, to which it
is connected by means of a thumb pin passed through one of a series of holes / in
the upper end of the stem, and into a corresponding hole i in the end of the lever [,
as clearly shewn in the enlarged details. Figures 5, 6, and 7.
tri
The thumb pin g is formed with a projection h, which, when the pin is inserted
and partially rotated in the holes and i, engages in a curved slot or recessed
enlargement of the holes h, and is thereby prevented from becoming displaced by
the vibrations of the machine when in action.
The lever I is mounted upon a fulcrum pin m, carried by a plate a secured to the
Lop of the tub A, or to any other convenient part. of the machine, the pin entering
a slot o formed in the inner end of 'the lever I, and being retained in position therein
by a catch-lever p hinged at q to the said lever I. This lever, which is provided
with a counterweight q', is caused to oscillate upon the fulcrum pin m in the
following manner:-K is a horizontal shaft mounted in bearings in the frame C
and plate n, and having keyed on one end a crank s, the pin of which is fitted in
a slot formed in the lever I, whilst on the opposite end of such shaft there is
secured a wheel in gear with and actuated through the train of wheels , c, x³,
and shaft. K' from a pinion y connected to or formed in one with the hand wheel E,
the latter being mounted loosely upon the axle of the lower squeezing roller D'.
Upon rotating the hand wheel E an oscillating motion will be imparted through the
gearing,,, ., and the cranks to the lever I, causing the plunger to receive
a vertical reciprocating motion, and to act upon the articles contained in the tub A
in the manner described in the Specification herein-before referred to.
In order to prevent any lateral or swinging motion in the plunger which would
interfere with the proper action of the apparatus, I employ means for guiding the
plunger vertically as it is operated by the lever I
One mode of effecting the object consists in providing the plunger with arms L,
and in-fitting-in-the interior sides of the tub guideways z, z, along which the arms.
slide, whereby the vertical-motion-of the-plunger is ensured. The hole in the
end of the lever-I-for-the-reception of the pin-g is made sufficiently large to admit
of the requisite motion therein of the said pin to allow for the varying positions of
the plunger in its motions; or the catch lever p may be raised out of contact with
the fulcrum pin m in order to admit of the latter moving to and fro in the slot to
accommodate itself to the varying positions of the plunger.
Another mode of guiding the plunger is illustrated by Figure 8. It consists in
providing on the bottom of the plunger G a tube N, and in attaching to the interior
of the bottom of the tub A a rod.M, projecting upwards and entering the said

page_text: tube N on the bottom of the plunger; or I secure to the tub a single arm L, as
shewn in Figure 9, having an eye of in the end thereof, through which a rod N con-
nected to the plunger is caused to slide.
According to a further mode of guiding the plunger, which is illustrated by
Figure 10, I extend the stem H of the plunger in an upward direction, and pass it
through a guide eye o' provided in a cross bar L attached to the opposite sides of
the frame C of the wringing machine; or I fit a cross head L' to the upper end of
the stem H, as shewn in Figure 11, the ends of which cross head engage with
and slide in or on guideways z fitted to or formed in or upon the frame of the
wringing machine.
The upper and lower guides herein-before described may be employed either alone,
as shewn in Figures 1, 3, 8, 9, and 10, or in combination, as shewn, for example, in
Figure 11.
The wringing machine may be operated without actuating the plunger G by
simply sliding the wheels x, x', of the train of gearing c, x, x, along the shaft K¹
(upon which they are mounted), so as to cause the pinion to gear with the spur
wheely. keyed on the shaft of the lower squeezing roller D' (the wheel by such
motion being thrown out of gear with the pinion 16). when, upon turning the hand
wheel E, the rollers D. D'. will be caused to rotate, whilst the lever I and the
plunger G will remain stationary.
When it is desired to remove the plunger from the tub A the thumb pin G is
withdrawn from the hole h, in which it was inserted, and the catch lever pis turned
upon the hinge q so as to remove it out of contact with the fulcrum pin m; the
lever I may then be slid along the fulcrum pin m and the crank pin t, and the
plunger removed without obstruction.
i
Although I have described my Invention as applied to a washing machine of the
peculiar construction described in the said former Specification, yet it is obviously
applicable to washing machines of other descriptions for which a similar vertical
motion is necessary.
It may also be applied to churns, as will be well understood by persons conversant
with their construction without any further explanation.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect. I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original.
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part.
recited Letters Patent is :-
First. The peculiar arrangement and combination of apparatus for actuating
washing machines and churns operating with a vertical motion, substantially as
herein-before described.
Secondly. The combination of means for attaching, operating, and guiding a
piston or plunger, or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Newton Kenworthy, have to this my
Specification set iny hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
EDWARD NEWTON KENWORTHY. (L.S.)