Untitled record

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Λ PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

United States Patent Office.

L. L. STEARNS, OF JERSEY SHORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND L. N. MUIR, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,598, dated March 4, 1862.

To all ichom it may concern:

BeitknownthatI,L. L. Stearns, of Jersey Shore, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Washing-Machines; and I do hereby.declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all figures of the drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, as indicated by the line 1 2 in Fig. 1.

The nature of my improvement consists in the regulation or adjustment in the pressure upon the clothes or linen to be washed from the oscillating washing-frame by means of the arrangement of a spring-lever placed and applied in such a manner as will impart facility and ease in the pressure and at the same time admit of the oscillating washingframe being raised to a sufficient height for the placing in of the clothes between the two surfaces, whereby a single and simple movement of the hand is all that is necessary to accomplish either, by the same machinery, in one and the same application of the hand, the spring-lever being so arranged in connection with the main operating-lever that both may be easily grasped and embraced by the hand.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvement, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is the washing-box of a longitudinal form, the size of which may be increased or diminished at the option of the manufacturer, supported and resting on legs g g g g, of a proportionate length from the ground or floor, fitted and made to slide in and out of dovetail cleats w w screwed on the outsides of the box for convenience and portability, one screw to each being sufficient to hold them in their places.

k k are two upright pieces of suitable width screwed onto the outsides about midway of the box, projecting a reasonable height from the top of the box. N ear the top of each of the uprights k k are openings cut in from the sides of sufficient size to receive the top transverse piece or axle j, the ends of which are made to slip in and out of the openings, a small movable brass catch-plate Z, playing upon a small pivot-screw fastened one on the outside of each of the uprights k k just above the hole or opening, being closed down on the transverse piece or axle to hold it steady in its place while in operation.

B is the main operating-lever, of a size and length proportionate to the use of the hand and position of the body of the operator, fitted and made to slip in and out of a receiver m, of a suitable size and form, having a thumbscrew n to hold it in its place, which incloses entirely the transverse piece or axle.;’ in the center, as seen more clearly in Fig. 1. Attached and joined to the transverse piece or axle; are two uprights S S, the tops of which may be seen more clearly in Fig. 1, extending down a little way from the top of the box on the inside.

i is a transverse piece, parallel with the top or upper one, fitted loosely in between the two uprights S S, having in the center an opening or passage through for the free and easy admission of the fiat peculiar-formed spring D. Secured and fastened to the transverse piece i are two vertical shafts Ίι ΐι, which move up and from the action of the spring-lever C through boxes ο o screwed on the insides of the uprights S S. Attached and fastened to the bottom ends of the vertical shafts Jihis the oscillating washing-frame E, having a transverse piece v of an ordinary width and thickness, with a corrugated surface underneath. On each side of it are two revolvingrollers U U. Immediately underneath and resting on the bottom of the box is the stationary frame F, held in its place by cleats p ppp, screwed on the insides of the box, which is so made as to be slipped in and out, having a series of transverse revolving rollers t'f of ordinary diameters equidistant apart, every other one being stationary, the top surface of the frame being the segment of a circle. This frame may be used the same as a common washing-board, (by removing the upper oscillating washing-frame E,) which is desired

34,598 sometimes when more careful and delicate washing is necessary by the common process of the hand.

C is the spring-lever placed above at a sufficient angle from the main operating-lever B, (as to be easily grasped and embraced by the hand in connection with it,) playing upon a pivot Q at its vertex, then extending through the main operating-lever B, a sufficient opening or passage being made to allow of a free and easy movement therein, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. Continuing, it assumes a curved form until it meets the peculiar-formed flat spring D. It is then connected with it by means of a square link v, somewhat analogous in form to a buckle-strap, the centerpin being omitted. D is aflat spring fastened by means of screws near the opening or passage through on the main operating-lever B, describing a half-circle. It inclines graduallyinto and through the passage or opening in the transverse piece i.

In the operation of my improvement, by placing the hand on the main operating-lever B and at the same time embracing the springlever C, a variable degree of pressure proportionate to the layer or thickness of clothes to be washed is obtained by a corresponding proportionate degree of exertion and raising the oscillating frame E in the application and use of one hand only, thereby accomplishing it by one operation and the same machinery.