IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING WOVEN FABRICS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walmsley Hargreaves, of Crawshaw Booth, near
Rawtenstall, in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING WOVEN
FABRICS."
Sealed the 5th March 1861, and dated the 26th September 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walmsley Hargreaves at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th September 1860.
I, WALMSLEY HARGREAVES, of Crawshaw Booth, near Rawtenstall, in the
County of Lancaster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING WOVEN
FABRICS," to be as follows:-
My improved machinery or apparatus for washing is chiefly applicable for
domestic purposes, and it consists of a cylindrical or other shaped vessel
mounted on an axle, or on trunnions, and turned round in the same or in con-
trary directions; the discs forming the ends of the vessel are diagonal or at
right angles to the axis, and the interior of the circumference is provided with
ribs, projections, or rails radiating from or set at an angle to the axis; the
inner surfaces of the discs are also made with projections and recesses.
The fabrics to be washed are placed inside the vessel through an opening in
the circumference, or in one of the discs, which opening is securely closed after

page_text: the requisite quantity of water and soap or other washing material has been
introduced, the vessel is then turned round by hand or other power, thereby
agitating the fabrics and effectually removing the impurities by the action of
the water, and the ribs and projections on the discs and inner circumference
of the vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walmsley Hargreaves in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd March 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALMSLEY
HARGREAVES, of Crawshaw Booth, near Rawtenstall, in the County of Lan-
caster, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Walmsley Hargreaves, Her special licence that I, the said Walmsley
Hargreaves, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Walmsley Hargreaves, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING WOVEN FABRICS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Walmsley Hargreaves,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Walmsley Hargreaves, do bereby declare
the nature of my said 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 improved machinery or apparatus for washing is chiefly applicable for
domestic purposes, and it consists of a cylindrical or other shaped vessel

page_text: mounted on an axle, or on trunnions, and turned round in the same or in con-
trary directions; the discs forming the ends of the vessel are diagonal or at
right angles to the axis, and the interior of the circumference is provided with
ribs, projections, or rails radiating from or set at an angle to the axis; the
inner surfaces of the discs are also made with projections and recesses.
The fabrics to be washed are placed inside the vessel through an opening in
the circumference or in one of the discs, which opening is securely closed after
the requisite quantity of water and soap, or other washing material have been
introduced; the vessel is then turned round by hand or other power, thereby
agitating the fabrics and effectually removing the impurities by the action
of the water, and the ribs and projections on the discs and inner circumference
of the vessel.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me, reference
being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and
letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved washing machine; Figure 2 is a
transverse section; and Figure 3 a longitudinal section of the same. The
vessel into which the articles to be washed are placed consists of the cylin-
drical or other shaped shell a, made by preference of sheet zinc or galvanized
iron, but any other suitable metal or material may be employed; the ends of
the shell a are closed by the discs b, which are shewn at right angles to the
shell, but may be placed diagonally if preferred; the discs 6 are united
by the stay bolts c, two of which pass through the segment d, in which is
the opening for the door or lid e, and the other two are placed between the
cross ribs or projections f, and the diagonal ribs or projections 9 and g¹. The
cross ribs are let into and supported by the discs b, and the diagonal ribs g,
shewn by full lines in Figure 2, are attached to the left hand disc b, as shewn
in Figure 3, while the ribs g', shewn in dots in Figure 2, are attached to the
right hand disc b, as shewn in Figure 3. There are also shallow ribs or rails f
placed between the diagonal ribs g and g¹, and extending across the vessel, or
from one disc b to the other; these ribs are not shewn in Figure 3; the pro-
jections g² fixed to the segment d or to the lid e serve to turn the fabrics
over, and keep them separated while the cylinder is revolving. To the
discs are attached trunnions h, which revolve in the standards i, and to one
of the trunnions is keyed a spur wheel j, which is driven by the pinion k
fixed to the fly wheel 1; the fly wheel and pinion are mounted on the shaft m,
and may be driven by hand or other power, according to the size of the
washing machine. The mode of operation is as follows:-The fabrics to be

page_text: washed are placed inside the vessel through the opening of the door or lid e,
with the requisite quantity of water and soap or other washing material, after
which the door or lid is closed and secured by bolts or by any of the well-
known means; the cylinder is then turned round either in the same or alter-
nately in contrary directions, the rotation of the cylinder and the action of the
ribs or projections f,f¹, 9, 9¹, and 92, cause the fabrics to be agitated in every
direction, while the water or other wash which is raised by the recesses between
the ribs or projections pours down upon the fabrics, by this means a con-
tinuous fall of water is kept up upon the fabrics while they are being effectually
rubbed or scrubbed by the action of the ribs, rails, or projections, the fabrics
are thus purified from dirt. A tap is provided at the lower part of the cylinder
to let off the foul water when required. It will be evident that the same
objects may be attained by varying the position and shapes of the ribs or pro-
jections within the cylindrical or other shaped vessel. I therefore do not confine
myself to any particular shaped vessel nor to the details which I have given;
but what I do claim is the application of transverse and diagonal ribs, rails, or
other projections forming recesses or buckets within a circular or any other
suitably shaped revolving vessel, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walmsley Hargreaves, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
WALMSLEY HARGREAVES. (L.S.)