A New or Improved Domestic Washing Machine.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Domestic Washing Machine.
I, REINHARD FELSCHE, of Techniker, Magdeburg-Neustadt, in the German
Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a new or improved machine or apparatus for washing
domestic linen and all other kinds of textile fabrics, and has for its object to effect
the thorough cleansing of such articles with less labour to the operator, and with
considerably less wear and tear of the fabric being cleansed as compared with
machines of this type hitherto made and used.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood reference is hereinafter
made to the accompanying sheet of drawings, of which,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my improved machine or apparatus taken upon
the line A B of Fig. 2 while Fig. 2 is a like section taken upon the line C D of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the corrugated or fluted bottom of the
machine taken between the laths, Fig. 4 being a plan view of a portion of the
said bottom, while Fig. 5 is a section of a portion of same taken at right angles to
that of Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is an end view of the roller of the machine according to an alternative
method of constructing the same hereinafter explained.
For the purposes of my invention I construct of any size and of any suitable
material, but preferably wood, a rectangular water-tight box or tank A, preferably
oblong in plan, and which may or may not be provided with a removable cover B.
At a suitable distance above the bottom of A is fixed horizontally a partition C,
upon each end of the upper surface of which is a fixed or removable curved
portion D, engaging with C and the end of A as shewn in Fig. 1, and resting upon
these and the partition C, are two or more, preferably three, wooden laths or thin
strips E, which serve as risers for, and carry any number of transverse bars F, of
wood or other non-oxidizable material, each of which is plano-convex in cross
section, and fixed to the portions E with their rotund or convex faces uppermost,
and with a space between each and its neighbour, thus forming a corrugated surface
or grate, rising at each end correspondingly to D.
Or in lieu of the risers E, each of the bars F may have risers or feet such as E
formed thereon, or fixed thereto, as at Fig. 2.
Upon the inner surface of each of the sides of A is fixed horizontally a preferably
wooden batten G, level with the raised ends of E or thereabouts, the outer faces
of which may be hollowed out or grooved as shewn in Fig. 2.
Within the machine, and resting upon the grate FI place a wooden or other
non-oxidizable roller H, which may be solid, or bollow as at Fig. 2 and provided
with a water-tight opening a, by the means of which the said hollow roller may be
weighted to any extent with water, or sand, stones or other substance. The said.
roller is so formed, or has fixed upon its outer surface, two or more rings J, of
wood or other non-oxidizable material, and to these are connected, side by side, and
at a slight but equal distance from each other, a sufficient number of plano-convex

page_text: bars K to fill the rings J, the said bars being exactly like the bars F and placed
upon J in like manner.
Or the said roller may be of lesser axial diameter, and be surrounded by a
cylinder Hof wood or other non-oxidizable material, and may be either so
constructed as to itself form a cylindrical grate, or be composed of rings to which
bars K may be connected, and between H and H¹, may be interposed, in any
desired order, any uumber of spiral or other springs bas shewn in Fig. 6, to give
elasticity to the roller when in use.
with
A suitably shaped bifurcated or forked wooden or other handle L, engages
the axle or axial studs of the roller H, the free end of L passing outwardly
through a suitable aperture c in either end of the box or tank A, and by means of
this handle the roller is caused to travel to and fro along the corrugated or fluted
surface F, guided by the battens G, and for the purpose of lessening frition
between these and the roller H, and protecting the texture or fibres of the fabric
being washed from injury, is the object and purpose of hollowing or grooving the
outer faces of the pieces G.
In practice, the clothes, linen or other articles or fabric to be washed, would be
first laid upon the corrugated or fluted surface F, with a suitable quantity of suds
or other cleansing liquid in the tank A, when by drawing to and fro the handle L,
by manual or mechanical power, the articles to be cleansed, would, by the travel of
the roller H be agitated in the liquid, and squeezed at each to and fro movement
thereof and all dirt be thereby removed, after which the said articles may be taken
out, and be rinsed and dried in the usual way.
I wish it understood that I may employ two or more rollers within the one tank
or box A, each of which may be operated by a separate handle L, or collectively
by one such handle without departing from the principle of my invention.
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.
1st. In an improved washing machine, the combination of a box or tank such
as A, with or without a cover B, and having a partition such as C, carrying curved
portions such as D, with plano-convex bars such as F, with or without risers such
as E, and having upon its sides grooved battens G, serving as guides for a solid
or bollow roller H, having upon its outer surface plano-convex bars such as K,
and with or without an aperture a, the said roller being caused to travel to and
fro upon the grate F by the means of a suitable handle such as L, substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and shewn.
2nd. In an improved washing machine, the combination of a box or tank A,
cover B and partition C, the latter carrying curved portions D, and plano-convex
bars such as F, having supports or risers such as E, or feet or risers such as E'.
The hollow faced or grooved battens upon the sides of A. as guides for a solid or
hollow roller H, surrounded by a cylindrical grate H, composed of, or having
connected thereto plano-convex bars such as K, with suitable springs b interposed
between H and H, and caused to travel to and fro upon the grate F by the means
of a suitable handle such as L, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and shewn.
3rd. In an improved washing machine as set forth in the preceding claims, the
combination of a box or tank A, with corrugated surface composed of partition C,
curves D and bars F, and having two or more solid or hollow rollers H, with or
without means for loading the same, and with or without a cylinder such as H',
with bars such as K, and springs b between H and H, the said rollers being moved
two and fro upon the grate F by the means of one or more handles such as L,
substantially as herein described.
4th. In an improved washing machine, the combination of a corrugated or fluted
surface, and a fluted or corrugated roller or rollers, the operation of washing
being effected by a suitable handle or handles imparting a to and fro motion to the

page_text: said roller or rollers by manual or mechanical power, the whole connected and
operating substantially as herein described and shewn.
Dated this 24th day of January 1896.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.