US2296259A

US2296259A - Laundry apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2296259A
Application number: US232511A
Authority: US
Inventors: Breckenridge Frank
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1938-09-30
Filing date: 1938-09-30
Publication date: 1942-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 1959-09-22

Description

l` 22),"1942-` BREQKENR'IGE 2,296,259

LAUNDRY APPARATUS" 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FRANK. Eraser-Nimaia wlTNEssi-:sr

'BTW

q AIT Sept 22,1942 F. BRECKE'NRIDGE 2,296,259

LAUNDRY APPARATUS INVNTR 'FRANK- Bmcwmmpsa f vPatented Sept. 22, 1942 LAUNDRY APPARATUS Frank Breckenridge, `Manseld, Ohio, assigner to Westinghouse Electric Ik Manufacturing Conv pany, East: Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September v30, 1938, Serial lio. 232,511

` 17 Claims.

My invention relates tolaundry apparatus and has for, an object to provide improved apparatus of this kind. I Affurther object of the invention is to provide a machine for washing fabrics and centrifuging fluid therefrom wherein improved distribution of thefabrics in the machine is effected prior to the centrifuging, operation. l

A further object of the invention is to improv the washing action and distribution oi thefabricsl in the basket oi a washing machine of the inclined axis type.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improvedlaundry machine having an inclined rotatable container for the fabrics being treated, wherein the inclination of the container is varied betweenl the washing and centriiuging `steps inthe cleansing program. s s

It is a still further object of the invention to Y reducevibration of a laundry machine oi the character set forth during both the washing land centrifuging steps oi the cycle of operation.

These and other objects are eflected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in accordance Vwith theaccompanying drawings, in which: n Fig. 1` a -side view, in one operating position, of a laundry machine constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention; portions of the machine being broken away; v l f l Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a detail` and taken along the line III- III or Fig. 1;`` 'e Fig. 4 is a viewA similar to Fig. 1 and shows the apparatus in a second operating position; and,

Fig. 5 is adiagrarn of a control mechanism for the machine. y

Reference will now be had to Figs.l l` to 3, ln` elusive, of the drawings wherein I have shown my .invention applied to a laundry machine of the general type disclosed and cla'med in my copending application Serial'fNo. 03,804, iiled April 23, 1938, and assigned toWestinghouse Electric 8: Manufacturing Company. In this ,typ'e of machine, the basket for the fabrics being treatedk is rotatable about an inclined axis` The laundry apparatus includes a casing structure I formed by a skeleton frame II having finishing panels I2 secured thereon for enclosing D a washing unit, generally indicated at I3. A portion I4 of the front of the casing Iil'is inclined as shown and provided with a round access opening I that is' closed by a hingedgasketed door Isa. The frame Il includes 'a channel member I6 that entends transversely of the machine for a purpose to be referred to hereinafter.

The washing and spinningunit, generally in dicated at I3, includes a container or tub structure II ot substantially Irusto-conical coniigura-l tion, a rotatable basket structure Il of similar configuration disposed therein and a driving mechanism,` generally indicated at I9, for rotating the basket Il. The tub structure I3 has side walls 2I and end walls 22 and 23 at the small and large ends thereof. respectively. I Y

The basket structure I8 includes a side wall 24, an end wall 25 which is dished inwardly to define a dome, and an end wall 26 at the large shown at 21, where it joins the end wall 26 and is perforate, as shown at 2l, throughout substantially its extent. A plurality oi vanes 20 are circumierentially spaced within the basket Il for agitating the clothes in the water as the basket l is rotated. The vanes 20 extend from adjacent the end wall 28 toward the domed end wall 2S but terminate short of the latter as shown at 20a. Accordingly, the portion of the side wall 24 between the ends 20a ofthe vanes 20 and the domed f end wall 25 is not provided with any vane structure.l This form of basket and vane structure is more fully described and claimed in the copending application oi' Stuart R. Baird, Serial N o. 268,103, filed April 15,1939 andfassigned to the Westinghouse Electric a Manufacturing Company.

The end wall 26 of the basket 24 and the end wall of the tub structure I1 are provided with respective access openings 29 and 3l which register with the access opening I5 in the position of the ,apparatus/shown in Fig. 1./ A flexible wall 32 connects the inclined portion of the casing strucstructure I'I. As described more in detail here marrer, the basket la is rotated yby the drivirigj" mechanism I9 `at relatively low speed of, for example, revolutions per minute during washing i' periods and `at relatively highI speed of, fo/r example, 500 R. P. M., during water extracting periods.

ture, vupenn the end vivan `2:4 peripherany of the The driving mechanism I9 includes a motor 35, a two-speed mechanism 36 driven thereby and having a driven shaft 31 belted to the shaft 33, as shown at 3B. As the specific form of two speed mechanism 36 forms no part of the present invention, it has not been shown in detail for the sake of brevity. The mechanism 36 is adjusted for operating its driven shaft 31 at high and low speeds by means of an arm 40. In the position of the arm 40 shown infull lines (Fig. 4) slow speed operation of the shaft 31 and basket I8 is eiected. When the arm 40 is adjusted to its other position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4, and full lines, Fig. 1, the shaft 31 and basket I8 are operated at high speed for centrifuging water from the fabrics in the basket I8. The arm 40 is biased to its slow speed position by a spring 39 and moved to its high speed position by a magnet 4I when energized. The magnet 4I includes a winding 42, further reference to which is made hereinafter. The driving mechanism I9 is carried in any suitable manner by the tub structure I1, preferably by brackets 43 so that the tub I1 and driving mechanism denne a unit structure.

Water is supplied to thev tub structure I1 through a conduit 44,'having a flexible portion 45,-under control of a suitable electrically operated valve 46. The conduit 44 is connected to hot and cold water sources through the valves, not shown, so that water at a suitable temperature may be admitted to the tub. The electrically operated valve 46 maybe of the solenoid type and includes an operating coil 41 which, when energized, eifects opening, of the valve 46 and, conversely, when the coil 41 is deenergized the valve 46 isclosed. As solenoid operated valves of this type are well understood in the art, no further description of them is deemed necessary.

Washing fluid is discharged from the tub I1 by means of a pump 48, preferably operated by the motor 35. The inlet of the pump 48 is connected by a conduit 49 to the tub I1. A strainer (not shown) is preferably connected between the tub ,I1 and the yconduit f49 for-preventing the passage of solid objects to the pump 43. The strainer is disposed within a housing shown at 50. Flow of water from the tub I1 to the pump 46 is controlled, preferably, by an electrically operated valve I having an operating coil 52. During periods when the coil 52 is deenergized, the valve 5I is closed and, when the operating coil 52 is energized, the valve. 5I is opened. The water discharged by the pump is conveyed through a flexible conduit 53 connected to a suitable drain, not shown.

There is describedand claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 226,853, filed August 26, 1938, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company'a washer of the character described heretofore wherein the unit structure I3 is flexibly mounted during periods when water is centrifugally extracted from the fabrics at high basket speeds and, during washing periods, the unit structure I3 is snubbed for restraining movement thereof, whereby vibrations, originating in the basket because of unbalance of the load, are not transmitted to the casing structure.

In the embodiment disclosed in the present specification, the flexible support of the unit I3 is eiected by a plurality of springs 54 arranged in

groups

55 and 56 on each side of the tub structure I1. The springs 54 are carried in any suspend the unit I3 therein. The bottom ends of the springs 54 carry plates 51 and 58 secured to opposite sides of the tub I1. Each

group

55 and 56 of springs 54 may contain four springs as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. For the sake of clearness of illustration, I have shown onlythe terminal springs of each

group

55 and 56 in Fig. 2. .Y

The bias of the springs 54 is such that they solely support the unit structure I3 and saturated fabrics contained in the tub I1 when the latter is substantially devoid of water. However, when Water is admitted to the tub I1, the added weight effects downward movement of the unit I3 against the bias of the springs 54. A snubbing or restraining device, generally indicated at 59, is employed for limiting the downward movement of the unit I3, and, when a complete charge of washing or rinsing water is present in the container, the restraining device 59 supports in part the weight of the unit I3. l

The snubbing or restraining device 59 preferably includes a stationary cup member 6I, carried by thetransverse channel I6, and a pad 62 which moves upwardly and downwardly with the unit structure I3 and adapted in its lowermost position to flt within the cup-shaped member 6I. The pad 62 is fixed to a stud 63, the upper end of which defines a ball 64 that is fitted within a socket 65, secured to the container I1. A resilient compression mem-ber 66 is also' carried by the stud 63 and engages the under side of the stationary cup member 6I in the elevated position of the unit structure I3. Accordingly,

the resilient compression member 66 opposes the bias of the springs 54 during periods when the unit I3 is resiliently supported. The resilient member 66 and the connection formed by the ball 64 and socket 65, therefore, define an element of the resilient supporting structure for the unit I3 and permit limited movement of the unit structure I3 in all directions.

During washing periods, or when a complete charge of washing water is present in the container 11, the pad 62 is seated within the cup member 6I and supports a portion of the weight of the unit 13. Movement of the unit I3 is, therefore, restrained by the seated pad 62 so that the support for the unit structure 13 at this time suitable manner by the casing structure I0 and 75 is less'xible. The purpose of resiliently supportingfthe unit structure I3 during high speed operation of the basket 18 and reducing the resiliency of the support during low speed operation is to reduce, substantially, the vibrations transmitted to the casing structure I0. Vibrations originating in the basket I8 due to unbalanced load therein are transmitted to the tub structure I1 through the shaft 33 and a journal 34. The vibrations may be damped materially by means of an inertial stabilizer, shown by way of example as an annular ring 61 of suitable mass and spaced from the journal 34 or point of application of the vibrations .to the container I1. During slow speed operation of the basket I8, the frequency of vibration is reduced so that the inertia stabilizer 61 is less effective in damping the amplitude of the vibi ations than at high speed. Accordingly, low frequency vibrations of relatively large amplitude may be experienced which will cause the unit structure I3 to wobble within the casing l1. The restraining device 59 prevents excessive wobbling of the unit structure I3 as the pad 62 at this time is seated within the cup member 6I. In this connection,

the pad 62 is preferably formed of a resilient material which permits some movement of the unit difference of as little as 3.

structure I3 throughthe ball and socket connection 64 `and 55 which restrain excessive wobbling.

I have found that Vby resiliently mounting the unit structure I3 during high speed operation and I3 at this time is in a vertical plane indicated atV A (Fig. 4) Accordingly, during washing periods, or when the full charge of water `is in the tub I1, the unit structure I3 is tilted forwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the angle between the axis of the basket I8 and the vertical is greater during washing periods than during water extracting periods. I have found that improved washing and extracting results are obtained by this operation in a machine of the character described with an angle This improved result will be apparent from the description of the washing and extracting operations which appear hereinafter. i

My improved laundry apparatus is adaptable for manual or automatic operation wherein a predetermined program of washing and drying steps are effected without the attention of the operator.`

For the sake of brevity, I have shown a manuallyoperated machine wherein handling of the clothes by the operator subsequent to the washing operation or prior to the extracting operation is not necessary.

In the present embodiment, control of the various electrically-operated Aelements is manually effected by a control switch 1I carried by the casing structure III-where it is convenient to the operator. drum 12' shown in development in Fig. 5 and movable in the direction of the arrow when actuated by a knob 13. The drum 12 carries aplurality of electrically-connected movable contact segments 14 to 18, inclusive, which are engageable with respective contact fingers 19 to 83, inclusive. As is clearly shown in Fig. 5, the contact finger 19 is connected to one side of a source of power indicated by the 4'line conductor L1, 'the opposite, side La of which is connected to one terminal of each of the operating coils 41, 52 and 42 and the 'motor 35. The opposite terminals of the coil 41, the motor 35 and the coils 52 and'42 are respectively connected to the contact fingers 88 to 83, incluslve.

Operation In the operation of the laundry apparatus, the fabrics to be washed are rst deposited in the basket structure I 8 through the access opening I5 and the control switch 1I turned to its fill position as indicated in Fig. 5. Accordingly, the opis deenergized, the motor drives the basket I8 at relatively low speed.

During filling of the tub I1, the unit structure I3 moves downwardly in opposition' to the bias of thesprings 54. shaped member 5I during the downward movement of the tub I1, and tilting of`the tub structure I1 to the posltionshown in Fig. 4 is effected as described heretofore. The level of the water in the tub I1, when containing a full charge, of water. is shown by the broken line B in Fig. 4.

The vanes 20, during rotation of the basket structure. engage the fabrics in the water and carry them to an upper region of the basket from which region the fabrics are dropped.

It will be apparent that the vanes 20 become more inclined as they move upwardly due to the inclination of the basket I8, so that the fabrics carried thereby aredirected` rearwardly of the basket I8 toward the end wall 25 prior to dropping of thefabrics: The fabrics as they descend from the vanes 20 engage the domed end wall 25 and slide downwardly thereof until they engage the surface of the water. The fabrics are directed toward the frontof the basket or toward the end wall 28 by the domed end wall 25 so that the movement of the `fabrics in the water is frontward until again engaged by the vanes 20.' This cycle of operation thoroughly agitates the fabrics in the washing fluid for cleansing thereof.

. The fabrics are maintained throughout vthe cycle in a substantially loose condition as any tendency for the fabrics to ball due to any rolling action is precluded by the reverse rolling movements imparted thereto by the varies 28 andthe domedV endL wall 25. Y

I have found that an efficient washing jaction is obtained in a washerof the type disclosed hav-` ing the varies 20 as shown and having the axis of the basket disposed at an angle of approximately 26 from the horizontal. In this posi- A, tion the vanes 20 and the domedend Wall `25 co- The control switch 1I may include a operate as described so that collection of the fabrics adjacent the end wall 25 is noteffected and the fabrics are uniformly distributed axially of the basket. However, when centrifuging of the fabrics is initiated, it is desirable to `have the major portion ofthe weight ofthe fabrics in the small diameter of the basket I8 adjacent the end wall 25 or in a` region adjacent the axis of the basket, whereby the load on the motor during acceleration is reduced. Accordingly, yacceleration of the rotating mass is facilitated so that the rotating massrapidly passes through critical ,v

speed. lAs is 4well understood, vibration is maximum when the mass is rotated at critical speed so that it is desirable to pass through critical speed quickly.y Furthermore, vibration due to uneven distribution of the fabrics. in the basket is -reduced with the arrangement of the fabrics in the portion of the basketof relatively small diameter.

Prior to centrifuging'the fabrics, Athe water isv drained from the tub by movement of the switch 1I to its drain position in,.which the operating coil 52 is energized. Accordingly, the solenoid valve 5I is opened. Water isl withdrawn froml the tub I1 by the pump 48 and discharged to the drain through the conduit 53.

As the water is withdrawn from the container I1, the springs 54 move the unitary structure I3 upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. l. During upward movement of the structure I3 the inclination of its axis increases as described heretofore. The

The pad 52 seats in the cup basket is rotated at washing speed for a relatively short period of time after the water is drained therefrom. At this time, the fabrics, as they slide down the domed end wall, tend to cling thereto and are not carried by the body of water frontward of the basket, which operation is effected during washing periods with water in the tub. Accordingly, the fabrics are gathered in the region of the basket between the ends a of the vanes 20 and the end Wall 25 or in the region of minimum basket diameter. The operation of collecting the fabrics in this region of the basket is facilitated by increasing the inclination of the axis of the basket. I have found that, in a washer of the type disclosed, that this operation is facilitated by increasing the inclination to an angle of 30 from the horizontal.

High speed operation of the basket for centrifuging fluid from the fabrics is effected by moving the switch 1| to its spin" position wherein the magnet coil l2 is energized. As set forth heretofore the load on the motor I9 and vibration of the basket during acceleration of the basket are reduced by the disposition of the fabrics in the portion of the basket of relatively small diameter. During acceleration, the fabrics move axially of the basket toward the endy of maximum diameter due to centrifugal force. A substantial portion of the fluid in the fabrics is centrifuged therefrom during high speed operation as is well understood. When the centrifuging operation is completed, the fabrics are disposed ln the portion of the basket of relatively large diameter or within the curved wall portion 2l thereof. Accordingly, as rotation of the basket is terminated, the fabrics are disposed in the front portion of the basket adjacent the access opening 29 from which position they may be readily removed by the operator.

'Ihe described method of washing the fabrics,

then collecting the same in a relatively small circular bundle in the portion of the basket of minimum diameter and finally expanding the bundle to a relatively large diameter for centrifuging is described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 339,841, 'filed June 11, 1940, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

Rinsing of the fabrics may be effected by cycling the machine in the same manner as for washing as described heretofore; this operation, however, being effected without employing a detergent. During the rinsing cycle, water is admitted to the tub, the fabrics are agitated therein, the vitiated rinse water is drained from the tub, distribution of the fabrics in the small diameter of the tub is effected, and, finally, extraction of the rinse water from the fabrics is effected at high speed. A complete washing and rinsing cycle has now been described.

I have found that the angles of 26 and 30, recited heretofore, are optimum for the specific form of machine disclosed. It will be apparent that these angles will be varied for other forms and that in some cases, an angle differential of greater or less value than the recited 4 may be necessary. My invention broadly contemplates a machine for washing and spinni'ng fabrics wherein the position of the axis is varied for these operations. The means which I have disclosd for automatically shifting the axis is shown by way of example and it is to be understood that other means may be employed for effecting this operation.

I have shown a washing and spinning machine of the manually controlled type for the sake of brevity, but it will be apparent that it is particularly adaptable to manually or automatically operated machines wherein the fabrics are not handled by the operator between the washing and extracting steps.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for cleaning fabrics and the like and for spinning fluid therefrom, the combination of a tub structure for containing the cleaning fluid, means for admitting and discharging fluid from the tub structure, a container for the fabrics disposed within the tub structure and having an axis about which angular movement of the container is effected, said axis of the container being disposed at an angle to the vertical during periods when a predetermined weight of fluid is contained in the tub structure and means responsive to the discharge of cleaning uid from the tub for moving the axis of the container toward the vertical.

2. In apparatus for washing fabrics or the like and for spinning fluid therefrom, the combination of a tub structure for containing washing fluid, means for admitting and discharging fluid to and from the tub'structure, a container for the fabrics disposed within the tub structure and having an axis about which angular movement of the container is effected, said axis being angularly disposed with respect to the vertical, and means responsive to a reduction in the weight of the tub structure as effected by the discharge of fluid therefrom for changing the angular disposition of the tub structure for the spinning of fluid from the fabrics.

3.v In apparatus for washing fabrics or the like and for spinning fluid therefrom, the combination of a tub structure for containing washing fluid, means for admitting and discharging fluid to and from the tub structure, a container for the fabrics disposed within the tub structure and having an axis about which angular movement of the container is effected, said axis being angularly disposed with respect to the vertical, and means responsive to the discharge of a predetermined quantity of fluid from the tub structure for changing the angular disposition of the tub structure for the spinning of fluid from the fabrics.

4. In apparatus for washing fabrics and for centrifugally extracting water therefrom, the combination of a container for washing water, means for resiliently supporting the container so that its axis is disposed at a predetermined angle to the vertical when the container is substantially devoid of water, said resilient means affording downward movement of the container as water is admitted thereto, means for resisting downward movement of the container, said resisting means and said resilient supporting means cooperating to increase the angle between the axis of the container and the vertical when a predetermined weight of water is admitted to the container, means for washing the fabrics during periods when said predetermined weight of water is contained within the container and means forv centrifugally extracting water from the fabrics when the container is substantially devoid of water.` 5. In a machine for `washing fabrics and cerr trifugally extracting washing fluid therefrom, the combination of a tub for washing fluid having its axis inclined` from the vertical, means for resiliently supporting the tub in an elevated position when substantially devoid of fluid and affording downward movement ofy the tub as fiuid is admitted thereto, means for increasing saidinclination ofthe axis `of the tub as the latter moves downwardly, means. for-agitating the fabrics in thefiuidk during periods when the tub is in its lowermost position and means for centrifugally extracting iiuid from the fabrics during periods when. the tub is in itsfelevated position. i

6. In a laundry machineforwashing and spinning clothes, the combination of a tub, a basket rotatable therein, first` means for resiliently supporting the tub so that the axis of rotation of thebasket is. arranged at-an acute-angle-to the vertical during spinning periods, second means including the first meansA for resilientlyfsupporting theV tub so that the` axis of rotation of the basket is arranged at a greater angle to the vertical during washing periods, and means for rotating the basket at relatively low speedfor washing the fabrics and for .rotating the basket at relatively `high speed for spinning iiuid from the fabrics. e

7. Amachine for cleaning fabrics andl for centrifuging'fiuid therefrom, as claimed in claim 16, whereinsaid angular movement of the axis of the basket between the first and second positions thereof isless than 45. l l

8. A machine for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging fluid therefrom, as claimed in claim 16, wherein said angular movementcf the axis of the basket between the first and second positions thereof is of the order of 4.

9.` A machine for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging fluid therefrom, as claimed inl claim 16, wherein the axis of rotation of the basket is disposed at an angle of the order of 26 inclination from the horizontal in said first position of the axis and of the order of 30 inclination from the horizontal in said second position of the axis.

ally forwardly and upwardly from the end wall 10. In a machine for washing fabrics and the like and for extractingfiuid therefrom, the combination of a tub, acontainer for the clothes disposed in the tub, said container having an axis of revolution, means for driving the container, means for resiliently supporting the con-` tainer and the tubl as a unitary structure with the axis of the container disposed at an acute angle above the horizontal during extractingV periods, and additional supporting means cooperating with the first supporting means during washing periods of the machine for changing the angular disposition of the container.

11. In a machine for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging cleaning fluid therefrom, the combination of a container for a body of cleaning fluid and the fabrics to be treated, said container having an axis about which the container is angularly movable and said axis being movable from a first position arranged at an acute angle to the vertical to a second position arranged at a lesser acute angle to the vertical, said container including an end wall and a side wall connected to the end wall, said side Wall extending genercontainer angularly about its axis at relatively low frequency in the presence of said body of fiuidfor cleaning the fabrics and in the absence of the body of fluid for collecting the fabrics in circular formation on said end wall of the container, means for rotating the container about its axis at relatively high speed for centrifuging fluidfrom the fabrics, and adjustable means supporting said container with its axis in said first position during cleaning periods, said supporting means being rendered active at the conclusion of the cleaning period for adjusting said axis from said rst position to said second position so that movement of thefabrics toward said end wall for collection thereon is facilitated and for the centrifuging of fluid from the fabrics.

12'. In a machine for cleansing fabrics, thei combination of a basket for containing cleaning fluid and the fabrics'to be treated, said basket having an axis of rotation and including axiallyspaced end walls .of relatively large and small diameter and a diverging side wall connecting the end walls, means for admitting cleaning fluid tothe basket yand for draining cleaning fluid from the basket, means for rotating said basket at relatively low speed in the presence of cleaning fluid for effecting the cleaning of the fabrics and in the absence of cleaning fluid for collecting the fabrics on the end wall of the basket of relatively small diameter, means for rotating the basket at relatively high speed for centrifuging uid from the fabrics, means for supporting the basket` during cleaning periods so that its axis is disposed at an acute angle to the vertical and with the large end wall of the basket disposed upwardly with respect to the small end wall thereof, vand means for moving the axis of the basket to a. second position disposed at an acute angle to the vertical subsequent to the cleaning of` rotation, means for admitting cleaning fluid tothe basket and for draining cleaning fluid from the basket, means for rotating the basket at relatively low speed in the presence of cleaning fluid for effecting the cleaning of the fabrics and in the absence of cleaning fluid for collecting` the fabrics in the portion of the basket of relatively small diameter, means for rotating the 4,basket at relatively high speed for centrifuging `fiuid from the fabrics, means for supporting the basket during cleaning periods with its axis disposed at an acute angle to the vertical and with that portion of the basket of relatively small diameter disposed lowermost with respect to the portion of the basket of large diameter and means for moving the axis of the basket to a second position arranged at an acute angle to the vertical subsequent to the cleaning period for facilitating movement of the fabrics toward the portion of the basket of smaller diameter and for centrifuging fluid from the fabrics.

14. In a machine for cleaning fabrics and forA extracting cleaning fluid therefrom, the combifor effecting movement nation of a basket for containing cleaning fluid and the fabrics to be treated, means for admitting fluid to the basket and for draining fluid therefrom, means for rotating the basket about its axis at relatively low and high speeds, means for supporting said basket so that its axis of rotation is movable between rst and second positions, both positions being angularly disposed the vertical, a control member movable to a plurality of stations, means responsive to movement of the control member to one of its stations for energizing the rotating means for slow speed rotation of the basket about its axis in the rst position, whereby cleansing of the fabrics in the cleaning fluid is effected, means responsive to movement of the control member to a second station for discharging fluid from the basket and of the axis of the basket to the second position, and means responsive to movement of the control member to a third station for effecting highk speed rotation of the basket with the axis thereof disposed in the second position.

15, In a machine for cleaning fabrics and for subsequently centrifuging cleaning fluid therefrom, the combination the axis of the container from one of its positions to another.

16. In a machine for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging fluid therefrom, the combination of a basket for containing cleaning fluid and the fabrics to be treated and having an axis of rotation,`means for rotating the basket about its axis at relatively low\ and high speeds, means for supporting said basket so that its axis of rotation is movable between centrifuging the fabrics.

17. Ina machine for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging cleaning fluid therefrom, the combination of a container for the fabrics having an axis about which angular movement of the contalner is effected, means for supporting the container so that its axisis disposed in a rst position arranged at an acute angle from the vertical during cleaning perods and in a second position arranged at a lesser acute angle from the ver- `relatively large diameter and said portions of large diameter being disposedupwardly with the container at relatively speed about its axis when ed in said second position for