Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Washing Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 20th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Washing
Machines.
1, JOHN HOWARTH of 7, Standish Street, Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Washing Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to those machines having the dolly, cylinder
or like agitator spindle or neck horizontally disposed in bearings or journals near the
centre of the wash tub or box; and is designed to prevent the escape of water through
such bearings or journals to the exterior of the tub or box, and thereby obviate a
most objectional feature now existing in this class of washing machines.
For this purpose 1 mount the dolly, cylinder or like agitator in bearings inside the
tub or box, so as to prevent the possibility of the water escaping from the tub or box
to the exterior.
I actuate the dolly, cylinder or like agitator through the medium of two or more
tooth wheels, one of which is fixed to a short shaft which projects through a journal
or bearing near the top of the tub or box, this shaft is provided with an handle, which
when turned causes the wheel at its other extremity to actuate the dolly, cylinder or
like agitator. A pair of sprocket wheels and chain, if desired may be used for the
same purposo.
Dated this 19th day of January 1887
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Washing
Machines.
I, JOHN HOWARTH of 7, Standish Street, Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Washing Machine Maker, 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 more particularly to those machines, having the dolly,
cylinder or like agitator spindle, or neck horizontally disposed in bearings or journals
near the centre of the wash tub or box; and is designed to prevent the escape of water
through such bearing or journals to the exterior of the tub or box, and thereby
obviate a most objectional feature now existing in this class of Washing Machines.
For this purpose, I mount the dolly, cylinder, or like agitator, in bearings inside the
tub or box, and so as to prevent the possibility of water escaping from the tub or box
to the exterior, actuate the dolly, cylinder, or like agitator through the inedium of
two or more toothed wheels, one of which is fixed to a short shaft, which projects
through a journal or bearing near the top of the wash tub or box. This shaft is
provided with a handle, which, when turned, causes the wheel at the other extremity
of the shaft, to actuate the dolly, cylinder or like agitator. A pair of sprocket wheels
and chain may, if desired, be used for the same purpose.
;
And in order that my invention may be properly understood, and readily carried
into practical effect, I have hereunto attached the accompanying sheet of drawings,
marked with figures and letters of reference, the same letters referring to the same
parts in the various views and figures. Fig. 1 is an elevation of a Washing Machine
and coke stove combined, a portion of the wash box is removed to shew the interior
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan of Fig. 1, in which view the cover of
the wash box is removed, shewing the perforations of the cylinder or agitator and
wheels to actuate the same. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the coke stove, taken
immediately below the wash box. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively elevation and plan
of an ordinary gas stove for washing machines, and which may be substituted, if
desired, for the coke stove. A is the wash tub containing the cylinder B, within
which is deposited the articles to be washed. The cylinder may be provided with
pegs C and troughs D, as described in the specification of the patent granted to me,
dated the 2nd day of February 1884 numbered 2595.
The essential feature of my present invention consists in an arrangement of
mechanism to remove the handle shaft E from a position horizontal or thereabouts
with the centre or axis of the cylinder, to a position, as near as possible, to the top
of the machine, to prevent the water and suds escaping through the journal or
bearing of the handle shaft to the exterior, and to dispense with the necessity of a
stuffing box.
To effect this desirable object, 1 fix to the axis or to the side of the cylinder, a toothed

page_text: wheel F, which gears into toothed wheel G, secured to handle shaft E. The
journal or bearing of this shaft is secured to the side of the wash tub by screws G¹,
so that the wheel G may be removed when required, to allow the cylinder to be taken
from the wash tub, that the various parts of the apparatus may be thoroughly cleansed.
In addition to the wheels F and G, one or more carrier or intermediate wheels may
be used; but in all cases it is intended, that the journal or bearing of the handle shaft
be placed in a position near the top of the wash tub; or a pair of sprocket wheels
may be substituted for the wheels F and G, one secured to the axis or to the side of the
cylinder, whilst the other is fixed to the handle shaft, mounted in the journal or
bearing at the top of the wash tub, both wheels being geared together by a sprocket
chain for the like purpose.
The fuel is charged through an opening or door at I, seen in Fig. 1, and deposited
upon the grate bars J, seen in Fig. 4, from which the products of combustion are
conveyed around the end of the partition K, along passage M, around the end of
partition N, and from thence along passage O, to the atmosphere.
The heated gases or products of combustion are thus made to circulate in a
serpentine manner, immediately beneath the wash tub, and thereby produce a most
effective heating medium for boiling the water inside the wash tub.
The apparatus shewn in Figs. 5 and 6 for heating the water by gas is so well
known and understood as to require no further description, and may be used in
substitution of the coke stove if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The arrangement of gear wheels F and G or similar wheels, placed one above
the other, so that the handle shaft E and its journal may be placed in a position near
the top of the machine, substantially as described and illustrated for the purpose
set forth.
2. The general arrangement and combination of the various parts as shewn and
described in reference to Figs. 1 and 2.