IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, THOMAS SHELDON, of 13 Petit Street, Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, manufacturer and drysalter, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for, IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of washing machines in
which the application of beat to the underside thereof causes water contained
therein to circulate up through a tube or tubes and deliver itself above the surface
of the water exterior to such tube or tubes, the object of such arrangement being to
cause a thorough circulation of the water through the clothes or other articles
placed within the machine; and the object of this invention is to cause a more
thorough passage of the water through all parts of the clothes or articles.
According to this invention, a central tube or column having a bell-mouthed
open end, of a construction similar to that frequently in use in the class of machines
referred to, stands upon supports or feet upon that portion of the bottom of the
vessel, containing the water for washing the clothes or other articles, which is
exposed to the more intense action of the heat. A cap, either formed solid with, or
placed to fit upon the top of, this tube, is finished at its top with a pivot. An
annular sieve or basket, having a suitable cross-bar or framing at its upper side, is
passed down around the tube and the cross-bar or frame thereof lowered on to the
pivot so that the sieve or basket and frame thereof may revolve easily upon such
pivot. The cap, aforesaid, is hollow and communicates with the interior of the
tube, and nozzles are formed around the cap in a position inclined somewhat
downwards, and forwards from a radial position, so that the water ejected therefrom
falls in streams upon the sieve and in an inclined direction for the purpose of
rotating it as immediately described. The clothes or other articles to be washed
are placed within the sieve, and as the water circulates and discharges itself from
the nozzles it falls upon the clothes in the sieve at such an inclination that the
sieve is rotated, thus bringing all parts of the clothes under the streams from the
nozzles. The nozzles may be set at slightly different angles so as to cover all
possible positions of the clothes, and may, if desired, be made adjustable. The
sieve or basket is lifted in and out of the machine by means of the cross bar or
frame, aforesaid.

page_text: A modification of this invention consists in carrying the sieve or basket upon a
pivot upon the top of a plain pillar, and arranging rising pipes and nozzles around
the outer circumference of the sieve or basket, in lieu of the central tube and
nozzles; or such outer tubes and nozzles may be supplementary to the arrangement
above described.
A further modification of this invention consists in making the sieve or basket
stationary, by fixing or resting it in any convenient manner within the machine,
and forming the cap and nozzles thereon to rotate by the action of the jets so as to
distribute the jets over the surface of the clothes.
According to a still further modification of this invention, the sieve or basket
may be pivoted by means of a horizontal spindle so as to rotate in a vertical plane,
in which case the rotation is caused by the action of a stream or streams of water
upon the periphery thereof, after the manner of a water wheel.
In addition to placing the clothes or other articles to be washed in the sieve or
basket, aforesaid, some of them may also be placed in the machine exterior to such
sieve or basket.

page_text: I, THOMAS SHELDON, of 13 Petit Street, Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, manufacturer and drysalter, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for, IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and
the letters of reference marked thereon, (that is to say) :-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of washing machines in
which the application of heat to the exterior of a boiler causes water contained
therein to circulate up through a tube or tubes (or equivalent arrangement) and
deliver itself above the surface of the water exterior to such tube or tubes, the
object of such arrangement being to cause a thorough circulation of the water
through the clothes or other articles placed within the machine; and the object of
this invention is to cause a more thorough passage of the water through all parts
of the clothes or articles, by causing the stream or streams of water rising through
such tube or tubes (or equivalent arrangement) to fall in an oblique direction upon
such clothes or articles contained in a sieve or basket, such sieve or basket being so
mounted or carried as to be rotated by the impact of the water falling thereon, or
otherwise the nozzle or nozzles through which the water is ejected being mounted
to rotate above the sieve or basket.
According to one modification of this invention, a central tube or column having
a bell-mouthed open end, of a construction similar to that frequently in use in the
class of machines referred to, stands upon supports or feet upon that portion of the
bottom of the boiler, containing the water for washing the clothes or other articles,
which is exposed to the more intense action of the heat. The upper end of this
tube terminates in, and communicates with, a nozzle or nozzles, either formed solid
therewith, or fitting tightly thereto, so that the water rising in the tube flows out
through such nozzle or nozzles. An annular sieve or basket is placed around the
tube (which passes up through its centre), and is so suspended therefrom that it
may revolve easily therearound. The nozzle (or nozzles) is formed upon the top
of the tube, its open mouth being inclined so that the water ejected therefrom falls
in an inclined direction upon the clothes or other articles contained in the sieve,
causing the sieve to rotate, and bringing each part of the clothes in succession
under the stream (or streams) of water.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a washing machine constructed according to the
above-described modification of this invention. Figure 2 is a vertical section
through the centre of the same. Figure 3 is a plan of figure 1; and figure 4 is
a side elevation of the upper part of the central tube and nozzle thereon, looking
in the direction of the arrow a figure 2. The boiler, which is of any usual or
convenient construction, is omitted in these figures, as it will be readily understood
without illustration.
Similar letters of reference throughout these views indicate corresponding parts.
A is the central tube having below a bell-mouthed open end. a a etc. are feet
upon which the tube A is supported so as to leave a space between the lower edge
of the tube and the bottom of the boiler. The top of the tube A curves over and

page_text: terminates in an upwardly slanting direction, as shewn at B, and is closed in at its
end. b is a nozzle through which is formed a slotted opening from the part B.
This nozzle is fixed or formed at an angle of about forty-five degrees from the
vertical axis of the part B, as is shewn most clearly by figure 5, which is a section
taken on line x x of figure 2. The slot therethrough is open at the outer end of
the nozzle, as shewn at 61 figure 4, and this opening may, if desired, be extended
partially across the end of the part B, as shewn by broken lines figure 4, to throw
the water well out towards the upper periphery of the sieve. The tube A and
inclined part B and nozzle b may be constructed of earthenware, metal, or any
suitable material. The part A may be conveniently formed of earthenware for the
sake of the weight necessary to keep it down in the boiler and for the sake of
cleanliness, and the part B and nozzle b may be formed of metal and fixed to the
part A. The part B is preferably oval in section as shewn at figure 5. C is
a circular sieve of any suitable material having, preferably, the bottom only, or the
bottom and lower part of the side, formed of a perforated material or of woven or
netted work. Part only of such bottom is shewn by figure 3, for convenience of
illustration. D is an opening through the centre of the bottom to enable the sieve
to be placed in position, and a short tubular guard, hereinafter described with
reference to a further modification, may if desired be placed around this opening
to ensure that the clothes shall not fall into the opening or press against the
vertical tube. c is a cross-bar supported by uprights d d carried up from opposite
points of the side of the sieve C. e is a pivot carried downwards from the centre
of the cross-bar c. When the sieve is placed in position around the tube A in the
manner shewn, the pivot e is supported within a cup f upon the curved part of the
tube A, so as to be capable of rotation therein. A lubricator may be carried upon
the pivot e to lubricate the bearing in the cup f. To place the sieve C in position,
the hole D in the bottom thereof must of course be passed over the part B.
The mode of operation of this machine is as follows:-
--
The tube A is placed upon the bottom of the boiler, and the clothes or other
articles to be washed are placed within the sieve C around, but clear of, the tube A.
This is done, preferably, before placing the sieve in position, so as to avoid any
risk of scalding. The normal level of the water in the boiler is slightly below the
bottom of the sieve, so as to allow drainage through the clothes in the sieve. The
boiling water is carried up through the tube A and part B, in the manner common
to this class of machine, and is discharged by the nozzle b upon the surface of the
clothes within the sieve. This nozzle being inclined, as described, at an angle to
the vertical axis of the part B, causes the sieve to rotate, thus bringing each part
in succession beneath the stream flowing from the nozzle, the slit-like form of the
opening through the latter causing the water to be distributed evenly over the
entire surface of the clothes.
Instead of a single jet of water, two or more jets may, if desired, be employed,
issuing from a corresponding number of nozzles arranged at equal distances around
the central tube A, and these nozzles may be set at slightly different angles, or
placed at varying distances from the centre of the tube A, if desired, so as to cover
all possible positions of the clothes, and may, if desired, be made adjustable. If
two or more nozzles are employed, it may be found convenient to carry them from
a cap removable from the top of the tube A, so that such nozzles and cap may be
removed to allow of the ready removal of the sieve.
The sieve C may, if preferred, be stationary, being fixed or rested in any
convenient manner within the boiler, the part B and nozzle b being in this case
mounted upon the part A, in a manner which will be readily understood, so as to
rotate by the action of the water issuing from the nozzle; and this modification is
In this modification the
of course applicable in the case of two or more nozzles.
sieve may consist of a plain perforated, woven, or netted, tray resting within the
boiler.
A modification of this invention consists in carrying the sieve or basket, by
a pivot, upon the top of a plain pillar, and arranging a rising column, or pipes, and

page_text: nozzles around the outer circumference of the sieve or basket, in lieu of the central
tube and nozzle. If desired, such outer column or pipes and nozzles may be used
to supplement the before-described central tube and nozzle.
Figure 6 is a vertical section through a washing machine constructed according
to the modification just described. In this figure E is an ordinary boiler or copper,
and F & lining or vessel carried therein so as to leave a space g g g between such
lining and the boiler E. This lining may be supported by means of a flange
resting upon the top of the boiler, or in any convenient manner. h is a pillar
fixed to the bottom of the lining F and terminating in a cup j. G is a sieve, of
the construction and carried in the manner before described, and i is a guard
placed around the opening through the bottom of the sieve for the purpose before
described. kk are nozzle arms projecting from the interior of the lining F, and
consequently having communication at their bases with the space g 9 g. These
nozzle arms have an interior shape approximately as shewn by figure 7, at their
junction with the lining F, so as to readily gather the rising column of water
hereinafter referred to from the space ggg and have slotted nozzles at their
inner ends, forined in a slanting direction, and also in a direction inclined sideways
similarly as the nozzle b described with reference to the previous modification.
The bottom of the lining F is perforated, as shewn, so that the water contained
within such lining may readily flow into the bottom of the boiler E. The normal
level of the water is shewn to be just beneath the bottom of the sieve G.
The mode of operation of this machine is as follows:-
The clothes are placed within the sieve G in the manner before described, and
the water in the space g g g rises therein and flows through the nozzle arms k k
and nozzles upon the clothes in the sieve G, causing such sieve to rotate
similarly, and with similar effect, as in the case of the sieve C of the former
modification. It is desirable to use several of these nozzle arms k (say from three
to six) arranged at equal intervals around the interior of the lining F, as the part
of the boiler which is the most intensely heated will vary according to the firing
and other circumstances, and therefore, if sufficient nozzle arms are employed, one
of such nozzle arms will always be approximately over such hottest part of the
boiler.
The two modifications above described and illustrated may be compounded or
employed together, in which case the pillar h, figure 6, would be replaced by a
vertical pipe corresponding to the pipe A, figure 2, having a nozzle or nozzles on
the top. In this case, the vertical pipe would join into the lower part of the
lining F with a bell-mouth, or it might be carried independently therefrom, as at
figure 2, and an opening formed through the bottom of the lining F to allow it to
pass through. The nozzle or nozzles on the central pipe are preferably made, in
this case, removable to allow of the ready removal of the sieve.
According to a further modification of this invention, the sieve or basket (which
in this case is formed as a cage) may be pivoted by means of a horizontal spindle
so as to rotate in a vertical plane, in which case the rotation is caused by the
action of a stream or streams of water upon the periphery thereof, after the manner
of a water wheel; the water producing such stream or streams being raised as
herein before described.
In addition to placing the clothes or other articles to be washed in the sieve or
basket employed according to either modification, aforesaid, some of them may be
also placed in the boiler exterior to such sieve or basket.
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
1. The herein before described improvements in automatic washing machines,
according to which a column of water is raised by means of heat in the usual
manner in such class of machines, and is distributed through a nozzle or nozzles in
a stream or streams upon the clothes or other articles to be washed, in such a

page_text: manner that a sieve or basket containing such clothes or other articles shall be
rotated under the stream or streams of water, or such stream or streams. of water
shall be rotated above such clothes or other articles contained in or upon a sieve,
tray, or basket, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein described, and shewn
by the drawings herewith.
2. In a washing machine, the combination of a rising pipe, column, or pipes, and
nozzle or nozzles, with a rotating sieve or basket, substantially as, and for the
purpose, herein described, and shewn by the drawings herewith.
3. In a washing machine, the combination of a central rising pipe and nozzle or
nozzles, with a rotating sieve or basket, substantially as, and for the purpose,
herein described, and shewn by figures 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings herewith.
4. In a washing machine, the combination of a rising pipe and rotating nozzle
or nozzles, with a stationary sieve, tray, or basket, substantially as, and for the
purpose, herein described.
5. A washing machine constructed and operating substantially as herein described,
and shewn by figures 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings herewith.
6. In a washing machine, the combination of a boiler lining having nozzle arms
and nozzles projecting inwards therefrom, with a rotating sieve or basket, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose, herein described, and shewn by figures 6 and 7
of the drawings herewith.
7. A washing machine constructed and operating substantially as herein described,
and shewn by figures 6 and 7 of the drawings herewith.
8. A washing machine having a central vertical pipe and nozzle or nozzles, and
rotating sieve or basket, substantially as described with reference to figures 1 to 5
inclusive of the drawings herewith, in combination with a boiler lining, and
nozzle arms and nozzles projecting inwards therefrom, substantially as described
with reference to figures 6 and 7 of the drawings herewith, such combination being
effected substantially in the manner herein described.
9. In a washing machine, a slotted nozzle (or nozzles) formed to distribute a
stream (or streams) of water in an inclined direction, for the purpose of rotating a
sieve or basket containing the clothes or other articles to be washed, or for the
purpose of rotating such stream (or streams) above the clothes or other articles
contained in or upon a sieve, tray, or basket, and for distributing the water over
the surface of the clothes or other articles, substantially as herein described, and
shewn by the drawings herewith.