Year: 1897

page_text: ANNIE BARRETT, Engineer's Clerk, Haynes Road, Uppingham Road, Leicester,
I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It relates to improvements in the formation & construction of machines used
for washing clothes & linen, & consists of forming the rotary box & outer
shell & driving mechanism of same in such a manner that the efficiency of the
machine is greatly enhanced.
I form the outer box or shell of the machine preferably in circular form, inside
of which I place another box or cage, which may be circular or many sided as
desirable. In the inside of inner box I place shelves or lifters at suitable
distances from one another, which are placed horizontal across the box & which are
either the same depth from end to end, or one end is left wider for the purpose of
I divide the inner-box across from
inclining the linen to change position in box.
one end to the other by a petition, made in bars, or have the material perforated
with holes, so as to allow the water to find its way out of the clothes into bottom
part of machine, so as to draw one part of the box & also cause great agitation in
the water & clothes being operated upon I also flute the division in the inner-
cage, or fix rubbers upon it, so that the clothes are rubbed in sliding over the
division. This division in some instances is made loose so that it can be taken out
so as to allow the clothes to have all the space in the inner cage.
I place at one end of the inner box or cage doors which open out almost equal in
size to the part containing the clothes being washed, & on the upper half of the
outer-shell I fix a door, which door when opened falls back against the bottom half
of the machine, the doors of the inner box are each made in two parts & hung
with hinges in a manner that one part of the door drops flat over the space between
the two cages so as to keep the linen being taken from the machine from falling
between the outer-shell & inner-box or cage. The outer-cage is placed on feet in
an horizontal position, or it may be tilted somewhat so that the clothes come in
contact with the end of machine which is fluted.
The inner-cage is supported by a shaft fixed to each end, the shaft on the end
where the door end of machine is left short so that it does not protrude outside
the end, at the opposite end the shaft is longer, the shafts are supported in suitable
bearings, which are fixed to outer-shell, at the opposite end to the doors suitable
driving arrangement is fixed arranged in a way that the cage travels several
tines round in one direction, then several times in the opposite direction, this is
obtained by means of a belt-rod, worm & worm wheel & to obtain the shifting of
the belts quickly, I use a belt-rod which is inclined in some parts, instead of
straight, which inclination by gravitation assists the quick traverse of the belts
from the fast to the loose pallies & from loose to fast pullies.

page_text: In some instances where the outer-cage is required to stand the pressure of
steam, I alter the arrangement of doors somewhat, but retain the arrangement of
position of same.
Improvements in Machines for Washing Linen and for like purposes.
I, ANNIE BARRETT, of Haynes Road, Uppingham Road, Leicester, in the County
of Leicester, Engineer's Clerk, 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 improvements in the formation and construction of
machines, used for washing clothes, linen and for like purposes and consists in the
arrangement or formation of the inside rotary box and the outside stationary shell
and the driving and reversing machinery in combination therowith to enhance the
efficiency of the machine.
That the invention may be well understood drawings are annexed in which :-
Figure 1, Sheet 1 is a front elevation of the machine.
Figure 2, Sheet 1 a side view of same, partly in section to show the inside
rotary box, shelves, rubbers and gears for driving the said inner box, and
Figure 3, Sheet 2 is a back view of the machine, with driving and reversing gear
attached.
In carrying out this invention the outer box or shell A. of the machine is
preferably made in circular form as shown, but can be made of any convenient
shape, in the inside of which is placed the inner rotary box or cage B, of a similar
shape to the outer one, at equal distances from each other are fixed shelves or
lifters C, and placed horizontally see Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, they need not be
made all of one width as shown for one end may be wider than the other for the
purpose of inclining the linen to change its position in the box or cage.
The said inner rotary box is divided at its centre or thereabouts by a floor or
partition, D made in bars, or solid as shown and perforated with holes E so as to
allow the water to find its way out of the clothes into the bottom or other part of
the machine, thus one half of the inner rotary box or cage is drained, and great
agitation is caused in the water to operate upon the clothes.
I also flute the floor or partition D or have a number of rubbers F on both sides
thereof so that the clothes are rubbed by sliding over them; the floor, partition
or division may be made loose, and free to slide so that it can be taken out if
required.
"
At the front end of the inner rotary box or cage B are hinged doors G, to cover
each compartment, and on the upper half of the outer box or shell A is fixed the
door H, which door when opened falls back against the bottom half of the machine
see Figure 2, Sheet 1," the doors of the inner box or cage B are made in two
parts and hung with hinges 61 in such a manner that one part of the door drops
flat over the space between the inner box or cage, and the outer box or shell, and
the outer part falls into the vertical position "as seen in Figure 2, Sheet 1," this
keeps the linen from falling into the space between the two boxes. The outer box
or shell is placed on feet I suitably bolted together, either to allow of the box to
lie horizontally, or may be set at an angle, and tilted that the clothes may come in
contact with the end of the inner rotary box or cage B which is fluted d " sec
Figure 1."

page_text: The inner cage is supported by the driving axle or shaft J carried in suitable
bearings or bushes j at each end, the end coming on the front of the machine does
not come through the outer stationary box or shell, but, at the back it carries the
spur wheel K gearing with the pinion L on the driving shaft M, which is rotated
by the driving belts 02 and by aid of the reversing mechanism the cage may travel
several times round in the one direction, and also in the opposite direction. The
said reversing mechanism consists of the worm wheel N mounted in bearing, and
worm non shaft M which puts in operation the inclined horizontal slide rod O
carrying the belt rods O¹ to guide the belts 02 to their respective loose pulleys Ox
or to the fast pulley Ox1; above the slide rod O is a traverse bar 03, which is
operated by the block O-on-the-end of side shaft P which is moved in the
direction desired to bring the stop 05, into engagement with the-slot-in-the rod O
by the hand lever 0%, to keep the belts in the desired position on their respective
loose pulleys Ox.
The pin o7, is mounted eccentrically upon the face of the worm wheel N and
causes the pendant N' hinged to the sliding bar O, and at 0 10 to be operated
thereby. The wheel N is rotated by the worm n¹, aud the coupling of the said
pendant N¹ to the bar O so that the pin 07, is rotated, a reciprocatory movement is
imparted to the said bar O, but upon the lever 0º, being raised out of the notch 010
the rotary motion of the pin O', will oscillate the pendant N¹ without moving the
bar O. And upon the bar being reciprocated the driving belts (2 will be alternately
moved from their pulleys Ox on to the fast pulley Ox1 so causing the reversion in
the direction of motion of the shaft M is effected, after the centres of the double
inclines have passed over the centres of the rollers 08, the remainder of the move-
ment is effected by gravity and operates quickly in the shifting of the belts. The
motion of the reversing bar may also be stopped by engaging the lever 0°, with the
projection 010. The bars O and 03 are both carried in the bearings Q attached to
the back of the outer box or shell A.
This machine in some instances is required to stand the pressure of steam from
within when it is required or made for boiling under pressure, or for disinfecting
linen or the like, the outer door in this case would be made steam tight and held
secure by the usual hand wheel and screw, and also a safety valve and steam inlet
inserted. The outer box or shell A would be also provided with a tap or water
guage R, and outlet pipe or tap S operated by crank handle S', fitting thereon or
thereto. The said inner box or cage B can also be rotated when without power by
aid of the hand wheel T on end of the shaft t¹ with worm t2, at opposite end gearing
with the toothed wheel 3 on end of driving shaft M.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: :-
1. In a machine for washing linen, and for like purposes the construction of an
outer stationary box or shell having a door upon the front end thereof and an inner
rotary box or cage likewise opening at the front end with the door in one or two
parts hinged to lie when opened over the space between the inner rotary box or
cage and the outer box or shell, the said inner box or cage being divided at or
near its centre and carried on a vertical axle or shaft to which motion is
communicated either by hand or power.
2. In a machine for washing linen, and for like purposes the arrangement of a
rotary inner box or cage with a door in either one or two parts in the front end
thereof, if the latter the inner hinged part when open will lie over the space between
the said inner cage and the outer stationary box or shell, the latter also having the
door in the front end thereof, the inner box or cage provided with lifters, dividing
floor, driving axle or shaft carrying spur wheel gearing with pinion on gear shaft,
said shaft having toothed wheel gearing with worm shaft the front end of which
5 carries the hand wheel for revolving said inner cage, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In a machine for washing linen, and for like purposes the combination with an
inner rotary box or cage having a door in one or two parts, in the front end thereof,
an outer stationary box or shell having the door in the front end thereof, the inner
box or cage provided with lifters, divided floor in bars or solid and perforated,
rubbers, and the walls thereof fluted and perforated, a driving axle or shaft with
spur wheel gearing with pinion on gear shaft, and the reversing gear carried in
brackets, enclosing driving pulleys on the gear shaft, and secured to back of outer
box or shell, said reversing gear stopped by hand lever and traverse bar, the stud
of which comes in contact with the inclined slide rod or by a catch hooking in pin
on the slide rod, all substantially as herein before described and set forth.
Dated this 25th day of Ma 1808
W. BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Registered Patent Agent, 34, Belvoir Street, Leicester,
(Applicant's Agent.)