AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING COAL, ORES, AND OTHER MATTERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING COAL, ORES, AND OTHER
MATTERS." A communication from abroad by Arsène Rivière, of Rochebelle
d'Allais (Gard), France, Engineer.”
Sealed the 5th June 1877, and dated the 11th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1876.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR
WASHING COAL, ORES, AND OTHER MATTERS." A communication from abroad by
Arsène Rivière, of Rochebelle d'Allais (Gard), France, Engineer.
As indicated by the title this machine is an improved rather than a new washing
machine, although it is novel in particular arrangements and general combination of
the various parts of which it is composed, by which combination more advantageous
results may be obtained than by washing machines somewhat analogous to it.
The accompanying 3 Sheets of Drawing illustrate an apparatus embodying this
Invention; similar letters of reference being placed upon and denoting similar parts
in each of the Figures respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a section taken through the horizontal plan (Sheet 3) at 4
and 5; Figure 2, Sheet 2, shews a vertical plan of the machine; and Figure 3,
Sheet 3, a horizontal plan thereof. A indicates the tank, or trough with pistons;
a, the framing of the sieve or screen of the washing machine; B, piston of washing
machine; C, hopper; D, case or tanks for schists or shale or heavy matters;
d, screw for removing schists or shale; d', openings for shale; D', apparatus for
raising the shale and other matters; D", compartment from which the shale is
raised; E, tank with several compartments for receiving the washings; E', apparatus
1:14
13

page_text: the return or the water; F, compartment forming part of the water return-
G, hopper for washings; H, conduit surrounding the washing machine; H', conduits
of sluice valves at bottom; I, pipe for return of water; J, double cam governing the
plunging piston; K, sliding or sluice valve for the hopper G; L, special grating of this
Invention; M, moveable reservoir; N, special grating with closer bars than that at L;
O, compartment for raising the washings from tank E; o¹, openings in the lateral
partitions of compartment 0; 011, partitions forming, end of compartment O, and
preserving the noria or chain of buckets; P, opening made under the bottom of
compartment 0; P¹, another opening in compartment F; p, moveable fastening of
compartment F¹; Q, clack valves opening for the return of water; R, R¹, compart-
ment for passage of water into tank E; S, bottom slide or sluice valve in tank A;
S¹, bottom valve in tank E; T, valve of compartment F; U, door in casing of trough
or tank V, V, V; and v, v¹, driving pullies; x, x, rag wheels for bucket chains;
Y, stop pin of piston; Z, joint of the piston rod.
I will now give a detailed description of this washing machine, calling particular
attention to the sluice valve arrangement, the application of the special gratings
of this Invention, the compartment for raising the coal with its lateral openings,
the partition o", the compartments F, F, the position and the arrangement
relative to the clack valve Q, the return of water by a closed pipe outside the
apparatus, the application to the washing machine of pullies of varying diameters,
whether for easily varying the speed in raising, or for varying, the number of strokes
of the piston, the arrangement of the hopper of the washed coals and the ensemble,
or the combination of the various parts, which taken separately offer nothing
new.
The apparatus has been constructed principally with a view to treating fuel, but
by varying its form and dimensions it may be equally applied to treating ores and
other matters.
'
The body of the apparatus and of the piston may be constructed of wood or of
sheet iron; on the Drawings the body of the apparatus is designed for construction
in wood, and that of the piston in sheet iron. Nevertheless the various parts of
the apparatus may be made of the most convenient material according to locality,
choosing that which will give the greatest strength at the least cost. The dimensions
and details of construction may consequently vary following general rules.
The water is introduced by a pipe with stop cock, or in any other way under the
sieve or screen, the incline of which is indeterminate, or into the compartment of the
piston; the pit coal, lignite, anthracite, etcetera, by the hopper C, and the small coal or
slack to be washed between the grating Land sluice valve K in a sort of hopper
formed by these two small apparatuses.
In introducing the material to be washed into the hopper C, using any mechanism,
or by shovelling regularly, or in small quantities at a time, the sluice valve K may
.be entirely raised, and the washing be operated on the entire length of the screen.
If on the contrary the coal is given to the hopper in an irregular manner, or in
'great quantity at once, the screen should be more or less lowered, according to the
nature or condition of the coal, to regulate its run or flow from the hopper.
The grating L breaks up the agglomeration of the small coal, facilitates the
washing of the dirt or slack passed through the washing machine by throwing them
behind this grating, and retains the wood shavings and chips mixed with the coal;
it is in shape of a comb formed of bars more or less close to each other, but not.
penetrating too far into the coal.
The sluice valve M raised or lowered by means of racks like the valve K is
intended to increase or diminish at will the thickness on the screen or sieve of the
layer of coal submitted to the washing; this valve is the moveable sluice.
No particular novelty attaches to the compartment D, which also extends the
entire breadth of the washing machine. In this closed compartment turns a feed
screw d which draws the schists or shale into the compartment D¹ outside the
washing machine, properly so called from whence they are raised by a chain D¹
with buckets or scrapers.
:

page_text: The schists or shale penetrate into the compartment D by openings d' which are
opened or shut at will by means of a slide valve worked from outside by means of
the handle d¹ which forms the extremity of a rod sliding in a stuffing box and fixed
by one end to the valve.
In the tank E the grating N serves to retain the small shavings or chips of wood
and other floating impurities which may pass through the grating L, which is
similar, but with wider bars; at the point N a perforated plate of sheet iron may be
used instead of bars.
The partition, o" which, withthe exception of the pieces cut out at the top part,
extends completely across the casing or tank, has for object, in front, to facilitate the
deposit of the small coal with the washed coal, and to prevent the bucket chain
from being hampered or entangled by the washed coal which may momentarily be
produced in excess; it also acts as a regulator for the charging of the buckets; its
depth will be determined by experience. Behind, this partition limits the agitation
produced by the movement of the buckets. If the chain were not shut in a com-
partment the agitation produced would continually raise up the small coal or slack
deposited with the coal and hinder the others being deposited, whereas once the small
coal or slack is taken in this compartment it has no other issue than by the buckets
of the chain, the coal surrounding the open bottom of the compartinent and the
openings o' allowing the small coal or slack to enter the compartment, but not to
leave it because there is no current of water at the side, or rather there is one which
goes from without to within the compartment o to replace the water which is con-
stantly removed with the washed coal by the chain of buckets.
This arrangement
offers great advantages.
The partition e runs the whole breadth of the washing machine; it rises a little
higher in the compartments R and R than in the compartment O, where it is
limited, and continued by the bottom el belonging to the casing of the chain of
buckets which rises on three sides well above the casing of the washing machine
as well as of the exterior compartment D.
Between this partition e and the inside of the body of the washing machine are
two compartments.
1°. The compartment F which receives at its upper part at two sides the flow of
water, the portion which passes by R, Fig. 3, enters by the opening P¹, and the portion
which passes by R by the opening P, Fig. 2, which is above the bottom p and
laterally under the bottom e¹ of the cage or casing of the bucket chain.
2º The compartment F1 at the side of the return water pipe, which is separated
from F by the elongation of the partition which limits the compartment R¹. This
elongation carries the clack valve Q, Fig. 2, on the upper part of the compartment
and is shut by the moveable bottom p, Fig. 2, which serves to place and inspect the
clack valve Q, to which valve is added in case of need a weight to facilitate its
closing. For the same reason its seat is placed a little out of the vertical plane.
When the piston rises the exhaust produced opens the clack valve Q and a current
is established by the return water pipe I from the surface of the machine, or at
least from the tank E to the lower part of the casing A under the piston B, and the
screen or sifter a. When the piston lowers the pressure shuts the clack valve, and
the water forced through the screen upheaves the coal, separates it, and carries with
it the upper washed layer into the tank E where it settles, and from whence it is
raised by the noria or chain of buckets and passed by the hopper G into the waggons
or carts brought beneath it, and which may by this arrangement be entirely filled
without band labour. The screen is shut in front by means of a door turning on its
hinges so as to be opened at will, and underneath by a valve which is shut by
pulling a long handle only when there are no waggons or carts underneath to
receive the coal Coal may thus be kept for some little time upon this screen, and
thanks to this particular arrangement many stoppages may be prevented.
The position of the waggon which recieves the schists or shale at the side of the
machine is shown in dotted line at Fig. 1, Sheet 1.

page_text: The driving pulleys of the bucket chains and of the piston are shown in the
Drawings together with their corresponding bands. These bands may be replaced
by chains and the pulleys by cast-iron rag wheels. As the produce of a same wash-
ing machine may vary according to the nature of the coal passed through it, the
number of strokes of the piston, the position of the valves K and M, and other
causes, an arrangement of transmission pullies of several dianieters v, vl, is provided
for accelerating or diminishing the relative speed of the chain of buckets E. Tho
same provision may be made for the pullies V1, V¹¹
The pulley V which is coupled with a loose pulley receives the motive power
intended for the machine; the shaft which carries this pulley and the cam may be a
part of the driving shaft of the workshop or factory. In this case the pulley V
would be useless, and the loose pulley would be at the side of the pulley V" or of
the pulley V¹.
When it is desired to stop the movement of the piston without stopping that of
the cam the pin Y is placed when the piston is at the end of its down stroke and
the joint or cock Z is brought down. A speed of 30 to 40 strokes of the piston a
minute is a fair average speed for this washing machine.
The valve S¹ is particularly intended to relieve the coal hoisting chain when it is
accidently fouled; it serves also to empty the tank E when necessary; this
happens however only by accident.
The valve S¹ may serve to discharge or empty the mud or deposit from the casing
or tank A, but usually it is preferred to let the deposit accumulate in the casing
and afterwards empty the water by a hole made under the bottom of the machine
underneath the piston and which is closed by a wooden pin. When the water has
run out the door U is opened and the mud or deposit shovelled out and heaped at
the side to be passed during the working behind the special grating L. The valve T
serves to empty the compartment F. The emptying sluice valves are operated by
means of a screw with fly wheel.
At the bottom of the compartment F1 another small valve or an opening closed
with a pin is required by which the water may be emptied from the casing or tank A
by the aid of the return water pipe.
Finally, the washing machine being set on masonry or brickwork it is desirable
to reserve or make around it a canal or conduit H to receive the water and mud or
deposit which escapes, and to conduct them wherever desired without befouling the
vicinity or dirtying these deposits.
To clean the return water pipe it suffices to open more or less one of the head
joints; the water in escaping cleans it sufficiently, especially if the flow of water
into the machine is continued for a moment and if the deposit is stirred with a rod
of any sort; it is even only necessary to withdraw the pin of the compartment Fl
in every case in order that it may be easy to open and close the head joints; they
are held together by key bolts.
A fixed rod might be used working through a stuffing box which the washer
might work; the return water pipe might even be inclined, but it is not deemed
necessary, the pipe working very well as it is.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
June 1877.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR
WASHING COAL, ORES, AND OTHER MATTERS." A communication from abroad by
Arsène Rivière, of Rochebelle d'Allais, Gard, France, Engineer,

page_text: As indicated by the title this machine is an improved rather than a new washing
machine, although it is novel in particular arrangements and general combination
of the various parts of which it is composed, by which combination more advantageous
results may be obtained than by washing inachines somewhat analogous to it.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawing illustrates an apparatus embodying this
Invention, similar letters of reference being placed upon and denoting similar parts
in each of the Figures respectively.
Figure 1 is a section taken through the plan view (Figure 3) at the line 4 and 5 ;
Figure 2, an elevation of the machine; and Figure 3 a plan view thereof.
A indicates the tank, case, or trough, with piston; a, the framing of the sieve or
screen of the washing machine; B, piston of washing machine; C, the hopper;
D, case or tank for schists or shale or heavy matters; d, screw for removing schists
or shale; d, openings for the shale; D¹, apparatus for raising the shale and other.
matters; D, compartment from which the shale is raised; E, tank with several
compartments for receiving the washings; E', apparatus for carrying up the
washings or light matters; e, e¹, partitions; F, compartments for the return of the
water F, compartment forming part of the water return; G, hopper for washings;
H, conduit surrounding the washing machine; H', conduit of sluice valves at
bottom;
I, pipe for return of water; J, double cam governing the plunging piston ;.
K, sliding or sluice valve for the hopper G; L, special grating of this Invention;
M, moveable reservoir; N, special grating with closer bars than those at L; O, com-
partments for raising the washings from tank E; o¹, openings in the lateral par-
titions of compartment 0; o¹¹, partition forming end of compartiment and
preserving the noria or chain of buckets; P, opening made under the bottom of
compartment O; P¹, another opening in compartment F; Q, clack valves opening
for the return of water; R, R¹, compartment for passage of water into tank E; S,
bottom slide or sluice valve in tank A; S', bottom valve in tank E; T, valve of
compartment F; U, doors in casing of trough or tank V, V, V; and v, and v¹;
driving pullies; X, X, rag wheels for bucket chains; Y, stop pin of piston; Z, joint
of the piston rod.
I will now give a detailed description of this washing machine, calling particular
attention to the sluice valve arrangement, the application of the special gratings of
this Invention; the compartment for raising the coal with its lateral openings; the
partition o; the compartments F, F¹; the position and the arrangement relative to
the clack valve Q; the return of water by a closed pipe outside the apparatus; the
application to the washing machine of pulleys of varying diameters, whether for
easily varying the speed in raising or for varying the number of strokes of the
piston; the arrangement of the hopper of the washed coals and the ensemble; the
application or the combination of the various parts, which taken separately offer
nothing new.
The apparatus has been constructed principally with a view to treating fuel, but
by varying its form and dimensions it may be equally applied to treating ores and
other matters.
The body of the apparatus and of the piston may be constructed of wood or of
sheet iron; in the Drawings, the body of the apparatus is designed for construction
in wood and that of the piston in sheet iron. Nevertheless, the various parts of the
apparatus may be made of the most convenient material, according to locality,
choosing that which will give the greatest strength at the least cost.
dimensions and details of construction may consequently vary, following general
rules.
The
The water is introduced by a pipe with stop-cock, or in any other way, under the
sieve or screen, the incline of which is indeterminate, or into the compartment of
the piston; the pit coal, lignite, anthracite, etcetera, by the hopper C; and the small
coal or slack, to be washed between the grating L and sluice valve K in a sort of
hopper formed by these two small apparatuses,

page_text: In introducing the material to be washed into the hopper C, using any
mechanism, or by shovelling regularly or in small quantities at a time, the sluice
valve K may be entirely raised and the working may be operated on the entire
length of the screen. If on the contrary the coal is given to the hopper in an
irregular manner or in great quantity at once, the screen should be more or less
lowered, according to the nature or condition of the coal, to regulate its run or flow
from the hopper.
The grating L breaks up the agglomerations of the small coal, facilitates the
washing of the dirt or slack passed through the washing machine, by throwing them
behind this grating, and retains the wood, shavings, and chips mixed with the coal;
it is in shape of a comb formed of bars more or less close to each other, but not
penetrating too far into the coal.
The sluice valve M raised or lowered by means of racks like the valve K is
. intended to increase or diminish at will the thickness on the screen or sieve of the
layer of coal submitted to the washing; this valve is the moveable sluice.
No particular novelty attaches to the compartment D, which also extends the
entire breadth of the washing machine. In this closed compartment turns a feed
screw d, which draws the schists or shale into the compartment D' outside the
wasking machine properly so called, from whence they are raised by a chain D"
with buckets or scrapers.
The schists or shale penetrate into the compartment D by openings d¹, which are
opened or shut at will by means of a slide valve worked. from outside by means of
the handled, which forms the extremity of a rod sliding in a stuffing box and
fixed by one end to the valve.
In the tank E the grating N serves to retain the small shavings or chips of wood.
or other floating impurities which may pass through the grating L, which is similar
but with wider bars; at the point N a perforated plate of sheet iron may be used
instead of bars.
The partition o¹ which, with the exception of the pieces cut out at the top part
extends completely across the casing or tank, has for object in front to facilitate the
deposit of the small coal with the washed coal, and to prevent the bucket chain
being hampered or entangled by the washed coal which may momentarily be pro.
duced in excess; it also acts as a regulator for the charging of the buckets, its depth
may be determined by experience. Behind, this partition limits the agitation pro-
duced by the movement of the buckets. If the chain were not shut in a compart-
ment the agitation produced would continually raise up the small coal or slack
deposited with the coal and hinder the others from being deposited, whereas once
the small coal or slack is taken in in this compartment, it has no other issue than by
the buckets of the chain, the coal surrounding the open bottom of the compartment
and the openings o' allowing the small coal or slack to enter the compartment but
not to leave it, because there is no current of water at the side, or rather there is
one which goes from without to within the compartment O to replace the water
which is constantly removed with the washed coal by the chain of buckets. This
arrangement offers great advantages.
The partition e runs the whole breadth of the washing machine, it rises a little
higher in the compartments R and R¹ than in the compartment O, where it is
limited and continued by the bottom e¹ belonging to the casing of the chain of
buckets which rises on three sides well above the casing of the washing machine as
well as of the exterior compartment D.
Between this partition e and the inside of the body of the washing machine are
two compartments.
Firstly. The compartment F, which receives at its upper part at two sides the
flow of water, the portion which passes by R (Fig. 3) enters by the opening P¹, and
the portion which passes by R¹ by the opening P (Fig. 2), which is above the
bottom p, and laterally under the bottom e¹ of the cage or casing of the bucket
chain.
Secondly. The compartment F¹ at the side of the return water pipe, which is sepa-

page_text: rated from F by the elongation of the partition which limits the compartment R². This.
elongation carries the clack valve Q (Fig. 2) on the upper part of the compartment;
and is shut by the moveable bottom p (Fig. 2), which serves to place, and inspect,
the clack valve Q, to which valve is added, in case of need, a weight to facilitate its
closing. For the same reason its seat is placed a little out of the vertical plane.
When the piston rises the exhaust produced opens the clack valve Q, and a
current is established by the return pipe from the surface of the machine, or
at least from the tank E to the lower part of the casing A, under the piston B
and the screen or sifter a; when the piston lowers the pressure shuts the clack
valve, and the water forced through the screen upheaves the coal, separates it, and
carries with it the upper washed layer into the tank E, where it settles, and from
whence it is raised by the noria or chain of buckets, and passed by the hopper G
into the waggons or carts brought beneath it, and which may by this arrangement
be entirely filled without hand labour. The screen is shut in front by means of a
door turning on its hinges, so as to be opened at will, and underneath by a valve
which is shut by pulling a long handle, only when there are no waggons or carts
underneath to receive the coal. Coal may thus be kept some little time upon
this screen, and thanks to this particular arrangement many stoppages may be
prevented.
The position of the waggon which receives the schists or shale at the side of the
machine is shown in dotted line, Fig. 1 of the Drawing.
The driving pulleys of the bucket chains and of the piston are shown in the
Drawing, together with their corresponding bands. These bands may be replaced
by chains, and the pulleys by cast-iron rag wheels. As the produce of a same
washing machine may vary according to the nature of the coal passed through it,
the number of strokes of the piston, the position of the valves K and M; and other
causes, an arrangement of transmission pulleys of several diameters v, vl, is provided.
for accelerating or diminishing the relative speed of the chain of buckets E¹. The
same provision may be made for the pullies VI, V.
The pulley V which is coupled with a loose pulley receives the motive power
intended for the machine; the shaft which carries this pulley and the cam may be
a part of the driving shaft of the workshop or factory. In this case the pulley V:
would be useless, and the loose pulley would be at the side of the pulley V₁, or of
the pulley V¹
When it is desired to stop the movement of the piston without stopping that of
the cam the pin y is placed when the piston is at the end of its down stroke, and
the joint or cock Z is brought down. A speed of 30 to 40 strokes of the piston a
minute is a fair average speed for this washing machine.
The valve S¹ is particularly intended to relieve the coal hoisting chain when it is
accidentally fouled, it serves also to empty the tank E when necessary; this happens
however only by accident.
The valve S may serve to discharge or empty the mud or deposits from the
casing or tank A, but usually it is preferred to let these deposits accumulate in the
casing, and afterwards empty the water by a hole made under the bottom of
the machine underneath the piston, and which is closed by a wooden pin. When
the water has run out the door U is opened, and the mud or deposits shovelled out
and heaped at the side to be passed during the working behind the special grating L.
The valve T serves to empty the compartment F. The emptying sluice valves are
operated by means of a screw with fly wheel.
At the bottom of the compartment F another small valve, or an opening closed
with a plug is required by which the water may be emptied from the casing or
tank A by the aid of the return water pipe.
Finally, the washing machine being set on masonry or brickwork it is desirable
to reserve or make around it a canal or conduit H to receive the water and mud or
deposits which escape, and to conduct them wherever desired without befouling the
vicinity or dirtying these deposits.
To clean the return water pipe it suffices to open more or less one of the head

page_text: joints; the water in escaping cleans it sufficiently, especially if the flow of water
into the machine is continued for a moment, and if the deposit is stirred with a
rod of any sort. It is even only necessary to withdraw the plug of the compart-.
inent F in every case in order that it may be easy to open and close the head
joints; they are held together by key bolts.
A fixed rod might be used, working through a stuffing box, which the washer
might work. The return water pipe might even be inclined, but it is not deemed
necessary, the pipe working very well as it is.
The arrangements above described may be modified as follows:-
10. By the application of a clutch gearing to the washing machine.
To simplify the operation of changing the speed of the chain lifting the washed
coal a rag wheel for link chain may be placed at each end of the top shaft outside
of the uprights. Corresponding rag wheels are then set loosely on the shaft which
drives the bucket chain, removing the schists or shale; these rag wheels will have
different diameters corresponding with the various speeds which it is desired to
obtain, either with the one or with the other. Between the two rag wheels, and
sliding on the shaft, is placed a clutch rotating with the shaft. The rag wheels
and the clutch are so constructed that the clutch may be made to gear with one or
other of the rag wheels at pleasure by causing the clutch to slide either to the right
or to the left by means of a small lever. This mode of transmission may replace
the pulleys or analagous rag wheels first above described.
20. By the addition of a lift to the piston and to the case which holds it.
When it is necessary to give a powerful stroke to the piston it is also necessary
to carry it higher by a support, and to do as much for the case holding it, in order
that the water may not spout out.
3°. By the application to the washing machine of a block or stop piece limiting
the stroke of the piston.
The stroke of the piston may in certain cases vary with the level of the water,
in others it may be desired to limit the stroke permitted by the cam. In these
several cases the stroke of the piston may be governed by means of a block or stop
piece suitably arranged, and which may be raised or lowered by means of a screw
and groove, or in any other manner.
The stop piece may be fixed on a rod, itself fixed to the case holding the piston,
so that the flange of the piston in rising comes against the stop piece, and its ascent
is thereby limited to any desired point, as the stop piece itself may be set at any
desired point.
The advantages of this washing machine result from the combined arrangements
which are peculiar to it, and by which it has been studied to obtain the greatest
amount of regular work with saving of time, material, and cost of fixing.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention com-
municated to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be
performed, I claim as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent,-
Firstly. The application of the sliding or sluice valves K and M, which allow the
constant retention of the load to be washed in the condition most appropriate to
the nature of the coal or other substance to be washed, or to approach the desired
conditions of production, substantially as described.
Secondly. The application (substantially as described) of the special grating L
and V, which permits the passage and thorough washing of the amassed mud and
slimy coal, acts at the same time as a regulator, and keeps back the shavings, wood
chips, and other floating impurities, which would depreciate the value of the
washed coal intended for agglomeration, and which might also put the clack
valve out of order.
Thirdly. The compartment 0 of the lifting chain, which not only prevents
agitation of the water, and thus permits the small coal or slack to deposit, but
further, draws them away by the openings o' to mix them with the coal or lifts
them in the form of liquid mud by its buckets partly filled with coal, which filters

page_text: them, the water escaping by the small openings of the perforated sheet iron of the
buckets.
Fourthly. The position of the clack valve Q', substantially as described and
shown, which ensures its proper working by sheltering it from the mud and per-
mitting it to be easily inspected without even emptying the water from the
machine.
Fifthly. The return of the water in a closed pipe, so to say independant of the
washing machine, from whence results a current of water under pressure, which
keeps it sufficiently free, and a considerable economy in construction as well as
great simplicity.
Sixthly. The arrangement of the hopper G, the stop pin or plug, the emptying
apparatus, and the particular arrangement and general combination of the machine,
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet
of Drawing, and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)