Improvements in Washing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898 ··
Improvements in Washing Machines.
We, HENRY PODGER and HARRY GEORGE PODGER, both of 156, Homesdale Road,
Bromley, in the County of Kent, Laundry Engineers, 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 an improved washing and rinsing machine and consists
essentially in the construction of the inner revolving cage which is such that
the water is freely admitted whilst the clothes therein contained are raised and
allowed to drop twice in every revolution, the water also being carried up and
rained down on the clothes so that an efficient washing and rinsing action is
obtained without the clothes becoming entangled by being rolled over and over as in
other rotating drums. .
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification and will be described with reference thereto, Figure 1 being a
cross-sectional elevation and Figure 2 a longitudinal sectional elevation of the
machine.
(A) is a horizontal cylindrical casing which may be made in halves mounted on
standards (B) and provided with a sliding or other door (C) and with glands and
journal bearings for the drum (D) which is mounted at one end on a journal (E¹)
and at the other on a shaft (E) by which it is rotated. The drum is in cross-section
of the form approximately of a frustum of a cylinder, its circumference being made
up of two cylindrical segments (extending over about 900) and constructed of closely
juxtaposed metal tubes (F) and of two oppositely curved segments (G) formed of
plain plates (the one being fitted with a pair of doors (g) for giving access to the
interior) the segments (G) projecting inwardly and presenting their convexly-curved
faces to the interior so as by the rotation of the drum to carry up the clothes and let
them fall bodily after reaching a given height. The tubes (F) which may be of
copper or brass, collectively present a sort of corrugated surface to the clothes which
by the rubbing action thereby produced become more effectively cleansed. These
tubes are perforated with holes (f) through their inner and outer sides, as shewn in
Figure 3 (which is a plan partly in section of the end portion of the tubes) in order
to give passage to the water which can also pass between the tubes, the water contained
in the tubes being carried up and rained down on the clothes when the tubes arrive
at the upper part of the drum, whereby an effective rinsing effect is obtained. The
tubes are closed at the ends and fixed by plugs (F1) fitting in the ends of the tubes,
several of the plugs being preferably cast on one bracket screwed or otherwise fixed
to the periphery of the end frame (H) of the drum. The ends (h) of the drum are
formed of plates attached to the end frames (H) and inwardly bulged so that the
capacity of the drum is slightly contracted both longitudinally by the inwardly
bulged ends (h) and transversely by the inwardly bulged sides (G), the conjoint effect
being to cause the clothes (which about half fill the drum) to fall in a more or less
compact mass without becoming entangled by rolling over loosely, as they otherwise
would do.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a washing machine the construction of the internal rotating cage or drum
substantially of the form in cross-section herein shewn and described.
of
2. In a washing machine the construction of the internal rotating cage
approximately the form of a frustum of a cylinder the circumference of which is
formed by two cylindrical segments formed of longitudinal juxtaposed perforated
tubes and of two smaller reversely curved inwardly. projecting segments formed of
plain plates and provided with doors substantially as specified.
3. The herein described improved washing machine substantially as described.
Dated this 98th day of January 1898
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
• Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.