IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Knowles Heaps of Ferrybridge near Normanton
in the County of York, Washing Machine Manufacturer for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES"
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Knowles Heaps. at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1883.
EDWARD KNOWLES HEAPS of Ferrybridge, near Normanton, in the County of
York, Washing Machine Manufacturer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
"
This Invention has reference to what are called "Steam Washing Machines," and
my Improvements therein consist :-
Firstly. In the means or method of heating and boiling the water used in the
washing of the clothes, which I effect by means of pipes entering the side or
other convenient part of the machine. These pipes have their outer end connected
to a tuyere which is placed into a fire; so that the water in the machine is heated
and boiled thereby
Secondly. My Invention has reference to the disc or roller employed for
agitating the clothes in the washing vessel.
The form of roller I employ is made partly bevilled or angular, so that the
clothes are not continuously carried around thereby, as is the case with the present
form of roller.
.
Thirdly. My Invention relates to apparatus to be employed for turning the
barrel around on its axis by self acting mechanism-For this purpose I employ
one or more coiled springs passing around or in connection with the axis of the
barrel.
An arrangement of wheels are also employed which after being wound up will
allow the barrel to revolve. by the pressure of the coiled spring. Instead of
employing springs for giving rotary motion to the barrel, a cord or chain
connected to a weight may be used

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Knowles Heaps in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th October 1883.
EDWARD KNOWLES HEAPS, of Ferrybridge, near Normanton in the County of
York. Washing Machine Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
"
This Invention has reference to what are called "Steam Washing Machines" and
my Improvements therein consist.
Firstly. In the means or method of heating and boiling the water used in the
washing of the clothes which I effect by means of pipes entering the side or other
convenient part of the machine. These pipes have their outer end connected to a
tuyere which is placed into a fire; so that the water in the machine is heated and
boiled thereby.
c
This part of my Invention will be readily understood on reference to the
.accompanying sheets of Drawings where Fig 1 is elevation of that 'description of
washing machine known by the name of "steam washer."-A is the outer vessel
in which is placed a revolving cylinder and a given quantity of water the latter of
which it is my intention to heat by a simple and ready appliance consisting in the
use of a wrought iron tuyere B one end being connected by pipes C and D to the
vessel A whilst the other end is placed into a fire E-It will be understood that if
cold water is placed into the vessel A that it will pass down the pipe C into the
tuyere where it will be heated by the fire, and caused to circulate, passing up the
pipe D back again into the vessel, whereby a constant circulation of water takes
place.
Instead of the water being heated as described it may be heated by gas jets as
shewn by pipe F.
Secondly. My Invention has reference to the disc or roller employed for
agitating the clothes in the washing vessel, the-form of roller I employ is made
partly bevilled, or angular, so that the clothes are not continuously carried around
thereby, as is the case with the present form of roller.
This part of my Invention is shewn at Figs 2 and 3 the former being section of
the water vessel and revolving cylinder G, and the latter plan view of same with
the cover H removed. Instead of the cylinder being formed circular or round as
is the case with ordinary machines, I form the said vessel angular or octagonal,
having projecting parts I and J formed within the interior, some on the underside
of what may be called the circumference, and some on the sides or cheeks of the
vessel by which means there is considerably more agitation given to the water and
clothes, than if the vessel was circular. Holes a are formed at suitable distances
apart in the casing so that water and steam may freely pass in and out of the vessel.
One side of the machine is made to open and is hinged for that purpose at 6 so
that the clothes may be introduced therein. The vessel may be caused to rotate
by hand power, through the medium of the handle and swaife L.
Thirdly. My Invention relates to apparatus to be employed for turning the
barrel around on its axis by self-acting mechanism. For this purpose I employ
one or more coiled springs passing around or in connection with the axis of the
barrel.
An arrangement of wheels are also employed which after being wound up will
allow the barrel to revolve by the pressure of the coiled springs.
This part of my Invention is shewn in Fig 4 which is end view of the machine.
The revolving vessel is fixed on the shaft M on which is a worm wheel N gearing
into a worm fixed onto the cross shaft P. Upon this cross shaft is a pinion R

page_text: driven by spur wheel S keyed onto the stud T. In connection with the stud and
wheel is a coiled spring U which after being wound up by handle V will communi-
cate rotary motion to the gearing and consequently to the washing vessel, by which
means the said vessel will revolve until the coiled spring requires winding up
again.
Instead of employing the coiled spring for giving rotary motion to the washing
vessel a cord or chain connected to a weight may be employed.
This part of my Invention is shewn in Fig 5 which is end view of the washing
machine. The revolving vessel is fixed upon the shaft M on which is also a catlh [sic]
wheel W and hand pulley X. The said shaft is also provided with a spur wheel Y
gearing with pinion Z for communicating rotary motion to another set of wheels
similar to the ones already mentioned. Both the catch wheels are provided with
catches & and e and so arranged that when one catch is in gear the other catch is
out of gear. One end of a cord or chain f is attached to the hand pulley around
which it is passed a suitable number of times, the other end of the said cord
passing over a grooved pulley g and provided with a weight h. It will thus be seen
that when the weight h is raised as shewn on the drawings and the cord passed
around the pulley X and the catch e removed from its catch wheel that the weight
will begin to descend causing the shaft M and the washing vessel thereon to rotate,
whereby the machine will be in operation without the services of an attendant
until the cord is all unwound off the pulley X, when the weight can again be
raised and the machine set in motion as before.
Another method of setting the washing vessel in motion is shewn in Figs 6
and 7 which consist in the employment of the same kind of gearing as that
shewn in Fig 4 but in addition thereto I use another shaft ; on the end of which
I attach a fan or wings which are set in motion by the action of the wind or a
current of air whereby the machine can be worked self-actingly.-On the shaft j
is a spur wheel k also a bracket r shewn in dotted lines having two intermediate
wheels and m connected thereto, either of which can be put into gear with
wheel R or if necessary both wheels and m may be disengaged and the machine
operated by handle as usual. The engaging and disengaging of the wheels being
effected by lever n which must be moved to one or other of the holes p and secured
by a pin.
Having now shewn and described my Invention and the manner of carrying the
same into practice, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise details herein shewn and described but what I claim is.-
Firstly. The use and employment of a tuyere in combination with a revolving
cylinder for supplying steam and water thereto in manner substantially as herein
shewn and described.
Secondly. The employment of the revolving angular or octagonal vessel
provided with perforations for the admission of steam and water substantially as
herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. The employment of a coiled spring in combination with worm gearing
for giving rotary motion to the washing vessel substantially as herein shewn and
described.
Fourthly. The employment of cord; chain or weight for giving rotary motion to
the washing vessel substantially as herein shewn and described
In witness whereof I the said Edward Knowles Heaps have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty fifth day of October in the year of our Lord.one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
EDWD KNOWLES HEAPS.
(L.S.)