Improvements in Washing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
JOHN MAWSON, Dentist, and JAMES ARTHUR MAWSON, Laundry Engineer,
both of 68 Derby Street, Bolton in the County of Lancaster, 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 relates to washing machines and its object is to so construct such
machines that the clothes contained in the rotary drum or cylinder shall instead of
being rolled or twisted upon themselves, be subjected to a beating action during
the time in which the machines are at work.
A machine constructed according to this invention consists of a drum or cylinder
rotating within an outer casing of the usual or any convenient construction which
contains the water, the sides of the drum being perforated to allow of the free
inlet and exit of the water as is usual in such machines. The drum is divided into
compartments by partitions extending from the axis to the sides or circumference
but these partitions instead of being radial as heretofore are bent or returned so as
to form a series of steps or flats from one to another of which the clothes fall and
are beaten during the rotation of the drum. The drum is preferably polygonal in
form and one of its sides is removable in each compartment to form a door. The
partitions are perforated to allow free passage of water and their perforations as
well as those in the sides of the drum are eyeletted preferably with block tin.
In order that our invention may be more readily understood we have hereto
appended a sheet of drawings reference to which is hereinafter made, similar
letters being used to indicate similar parts where they occur in the different
figures.
Figure 1 illustrates in vertical transverse section a washing machine constructed
to embody our improvements..
Figure 2 shews a plan of part of one of the boards or sheets from which the
drum and partitions are constructed.
Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section of one of the removable doors.
Figure 4 is an illustration of a plan of one of the doors in position upon the
drum.
+
The machine consists essentially of the drum A adapted to rotate within the
outer casing B which may be of the usual or any desired construction and is
illustrated with the upper half removed. The drum may be circular or polygonal
in transverse section and be made from wood or any suitable material and is
divided into compartments C by the partitions D. These partitions instead of
being radial as has heretofore been the case are stepped or made angular at
different parts of their lengths so that the clothes placed within the compartments
are thrown or fall from one flat or from one partition to the other or from a
partition to the circumference as the drum rotates instead of rolling as with the
radial partitions. The clothes are thus subjected to a continuous beating action.
Although partitions formed with different angles to those illustrated in the
drawings may be employed without departing from our invention we prefer to use
those shewn.
The door E of each compartment shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 4 is specially
designed and constructed to afford a ready means of access to the compartment so
that the clothes may be readily and easily inserted or withdrawn. The door
consists of a board or sheet E suitably perforated and provided at its ends with
angle irons or similar devices F to embrace the ends G of the drum. In the
polygonal form of drum each door replaces one of the drum sides which is removed

page_text: for the purpose. In a circular drum an opening is made into each compartment..
Along each side of the opening thus formed is secured in any suitable manner an
angle iron or metallic or other strip or strap H adapted to overlap and engage
with one edge of the door. As is illustrated in Figure 1 the space within which
the door is contained is wider than the door itself so that when the leading
edge of the door is placed under one of the angle irons or equivalent devices H it
may be pushed in to such an extent that the following edge will fall into place
without touching the other angle iron. The door may then be drawn back until
both its edges are under the angle irons and be secured by the hook I which
engages with the stud J upon the door and is held in place by the winged nut K.
End movement of the door or angular motion round the hook is prevented by the
angle irons F on the ends. To remove the door from the drum it is only necessary
to release the hook I and push one edge of the door under its angle iron until the
other edge is free when the door may be removed by means of suitable handles,
and access be obtained to the interior of the compartment.
Figure 2 illustrates a portion of one of the wooden partitions or sides of the
drum shewing the perforations and the tin eyelets. The employment of the eyelets
prevents the fraying of the edges of the perforations and the consequent occurrence
of splinters amongst the clothes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a washing machine a rotary drum provided with angular or stepped
partitions constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a washing machine the combination with the rotary drum or each
compartment of the drum of a removable door constructed arranged and operated
substantially as hereinbefore descibed and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a washing machine forming the wooden sides and partitions of the rotary
drum with eyeletted perforations substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4. A washing machine rotary drum constructed and arranged substantially as
hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of May A.D 1894
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants..