IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM WASHERS FOR CLOTHES AND WEARING APPAREL
Year: 1885

page_text: We JOHN WINNARD 51 Byrom St. Hulme, Manchester, Coppersmith, and
WILLIAM DEWHURST 7 Sefton St Bradford, near Manchester, Tinplate Worker,
both in the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM WASHERS FOR CLOTHES AND WEARING APPAREL
to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to the use of Steam for Washing Purposes.
The apparatus consists preferably of a cylinder, but can be made of any other
form and of any suitable metal. The cylinder or pan is closed on the top by a lid
or cover with handles attached for removing the same. The cylinder or pan is
fitted into the top of an ordinary set pot, copper or laundry boiler, and has a ring
attached on the outside to hold the cylinder in position and make a joint to keep
the steam inside of boiler.
The bottom of the cylinder is perforated and carries a perforated central tube
and three or more semi-circular perforated tubes at the sides, nearly to the top of
the cylinder. The semi-circular tubes at the sides are open at the bottom but
closed at the top, the central tube is open at the bottom and contracted in area at
the top.
On the underside of the lid or cover is attached an inverted dish or cone coming
within a short distance of the top of perforated central tube. The set pot, copper
or laundry boiler being about half filled with water and mixed with soap or lyes
ordinarly used for washing purposes the apparatus is fixed as above stated and
filled with the steeped clothes or apparel to be washed, the water in the boiler
being heated by an ordinary coal fire or gas. The steam generated from the water
in the boiler passes up the central and semi-circular perforated tubes at the sides,
thereby causing an equal distribution of steam throughout the clothes contained in
the cylinder. The steam that passes through the contracted area of the central
tube strikes the inverted dish or cone on the underside of lid or cover and causes
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page_text: it to be distributed over the top of the clothes. As the steam condenses it
percolates among the clothes and carries the dirt exuded from them through the
perforated bottom into the boiler. When the clothes are sufficiently steamed,
rinsing in cold water is all that is required to complete the operation of washing.
The apparatus can be made self-contained to be heated by a coal fire, gas, or any
suitable stove.
it to be distributed over the top of the clothes. As the steam condenses it
percolates among the clothes and carries the dirt exuded from them through the
perforated bottom into the boiler. When the clothes are sufficiently steamed,
rinsing in cold water is all that is required to complete the operation of washing.
The apparatus can be made self-contained to be heated by a coal fire, gas, or any
suitable stove.
The advantages claimed for our invention are as follows:-
=
Firstly. Simplicity of construction.
Secondly. No mechanical appliances.
Thirdly. A good bleacher and disinfectant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Washers for Clothes and Wearing
Apparel.
We JOHN WINNARD 51 Byrom Street Hulme, Manchester, Coppersmith and
WILLIAM DEWHURST 7 Sefton Street Bradford near Manchester Tinplate worker
both in the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM WASHERS FOR CLOTHES AND WEARING APPAREL, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our Invention relates to the use of steam for washing purposes. The apparatus
consists preferably of a cylinder but can be made of any other form and of any
suitable metal. The cylinder or pan is closed on the top by a lid or cover with
handles attached for removing the same. The cylinder or pan is fitted into the
top of an ordinary set pot, copper or laundry boiler and has a ring attached on the
outside to hold the cylinder in position and make a joint to keep the steam inside
of boiler. The bottom of the cylinder is perforated and carries a perforated central
tube and three or more semi-circular tubes at the sides and are open at the bottom
but closed at the top, the central tube is open at the bottom, and contracted in area
at the top.
On the underside of the lid or cover is attached an inverted dish or cone coming
within a short distance of the top of perforated central tube. The set pot, copper
or laundry boiler being about half filled with water and mixed with soap or lyes
ordinarly used for washing purposes, the apparatus is fixed as above stated and
filled with the steeped clothes, or apparel to be washed, the water in the boiler
being heated by an ordinary coal fire or gas.
The steam generated from the water in the boiler passes up and through the
central and semi-circular perforated tubes at the sides thereby causing an equal
distribution of steam throughout the clothes contained in the cylinder.
The steam that passes through the contracted area of the central tube strikes the
inverted dish or cone on the underside of lid or cover and causes it to be distributed
over the top of the clothes. As the steam condenses it percolates among the clothes
and carries the dirt exuded from them through the perforated bottom into the
boiler. When the clothes are sufficiently steamed, rinsing in cold water is all that
is required to complete the operation of washing.
The apparatus can be made self-contained to be heated by a coal fire, gas or any
suitable stove. And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood we
now proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall
refer to the several figures on the annexed drawing the letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan on line 1. 1.
The boiler A shown in dotted lines having been half filled with water mixed
with soap or lyes the cylinder B is then placed in position as shown. The steam
generated from the water in the boiler A passes up and through the central tube C

page_text: and semi-circular tubes D at the sides. The steam also passes through the top of
the central tube C and strikes the dish or cone E on the underside of the lid
and disperses over the top of the clothes. As the steam condenses it percolates
among the clothes and passes through the holes F in the bottom G.
Fig. 3 shows an outside elevation of the apparatus placed on a pan H arranged
to be heated by gas.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the pan H, the operations being identical as before stated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
Firstly. Simplicity of construction.
Secondly. No mechanical appliances.
Thirdly. A good bleacer and disinfectant.