AN IMPROVED WASHING MACHINE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Fletcher, of Stockwell, in the
Parish of Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED WASHING MACHINE."
Sealed the 4th September 1866, and dated the 9th March 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Fletcher
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th March 1866.
I, WILLIAM HENRY FLETCHER, of Stockwell, in the Parish of Lambeth, in
the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED WASHING MACHINE," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of a hollow cylindrical, octagonal, or other shaped box,
in which is a corresponding circular or other shaped brush. The diameter of
the brush is such that sufficient room intervenes between the brush and the
inside of the box to contain the articles to be washed. The brush is mounted
on a suitable spindle, and is furnished with a crank or handle for the purpose
of being turned. By means of toothed wheels motion in a reverse direction
from the brush is communicated to the box, which revolves on the spindlo

page_text: carrying the brush. An aperturo closed by a lid is placed in one side of the
box for placing and removing the articles to be washed, The whole is
mounted on a suitable and convenient frame,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Henry Fletcher in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th September 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY FLETCHER, of Stockwell, in the Parish of Lambeth, in the County of
Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Henry Fletcher, Her special licenco that I, the
said William Henry Fletcher, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
ór such others as I, the said William Henry Fletcher, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agreó 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 yend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED WASHING MACHINE,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, tho said William Henry
Fletcher, 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 tho
was to be performed, and cause the samo to bo filed in tho
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
same
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said William Henry Fletcher, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
bo performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by tho
following statement :-
My Invention consists of a hollow cylindrical, octagonal, or other shaped
box, in which is a corresponding circular or other shaped brush. The diameter
of the brush is such that sufficient room intervenes between the brush and
the inside of the box to contain the articles to be washed. The brush is

page_text: mounted on a suitable spindle, and is furnished with a crank or handle for
the purpose of being turned. By means of toothed wheels motion in a reverse
direction from the brush is communicated to the box, which revolves on the
spindle carrying the brush. An aperture closed by a lid is placed on one side
of the box for placing or removing the articles to be washed. The whole is
mounted on a suitable and convenient frame.
I have thus far described the nature and object of my said Invention, and
shall now proceed to explain the manner and mode in which I carry the same
into practical effect. To do so more minutely, and enable me to describe it
more particularly, I have hereunto annexed Drawings of my improved washing
machine as used when steam power is employed.
Any motive power whereby the spindle A (see Drawing) can be turned
may be employed; B is a band pulley to give motion to the spindlo A. If
the machine is intended for hand power an ordinary crank handle would be
affixed in the place of B. The external box in which the operation of washing
is carried on is here represented as of an octagonal shape, as seen in Fig. 2,
but any other shape may be employed; C is an aperture at which the articles
to be washed, water, and other things may be inserted; it is secured by hand
screws D, D, as shown, or may be secured in other ways; E is the external
cylinder or box mounted on the spindle A, and caused to rotate thereon in the
manner herein-after described. The inside of this said cylinder is ribbed or
grooved to facilitate the washing, or may, if wished, be composed of bristles,
so as to form a brush. The ribbing referred to is not shown in the Drawing,
but it is sufficiently well known not to require description. The inside
cylinder F, which is attached to the spindle A, is formed as a circular brush,
and is perforated with holes for the admission of steam if required. Instead
of having it as a brush I can have the inside cylinder ribbed in the samo
manner as the inside of the box E. This may be readily effected by con-
structing A tubular, and admitting the steam at the end by a universal or
telescope joint. This is not shown in the Drawing, not being essential to my
Invention. It is of course necessary in this case that the spindlo A should be
perforated inside to allow the steam to reach the brush and pass through it,
or, if desired, the brush may be attached directly to the hollow spindle A. On
the end of the spindle A is secured the pulley or toothed wheel G, which
drives the corresponding pulley or wheel H, through which by means of
another pulley or wheel I motion is communicated to K. The pulley or
wheel K is not secured on the spindle A, but revolves loosely upon it along
with the box E, to which it is secured in any manner, as shown at L, L. By
this intermediate gearing the box E is caused to rotato in a reverso direction

page_text: from the spindle A. This roverse motion constitutes the essential feature of
my Invention. By varying the diameters of the intermediate pulleys or
wheels G, H, I, the box E may be caused to rotate at different speeds from
the spindle A. M, M, are suitable standards, forming a frame for the support
of the cylinder or box, and which carry the spindle A in the brushes N, N,
and the intermediate gearing H, I, in the boss O. To renow or repair the
brush or inside cylinder I make one side of the box E removeable. If preferred,
the box E and spindle A may be made to rotate in the same direction but at
different speeds. There are several modifications of the details of mechanism
by which I obtain the reverse motion referred to, but I have here shown the
one which illustrates my Invention more clearly.
Having now fully described the nature and object of my said Invention,
and the manner in which I purpose carrying the same into effect, I wish it to
be understood that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by Her
Majesty's Letters Patent is, the construction of washing machines, substantially
and in the manner herein-before described with the reverse motion above
explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Fletcher, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
WILLIAM HENRY FLETCHER. (L.S.)
Witness,
CHARLES S. BAKER,
General Patent Co., Limited,
71, Fleet Street.