BLEACHING 



377 



122 



the back view (the left-hand half of the figure) the brass grating, g g, of a cur- 

 vilinear form is seen, through which the jets of water are admitted into the cavity of the 

 wheel ; h h are the round 

 orifices, through which 

 the foul water runs off, 

 as each quadrant passes 

 the lower part of its re- 

 volution ; i, a water-pipe, 

 with a stopcock for regu- 

 lating the washing-jets; 

 k k, the lever for throwing 

 the driving-crab I, or 

 coupling-box, into or out 

 of gear with the shaft of 

 the wheel. This machine 

 is so constructed, that the 

 water-cock is opened or 

 shut by the same lever-, 

 age which throws the 

 wheel into or out of gear. 

 m, a wheel, fixed upon 

 the round extremity of 

 the shaft of the dash-wheel which works into the toothed pinion connected with 

 the prime mover. When the end of the lever k, whose fork embraces the coupling- 

 box upon the square part of the shaft, is pushed forwards or backwards, it shifts the 

 clutch into or out of gear with the toothed wheel m. In the latter case, this wheel 

 turns with its pinion without affecting the dash-wheel, n n, holdfasts fixed upon the 

 wooden frame, to which the boards o o are attached, for preventing the water from 

 being thrown about by the centrifugal force. 



The dash-wheel is generally from 6 to 7 feet in diameter, about 30 inches wide, and 

 requires the power of about two horses to drive it. 



A dash-wheel has one piece of cloth in each of the four compartments ; these are 

 washed in eight minutes, being 30 pieces an hour, or 300 pieces a day ; sometimes 

 two pieces are put in, when double the time is given. It generally requires 60 

 gallons of water per minute to feed it, 36,000 gallons a day, or 120 to a piece. 

 Always after washing, the squeezers are applied, as they remove at once the super- 

 fluous water. 



The machine made by Mr. Mather (figs. 123 and 124) washes 800 pieces per hour, 

 or 8,000 pieces per day of ten hours, using 400 gallons per minute, or 120,000 gallons 

 per day, or 20 gallons to a piece. This class of machine is now in its turn superseding 

 the dash-wheel. 



This washing-machine will be understood by the general plan (fig. 124, and corre- 

 sponding section, fig. 123). a and b represent the squeezing-bowls. a, is 18 inches 

 diameter and 8 feet 3 inches long ; it is made of deal timber. (The lapping of 

 strong canvas at a" is for the purpose of giving the 'out-coming' pieces an extra 

 squeeze, in order to prepare them for the kiers.) b is 24 inches diameter and of the 

 same length as a, making 100 revolutions per minute; it is generally made of deal, 

 sycamore, however, being better, c, d, a strong wooden rail, in which pegs are placed 

 in order to guide the cloth in its spiral form from the edge to the centre of the 

 machine, h, h, the water-trough, through which the piece passes round the roller B. 

 p (fg. 123), water-pipe, t, water-tap, m, m, pot-eyes, which may be adjusted to 

 any angle, to guide and regulate the tension of the piece on entering the machine. 

 I, side frame, for carrying bowls, &c. g, engine (with cylinder, 8 inches diameter) 

 and gearing for driving machine, to, weight and lever for regulating pressure on the 

 bowl. 



This machine washes 800 pieces per hour, and requires 400 gallons of water per 

 minute. It will serve also to represent the chemick and souring machine, the only 

 difference being that the bowls are 3 feet 6 inches, instead of 8 feet 3 inches, in 

 length. 



The chemick and sour are brought by turns into the trough, or into similar separate 

 troughs, by a leaden pipe from the mixing cisterns, and are run in to 6 or 8 inches 

 deep. 



The washing-machine of Mr. Bridson (Jig. 125, p. 379) is worth attention. In its 

 action the course of the cloth in the water is easily seen ; it is chiefly horizontal. This 

 motion had been given by Hellewell and Fearn in 1856 ; but they had a very com- 

 plicated machine, and they did not attain the flapping motion which is given to the 

 cloth when it becomes suddenly loose, and is driven violently against the board a a 



