Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 29th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
I, JAMES HESELWOOD of Infirmary Street Leeds in the County of York Engineer
and Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to washing machines to be used in Laundries or where a
considerable quantity of linen is required to, be washed at one operation and has for
its object a more effective and economical service than is at present generally obtained
from such machines as usually constructed.
These Improvements consist in a modified form of construction of the washing
vessel, or in substituting for the "cylinder" an equivalent vessel of novel construction
and in the gearing and appliances for actuating and operating the vessel.
The vessel is constructed of such a form that when rotated the linen or other
contents will fall with more or less force from one part of the interior of the vessel
to another instead of rolling as they do in a cylindrical vessel. A convenient form of
vessel for the purpose of my invention is a rectangular vessel constructed of wood or
a suitable metal mounted or provided with trunnions through which steam and water
may be admitted to the interior of the vessel. The interior surface of the vessel is
corrugated or fluted or has a similar surface produced or formed by suitably-shaped
bars or projections attached thereto and these corrugations or irregularities may cover
the whole or part of the surface. In a vessel having its length greater than any other
dimensions the corrugations flutings or equivalent irregularities of surface may at the
ends be transverse and parallel and be confined at the sides to near the mid distance
between the ends and slightly bulged inwards at the centre. Such a vessel it is pre-
ferred to mount so that its longest axis is at right angles to the axis of rotation as
such a method of mounting gives a longer fall for the linen or other contents of the
vessel while the corrugations or their equivalent at the mid distance between the ends
tend at the same time to squeeze the linen or other articles on their descent during
rotation from one end of the vessel to the other and by this means to facilitate and
render more complete the cleansing operation.
The vessel is intermittently rotated in such a manner that it rests or dwells in a
vertical position for a short period twice in every complete revolution. This arrange-

page_text: ment permits two vessels to be operated from one driving source, one of the vessels
receiving a half turn while the other is at rest while the period of rest permits the
linen to settle down and prevents any rolling motion.
A convenient means of obtaining the. intermittent motion and of operating the
vessel is as follows: The first motion shaft is run at a comparatively high speed and
is provided with a fly wheel and a pinion gearing into a wheel on the second motion
shaft which also carries a crank or crank pin. The vessel is rotated by means of a
pinion mounted on one of its trunnions and gearing into a wheel on a third motion
shaft to which intermittent motion is imparted by means of a connecting rod coupled
at one end to the crank or pin on the second motion shaft. The other end of the
connecting rod will have consequently a reciprocal motion and it is so formed or
provided with a pawl or other device as to engage with a ratchet wheel upon the third
shaft and move it in one direction and during either the forward or the backward
motion of the rod only. The number of teeth on the ratchet wheel and on the wheel
and pinion driving the vessel are such that for every impulse given to the ratchet
wheel the vessel is turned through half a revolution. The vessel may he put out of
motion by the usual gear such as a fast and loose pulley on the driving shaft, but
when two vessels are operated from the same driving shaft this would involve
stoppage of both vessels. To avoid this, a lifting and lowering arrangement of levers
and supports or an equivalent arrangement for lifting and lowering the connecting
rod or its attached pawl or engaging device out of or into gear with the teeth of the
ratchet wheel may be adopted so that one vessel may be stopped without interfering
with the motion of the other.
Provision may be made for moving the vessel into any required position by means
of a wheel mounted upon the free trunnion and gearing into a pinion up the axis of
which a hand wheel is fixed, this apparatus is put out of gear during the ordinary
motion of the vessel.
The vessel is closed by a door or lid near one end and the door may be secured by
a screw working through a nut in a cross bar; the cross bar may be fitted in slides
attached to the sides of the vessel or be removable so as to obtain free access to the
interior through the doorway or opening.
1000

page_text: I, JAMES HESELWOOD of Infirmary Street Leeds in the County of York Engineer
and Manufacturer, 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 to washing machines to be used in Laundries or where a
considerable quantity of linen is required to be washed at one operation, and has for
its object a more effective and economical service than is at present generally obtained
from such machines as usually constructed.
These Improvements consist in a modified form of construction of the washing
vessel, or in substituting for the "cylinder" an equivalent vessel of novel construction,
and in gearing and appliances for actuating and operating the vessel.
The Vessel is constructed of such a form that when rotated the linen or other
contents will fall with more or less force from one part of the interior of the vessel to
another instead of rolling as they do in a cylindrical or polygonal vessel. A con-
venient form of vessel for the purpose of my invention is a rectangular vessel
constructed of wood or a suitable metal mounted or provided with trunnions through
which steam and water may be admitted to the interior of the vessel. The interior
surface of the vessel is corrugated or fluted or has a similar surface produced or
formed by suitably shaped bars or projections attached thereto and these corrugations
or irregularities may cover the whole or part of the surface. In a vessel having its
length greater than any other dimensions the corrugations flutings or equivalent
irregularities of surface may at the ends be transverse and parallel and be confined
at the sides to near the mid distance between the ends and slightly bulged inwards at
the centre. Such a vessel it is preferred to mount so that its longest axis is at right
angles to the axis of rotation as such a method of mounting gives a longer fall for
the linen or other contents of the vessel while the corrugations or their equivalent at
the mid-distance between the ends tend at the same time to squeeze the linen or other
articles on their descent during rotation from one end of the vessel to the other and
by this means to facilitate and render more complete the cleansing operation.
The vessel is intermittently rotated in such a manner that it may rest or dwell in a
vertical position for a short period twice in every complete revolution. This arrange-
ment permits two vessels to be operated from one driving source, one of the vessels
receiving a half turn while the other is at rest; while the period of rest permits the
linen to settle down and prevents any rolling motion.
A convenient means of obtaining the intermittent motion and of operating the vessel
is as follows:-The first motion shaft is run at a comparatively high speed and is
provided with a fly wheel and a pinion gearing into a wheel on the second motion
shaft which also carries a crank or crank pin. The vessel is rotated by means of a
pinion mounted on one of its trunnions and gearing into a wheel on a third motion
shaft to which intermittent motion is imparted by means of a connecting rod coupled

page_text: at one end to the crank or pin on the second motion shaft. The other end of the
connecting rod will have consequently a reciprocal motion and it is so formed or
provided with a pawl or other device as to engage with a ratchet wheel upon the third
shaft and move it in one direction and during either the forward or the backward
motion of the rod only. The number of teeth on the ratchet wheel and on the wheel
and pinion driving the vessel are such that for every impulse given to the ratchet
wheel the vessel is turned through half a revolution. The vessel may be put out of
motion by the usual gear such as a fast and loose pulley on the driving shaft, but
when two vessels are operated from the same driving shaft this would involve stoppage
of both vessels. To avoid this, a lifting and lowering arrangement of levers and
supports or an equivalent arrangement for lifting and lowering the connecting rod or
its attached pawl or engaging device out of or into gear with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel may be adopted so that one vessel may be stopped without interfering with the
motion of the other.
Provision may be made for moving the vessel into any required position by means
of a wheel mounted upon the free trunnion and gearing into a pinion upon the axis
of which a hand wheel is fixed; this apparatus is put out of gear during the ordinary
motion of the vessel.
The vessel is closed by a door or lid near one end and the door may be secured by
a screw working through a nut in a cross bar; the cross bar may be fitted in slides
attached to the sides of the vessel or be removable so as to obtain free access to the
interior through the doorway or opening.
There are appended hereto two sheets of drawings illustrating in what manner
these Improvements may be carried into practical effect. In each of the Figures
similar parts are denoted by similar letters to which reference is hereinafter made.
Fig. 1. represents an end view and Fig. 2 a plan of a washing machine constructed
according to these Improvements Fig. 3. is a view of the brake appararus; and
Fig. 4. is a view of a portion of the driving mechanism.
The drawings illustrate a duplex machine which is a more convenient and
economical arrangement than one in which a single vessel only is used.
A is the vessel in which the linen or clothes are washed; this vessel has a
rectangular cross section transverse to its axis and may either be square or oblong.
The vessel is carried by trunnions in suitable bearings on the framing of the machine.
B is the first motion shaft on which are mounted fast and loose pulleys C, fly wheels 1)
and spur pinions E which gear into spur wheels F mounted upon a second shaft
parallel with B. A crank pin G is secured to each of the wheels F. Motion is
imparted from the second shaft to a third shaft H parallel with the other two shafts
by means of connecting rods I attached to the crank pins. The connecting rods
engage at their free ends with ratchet wheels J or the equivalent thereto as shown
in Fig. 4. As illustrated there are six teeth in the ratchet wheel having a pitch about
equal to the throw of the crank so that for every revolution of the wheels F each of
the ratchet wheels J rotate one sixth of a revolution during the backward stroke of its
connecting rod and remains stationary during the forward stroke. The crank pins
are arranged at opposite diameters or 180 degrees apart, so that while one connecting
rod is making its forward stroke the other rod is making its backward stroke and
consequently the wheels J rotate intermittently in the same direction, one wheel
rotating while the other is at rest. This arrangement ensures a more uniform load
for driving than can be secured when one vessel only is employed. The wheels J are
mounted upon the shaft H which may be divided and mutually supported at some
point between the two wheels. Upon the shaft H there are also fixed the two spur
wheels K which gear into pinions L one of which is fixed upon each of the inner
trunnions of the washing vessel. The pinions L, when the ratchet wheel has six teeth
have one third the diameter of the wheels K and consequently the washing vessels
each make one half revolution for each revolution of the wheels F and partake of the
intermittent motion of the wheels J. From the preceding description it follows that
while one of the vessels A is making a half revolution the other is at rest.
The hereinbefore described arrangement for lifting and lowering the connecting

page_text: rod or its pawl or engaging device into or out of gear with the teeth of the ratchet-
wheel for the purpose of putting the vessel into or out of action is shown in Figs. 1
and 2 where W is the handle of a lever which when depressed by means of the handle
is lifted at its opposite end which carries a stud or projection X below the connecting
rod which is thereby lifted out of gear with the wheel J.
To prevent accidental motion of the vessel A during its period of rest an automatic
brake may be employed as shown in Figs. 1 2 and 3. M is a strap passing round
the brake wheel N and fixed at one end. The other end is attached to a coupling rod
by means of which it is secured to the brake lever O. Immediately over the brake
lever there is keyed on the end of the shaft H a six armed wheel P having a friction
bowl mounted upon the end of each arm. As these arms rotate, they alternately
depress and release the brake lever and they are fixed upon the shaft in such a
position that the brake lever is depressed during the period of rest of the vessel and
released when the vessel is in motion. Spiral springs V are employed as indicated
and well understood to permit a yielding action.
For the purpose of independently moving the vessel into any desired position a
wheel Q is fixed upon the outer end of the trunnion and gears into a pinion upon
the axis of which a hand wheel S is fixed. During the operation of the machine in
the usual manner these wheels may be put out of gear by sliding the pinion along its
shaft out of contact with the wheel or by other known means or devices.
The door or lid of the vessel is indicated at T and pipes by means of which steam
and water may be admitted to the vessels through the hollow trunnions at U.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the herein before described
devices and arrangements for operating the vessels as these may be varied within very
wide limits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same may be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) In washing Machines of the type hereinbefore described, a vessel having a
rectangular cross section and mounted so as to be capable of being rotated on
trunnions, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and as illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
(2) In Washing Machines, the combination with a rectangular vessel, of gearing
and devices for intermittently rotating the vessel in such a manner that a period of
rest follows each somi revolution; substantially as hereinbefore described.
(3) In Washing Machines, gearing and devices for intermittently rotating the
vessel, consisting of the wheel F the crank and connecting rod having a pawl or
engaging device, a ratchet wheel and the wheel and pinion K L all constructed
arranged and operated substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
(4) In washing Machines, the combination of two rectangular rotating vessels
with two sets of gearing and devices for operating the same, the operating gearing
and devices being arranged and constructed to rotate each vessel alternately through
a semi-revolution and thereafter to permit a period of rest, the period of rest of one
vessel corresponding to the period of motion of the other vessel, substantially as
hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of December A.D. 1887
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.