US231515A - Washing-machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. L. WILLIAMS.

Washing Machine.

Patented Aug.'24, 1880.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. L. WILLIAMS. Washing Machine.

Patented Aug. 24,1880.

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Atteszii UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. WILLIAMS, OF EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,515, dated August 24., 1880.

Application filed March 16, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. WILLIAMS, of Edwardsville, Illinois, have made a new and useful Improvement in Washing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a washingmachine having the improvement; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section taken through the bed upon which the clothes are supported while being washed, the section being taken near the side of the bed and on the line a acof Fig. 7, and the view showing also the feeding device Fig. 3, a similar section, but showing the parts of the feeding device as when in operation Fig. 4, a perspective view of the gear used in connecting the main shaft and the feeding device, the view being at the opposite side to that shown in Figs. 2, 3; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the cog used upon the ends of the rollers of the .bed Fig. 6, a perspective view, showing a portion of the chain used in the feeding device; and Fig. 7, a plan, showing the end of one of the bed-rollers having attached the cog shown in Fig. 5. It also shows the main shaft and the gear and roller thereon. The last six views are upon alarger scale than that of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the bed, and Fig. 9 a section taken on the line w 00 of Fig. 8.

The same letters denote the same parts.

The present invention is an improvement in washing-machines having a bed or support for the clothes being washed, consisting of a series of rollers; and it has relation, mainly, to the improved means employed in operating the rollers and in feeding the clothes through the machine.

In the drawings, A represents the tub, which is of the customary shape. B B B represent the series of rollers constituting the bed upon which the clothes rest. An upper roller, suspended from the frame 0 and arranged to oscillate above the bed B B B, is used to effect the washing of the clothes, but it is not shown, as its construction and operation are well understood, and it is not immediately connected with the present improvement.

(No model.)

The rollers B B have journals 1), and are journaled in a frame, B and they each have rigidly attached a cog, D, of the form shown in Figs. 5, 7that is, the cog is of uniform diameter with the roller B, and it has a series of sockets, (Z d, and it fills out the space between the end I) of the roller and the frame B By reason of this arrangement there is nowhere any point or projection above the level of the bed B B B upon which the clothes might catch and be torn, or any opening for them to fall into, for the cogs are substantially extensions of the rollers, and the latter are as small in diameter and set as closely together as is practicable.

E represents the chain used in operating the rollers B B. It is carried around the sprocketwheels F G, and it engages with the cogs D D, being provided with the cogs e e, which engage in the sockets d d of the cogs, and the chain being upheld against the cogs D D by means of the support H, which is a piece attached to the side piece, b and which on its upper side is shaped to conform to the curvature of the bed B B B, and which serves to keep the chain E in engagement with all the cogs D D D D.

The support H maybe grooved upon its upper edge, as seen in Fig. 9, to hold the chain more securely.

The wheel F is journaled in the frame B at f, and the wheel G is journaled at g in a forked arm, I, that is pivoted at i to the frame B The wheel G is also rigidly connected with a gear, J, the two, in practice, being a single casting.

To set the feeding mechanism in operation the arm I, by means of the arm I and the lever K, is moved so as to change the parts from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, in so doing bringing the gear J into engagement with a gear, L, which is fastened to the main shaft M of the machine. The rotation of the main shaft then, through the gears L J and chain E, causes the rollers B B B to rotate on their hearings in the frame 8, and thereby to feed the clothes along the bed.

The feeding is arrested by throwing the lever K back into the position shown in the full lines in Fig. 2, whereupon a roller, N, attached to an arm, n, that is pivoted at n and pressed by a spring, n acts to draw the chain down and to detach the gears J L. To facilitate the action of the roller N the chain is made to pass over a support, 11

The main shaft is jonrnaled in the tub, and is provided with a gear, 0, which engages with a gear, P. From the latter a connecting-rod, Q, leads to the arm R of the frame, which carries the upper oscillating roller, above referred to.

S represents a loose roller upon the main shaft. The end of the roller is shown in Fig. 7, and its position is indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 2, 3. The parts are arranged so as to separate the roller S from the first roller, B, of the bed B B B, and between the rollers S B a slat, T, is arranged. The slat extends from one side piece, D of the frame B to the opposite upright, (not shown,) serving as a brace to keep the side pieces, when swollen by the water, from cramping the rollers B B B, as well as to fill the space between the rollers S B and prevent the clothes from falling between these rollers, for the rollers S B, by reason of the construction of the adjoining mechanism, cannot be arranged close together, and the roller S cannot be dispensed with and the slat T widened to take its place without interfering with the proper action of the feeding mechanism. As it is, the. roller S covers the main shaft, and at the same time acts to move along the clothes and prevent them from heaping up whenever they are being fed toward the operator. By means, also, of the positive connection of the chain E with the rollers B B B the feeding is under perfect control and proceeds evenly at all parts of the bed.

The roller S is made loose upon the main shaft to avoid feeding when the rollers B B B are not in motion. If it were fast upon the shaft it would act to keep the clothes in motion, even when the feeding mechanism was not in operation, but being loose it serves merely as a support for the clothes as the latter are being moved back and forth by means of the rollers B B B.

I claim- 1. The combination of the frame B rollers B B, cogs I) D, chain E. wheels F G, arm I, and gears J L, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the chain E, wheel G, arm I, gears J L, arm I, and lever K, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the cogs D D 1), chain E, side pieces, 1) and support H, substantially as described, and for the purpose of upholding said chain against said cogs.

4. The combination of the gears J L, wheels F G, arm I, belt E, and roller N, substantially as described.

GEO. L. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. I). MoonY, JAMES T. COOPER.

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