IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Heselwood of Leeds in the county of York,
Leather Belt Manufacturer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING
MACHINES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Heselwood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th July 1883.
JAMES HESELWOOD of Leeds in the County of York, Leather Belt Manufacturer
IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
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The object of this Invention is to wash clothes with as little water as is
consistent with the object to be attained-to give facilities for washing only one
lot of clothes in each quantity of water used, and at the same time to raise steam
from cold water for washing purposes in the shortest space of time without the
presence of steam in the room.
In order to accomplish the above objects I construct on the end of the boiler
which I will describe hereafter, a cistern of suitable dimensions with a small
outlet from the bottom of the same into the boiler thus securing a small but
constant supply of water to the boiler to make good the loss from evaporation.
Into the water cistern there is a tube of nearly the same depth as the cistern
communicating with the boiler of sufficient capacity for pouring in water for
washing off purposes.
:
My machine is constructed as follows: A corrugated boiler, heated by Gas or
other suitable means, forms its casing: in the centre of the boiler is centred a
cylinder with sides and periphery corrugated this cylinder or Drum can be
revolved inside the boiler by means of a winch or other power. The cylinder or
drum is covered by a suitable covering the periphery of the said cylinder or Drum.
has a door for the purpose of putting in and taking out the clothes. From one side
of the cylinder to the other I secure buckets for the purpose of raising the water from
the bottom of the Boiler and in fevolving, this water escapes from the buckets and
passes through the clothes.
The machine can also be utilised for partially drying the clothes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Heselwood in the Patent Office on the 18th January 1884.
JAMES HESELWOOD, of Leeds, in the County of York, Leather Belt Manufacturer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES.
The object of this invention is to wash clothes with as little water as is
consistent with the object to be attained; to give facilities for washing only one
lot of clothes in each quantity of, water used, and to arrange the apparatus so that
steam can be raised from cold water for washing purposes in a short time without
steam escaping in the room where the washing is done; and consists in
constructing the casing of the apparatus with corrugated or fluted plates, and
dividing the casing so that one part of the interior forms a cistern for supplying
water to the other division which I term the boiler, and in which compartment the
clothes are washed.
The water in the boiler is heated by gas or other suitable well known means
and inside the boiler is mounted a cylinder or drum with the periphery corrugated
or fluted and arranged with buckets for the purpose of raising water from the
bottom of the boiler when the cylinder or drum is revolved, the water escaping
through holes in the corrugated periphery, showering on to the clothes inside the
cylinder which is filled with steam and assists the water to wash the clothes, the
major portion of the water that has been elevated running back into the boiler
through holes formed in the end plates of the cylinder near the periphery, thereby
entering the boiler without practically disturbing the other water therein.
A portion of the cylinder or drum periphery is fitted with a lid for putting in
and taking out the clothes, and a suitable cover is also placed on the boiler for the
same purpose and for retaining the steam therein generated.
I will now proceed to describe more fully my invention by aid of the
accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an elevation of my improved
apparatus with a portion of the casing removed and part of the cylinder or drum
in section, the latter being arranged with buckets. Figure 2 is a plan of the
apparatus with the cover removed from off the boiler. Figure 3 is a section
through line a. b. in the cistern. Figure 4 is a front view, and Figure 5 an end
view of the cylinder, in all the figures similar letters indicate similar parts.
•
The boiler is indicated by the letter A and divided by plate B from the cistern C,
communication between the cistern and boiler is effected by the taps D and E
which are hereafter more fully described.
The cistern C is filled with water which is allowed to pass through the small
tap D into the bottom of the boiler where it is heated by gas jets from pipe G.
The cylinder F is mounted in journals and according to one method of construction,
is formed of corrugated or fluted plate; the periphery of the cylinder in addition
to the corrugations or fluted indentations is arranged with buckets H, and a portion.
of the periphery and buckets can be removed for putting in and taking out clothes
from the interior of the cylinder F.
When clothes have been placed inside the cylinder and the removable part of the
periphery secured by any simple well known method, the boiler is covered by lid J
thereby retaining the steam, and the cylinder turned by a winch handle causing.
the clothes within to be dashed against the corrugations or flutes, and the
buckets H to raise water from the bottom of the boiler at W, which will
percolate through holes H¹ and fall in showers upon the agitated clothes within
the cylinder, thereby saturating them with water heated to any degree up to
boiling.

page_text: The end plates F2 of the cylinder are corrugated or fluted, or may have radiating
ribs secured thereto on the inside, similar to the rib shewn in section by Figure 6;
and my object may also be accomplished by forming the periphery of the cylinder
with tubes K secured to the end plates as shewn by Figure 7: in either case I cut
a number of holes H2 in the end plates as near as practicable to the periphery,
through which the water passes to the boiler without practically disturbing the
water therein.
When tubes are used for raising the water they are perforated with two rows of
holes somewhat in the position as shewn by the radiating lines M and N, the tubes
on passing through the water at W become partly or totally filled, which is
distributed on the clothes when raised to an elevation through the holes N.
By constructing the cylinder either with buckets or tubes, the steam generated
in the boiler has free access into the interior through holes H2, and thereby-assists
the continuous shower of hot water to more effectually wash the clothes.
By adjusting the small tap D the quantity of water in the boiler is maintained
to compensate for what is absorbed by the clothes, and when it is desired to take
out the clothes, the tap T at the bottom of boiler is opened to let out the foul
water, which may be closed to suit circumstances. The tap E is opened to allow
pure water to flow into the buckets while the cylinder is in motion the water
escaping through the holes H' falls on the clothes, and on passing through them
removes all dirt, by the same process the steam is condensed, cylinder and boiler
thoroughly washed and ready for the reception of another lot of clothes, removing
the necessity for the hands of the operator to come into contact with hot water, and
rendering escape of steam in the room impossible.
I can cool the interior of the boiler and cylinder in another manner, but by this
arrangement I have to dispense with the cistern C and taps therein, and in lieu of
tap EI secure to the side of the boiler a small hopper P.as shewn by Figure 7
fitted with a lid and a projection inside the boiler. On removing the lid and
pouring cold water into the hopper, it falls upon the clothes and condenses the
steam in the cylinder and boiler as before described.
What I claim as my invention is:-
The method of washing clothes and other articles by means of the revolving
cylinder F raising the water from the bottom of the boiler at W, and in revolving
passing it through the clothes in the inside of the cylinder substantially in the
manner as hereinbefore described.
The use of buckets or pipes for raising water, with outlets for same into the
cylinder, and from the cylinder through holes H2 back into the boiler substantially
for the purpose and in the manner as herein before described.
The cistern C in combination with boiler A for the supply of water to the
boiler to make good evaporation and a supply for washing and cooling purposes
substantially as described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
The formation of a boiler, cylinder and cistern of corrugated or fluted plates,
whereby greater strength and firmness is obtained in construction with a lighter
material, than if quite plain substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said James Heselwood have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fourteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
JAMES HESELWOOD (L.S.)