Improvements in and relating to Washing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Washing Machines.
I WILLIAM FLUX, Junior, of 113, Whitworth Road, Gosport, in the County of
Hampshire, Laundryman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:―
My invention relates to washing machines and comprises various improvements
hereinafter described.
The main object of my said invention is to provide a simple and effective
machine for washing clothes and the like.
My improved washing machine can be driven by steam or any other motive
power.
In making a washing machine according to one form or modification of my
invention provide a fixed circular tub or vessel of wood or other suitable
material and within this tub another tub in which are placed the clothes, and
washing liquid.
The inner tub is mounted upon antifriction rollers, working in bearings fixed
to the bottom of this tub, or the roller bearings, may be fixed to the upper side
of the bottom of the outer tub. the bottom of the inner tub, would then run
upon the rollers instead of the rollers (when fixed to the bottom of the inner
tub) running upon the upper side of the outer tub, either method may be adopted
as desired.
A space, or chamber is thus formed under the inner tub, in depth proportionate
to the diameter of these rollers, plus the space required for the roller bearings.
A vertical spindle, or shaft passes down through the bottom of the inner tub
at the centre of same, taking its bearing at the bottom end, in a socket provided
on the bottom of the outer tub, or in other suitable bearing; the upper part of
the vertical spindle is supported and works in a bearing provided on framework
erected above and over the tub; the inner tub is caused to rotate by turning
this vertical spindle-to which it is attached-by the mechanism or similar thereto
hereinafter described.
Across and above the tub at a suitable height I fit a crank shaft mounted and
working in bearings provided upon the before mentioned framework, a worm or
endless screw is fitted upon or formed out of this shaft at about the centre of its
length which gears with a worm wheel, fitted and keyed to the vertical spindle or
shaft at the top part of same.
Upon turning the crank shaft the vertical spindle is caused to rotate carrying
with it the inner tub to which it is attached (as hereinbefore stated), I do not
however limit myself to the use of this exact form of gearing but any suitable
mechanism may be employed to turn the inner tub.
Connected to cranks provided on the before mentioned crank shaft are stirrups,
and to the stirrups, rods which are again connected at the bottom part to plungers
or dollies, each stirrup pivots or hinges on its corresponding rod on a crank pin
passing through the former and the latter, and the rods work up and down
vertically in guides provided upon part of the cross framing.
The dollies which may be in number as desired and in proportion to the size of
the tub are free to move up and down to a limited extent on the connecting rods,
and following upon the revolution of the crank shaft the dollies are lifted and then
dropped, and upon the bottom part coming in contact with the solid body of
clothes they (the dollies) may slide up the connecting rods, thus the force of the
blows delivered upon the clothes is moderated and such solid blows are avoided as
would follow if the dollies were fixed to the connecting rods, the force of the blows

page_text: thus given being about the same no matter what depth of clothes there may be in
the tub.
The maximum drop of the dollies can be regulated at will by adjusting them
upon the connecting rods.
The crank shaft may be turned by a strap passing over a drum keyed to same or
by bevel wheel gear and shafting or other suitable mechanism.
Further, I introduce an inlet pipe or pipes into the space formed between the
bottoms of the two tubs, steam, air, or water may be injected through these pipes
into this space and thence into the inner tub through holes provided in the bottom
of same, thereby causing the clothes to be moved up and down simultaneously with
the revolutions of the inner tub.
The dirty water from the latter can also drain through these holes and can be
drawn off from the space between the tubs, and further clean water supplied.
I prefer to provide a casing-forming part of the inner tub-of considerable
diameter around the vertical shaft so that the clothes are kept away from the
centre of tub.
My improvements relating to washing machines, essentially consist in,
First, of a tub or vessel-in which the clothes are placed-which revolves
horizontally within another somewhat larger fixed tub or vessel the washing fluid
communicating with both vessels at the same time.
Second, of dollies or plungers working up and down in the inner vessel and
which are free to recoil at any time during their downward stroke, upon coming
in contact with the more or less solid body of clothes.
Third, the forcible injection of air, water, or steam into a space provided between
the two tubs and from thence into the inner tub.
But I do not limit myself to the employment of the particular means and
mechanism as hereinbefore described to attain these objects, but any other suitable
means and mechanism may be employed for the purpose of securing the essential
features of my invention.
Dated this 28th day of July 1891.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Washing Machines.
I WILLIAM FLUX Junior of 113 Whitworth Road, Gosport, in the County of
Hampshire, Laundryman, 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 :-
My invention relates to washing machines, and comprises varies improvements
hereinafter described.
A
The main object of my said invention is to provide a simple and effective
machine for washing clothes and the like.
My improved washing machine can be driven by steam or any other motive
power.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe 4
same with reference to the accompanying drawing in which
Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation taken on line a, a.
Fig. 2, a plan at and below the line b, b.
Fig. 3, a sectional elevation taken on line c, c, and
Fig. 4, a plan on top of Figs. 1, and 3, showing one form of my improved 5
washing machine.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
In the form of my washing machine shown in the said figs., I provide a fixed
circular tub or vessel d, made of wood or other suitable material, and within this

page_text: tub another tub or vessel e, arranged to revolve horizontally within the tub d,
being actuated by suitable mechanism. In the tub e, I place the articles required
to be washed and the washing liquid.
The tub e, revolves upon suitable antifriction rollers,, fitted in manner and in
position as shown, or in other convenient way for the purpose in view.
The tub e, being smaller than the fixed one d, both in diameter and depth-a
space is thus formed under and around the former for the purpose hereinafter more
fully described. The tub e, is made to rotate by means of any suitable mechanism,
such as that shewn in the accompanying drawing, in which g, is a vertical spindle
or shaft which passes down through the bottom e, of the inner tub at the centre of
same into a socket bearing e², secured on the upper side of the bottom of the outer
tub d, the upper part of the spindle g, is supported at g', in a suitable bearing pro-
vided on the framework A, erected above and across the tubs. Upon this
framework, at a convenient height above the tubs, I mount a horizontal crank
shaft B, which works in bearings B', B', secured upon the framework A, and
upon, and at about the centre of the length of, the shaft B, I provide a worm or
endless screw B³, which gears with a worm wheel C, keyed upon the vertical
spindle g. To the various cranks h, h, of the crank shaft B, I connect stirrups i, i,
and to the latter rods ¹, i', which in turn are connected at 2, 3, to other rods 1³, 1³,
which pass loosely through the plungers or dollies D the latter being suspended
upon these rods 3, 3. Each stirrup pivots at j, j, on its corresponding rod it, i', on
a pin passing through the former and the latter and the rods i, i, are arranged to
work up and down vertically in guides k, provided upon the cross framing. The
connection of the dollies D, to the rods 3,, is a free one, that is, they (the dollies)
are free to slide up and down to a limited extent upon the said rods, being guided
and steadied in their vertical travel in the guide frame E, the maximum drop or
travel of the dollies can be regulated at will by adjusting the screw nuts 1, l, upon
the bottom part of the rods i³, i³.
The action of my complete washing machine is as follows. Upon turning the
crank shaft B, the vertical spindle g, is thereby caused to rotate, carrying with it
the tube, to which it is attached, simultaneously the dollies are moved up and down,
in turn, by means of the cranks h, h, to which they are attached, upon the bottom
part of the dollies coming in contact with the more or less solid body of clothes in
the tub e, they (the dollies) are free to recoil sliding up their respective rods ³, ³,
thus the force of the blows delivered upon the clothes are moderated, and such
solid blows are avoided as would follow if the dollies were fixed upon the rods ³, 23.
The dollies may be in number as desired in proportion to the size of the tub e.
The mechanism described may be actuated by means of a belt passing over a
pulley keyed to the crank shaft B, or by bevel wheel gear or other suitable
means.
Further I introduce inlet pipes m, m, into the space n, under the bottom of the
tub e, steam, air, or water, under pressure may be injected through these pipes into
this space and thence into the tube, through the holes p, p, provided in the bottom
of same thereby causing the articles in the tub e, to be moved up and down
simultaneously with the revolutions of the tub and the up and down motion of the
dollies.
The dirty water from the tub e, can also drain through these holes p, p, and then
be drawn off from the space n, as desired at the tap g, and further clean water
introduced into the tub e, at the top part of same. I prefer to provide a casing r,
(forming part of the tub e,) of considerable diameter around the vertical shaft g, so
that the clothes are kept away from the centre of the tub.
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
1st. The improved apparatus constructed and arranged to operate as a washing
machine substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

page_text: 2nd. A washing machine consisting of a perforated tub or vessel arranged to
revolve horizontally within a watertight tub or vessel, as, and for the purposes set
forth.
3rd. The dollies or plungers D, D, arranged to be moved up and down in the
inner tube, and which are free to recoil-upon their respective rods 3, 3,
-at any
time during their down stroke upon coming in contact with the more or less solid
body of clothes, or their equivalent, contained in the tub e, in manner substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
4th. The forcible injection-in combination with the other parts of my invention
hereinbefore described-of air, water, or steam into the space n, between the two
tubs d, and e, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 29th day of April 1892
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.