IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ashworth Pilling, of the Firm of Ashworth
Pilling and Brothers, of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES."
Sealed the 23rd October 1874, and dated the 27th April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ashworth Pilling at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th April 1874.
I, ASHWORTH PILLING, of the Firm of Ashworth Pilling and Brothers,
of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature.
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES," to be as
follows:-
In constructing machines according to my improvements I employ an
endless sheet of canvas or other suitable material which passes around
a hollow cylinder or drum made preferably of zinc and plated. The
sheet passes also round a roller, which keeps it stretched or distended.
In framework above the fluted cylinder are mounted a series of

page_text: smaller rollers bearing on the surface thereof, the pressure being
regulated by springs or equivalent means. The endless sheet before
mentioned is provided with wires or cards, which extend across it from side
to side, and the articles to be washed are attached, the side and the drum
or cylinder is caused to revolve, the axis thereof being furnished with an
ordinary hand wheel. A rubbing action is thus effected between the
surface of the drum or cylinder and the series of rollers about it. The
whole of the apparatus is enclosed in a water-tight box or casing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Ashworth Pilling in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ASHWORTH
PILLING, of the Firm of Ashworth Pilling and Brothers, of Accrington,
in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Ashworth Pilling, Her special licence
that I, the said Ashworth Pilling, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Ashworth Pilling, 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
WASHING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Ashworth Pilling, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ashworth Pilling, 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 Sheet of Drawings (that is to
say):
In constructing machines according to my improvements I employ an
endless sheet of canvas or other suitable material, which passes around a
cylinder or drum made of zinc or wood, or other suitable material and
fluted. The sheet passes also round a roller, which keeps it stretched or
distended. In framework above the fluted cylinder are mounted a
series of smaller rollers bearing on the surface thereof, the pressure
being regulated by springs or equivalent means. The endless sheet
before mentioned is provided with wires or cords which extend across it
from side to side, and the articles to be washed are attached thereto and
the drum or cylinder is caused to revolve, the axis thereof being
furnished with an ordinary hand wheel. A. rubbing action is thus
effected between the surface of the drum or cylinder and the series of
rollers above it. The whole of the apparatus is enclosed in a water-tight
box or casing.
In order that this Invention may be fully understood I herein give
reference to an accompanying Sheet of Drawings of a machine con-
structed according to my Invention.
Fig. 1 is a cross section, and Fig. 2 is a plan view with top or casing
removed.
A is the sheet of canvas and B the cylinder or drum, which is fluted.
The sheet A is distended by means of the roller C fixed in moveable
bearings C¹; D are a series of rollers mounted in the frames E pressed
by springs E. The axis of the centre roller D' forms a joint pin to the
frames E, and projects beyond the frames into vertical slots or grooves F
fixed to the interior of the box or casing G, which keep the frames in
position, allowing them to move up and down when in work. The box
is made water-tight, and may be covered entirely by a lid H, an outlet K
being provided with plug or tap for running the water off. Attached
to the sheet A. are a series of brass rods or cords L, to which the articles
to be washed are attached, which in most cases is done by simply
passing the same between the sheet and rod or cord. The drum is
caused to revolve by means of the hand wheel M turned by the attendant,

page_text: carrying the endless sheet and articles to be washed around with it, and
subjecting the same to the action of the rollers D. These rollers are
shewn to be pressed by springs E', but the frames may be made of metal
or other material of sufficient weight along with the rollers themselves,
to avoid the necessity of using springs. As the sheet travels the articles
become saturated, and the dirt dissolved by passing through the "sud"
or water and soap placed in the bottom of the box, and in passing under
the rollers D the dirty water is expressed therefrom, the operation being
continued so long as is found necessary for the effectual cleansing of
the articles.
Having thus described the nature of this my said Invention, and shewn
by Drawings how the same is to be performed or carried into practical
operation, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to
the precise details of construction or arrangement, but what I claim as
my Invention is,-
Firstly. The use or employment of the endless sheet A in combination
with the cylinder B and distending roller C, for purpose described.
Secondly. The rollers D arranged to be moveable, and either pressed by
springs or weighted in combination with the cylinder B and endless
sheet A, substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ashworth Pilling, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the said Ashworth Pilling, in
the presence of
Wч. TASKER,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Bradford.
ASHWORTH PILLING. (L.B.)