Improvements in Washing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I, WILLIAM SHEDLOCK, of Thurleigh Road, Wandsworth Common in the county
of Surrey, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My invention relates to washing machines and is designed to improve the con-
struction of the same.
My said invention relates more especially to washing machines of that kind or
class in which a suitable receptacle for the articles to be washed is caused to rotate
by means of suitable gearing in a box or case containing the water or other liquid.
My said invention is however applicable to other washing machines.
The main object of my said invention is to provide means for performing two
washings in one machine, and thus saving the labour entailed by removing the articles
being washed from one machine to another.
By my said invention moreover I reduce the cost of the apparatus required for
performing a given quantity of work, and provide various other improvements herein-
after set forth.
In carrying my said invention into practice I prefer to employ the following
arrangement, that is to say I provide a suitable box or case having a partition placed
centrally in the same so as to form two chambers or compartments. In each of these
chambers or compartments I provide a rectangular or other suitably shaped receptacle
for the articles intended to be washed or cleaned. These receptacles have gudgeons
carried in suitable bearings in the said cylindrical box or case and any convenient
gearing is provided for rotating the said receptacles and if necessary for reversing
their movement periodically. Suitable clutches or other means are moreover provided
for throwing either of the said receptacles out of gear and thus arresting its motion
whilst the other one is still rotating. The box or case is moreover provided with
suitable doors permitting of access to the interior of the said chambers or compart-
ments and to the receptacles therein. Upon the upper portion of the said box or case
I provide a wringer of any suitable description.
The receptacles for the clothes are fitted with doors for permitting the introduction
of the articles-intended to be washed, and the said doors and the sides of the receptacles
are perforated to allow free passage for the water or other liquid from the chambers
or compartments in the cylindrical box or case. Upon the interior surfaces of the
sides of the said receptacles are ribs or projections preferably arranged on alternate
sides in a diagonal and parallel direction respectively to the said sides.
Two of the sides of each of the said receptacles are pivoted to the ends or extremities
of the latter in such a manner that the opposite extremities of the said sides are
capable of an inward movement. These sides are provided with arms or levers
having pins or projections adapted to run in suitable grooves provided in the interior
of the box or case, and are so arranged as to be acted upon by suitable cams simul-
taneously once or oftener in each revolution of the receptacles and thus to cause the
said sides to move inwards. The articles contained in the said receptacles are thus
squeezed or compressed between the movable sides, and the efficiency of the apparatus
for washing or cleansing clothes or other articles is thereby greatly increased.
By thus forming my washing machine duplex or double I am enabled to wash or
cleanse the articles contained in one chamber or compartment, and then pass them
into the second chamber or compartment with or without passing them through the
wringer. The clothes or other articles are thus subjected to two washings without
the necessity of removing them from one machine to another at a greater or less
distance therefrom, thereby saving labor and obviating or diminishing the risk of
ID 1171

page_text: the said clothes or other articles being soiled or damaged during the said removal,
and moreover reducing the apparatus required to perform a given quantity of work.
Although I have hereinbefore described my said invention as applied to a washing
machine with revolving receptacles having collapsible sides placed inside chambers or
compartments in an outer box or case, it is obvious that I can employ any other
suitable form of receptacles, or dispense with the said box or case and provide
suitable receptacles arranged to be revolved or rotated in bearings in a suitable frame
by means of one set of gearing.
It is obvious moreover that I can somewhat further modify my said invention
without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1889.
'HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing Machines.
I, WILLIAM SHEDLOCK, of Thurleigh Road, Wandsworth Common, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, 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 washing machines and is designed to improve the con-
struction of the same.
My said invention relates more especially to washing machines of that kind or
class described in the specifications of the following Letters Patent granted to me viz.
No. 13,490 dated September 18th 1888, and No. 5506, dated March 30th 1889 that
is to say, to washing machines in which a suitable receptacle for the articles to be
washed is caused to rotate by means of suitable gearing in a box or case containing
the water or other liquid.
My said invention is however applicable to other washing machines.
An important feature of my said invention consists in providing two rotating
receptacles in one box or case, the latter being divided by a central partition so as
to form two chambers or compartments, thus enabling two washings to be performed
in one machine and saving the labour entailed by removing the articles intended to
be washed from one machine to another.
Another feature in my said invention consists in the provision of suitable means
for automatically reversing the motion of the receptacles at predetermined periods.
By my said invention moreover I reduce the cost of the apparatus required for
performing a given quantity of work and provide various other improvements herein-
after set forth.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a front elevation of my improved washing machine.
Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof partly in vertical section, drawn to an
enlarged scale.
Figure 4 is a plan showing a modification of my improved automatic reversing
gear hereinafter described.
Figure 5 is a front elevation.
Figure 6 a vertical longitudinal central section, and
Figure 7 a transverse section on the line x, x, Figures 5 and 6 showing an
improved form of washing chamber which I prefer to employ in the said machine.
À A are standards or supports on which is mounted a box or case a. B, B' are
the fast and loose pulleys. is the main or driving shaft. The box or case a has
a central partition a* which divides the same into two chambers or compartments.
In each of these chambers or compartiments I provide a rectangular or other suitably

page_text: shaped receptacle 6 provided with gudgeons a whereby it is supported in suitable
bearings d.
The receptacles 6 have movable sides pivoted to the ends thereof and provided
with arms or levers e having rollers e adapted to run in suitable cam grooves f
Suitable doors a, b₁ are provided for permitting access to the box or case a and
receptacles 6 substantially as described in the said former specifications.
D, D are toothed wheels arranged to turn freely upon the guigeons e so that the
said gudgeons and consequently the receptacles will not be rotated by the said
toothed wheels except when the latter are put in to gear with the said gudgeons as herein-
after described. E, E, are clutches one half or part of each of which is formed
in one with or firmly attached to the boss of the corresponding toothed wheel D,
the other half or part being arranged to slide freely upon the gudgeon c which
extends through the box or case a but being prevented from rotating thereon by
means of feathers or keys F in the gudgeons working in corresponding key ways
provided in the said clutches. F F are levers pivoted at F to brackets F³ secured
to the box or case A and by means of which the said clutches or either of them may
be thrown in and out of gear as desired.
In Figure 1 one of the said clutches E is shown in gear so that the receptacle b
upon the corresponding side of the machine will be rotated under the action of the
toothed wheel D, and the other clutch is shown out of gear, so that the corre-
sponding toothed wheel D will rotate freely upon the gudgeon c without rotating
the receptacle 6 connected with the said gudgeon. The motion of either or both
of the said receptacles 6 can thus be arrested when desired without shifting the
driving belt from the fast to the loose pulley.
G, G, are hand-wheels keyed or otherwise firmly secured upon the extremities of
the gudgeons c, by means of which the receptacles 6 can be rotated by hand for
bringing the doors 6' thereof opposite to the doors a¹ in the box or case a, or for
other purposes. G+ Gare catches pivoted at G2 to the brackets F. The catches G¹
are adapted to enter notches in the hand-wheels G, and thus lock the receptacles b
firmly in such a position that easy access can be had to the doors 6 through the
apertures or doors a' in the box or case a. For periodically and automatically
reversing the motion of the receptacles b, I employ the device bereinafter described,
that is to say :- The shaft C carrying the fast or driving pulley B and the 1000
pulley B is supported at one extremity in a bearing in the standard C and
is arranged to pivot upon studs C. The other extremity of the said shaft is
supported in a suitable bearing in a slide piece or block H arranged to slide
latterally in a bracket I firmly attached to the frame A. J is a toothed wheel
arranged to turn freely upon a stud J¹ fixed to the frame A. The toothed wheel J
gears with the toothed wheels D. The said toothed wheel J is formed with a
recess J preferably provided with annular grooves or projections J³. K is a friction
wheel also provided with teeth or projections K¹ and firmly secured by means of a
key or otherwise upon the shaft C. K² is another friction wheel similar to the
friction wheel K and geared therewith so that it will be rotated thereby. The friction
wheel K² is carried upon a stud K³ secured to the block H. I prefer to pass the
said stud K' through an elongated hole or slot H' in the said block H and to provide
a setting-up screw H' by means of which the said stud K and therefore the friction
wheel K² can be moved towards the friction-wheel K. so as to cause the said friction
wheel K² to bear sufficiently against the latter. L is a cam which bears against
rollers M carried by brackets M attached in a suitable manner to the frame A.
cam L is arranged to turn freely upon the shaft C. N is a toothed wheel firmly
secured to or formed in one with the said cam L. The toothed wheel N gears with
a pinion O carried upon a spindle O¹ fixed to an extension H³ firmly attached to or
forming part of the slide piece or block H or by a suitable bracket firmly attached
thereto. P is a mitre wheel or bevel wheel either formed in one with or firmly
attached to the pinion O. The mitre wheel or bevel wheel P gears with another
mitre wheel or bevel wheel P1 either formed in one with or firmly secured to a worm
wheel Q. The said mitre wheel or bevel wheel P₁ and worm wheel Q are supported
The

page_text: upon a spindle R in such a manner as to be capable of rotating freely thereon. The
spindle R is supported in a bracket or extension H firmly attached to or forming
part of the bracket H. S is a worm firmly attached to the shaft C and gearing
with the worm wheel Q. In 'this 'manner when the shaft Cis rotated rotary motion
is also imparted to the cam L through the worm S worm wheel Q and gearing P¹ PO
and N. The extremity of the said shaft C is slightly moved by the said cam L
alternately to the right and to the left so as to cause either the friction wheel K' or
the friction wheel K to bear against the annular grooves or projections provided in
the recess J' in the toothed wheel J and therefore to rotate the said wheel J either in
one or the other direction, thus reversing the movement of the revolving receptacles b.
This periodical reversion may be performed at longer or shorter intervals by altering
the pitch of the worm S and worm wheel Q, or the operating surface of the cam L.
T (Fig. 2) is a wringer the driving shaft T" of which is extended and is supported
in a suitable bearing in an extension I' of the bracket I. T is a pulley keyed or
otherwise secured upon the extremity of the shaft T¹. Motion is preferably imparted
to the wringer T by means of a belt from an extension B upon the boss of the loose
pulley B. By means of this arrangement the said wringer T is not operated until
the rotating receptacles are stopped and the driving belt passed from the fast or
driving pulley B onto the loose pulley B'. This arrangement is advantageous as the
wringer T is not usually required whilst the revolving receptacles & are in motion.
b
To reverse the motion of the wringer T for convenience of passing through it the
articles from one or other of the revolving receptacles & I employ a lever T's pivoted
loosely upon the spindle T. U U U are toothod wheels carried upon suitable studs
provided upon the said lever so as to be free to rotate thereon. The toothed wheels U
and U gear with another toothed wheel V keyed or otherwise secured upon the
shaft T. By raising or lowering the long arm of the lever T either the toothed
wheel U or the toothed wheel U can be caused to gear with a toothed wheel W keyed
or otherwise secured to the spindle or gudgeon of one of the rollers of the said
wringer T thereby communicating motion thereto from the shaft T' either through
toothed wheels V U and W or through the toothed wheels V U' U' and W and
rotating the said wringer in one or the other direction. T is a quadrant for securing
the lever Ts in either position.
Figure 4 illustrates a modification of my improved automatic reversing gear wherein
I dispense with the external teeth upon the toothed wheel J and provide a small
pinion ✗ formed with or firmly secured to the said toothed wheel J. The pinion X
is geared with the toothed wheels D and imparts motion thereto when the toothed
wheel J is rotated as herein before described. By this arrangement I obviate loss
of power and am thus enabled to drive the machine with less expenditure of energy.
I provide moreover suitable toothed wheels K for imparting motion from the shaft C
to the friction wheel K, instead of operatively the latter by friction between the friction
wheels K and K as in the arrangement hereinbefore described. The levers F¹ are
in this intance pivoted at F to the extensions provided upon the bracket 1.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show an improved rotating washing chamber or receptacle
which I prefer to employ in the chambers in the box or case a. Y is a basket or cage
firmly secured to the side or door of the receptacle b wbich is constructed so as to
be readily removable therefrom. Y¹, Y are holes or perforations and Y2 are ribs or
corrugations. Z, Z are eye bolts provided with wing nuts or fly nuts Z'. The eye
bolts Z are adapted to fit into slots Z provided in the said removable side 6 so as
to secure the latter and the basket or cage Y attached thereto firmly in position.
Instead of the above described basket or cage I may employ receptacles having
perforated diaphragms similar to those described in the specification of my aforesaid
Letters Patent No. 5506.
By making my washing machine duplex, that is to say, with two washing chambers
in one box or case, I am enabled to wash or cleanse the articles contained in one
chamber and then pass them into the second chainber with or without passing them
through the wringer. The clothes or other articles are thus subjected to two washings
without the necessity of removing them from one machine to another at a greater or

page_text: less distance therefrom, thereby saving labour and obviating or diminishing the
risk of the said clothes or other articles being soiled or damaged during the said
removal.
Although I have herein before described my said invention as applied to a washing
machine with revolving receptacles having collapsible sides placed inside chambers or
compartiments in an outer box or case it is obvious that I can employ any other
suitable form of receptacles or dispense with the said box or case and provide suitable
receptaclus arranged to be revolved or rotated in bearings in a suitable frame by
means of one set of gearing.
It is obvious, moreover, that I can somewhat further modify my said automatic
reversing gear without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim :-
First. A washing machine comprising a box or case divided into compartments
in which are arranged rotating washing-chambers or receptacles operated by means
a single driving shaft, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Second. The combination of a suitable box or case divided into compartments,
rotating washing-chambers or receptacles arranged within the said box or case and
suitable gearing for automatically reversing the motion of the said chambers or
receptacles at regular intervals, substantially as described.
Third. The improved reversing gear constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 or to Figure 4 of the drawings and operating as, and
for the purpose, above specified.
Fourth. The improved washing-chamber or receptacle constructed substantially
as described with reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings for
the purpose specified.
Fifth. The improved washing-machine constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings and operating as above
specified.
Dated fois 19th day of October 1899.
A day or October 1809.
WILLIAM SHEDLOCK.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.