GB628142A - Improvements in washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A washing machine comprises a centrally-driven vibrating diaphragm completely immersed in a cleansing fluid and adapted to propagate discrete pressure waves through the fluid and immersed articles at frequencies within the audible range. As shown in Fig. 3, a diaphragm 12 is vibrated through a centrally-connected rod 11 at twice the supply frequency by an armature 32 of an electromagnet which comprises E-shaped stampings 18 and a coil 19 and is connected to A. C. supply mains through a control switch. The diaphragm is dimensioned so that it is resonant at the supply frequency. The electromagnet is mounted in a casing 10 having an integral handle 14 and a clamping screw 16 to attach the device to a bucket or sink so that the diaphragm is completely immersed in the cleansing liquid. The housing also contains two lead weights to add mass and absorb heat from the coil 19. The underside of the housing 10 is closed by a <PICT:0628142/IV (c)/1> <PICT:0628142/IV (c)/2> dished cover 28 which carries a resiliently mounted bearing 31 for the driving rod 11. The diaphragm is adjustably connected to the driving rod 11 and is clamped between two plates 35 which are attached to three legs 13 resiliently connected to the housing 10. Each resilient connection comprises a sleeve 42 with a rubber bush 38 at its lower end through which the leg 13 passes and a rubber block 37 bonded to screws 27, 29 for attachment to the housing 10 and the upper ends of the legs. The blocks 37 attenuate vibrations from the diaphragm. The device is attached to lavatory basins as shown in Fig. 5 by means of rubber suction cups 47 on telescopic rods 46 fixed to a framework 43 which can be clamped in any suitable position on the sleeves 42 by a camshaped handle 45.