Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Washing or Cleansing Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Washing or Cleansing
Textile Fabrics.
I JOSEPH HAWORTH of Church Hall, Church, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
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:-
The object of my invention is to provide means of thoroughly washing or cleansing
textile fabrics of all impurities while passing it through a machine containing my
improved apparatus, without in any way injuring or damaging the lightest or finest
fabric also to wash well with little water.
To accomplish this object I use revolving beaters or spurters of special design or
arrangement, which consists of a number of troughs, by preference four, but may be
more or less, which are arranged around or upon a centre shaft or roll in such a
manner that in revolving they shall dip in water or other cleansing liquid, and take
up the same by virtue of their great velocity. The sides of these troughs which are
furthest away from the centre of rotation is pierced with a great number of small
holes through which the liquid will fly at a great speed in a fine spray or small
jets according to the size of holes and the speed at which the beaters or spurters
are revolving.
The fabric is passed around rollers in such a manner that it is brought in contact
with the spray or jets from these revolving beaters or spurters which will wash away
any impurity or loose matter that may be in the fabric.
Any suitable number of these improved revolving beaters or spurters may be used to
act on each side of the fabric as required, according to class of work.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the accompanying sheets of drawings, reference being had to the
figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a washing machine in section, containing the improved
apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same on line A. B.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sections of different arrangements of beaters or spurters,
which may be used to accomplish the same object. Letters of reference samne as in
Figs. 1 and 2.
In Figs. 1 and 2 T is a washing cistern containing water or other cleaning liquid,
O being the overflow to keep the water or liquid at a constant level, a is a spurt pipe
of clean water or liquid and may be the only water supply, a is the fabric which
passes over and under the guide rollers 6 in the open state and through the nip
rollers c which draws the fabric through the machine, d and d' shows the improved
beater or spurters which consists of its centre shaft e with the end discs or spiders f
keyed or otherwise fixed upon it, upon these discs or spiders is bolted a series of
troughs g, as shown by bolt h, these troughs being perforated as shown on the side
which is furthest from its centre shaft e, and revolving at a great speed in the
direction of the arrows, being driven from the shaft k by means of bevel wheels m
and n and spur wheels p.
As the nip rollers c are driven from the side shaft q by means of the wheels r'and s,
and drawing the fabric through the machine, the beaters d and d¹ are revolving at a
great speed and taking up water or cleaning liquid, and spurting the same with great
force against the fabric. It will be seen that when each of the series of troughs is at
the lowest point they will get filled with water or cleansing liquid, and as they raise
out of it by virtue of their great velocity and centrifugal force, the liquid or water is

page_text: spurted in small jets or spray with great velocity and force against the fabric, this
washes away all loose matter or other impurities which the fabric may contain,
and this without anything striking the fabric only liquid, so there is no rough
useage of it.
The fabric will run through the machine without any creases with these improved
beaters or spurters, as they throw the water or liquid in a fine divided spray or small
jets and not in great bulk or weight as in the existing beaters, which in almost all
cases strike the cloth or fabric and cause it to go in creases. Also less water will wash
better than with existing beaters.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
First. In Washing or Cleansing Machines the use of revolving beaters or spurters
arranged in cistern in such a manner that when revolving they take up water or other
liquid and spurt it in small jets or spray with great force against the fabric .sub-
stantially as berein set forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. The several combinations and arrangements of parts embodying my
improvements in machinery or apparatus for washing and cleansing textile fabrics
substantially as herein described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 27th day of November 1890.
JOSEPH HAWORTH.