Year: 1897

page_text: '
I, OTTO SEHMISCH of 60A Mühlenstrasse, Berlin in the Empire of Germany'
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
This invention has for its object a washing drum, in which special vacant
chambers are arranged between the individual washing chambers, which
substantially increase the circulation of the washing and rinsing fluid and thus
considerably shorten the washing process. With this arrangement of vacant
chambers there is also the advantage at the same time, that such fastening
parts which are liable to damage the clothes are done away with in the washing
chambers and arranged instead in the aforesaid vacant chambers so that the
washing chambers are set free from all projections etcetera which might harm
the clothes or other materials being washed.
In order, partly to strengthen the sides and partly to assist the washing process,
the drums formerly in use without chambers were provided with longitudinal
or cross projections or ribs. These more or less rough or cornered projections
however in addition to the rubbing of the clothes often caused an excessive
dragging of the textile material which contributed to a premature wearing out
of the clothes. Moreover should the above mentioned metallic parts become
loosened during the process of washing, the consequence, if the defects were not
immediately noticed or put right, would be an immediate destruction of the
clothes.
In order to avoid such eventualities as aforesaid, the washing drums were
divided into several chambers so that the clothes lying in these chambers could
take part in the rotation of the drum.
The individual partition walls were of course perforated in order that the
circulation of the water in the chambers could not be hindered. But by the use
of these drums it was shown that just at the time when it was most necessary
to have the most rapid circulation of the water, the clothes collected either at
one side or both sides, thus preventing the water circulating, and the duration of
the washing process was considerably prolonged. Further, the fastening of the
partitions to the wall or periphery of the drum created projections which by
reason of the friction and by catching in the clothes soon caused the latter to wear
out.
In view of the above it will be seen that the construction of washing drums
divided into several washing chambers, when put to the test, has not been found
satisfactome

page_text: By the present invention special vacant chambers are provided between the
washing chambers, thus allowing of a good circulation of water, and the collective
fastening parts which tended to damage the clothes are arranged in the vacant
All the above mentioned
chambers instead of in the washing chambers.
disadvantages are therefore perfectly remedied.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which :—
A
Figure 1 is a plan partly in longitudinal section, and Figure 2. a transverse
section of the improved washing drum..
The perforated walls c forming the washing chambers a and the vacant
chambers are so fixed on the similarly perforated periphery k of the drum,
that the walls of the washing chambers are perfectly free from all projections.
The fastening parts which are liable to damage the clothes, are placed collectively
in the vacant chambers. The walls c are fastened to the drum by means of turned
up edges or flanges e by rivetting, screwing or soldering; they are suitably bent
at right angles for the reception of the shaft g and are held together by means of
sheet metal strips or galvanised angle irons d. The lateral closing of the drum
can be effected by covers or end pieces i.
The mode of action is as follows:
The clothes or materials to be washed are introduced in equal portions into the
washing chambers a (which may be of any desired number) by means of doors f
and the latter are closed. The drum which lies in the washing liquid is then
rotated. This liquid penetrates from all sides into the washing chambers and
particularly circulates actively and with great effect through the openings h
into the vacant chambers 6 and from here with a considerable pressure, which is
caused by the rotation of the drum, through the perforated walls into the
washing chambers a. It thus encounters the washing material in the chambers
with a powerful surge, whereas, on the contrary, with the constructions of drum
hitherto used the water while flowing from one washing chamber into the other
could never attain the desired pressure, because the. clothes in one chamber
accumulated against the perforated sides of the other and thus obstructed the
latter at the very moment of the passage of the liquid.
It is also very evident that by the present invention the process of washing may
be completed in the shortest space of time imaginable as the washing liquid; acts
simultaneously through the vacant chambers and through the periphery of the
drum and from all sides on the materials to be washed.
Seeing that, as above mentioned, the several fastening parts likely to damage
the clothes are placed in the vacant chambers the greatest care is taken in
preserving the clothes from harm during the process of washing.
'
There is still another very essential advantage which calls for special notice
and which consists in constructing this drum with a shaft passing right through
it. The construction of drums not so supplied is limited to definite sizes, which
depend upon the weight of the clothes and consequently up to the present such
drums were seldom built of a size larger than for about two hundredweight of
dry clothes when full.
The present invention however permits of the drum being built of a size for
three to four and more hundredweights of dry clothes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same. is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A washing drum with several washing chambers, characterised by open
spaces (vacant chambers b) being arranged between the washing chambers (a),
by which means an active circulation of the washing liquid and a powerful action
of the same on the material is attained, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.,
2. In washing drums with vacant chambers such as described, the arrange-
ment of the several fastening parts of the partition walls within the vacant

page_text: chambers, whereby they cannot come into contact with the clothes and cannot
thus damage the latter, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.