CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING AND MANGLING MACHINES APPLICABLE IN PART TO STEAM DYEING AND TO BLEACHING
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Burns Smith, of Bury, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
WASHING AND MANGLING MACHINES APPLICABLE IN PART TO STEAM DYEING
AND TO BLEACHING."
Sealed the 17th February 1868, and dated the 12th September 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Burns Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th September 1862.
I, JOHN BURNS SMITH, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WASHING AND MANGLING MACHINES APPLICABLE IN PART TO STEAM
DYEING AND TO BLEACHING," to be as follows:-
The nature and novel features of my Invention consist of an improved
combination of parts peculiarly arranged and adapted to perform and effect
the operations of washing and mangling and other operations connected
therewith.
Firstly, consisting of a barrel or hexagon cylinder of wood or metal cylinder
placed horizontally, the ends of which are mounted on central bearings axes
in appropriate or suitable framing. On the axis of the barrel (I will designate
barrel throughout) are fixed three connected radial arms set equally apart in
the circumferential line of rotatory direction. The outer extremity of each arm

page_text: is an handle, so that the barrel may receive a rotatory movement, also an
agitatory oscillating movement backwards and forwards intermittent rotation.
To receive the fabrics to be operated upon the barrel is provided on its out-
ward horizontal surface with a suitable opening upon which is a removeable
cover capable of being secured water-tight. Inside the barrel are placed and
fixed from end to end three divisions equally apart and each division extend-
ing from the inner periphery towards the centre of the barrel to about one-third
of the diametrical line. These divisions, forming compartments, are composed
of a series of rods or bars placed from end to end, toothed with studs, or
covered with bristles or other suitable elastic material. These peculiar
divisional compartments constitute one of the novelties of the Invention. I
also propose to make them (the divisional compartments) not extending in
diametrical line of direction but in the direction, of the sines of the barrel's
circle.
Secondly, for the more effectually agitating and scrubbing the fabrics I
adapt for use the well-known plain wooden balls used in washing machines to
a much more useful purpose than hitherto by covering them brush like with
bristles or any such like suitable elastic material, or woollen or horsehair
cloth.
Thirdly, I apply and adapt through the centro of the axis of the barrel an
orifice with a moveable joint to admit hot water, steam, or other solution for
any of the purposes required in washing, dyeing, or bleaching.
Fourthly, an improved combination of the arrangement and adaptation of
three mangling rollers, the axis of the three forming a position somewhat
like an equilateral triangle; the centres or axis of two of these rollers are to be
always placed in an horizontal line, horizontal with each other and connected
together with working gear, by gearing into a wheel of an under driving
shaft. The third roller, placed above and resting on the surface periphery of
and supported by the two under horizontal rollers is driven in its rotation by
them by the contact of surface pressure; the upper or third roller being 3
provided at each end or axis with a pendent vertical lever or arm, which arms
support at their lower extremity beneath the horizontal rollers and near the
floor, a stone for the purpose of weight, which is the entire length of the top
roller and parallel laterally with it from one axis to its other. This stone
weight is of sufficient gravity to give the requisite pressure for wringing or 3
mangling the fabrics operated upon. The top or upper roller is also provided
on the vertical arms with a ratchet rack gearing at both arms, that it may be
held apart from action and out of contact from the two horizontal rollers for
the purpose of unrolling with more facility the fabrics that have been wound

page_text: round it and mangled. It must be here observed that a novel feature of this
Invention is the very effective mode of mangling the fabrics by being laid and
spread on an ordinary mangling cloth of sufficient length and lapped or wound
many times round the third or upper roller to be continuously for any
sufficiently length of time rotated by the two under rollers and the acting
pressure of the stone weight, this mode of mangling secures more effectiveness
of purpose.
Lastly, the construction of the side framing of the machine is so formed in
the whole as to be within itself a concealed receptacle or shield for the
gearing the necessary wheelwork, that no accidents or derangement may
occur.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and carried into effect,
I will briefly describe the mode of operation.
The fabrics to be operated upon to be washed, dyed, or bleached, are placed
in the barrel with sufficient water or other solution. The barrel must have
by the use of the three handles on the axis an oscillating, a backward and
forward movement, so that the fabrics are agitated and dashed against one and
the other of the divisional studded compartments alternately. The fabrics
occasionally and repeatedly carried up with, and until any one of the divisions
forms the meridian line, the fabrics will then fall from the division through the
space to the bottom or lower part of the barrel, and will in consequence be
separated asunder in other positions than heretofore, to be again dashed and
agitated in the lowest compartment.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Burns Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BURNS SMITH, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Burns Smith, Her special licence, that I, the said John Burns
Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Burns Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there;

page_text: after 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 " CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING AND MANGLING MACHINES, APPLICABLE IN PART TO STEAM
DYEING AND TO BLEACHING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Burns Smith, 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 samo
was to bo 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 John Burns Smith, do hereby 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 and accompanying Drawing (that is to say), in which
description and Drawing the same letters of reference are used to indicate the
same parts in the Figures in which they occur. The scales towhich the Figures
are drawn are stated on the Drawing.
Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2 is a back end elevation. My
improvements severally are chiefly applicable to the machines known as
domestic washing, wringing, and mangling machines. In reference to such
machinery the construction, parts, and operations of the washing and mangling
machine being familiar to persons conversant with such machinery I will not
herein describe or refer to the same further than as may be necessary for the
explanation of my present improvements, which I will now proceed to describe,
and which may be arranged under six divisions.
Figure 1, A represents the framing of a combined washing, wringing, and
mangling machine; B represents a sectional elevation of a hexagonal hori-
zontal cylinder (a barrel or circular metallic cylinder may be used) mounted
in the framing A; 6' is one of the hollow axes of the cylinder, also shewn in
section and coloured, for the better illustration of this part of my Invention;
c, c, c, represent three connected radial arms or levers, equidistant, fastened to
the axis of the cylinder B, c'; one of the arms is shewn full length, the other
two are shewn broken, so as not to intervene between and more fully and
distinctly to shew the inner part of the cylinder B. The arms c, c, c, are for
the purpose, when the cylinder is to be in operation, for cleansing, washing,
dycing, or bleaching the fabrics by hand power, the outer extremities of the
arms c, c, c, serve for handles, so as to give as oscillating or rotatory movement
to the cylinder B; but when to be driven by steam or other power, instead of

page_text: the arms c, c, c, a fast and loose pulley must be placed on the axis of the
cylinder. A suitable opening F, with a steam-tight cover, is placed on the
horizontal surface of the cylinder B for the reception of fabrics to be operated
upon. Inside the cylinder B are securely placed from end to end, and in
position corresponding with the arms c, c, c, three divisional compartments
E, E, E, each division extends from the inner periphery towards the centre of
the cylinder to about one-third of the diametrical line. These divisions, two of
which are shewn in coloured section at c³ and c³, are composed of a series
of plain or toothed ribs from end to end. These ribs placed suitably apart
from each other, the spaces between are for the purpose of sluicing tho water
through. When the fabrics are placed in the cylinder B to be washed, dyed,
or bleached, a backward and forward movement, by the use of one of the
handles c, c, c, must be given to the cylinder B, in such manner that the fabrics
will be dashed from side to side in the lowest compartment. When the fabrics
have been awhile agitated by the backward and forward action in the lowest
compartment, they must be, by the use of the handles c, c, c, brought up by the
division of the lowest compartment until it forms the meridian line, the fabrics
will then fall down from the highest division or compartment, through the space
allotted, to the bottom compartment; the fabrics will in consequence be sepa-
rated and be in other positions than heretofore, to be again dashed and agitated
in the lowest compartment as before. It is dashing the fabrics against the sides
of the lowest compartment which is so advantageous, and by the water sluicing
or rushing through the spaces of the ribbed divisions of the compartments the
fabrics are beat with more force than they otherwise would be if there were no
opening spaces for sluicing the water during the agitation from one side to the
other of the lowest compartment. The weight of the water or other solution
during the oscillating of the cylinder is always acting on the fabrics with great
beneficial effect in either washing, dyeing, or bleaching.
And in reference to this first part of my said improvements I declare that
I claim as of my Invention the peculiar arrangement, combination, and adap-
tation of parts, the three divisional compartments as herein described, allowing
space for the fabrics to fall from the highest to the lowest compartment,
together with the three arms in the corresponding position to facilitate by
hand the operation of agitating the cleansing, washing, dyeing, or bleaching
fabrics.
Secondly, Figure 3 represents a wooden ball T, which is partly covered with
bristles, as shewn. In some instances these balls may be made hollow that
they may float more easily, and they may be made of tin or other suitable light
metallic substance not capable of rust, and may be covered with rough woollen

page_text: or horsehair cloth. When a few balls are placed inside the cylinder B with
the fabrics to be cleansed or washed by the backward and forward rotatory
movement of the cylinder B, the balls T give a scrubbing or rubbing action on
the fabrics and have a tendency to keep the fabrics apart in a floating position
during the agitating and dashing in the lowest compartment.
And in reference to this second part of my said improvements, I declare
that I claim as of my Invention the application and adaptation of any covering
whatever to balls for the purpose of scrubbing or rubbing fabrics during the
operation of washing. I also claim their covered use when applied to any
other washing machine, or to the common household dolley tub.
Thirdly, Figure 1, 6, represents one of the axes of the cylinder B, both of
which are hollow or cylindrical; one axis b' is for the admission of steam, hot
or cold water, or other solution; the other 6 is the outlet axis; each axis 6'
and b³, see Figure 2, back end elevation, is fitted and provided with a moveable
joint with suitable piping 63, and fitted up with taps or cocks & for the adjust-
ment both of inlet and outlet. After washing the fabrics, pure water may
enter at the axis 6', continuously from any source, from an higher level, while
the other be discharges the same, till the discharged water becomes of the
same purity as it went in; blueing water may be applied in this manner.
In some instances the cylinder may be provided with a pump on its axis for
continuous supply during the operation or working of the cylinder. Tho
process of dyeing or bleaching come under the same operation.
And in reference to this third part of my said improvements, I declare that
I claim as of my Invention the novel application of, combination, and adap-
tation of the inlet and outlet, through the hollow axes of the cylinder, capable
of limited adjustment, of the water, steam, or other solution.
Fourthly, Figures 1 and 2 represents the driving shaft H, which extends
from side to side of the machine; upon the end of the shaft H is fastened an
handle R to give it rotation; secured to the shaft H is the wheel H', which
gears into the wheels J and J' respectively. The wheels J and J' do not gear
with each other, they are apart, but they are each respectively in gear with
the driving wheel I, I'. The wheels J and J' are each securely fastened to the
rollers K and K¹; upon the rollers K and K' is placed the upper third
roller N. The roller N is rotated by friction by its weighted pressure on,
and by the surface contact of the peripheries of the two horizontal rollers K and
K. It will be perceived that the novel feature of the peculiar arrangement
of the axes or centres of the three rollers K and K', and N, form somewhat
of an equilateral triangle. The upper or third roller being sufficiently weighted
to press upon the two under horizontal driving rollers, so much so that the

page_text: fabrics to be wrung, to be expressed, and the liquid extracted, are placed
between the rollers at the arrow at the right, and come forward with the arrow
at the left side of the roller N. The fabrics are twice pressed by the upper
third roller N, by the fabrics coming first under pressure between the roller N
and K, and passing under second pressure between the roller N and the
roller K'; W is the drip board and table, which slides loosely in grooved
recesses cast inside the framing. When this peculiar arrangement of the
three rollers N, K, and K', is used for the purpose of mangling and finishing
fabrics, an ordinary mangling cloth is used of sufficient length, and is placed
on the table P, which is a removable table placed in opposite slide grooves
of the framing A. The fabrics to be mangled or finished are placed and
spread with as much uniformity as possible on the mangling cloth, and they are
wound round the roller N in the direction of the arrow 8, till it has absorbed
the whole length of the mangling cloth and fabrics. The roller N may be kept
in continuous rotation till the fabrics are sufficiently mangled or finished. The
roller N is then reversed in its rotation, and the fabrics taken away for
another repetition of other fabrics.
And in reference to this fourth part of my said improvements, I declare that
I claim as of my Invention the peculiar arrangement of combination and
adaptation of three rollers, whoso axes or centres are somewhat near equi-
lateral as herein described, two of the rollers being horizontal, and connected
by gear with each other, and their periphery surfaces driving the third or
upper roller by friction by its being in contact with the periphery surfaces of
the two horizontal rollers.
Fifthly. On the roller N, Figs. 1 and 2, at each axis is rested a vertical lever
or arm 0; these arms support a stone weight M, this weight is suspended
parallel with the roller N, and always the same length, and is for the purpose of
giving additional weight or pressure to the roller N, upon the rollers k and k',
for wringing and mangling fabrics. (Attached to the arms O, O, the rack
gearing provisionally mentioned, I find not to be of sufficient importance, and
make no claim.)
And in reference to this fifth part of my said improvements, I declare that
I claim as of my Invention the mode herein described for putting additional
weight to the roller N by a stone the entire length of the roller, and suspended
from the axes of the roller N.
Sixthly. The framing A is so formed at the bearings of the rollers k and
where the wheel gearing of the rollers and driving shaft are placed, so that
the construction of each frame side of the machine is so formed as to be a
cover, shield, or receptacle for the wheels as herein shewn, back end view,

page_text: Fig. 2 in section. The imperfect manner in which gearing wheels are secured
to rollers of washing machines causes their becoming loose, and derangement
taking place; these imperfectons are obviated, inasmuch that I drill through
both the boss of the wheel and shaft a slightly taper hole, in which I insert
or drive a steel or iron taper pin*, the pin may be rivetted at the small end; :
by this mode the wheels never come loose.
And in reference to this sixth and last part of my said improvements, I
declare that I claim as of my Invention, the construction of the castings of
the frame sides, that each side forms within itself a cover or shield for the
necessary wheels of the machine.
Also, I claim, the substitution of a taper pin in such manner as herein set
forth for the more effectually securing and preventing the wheels of domestic
washing and mangling machine rollers becoming loose.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Burns Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
JOHN BURNS SMITH
1
JOHN BURNS SMITH (Le)