Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1887
Complete Left, 16th Apr., 1888
...Complete Accepted, 18th May, 1888
I, MESHACH HOPKINS, of No. 3, Cancel Street, Walworth, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus to be used to facilitate the
washing of clothes and other articles, whereby the desired object is performed in
a speedy and effectual manner, without liability of injuring the articles being
treated.
The said apparatus consists mainly of a band of any suitable pliable material, such
as sail cloth and plaited cords, across one face of which are a number of ridges or
projecting pieces. The said band is folded with the said face inwards and the
articles to be washed are placed within the band so that on the latter being subjected
to a reciprocal or rotary movement the said articles will be acted upon by the ridges
or projecting pieces. In the lower part of the tub or vessel in which the operation
of washing is to be performed is arranged a horizontal roller or bar, below which one
end of the band is passed, and when sufficient of the band has been drawn through
the two sides are folded upwards, the water and washing materials are then placed
within the tub or vessel and the articles to be washed having been placed between
the two sides of the folded band, the ends of the latter are alternately drawn
upwards, the consequent reciprocal movement of the band being greatly facilitated
by the roller or bar. In order to keep the tub or vessel in position I, in some
cases, form projections on the lower part of the same upon which the feet of the
operator can be placed.
.
In some cases, instead of moving the band in the manner herein before described
I join the ends thereof and the endless band so formed is passed over the roller
herein before mentioned and over a drum situated above the tub or vessel, to which
drum is imparted a rotary motion by any suitable means, and a like motion is
transmitted thereby to the band. In some cases, both the first mentioned roller
and the said drum are above the tub or vessel, and in this case the band is kept in
its position within the tub or vessel by suitable guide rollers.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, MESHAOH HOPKINS, of No. 24 Azenby Square Lyndhurst Road, Peckham, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, 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
:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for washing clothes and other
articles, by means of which the desired object is effected in a simple, speedy and
effectual manner, whilst the liability of injuring the articles, being operated upon,
'is avoided.
The apparatus constituting the subject of this invention consists of one or more
bands or belts of any suitable pliable or flexible material which is not liable to be
injuriously affected by immersion in water, for instance, bands or belts of hempen
cord or metal chains will be found suitable for the purpose. To, or on, the said
bands or belts are attached or secured, at any desired distance apart and at any
required angle, a number of cross bars or ribs of wood or other suitable material in
such a manner that they project beyond the face or faces of the bands or belts and
thus form the rubbing surfaces. When the bands or belts are composed of two
or more lengths of cord or other material the said bars are arranged transversely
and secure the various lengths of cord or other material together.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying drawings from which the nature
of my said invention will be more clearly understood. Figures 1. and 2. are
respectively front and side views of a portion of a band or belt with a number of
bars arranged horizontally across one of its faces, and Figures 3. 4. and 5. are
respectively front, side and top views of a portion of a band or belt, constructed in
accordance with this invention and composed of two lengths of cord, which are
passed respectively through holes in opposite ends of the cross bars and have knots
made therein for the purpose of securing and retaining the said bars in position.
In the last mentioned figures, the bars are illustrated as projecting beyond both faces
of the band or belt, but it will be readily understood that, they may be so formed
and arranged as to project beyond one face only, if desired. In the above figures
a. are the bands and b. the bars.
The material of which the bands or belts a. are formed must be of such a nature
that the latter will work easily upon and around pulleys or drums. In the case of
the band or belt being composed of one length of material, as shown in Figures 1.
and 2., 1, in some cases, divide the bars b. into two or more parts and arrange the
same irregularly or at different levels, and, in some cases, I arrange a series of bars
on each face of the band or belt.
In order to employ the bands or belts, to the construction of which this invention
relates,. I arrange one or more bands or belts within the tub or other vessel within
which the washing is to be effected, in such a manner, that the materials to be operated
upon may be placed between the barred surfaces of two or more bands or between two

page_text: portions of the barred surface of one band, I then cause such surfaces to be moved con-
tinuously or reciprocally in opposite directions, or, in the case of two bands or belts,
both may be moved in the same direction at different speeds, or, one may be fixed
and the other arranged to be moved. The following will be found convenient methods
of arranging the bands or belts so that motion may be imparted to them with the
desired effect. In the case of one band or belt, a horizontal pulley, drum or roller is
arranged within the lower part of the vessel and the band or belt is passed under
the same and folded upwards so that portions of its barred surface, are, opposite each
other, Figure 6. is a side elevation of a band or belt so arranged the vessel being
shown in section, the materials to be washed, having been soaped, are placed
within the band or belt and a reciprocal or rotary motion is given to the
latter. When two bands or belts are employed, I, in some cases, as illustrated
by Figure 7., secure one to the inner face of the side of the vessel with the
bars in a more or less upright position and I attach the second band or belt
on to the periphery of a drum, the axis of which is vertical, the bars of the last
mentioned band or belt being also in a more or less upright position, the said drum
is arranged in such a position within the vessel that when it is caused to revolve
either continuously in one direction or first one way and then the reverse way the
materials to be washed, which are placed or brought between the two bands or belts
will be subjected to the rubbing action of the bars thereon. A series of bands or
belts may be arranged to work upon the same pulley or drum, or on a series of pulleys
or drums on the same axle, and all of such bands or belts may be moved in a manner
similar to that above described in the case of one band or belt, at different speeds or
irregularly.
If desired, to prevent the washing vessel from moving, projections may be formed
on, or attached to, the lower part of the same in such a position that the feet of the
operator may be placed thereon.
I do not desire to confine this invention to the methods and means hereinbefore
described and shown in the accompanying drawings for attaching the cross bars to
the bands or belts as there are many other means by which they may be securely
lashed or secured thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
First. The construction of bands or belts with cross bars on one or both surfaces
thereof, substantially as, and for the purpose, hereinbefore described.
And secondly. In washing apparatus, the arrangement within the washing vessel,
of one or more bands or belts, each provided with projecting cross bars on one or both
surfaces, in such a manner, that the materials to be washed may be placed or brought.
between two portions of the barred surface of one band or belt or between the barred
surfaces of two or more bands or belts, and there subjected to the rubbing action of
the said cross bars by the movement of one or more of the said bands or belts,
substantially as, and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Doind this 16th dove of Anzil 1888
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.