An Apparatus for Washing Articles of Clothing or other similar Articles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 31st May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Washing Articles of Clothing or other similar
Articles.
JAMES SHARP of Manchester Road Rochdale in the County of Lancaster Hatter
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a machine or mechanical contrivance for washing clothes
or other analogous articles and is chiefly adapted for domestic use.
The objects of my invention are,
1st. To enable the operator to accomplish a great amount of work with facility
or to accomplish more work than can be effected by manual means as is now the
general custom.
2ndly. To obviate during the washing process the necessity of the operator standing
over the wash tub from which steam may be issuing.
دو
My invention is adapted to mechanically operate what are known as "Canadian
washers as constructed I mount on framework or standards a bent crank shaft
horizontally situated and having any desired number of cranks according to the
number of washers desired to be used the said shaft being supported by bearings,
below the cranked shaft and parallel thereto is situated a fixed rod or shaft con-
veniently supported by the framing, from the said rod extend any convenient number
of leyers which are free to turn about the rod the other ends of each of them being
attached to a handle of a "Canadian washer" which handles are adjustable with
relation to the levers and pass down through apertures in a guide bar their lower parts
pass into wash tubs situated below the guide bar which tubs are provided with castors
or wheels allowing of easy removal to and from my apparatus, a bar or rod connects
each crank with a lever. On one end of the cranked shaft is secured a pulley from
which passes a band to a driving pulley provided on a stud fixed to the framing or on
a shaft supported in bearings which driving pulley is provided with a handle so as to
admit of being turned by manual labour or a second driving pulley may be provided
on the shaft when steam or other motive power may be employed to operate my
apparatus. If desired gearing may be employed instead of a driving band and
suitable rollers may be employed in connection with my apparatus for mangling or
wringing purposes. When the cranked shaft is rotated the washers are caused to have
an upward and downward motion operating in a manner as if manually actuated
which action of the washers is effected whilst the operator may be situated at any
convenient distance from the wash tub.
Dated this 26th day of July A D 1889
JAMES SHARP.
J. H. Butterworth,
Agent to the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Washing Articles of Clothing or other similar
Articles.
JAMES SHARP of Manchester Road Rochdale in the County of Lancaster Ladies
Hatter 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 a mechanical contrivance for actuating what are known as
"Canadian washers" which invention is adapted for laundry use. The essential

page_text: feature of this apparatus is that two or more washing vessels or utensils may be
employed.
In order that my invention may be more clear and intelligible I hereunto annex a
sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 represents an elevation of my invention and
Figure 2 a plan of Figure 1.
In suitable hearings a provided in standards or frame ends I mount a bent double
crank shaft c if desired any number of cranks may be employed as may be recessary
below the crank shaft is situated a shaft or rod d supported in suitable bearings which
rod is provided with levers e. any convenient number being employed according to the
number of washers desired to be used but for general domestic use two are preferable
as shewn in the drawings the other ends of the levers e. are conveniently attached to
the handles of the washers by means of links g or other equivalent means in order
that the washers may rise and fall practically in a vertical position when actuated by
the levers, the said washers are provided with splash plates 1; if desired the handles
may be provided with holes through which pins may pass through the ends of the
levers and through the handles thus the washers may be adjusted to any desired
position with relation to the levers and allow of the wash vessels p being removed or
adjusted in position below the washers. The handles of the washers pass through
openings provided in the bar connecting the frame ends or guide bar h. The cranks
on the crank shaft are connected to the levers e. by means of connecting links or
levers i one extremity of each of which is connected to a crank by means of a strap
and cottar their other ends being connected studs j provided at the most convenient
part of the levers e. in order to give the desired movements to the extremities of the
levers attached to the washers.
On one end of the crank shaft I provide a grooved pulley k. which is connected to
the driving pulley on the fixed shaft m. by means of a driving band or cord n. if
desired gearing may be employed, but, I prefer to use a driving band in order to
accomplish noiseless driving, on the other end of the crank shaft I mount a fly-
wheel o.
If desired squeezing rollers may be employed at any convenient part of my
apparatus.
When motion is communicated to the crank shaft, which motion, may be effected
by the agency of manual or other motive power, the washers are actuated by means
of the connecting mechanism herein before described, the washers are each caused to
have an upward and downward movement moving with relation to each other
according to the angularity of the cranks, and thus to operate upon the clothes or
contents which may be in the tubs or vessels p. the water is caused by such action to
strike against the splash plates f¹ thus obviating the escape of the water over the
sides of the wash vessels.
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 :
1. The combination of mechanism or arrangement herein described for operating
two or more washers substantially as and for the purpose herein fully set forth and
described in the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. The washer provided with the splash plate fas and for the purpose herein
fully set forth.
Dato this 26th day of Auril A D 1990
JAMES SHARP.