US139191A - Improvement in washing-machines - Google Patents

Description

1. RIGGSBEEL Washing-Machines.

Patented Ma y20.1873.

4M. P/m'rnumoq/mPu/c an N. 15 @wmm's PROGES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JORDAN BIGGSBEE, OF OHAPEL HILL, NORTH. CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,191, dated May 20, 1873 application filed March 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JORDAN RIGGSBEE, of Chapel Hill, in the county of Orange and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and Improved Washing-Machine; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of myinvention.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawing denote the same parts.

This invention has for its object to enable the rubbing-board of a washing-machine to be let down as closely upon the fabrics being washed as may be desired, and when thus let down to be held securely in place. To this end my invention consists in the combination of parts, which 1 will now proceed to describe.

In the accompanying drawing, A, is a washtub, having in its upper edge two recesses opposite each other, for the reception of the cross-bar 'B, which is hinged at one end to the outside of the tub. Outside the other recess is a catch, 0, that springs over and holds the other end of the cross-bar when the latter is turned down; this crossbar has atapped orifice at its middle,through which passes a hollow screw, D, having a lever, D, at its top by which to turn it. Inclosed within the screw D is a shaft, J, having a lever, E, at its head. above the lever D, and at its lower end, below the screw D, the said shaft is attached to the center of the circular rubber F. The lever E suspends the rubber F from the top of the screw D, so that the rubber is free to revolve. Its under side is provided with ribs, and the bottom of the tub has ribs also, both for the rubbing of the clothes. The rubber F has perforations through it to admit of a free fiowof suds. The cross-bar B is rsplit,as by a splittingsa'w, from its freelend nearly to its hinged end, the fissure K being interrupted by the tapped orifice, above referred to, through which the screw D passes. A bolt, G, extends across said fissure from one side of the cross-bar to the other, at a point between the free end of the cross-bar and the screw D, and on the threaded end of this bolt a nut, H, is placed outside the crossbar, said nut having a handle, I, by which to turn it.

Operation. When it is desired to put clothes into the tub beneath the rubber, the course is to pull back the top of the catch 0 and raise the cross-bar B on its hinge, thus lifting the rubber clear out of the tub. The clothes having been put in, the rubber is next turned down again into the tub above the clothes. If the free end of the cross-bar will not go under the catch 0 by reason of the mass of clothes beneath the rubber, the screw D should be run up by means of the lever D. Therunning up of the screw raises the rubber, and when the latter is raised high enough to allow the shutting of the cross-barthis is done. The rubber having been gotten into the right position, the cross-bar is tightened on the screw by means of the bolt G and. nut H;

this holds the screw securely in the required position While the rubber is being revolved by means of the lever E. When the washing has been completed the rubber is turned up once more and the clothes removed. The screw arrangement enables the rubber to be let down on the fabric without tangling the clothes or rolling them in a knot.

By the use of the above-described means smooth or level rubbing is attained, and also a rubbing that may be made light or heavy, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. The combination of a cross-piece, B, hollow screw D, and a shaft, J, inclosed within and suspended upon said screw, and,bearing the rubber at its lower end, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the cross-piece B, hollow screw D, rubber-shaft J, and levers D E, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

3. The cross-piece B, having a fissure, K, extending lengthwise of the same past the tapped orifice through which the screw passes, in combination with the boltG, hollow screw 1), shaft J, rubber F, and nut H, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Witnesses: JORDAN RIGGSBEE.

SOLOMON POOL, JONES WATSON.

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