in Washing-Machines
Year: 1887

page_text: We, SABINA W. LEACH, and WILLIAM LEACH, both of Dayton, in the County of
Columbia, Washington Territory United States of America, 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:-
Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in Washing-Machines, of
which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings,
forming a part thereof, in which―
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of our improved washing machine. Fig. 2 is a
sectional elevation of an alternative form of valve and valve seat. Fig. 3 is
a section taken on lines zx of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section taken on lines
Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the alternative form of valve. Figs. 6, 7, 8
are respectively elevation, plan and bottom plan of the metal valve.
yy in
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of
the drawings. Our invention is an improvement in the class of clothes-washers
generally denominated atmospheric-pounders.
The feature of novelty is the application to the tube, constituting the body of the
pounder, of a funnel which is inserted therein, and contains a loose disc-valve, and has
fixed apertured partitions between which said valve is held and free to vibrate to
alternately allow and prevent passage of air, as hereinafter described.
Our invention consists in a tube connected at one end with an inverted funnel, and
provided with a flaring mouth at the opposite end, in which is received an air-valve,
which allows air to enter the tube and funnel, but prevents it from escaping
therefrom.
The lower end of the tube A is connected with the funnel B, and the upper end of
the tube A is provided with a flaring mouth, C, and with looped handles D, attached
to the side of the flaring mouth and to the side of the tube. In the upper end of the
tube is inserted the nozzle a of the funnel E in which nozzle is secured the valve-
seat b, having a central opening, c.
Below the valve-seat in the tube A is a fixed
"spider" or piece in the form of a Maltese cross, (shewn in plan view, Fig. 4,) and
which to support the valve normally a short distance below the valve seat b.
The valve E is preferably made of brass or other metal and may have its shank e¹

page_text: made triangular (as shewn in Figs. 6 and 8,) in order. to ensure a free passage for the
air when the said valve is allowed to fall from off its seat. The aforesaid valve may
however be made of sheet-rubber or other suitable material, which will adapt
itself automatically to the valve-seat and close the opening c whenever air pressure is
created in the funnel B and tube A. The said valve may however consist of a metal
disc which may rest upon the aforesaid spider.
When the valve is made of sheet rubber or other suitable material, we prefer to
make the valve seat b in the position and form as shown in Fig. 2. H represents, the
valve of rubber or other suitable material, and which valve is circular in form (shown
in plan in Fig. 5.) When the valve seat is made in one piece with the funnel E
the "spider" or valve support is fitted into the nozzle a of the funnel E as shown
in Fig. 2.
Our improved washing-machine is used by pressing the funnel B downward upon
the clothes submerged in the water, thus forcing some of the air contained by the
funnel, together with the water, through the clothes, the air being prevented from
escaping from the top of the tube A by the valve e. When the tube A and funnel B
are raised, air enters through the opening c and around the valve e, thus preventing
the funnel B from drawing the dirty water back through the clothes. When the
funnel is again pressed down upon the clothes, a fresh supply of water and air is
forced through the clothes, carrying out more dirt. Each time the funnel B is pushed
down upon the clothes it carries a fresh supply of air and water through the clothes,
and when it is raised no vacuum is produced, and as a consequence the dirty water
forced out by the downward movement of the funnel is not drawn back by its upward
movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed. we declare that what
wo claim is :-
1. In an atmospheric clothes-pounder, the combination, with the tube A, having
flaring or funnel-shaped ends, the lateral handles D, and the cross-piece d, of the
funnel E, inserted in the mouth of said tube having the valvo-seat badapted to the
valve e substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in
the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. In an atmospheric clothes-pounder, the combination with the funnel E, the valve
seat 6 the disc-valve H and the crosspiece d substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. The construction and general arrangement of the several parts of our said
invention all substantially as and for the purposes herein before described, set forth
in the claims and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 8th day of November 1887.