IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES FOR CLEANSING DOMESTIC GARMENTS, FIBROUS MATERIALS, AND FOR MANUFACTURING PURPOSES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bradford, of the Cathedral Steps, Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, and Fleet Street, London, Washing
Machine Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING
MACHINES FOR CLEANSING DOMESTIC GARMENTS, FIBROUS MATERIALS, AND FOR
MANUFACTURING PURPOSES."
Sealed the 22nd August 1862, and dated the 1st March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bradford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
March 1862.
I, THOMAS BRADFORD, of the Cathedral Steps, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, and Fleet Street, London. Washing Machine Manufacturer, <lo
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING
MACHINES FOR CLEANSING DOMESTIC GARMENTS, FIBROUS MATERIALS, AND FOR
MANUFACTURING FURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of eccentric turned rollers or round rollers, to be
driven by hand or steam power, with one or more projections, working in an
oblong, square, or rectangular-shaped vessel, or otherwise, whereby an
eccentric action is produced upon the articles as they are passed underneath
[Price 8d.]

page_text: or above or between upon a roller or a series of rollers, or framing made of
wood or other suitable material, supported with clastic band or springs, so as
to yield to the pressure of such eccentric action, and to the various thicknesses
to be acted upon. I also propose to cover or make such rollers or such pro-
jecting parts entirely of india-rubber, or any other suitable material for the
various purposes that the principle may be applied to for washing purposes.
I also propose to combine with this arrangement in one framing, for extracting
the water, a horizontal wired centrifugal cylinder, which combination has not
hitherto been accomplished for domestic purposes, but which is so desirable.
I also propose to work the washing roller when required by a foot treddle and
crank, assisted by a fly wheel, whereby both hands of the user may be at
liberty for arrangement or soaping of the articles preparatory to their being
passed through the washing rollers. also propose to connect with the
supporting roller or board a ratchet stop to regulate its traversing speed, as
will be found desirable. I also propose to place near the bottom of the vessel
a wooden cage of suitable depth on rollers to catch the articles as they pass
from the rollers. so as to draw them through the water from one part of the
vessel to the other for rewashing, or rinsing or drying.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Bradford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BRADFORD, of the Cathedral Steps, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
and Fleet Street, London, Washing Machine Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto me. the said
Thomas Bradford. Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Bradford, my
executors. administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Bradford, 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

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING
MACHINES FOR CLEANSING DOMESTIC GARMENTS. FIBROUS MATERIALS, AND FOR
MANUFACTURING PURPOSES," upon the conditions (amongst others) that 1, the said
Thomas Bradford, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain 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 Thomas Bradford. do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
'
i
I employ one or more eccentric or round rollers, and drive them by hand
or steam or water power. each of which rollers has one or more ribs or pro-
jections running longitudinally from end to end, and revolves in an oblong,
square, or other suitably shaped washing tub or vessel, in which vessel I place
frames underneath the roller or rollers for supporting one or more elastic rollers,
between which and the aforesaid round or eccentric roller or rollers the
materials to be washed are carried and rubbed by the projections, the elastic
rollers yielding to the pressure of the round or eccentric roller or rollers, and
thereby regulating themselves to the various thicknesses of the fabric acted
upon. also, when required, cover the round or eccentric roller or rollers,
or the projections upon them, of india-rubber or other elastic material. so as
to be adapted for various washing purposes. or I make the rollers entirely of
india-rubber. When one round or eccentric washing roller only is used, I
work it when desired with a foot treddle and fly wheel, so as to leave the
hands of the operator at liberty. I also place in the washing tub or vessel a
cage or perforated box, and traverse it to and fro from one end to the other,
in order to supply the fabric or material to the clastic rollers, and receive it
from them.
This Invention will be clearly understood by referring to the figures and
letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings. in which Fig. I is a longi-
tudinal section, Fig. 2 a longitudinal elevation, and Fig. 3 a transverse
elevation with a part removed of one of my improved washing machines
having one only of the round or eccentric rollers, and adapted for working
by power.

page_text: The round or eccentric roller is shewn at a, it has a number of ribs or pro-
jections running longitudinally from end to end. The roller works in
bearings in the framework c, and is put in motion by the gearing d and
pulley e on the shaft of the lower squeezing roller f. The washing tub g is
made of any desired shape, and has fixed to its sides the frames or supports h
bolted to the tub, and each having a hole for holding firmly an india-rubber
band or cord i on each side, which bands support a number of blocks or
holders carrying rollers at a suitable distance below the round or eccentric
roller a, so that the fabric to be washed will be held up to the round or
eccentric roller, and at the 2e time the rollers will yield to the varying
thicknesses by means of the clastic bands. At the bottom of the washing tub
there is a cage or perforated box 1, which is moved forwards to receive the
fabric or material after it has passed the elastic rollers, and then brought to
the front in order that the said fabric or material may be again placed upon
the elastic rollers and submitted to the action of the round or eccentric roller
as often as may be necessary. The lower squeezing roller is put in motion by
the pulley m and gearing n. and between the two pulleys e and m there is a
loose pulley o for allowing the machine to be at rest. the strap being moved
as required by the spiral strap guide p and wheel handle q. The round or
eccentric roller a may also be worked by a treddle or handle, as may be
desired. The required pressure is given to the squeezing rollers by means of
the rods r, levers s, and weights 1.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention. and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that in washing
machines for cleansing domestic garments, fibrous materials, and for manu-
facturing purposes, I claim,-
First, the employment of one or more eccentric or round rollers, driven by
hand, treddle, or by steam or water power, and forming on the roller or
rollers one or more ribs or projections running longitudinally from end
to end.
Secondly, the employment of elastic bands or cords for supporting blocks or
bearings carrying rollers, in order to enable the rollers to yield to the varying
thickness of the materials to be cleansed.
1
Thirdly, the formation of the round or eccentric rollers and ribs, made either
of plain wood, india-rubber, or covered with india-rubber.
Fourthly, the employment. of a cage or perforated box in the washing tub
or vessel.

page_text: And, fifthly, the general arrangement of the machinery or apparatus hercin
described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bradford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Thomas Bradford
in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
THOMAS BRADFORD. (L.S.)