AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING, SQUEEZING. MANGLING, AND CHURNING
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Leach, of Cheadle, in the County of Chester,
Commercial Clerk, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR
APPARATUS FOR WASHING, SQUEEZING. MANGLING, AND CHURNING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Leach at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the 15th
April 1863.
I, JAMES LEACH, of Cheadle, in the County of Chester, Commercial Clerk,
5 do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MACHINE
OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING, SQUEEZING, MANGLING, AND CHURNING," to be
as follows:-
I make use of a barrel or other suitably formed vessel for containing the
water and clothes or other articles to be operated upon. This vessel is formed
or fitted with trunnions working in suitable bearings (carried by the framing
of the machine) so as to be capable of being revolved end over end, and is
closed by means of a cover held down by pressure screws, which force it against
an india-rubber or other partially yielding packing, so as to produce a water-
tight joint. The pressure screws, whereby the cover is held down pass through
a frame which is entirely removeable from the barrel or vessel, leaving no
projections above its top, thus affording every facility for the introduction and
removal of the clothes or other articles treated. To the interior surface of the

page_text: barrel or other vessel, at suitable intervals apart, are fixed circular or other
conveniently shaped rubbers, formed with grooves, to give increased surface for
acting upon and turning the clothes or other articles to be washed. The inner
side of the cover, and of the bottom of the vessel, are likewise provided with
projecting, grooved, or corrugated surfaces or dises, and a grooved or corru-
gated tilting board is attached to the interior of the vessel, extending partly
across it at about the centre of its vertical length. In addition to the fore-
going, which constitute the fixed arrangements of the interior of the barrel or
vessel, I make use also within the vessel of a loose or moveable piece, formed
by preference in the shape of an oblate spheroid (but which may be of any
other convenient form), the specific gravity of which is such as will cause it to
sink in the water or other washing liquid employed, and which is provided
with corrugations or projections, so that by the revolution of the barrel or
vessel it becomes to some extent entangled with the clothes or other articles
contained therein, carrying them against and between the rubbers until, being
caught by the tilting board, it, with the clothes or other articles, is carried
upward until in the course of the revolution it falls from the tilting board, and
is again caught and carried up as before. In this way the clothes, with the
moveable piece which I term a "dolly," are at each revolution precipitated
through the liquid to the bottom of the vessel, thus causing a thorough washing
and sluiceing, whereby the clothes or other articles are effectually cleansed.
For washing heavy coarse articles, such as old woollen clothes and other
goods of like character, instead of using corrugations or projections, as
previously described, I mount the dolly and rubbers with tufts of bristles or
other suitable material, thus producing a scrubbing action suitable to the
nature of the goods. In order to keep the vessel steady during the processes
of filling and emptying, I make use of a pin or catch, which may either take
into a catch wheel fixed upon one of the trunnions or axes of the barrel or
vessel, or otherwise in cases where geering is used for giving motion to the
barrel or vessel, may take into the teeth of the cog-wheel fixed upon the
trunnion for giving such motion.
My arrangement for squeezing the clothes or other articles after washing is
as follows: I make use for that purpose of two or more rollers or cylinders,
between which the clothes or other articles are passed in the ordinary manner.
Instead, however, of making use of weights and levers or of elliptic springs,
as commonly employed for giving the necessary pressure, the arrangement
I employ is as follows:-The shaft of the upper roller or cylinder revolves in
bearings which are capable of vertical movement in the framing of the
machine. These bearings are formed with or attached to links or slings which

page_text: pass downward and at their lower ends are attached to a cross head capable
of corresponding vertical movement. A bolt passing freely through this cross
head, and through another attached to the framing of the machine, is drawn
downward by an india-rubber or other spring interposed between a nut thereon
and one or other of the cross heads, so that by adjusting the nut upon the bolt
a greater or less pressure may be given to the squeezing cylinder, any
inequality in the amount of rise in the two ends of the cylinder being allowed
for by the size of the holes through which the connecting bit passes. A board
which I term the drip board, employed to convey the fluid squeezed out from
the clothes or other articles washed back to the washing barrel or vessel, is,
according to my improved arrangement, formed in two parts jointed together
by what are commercially known as card-table hinges, the one part of the
board being permanently fixed to the framework of the machine, and the other
made when out of use to fold up against the squeezing rollers. When the
washing operation is completed and the cover of the barrel or vessel is removed,
the folding part of the drip board is turned down upon or over the top of the
barrel or vessel, and when the drip board is in this position the fixed part laps
over the folding part, and all fluid squeezed from the washed articles is guided
by it back into the vessel. The washed articles, after being squeezed as
described, are received by a board hinged to the machine, so that when not in
use it hangs down in the manner of a fall table; but when required may be
sustained in a horizontal position by a cranked bar or other convenient or
suitable means.
For mangling I make use of the rollers or cylinders already referred to as
being employed for squeezing out the washing fluid, and employ in connection
therewith two pairs of arms or levers, one pair jointed at each side of the
squeezing rollers, in such manner as to permit of their being either extended
horizontally for use, or turned up, so as to rest against the framing of the
machine when not required. Between the extremities of each pair of these
levers, and carried by bearings formed therein or attached thereto, is a
cylinder or roller, having its axis parallel with those of the squeezing rollers,
and carrying a web or cloth (coiled partly upon each, and extending from one
to the other through or between the mangling rollers), upon which the
articles to be mangled are laid. An endless chain or belt working over
suitable wheels or pullies fixed upon the axes of the rollers communicates
motion from one to the other of them, so that when by the action of the
mangling cylinders or rollers a portion of the web is drawn through between
them, a like amount is uncoiled from the one web roller and wound on to the
other. Thus the web or cloth is kept constantly tight, and the clothes thereon

page_text: may be passed repeatedly through or between the pressure or inangling
cylinders or rollers by simply giving a backward and forward movement to the
machine.
For churning I make use of the revolving vessel, as described, but fit it,
instead of the rubbers and tilting board, with a removeable frame or grating
composed of two sets or series of triangular or other suitably formed bars,
placed at right or oblique angles to each other. The frame or grating
described is fixed in the revolving vessel, so as to divide it vertically into two
portions, and for expediting the process of churning I carry a pipe along the
bottom, and thence vertically to near the top of the interior of the vessel.
This pipe is open at both ends, and by its form permits air to pass freely into
the vessel without allowing any cream to escape therefrom. In use the
revolving vessel is to be about half filled with cream, which upon the rotation
of the vessel will be violently dashed against and through the grating, while
the atmospheric air admitted by the pipe will mix with and permeate the
agitated cream, so as to produce a very rapid and perfect churning effect.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Leach in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LEACH, of Cheadle, in the County of Chester, Commercial Clerk, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Leach, Her special licence that I, the said James Leach,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said.
James Leach, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.
agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED MACHINE
OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING, SQUEEZING, MANGLING, AND CHURNING,"
upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Leach, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their

page_text: hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Leach, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be pe
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
I make use of a barrel or other suitably formed vessel for containing the
water and clothes, or other articles to be operated upon. This vessel is formed
or fitted with trunnions working in suitable bearings (carried by the framing
of the machine) so as to be capable of being revolved end over end, and is
closed by means of a cover held down by pressure screws, which force it
against an india-rubber or other partially yielding packing, so as to produce a
water-tight joint. The pressure screws whereby the cover is held down pass
through a frame which is entirely removeable from the barrel or vessel, leaving
no projections above its top, thus affording every facility for the introduction
and removal of the clothes or other articles treated. To the interior surface
of the barrel or other vessel, at suitable intervals apart, are fixed circular or
other conveniently shaped rubbers formed with grooves to give increased sur-
face for acting upon and turning the clothes or other articles to be washed.
The inner side of the cover and of the bottom of the vessel are likewise pro-
vided with projecting, grooved, or corrugated surfaces or discs, and a grooved
or corrugated tilting board is attached to the interior of the vessel, extending
partly across it, at about the centre of its vertical length. In addition to the
foregoing, which constitute the fixed arrangements of the interior of the barrel
or vessel, I make use also within the vessel of a loose or moveable piece,
formed by preferenco in the shape of an oblate spheroid (but which may be of
any other convenient form), the specific gravity of which is such as will cause
it to sink in the water or other washing liquid employed, and which is pro-
vided with corrugations or projections, so that by the revolution of the barrel
or vessel it becomes to some extent entangled with the clothes or other
articles contained therein, carrying them against and between the rubbers,
until, being caught by the tilting board, it, with the clothes or other articles, is
carried upward until in the course of the revolution it falls from the tilting
board, and is again caught and carried up as before. In this way the clothes
with the moveable piece, which I term a "dolly" are at each revolution pre-
cipitated through the liquid to the bottom of the vessel, thus causing a

page_text: thorough washing and sluicing, whereby the clothes or other articles are
effectually cleansed.
For washing heavy coarse articles, such as old woollen clothes and other
goods of like character, instead of using corrugations or projections as pre-
viously described, I mount the dolly and rubbers with tufts of bristles or
other suitable material, thus producing a scrubbing action suitable to the
nature of the goods. In order to keep the vessel steady during the processes
of filling and emptying, I make use of a pin or catch, which may either take
into a catch wheel fixed upon one of the trunnions or axes of the barrel or
vessel, or otherwise, in cases where geering is used for giving motion to the
barrel or vessel, may take into the teeth of the cog wheel fixed upon the trun-
nion for giving such motion.
My arrangement for squeezing the clothes or other articles after washing is
a follows: I make use for that purpose of two or more rollers or cylinders,
between which the clothes or other articles are passed in the ordinary manner.
Instead however of making use of weights and levers, or of elliptic springs as
commonly employed for giving the necessary pressure, the arrangement I employ
is as follows:-The shaft of the upper roller or cylinder revolves in bearings,
which are capable of vertical movement in the framing of the machine. These
bearings are formed with or attached to links or slings, which pass downward,
and at their lower ends are attached to a cross head capable of corresponding
vertical movement. A bolt passing freely through this cross head, and through
another attached to the framing of the machine, is drawn downward by an
india-rubber or other spring interposed between a nut thereon and one or
other of the cross heads, so that by adjusting the nut upon the bolt a greater
or less pressure may be given to the squeezing cylinder; any inequality in the
amount of rise in the two ends of the cylinder being allowed for by the size
of the holes through which the connecting bolt passes. A board, which I
term the "drip board," employed to convey the fluid squeezed out from the
clothes or other articles washed back to the washing barrel or vessel, is,
according to my improved arrangement, formed in two parts, jointed together by
what are commonly known as card-table hinges; the one part of the board being
permanently fixed to the framework of the machine, and the other made when
out of use to fold up against the squeezing rollers. When the washing operation
is completed, and the cover of the barrel or vessel is removed, the folding part
of the drip board is turned down upon or over the top of the barrel or vessel,
and when the dripboard is in this position, the fixed part laps over the folding
part, and all fluid squeezed from the washed articles is guided by it back into

page_text: the vessel. The washed articles after being squeezed as described are received
by a board binged to the machine, so that when not in use it hangs down in
the manner of a fall table, but when required, may be sustained in a horizontal
position by a cranked bar, or other convenient or suitable means.
For mangling I make use of the rollers or cylinders already referred to as
being employed for squeezing out the washing fluid, and employ in connection
therewith two pairs of arms or levers, one pair jointed at each side of the squeez-
ing rollers in such manner as to permit of their being either extended horizon-
tally for use, or turned up so as to rest against the framing of the machine
when not required. Between the extremities of each pair of these levers, and
carried by bearings formed therein or attached thereto, is a cylinder or roller
having its axis parallel with those of the squeezing rollers, and carrying a web
or cloth (coiled partly upon each, and extending from one to the other, through
or between the angling rollers) upon which the articles to be mangled are
laid. An endless chain or belt working over suitable wheels or pullies fixed
upon the axes of the rollers, communicates motion from one to the other of
them, so that when by the action of the mangling cylinders or rollers a
portion of the web is drawn through between them, a like amount is uncoiled
from the one web roller and wound on to the other. Thus the web or cloth
is kept constantly tight, and the clothes thereon may be passed repeatedly
through or between the pressure or mangling cylinders or rollers by simply
giving a backward and forward movement to the machine.
For churning I make use of the revolving vessel as described, but fit it,
instead of the rubbers and tilting board, with a removeable frame or grating
composed of two sets or series of triangular or other suitably formed bars,
placed at right or oblique angles to each other. The frame or grating described
is fixed in the revolving vessel so as to divide it vertically into two portions,
and for expediting the process of churning I carry a pipe along the bottom
and thence vertically to near the top of the interior of the vessel.
This pipe
is open at both ends, and by its form permits air to pass freely into the vessel
without allowing any cream to escape therefrom. In use the revolving vessel
is to be about half filled with cream, which upon the rotation of the vessel will
be violently dashed against and through the grating, while the atmospheric
air admitted by the pipe will mix with and permeate the agitated cream so as
to produce a very rapid and perfect churning effect.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, of the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, represents a side
elevation of a washing machine constructed according to my said Invention;
Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the barrel
for containing the water and clothes, or other articles to be operated upon;

page_text: and Fig. 4, a sectional plan of the same with the cover removed for the pur-
pose of shewing the interior arrangements. The same letters of reference
refer to the same parts throughout the Drawings.
a represents the barrel or vessel for containing the articles to be washed,
baving trunnions a¹ supported, and capable of revolving in bearings formed
with or attached to the framing 6 of the machine. Upon one of the
trunnions a' is keyed a spur wheel c, geering into and capable of being
revolved by a pinion d'working loosely upon a fixed stud d', and attached to
the winch handle e, the boss of which is notched, as shewn, so that by means
of a pin c', which can be passed through the stud d' (taking at the same time
into one or more of the notches) the pinion d, and with it the wheel c and
barrel a, can be fixed in any required position. The cover f of the vessel a
is held down by a ring or frame of metal f', provided with any convenient
number of lugs f, having horizontal notches fitted for receiving a corre-
sponding number of studs or pins fixed to and projecting around the exterior
of the upper part of the vessel. The ring or frame f' is provided with
pressure screws f³, which can be set down against the metallic ring f*, thereby
forcing it against the elastic packing f³, which overwraps the edge of the
cover, and pressing it together with the cover firmly down upon the shoulder f",
and forming a perfectly water-tight joint. In order to remove the frame and
cover, the pressure screws must be slackened, and the frame or ring f³ moved
round until its notches are clear of their respective pins, when it, together with
the cover, may at once be lifted off, leaving the mouth of the vessel perfectly free
for the introduction or removal of the required articles. Around the interior
of the vessel a, as also upon the inner surfaces of its cover and bottom are
fixed circular grooved rubbers g, a grooved and perforated tilting board /
(projecting partly across it) being attached to one of its sides. A dolly or
tumbler, to be used loosely in the vessel, as previously described, is represented
at Figs. 5 and 6.
The arrangements for squeezing the clothes or other articles consist of two
rollers or cylinders and i', the latter of which is incapable of descending
movement. The shaft of the roller i works in bearings i, formed in links i³,
the lower ends of which are attached to the cross head or bar i', having the
screw or bolt is passing freely through it. The lower part of this screw or bolt
also passes freely though the cross bar io, fixed at each end to the framing of
the machine, and is drawn downward (so as to give the required pressure
between the rollers) by an india-rubber or other spring i interposed between
the tommy nut is and the cross bar is, so that by raising or lowering the nut
the pressure between the rollers may be increased or diminished, as required.

page_text: The ends of the top roller shaft and of the cross head or bar i are guided in
their vertical movement by suitable slots formed in the framing of the
machine. represents the jointed drip-board, used for conveying the water
squeezed from the washed articles back into the vessel. As shewn in full lines,
it is turned up at the joint 7, out of use, but when in use is turned down into
the position shewn in dotted lines. The board whereby the washed articles
are received after squeezing is represented at k in position for use, and in
dotted lines at as it would appear when hanging down unemployed. The
squeezing rollers are driven by geering actuated by a winch handle in the
ordinary manner.
My arrangements for mangling are represented at Figs. 1 and 2, 7 and l'
being arms or levers jointed to the frame b, and carrying between their outer
extremities the rollers or cylinders 12. A web or cloth 1 wound partly on each
of the rollers 1, passes from one to the other of them between the squeezing
rollers i and i', and upon it the articles to be mangled are laid. An endless
chain communicates motion from one of the rollers to the other, and
enables the web and articles upon it to be drawn backward and forward
between the squeezing rollers, as often as required, by simply revolving the
squeezing rollers alternately in either direction. The levers and rollers when
out of use are turned up against the framing of the machine, as shewn in
dotted lines, and are retained in that position by self-acting spring clips 1*.
Fig. 7, Sheet 2, is a vertical section of the vessel a (taken at right angles
to its axis of rotation), as arranged for churning; and Fig. 8 an elevation of
the removeable division, frame, or grating m. This frame or grating is divided
by a cross bar, situated at about its axis of rotation into two equal or nearly
equal portions m² and me, which are traversed by square or other angular bars
placed so as to present their corners towards the resisting cream, and by being
placed in directions at right angles to each other to divide and agitate it in
the most perfect possible manner; the churning effect being assisted by the air
pipe n, allowing air to pass into the vessel, as explained.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same may be performed, I would have it under-
stood, that without limiting myself to the precise arrangements represented, I
claim,―
Firstly, the method of fastening on the cover of the washing and churning
vessel a, substantially as described.
Secondly, the construction and use of the rubbers for washing purposes in
the vessel a, substantially as described.
Thirdly, the studded or tufted and weighted washing ball or "dolly."

page_text: Fourthly, the use of the tilting shelf or board h.
Fifthly, the folding drip board j.
Sixthly, the combined arrangements for squeezing or wringing and mangling,
substantially as described.
Seventhly, the air passage for allowing air to pass to and from the churning
vessel, substantially as described.
Eighthly, the configuration of the grating m in combination with a
vessel for churning purposes, substantially as described.
revolving
Ninthly, the arrangements described for retaining the vessel a in any
required position.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Leach, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
FRANCIS WISE,
22, Buckingham St.,
Adelphi, W.C.
JAMES (L.S.) LEACII.