Improvements in Rotary Washing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Loft ihth :Ort 4806 Ancoated 7th Nov 1206
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Washing Machines.
I THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS, of "Claremont," Crieff Road, Wandsworth
Common, in the Parish of Wandsworth, in the County of London, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of washing machines in which
a perforated drum or cylinder rotates within an outer casing and consists, in the first
part, of imparting a longitudinal reciprocating motion to the said drum or cylinder,
in addition to and simultaneously with the rotary motion. And, in the second part,
of an improved driving, reversing and stopping device.
The first part of my invention is preferably effected by means of a suitably
modified Hooke's joint, or its equivalent, which is coupled to the axil or other
convenient part of the said drum or cylinder and to the outer-casing or framing of
the machine, in such manner as to permit of the free rotation and longitudinal
movement of the said drum or cylinder, on its axis. The longitudinal movement
may also be effected by means of a disc, or discs, (which may be adjustable) or
their equivalent, mounted or formed on the axil or axis of the said drum or cylinder
and set obliquely to the said axis. Or the same effect may be obtained by means
of an eccentric, crank or cam, or their equivalents.
The second part of my invention is effected by means of two loose friction palleys
& a suitable friction clutch which are mounted on the driving shaft of the machine
and so arranged that the said clutch automatically engages with either of the said
pulleys (which are driven in opposite directions) at suitable intervals of time and
so effect a reversal of the motions of the said drum or cylinder.
Suitable provision is, or may be, made for reversing by hand and for locking the
said friction clutch in mid position when it is desired to stop the machine. Wheels
may be substituted in. lieu of the said pulleys, and a suitable spring or springs (or
their equivalent)may be advantageously employed for adjusting the pressure and
grip of the said friction clutch.
I also make suitable provision for throwing the reciprocating device out of gear;
and the outer casing. when so desired is made to revolve simultaneously with the
before named drum or cylinder.
Dated this 4th day of December 1895
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Improvements in, Rotary Washing Machines.
I, THOMAS HENBY WILLIAMS, of "Claremont," Crieff Road, Wandsworth
Common, in the Parish of Wandsworth, in the County of London, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner, the same is to
O be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of washing machines in

page_text: which a perforated drum or cylinder rotates within an outer casing, drum or
cylinder, or in which the said outer casing, drum or cylinder revolves either in the
same direction as, or opposite to, the aforesaid perforated drum or cylinder and it
consists in the first part of imparting a longitudinal reciprocating motion to the
said perforated drum or cylinder in addition to its rotary motion, and further if so
desired in imparting to the said outer casing, drum or cylinder a like reciprocating
and rotary motion, or a reciprocating motion only, as hereinafter more fully
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
The second part of this invention consists of an improved frictional driving,
reversing and stopping device, also hereinafter more fully described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
The objects being greater agitation of the water and articles to be washed and
more perfect mixing of the detergents, thereby effecting the more rapid and
thorough washing of the said articles. Also the more certain automatic reversal
and control of the machine without shifting the driving straps, thus reducing the
wear and tear of the same and their liability to break; and further the production
of a more compact driving and reversing device.
carry this invention into practical effect in the following manner, reference
being made to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a part-sectional longitudinal elevation of a washing machine
constructed in accordance with my said invention, shewing a modified form of
"Hooke's joint" for imparting a longitudinal reciprocating motion to the aforesaid
perforated drum or cylinder; also one form of the frictional driving and reversing
device.
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Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is an end elévation of the same.
Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is an enlarged view in elevation and part section of the aforesaid
modified form of "Hooke's joint," also of a modification of the herein before named
frictional driving and reversing device.
$5
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
On the shaft or axle A of the said inner perforated drum or cylinder B I mount
the spur wheel C and impart thereto a longitudinal reciprocating motion in
addition to its or their rotary motion preferably by means of the modified
'Hooke's joint as illustrated in Fig. 1, Sheet 1, Fig. 2, Sheet 2 and Fig. 3
Sheet 3, in which D is a crank pin, fitted to and free to revolve in a suitable boss
formed on the said spur wheel C. This pin D is pivoted or connected to a
sleeve-link E by means of a knuckle joint and pin
The sleeve-
link E is free to slide laterally on the guide bar and also to oscillate thereon
during the rotation of the spur wheel C, its shaft or axle A and the perforated
drum or cylinder B. The said guide bar F is anchored to the brackets G
and G' which are bolted or otherwise secured to the end 6 of the outer casing b,
or if so desired, to any suitable and convenient framing of the machine.
as shewn.
"
Although I prefer the particular construction of a modified "Hooke's joint"
as above described, obviously it is capable of other modifications and in lieu of
the crank pin D and knuckle joint, a ball and socket connection may be employed.
Or I may employ any other suitable and convenient device for imparting a longi-
tudinal reciprocating motion to the said perforated drum or cylinder B, such for
instance as a crank, eccentric and connecting rod, or a cam or their equivalents,
which
may be operated in any suitable and convenient manner.
The said spur wheel C gears into and slides in contact with the driving pinion C
which is mounted on and secured to the hollow or tubular shaft H and revolves
therewith.
On this shaft H I mount two loose pulleys K and M which are free to revolve
between the collars and m independently of the said shaft. Between these
pulleys I mount a friction disc J which is provided with two coned flanges or
rims n and p and which is mounted on and turns with the shaft H while it is free
to slide longitudinally thereon so as to engage either of the said pulleys K and M,

page_text: the rims of which are coned internally to correspond with the flanges or rims n
and p of the said friction disc J.
The friction disc J is actuated longitudinally by means of the rod h which is
free to slide within the hollow shaft H and turns therewith. The rod is
connected to the said disc by means of the pink which passes through the slots r
and s formed in the said hollow shaft; the pin also serving as a driving key for
the said disc and shaft. The disc J may be connected to the rod by other
suitable and equivalent device.
0
The pulleys K and M are maintained in their relative positions by means of the
washers N and N¹ and any suitable number of distance pieces or pins N₁ as shewn
in Fig. 1, Sheet 1, and Fig. 3, Sheet_3. In lieu of this device for keeping the
pulleys apart the central projecting flange J' of the disc J may be dispensed with
and the rims of the pulleys K and M may be of such width as to permit of but
slight clearance between them, thereby preventing their accidental contact with the
coned surfaces n and p of the said disc J. Or other suitable and convenient device
may be employed for the said purpose.
The pulleys K and M are driven in opposite directions by means of an open
strap on the one pulley and a crossed strap on the other pulley.
The machine is driven and reversed in the following manner (having regard to
the relative positions of the several parts as illustrated by Fig. 3, Sheet 3, of the
accompanying drawings) viz. :-
The coned surface of the disc J is caused to engage with the pulley M by
means of the spring S enclosed within the hollow shaft II, acting against the end
of the sliding rod and the collar of the said hollow shaft in the manner shewn,
whereby the said disc J, the shaft H and the driving pinion c partake of the
motion of the said pulley M.
Connected to, or formed in one piece with the pulley M and revolving therewith,
is a worm, or screw M', which gears into and drives the worm-wheel W and
cam W'. This cam operates the reversing levers R and R¹ which latter presses
on the end of and actuates the sliding rod h thereby causing the friction disc J to
slide on its shaft and the coned flange p to disengage the pulley M, which then
becomes an idle pulley, and at the same time the coned flange n of the said disc J
engages the pulley K, which then imparts its motion through the friction disc J to
the shaft H and driving pinion c thereby reversing the direction of the motion of
the spur wheel C and the perforated cylinder or drum B. When the cam WI
disengages the roller I, which is carried by the plunger P, on the end of the
reversing lever R, the spring S (which was compressed by the rod h during the
operation above described) actuates the said rod h, thereby causing the friction disc J
to slide on its shaft H and the coned flange n to disengage the pulley K, which
then becomes an idle pulley, and at the same time the coned flange p of the said
disc J re-engages the pulley M. This cycle of operations is repeated automatically
so long as the pulleys M and K continue to revolve.
The pressure between the coned surfaces of the said disc J and pulleys M and K
can be regulated by adjusting the tension of the said spring S and the spring Q,
which latter also serves to compensate any wear which may take place at the
working surfaces under its control.
To stop the machine while the said pulleys M and K continue in motion, the
roller I is thrown out of action with the cam W' by withdrawing the connecting pin T
of the lever R, when the said coned or friction disc J is held in mid-position
through locking the lever R to the bracket G by inserting the said pin T in the
holes t provided for that purpose in the said bracket G and lever R. In such case
the pulleys M and K become idle pulleys and the machine is prevented being set
in motion accidentally by engaging the bolt with the teeth of the driving
pinion c.
By means of this device, the reversal of the machine may be effected
by operating the lever R by hand.
Although the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings relate more
particularly to that class of washing machines in which the said perforated drum

page_text: or cylinder B only, has a combined longitudinal reciprocating and rotary motion,
obviously when so desired the said outer casing, drum or cylinder b may be
supported on trunnions working in a suitable framing and also be caused to rotate
and reciprocate longitudinally by a suitable modification of the herein before
described devices. Ŏr the said outer casing may be caused to reciprocate longi-
tudinally only, either in combination with or independently of the said rotary, or
the combined reciprocating and rotary motions of the herein before named
perforated drum or cylinder B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in washing machines substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In washing machines of the type herein before described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings an inner perforated drum or cylinder having a combinel
longitudinal reciprocating and rotary motion substantially as described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
3. In washing machines of the type herein described an outer, casing, drum
or cylinder having a combined rotary and longitudinal reciprocating motion
substantially as described.
4. In washing machines of the type herein described an outer casing, drum or
cylinder, having a combined rotary and longitudinal reciprocating motion in
combination with an inner perforated drum or cylinder B, having a combined
rotary and longitudinal reciprocating motion substantially, as described.
5. In washing machines of the type herein before described an outer casing, drum
or cylinder, having a reciprocating motion in combination with the said rotary or
combined rotary and longitudinal reciprocating motions of the said perforated
cylinder B substantially as described.
6. In washing machines of the types hereinbefore described the modified forms
of a "Hooke's joint" substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
7. In washing machines of the types hereinbefore described, a frictional driving,
reversing and stopping device substantially as described and. illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
8.. In washing machines of. the types hereinbefore described a frictional driving,
reversing and stopping device with the modifications substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
9. A frictional .driving, reversing and stopping device, in combination with a
washing machine or machines of the type or types substantially as herein before
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
10. A frictional driving, reversing and stopping device, in combination. with
washing machines, with or without reciprocating motions.
.Dated this 5th day of October 1896.
THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS,
:Inventor.