provements in Reversing Gears for Washing, Ironing, and other Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1898-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Reversing Gears for Washing, Ironing, and other
Machines.
We, EDWARD WILLIAMSON and CLAUD HAMMERTON, trading as W. Williamson &
Co., Engineers, of 100, High Holborn, in the City and County of London, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention has reference to the reversing either by hand, foot or automatically
of washing, ironing or other machines. It is easily fitted and requires single width
pulleys where before double width pulleys were used as loose ones, and reduces the
travel of the belts and striking bars.
It consists of two bars of suitable section, length and material each sliding in
two bearings. These bars may be either beside one another or one above the
other and to these are attached the forks or other means of guiding the belts.
These bars are kept in position by suitable springs with the necessary collars
either loose with set screws or fixed on with pins or other means, the position of
which controls the pressure of the springs.
Each bar is also fitted with a fixed pin, set collar or boss against which one end
of a lever, pivoted in the centre or other suitable part according to the length of
stroke required, strikes alternately; thus shifting the bar along and moving the
belt onto the next pulley. When the lever moves back the spring presses the bar
into place again.
. According to the machine on which the gear is to be used so we regulate the
method of driving this lever. We use either a worm and wheel the wheel having
a pin fitted to it which works in a slot in the opposite end of the lever or is coupled
to the lever by a short rod and as the wheel turns so the pin or rod pushes the
lever over; or by connecting a treadle to same to be worked by foot or a handle
to be worked by hand or by any other suitable means according to the machine to
which it is to be adapted.
Dated this 20th day of August 1897.
EDWARD WILLIAMSON.
CLAUD HAMMERTON.
30 Improvements in Reversing Gears for Washing, Ironing, and other
Machines.
We, EDWARD WILLIAMSON and CLAUD HAMMERTON, trading as W. Williamson and
Co., late of 100, High Holborn, and now of Milborne Works, Milborne Street, Well
Street, Hackney, in the County of London, Engineers, do hereby declare the

page_text: 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 has reference to the reversing either by hand foot or automatically
of washing, ironing or other machines. It is easily fitted and requires only single
width pulleys, where before double width pulleys were used as loose ones, and
reduces the travel of the belts, friction, waste of power etc.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of this gear as it would be fixed to a rotary washing
machine.
Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1 on the line X Y thus showing an end view with
the pulleys and a portion of the bracket removed.
It consists of two bars A A¹ of suitable section, length and material, each sliding
in bearings. These bars may be beside one another or in such other position, as
may be best suited to the machine being fitted. To these bars are attached the
forks B B or other means of guiding the belts.
The bars A A¹ are kept in position by means of suitable springs C C¹, and pins
as D D¹, or by collars or bosses. The pin D in the bar A¹ only is visible in Fig. 1,
but the pin D takes a similar position in the bar A against the spring C and at the
opposite side of the lever E to that which D is.
By the position of these pins or collars D D¹ the pressure and position of springs
is regulated and the action of the bars and forks controlled. Extra pins or collars
may be fitted according to the variation required.
The pins or collars at D D also project from the bars A A¹ so as to take the
thrust of the lever E when it travels to one side or to the other.
The lever E is pivoted at the centre or other suitable part according to the
regulation of travel required for belts; in this instance at E¹.
According to the machine on which the gear is to be used, so we regulate the
method of driving the opposite end F of the lever E.
The lever E is not necessarily straight but is made any shape to suit the machine
being fitted. In this instance the end F is fitted with a pin and roller F¹ which
runs in and is controlled by a cam groove in the worm wheel G, which in turn is
driven by the worm G¹ on shaft as shown.
The action therefore is as follows:-
When the end F of the lever E is forced to the right by the revolving of the
worm wheel G and the shape of the groove in it, the upper end of lever compresses
the spring C and slides the bar A with the forks B along to the left, thus sending
the belt from the right hand pulley onto the centre one. As the pressure is released
by the revolving of cam groove, the spring expands again and pulls the
bar A etc. into position. A similar action takes place as the lever travels the other
way.
The end of lever E may be controlled either as shown, or by being coupled to
worm wheel by a lever, and a pin fixed in worn wheel, or by a foot or hand lever
direct, or any other suitable manner according to the machine to which it is being
fitted and the way it is desired to work it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The adaptation of two sliding bars fitted with belt guides and kept in position
by springs.
2. The manipulation of the two bars by a lever and pins or collars, one pin or
collar being fitted to each bar.
3. The alternate action of the bars by the adaptation of this method of
manipulation.
4. The necessity for only single width pulleys instead of double width by the
alternate action of this gear.

page_text: 5. The manipulation of the lever by pivoting it and controlling one end and
allowing the other to be free to act upon the bars.
Dated this Nineteenth day of May 1808
EDWARD WILLIAMSON.
CLAUD HAMMERTON.