IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: We, FREDERICK AXAM and GEORGE DAVIES of N° 5 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES" to be as follows:-
Between two upright frames we mount a shaft having two cranks formed upon
it in the same line or direction, which crank shaft gives a vertical reciprocatory or
up and down motion by means of crank arms to a horizontal shaft, the ends of
which are carried by boxes formed to slide in the framework. From this
horizontal bar is suspended by leather or other flexible belts a second bar which
also works in sliding boxes and carries a series of round fluted rubbers which
varies in quantity according to the size of the machine.
These rubbers work within a circular tub or vessel the interior of which is also
fluted and this tub revolves horizontally upon a centre pin or stud fixed in the
bottom rail of the framework.
The interior of the shaft or stems of the rubbers are hollow and contain spiral
springs which project above the bar to which they are attached.
The action of the machine is as follows:-
As the crank shaft revolves, it imparts a rising and falling motion to the rubbers,
the flexible belts which support the rubber-bar, carrying it to the same elevation
at each revolution and allowing for the inequalities of the materials in the
washing tub.
The driving apparatus consists of a cam or slotted wheel mounted fast on the
crank shaft by the side of which is a loose wheel carrying a stud which acts on the
cam or slotted wheel.
On motion being imparted by either hand or power to the loose wheel it causes
the cam or slotted wheel to revolve along with it until the crank is over the upper
dead centre when, if the rate of motion is not very rapid, the weight of the
working parts will cause the crank shaft to descend quicker than the motor wheel
revolves, thereby ensuring the uniforin descent of the rubbers providing that speed
of the machine is within ordinary limits.
The revolution of the washing tub is obtained by means of a wheel and worm
motion derived from the first motion shaft.
Detal th: 09-1
CT1004

page_text: We FREDERICK AXAM and GEORGE DAVIES of N° 5 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said 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:—
Between two upright frames we mount a shaft having two cranks formed upon
it in the same line or direction, which crank shaft gives a vertical reciprocatory or
up and down motion by means of crank arms to a horizontal shaft the ends of
which are carried by boxes formed to slide in the framework.
From this horizontal bar is suspended by leather or other flexible belts, or rods
with loose joints and springs, a second bar which also works in sliding boxes and
carries a series of round fluted rubbers which varies in quantity according to the
size of the machine. These rubbers work within a circular tub or vessel, the
interior of which may also be fluted and this tub revolves horizontally upon a
centre pin or stud fixed in the bottom rail of the framework.
The action of the machine is as follows:―
As the crank shaft revolves it imparts a rising and falling motion to the rubbers,
the flexible belts which support the rubber-bar carrying it to the same elevation
at each revolution and allowing for the inequalities of the materials in the
washing tub.
The revolution of the washing tub is obtained by means of a wheel and worm
motion derived from the first motion shaft.
In order that our Invention may be more fully understood we herein give
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 is an end
elevation and Figure 2 a front elevation of a machine constructed on our improved
principle.
A is the framework of the machine and B is a tub or vessel which revolves on a
stud fixed to the underside thereof and is supported by means of the antifriction
pullies C.
.
The revolving motion of the tub is obtained by means of a worm D mounted on
a shaft E and gearing with the worm wheel F secured to the bottom of the tub.
G is a crank shaft which by means of the links or rods H gives a rising and
falling motion to the horizontal bar J a similar movement being thereby imparted
to a second horizontal bar K which is connected with the bar J by means of
rods Land leather bands or belts M.
In the downward movement the pressure upon the clothes is regulated by the
spiral springs and in the upward movement, the leather belts bear the weight of
the rubbers hereinafter described, the rods L being equally capable of doing so in
case the belts should break.
The bar K carries a series of rubbers N which are composed of wood, hollow
internally and fluted externally and which besides a rising and falling motion
have a slight rocking motion, the extent of which is limited by the stop pieces P
fixed to the sliding blocks Q which steady the bar K within the framework, the
ends of the bar being turned cylindrical to permit the rocking motion to take
place. From a consideration of the construction of the rubbers N it will be seen
that besides exercising a certain amount of friction upon the clothes, they also
tend to extract the dirt by a process of suction which arises from the formation
of a partial vacuum in the interior of the rubbers at each upward movement
thereof.

page_text: The machine may be driven either by hand or steam power, the motion being
communicated in the in the first instance to the chain wheel R and thence to another
chain wheel S mounted on the crank shaft G which also carries a chain wheel.T
on its other end for the purpose of communicating motion to the worm shaft E.
A balanced fly wheel U is mounted on the crank shaft for the purpose of preventing
vibration and equalizing the motion of the machine.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the 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 novel and original and
therefore claim as my Invention is :-
1. The combination in a washing machine, of rising and falling rubbers and a
revolving tub or vessel, substantially as herein shewn and described.
2. The use of hollow rubbers N composed of wood for the purpose of extracting
the dirt by the process of suction, as herein shewn and described.
Dated this 8th day of October 1881.
HUGHES & SON,
5, Chancery Lane, W.C.