IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN JAMES ROYLE of 27 and 29 King Street West, Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES," to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the construction and arrangement of suitable
apparatus for agitating clothes in the presence steam and boiling water and soap
or its compounds whereby the clothes become more easily and thoroughly cleansed
than heretofore.
In performing my invention I employ a metallic vessel to contain the water and
clothes to be washed. This vessel is provided with a cover to keep in the steam
and through a hole in this cover the handle of a dolly dasher or other agitator
passes to the outside to enable the same to be operated. To heat this vessel and
produce the requisite steam I apply beneath it either a fire or the flame of a
gas, oil or other lamp or supply the same with steam from any external source.
A suitable form of agitator is the ordinary truncated or open bottomed vessel well
known in the market but any form of dolly or. agitator may be employed.
These improvements further relate to that class of washing machines in which a
dolly is employed and also embrace the application of a cover to an ordinary
washing-boiler having an opening through the same for the handle of the dolly to
pass through to be operated by a lever and whereby such boiler can be still further
utilised for dollying or washing clothes.
. 1
2
JOHN G. WILSON,
Agent for the Applicaut,

page_text: I JOHN JAMES ROYLE of 27 and 29 King Street West Manchester in the County
of Lancaster Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is the construction and arrangement of suitable
apparatus for agitating clothes in the presence of steam and boiling water and soap
or its compounds; whereby the clothes are more easily and thoroughly cleansed
than heretofore.
In performing my invention I employ a metallic vessel to contain the water.
and clothes to be washed. This vessel is provided with a cover to keep in the
steam and, through a hole in this cover, the handle of a dolly dasher or other
agitator passes to the outside, to enable the saino to be operated. To heat this
vessel and produce the requisite steam I apply beneath it either a fire or the flame
of a gas, oil, or other lamp.
A suitable form of agitator is the ordinary truncated or open bottom vessel, well
known in the market, but any form of dolly or agitator may be employed.
S.. i
These improvements further relate to that class of washing machines in which a
dolly is employed, and also embrace. the application of a cover to an ordinary
washing boiler, having an opening through the same for the handle of the dolly to
pass through, to be operated by a lever, and whereby such boiler can be still
further utilised for dollying or washing clothes.
"
:
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Fig 1. is an exterior view, Fig 2 a sectional view; and Fig. 3-a plan of my
improved apparatus for washing clothes in steam and boiling water, drawn to a
scale of about 1 inches to the foot. Fig. 4 is the same apparatus but shown
heated by a coal stove in place of gas.-Fig. 5 is a modification shewing the
application of my improvements to an ordinary copper or washing boiler. In Fig. 6
1 illustrate my improvements as applied to one form of the ordinary.combined
washing and wringing machines in which a dolly is employed.
In Figs. 1. 2 and 3 A is a metallic vessel preferably of tinned iron or copper,
which contains the water and the clothes to be washed.-B is a cover provided to
keep in the steam, fitted with a bush C, through which passes the handle D'of a
dolly dasher or other agitator E. In the figures I illustrate an opened bottomed or
bason-shaped dasher E, but it will be readily understood that other forms of dollys
or dashers could be used.-The metallic vessel A is mounted in a stand F in which
is arranged an atmospheric gas burner G, by means of which 1 effectually heat the
vessel A, and keep its contents at the boil. As the construction and arrangement
of this burner forms the subject matter of an application for Letters Patent by
myself dated 28th February 1885 N° 2710, I will not here further describe this
part of my invention. The action and method of using this improved apparatus
may be described as follows:-The vessel A should be filled about one fourth full

page_text: of water, and having lighted the burner G, the clothes should be put into the
vessel A, previously soaping them on both sides and particularly where dirty places
appear. As soon as the contents come to the boil, the dolly E should be deliberately
worked up and down amongst the mass of clothes for two or three minutes (more
or less, according to the dirty condition of the clothes) after which the clothes are
to be taken out and well rinsed in clean water. The dolly E should be raised well
out of the mass in the upstroke, so allowing it to fill with steam; and it is the
subsequent forcing of this steam and boiling water through the. mass of clothes
which renders this combined apparatus so effective as a washer. Although I prefer,
this bottomless form of dolly E, it will be obvious that a more or less similar effect,
might be produced by using other forms of dolly, and therefore I do not confino
myself to any particular form of dolly or dasher in this my improved apparatus.
:
In Fig. 4 I illustrate the same arrangement of apparatus used on a coal stove H,
but as the construction of this stove forms the subject of an application for Letters
Patent by myself. dated 28th February 1885 N° 2709 I will not here further
describe it, but I would remark that I do not limit myself to the methods of
heating hereinbefore described and illustrated, as any suitable form of boiling
burner or stove might be employed.
In Fig. 5 I illustrate the application of my improvements to an ordinary copper
or washing boiler a, to which I apply a cover b, through which passes the dolly
staff c. The lower end of the dolly staff c carries the dolly or agitator d, and the
upper end is connected to the lever arm e, working on a universal joint f, affixed
to the wall h. j is a spring for assisting the upward motion of the lever. In
order to permit a considerable range of motion of the lever arme and so as to
bring the dolly successively over every part of the clothes under operation, in
addition to the universal joint f, I prefer to use a plate k, which covers a hole of
considerable size in the lid b, and by sliding easily under the movement of the dolly
staff permits a lateral movement thereof, so allowing every portion of the clothes
to be operated upon similar to what is easily accomplished by slightly angling the
dolly staff D, in Figs. 1. 2. and 3.
In Fig. 6 I illustrate a well known form of combined washer and wringer
containing a dasher W, as the means of agitating the clothes I prefer to make the
tub X wholly or in part of metal with a metallic bottom y Under this metallic
bottom I apply the flame of the gas burner Z or heating stove of other construction
and so I raise and keep the contents of the tub X at the boiling point during the
dollying operation, and thus render this class of washing machine much more
effective as a washer.
It will thus be seen that the essential feature of this my said invention consists
in applying external heat to a dolly tub, or its equivalent, for the washing of
clothes; as I have found that the dullying is considerably expedited, facilitated
and rendered more effective when performed with the water kept at the boiling-
point.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, I would here remark that I make no claim to the open bottomed dolly
or dasher used separate from the apparatus heated and kept boiling as herein before
described, nor do I claim agitating clothes in the presence of steam and boiling
water by revolving them in a cage or swift inside a closed box or ordinary wash
boiler, as I do not consider this "dollying;" but what I do claim is
let Dollying clothes in the presence of steam and boiling water in and by
apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described.
2ndly The application of external heat to a dolly tub or its equivalent for
more efficiently and expeditiously washing clothes substantially as hereinbefore
described.
"
3rdly The employment of an open bottomed 'dolly" in the presence of steam
and boiling water substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.

page_text: 4thly In reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the combination of the vessel A and
cover B mounted on a gas or other stove, with a dolly operated by a vertical
handle, substantially as described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
5thly In reference to Fig. 5. The application to an ordinary copper or washing
boiler of a dolly operated by a staff passing through a cover actuated by lever
arm, or its equivalent, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated on the
accompanying drawing.
.
6thly In reference to Fig. 6. The application to washing machines in which a
dolly or dasher is employed, of external means for heating and keeping the
contents at the boil, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
j