IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edwin Ambrose Brydges at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th September 1883. Communicated
to him by Julius Szczesny of Ludwigshist in the German Empire Engineer.
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES of the firm of Brydges & Co Engineers and Patent
Solicitors of 107 Königgrätzer Strasse in the City of Berlin and German Empire
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES a communication to me by Julius
Szczesny of Ludwigshist in the German Empire, Engineer.
"
My Invention relates to improvements in washing machines. The object of my
said invention is to wash household linen and other fabrics with facility and without
great application of power and also to attain a thorough cleansing or washing of
linen and such like, freeing the same from all impurities without any danger of
damaging the same.
The principal part of the machine consists of a drum or cylinder which is set in
operation or rotation by means of a suitable treadle, crank or strap drum. The
mantle of the drum is formed of laths or staves of wood or other suitable material
arranged at short distances from each other which said laths or staves are either
each provided with a series of wooden or other buttons with semicircular or other
appropriately formed heads which are let into and durably attached to the laths or
staves or the said laths or staves can be turned so as to resemble a row of beads or
the button-like projections can be formed of one piece with the laths by means of
suitable tools. The semicircular button like projections on the laths or staves are
continuously rotated over the linen or other fabric to be washed and gli-le gently
over the same without exercising any detrimental effect on the said fabric
A frame is applied to the circular or curbed portion of the bottom of the washing
trough or receptacle which can also be composed of laths or staves with semicircular
buttons or projections although I prefer to employ a moveable zinc or other lining
or false bottom which is at the lower part provided with suitable perforations to
allow the superfluous water to flow off. The axis or shaft of the drum or sylinder
can be made self adjusting in the vertical plane so as to be able to wash materials
of various or varying thickness without exercising too great a strain on the parts
of the machine or the fabrics to be washed or the adjustable zinc or other lining or
false bottom is provided with an adjustable frame carried by suitable springs
on which said frame the lining so lays that the latter can give way as soon
as any extra pressure is exercised by the drum on the fabrics.
1

page_text: The frame of the machine is made of wood, iron or other suitable material, on
which a trough or washing receptacle of wood, zinc or other suitable material is
arranged.
The bearings for the drum axle or shaft are so arranged that the drum can turn
freely in the trough-The drum is composed of laths or staves which are either
turned so as to resemble a row of beads or are provided with button-like projections
which said beads or buttons are arranged in alternate order to each other.
A suitable adjustable lining or false bottom of perforated zinc, wood or other suitable
material tits onto the hottom of the trough at the lower end, and rests at the upper
end on too spiral springs, which are attached to the upper cross bar of a frame
which is adjustable in the vertical plane-This frame can be vertically adjusted by
means of suitable excentrical discs or their equivalents which are attached to the
shaft, which said shaft has its bearings in the frame and is so provided with a
suitable hand wheel that the discs on turning the handwheel press the lower cross
piece of the frame upwards.
A suitable ratchet wheel and pawl serve to hold the frame in the desired position.
By means of this adjustability the space between the lining or false bottom and the
said laths or staves, can be increased or decreased according to the size of the pieces
to be washed.
Should too strong pressure at any time occur through the folding of the fabric
or such like, the same is rendered harmless by means of the aforesaid spiral
springs
The variation of the space between the laths or staves and the false bottom can-
be attained by making the shaft of the washing drum vertically adjustable.
The bearings for the shaft are arranged on the upper cross piece of the moveable
frame which is guided in the frame of the machine.
A cross connecting bar of suitable form operates against the lower cross
connection so that the frame is securely guided by means of the same and a suitable
guiding rod.
The cross connection is moved up and down by means of a lever, and in this
manner the movement of the frame and the axis of the drum is attained.
A toothed segment is in connection with the lever in order to fix the shaft in
any desired position.
A suitable treadle is arranged by means of which and a lever which is excentrically
connected with the fly wheel the drum is rotated.
Instead of the treadle arrangement a suitable crank or a strap drum can be
employed for driving the machine. The continuous motion of the machine is
facilitated by the employment of a spiral spring fixed around the axle to the treadle
and operates on the axle and the lever.
In order to prevent the suds from being ejected into the room or wash-house
during the operation of wa-hing I employ an adjustable hood or covering.
A suitable pipe or tube is arranged which is provided with a suitable cock for
letting off the water from the washing trough or rec ptacle.
It is evident from the foregoing that the minor parts of my said washing machine
can be modified in various manners without departing from the tenor of my said
invention.