IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING MACHINES PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO SOME OTHER PURPOSES, SP
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Porritt Rothwell M.R.C.V.S of the Ribble Iron-
works Lytham in the County of Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WASHING, WRINGING, AND MANGLING MACHINES PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO SOME OTHER PURPOSES,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Porritt Rothwell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th November 1882.
JOHN PORRITT ROTHWELL M.R.C.V.S of the Ribble Ironworks Lytham in
the County of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING WRINGING AND MANGLING
MACHINES PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO SOME OTHER PURPOSES
21
The first part of the Invention relates to means for washing the articles placed
within the tub or vessel. To this end we mount within and support in an upright
position a spindle carrying a series of horizontal radial arms or pegs which act
upon the articles to be cleansed. The said spindle is connected loosely at its upper
end to a horizontal hand lever the fulcrum of which is carried by a stand bolted to
the tub or vessel by these means the articles within the tub can be agitated by
working the hand lever. In lieu of mounting radial arms or pegs on the said
spindle perforated wooden discs mounted apart on the spindle may be used
through which perforations the water is permitted to flow. The second part of the
Invention relates to means for driving the machine and consists in substituting for
the ordinary hand wheel and spur gear an arrangement of mechanism actuated by
a foot treddle whereby the arms of the attendant are free for use which I consider
to be an important advantage. In carrying out this part of the Invention I mount
within the framing of the machine a cranked shaft on one end of which a flywheel
is mounted and on the same shaft is keyed a worm which gears into a worm wheel
keyed on the end of the shaft which carries the bottom squeezing roller. The
present supplementary end gearing may be dispensed with, the top roller being
driven from the said worm wheel. The machine is actuated through the said
crank shaft to which is connected a connecting rod and foot treddle of any suitable
form or construction In another arrangement for driving the machine a friction

page_text: pinion is keyed on the cranked shaft which gears with a friction wheel on the
bottom roller shaft the mechanism being actuated by means of a foot treddle as in
the case before mentioned. In another arrangement any ordinary and suitable
arrangement of spur gearing may be employed the same being actuated by means
of the treddle arrangement hereinbefore mentioned. In addition to the advantage
gained by the operator having the free use of the hands the labour of actuating the
machine is considerably reduced. The third part of the Invention consists in the
first place in forming the steps for the rollers with steel bearing surfaces and of a
square shape in lieu of the ordinary semi-circular shape whereby the amount of
friction between the steps and roller shafts is reduced. In the second arrangement
1 dispense with the steps altogether and carry the roller shafts on small
anti-friction pulleys secured to each end frame The fourth part of the Invention
relates to means for adjusting the lift of the top roller and consists in dispensing
with the ordinary flat or curved rigid springs or weighted levers which produce a
considerable amount of friction between the moving parts of the machine. To
overcome this defect a horizontal lever carried on the top of the machine is
connected at its fulcrum end to a stand of the machine and at the opposite end of
the lever a spiral spring is connected carried by a stand or bracket and arranged to
be tightened up by means of a wing nut or other suitable appliance. The
downward thrust of the lever produced by tightening the spring is transmitted
through extension pieces to the steps or shaft of, the top roller. The fifth part of
the Invention relates to the formation and construction of the wringing or
squeezing rollers and consists in one arrangement in forming them from crossed
grain cylindrical wooden discs of any required width each disc having an internal
iron or other metal bush and the whole put on the shaft each being of an equal
diameter and the whole consolidated together by three horizontal rods passing
_through_the dis-s and end covers. In another arrangement india rubber segments.
are consolidated together in the same manner. In-all-cases-the-bottom-or_main_
roller is provided with a collar on each end within which the outer ends of the top
roller bear. When the machine is at work the expressed water from the articles
flows away within the said collars which prevent the water running onto the
gearing. The said rollers may be made from cylindrical sections of copper or other
metal secured together by internal rings and having end pieces or discs The
Invention consists in the sixth place to means for delivering the articles after
being passed through the squeezing rollers onto the front of the machine. To this
end a tappet is mounted on the driving shaft of the machine which tappet lifts a
curved or bent lever connected to the delivery board into a raised position and
immediately over the top roller which is in contact with the article and by its
rotation carries forward and delivers the article in front of the machine. The
improvements have been described in reference to washing and wringing machines
but it must be understood that parts thereof are equally applicable to other
machines as for example the first part of the Invention to churning and the
treddie arrangement to hay and chaff cutting machines, corn crushing machines and
to numerous other uses in which a hand wheel bas heretofore been used to
actuate the machines.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Porritt Rothwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th May 1883.
JOHN PORRITT ROTHWELL of the Ribble Iron Works Lytham in the County of
Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING, WRINGING AND MANGLING MACHINES;
PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO SOME OTHER PURPOSES:
The Invention relates in the first place to means for imparting rotary motion to
the rollers of wringing and mangling machines and consists in the application
thereto of a foot-lever connected by a rod to a crank. Previous to this part of the
said Invention such machines have been actuated by means of a hand wheel and
connected spur or worm gearing, or in the case of machines driven by power by means
of spur or worm gearing and driving pulley. This arrangement is objectionable
principally on account of requiring much power to overcome the considerable
friction of the parts when working the machines and such gearing often becomes
broken requiring frequent repair. This novel arrangement of driving or actuating
the said Machines is equally applicable to drive machines or apparatus for cleaning
knives, coffee grinding, turnip and chaff cutters, and to all other analogous
machines which have previous to this part of my invention boen worked by a hand
wheel and connected spur or worm gearing. By means of this novel application of
foot pedal to such machines the attendant is enabled to work the machine with a
comparatively less amount of labour and is moreover enabled to transmit a greater
amount of driving power to the machine. The foot pedal motion may if required
be applied to the present machines actuated by means of spur or worm gearing.
The second part of my Invention relates to the gearing for rotating the rollers of
wringing and mangling machines driven by hand or power and consists in the use
of frictional gear in lieu of the ordinary spur and worm gear. By these means a
more positive motion is imparted to the rollers, the articles are not liable to becomė
damaged as at present is the case and the friction is reduced to a considerable extent.
The third part of the Invention relates to an appliance to be employed for washing
or cleansing wearing apparel and other articles required to be cleansed also suitable
for churning. Within the vessel or tub containing the articles to be cleansed is
mounted an upright rod or bar carrying any suitable number of horizontal dolly-
pegs or perforated discs of wood which when the appliance is at work have a
beneficial action on the articles or contents within the tub. The upright is
reciprocated up and down by the hand lever provided with a ball and socket joint
to reduce friction; the appliance is mounted on a saddle which can be mounted on
and removed from the tub instantly by the straps. The fourth part of the Invention
relates to the bearings for wringing and mangling rollers. Previous to this part of
my Invention the shafts or spindles of the said mangling rollers have been carried
by and have rotated in metal steps or bearings which produce a considerable
amount of friction between these parts and moreover require frequent lubrication.
To remedy these defects and to reduce the friction to a minimum, I provide each
side frame of the machine with an opening to receive a guide each guide carries a
suitable anti-friction roller on the peripherie of which the roller shaft rotates and
do not require lubrication:-The fifth part of the Invention relates to novel means
for regulating the amount of pressure on the top roller and adjusted to wring or
mangle the articles. I mount on the top of the machine a suitable lever formed
with a pivot and adjusted by a spring and wing nut by means of which greater
pressure is obtained. The Invention relates in the sixth place to some novel
construction of wringing or mangling rollers. In one construction a number of
cylindrical cross grained discs or sections of wood having central square bushes of
metal are consolidated together upon a shaft.-Stay rods are passed in a longi-
tudinal direction through the sections and metal end discs. The roller thus formed
can afterwards be turned up true in the lathe In a second construction of
wringing or mangling roller and when requiring a yielding surfacë, cylindrical

page_text: sections or annular rings of vulcanized India rubber are consolidated together in a
like manner
In a third construction of roller I combine cylindrical sections of
wood with cylindrical sections of vulcanised India rubber either in alternate sections
with the wood or at the ends, by these means articles such as buttons are less
In a fourth
liable to become broken when being passed between the rollers.
construction hollow cylinders of copper or other suitable metal either alone or
combined with rubber are mounted on the roller shafts and firmly secured thereto
by means of one or more metal internal arms which are sprung on the shaft of the
roller and press against its inside. If required, rivets may be passed through the
hollow copper cylinder and said arms.
The Invention relates in the last place to means for delivering the articles in front
of machine And in order that the Invention may be more fully understood I
have caused to be appended hereto, three sheets of Drawings marked with letters of
reference and illustrating the respective improvements and constructions made in
accordance with my Invention Referring to the Drawings:-Fig 1. represents a
side view:―Fig-2 a cross section. Fig. 3. plan view of lever employed to adjust the
amount of pressure on top mangling or wringing roller:-Figs 4 and 5 are.
front and end views respectively:-Figs 6. 7 and 8 illustrate the appliance for
washing wearing or other apparel and for use in the operation of churning Fig 9.
represents a wringing or inangling roller constructed from a hollow cylindrical section
of copper or other metal C and secured on the roller shaft by three arms D but
in practice I may use only one arm. Fig 10, illustrates the formation of
wringing or mangling rollers from cross grained wood segments E, or such
segments in combination with rubber segments, or rubber segments alone may be
_employed, or rubber segments. in combination with the hollow copper cylinder.
Fig 11. represents one of the metal end-discs for the ends of the rollers and shows.
the position of the stay-rods-F-used_to_combine together the said sections of a
roller Figs 12 to 16. are respective views of a foot cast or formed with solid-
gudgeons G. The framing A of the machine is secured by stay rods H as shown
and is provided with a wooden trough mounted under the mangling rollers On
the pin or stud a cast with the side frame is mounted to rotate with the fly wheel c
(with the boss of which it is cast) the friction pinion d. Motion is imparted to
the pinion d by the foot pedal e and levers J. K the operator depressing the pedal e
through the space of about a foot. The friction pinion & and corresponding friction
driving wheel for bottom wringing or mangling roller g is shewn of a grooved
form but I may use friction gearing with plain or flat peripheries. The top roller/
and bottom roller g are carried on frictionless bearings hereinafter described. The
bottom roller by its rotation rotates in the opposite direction and by frictional
contact the top roller on which any suitable amount of pressure can be put by the
lever B spring r and wing nut s shown attached. In practice I find that a
proportional ratio of 1 to 5 between the friction pinion d'and friction wheel ƒ to
be suitable but I do not confine myself to this ratio. In order to further ensure
working contact-between the wheel fand pinion d at all times, the pinion is pressed
against upwardly by a connected bell crank lever i controlled by the spring j.
The part or space m in each side frame is made comparatively wide and is cast
with snugs or pieces n on which rest the guide o. Each guide carries an anti
friction pulley p upon the periphery of which the shafts of the rollers g. h, rotate
with little or no friction. To adjust the required amount of pressure on the articles
to be wrung or mangled by the rollers I fit loosely into sockets p the ends of a
'lover B the free end of which is acted upon by the spiral spring operated by
the wing nuts and carried in sockets formed in the framing of the machine into
which the bracket t carrying the spring case u and rod u' can be readily attached
or detached by simply hooking or unhooking it to or from the frame. The screwed
collar limits the amount of downward pressure or thrust of the lever onto the
top roller h. The apparatus for washing or cleansing wearing, or other apparel, is
shewn by Figs 6: 7 and 8. Carried by the saddle w placed on the tub is mounted
the upright y reciprocated up and down by the hand lever M. and having a ball

page_text: and socket connection to admit of easy reciprocation In one arrangement I
provide the said upright y with dolly pegs a¹ and in a second arrangement with
perforated wooden discs 6' the latter arrangement being suitable for churning:
Figs. 11 to 15 represent a form of foot for the machine legs. The foot consists of
two parts c¹ and d¹ the latter being cast solid with gudgeons G which rotate within
square recesses 123 formed as shewn and secured by the rod e² by these means
the pulley or roller is always kept in a upright position and all side movement
and wrenching action prevented-In Fig 2 a channel e' is formed by the wood
partition fextending from frame to frame. The articles passed through the
rollers ascend the channel e and the rollers g' h' carried by the spring and
bracket j tend to keep them against the periphery of the top roller which carries
them forwards in front of machine. I have more particularly described the first
part of my Invention as applied to rotate the rollers of wringing and mangling
inachines in lieu of hand gear and I would have it to be understood that the same
is equally applicable to all machines of the class hereinbefore mentioned and which
have previous to my Invention been worked by hand. Also in the case of machines
driven by steam or other motive power, as Steam Laundry machines, I combine
therewith the friction driving gear and anti friction bearings with my other
improvements. In my provisional specification reference was made to the use of
worm gearing, and to a tappit motion for delivering the articles in front of machine
and to the use of square steps for the roller shafts but I now lay no claim thereto
I would have it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact
arrangement and proportion of parts shewn as the same may be varied without
departing from the principle of my Invention what I do claim as secured to
me is
First the combination and arrangement of parts forming the machine constructed
in accordance with my Invention substantially as and for the purpose set forth an
indicated hereinbefore and in and by the accompanying Drawings:
Secondly the use of and application to machines of the class referred to of the
treddle or foot pedal and connected levers :-
Thirdly the use of anti friction rollers on which the roller shafts rotate and
thereby provide a frictionless bearing-
Fourthly the means for adjusting the pressure on the top roller substantially as
illustrated:
Fifthly the several constructions of roller substantially as described and illustrated
in the Drawings :-
==
Sixthly the appliance for delivering the articles passed between the rollers onto
the board in front of the machine :-
Seventhly the appliance for washing or cleansing wearing apparel or other
articles, also for churning purposes:
In witness whereof I the said John Porritt Rothwell have hereunto set
my hand and seal this second day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three :—
JOHN PORRITT KOTHWELL. M.R.C.V.S. (L.S.)
Signed and sealed by the said
John Porritt Rothwell in
the presence of
H. GEARING GRANT
of the firm of Bosshardt & Grant
Patent Agents
Manchester