A NEW AND IMPROVED WASHING MACHINE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW AND IMPROVED WASHING
MACHINE." A communication from abroad by James Turner, Robert
Turner, Archibald Turner, Malcolm Clarke Turner, Thomas Clarke
Turner, and George Moscript Turner, all of the City and State of
New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 21st August 1868, and dated the 26th February 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 26th February 1868.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW AND IMPROVED WASHING
MACHINE," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to provide a washing machine which
will be very compact in form and neat in appearance, and furthermore
be capable of being very easily operated and of having its internal parts

page_text: reached with great convenience and capable of more thoroughly
cleansing the fabrics or clothes subjected to its operation than has been
Within a
practicable with the apparatus of this class hitherto in use.
wooden tub is placed an upright circular tub of such a size as to revolve
freely within the outer tub. To the centre of the bottom of the inner
tub is attached a pivot which enters a socket on the bottom of the
outer tub. The inner tub is kept in a vertical position by a central
shaft the lower end of which enters a socket attached to the centre
of the bottom of the tub, and its upper cnd passes up through the
stationary part of the cover and through a bar which passes across the
top of the outer tub. Upon the upper end of the central shaft is
attached a bevil gear wheel into which gears a pinion on the horizontal
crank shaft, which revolves in bearings attached the one to the upper
edge of the tub, and the other to the cross bar. Another bevil gear
wheel is attached to the crank shaft close to the side of the tub and
gears into a bevil gear wheel or rack attached to the side of the inner
or movable tub. By this arrangement of the gear wheels the central
shaft is revolved in one direction and the tub in the opposite
direction. To the lower end of this shaft are attached radial arms
to which near their outer ends are secured uprights one to cach arm.
Vertical flanges are also attached to the shaft and revolve with it;
similar flanges are attached to the inner sides of the inner tub. Thus,
when the central shaft and its attachments are revolved in one direction,
the tub and flanges are revolved in the contrary direction, thereby
throwing the water into violent commotion. Through this eddying
water the clothes under operation are carried by the arms and uprights,
having all the dirt upon them washed off by the moving water. If
desired the outer box or tub may be omitted and the inner cylindrical
tub made stationary. This necessitates a change in the construction
and arrangement of certain of the operating parts. The tub or body
of the machine may be formed of staves and made nearly cylindrical
in shape, such body being furthermore provided with a suitable cover
and furnished internally with vertical ribs. Situated centrally. within
the tub is a vertical cylindrical shaft or standard having around its base
a convex annular disc, and provided near its upper extremity with a
circumferential groove. Placed upon the standard is a sleeve to the
lower end of which is secured an annular disc. The sleeve is furnished
with any desired number of radial fins or ribs the lower parts of which
are extended outward upon the disc, so that a somewhat ogce form is

page_text: given to such fins. Passing inward through one side of the sleeve is
a pin or stud the inner end of which is fitted into the circumferential
groove so as to prevent the rising or floating of the sleeve and its
appurtenances. Pivotted at one end to one side of the upper band is a bar
which, when the machine is in use, extends across the top of the tub
with its outer or swinging end held down by a spring catch. Upon
the under side of the bar is an arm between which and the bar itself
is placed a bevil pinion, the boss of which extends down through a
circular hole or bearing in the arm, and has formed upon it the other
half of the coupling clutch. Motion is given to the pinion by means
of another bevil pinion the shaft of which is furnished at its outer end
with a crank.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 26th August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her
special licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain, and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "A NEW AND IMPROVED WASHING MACHINE," being a communication
to me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and

page_text: seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say) -
The object of this Invention is to construct a washing machine which
will be very compact in form and neat in appearance, and furthermore
be capable of being very easily operated, and of having its internal parts
reached with great convenience, and capable of more thoroughly
cleansing the fabrics or clothes subjected to its operation than has
been practicable with the apparatus of this class hitherto in use.
The Invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrange-
ments of parts whereby the desired object is secured.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of the
improved washing machine, a part of the top or cover being broken away
to shew the interior construction; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the
same taken in the line x, x, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse
section of another form of washing machine constructed according to
this Invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same with the cover
removed; Fig. 5 is a detached inverted plan of one portion of the same.
A in Figures 1 and 2 is a stationary box or tub within and upon
which the machine is arranged. This tub is supported upon legs B
of such a length as will raise the tub A to a convenient height.
Within the tub A is placed an upright circular tub C of such a size
as to revolve freely within the outer tub A; to the centre of the
bottom of the tub C is attached a pivot which enters a socket on the
bottom of the tub A. The tub C is kept in a vertical position by the
shaft D, the lower end of which enters a socket attached to the centre
of the bottom of the tub C, and its upper end passes up through the
stationary part E of the cover and through the bar F which passes
across the top of the tub A and is secured to its upper edges as shewn
in Fig. 1. Upon the upper end of shaft D (projecting above the

page_text: bar F) is attached a bevil gear wheel G into which gears a pinion K
on the horizontal crank shaft H which revolves in bearings I, attached
the one to the upper edge of the tub A and the other to the bar F.
J is the crank by means of which motion is communicated to the
machine. To this shaft H are attached two bevil gear wheels K and L;
the wheel K gears into the wheel G and the wheel L gears into a bevil
gear wheel or rack M firmly attached to the side of the inner or
moveable tub C; by this arrangement of the gear wheels the central
shaft D is revolved in one direction and the tub C in exactly the
opposite direction. N are vertical flanges attached to the shaft D,
and to the lower end of this shaft D are also attached radial arms O
to which near their outer ends are secured uprights P one to cach
arm O. The vertical flanges N, the arms O, and the uprights P
are all rigidly attached to the shaft D and revolve with it. Similar
vertical flanges R are attached to the inner sides of the inner tub C,
so that when the central shaft D and its attachments are revolved
in one direction, the tub C and flanges R are revolved in the contrary
direction, thereby throwing the water into violent commotion; through
this eddying water the clothes under operation are carried by the
arms O and uprights P whereby all the dirt upon them will be
washed off by the moving water. The part E, Figures 1 and 2, of the
top or cover of the tub C is immovably attached thereto, and to this
immovable part are hinged the parts S and T. In one or both of
these parts S and T may be inserted a transparent material as shewn
in Fig. 2, so that the progress of the operation may be seen without
opening the tub C. If desired the outer box or tub may be omitted,
and the inner cylindrical tub made stationary; this necessitates a
change in the construction and arrangement of certain of the operating
parts. The tub or body A¹ of the machine may be formed of staves
as shewn at Figures 3 and 4, and made nearly cylindrical in shape,
such body being furthermore provided with a suitable cover a** and
furnished internally with vertical ribs a. Around and upon the
upper end of the tub is an annular band 6 angular in its cross section
as shewn in Fig. 3, and so fitted to the tub as not only to hold together
the upper ends of the staves thercof, but also to cover the greater
portion of the top surface of such ends, in order to render the upper
edge more neat in appearance and also to protect the same against
accidental injury or abrasion. The band bis furthermore provided
with downwardly extending ears shewn in dotted outline a¹ Fig. 3,

page_text: and through which screws are passed to firmly secure the band to
the tub. An annular band c (angular in its cross section like the
upper band b) is fitted around and underneath the bottom edge of
the tub so as not only to bind the same together, but also to afford
a bearing or support for the lower ends of the staves to rest upon.
The band c is fixed to the tub by screws passing through upwardly
extending cars formed upon it and indicated in dotted outline at b' in
Fig. 3, and is furthermore provided with horizontal lugs c¹ which
extend inward under the bottom of the tub, and are provided with
sockets which receive the shanks d of the supporting feet d which
are held fast in the sockets by vertical set screws c¹. Situated
centrally within the tub is a vertical cylindrical shaft or standard c
having around its base a convex annular disc f, and provided near
its upper extremity with a circumferential groove f¹, the purpose of
which will presently herein appear. Placed upon the standard e
is a sleeve g to the lower end of which is secured an annular disc h.
The sleeve is furnished with any desired number of radial fins or
ribs i, the lower parts i* of which are extended outward upon the
disc so that a somewhat ogee form is given to such fins. Passing
inward through one side of the sleeve g is a pin or stud a², the inner
end of which is fitted into the circumferential groove f¹ so as to prevent
the sleeve and its appurtenances from rising in the water, in the
tub; secured upon the upper end of the sleeve is a half a* of a coupling
clutch herein-after further described. Pivotted at one end to one side
of the upper band b, as shewn at all, is a bar / which when the machine
is in use extends across the top of the tub with its outer or swinging
end held down by a spring catch * attached to the side of the tub,
the end just mentioned of the bar fitting between two spurs
provided upon the band b, and which prevent any lateral displacement
of the end of the bar. Upon the under side of the bar is an arm m¹
between which and the bar itself is placed a bevil pinion m, the boss m*
of which extends down through a circular hole or bearing in the arm,
and has formed upon it the other half m" of the coupling clutch, which
when the bar is in its horizontal position fits upon the other half or
portion upon the sleeve g. Motion is given to the pinion m by
means of another bevil pinion n, the shaft n' of which works in suitable
bearings formed upon the bar k, and is furnished at its outer end
with a crank n*. In order to use the machine the clothes or fabrics
to be washed, together with a suitable quantity of water, are placed

page_text: in the body A' and the cover a** having been secured thereon, the
bar with the parts attached thereto is brought down and secured
across the top of the tub. The crank may then be turned and
by means of the bevil pinions n, m, and the clutch a*, m", will
rotate the sleeve 9 together with its fins or ribs, which by their
rubbing action upon the clothes insures the separation of the dirt
and impurities therefrom, such separation being furthermore materially
hastened and facilitated by the currents of water or suds thrown
upward through the clothes by the actions of the lower portions **
of the ogee shaped fins or ribs just mentioned during the rotation of
the same with the sleeve. The shape of the fins furthermore will
prevent the clothes or fabric from clinging thereto and becoming twined
thereon as would be liable to occur if the fins were dispensed with.
When the cleansing or washing operation is completed the bar kis
turned up away from the top of the tub and the cover is removed,
thus enabling the interior of the tub to be readily reached; if desired
the sleeve with its appurtenances may be wholly removed by first
withdrawing the pin or stud a" therefrom. Extending upward from
one side of the upper band b are two projections to which is bolted
a strip of wood or other suitable material, which being situated in
a vertical or edgewise position affords a convenient and firm support
to a clothes wringer of any suitable kind, so that the wringer being
thus attached to the tub the clothes or fabrics may be passed directly
from the latter to and through the wringer.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated
to me as aforesaid, and having explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters
Patent as aforesaid.
First. The upright cylindrical revolving tub C in combination with
the stationary tub A as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination of the shaft D and bar E with each
other and with the tubs C and A as described and for the purpose
set forth.
Third. The combination of the gear wheels L and M with cach
other with the shaft H and with the revolving tub C, as described
and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Fourth. The combination of the gear wheels K and G with each other
with the crank shaft H and vertical shaft D, as described and for
the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the flanges N, arms O, uprights P, and
flanges R with each other, with the shaft D, and with the tub C, for
the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The annular bands b and c, so constructed and arranged as
not only to hold together the upper and lower ends of the staves, but
also to cover a greater or less portion of the upper and lower surfaces
of such ends as herein set forth.
Seventh. The detachable pin or stud a² in combination with the
tubular sleeve g carrying the radial fins or ribs, and the circumferential
groove f
the standard e as and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The ogee shaped fins i on the disc arranged to rotate
within the tub A as set forth.
Ninth. The combination of the spring catch * and spurs k¹ with
the pivotted bar k carrying the crank shaft n' and bevil pinions m, n,
for the purpose specified.
Tenth. The clutch m", a*, arranged to connect the sleeve g with
the gearing upon the bar k as herein set forth.
Eleventh. The general construction and arrangement of parts
operating as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-sixth day of August
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)