IMPROVEMENTS IN TUMBLERS OR WASHING MACHINES FOR WASHING HIDES OR SKINS, APPLICABLE FOR WASHING OTHER ARTICLES, MATERIALS, OR FABRICS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hight, of Old Kent Road, in the County of
Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TUMBLERS OR WASHING
MACHINES FOR WASHING HIDES OR SKINS, APPLICABLE FOR WASHING OTHER
ARTICLES, MATERIALS, OR FABRICS."
Sealed the 8th November 1878, and dated the 8th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hight at the Office
"IMPROVEMENTS
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1878.
JAMES HIGHT, of Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey.
IN TUMBLERS OR WASHING MACHINES FOR WASHING HIDES OR SKINS, APPLI-
CABLE FOR WASHING OTHER ARTICLES, MATERIALS, OR FABRICS."
J
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of
machines known as tumblers or washing machines for washing and cleansing hides:
and skins, such improved machines being applicable for washing other articles,
materials, and fabrics for manufacturing or domestic purposes. For this purpose,
according to my improvements, I arrange a series of arms, ribs, blades, or beaters
upon a central axis, so as to revolve within a revolving cylinder, the inner circum-
ference of which is furnished with a series of arms, shelves, ribs, or beaters.
A suitable space is left between the inner ends of the arms, shelves, or beaters of
the drum or cylinder and those carried by the central axis.
The central axis and beaters, are caused to revolve at a higher speed than the
outer drum or cylinder, but in the same direction, so that the projecting arms or
beaters produce a rubbing action upon the hides, skins, or other articles, inaterials,
or fabrics placed in the washing druin or cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Hight in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th November
1878.
"IMPROVEMENTS
JAMES HIGHT, of Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey.
IN TUMBLERS OR WASHING MACHINES FOR WASHING HIDES OR SKINS, Appli-
CABLE FOR WASHING OTHER ARTICLES, MATERIALS, OR FABRICS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of
machines known as tumblers or washing machines for washing and cleansing hides
and skins, such improved machines being applicable for washing other articles,
materials, and fabrics for manufacturing or domestic purposes. For this purpose,
according to my improvements, I arrange a series of arms, ribs, blades, or beaters
upon a central axis so as to revolve within a revolving cylinder, the inner circum-
ference of which is furnished with a series of arms, shelves, ribs, or beaters.
A suitable space is left between the inner ends of the arms, shelves, or beaters of
the drum or cylinder and those carried by the central axis.
The central axis and beaters are caused to revolve at a higher speed than the
outer drum or cylinder, but in the same direction, so that the projecting arms or
beaters produce a rubbing action upon the hides, skins, or other articles, materials,
or fabrics placed in the washing drum or cylinder.
And in order that my improvements may be clearly understood and readily
carried into practice, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereto annexed.
Figure 1 shows a front elevation, partly in section, of my improved tumbler or
washing machine suitable for washing or cleansing hides or skins and such liko
articles, although the machine is equally adapted for washing fabrics and other like
materials.
Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus; and Figure 3 is a transverse section of the
revolving cylinder and parts contained therein.
a, a, a, is the framing of the machine, supporting in suitable bearings the hollow
trunnions b, b, which are firmly secured to the ends of the revolving cylinder 'b'.
The outer ends of these hollow trunnions are formed as stuffing boxes, which aro
closed with screw glands in the manner shown at Figure 4, which is a longitudinal
section of these parts.
On the interior of the revolving cylinder is a series of arms, shelves, ribs, or
beaters 6; they may conveniently be secured to and form part of the revolving
cylinder in the manner shown at Figure 3.
Passing through the hollow trunnions b, b, and revolving cylinder b' is the central
axis c, carrying the arms, blades, or beators c¹; these are secured to the central axis c
in the following manner :-Cast upon either end of the central axis c is the disc c²,
upon which are ribs or projections c³, between which the arms or beaters c¹ aro
received and secured in place by screws passing through the ribs or projections into
the arms or beaters c¹.
As shown by the Drawings the discs c³ are cast together with a covering to tho
axis c, but they may be otherwise constructed and fixed. c' is a ring secured to
the ends of the revolving cylinder b¹, forming a bearing for the disc c².
The apparatus is driven in the following manner :-d is a shaft carrying a fast
and loose pulley, as shown, and receiving motion from a steam engine or other
motive power. On this shaft is a tooth wheel e, driving a similar wheelf on the
central axis c, and to which and the beaters carried by it a comparatively rapid
revolving motion is given; also carried by the shaft d is a pinion y, gearing into
and driving the spur wheel h, secured on to one of the hollow trunnions b. By
reason of the different diameters of these wheels the revolving cylinder 6' is driven

page_text: at a greatly reduced speed, and by these means a rubbing action is produced between
the arms or beaters on the articles or materials being operated upon. is a door
through which the materials to be treated are supplied to and removed from the
interior of the revolving cylinder b¹. This door may be secured in any suitable
manner.
In the event of the materials requiring to be treated in a continuous stream of
liquor the central axis c is formed hollow for a distance at both ends, and perforated
for a few inches at either end within the revolving cylinder 6'. The liquor is
supplied to one end of the central axis c from a head, and flows out at the opposite
end.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that the arrangement and con-
struction of washing machines of this character, and the method of actuating the
saine may be greatly varied without departing from the novelty of my Invention;
at the same time I do not claim any of the mechanical parts separately, which are
well known and in common use, but what I claim is, the improved arrangement
and construction of tumblers or washing machines for washing hides, skins, or other
articles, materials, or fabrics, in which a series of arms, ribs, blades, or beaters c¹ are
arranged to revolve at a higher rate of speed than the revolving drum or cylinder b',
in which they revolve, such cylinder b₁ being furnished on its inner circumference
with a series of arins, shelves, ribs, or beaters 62, all arranged to act substantially in
the manner herein-before described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hight, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TAMES TOUT
1