Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Nov., 1888
I, JAMES MCDERMOTT of Castlefin County Donegal, Ireland Implement Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This Invention which relates to improvements in the construction of syringe washing
machines to be worked by hand steain or other motive power has for its object to
enable machines of this type to operate with much less depth of water in the tub or
washing vessel than is possible by the existing arrangements.
The washing machine as constructed in accordance with this Invention consists in
arranging a disc piston to work within a cylinder attached by means of screw pins or
otherwise to an outer bell shaped vessel. The cylinder has an open top and perforated
or grated bottom the said bottom projecting in the small hand machines about of
an inch beyond the lip of the bell mouth of the outer vessel. As it is necessary for
the successful working of the machine that this bell mouth should be covered with
water, the before mentioned distance determines the minimum depth of water required
in the tub or washing vessel, whereas in all previous machines a depth of from
4 to 5 inches of water was required before they would operate. The already referred
to cylinder is provided with 3, 4, or more snugs which project above the upper end
and beyond the external diameter of the same, bear against the inner surface of the
bell shaped vessel, thus leaving an annular space between the two for the passage of
water to the upper surface of the piston, the said water forming a sufficient packing
to exclude the air from leaking past the piston during its up stroke. The piston rod,
which is screwed or otherwise attached at the bottom end to the piston, passes up
through a suitable opening in the top of the bell shaped vessel, and terminates with a
knob at the top. It is also provided at an intermediate point of its length with a
handle which projects at right angles to the axes of the piston rod and a spiral spring
which being wound round the bottom portion of the projecting piston rod is confined
between the top of the bell shaped vessel and a loose collar secured to the piston rod
by means of a set pin.

page_text: The machine is operated in the following manner. The piston is forced downwards
by pressing on the beforementioned knob and handle, and raised by the expansion of
the spiral spring which was necessarily compressed during the previous operation. On
the first downward stroke water passes up the annular space and covers the top of the
piston for the purpose hereinbefore specified, thus allowing the water in the tub to
follow the upward stroke of the piston and fill the cylinder. On repeating the down
stroke the water in the cylinder is forced ont with considerable pressure, the water
passing through the pores of the clothing or fabric, and in this manner syringing the
dirt from the clothes or fabric under treatment.
It can be easily seen that by the introduction of some simple mechanical contrivance,
such as an eccentric or other equivalent mechanism to operate the piston, these
machines could be driven by steam or other motive power.
1
D. DRYSDALE AUSTIN,
101, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Petitioner's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Syringe Washing Machines.
JAMES MCDERMOTT of Castlefin County Donegal, Ireland, Implement Maker,
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 which relates to Improvements in the construction of Syringe
Washing Machines to be worked by hand, steam or other motive power has for its
object to enable machines of this type to operate with much less depth of water in the
tub or washing vessel than is possible by the existing arrangements.
The washing machine as constructed in in accordance with this Invention consists in
arranging a disc piston to work within a cylinder attached by means of screw pins or
otherwise to an outer bell shaped vessel. The cylinder has an open top and perforated
or grated bottom, the said bottom projecting in the small hand machines about of
an inch beyond the lip of the bell mouth, of the outer vessel. As it is necessary for
the successful working of the machine that this bell mouth should be covered with
water, the before mentioned distance determines the minimum depth of water required
in the tub or washing vessel, whereas in all previous machines a depth of from
4 to 5 inches of water was required before they would operate. The already referred
to cylinder is provided with 3, 4 or more snugs which projecting above the upper end
and beyond the external diameter of the same, bear against the inner surface of the
bell shaped vessel, thus leaving an annular space between the two for the passage of
water to the upper surface of the piston, the said water forming a sufficient packing
to exclude the air from leaking past the piston during its up stroke. The piston rod
which is screwed or otherwise attached at the bottom end to the piston, passes up
through a suitable opening in the top of the bell shaped vessel, and terminates with
a knob at the top. It is also provided at an intermediate point of its length with a
handle which projects at right angles to the axis of the piston rod, and a spiral spring
which being wound round the bottom portion of the projecting piston rod confined
between the top of the bell shaped vessel and a loose collar secured to the piston rod
by means of a set pin. The piston, piston rod, cylinder and bell shaped vessel are
preferably made of brass, the spiral spring of steel, and the handle and knob of wood,
but they may be made of other suitable materials.
The machine is operated in the following manner. The piston is forced downwards
by pressing on the beforementioned knob and handle, and raised by the expansion of
the spiral spring, which was necessarily compressed during the previous operation. On
the first downward stroke, water passes up the annular space and covers the top of the
piston for the purpose hereinbefore specified, thus allowing the water in the tub to
follow the upward stroke of the piston and fill the cylinder. On repeating the down
stroke the water in the cylinder is forced out with considerable pressure, the water
passing through the pores of the clothing or fabric, and in this manner syringing
the dirt from the clothes or fabric under treatment. A similar result follows the
up stroke of the piston as the water rushes into the cylinder, thus a double action
is obtained.

page_text: It can be easily seen that by the introduction of some simple mechanical contrivance,
such as an eccentric or other equivalent mechanism to operate the piston, these
machines could be driven by steam or other motive power.
In order that my said Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a syringe washing machine constructed according to
and constituting my present Invention.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are views of the cylinder and bell shaped vessel with their
adjuncts drawn to an enlarged scale for the beiter illustration of these parts. Figure 2
being a plan of the bottom of cylinder and bell shaped vessel. Figure 3 a vertical
section taken on the line A B, Figure 4, and Figure 4, a sectional plan taken on the
line C. D Figure 3.
My present improvement, as illustrated in the said figures, consists in arranging
a disc piston E, to work within a cylinder F, attached by means of screw pins G, or
otherwise to an outer bell shaped vessel H. The cylinder F. has an open top and
perforated or grated bottom, the said bottom projecting in the small hand machines
about of an inch beyond the lip of the hell mouth of the outer vessel H. The
beforementioned cylinder F, is provided with 3, 4 or more snugs I which projecting
above the upper end and beyond the external diameter of the cylinder F, bear against
the inner surface of the bell shaped vessel H, thus leaving an annular space J,
between the two for the passage of water to the upper surface of the piston E, the
said water forming a sufficient packing to exclude the air from leaking past the
piston E, during its up stroke. The piston rod K, which is screwed or otherwise
attached at the bottom end to the piston E, passes up through a suitable opening
in the top of the bell shaped vessel H, and terminates with a knob L, at the top.
It is also provided at an intermediate point of its length with a handle M, which
projects at right angles to the axis of the piston rod K, and a spiral spring N,
which being wound round the bottom portion of the projecting piston rod K, is
confined between the top of the bell shaped vessel H, and a loose collar O, secured
to the piston rod K, by means of a set pin P.
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. The general arrangement & combination of parts constituting the improved
syringe washing machine, substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to the
annexed drawings.
Second. In syringe washing machines the arrangement of the piston E-driven by
steam or other motive power-within the cylinder F, in combination with the outer
bell shaped vessel H, substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore specified with
reference to the annexed drawings.
Third. In syringe washing machines the lengthening of the outer bell shaped
vessel H, whereby the distance between the mouth of the same, & the grated bottom
of the cylinder F is considerably reduced, substantially as & for the purpose set forth
with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this fith day of October 1888
D. DRYSDALE AUSTIN,
Applicant's Agent.