Improvements in Washing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1893--Accepted, 3rd Feb.,
1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I, EDWARD GUSTAVUS MINNEMEYER, Merchant, residing at 5 Hotel Clinton,
Michigan Avenue and 14th Street in Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of
Illinois, in the United States of America, 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 relates to certain new and useful improvements in washing machines,
which are intended to make the machines cheaper and simpler than those heretofore
used, and to provide several important and advantageous features of operation.
More particularly, my invention relates to that class of washing machine which
has a stirring device with both a rotary and a vertical reciprocating motion operated
by mechanism mounted on a tub or vessel; and one of the objects of my invention
is to improve the mechanism for effecting these movements.
That my invention may be more fully understood reference is had to the
accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a section partly in elevation of a washing machine according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan showing the mechanism above the lid of the vessel.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the same.
Fig. 4 is a front view to an enlarged scale and Fig. 5 is a perspective of the
device for raising and depressing the agitator or stirrer.
M is the vessel containing the stirring device C which is provided with radiating
arms a and downwardly projecting fingers i.
S is a square shaft passing through the collar C (Fig. 4) of the stirrer and
terminating in a nut c to prevent it from being drawn up through the collar. The
shaft S extends up through bevil pinion T and loosely through a hole in the
flange R of the frame Y and it has its upper end rounded and journalled in a
flange t of an angle piece G in which it is secured and forms the support for the
stirrer C.
A is a bevil wheel gearing with the pinion T and having a handle N for giving
it rotary reciprocating motion. Y is a frame carrying the wheel A, and forming a
guide for the angle piece G which has grooved anti friction rollers n running in a
slot of the frame Y. The angle piece G also carries behind the frame Y a roller e
within range of a cam are B fixed on the wheel A.
By raising and depressing the arm N, the wheel A receives a rotary reciprocating
motion which it imparts to the pinion T and through the shaft S to the stirrer C.
When the arm N and wheel A are turned over to the position shewn in Fig. 4 the
cam B acts on the roller e raising and lowering the stirrer as the arm N is moved
down and up, and as, during this movement, the stirrer also revolves, it descends on
the clothes in a place different from the place where it pressed them before being
raised. By this construction and operation, the dirt is more thoroughly removed
from the clothes which are squeezed between the stirrer and the bottom of the
vessel at different places.
b is a spring bearing upon a shoulder of the collar C so as to press down the
stirrer which however can move up the shaft S in opposition to the spring.
The hole in the collar C is preferably made to flare slightly to permit the stirrer
to rock and accommodate itself to inequalities, without risk of damage such as
might result if it were held rigidly in line.
The construction described is very effective for raising, lowering and rotating the
stirrer with comparatively little friction; and without shock or jar.
The machine as a whole is simple and inexpensive and easily worked.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A washing machine consisting of a vessel, a stirrer therein adapted to receive
reciprocating rotary and vertical motions, and mechanism on the vessel worked by
hand for imparting these motions, substantially as described.
2. In combination with the wheel A and pinion T, the cam arc B, the angle
piece G and its rollers, the shaft S and the stirrer C arranged and operating
substantially as described.
Doted this 5th dow of Tul. 1902
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.