GB949845A - Improvements in washing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

949, 845. Washing machines. JAMES ARMSTRONG & CO. Ltd. Sept. 29, 1961 [July 27, 1960], No. 26111/60. Heading D1A. A washing machine comprises a horizontal rotatable container with an access opening at one end and means for tilting the container upwardly and downwardly. In each of three embodiments described the container is a perforated cylinder housed and is housed in a coaxial fluid-tight cylindrical casing. In one embodiment (Fig. 1) the casing 1 is rigidly mounted in a frame 2 having a convexo-cylindrical under surface 4 resting on a fixed base 5. The frame is tilted by a fluid-operated jack 6 and is prevented from sliding by rollers 16, 17 acting against guide members 18, 19 attached to the base 5. The frame is kept in a horizontal position by an arm 14 of a bell-crank lever 12 bearing on the base 5, as shown, whilst the jack 6 is operated to apply a downward force to the frame. When the container is to be tilted upwardly the bell-crank lever is rotated clockwise by a jack 10 to bring the arm 14 into a horizontal position (Fig. 2, not shown). A spring-loaded guard 20 may be provided at the front of the machine. In the second embodiment (Fig. 3) the container 1 is rigidly mounted in a frame 22 having trunnions 23, 24 resting in slots 25, 26 in the base 5. Fluidoperated jacks 27, 28 are provided to tilt the frame about either trunnion. Simultaneous operation of the jacks is prevented by spring loaded valves 29, 30 which are actuated by the trunnions through levers 31, 32. When the container is tilted upwardly valve 29 closes to cutoff the supply of pressure fluid to the jack 28; similarly, when the container is tilted downwardly the valve 30 closes to cut-off the supply of fluid to the jack 27. In the third embodiment (Fig. 5) the casing 1 is mounted in a rigid frame 5a by means of trunnions 43 and is tilted by fluid operated jacks 45, 46 having their cylinders coupled end-to-end. The jack 45 is normally extended, as shown, and is only retracted when the container is to be tilted upwardly (Fig. 7, not shown). The jack 46 has a shorter stroke and is normally retracted, as shown, being extended only when the container is to be tilted downwardly (Fig. 6, not shown). In all three embodiments, manually or power operated screw jacks may be used instead of the fluid-operated jacks; also, when the container is tilted downwardly its rotation may be continued to ensure that articles therein are completely ejected.