IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING GLASSES, JARS, AND OTHER CYLINDRICAL VESSELS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wood, of Newton Heath, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR WASHING GLASSES, JARS, AND OTHER CYLINDRICAL
VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st May 1881.
THOMAS WOOD, of Newton Heath, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING GLASSES, JARS, AND OTHER
CYLINDRICAL VESSELS."
My Invention relates to an improved apparatus for cleansing cylindrical vessels
of glass, earthenware, or other materials, and consists of a movel arrangement of
revolving brushes which act upon the article to be cleansed. One cylindrical or
other suitably shaped brush is employed to wash the interior of the glass, jar, or
other vessel, and is mounted upon a central spindle which passes through a bearing
in the bottom of the receptacle containing the water and projects upward to a
sufficient height. Two or more flat or other suitably shaped brushes are also
arranged around the said central brush, so as to act upon the exterior of the article
being treated, and I prefer that the said outer brushes should move in a direction
contrary to that of the central brush, so as to prevent the article from being turned
in one or the other direction. The central spindle and brush are actuated by means
of a handle and gearing, which also actuate the frame carrying the outer brushes,
the said frame being mounted on a sleeve which surrounds a portion of the said
central spindle and revolves in an opposite direction thereto. The handle and
gearing are situated beneath and outside of the water receptacle, and the bearing
where the spindle and sleeve pass through the bottom is suitably packed so as to
prevent leakage. The spindles, gearing, and water receptacle may all be mounted
upon a frame carried in a standard and capable of being turned on its axis so as

page_text: to throw out the dirty water when required. The central spindle is also made
hollow and open at the top, or perforated in the sides, so as to allow a constant
supply of clean water to be forced through the brushes and into the receptacle,
which should also be provided with an overflow. The central and side brushes are
preferably made so as to be easily removed and replaced, and I mount the side
brushes on spring blades, which tend to press against the sides of the vessel being
acted upon, and also permit the ready introduction and removal of articles which
have a taper on the sides, as in the case of an ordinary glass tumbler. Although
primarily intended to wash cylindrical glasses and jars, my apparatus may also be
employed in the cleansing of cups and other articles having handles or protu-
berances on the sides, in which case a reciprocatory instead of a revolving motion
should be given to the brushes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
November 1881.
THOMAS WOOD, of Newton Heath, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING GLASSES, JARS, AND OTHER
CYLINDRICAL VESSELS."
My Invention relates to an improved apparatus for cleansing vessels of glass,
carthenware, or other materials, and consists of a novel arrangement of revolving
brushes which act upon the article to be cleansed. One suitably shaped brush is
employed to wash the interior of the glass, jar, or other vessel, and is mounted
upon a central spindle. Two or more flat or other suitably shaped brushes are
arranged around the said central brush, so as to act upon the exterior of the article
being treated, and I prefer that the said outer brushes should move in a direction
contrary to that of the central brush, so as to prevent the article from being turned
in one or the other direction. The central spindle and brush are actuated by means
of a handle and gearing, which also actuate the frame carrying the outer brushes,
the said frame being mounted on a sleeve which surrounds a portion of the said
central spindle and revolves in an opposite direction thereto. The central spindle
is made hollow so as to allow a constant supply of clean water to be forced into the
article being washed.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I have attached hereunto a
Sheet of Drawings, made to a scale of about six inches to the foot, and marked
with letters of reference. Referring to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical
longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a vertical cross section of a complete glass washer;
Fig. 3 being a plan of the same. In the said Figs., a is a cistern or receptacle,
which is made of sheet metal, or of wood, or other suitable material. To the end
of this cistern is secured a bracket b, which is bored to receive a hollow shaft or
sleeve c, and in the outer end of the bracket band within this shaft is fitted to
revolve a hollow spindle d. Upon the shaft c is fitted a bevel wheel e, and upon
the spindle d is fixed a corresponding wheel f. Upon a shaft g which is fitted to
revolve in a bearing formed in the bracket b is fixed a third bevel wheel h, which
gears with the other two wheels. It will be seen that when the shaft g is rotated
by means of the winch handle g' the hollow shaft and the central spindle are caused
to revolve in opposite directions. The spindle d projects into the cistern and
carries a brush i, which in the example is formed to act upon the whole of the
inner surface of an ordinary glass tumbler, which is represented in section by k.
Upon the inner end of the shaft c is fixed a carrier, which is formed with two
arms l, l, upon which are mounted brushes m, m, which act upon the outside of the
tumbler. A back view of one of these brushes is seen at Fig. 4, wherein m¹ are
two plates which form tapering sockets, into which the arm enters. The said
arms are preferably made of spring steel, or are otherwise made to spring or yield,
so that the brushes bear with an elastic pressure upon the outside of the tumbler
and accommodate themselves more readily to variations in the sizes and forms of
the tumblers or articles to be washed. A pipe n passes through the hollow spindle
and is connected with a pipe n', which is to be coupled by means of elastic tubing
or in any suitable manner to the water service pipe, or otherwise receives a supply
of water, which flows in the direction indicated by the arrows and issues out at
the end of the central brush. The tumbler to be washed is passed over the central
brush and between the outside brushes, and is held by the hand, as clearly indicated
in Fig. 1. The handle g¹ is turned, whereby the inner and outer brushes are caused
to revolve in opposite directions in contact with the inner and outer surfaces of the

page_text: tumbler. The cleansing of the tumbler is aided by the stream of water flowing
through the central pipe and by the dipping of the outer brushes at each revolution
into the water contained in the cistern. The cistern is provided with a suitable
overflow pipe or passage. The dotted lines o indicate a syphon overflow pipe,
which is jointed in order that a vertical limb may be turned down into a horizontal
position when it is desirable to empty the cistern. A removable cover p is provided
to check the splashing over of the water. Although I have selected for illustration
a machine adapted more particularly to the washing of glass tumblers, it must be
understood that by applying brushes of suitable formation, jars, cups, and other
articles may be washed. In the cases of cups or articles having handles the brushes
are caused to reciprocate by turning the handle "backwards and forwards." In
some cases I arrange for the brushes to revolve around a vertical axis instead of
around a horizontal axis, but I prefer the horizontal arrangement partly for the
reason that when the shafts are vertical they have to pass through stuffing boxes
at the bottom of the cistern and the water is liable to escape through the bearings.
If considered to be advisable the brushes might readily be arranged to be driven
by power, and more than one set might be applied to a single cistern. One outer
brush might be considered to be sufficient, especially in the cases of machines
adapted to be used in the washing of cups or other handled articles.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which I carry the same into practical effect, I would have it to be
understood in conclusion that I claim,―
First. The apparatus, constructed and acting substantially as and for the purpose
set forth and indicated hereinbefore, and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The combination of interior and exterior brushes revolving in
opposite directions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated.
And, Lastly. The combination of interior and exterior brushes caused to revolve
and supplied with water, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and
indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wood, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
41, John Dalton St.,
Manchester
(Agent for the Patentee).
THOMAS WOOD. (L.S.)