GB647439A - Improvements in washing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

In a machine wherein articles to be cleaned are placed in a rotatable drum 3 mounted on a shaft 1 in a casing 2, washing liquid <PICT:0647439/III/1> <PICT:0647439/III/2> <PICT:0647439/III/3> is sprayed continuously on to the articles from a plurality of orifices 45 provided in washing liquid supply pipes 43 secured to the internal surface of the peripheral wall of the drum and in the shaft 1 or in further supply pipes 43 secured to and extending longitudinally along, the shaft between the end walls of the drum, and soiled liquid continuously drains from the drum into the casing through a plurality of apertures 17 in the drum. The shaft may be solid (Fig. 1), or hollow (Fig. 6). In one example (Figs. 1 and 2), the shaft 1 has longitudinal grooves 41 in one end and liquid entering a cavity 39 through a pipe 40 passes along these grooves to a further cavity 42 whence it passes to the pipes 43. The rotary drum is divided by means of partitions 28 into three or more compartments 25, 26, 27, access to which is through doors 31, 32 or alternatively through doors in the perforated wall 16 of drum 3 and a door in the portion 8 of the casing 2. The pipes 43 extend across the shaft 1 and are covered by shields 46 between bosses 22, 23 to which the end plates 18, 19 of the drum are bolted or welded. The shields prevent clothes becoming trapped between the pipes and the shaft. The pipes 43 also extend across the end plate 19 and then inside hollow beaters 44 mounted on the drum partitions 28 and/or the inner surface of wall 16. Weighted explosion doors 51 are provided where an inflammable washing liquid is used. The washing drum is preferably driven by a reversible electric motor and may also be rotated at high speed for drying. In a modification, Fig. 3 (not shown), the shaft 1 has a portion of reduced diameter instead of the grooves 41 of Fig. 1. In Fig. 6 the drum 3 is mounted on a hollow shaft 55 having a series of orifices 57 and pipes 43 lead the washing liquid to hollow beaters 44. In alternative constructions the drum rotates on a stationary shaft and the pipes 43 enter a housing which rotates with the drum and is in communication with the shaft interior.