Improvements in Clothes Wringers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1890-Accepted, 16th Aug., 1890
Improvements in Clothes Wringers.
A communication from abroad by THE STONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, of
Columbus, Ohio (Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Ohio), United
States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, & 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil 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 :-
This invention relates to clothes wringers, and the invention consists in certain
novel features of construction as hereinafter more fully set forth.
:―
In the accompanying drawings :-
Figure 1 is a face elevation of a wringer embodying the invention, with a portion
in section;
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line x-x of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an inside face view of one of the end pieces of the main frame;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line y-y of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line - of Figure 1.
and
The object of this invention is to produce a wringer that will automatically
clamp itself to the tub when placed thereon, thus dispensing with the screws or cams
ordinarily used for securing the wringer to the tub, and that will permit the rolls to
automatically separate when the wringer is removed from the tub to prevent their
being flattened by contact or pressure when not in use, and also to provide it with
means for adjusting the rolls to produce any desired pressure when in use, and allow
them to yield to adapt themselves to the varying thickness of the clothes being wrung,
and require the least possible amount of care and manipulation on the part of the
attendant or person using the same.
The frame, which is made entirely of inetal and galvanised to prevent rusting and
staining the clothes, is made in two parts, a main frame carrying the upper roll and
the adjusting devices with a clamping arm and an auxiliary frame carrying the lower
roll and a clamping arm. The main frame consists of two end pieces A A, of the
general form shown in Figures 1 and 2, they being curved as shown in Figure 2,
so as to throw the clamping arm H to one side and permit the lower roll which
is mounted in the auxiliary frame to be brought directly under the upper roll which
is mounted in the main frame, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the former showing the
position of the rolls when on the tub, und the latter showing their position when
removed from the tub.
These end pieces A of the main frame are united by a cross bar or plate T,
Figure 2, the ends of which are made in the form of journals t, which pass
through holes in the parts A, and also through holes in the ends of arms N
of the auxiliary frame, which is thus pivoted loosely to the main frame, the parts
being secured by keys or pins in the protruding ends of the journals t, as shown
in Figure 1.
At the top, the end pieces A are united by two curved cross bars B, bolted fast at
each end, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each of these bars has cast with it, at the
centre, on its lower side, a semicircular box C, so that, when the two bars B are
secured in place, the two half boxes C will come opposite each other and thus
form a circular box or recess for the reception of an adjusting plug or follower D,.
shown in place in Figure 1, and in cross section in Figure 5. This follower D is
provided at its sides with small projecting ribs e, shown in Figure 5, which fit in
.. 071

page_text: corresponding grooves in the box, and prevent it from turning therein, while it is free
to move vertically. This follower D is provided with a central holo in which is fitted
a screw b provided with a head or small hand wheel 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 5,
and which bears upon the spring bar S, as shown in Figure 1, the object of the screw
being to adjust the pressure of the rolls as may be desired. As shown in Figure 1,
a hand lever L is pivoted between the bars B, directly above the follower D, and it
is provided with an eccentric a which bears upon the upper end of the follower.
so that when the lever is turned to the position shown in Figure 1, the follower D
with its screw b is forced down upon the spring S, which, as hereinafter explained,
is connected with the upper roller, and thereby presses it down, the pressure being
removed when the lever is turned in the opposite direction.
In order to provide a seat for the bearing blocks G, which bear on the journals of
the upper roll R, the end pieces A of the main frame are cast with a box shaped
recess in the inner faces of their upper portion, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4,
they being provided with projections or ings o, o, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, to
serve as guides for the bearing blocks G, and also to prevent the journals of the roll
from getting out of place by slipping to one or the other side when released from
pressure, the journals of the roll R resting loosely in the space between these guides o,
and in a semi-circular recess made in the lower ends of the bearing blocks G, as
shown in Figure 2. At the bottom of this recess are two small vertical projections n, n,
which also serve to prevent the lateral displacement of the roll. It is however
obvious that these lugs o and n may, if preferred, be united and made continuous by
simply extending the lugs n direct down to the bottom.
The bearing blocks G are provided, at their upper ends, with openings into which
the ends of the spring S aro slipped as shown in Figures 1 and 2. At top and
bottom, the blocks G are provided with lateral projections which may bear against
the sides of the box or rocess, the lower projections c being made of such a depth
as to slide freely in front of the lugs o, as shown in Figure 4 and in Figure 2, in
which the form of the blocks G is clearly shown.
The auxiliary frame consists of two end pieces P, provided with an arm N, shown
in Figures 1 and 2, and in dotted lines in Figure 3, by which they are pivoted to
the main frame by the journals t, and each has a vertical clamping arm J, and holes
for the reception of the journals of the lower roli R. It will be observed that the
lower ends of both sets of clamping arms J and H are curved outward, as shown in
Figure 2, so that when set on the edge of a tub, they will be automatically separated
as the wringer is pushed down.
By this construction, it will be seen that in order to attach the wringer to a tub it
is only necessary to take it by the top and shove it down on the tub as represented in
Figure 2, the edge of the tub slipping in between the outwardly curved ends of the
clamping arms H and J. As these arms are thus shoved apart, the auxiliary frame
is swung on the journals t in such a manner as to force or carry the lower roll
upward and directly under the upper roll, when, by turning the lever over so as to
press down the follower D with its screw band the spring S with the bearing blocks G,
the upper roll is forced down in contact with the lower roll, thereby causing the
arms Hand J to tightly clamp the side of the tub between them. It will readily be
seen also, that when greater pressure is brought upon the rolls by passing the fabric
or clothing between them, the arms will be made to clamp or grasp the tub more
tightly, thus imparting more stability to the wringer when being used.
The spring S will allow the upper roll to yield sufficiently to adapt it to the
varying thickness of the articles to be wrung, while the screw b can be adjusted to
compensate for any difference there may be in the thickness of the walls of the tub or
vessel to which the wringer is to be applled, and also to increase or decrease the
pressure of the rolls as may be desired.
To remove the wringer, it is only necessary to throw the hand lever L over so as
to remove the pressure of its eccentric from the follower D, thereby releasing the
pressure of the clamping arms H, J, on the tub, when it can be at once removed. As
it is lifted away from the tub, the auxiliary frame will drop by gravity to the position

page_text: shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3, thns separating the rolls; and by hanging it
up in that position the rolls will be kept apart, and thus there will be prevented that
flattening of the rolls which occurs in all wringers in which the rolls are left pressing
against each other when not in use, and which injures them more or less.
By making the frame wholly of metal, it is rendered strong and durable, and
avoids the use of wood which swells and shrinks, cracks and decays. The peculiar
construction enables it to be applied and adjusted with the least possible amount of
labour and care, and at the same time enables the rolls to be kept round and perfect.
It will of course be understood that a crank will be attached to the lower roll for
operating it in the usual manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In combination with the main frame having an adjustable roll mounted therein
with means for adjusting and clamping the same, and provided at its lower end with
clainping arms H, an auxiliary frame having a roller mounted therein and provided
with clamping arms J, said auxiliary frame being pivoted to the main frame, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a wringer frame consisting of a main frame and a pivoted auxiliary frame,
the clamping arnis H, J, having their lower ends bevelled or curved outward to enable
them to be shoved down on the wall or side of a tub or receptacle without other
adjustment or manipulation, as set forth.
3. In combination with the main frame having its end pieces A recessed for the
reception of the roller journals and their bearing blocks G, the spring S, follower D
provided with an adjusting screw b, and hand lever L provided with an eccentric a
arranged to bear on the follower D, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a wringer frame the recessed end pieces A, having the guides or lugs o,
arranged therein, in combination with the presser blocks G, provided with the semi-
circular recess at their lower ends and arranged to fit and move between said guides,
substantially as shown and described.
5. The recessed end pieces A provided with the vertical projections n, for keeping
the roller journal in its central position and preventing lateral displacement of the
same when relieved from pressure.
Dated this 14th day of July 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.