IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WASHING MACHINES."-A communication from abroad by Doctor
Isidore Sollier and Baron Gerard Dedel, of Paris, in the Empire of
France.
Sealed the 8th December 1863, and dated the 17th October 1863.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Henry Johnson, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 17th October 1863, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WASHING MACHINES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that the said Invention is com-
municated to me from abroad by Doctor Isidore Sollier and Baron Gerard
Dedel, of Paris, in the Empire of France.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
that the following. Complete Specification under my hand and seal, fully

page_text: describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
machinery or apparatus for washing wearing apparel and textile fabrics, or
materials of all kinds, in an expeditious, economical, and efficient manner,
and consists in the employment for that purpose of a number of cylinders,
drums, or rollers contained within the washing vessel, and all rotated at the
same velocity by any convenient mechanical arrangement.
In carrying out this Invention in practice, I prefer to construct the washing
machine in the manner illustrated by the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
wherein Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved washing machine;
and Figure 2 an end view of the same. In this example I have represented
the rollers as being actuated by driving straps or belts.
The main framing a supports the entire driving gear of the machine. A
handle gives motion to the various moving parts, but this handle may be
replaced by a driving pulley if the machine is intended to be driven by steam
or other motive power. The shaft c, upon which is fixed the handle b or
driving pulley, carries a spur wheel d, which drives through the spur wheel f
a shaft e, upon which shaft is keyed a pulley or drum g, having as many
circumferential grooves therein as there are straps or driving bands to be
applied to the drum, these grooves serving to guide and maintain the position of
the straps or bands during the operation of the machine. Upon the bearings h, h,
which carry the shaft e, there is fitted a slide, which admits of a vertical
adjustment of the shaft e under the action of the springs i, i, in such a manner
as to constantly preserve a proper degree of tension on the straps or bands m.
The vessel contains the washing liquid, and is also fitted internally with a
number of rollers or pullies k of wood, galvanized iron, or other suitable
material fixed to the framing a by means of the pivots upon which they turn,
when the straps or bands m of leather, caoutchouc, or other material, impart
motion to them; r is the framework of a small wringing machine, which may
be fixed on to the washing vessel j when required. The india-rubber rollers q, q,
between which the clothes or fabrics are passed after being washed, in order to
wring the same, are rotated by the handle o, the axes of the rollers turning in
the bearings p, p. This apparatus may however be removed at pleasure. The
different parts of the washing machine having been referred to, its mode of
operation will be readily understood. On rotating the handle 6, the shaft c
and spur wheel d will both receive the same movement, and will impart
motion to the spur wheel f, which transmits a rotatory movement to the
grooved pulley or drum g, over which are passed the straps or driving bands

page_text: m, m, and which in turn impart a rotatory motion to the cylinders or rollers k
for washing the clothes or fabrics, which are thrown on to the washing vessel
on the top of the rollers. The washing is accomplished by the rolling of the
linen or fabrics over the rollers, and between them, and the several straps or
bands, and as the several rollers all revolve at the same speed, there is no
danger of the articles becoming torn or injured. The linen receives a constant
movement over the rollers, passing alternately above and below them, and is
compressed between the straps and the under sides of the rollers, and carried
through the water or washing fluid, which thus removes all impurities there-
from.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in the manner manner in which the same is or may be used.
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, general construction and arrangement of washing machines as herein-
before described.
Second, the application and use to, and in the washing vessels of washing
machines of a number of rollers, cylinders, or drums, revolving all at the same
speed, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of springs for maintaining the tension of the
several driving straps, belts, or bands, which are intended to transmit a rotatory
motion to the cylinders, rollers, or drums in the wash vessel, as berein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification, hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of
October, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)