IMPROVEMENTS IN DOMESTIC WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Ireland, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North
Britain, Washing-machine and Shuttle Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DOMESTIC WASHING MACHINES."
Sealed the 2nd March 1880, and dated the 8th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Ireland at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th September 1879.
JOHN IRELAND, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, Washing-
machine and Shuttle Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOMESTIC WASHING
MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object to render domestic washing machines more
efficient than as hitherto constructed or fitted; and it consists principally in
applying brushes in such machines.
In carrying out the Invention according to one modification a square or rect-
angular box is employed as the washing vessel, and is fitted with a vertical spindle
which carries arms or paddles, and which is made to rotate or to reciprocate angularly.
The paddles and their driving details are by preference attached to the cover so as
to turn over with it out of the box. The brushes which may be of an ordinary
flat kind or curved are fixed on the paddles or on the sides of the box, or both on
the paddles and on the sides of the box; or the brushes may be fitted in the corners
of the box, or both at the sides and corners. The brushes may be of different
qualities, according to the qualities of the linen or clothes on which they are to
operate; and according to one modification each brush is made with one half coarser
or harder and the other half softer, and one half or the other is entered down into
its place in the box accordingly as a harder or softer treatment happens to be
required.
The brushes can be advantageously applied to washing machines of various con-
structions, whether the vessels be square, round, or polygonal in form, and whether
the internal moving parts rotate or reciprocate about a vertical, or horizontal, or
inclined axis.
:

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Ireland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th March
1880.
JOHN IRELAND, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, Washing-
machine and Shuttle... Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOMESTIC WASHING
MACHINES."
My said Invention has for its object to render domestic washing machines more
efficient than as hitherto constructed or fitted; and it consists principally in
applying brushes in such machines.
In carrying out my Invention according to one modification a rectangular box is
employed as the washing vessel, and is provided with rotating or angularly
reciprocating paddles, which with their driving details are by preference attached
to the cover so as to turn over with it out of the way when it is opened. The
brushes which may be of an ordinary flat kind or curved may be fixed on the
paddles or on the sides of the box, or both on the paddles and on the sides; or the
brushes may be fitted in the corners of the box or both at the sides and corners.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings to
be hereinafter referred to, and representing a domestic washing machine as made
with a modification of my improvements. In these Drawings the same reference
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a plan of the machine;
Figures 2 and 3 are a vertical and a horizontal section; and Figure 4 is an enlarged
edge view of one of the brushes.
The washing vessel is a rectangular wooden box 5, which is square in horizontal
section, and is supported at a convenient height by four legs 6. To the box 5 there
is hinged a horizontal lid or cover 7, having screwed to it a plate 8 carrying the
gearing. This gearing consists of a handled fly wheel 9 carried on a stud, and
having fixed to it a pinion which drives a spur wheel 10 on a short horizontal
shaft 11, having a crank 12 at its inner end. On the pin of the crank 12 there is
jointed a connecting rod 13, the other end of which is jointed to a horizontal rack-
toothed bar 14 fitted to slide in guides 15, and gearing with a pinion 16 fixed on
the upper end of a vertical spindle 17 carried by the plate 8 and passing through
the cover 7. At the inner side of the cover 7 there is fixed on the spindle 17 a
metal cross 18 having paddles 19 fixed to the outer ends of its arms, and these
paddles are made to rotate backwards and forwards, or reciprocate angularly, by
means of the gearing which has been described. When the cover 7 is opened and
turned over the paddles 19 and gearing go with it so as to be conveniently out of
the way when putting in or taking out clothes or other articles.
In the interior of the box 5 vertical ribs 20 are fixed to the side for the clothes
carried round by the paddles to encounter or rub upon, and at the corners brushes 21
are fitted into dovetailed holding recesses, their bristles or equivalents projecting
inwards. These brushes 21 increase the efficiency of the washing action without
in the least injuring the clothes or articles; and I prefer to make them with the
bristles or equivalents of one half coarser or projecting further than those of the
other half, so that they may be placed with the coarser or longer bristles, or
equivalents, at the lower part or the other way, accordingly as a severer or softer:
treatment happens to be required. The brushes can be easily changed at any
moment. To admit of the brushes 21 being easily put in or taken out at the
corners under the hinged side of the cover 7 dovetailed keys 22 are fitted and can
be removed to make room for the brushes; at the other corners the brushes can be
inserted vertically. The keys 22 can be dispensed with if the hinges of the covers 7
are placed a little further outwards to allow the cover to turn over clear of the
i

page_text: inside of the box. The brushes 21 may be made with bristles, fibres, whalebone
strips, or equivalents of any suitable kind.
The brushes can be advantageously applied to washing machines of various con-
structions, whether the vessels be square, round, or polygonal in form, and whether
the internal moving parts rotate or reciprocate about a vertical, or horizontal, or
inclined axis.
Wringing or mangling apparatus of any suitable kind can be fitted to the
washing machine.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of domestic washing machines
in the improved manner substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The application of brushes either moving or stationary, or both, in domestic
washing machines, substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Ireland, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JOHN IRELAND. (L.S.)