IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES AND CHURNS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Prescott, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Packing-case Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WASHING MACHINES AND CHURNS."
Sealed the 17th July 1877, and dated the 19th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Prescott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1877.
WILLIAM PRESCOTT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Packing-case
Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES AND CHURNS."
My Invention relates to the washing machines employed in the cleansing of
wearing apparel and household linen and textile fabrics or articles, and is also
applicable in the construction of churns or apparatus employed in butter making.
When constructing such machines in accordance with my Invention, I fit dashers
to reciprocate upon vertical or nearly vertical axes within tubs or receptacles, and
I provide means whereby such dashers receive reciprocating or vibrating movements
from revolving shafts.
In one arrangement a double dasher projecting in opposite directions from the
vertical axis is employed, the said dasher being perforated or formned with slots
or otherwise suitably formed. The said dasher receives motion from a rocking
shaft which is mounted in bearings, and is connected by bevil or spur gearing with
the upper axle of the dasher. The said rocking shaft receives motion from a
crank shaft which is fitted to revolve in bearings, and is formed with two cranks
which are arranged in line and project in opposite directions from the axis of the
shaft. The said cranks are provided with clips, steps, or blocks which are connected
by means of straps, cords, or chains with quadrants, levers, or arms which are
mounted on the shaft which is geared with the axle of the dasher.
The said crank shaft is provided with a fly wheel and handle or is connected by
means of gearing with a fly wheel and handle, or with means for imparting a
rotatory movement to the said crank shaft, or in the case of large machines the said
crank shaft may be actuated by power. When the said crank shaft is caused to
rotate a vibrating movement is imparted to the dasher, whereby the water and
articles in the receptacle are dashed to and fro.
The arrangement may be varied to some extent, as, for example, a shaft with a
single crank may be employed, in which case the said crank would be connected by
means of a crank arm or connecting rod with an arm projecting from the rocking
Driss Cr

page_text: shaft, or the bevil gearing might be dispensed with and the crank arm or the cords,
straps, or chains be jointed to or connected with a cross head fixed on the axle of
the dasher.
Two or more dashers projecting in different directions from the axle may be
employed according as considered to be most suitable in each case.
Machines constructed in manner as herein indicated may also be employed as
churns.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said William Prescott in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th July 1877.
WILLIAM PRESCOTT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Packing-case
Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES AND CHURNS."
My Invention relates to the washing machines employed in the cleansing of
wearing apparel and household linen and textile fabrics or articles, and is also
applicable in the construction of churns or apparatus employed in butter making.
When constructing such machines in accordance with my Invention, I fit dashers
to reciprocate upon vertical or nearly vertical axes within tubs or receptacles, and
I provide means whereby such dashers receive reciprocating or vibrating movements
from revolving shafts.
In one arrangement a double dasher projecting in opposite directions from the
vertical axis is employed, the said dasher being perforated or formed with slots or
otherwise suitably formed. The said dasher receives motion from a rocking shaft
which is mounted in bearings, and is connected by bevil or spur gearing with the
upper axle of the dasher. The said rocking shaft receives motion from a crank
shaft which is fitted to revolve in bearings, and is formed with two cranks which
are arranged in line and project in opposite directions from the axis of the shaft.
The said cranks are provided with clips, steps, or blocks which are connected by
means of straps, cords, or chains with pulleys, quadrants, levers, or arms which are
mounted on the shaft which is geared with the axle of the dasher.
And in order that my Invention may be readily described and understood, I
have appended hereunto a Sheet of Drawings made to a scale of about two inches
to the foot and marked with letters of reference, corresponding marks indicating the
same parts in the various Figures.
Referring in this place to the said Drawings Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation
of my improved apparatus; Fig. 2 represents a plan of the same; and Fig. 3
represents a sectional elevation taken on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 1.
In the said Figures a is a tub or receptacle, which in the example is of a round
or ordinary tub-shaped form, but may be of a square or other suitable form. To
the upper part of the said tub are attached standards b, b, in or on the upper ends
of which are formed or fixed bearings in which a shaft c is mounted. A cross
rail d is formed with or attached to the said standards, and in the said cross rail a
bearing is formed in which the upper axle or gudgeon of a dasher e is fitted to
revolve to and fro. The lower end of the said dasher is also provided with a
gudgeon or axle which is arranged to work in a foostep which is fixed to the
bottom of the tub at f. To the upper axle is fixed a bevil spur pinion g which
gears with a bevil wheel h which is fixed on the shaft c. One end of the shaft c
projects beyond its bearing, and on this end are loosely mounted a spur pinion i
and a fly wheel k, which is provided with a handle. The pinion i gears with a
spur wheel l, which is fixed on a crank shaft m, which is fitted to revolve in
bearings formed in or attached to the said standards. The said crank shaft is
formed with two cranks, which are arranged at "half centres," that is to say, the
two crank pins are 180 degrees apart on the circular path of motion. On the crank
pins of the said cranks are mounted clips, steps, or blocks, which serve to connect

page_text: the cranks with chains n, n, the connection permitting the rotation of the cranks.
Each chain is connected by one end with the clip step or block which is mounted
on one of the cranks, and by the other end to a wheel or pulley o which is fixed on
the shaft c. The two chains wrap partly around the two pulleys in opposite
directions, one chain passing below its pulley, and the other chain above its pulley,
the arrangement being such as that when one chain is pulled by its crank the shaft c
is caused to rotate in one direction, and when the other chain is pulled the said
shaft is caused to revolve in a reverse direction. In the example the dasher has
two vanes or leaves which project in the same plane but in opposite directions from
a central axle or shaft, each vane being formed with slots or perforations.
The form of the said dasher may be varied as considered to be most suitable for
the intended purpose, and the number of the vanes may be more than two, or even
a single vane may be employed. When the hand wheel is rotated a rotating move-
ment is imparted to the crank shaft, and the two cranks pull the two chains
alternately, whereby the shaft c is caused to rock or vibrate to and fro. The bevil
gearing communicates the said vibrating movement to the dasher.
When used as a washing machine the articles to be washed are placed with water
and detergent in the tub and the hand wheel is rotated, whereby the dasher is
caused to vibrate and to dash the articles and water to and fro with a circular
movement.
When used as a churn the milk or cream is placed in the said tub and is operated
upon by the dasher. The tub is provided with a suitable lid or cover.
The arrangement of gearing for imparting motion to the crank shaft may be
varied, and in some cases the hand wheel may be fixed on the crank shaft.
In the cases of large machines the said crank shaft may be actuated by power.
Quadrants, sectors, or levers may be substituted for the pulleys o, and straps or
equivalent appliances may be substituted for the chains. The arrangement may be
otherwise varied, as, for example, a shaft with a single crank may be employed, in
which case the said crank would be connected by means of a crank arm or con-
necting rod with an arm projecting from the rocking shaft, or the bevil gearing
might be dispensed with and the crank arm, or the cords, straps, or chains be jointed
to or connected with a cross head fixed on the axle of the dasher.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same may be carried into effect, I would have it to be
understood in conclusion that I claim,-
First. The combination and arrangement of parts substantially as and for the
purposes set forth and indicated herein-before, and in and by the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The employment of a revolving crank shaft to impart a rotatory
vibrating movement to the dasher, substantially as and for the purposes set forth
and indicated.
And, lastly. The two-throw crank shaft connected by chains, straps, or cords
with a rocking shaft, which is connected by gearing with a dasher, the whole
acting substantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Prescott, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Signed and sealed by the said William
Prescott, in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.
WILLIAM PRESCOTT. (L.S.)