US39212A - Improved washing-machine - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. G. BROWN, OF LIMA, OHIO.

IMPROVED WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,212, dated July 14, 1863.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, A. G. BROWN, of Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washinglvlachines and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation, in part in section, of my improved washingmachine; and Fig. 2 a plan view ofthe same.

My invention consists in the general arrangement of the washing-tub and board' in relation to a frame to support the same when the said frame is provided with a seat for the operator and a mechanism driven by the foot ofthe operator for actuating the parts in motion; and my invention further consists in combining` with a stationary wash-tub a reciprocating washingboard, the arrangement being such as to operate substantially in the manner hereinafter set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I shall now describe the construction of my improved washingmachine and state the manner in which the same is or may be operated.

A in the accompanying drawings is a square wooden tub. It may be more or less wide, long, or deep, its size being such as that all its parts may be within convenient reach of the operator. The tub is supported in an inclined position by a frame consisting ofposts B and sloping head timbers C, braced Y in the usual manner, and is prevented from which is partly open, forming a bevel-edged frame to the wash-board F. This wash-board is held snugly up against its frame in a position parallel with the bottom of the tub by means of friction-rollers e, fast onto either side of the box. On these rollers rest the side rails, m, upon which the washboard is mounted. The wash-board, which is here shown to be a corrugated metal plate, is mounted on a frame consisting of the side rails, m, and the front and rear cross-pieces, fn. n'. To the middle ofthe latteris attached the one end of the connecting-rod s, its other end being bent upwardly for its connection with the pin of the crank W. The crank is mounted on an axle hung in the bracket m, and passing through the side of the box or tub, where it is provided with a pulley, p, and ily-wheel k. Rotary movement, imparted to the driving-pulley P, is transmitted to the small pulley p by means of a band or cord common to both. The large pulley P is driven by the operator in the following manner: In front of the machine, on two standards, I, is arranged a seat, M, located relatively to the pedals L L and the washtub so that the operator may without straining either part of his body wash with his hands the clothes in the tub, while his feet are working the pedals. The pedals are hinged onto a hinge-board inthe rear of the machine, and are hung at about half their lengths to the cranks of a crankshaft, T, located underneath the tub. Upon this crank-shaft the drivingpulley is mounted. Rotary motion, therefore, imparted to the cranks-shaft by the feet of the operator, is transmitted to the crank, where it is converted into a reciprocating one, and thus produces the vibratory motion of the wash-board.

The operation of the apparatus hereinbefore described is as follows Water and soap, &c., being put in the Wash-tub, the operator takes his seat, and with his feet gives the wash-board arapid vibratory motion, as above fully explained. He then simply applies the cloth upon the surface of the board, where, without any additional labor on his part, the cloth will be thoroughly washed. It will be understood that the cloth is not liable to be carried to and fro by the action of the board,

`the frame, with its bevel-edges, confining and keeping the cloth steady, while upon the surface exposed to the corrngations of the board it is thoroughly rubbed and cleansed. It is needless here to explain the advantages of this apparatus over those heretofore in use. I will simply remark that a much greater quantity of cloth can be washed with the same amount of labor.

Having thus fully described my invention, I shall state my claim as follows:

I claim- The combination of a stationary washingtub with a reciprocating washing-board, under the arrangement and for operation substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: ABNER G. BROWN.

RICHARD W. DIT'IE, DAVID D. DITTE.

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