Improvements in Washing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1892-Accepted. 27th Aug. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I, JOHN M DOWELL, of Barnhill, Larne, in the County of Antrim, Ireland,
Retired Grocer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that
is to say:
My said invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of
washing machines suitable for domestic and other use, and to render them capable
of being worked easily and with little labor.
My improved machine consists of a washing box of an oblong rectangular or
other simple, similar form, mounted by means of trunnions, fixed to its longer sides,
upon a pair of standards which are preferably of cast iron and of an ornamental
contour with longitudinally extended bases.
The machine is worked by rocking the washing box on its trunnions by hand; or
it might be by a motor when the machine is of large size. The water put in the
box with the clothes or articles to be washed, is by the motion made to surge from
end to end, but the weight of water going to each end alternately is prevented from
requiring extra lifting force for the return movements, by the action of a counter-
poise which consists of a suitable weight situated below the middle of the box
(when horizontal) and attached to the box by rods. When one end of the box is
lowered and its contents descend to that end the counterpoise is by the same move-
ment turned towards the other end and counterbalances the weight of the contents.
Struts are hinged to the standards and can be turned up when wished to hold the
box in a horizontal position.
The box is provided internally with gratings, or sets of bars, or corrugations at
or near the ends, the clothes or articles being carried against them and the washing
operation being thereby improved. The box is provided with a cover which can be
closed whilst the box is being rocked; and when the box is stationary and secured
in a horizontal position its top and cover can be used as a table; or if desired a
clothes wringer may be fixed to the box.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of October 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvementsin Washing Machines.
I, JOHN M'DOWELL, of Barnhill, Larne, in the County of Antrim, Ireland,
Retired Grocer, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of
washing machines suitable for domestic and other use, and to render them capable
of being worked easily and with little labur.
My improved machine consists of a washing box of simple form provided
internally with gratings, or sets of bars, or corrugations and is mounted, by
trunnions fixed to its sides, upon a pair of standards.
Water and the articles to be
washed are put in this box which is then rocked on its trunnions by hand or other
means. The rocking motion causes the water to surge from end to end of the box,
the weight of water, going to each end alternately, being counterbalanced by a
weight attached to the bottom of the box by rods,

page_text: And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings showing
a simple example of my improved washing machine.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a longitudinal vertical section, Figure, 2, is an end
elevation, and Figure, 3, is a side elevation showing the washing box with one end
raised.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
As shown in the drawings, my improved machine consists of a washing box, A,
of an oblong rectangular, or other simple, similar form, mounted by means of
trunnions, B, fixed to its longer sides upon a pair of standards, C, which are
preferably made of cast iron, and of an ornamental contour with longitudinally
extended bases. The machine is worked by rocking the washing box, A, on its
trunnions, B, by hand; or it might be by a steam engine or other motor when the
machine is of large size. The water put in the box with the clothes, or articles to
be washed, is, by the motion, made to surge from end to end, but the weight of
water going to each end alternately is prevented from requiring extra lifting force
for the return movements by the action of a counterpoise, which consists of a
suitable weight, D, situated below the middle of the box (when horizontal) and
attached to the box by rods, H. When one end of the box, A, is lowered and its
contents descend to that end, the counterpoise, D, is, by the same movement, turned
towards the other end and counter-balances, or partly counter-balances the weight
of the contents. Struts, E, are hinged to the standards, C, and can be turned up,
when wished, to hold the box, A, in a horizontal position. Small bosses, F, are
formed on the bottom of the washing box, A, and are recessed so as to receive the
ends of the struts, E. A pin, G, fixed in the base of the standards, C, is employed
to carry the end of the strut, E, when it is not in operation.
The box, A, is provided internally with gratings or sets of bars, J, which are
held by guides, M, at or near the ends of the box; the clothes or articles being
carried against them, and the washing operation being thereby improved. The
box, A, is provided with a cover, K, of wood or other suitable material a part, P, of
which is made easily removable and can be closed and secured by buttons, L, the
other parts being permanently fixed. Angular pieces, Q, are fixed internally to
the cover, K, to enable the box, A, to be rocked with the middle part of the cover
open without throwing out much, if any, water. When the box is stationary and
secured in a horizontal position, its top and cover, K, can be used as a table; or, if
desired, a clothes wringer (not shown) may be fixed to the box. A plug, N, let
into the bottom of the box, A, is employed for draining the water off.
My improved apparatus, herein described as for washing, can also be advan-
tageously used for churning.
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 combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved washing
machine, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as shown
in the accompanying drawings.
2-In washing machines, a box mounted by trunnions on standards and having
attached to it a weight arranged to counterbalance, or partly counterbalance, the
descent of the contents to either end of the box when it-is rocked, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-second day of Jul, 1800
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.