IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Harris Lake at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st May 1883. Communicated to
him from abroad by Karl Wlk, of Graz, in the Empire of Austria.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
[a communication to him from abroad by Karl Wlk, of Graz, in the Empire of
Austria.]
1
t
This invention relates to improvements in washing machines
The object of the present invention is to provide a machine, by means of which
the thorough, cheap and rapid washing of all kinds of linen can be performed in a
very simple and easy manner. The most perfect cleansing of the linen is effected
by warm soap-water, to which a very small quantity of lye-essence is added; this
enables the application of chloride of lime or of caustic liquids to be dispensed with,
which ingredients now are in common use.
The improved washing machine can be applied both to the cleaning of very
delicate textures, such as lace, window-curtains or the like and to the washing of
very coarse and thick linen. The beating, tossing and rubbing of the linen against
the wash-boards or by brushes is avoided, so that mechanical injury or tearing of
the linen cannot occur. The cleaning of the soiled linen is performed by this new
washing machine merely through the warm soap-water being alternately pressed
into and out of the mass of the linen, during which operation the soap-water is
constantly maintained in motion and the pressure is constantly acting on all parts
of the linen.
'
According to the said invention I provide an outer tub or reservoir for
containing the soap-water and in which is inserted a second reservoir or tub, the
bottom and the lower part of the side walls of which are perforated by means of a
lever; the second reservoir is made to move up and down inside the outer reservoir.
The stroke of the second reservoir which contains the linen is limited by oscillating
arms fastened to a vertical arbor or spindle. These oscillating arms serve to press
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out the soap-water which enters through apertures into the second reservoir and
is absorbed by the linen
In order to cause the oscillating arms to adapt themselves to the uneven surface
of the linen in the second reservoir they are fastened movably to a cross or triangle
by bolts and on their under surface are provided with teeth. These teeth are
disposed differently on each arm in order to have all parts of the linen successively
subjected to an uniform and regular pressure.
The said cross or triangle is suspended by a bow on the end of the said vertical
spindle which is prismatic in shape; the aperture of the said bow is made
sufficiently large and the prismatical end of the spindle, between a flange and a
button of the bottom-end, is made sufficiently long so as to give the said cross or
triangle space enough to follow the up-and-down movement of the second reservoir
and to take a somewhat oblique position if necessary.
The vertical spindle is loosely encircled and maintained in its position by cross
beams united together. The ascending movement of the spindle is limited by the
said flange whilst its descending movement is limited by a stay-hoop.
The second reservoir is suspended at one end of the said lever by means of rods
pivotted to the bottom support of the said reservoir. By raising and lowering the
lever either by hand or by any mechanical power, the reservoir is raised and
lowered in the outer reservoir or tub. When the second reservoir is lowered the
soap-water penetrates through the apertures therein and saturates the linen. In
order to ensure a speedy saturation of the linen and to prevent the water from
rising too high between the walls of the two reservoirs the wall of the second
reservoir is provided on its outer side above the perforated part with a protruding
rim or flange which nearly reaches the inner side of the outer reservoir; when
lowering. the second reservoir this flange drives the water through the apertures
into the linen. When the said second reservoir is raised the mass of linen is
pressed against the oscillating arms, the vertical spindle is raised until its flange
impinges against one of the cross-beams, and the water is partially removed from
the linen and flows through the apertures into the outer reservoir. The top end
of the vertical spindle is provided with a device whereby it is revolved, consisting
of a wheel provided with pins and a wedge provided with a counter-weight
It is evident that the cleaning of coarse linen requires more time and conse-
quently a greater number of up-and-down strokes of the second reservoir than the
washing of fine linen. The number of strokes nécessary for the cleaning of each
kind of linen can be determined. In order to indicate the number of strokes
made by the second reservoir the washing machine is provided with a registering
apparatus.
The said registering apparatus consists of a ratchet wheel provided with say
twenty (20) teeth with which engages a pawl fastened to a slide. The axle of the
ratchet-wheel is provided with a hand indicating, upon a dial suitably divided, the
number of strokes of the said second reservoir.
On the said wheel are say ten pins, one of which is extended and forms, an
angle or elbow. Before the washing-machine is started this elbow is placed near
the right side of the slide. When the second reservoir has made say nine up-and-
down strokes the elbow comes immediately below the said slide; at the tenth lifting
of the second reservoir the angle or elbow impinges against the slide and raises it,
whereby the ratchet-wheel is turned one tooth forward and the hand of the dial
advances. Thus every tenth up-and-down stroke of the second reservoir is marked
on the dial. The division of the dial and the number of the pins of the wheel can
be varied at will.
As the vertical spindle makes a full revolution the oscillating arms successively
bear upon different parts of the linen so that all parts of the same are subject to an
equal and uniform pressure.
:
When the washing of the linen is completed the screws which fasten the bow to
one of the cross-beams are loosened and the cross beams together with the

page_text: registering apparatus, the vertical spindle, and the oscillating arms are removed
from the reservoir. The lever is then lowered and fixed in this position by a hook
when the washed linen can be taken out of the reservoir
In order to facilitate the disengagement of the lever from the outer reservoir
and the rods, angular bolts are provided with pegs. The fastenings of the lever
is performed by introducing the said angular bolts with their pegs into slots in
stay plates or bows and by turning the angular bolts say 90°; the peg is placed
behind the stay plate or bow whereby the said bolt is prevented from falling out.