improvements in the arrangement and
Year: 1885

page_text: We ROBERT HAY and ANDREW HAY, both of 226 Paisley Road West, Glasgow,
Tinsmiths and Gasfitters, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention has reference to .improvements in the general arrangement and
combination of the parts of washing machines for the washing of clothes, napery,
and other articles. This machine, which possesses several novelties, is of a simple
and cheap construction and is contrived for domestic purposes, but may be made of
larger sizes to be driven by motive power for public washing establishments.
The nature and novelty of our improved washing machine consist as follows.
The outer case or vessel, which is preferably made of strong sheet tin, copper,
zinc, or other sheet metal, is of rectangular shape, close at the bottom, at the sides,
and at the ends. The open top would be fitted with a hollow curved or segmentally
cased lid to leave room for the revolving spokes and the clothes carried round with
them. The lid would have a lip all round it fitting down into the open top of the
case, with an india-rubber jointing ring to keep the joint steam and water tight.
Handles would be secured to the ends of the machine for removing it, and the
larger sizes might be set on wheels for this purpose. The lid also would be fitted
with one or two handles for removing and replacing it. As so far described these
parts of the machine are much of an ordinary construction, but according to our
invention, a strong square or polygonal axis, with iron or brass journals, is fitted
across the centre of the outer case. The journals fit and revolve in bush bearings
soldered to the sides of the vessel, and the axis or driving spindle at the front side
passes out through a rather deep bearing, which might have a stuffing ring and
outer cap to keep it steam and water tight. On the outer end of this spindle a
crank handle would be screwed, for driving the machine from the front in either
direction; and on the inner side or ends of the central axle, large cupped hollow
collars would be secured, the edges of which would work close up to the sides of
the case and cover in the bearing bushes to prevent the clothes rubbing against
them even when carried round with the axle. The central axis would have one,
two, or more strong rounded and smooth-ended radial arms projecting out from
opposite sides of it at different points across its length, and of such a radial length
as to rotate freely some distance from the bottom, ends, and top of the case to
admit of the clothes being carried round by the arms or spokes in either direction.
D71

page_text: A further improvement consists in fitting a corrugated plate of sheet metal, the
full width of the inside of the lid and of the case in a curved manner within these
parts, so that the clothes would be rubbed gently over the corrugated surface while
being carried round by the spokes. The corrugated plate of the lid would simply
be secured to its inner curved surface; the lower corrugated plate would only have
its upper edges secured to the ends of the box near the lid; while the lower part,
which would be curved to an oval shape below the revolving spokes, would be free
to move to and fro with the pressure of the clothes in being turned with the
spokes, and the elasticity of the plate would keep the corrugations rubbing on the
clothes.
The vessel would preferably be filled only a few inches with the boiling water
and alkaline lyes or other washing material in it, so that the spokes with the
clothes would always be carried through the washing mixture and get completely
enveloped in the steam and soapy froth and air while being agitated and carried
round the upper part of the vessel as well. A few minutes agitation in this
improved washing machine seems sufficient to thoroughly cleanse the articles being
treated.
A steam branch is fitted laterally out through the back of the case and another
out from the upper part of the lid. These branches are made with vertical sliding
or sleeve parts, which can be brought down over each other to form a tube
connection for the circulation of the hot steam or air from the upper part down to
the lower part to equalise the pressure of the vapour and allow the clothes to move
more freely. A draining-off plug or tap would be fitted at the lower end of the
box to draw off the dirty water as required.
100K

page_text: We, ROBERT HAY, and ANDREW HAY, both of 226 Paisley Road West, Glasgow,
Tinsmiths and Gasfitters, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, reference being to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-.
Our said invention has reference to improvements in the general arrangement
and combination of the parts of washing machines, for the washing of clothes,
napery, and other articles. This machine which possesses several novelties, is of
a simple and cheap construction, and is contrived for domestic purposes, but
may be made of larger sizes to be driven by motive power for public washing
establishments.
In order that the nature and novelty of our said invention, and the mode and
means of putting the same into practice may be properly understood, we shall now
proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings, we have here-
unto appended for that purpose, the same reference letters indicating the same
parts in all the figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a longitudinal and a transverse vertical section
of one modification of our new or improved washing machine complete, to a small
scale of a moderate size and strength to suit for domestic or family use; and
Figure 3 is a plan with the top removed corresponding to Figure 1.
Referring to these Figures, our improved washing machine consists of a strong
outer case or vessel A, preferably made of thick sheet-tin, zinc, copper, or other
sheet metal which will resist the action of the materials used, and not stain the
clothes or articles to be washed. This case A is made of a rectangular shape, close
at the bottom, and at the two sides A¹; and ends A", but open on the top. The
open top of the vessel is fitted round its upper strong edges a, with a deep or
hollow tight rimmed and arched portable or removable cover A²; all large enough
within for the axial spoked wheel B, B¹, to rotate in the centre of the vessel, and
carry round the clothes with it. The rim a', of the lid A2, would have a lip all
round it fitting down into the open top of the vessel, with an india-rubber jointing
ring at a¹, to keep the joint of the lid, steam and water tight. Handles would be
secured to the outside of ends A", of the vessel or machine, for removing it and
emptying the clothes or washing liquids into other vessels; and the larger sizes
might be set on wheels for greater portability. The lid A³, also, would be fitted
with one or two handles according to size, for removing it from and replacing it on
the vessel A, A¹, A". As so far described these parts of the machine are much of
an ordinary construction, as some other washing machines. But according to our
invention, a strong square or polygonal axle B, (which may be made of sheet metal
or wood, with protected iron, or brass end journal spindles b) is fitted across the
centre of the outer case A. The journals b, of this axle are fitted to revolve in
bush bearings 61, 62, soldered or otherwise secured to strong box bars A³, on the
sides A, A, of the vessel A, and the axle or driving spindle B, b, at the front side

page_text: passes out through a rather deep bearing bush 62, which might have a stuffing ring
or other equivalent to keep it sufficiently steam and water tight. On the outer
end of this spindle a crank handle H, would be screwed or otherwise secured, for
driving the machine from the front in either direction; and on the inner side or
ends of the central axle, large cupped hollow collars 611 would be secured, the edges
of which would work so close up to the sides A¹ of the case A, as to cover in the
bearing bushes b', b' and so prevent the clothes rubbing or getting chafed against
them even when carried round with the axle B. This central axis B, would have
one, two, or more strong rounded and smooth-ended radial arms B¹, projecting out
from its opposite sides at different radial and circumferential points across its
length, and of such a radial length as to rotate freely some considerable distance
from the bottom and top, as also of the ends A" of the case A, to admit of the
clothes being carried round by the arms or spokes B¹ in either direction, and
longitudinally to or from the ends A", A".
A further improvement consists in fitting a corrugated plate of sheet metal C,
aud C, the full width of the inside of the case A between A¹ and ends A", as also
of its lid A2, in a curved manner longitudinally within these parts; so that the
clothes would be rubbed gently over the transverse ribs c of the corrugated surface
of the plates C, C, while being carried round and agitated as stated by the spokes B¹.
The corrugated plate C¹ of the lid A' would simply be soldered or otherwise secured
to its inner curved surface, but the lower corrugated plate C would only have its
upper end edges c² so secured by a soldered rod to the ends A" of the box near the
top, while the lower part c¹¹, c, which would be curved to a flat like oval shape
below the revolving spokes B', would be free to move to and fro longitudinally
with the pressure and motion of the clothes in being turned and reciprocated by
the spokes B¹; while the weight of the clothes and the elasticity of the corrugated
plate C, c, would keep the ridges c of corrugations rubbing on the clothes, and the
curved up end C, of the plate C would turn over the clothes and present their
different parts or surfaces to be acted on.
The under surface of the central part cl, c¹ of the under plate C where it
rubbed on the bottom of the vessel would have short ribs C₁ of tube-brass or
other material soldered on it to assist its motion and prevent the wearing of the
corrugations.
The vessel A would preferably be filled only a few inches with the boiling water
or soap-suds and alkaline lyes or other washing material to be used, so that the
spokes would always be carried down through the washing mixture, and the
clothes placed in the box, and carry these round with them so as to get completely
enveloped in the steam and soapy air froth filling the whole box, while being
agitated and carried round the upper part of the vessel, as well as rubbed on the
corrugated elastic plate C the yielding motion of which prevents the clothes
getting chafed by the arms B. A few minutes agitation in this improved washing
machine is sufficient to thoroughly cleanse the clothes and articles being treated,
after they have been steeped or boiled in the soapy mixture as usual.
A drawing-off tube D is fitted at the bottom of the vessel with a stopping cap,
or it might be with a plug or a tap for drawing-off the dirty water or washing out
the vessel when required. Although we have shown the moving irregular rubbing
surface C, c, c¹¹, in the lower part of the vessel A as made of corrugated or ridged
elastic sheet metal, this being what we prefer for efficiency and simplicity of con-
struction; yet an equivalent arrangement might be adopted which would give the
same action and effect on the clothes, with a hollow curved frame fitted with
transverse ridges or small rollers for the clothes to rub on, this frame being secured
at a normal central position, by india rubber or other springs, which would yield
from one side or the other by the tight rubbing action of the clothes as the
spokes B came round, and react back to their normal position bringing the
rubbing surface with them.
The new or improved washing vessels or machines are made so as to answer for
boiling the clothes also when this is desired, over kitchen ranges or stoves, or it might

page_text: be over gas rings or such like heating fires. We also make them large for public
washing houses and laundries, and when made large, a belt or band pulley, may be
secured on the outer end of their driving spindle B (instead of the crank handle H
shown in the drawing), so as to drive them by a belt or band from any convenient
transmitting motive power shaft and pulleys."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. The general arrangement and combination of the parts of washing
machines, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The construction of washing machines having a corrugated surface
rubbing plate under the clothes and below the agitating barrel, automatically
reciprocated by its own elasticity, or by springs when the rubbing surface is rigid,
substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.

page_text: B'
'B'
B
2
B'
A