Year: 1897

page_text: I, THOMAS NOURSE, Laundry Engineer and Contractor, of Fisherwick House,
Whittington, near Lichfield, in the County of Stafford, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
:-
This invention consists in the improvements in washing-machines hereinafter
described under several modifications.
By the first modification I provide a liquid-container hereinafter called the
water-box which may be a metal tank or a wood box or which may be made from
any suitable material or combination of different materials and which may be
square, oblong, oval, or of any other suitable horizontal configuration.
I next provide the clothes-receiver henceforward referred to as the washing-box
which may be made from metal, wood, or from any other suitable material or com-
bination of several materials, the washing-box may be cylindrical, square,
hexagonal, octagonal, or of any other suitable transverse section. I pierce the wash-
ing-box with holes or passages (preferably round holes) all over the surface of
such washing-box at suitable distances apart which may be three inches from
centre to centre (more or less) in accordance with the size of the washing-box.
In some cases I pass an axial-spindle through the washing-box longitudinally
to project at each end, in other cases I prefer to provide short outer spindles; a
spindle may be incorporated with a flange and the flange screwed to the outer
end-face of washing-box, one at each end so that the washing-box when suspended
by its axials would revolve concentrically around its axial-spindle: in other cases
I secure the one long axle or the two end axles excentrically to the washing-box
so that the washing-box when suspended by such excentric spindle or spindles
would revolve excentrically in such a manner as to throw the clothes put inside
the washing-box from end to end thereof at each revolution in addition to revolv-
ing them or turning them over within the washing-box, the washing-box of either
transverse section herein before referred to would be formed with a mouth of any
suitable configuration and a lid would be provided to fit and secure over the
mouth or into the mouth.
In putting the parts of my improved washing-machine together ready for use
I lower the washing-box into the water-box, the outside ends of the washing-box-
axle or axles taking into suitable bearings provided on the edge, or the inside,
or on the outside of water-box, such axle-bearings may be ordinary machine
brasses, or roller bearings, or ball bearings, or any other kind of easy running
bearings.
The washing-box revolving in the water-box constitutes the first modification of
my invention.
The action of the improved washing machine is as follows:-Dirty clothes are
passed through the mouth of washing-box into the inside thereof and the lid
fastened securely to the washing-box by means of lugs and screw pins, or by
other suitable mechanical means; boiling water is poured into the water-box until

page_text: it reaches about up to the axle of washing-box, such liquid of course flowing
through the passages in the shell or surface of washing-box and filling the wash-
ing-box level with the liquid in the water-box, the washing-box is then revolved
with the water-box by means of pulleys secured to the axle of water-box when
the machines are of large size suitable for use in the laundries of laundrymen,
public institutions and such like places; the pulleys being driven by means of a
band, or the washing-box spindle can be automatically driven by any other self-
acting mechanism.
When family washers are made under this modification a suitable handle or
hand-wheel would be secured to the axle of washing-box; in either case the action
of the water in the water-box flowing through the passages in the washing-box
in conjunction with the revolution of the clothes within the washing-box quickly
cleanses the dirty clothes.
Although I have described hot water as the liquid for general use in the
improved washing-machine nevertheless the machine is intended to be used for
washing all sorts of dirty fabric after it has left the fabricating manufacturer
and been in use, as I wish it to be distinctly understood that my washing-machine
is not intended to be used in a cloth factory for washing fabric after it leaves the
loom.
My improved washing-machine as hereinbefore described is suitable for use in
washing dirty cotton-waste and dirty oil-rags such as are used by engine-drivers
and when my improved washing-machine is used for such washing of engineers
oil rags and oil-cloths; petroleum. turpentine, or other suitable dissolving fluid
can be used in the water-box in lieu of water, in a like manner, clothing infected
with fever-germs or other clothing from hospitals or sick rooms can be cleansed
by putting into the washing-box suitable solutions of the required chemical dis-
infectants.
I am aware that an octagonal shaped box has been used as a washing-machine.
the barrel of such machine revolving in some cases concentrically to produce a
turn-over motion and that in other cases the barrel revolves excentrically so as
to throw the clothes from end to end of barrel at each revolution, but such old-
style washing-machine does the work by means of boiling water inside the barrel,
when such boiling water becomes dirty by extracting dirt from the clothing in
the said barrel the partly cleansed clothing is knocked about in the dirty water,
in contradistinction to that old-style method, my improved machine affords
facilities for a more rapid cleansing of the revolving clothing than the old-style
machine, because as fast as the dirty fabric in my washing-machine is expanded
by heat or by the disintegrating action of chemicals mixed with the water, or by
the action of petroleum, or turpentine on the oil in dirty waste, dirty oil-cloths
or wipers, the released dirt has an opportunity of flowing out of the washing-box,
in fact it is thrust out by each revolution of the washing-box, through the pass-
ages provided all over the surface of such washing-box.
In constructing my improved washing machines under this first modification
the water-box would be made of twice the area of washing-box, three times the
area, four times the area, five times the area, six times the area, or any other
suitable number of times the area or of any suitable area in accordance with the
dirty state or otherwise of the articles to be washed in the machine as it will be
readily understood that a family machine for washing ordinary family soiled
linen would not require so great a body of water as one of my improved machines
intended to be used for washing the sheets of a fever hospital.
In the construction of the large sized motor-driven machines I provide any
suitable clutch-act mechanism in connection with the main water-box and also in
connection with either or all of the supplementary or additional water-boxes so
that the clutch mechanism can be moved to start and revolve the washing-box
within the boiling water of main washing-box during the process of washing the
clothes and then after the washing-box has been lifted into either supplementary
tank or box of clean water, the clutch can be moved so as to convey driving power

page_text: to the clothes-box and revolve the said clothes receiving box or washing-box
toge.her with the washed clothes in the said box, in the tank of clear water, or in
a like manner in the tank of blueing-water or in any kind of liquid put into either
tank or box.
The second modification of my invention consists of the water-box and washing-
box described in first modification to which is added an extra tank or box for use
to contain clear water either hot or cold so that the washed clothes can be quickly
lifted out of the washing-box direct into clear water or the washing-box lifted
bodily into the clear water tank and revolved on the bearings of such tank within
the clear water.
The third modification of my invention consists of the parts described in
relation to the first and second modifications together with additional tanks or
water-boxes which may number three, four or more so that clear water, cold
water, hot water, blueing water, starch or other liquid or substance can be stored
in the additional boxes or tanks around the washing-machine and form one self-
contained moveable structure, suitable for use in expeditiously washing clothes
or fabric or substance.
Each additional tank or box may be provided with spindle bearings to receive
the spindles of washing-box.
The fourth modification of my invention is similar to the first modification or
to the second modification or to the third modification excepting that in either
case or all cases the rollers of a wringing and mangling machine are secured to
one of the tanks or boxes of my improved machine or machines or either of them,
thereby producing a combined washing wringing and mangling machine of large
size suitable for use by laundrymen or suitable for use in the laundry of a noble-
man or other large domestic establishment: in a like manner producing a com-
bined washing wringing and mangling machine of moderate dimensions for
general family use and for sale to families through and by ironmongers and house-
furnishers.
In some cases I provide an hinged cover or movable cover over each water-box
or supplementary tank.
The water-box and supplementary tanks or boxes may be of any suitable con-
figuration in accordance with the number of tanks or water-boxes utilized and
the space at liberty in which to fix and use my improved washing-machines or
either of them.
Improvements in and relating to Washing Machines,
J. THOMAS NOURSE, Laundry Engineer and Contractor, of Fisherwick House,
Whittington, near Lichfield, in the County of Stafford, 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:-
This invention consists in the improvements in washing machines hereinafter
described under several modifications.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings
the manner in which my invention is constructed and used.
Figure 1 represents a side view of washing machine half in elevation and half
in section on line A, B, of plan Figure 3.

page_text: section, on line C, D.
igure 1, all In elevation and nail in
Figure represents a half plan of a metal side cheek for the improved washing
machine.
+
Figure represents a section of Figure 2 on line E, F, shewing wing-nut and
part of door hinge.
Figure represents a broken off side view of the charging door hinge.
Figure 6 represents a plan of pulley washer.
Figure represents a plan of the end of securing piece of door-hinge.
Figure 8 represents a plan of Figure 5.
Figure 9 represents a plan of fly-nut-pin and flange.
Figure 10 represents a section of Figure 3 on line G, H.
Figure 11 represents a section of metal socket suitable for securing to wood or
metal water boxes to protect the water passages.
In carrying out the first modification I provide a liquid-container hereinafter
called the water-box a which may be a metal tank or a wood box or which may
be made from any suitable material or combination of different materials and
which may be square, oblong, oval, or of any other suitable horizontal con-
figuration.
I
I next provide the clothes-receiver henceforward referred to as the washing-
box which may be made from metal, wood, or from any other suitable material
or combination of several materials, the washing-box & may be cylindrical, square,
hexagonal as shewn, octagonal, or of any other suitable transverse section.
pierce the washing-box with holes or passages e (preferably round holes) all over
the surface of such washing-box of suitable distances apart which may be three
inches from centre to centre (more or less) in accordance with the size of the
washing-box.
In some cases I pass an axial spindle through the washing-box longitudinally
to project at each end, in other cases I prefer to provide short outer spindles g
a spindle may be incorporated with a flange or keyed to a flange as shewn at
Figure 10 and the flange screwed to the outer end face of washing-box, one at
each end or form the end of washing-box so that the washing-box when suspended
by its axials would revolve concentrically around its axial-spindle; in other cases
I secure the one long axle or the two end-axles excentrically to the washing-box
so that the washing-box when suspended by such excentric spindle or spindles
would revolve excentrically as shewn at Figure 1 in such a manner as to throw
the clothes put inside the washing-box from end to end thereof at each revolution
in addition to revolving them or turning them over within the washing-box, the
washing-box of either transverse section herein before referred to would be formed
with a mouth of any suitable configuration and a lid e would be provided to fit
and secure over the mouth or into the mouth.
In putting the parts of my improved washing-machine together ready for use
I lower the washing-box into the water-box a, the outside ends of the washing-
box axle or axles, taking into suitable bearings f provided on the edge, or on the
inside or on the outside of water-box, such axle-bearings may be ordinary
machine brasses, or roller bearings or ball-bearings or any other kind of easy
running bearings.
The washing-box
revolving in the water-box a constitutes the first modifi-
cation of my improved washing machine.
The action of the improved washing-machine is as follows:-Dirty clothes are
passed through the mouth d of washing-box into the inside thereof and the lid c
fastened securely to the washing-box by means of lugs and screw pins j or by
other suitable mechanical means: boiling water is then put into the water-box a
until the boiling water reaches about up to the axles of washing-box such
liquid of course flowing through the passages e in the shell or surface of washing-
box and filling the washing-box level with the liquid in the water-box a.
The washing-box bis then revolved within the water-box a by means of pulleys k

page_text: secured to the spindle g of water-box in the case of large sizes the pulleysk
being driven by a band, or the washing-box spindle g can be automatically driven
by any other self acting mechanism and in the case of family washers made under
this modification a suitable handle or hand-wheel would be secured to the axle or
spindle of water-box; in either case the action of the water in the water-box
flowing through the passages in the washing-box in conjunction with the revolu-
tion of the clothes within the washing-box quickly cleanses the dirty clothes.
The washing-box shewn at Figures 1 and 2 is represented as formed from
thick slabs of wood secured to a metal end-plate, this we illustrate as merely one
of the several methods of constructing the washing-box the water-holes are shewn
without any metal sockets or bearings over the holes nevertheless such bearings
are applicable to the wood washing-boxes as well as to sheet metal boxes.
Although I have described hot water as the liquid for general use in the
improved washing-machine nevertheless the machine is intended to be used for
washing all sorts of dirty fabric after it has left the fabricating manufactory
and been in use, as I wish it to be distinctly understood that my washing-machine
is not intended to be used in a cloth factory for washing fabric after it leaves the
loom; my improved washing-machine as herein before described is suitable for use
in washing dirty waste and dirty oil rags or oil cloths and when the machine is
used for such washing purposes paraffine, petroleum or other suitable liquid can
be used in the water-box in lieu of clear water, in like manner when washing
infected clothing from fever patients, or other hospital patients suitable dilutions
of chemical compounds can be used in the water-box.
I am aware that an octagonal shaped box has been used as a washing-machine
the barrel in some cases revolving concentrically to produce a turn-over motion
only and that in other cases the barrel revolves excentrically so as to throw the
clothes from end to end of barrel at each revolution, but such old-style washing-
machines do the washing by means of the boiling water put inside the barrel,
when the dirt is got out of the clothes such clothes are knocked about in dirty
water in contradistinction to that old-style method my improved method and
improved machine affords facilities for a more rapid cleansing of the revolving
clothes than the old-style machine and method because as fast as the dirty fabric
in my washing-box is expanded by heat or by the disintegrating action of chemi-
cals mixed with the water, or by the action of petroleum on the oil in dirty waste.
the released dirt has an opportunity of flowing out of the washing-box, in fact it
is thrust out by each revolution of the washing-box, through the passages provided
all over the surface of such washing-box.
In constructing my improved washing-machines under this first modification
the water-box would be made of twice the area of the washing-box, three times,
four times, five times, six times, or any suitable number of times the area of the
washing-box or of any suitable area in accordance with the state of the articles
to be washed in the machine, as it will be readily understood that a family
machine for ordinary family soiled linen would not require so great a body of
water as one of my improved machines intended to be used for washing the
sheets of a fever-hospital.
The water box of a family machine would be filled with boiling water taken
from a boiler and such filling of the water-box would wash family clothes, but
the water-boxa of large sized machines such as would be used in a large laundry
establishment would be supplied with water from a service pipe lead into the
said water-box and the water in the box a would be kept up to the required
temperature by means of steam.
The second modification of my invention consists of the water-box and wash-
ing-box described in first modification to which is added an extra tank or box for
use to contain clear water either hot or cold so that the washed clothes can be
quickly lifted out of the washing barrel direct into clear water or the washing-
box lifted into the clear water tank and revolved therein.
The third modification of my invention is similar to the second modification

page_text: excepting that the additional tanks or water-boxes number two, three, four or
more, so that clear water, cold-water, hot-water, blueing-water, starch or other
liquid or substance can be stored in the additional boxes or tanks around the
washing-machine and form one self-contained movable structure suitable for use
in expeditiously washing clothes or fabric or substance each additional box or
tank may be provided with hearings to receive the axle of washing-box.
The fourth modification of my invention is similar to either the first the second
or the third modification with the addition of an ordinary set of wringing and
mangling machine rollers secured to the water-box or to either of the extra boxes.
thereby producing a combined washing wringing and mangling machine of large
size suitable for use by laundrymen or suitable for use in the laundry of a noble-
man or in any other large domestic establishment, and in a like manner producing
a combined washing wringing and mangling machine of moderate dimensions
for general family use and sale to families by ironmongers and house-furnishers.
The water-box is shewn at Figures 1 and 2 without any frame nevertheless I
prefer in some cases to provide a frame the configuration of which would be suit-
able to receive the water-box. and "where desired" to also receive the rollers of
a wringing and mangling machine the water-box in such cases being supported by
the frame which would rest and take a bearing on legs of any suitable pattern and
dimensions.
In some cases I provide an hinged cover or a movable cover over each water-box
or supplementary tank.
The water box and supplementary tanks or boxes may be of any suitable con-
figuration in accordance with the number of tanks or water-boxes utilized and the
space at liberty in which to fix and use my improved washing machines or either
of them.
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. An improved washing-machine consisting of a washing-box which is
pierced with holes, such pierced washing-box being suspended to rotate in a water-
hox so that the body of water contained in the water-box can freely circulate
through the piercings in the washing-box and thereby cleanse the clothes or other
articles or substance placed within the washing-box, as illustrated and described
in relation to Figures 1, 2, and 3.
2nd. In a washing machine of the kind described in Claim 1, the combination
therewith of an extra water-box to contain clear liquid so that the washing-box
cam he lifted into the extra water-box and revolved therein as a further means of
cleansing the clothes fabric or substance contained in the washing-box.
3rd. In a washing machine of the kind described in Claim 1. the combination
therewith of two, three, four, or more additional water-boxes to form and forming
a self-contained movable structure suitable for use in washing clothes, fabric or
substance.
4th. In either of the washing machines described in relation to Claims 1, 2,
and 3, the combination therewith of an ordinary set of wringing and mangling
rollers to thereby form a combined washing-wringing and mangling machine.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1898.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER.
Cobden Buildings, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant.