US2447848A

US2447848A - Cleaning and centrifuging apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2447848A
Application number: US621275A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hilbert E Edwards
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1945-10-09
Filing date: 1945-10-09
Publication date: 1948-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1965-08-24

Description

Aug. 24, 1948. H. E. EDWARDS 2,447,848

' CLEANING AND CENTRIFUGING APFARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1945 FIG. 1.

w ESSES: INVENTOR I E HILBERT E.EDNARDS mum i WM ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1948 2,447,848 CLEANING AND CENTRIFUGING APPARATUS Hilbert E. Edwards, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to V Westinghouse-Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 9, 1945, Serial No. 521,275

a subsequent to thecleaning of the fabrics, wherein the acceleration of the basket is readily effected even though the voltage of the circuit energizing the motor is below normal.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate acceleration of an electrically driven basket of a washing and centrifuging machine.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a washing and centrifuging machine constructed and ar-, ranged in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the electrical connections for the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawing, I have shown my invention applied to a washing machine of the type having a water-containing tub Ill within which a cylindrical basket structure II is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. The front of the tub I is provided with an access opening 12 which registers with an access opening l3 formed in the basket H, and a hinged gasketed door l2a closes the opening l2. The basket ii is provided with a plurality of vanes l4 for agitating the clothes in the body of wash water during slow speed operation of the basket, as is well understood. The side of the basket H is perforate throughout substantially its extent. a few of the perforations being shown at ii. The basket II is rotated at high speed in the absence of a body of fluid in the tub ill for centrifuging cleaning fluid from the fabrics.

The basket II is carried by a shaft l6- which is rotatable at low and high speeds 'by an adjustable two-speed mechanism l'l carried by the end wall of the tub ID, The two-speed mechanism il may be constructed in any well-understood manner and has not been shown in detail since mechanisms of this type are well understood in the art. In this connection, a suitable mechanism of this type is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,284,047, granted May 26, 1942. The mechanism I1 is adiusted for high and. low speed rotation of the shaft It by means of an electromagnet II, which,

2 when deenergized, provides for low speed operation of the basket ii and, when energized, effects high speed operation of the basket. The twospeed mechanism I1 is driven by a sheave l9 belted, as shown at 2i, to the pulley 22 of an electric motor 22.

Water is admitted to the tub Ill through a conduit 24 under control of an electrically-operated inlet valve 25. 25 is connected to a thermostatically-controlled water mixing valve 28 which is supplied with hot and cold water through conduits 21 and 28. It will be understood that th mixing valve 28 is manually adjustable to provide different temperatures of wash water. A water mixing valve of the type shown at 26'is disclosed and claimed in the patent of Frank Breckenridge, No. 2,296,- 266, granted September 22, 1942.

Vitiated water is discharged from the tub ll through a drain conduit 29 by means of a pump 3| driven by the motor 23, Flow of Water from the tub Iii to the conduit 29 is controlled by an electrically-operated drain valve 32.

The electric motor 23, the inlet and

drain valves

25 and 32, respectively, and the speed-change magnet I! are energized and deenergized sequentially by means of a timer, generally shown at 33, to provide a predetermined sequence of steps in a washing and centrifuging program. The electrical connections between the timer 33 and the various devices controlled thereby are shown in Fig. 2.

The motor 23 which I have disclosed is of the split phase, squirrel cage type and includes a rotor .35 and main and starting

windings

36 and 31, respectively. The main winding is connected to terminals 38 and 39 and is provided with a tap 4i which divides the winding 36 into

sections

42 and 43. Accordingly, two running windings or circuits are provided, the first including both

sections

42 and 43 in series and the second including the section 42 only. When both sections are energized the motor develops a predetermined torque, and when the section 42 only is energized, the motor provides higher torque due to the reduced impedance of the running'winding and higher current therein which produces a stronger rotating field. The motor 23, as explained hereinafter, is operated at high torque during acceleration of the basket ii in order to reduce the period of acceleration. This feature is particularly desirable where low voltage conditions are encountered. The starting winding 31,

is controlled in conventional manner by a centrif,- ugal switch 4'4 which is open when the speed of The upstream side Of'the valve 3 the rotor II is above a predetermined value and closed at other times.

The timer 33 includes a relatively small clock type motor ll for driving, through a speed-reducing mechanism II, a plurality of cam operating switches by means of a shaft 41. One of the switches is of the double-pole, double-throw type including a first pair of contacts II and a second pair of contacts I which are selectively bridged by a bridging member ii, the latter being actuated by a cam 52. Energization of the speed change magnet II is controlled by a switch ll operated by a cam N. Energization of the inlet valve 28 is controlled by a switch ll operated by a cam 58 and connected in series with a float switch I! which is open when a predetermined quantity of water is contained within the tub I I and closed at other times. The float switch I1 is shown in Fig. 1 connected to the lowermost portion of the tub Ill. As the construction and operation of float-operated switches of the type shown at I! are well understood in the art, no further description of the same is deemed necessary, Energization of the discharge valve 82 is controlled by a switch ll operated by a cam II. The shaft 41 and the cams carried thereby may be manually-advanced by a knob Ii in order to initiate operation of the washing apparatus and to determine the duration of the washing period, as is well understood. The cam shaft 41 is movable at all times in the direction of the arrow in Pig. 2, whether driven by the motor ll or manually actuated by the handle I. The source of power for the apparatus is indicated by the line conductors Ll and In.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is in the "off" position wherein all the electrical translating devices are deenergized. In this position, the bridging member Bi is maintained in an "open" position intermediate the pairs of contacts ll and II.

In initiating a washing and centrifuging program, the clothes to be washed are deposited in the basket H with a suitable detergent and the handle II is moved slightly in the direction of the arrow, whereupon the bridging member Ii bridges the contacts 4| and the switch II is closed. Accordingly, both

sections

42 and 43 of the motor are energized in series by a circuit extending from the line conductor L1 and including the terminals 88, sections of the winding 42 and N, terminal 8!, one contact 4|, bridging member II, and conductor II to the line conductor L2. The motor, at this time, develops its lower torque which is sufficient to operate the basket at low speed, it being understood that the speed change magnet is deenergized at this time. The timer motor 4| is energized by a circuit including line conductor In, timer motor 48, a conductor "a, the other contact ll, bridging member 8i, and line conductor L2. The closing of the switch ll by its cam ll energizes the inlet valve 25 so,that water at a temperature determined by the thermostatic valve 28 is admitted to the washer. When the proper amount of water is contained in the tub II, the float switch 51 is opened for deenergizing the inlet valve II. The washer now operates for a predetermine period of time, depending upon how far the shaft 41 is advanced manually to complete the washing operation. At the conclusion of the washing operation, the drain valve I! is opened by the closing of the camoperated switch 8| so that the vitiated washing illuid is discharged to drain by means of the Pump After the water has been discharged, the high speed solenoid II is energized for a period of time, for example, of a minute to 1% minutes, by the closing of the switch II. Accordingly, a substantial portion of the water contained in the fabrics is centrifuged therefrom and is discharged by the pump ll. Simultaneously, with the closing of the switch ll, the bridging member II is disengaged from the contacts do and is moved into engagement with the contacts ll. Accordingly, the section ll only of the running winding I. is energized through the tap Ii and, as explained heretofore, the torque of the motor is increasedto rapidly accelerate the basket II to its centrifuging speed. Operation of the timer motor II is continued as the conductor "a is also connected to one of the contacts II. The centrifuging, at this time, is of relatively short duration, for example, to 1% minutes, at the conclusion of which the speed change magnet II is deenergized by the opening of the switch I8 and, at the same time, the bridging member II is disengaged from the contacts II and moved into engagement with the contacts II for energizing both

sections

42 and 48 of the running winding I. At the same time, the inlet valve 2| is opened by the closing of the switch II, it being understood at this time that the float switch I! is also closed. The water admitted to the tub it, at this time, is for an agitating rinse which is carried out for a period of about five minutes and at the conclusion of which the drain valve I! is energized by the closing of the switch ll. Accordingly, the rinse water is dicharged from the tub by the pump II.

After the rinse water is discharged from the tub, the high speed solenoid is again energized by the closing of the switch ll and the bridging member II is moved into engagement with the contacts 48. Accordingly, the motor is again energized through the tap II to provide high torque operation. The basket is now accelerated to its high centrifuging speed and is operated at high speed for about five minutes and rinse water is centrifuged from the clothes and discharged by the pump Ii. If desired, the motor 23 may be energized through its high torque tap connection 4| throughout the centrifuging period, but preferably the high torque connection is employed only during the period required to accelerate the basket. As shown, the bridging member is shifted from its position in engagement with contacts 49 after about to 1% minutes operation at the beginning of the final centrifuging period. At the conclusion of the centrifuging period, the various cams are moved to the position shownln the drawing, wherein all switches are open, the bridging member ll being moved to its position intermediate its contacts II and 49. The apparatus is now inactive, and the cleansed and centrifuged fabrics may be removed from the basket I I.

In the construction of a domestic automatic washer of the type shown herein, I have employed a standard horsepower split-phase washing machine motor frame provided with a running winding tapped to provide high torqueoperation during acceleration of the basket. I have found that the periods of acceleration of the basket are substantially reduced with a normal potential of 115 volts and that satisfactory acceleration may be accomplished with voltages as low as volts, the temperaturerise in the motor being maintained within allowable limits prescribed for a motor for this Class of service. My invention games 5 contemplates the use of motors, other than the type shown, arranged, however, for periodic high torque operation.

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.

What I claim is:

i. In apparatus for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging cleaning fluid therefrom, the combination of means for cleaning the fabrics, means for centrifuging cleaning fluid from the fabrics, a motor for driving, alternatively, the cleaning means and the centrifuging means. said motor having first and second circuits energized for effecting, respectively, relatively low and high torque operation of the motor, a control mechanism movable to one station for connecting said cleaning means to the motor, said control mechanism being movable to second and third stations for connecting said centrifuging means to the motor, said centrifuging means being accelerated by the motor when the control mechanism is dispoud in its second station and driven by the motor for a centrifuging operation when the control mechanism is disposed in its third station, means controlled by the control mechanism and responsive to movement thereof to said second station for energizing said second circuit and means controlled by the control mechanism and responsive to movement thereof to said first and third stations for energizing said first circuit.

2. In apparatus for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging cleaning fluid therefrom, the combination of means for cleaning the fabrics, means for centrifuging cleaning fluid from the fabrics, a motor for driving, alternatively, the cleaning means and the centrifuging means, said motor having flrst and second circuits energized for effecting. respectively, relatively low and high torque operation of the motor. a control member ,movable to respective stations for sequentially m h sl g u a d the c trifuging means to said motor, means responsive to second circuit.

3. In apparatus for cleaning fabrics and for centrifuging cleaning fluid therefrom, the combination of a container for a body of cleaning fluid and the fabrics to betreated. a perforate basket arranged within the container for enclosing the fabrics, a two speed transmission for rotating the basket, means for adjusting the transmission for rotation of the basket at relatively low and high speeds for respectively cleaning the fabrics and centrifuging fluid from the fabrics, a motor for driving said mechanism and having first and second windings for respectively providing low and high torque operation of the motor, a timing device controlling said adjusting means to provide alternative operation of the basket at said low and high speeds, and means actuated by the timing device for sequentially eflecting energization of the first and second windings, said timing device effecting energization of the first winding during low speed operation of the basket and effecting energimtion of the second winding for a predetermined period of time when said adjusting means is adjusted for high speed operation of the basket.

HIL'BIRT I. mwarme.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the a file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS