US1005093A

US1005093A - Automatic controlling means for washing-machines.

Info

Publication number: US1005093A
Authority: US
Inventors: George Wilson
Original assignee: AUTOMATIC LAUNDRY APPLIANCE Co
Current assignee: AUTOMATIC LAUNDRY APPLIANCE Co
Priority date: 1911-07-27
Filing date: 1911-07-27
Publication date: 1911-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1928-10-03

Description

G. WILSON.

AUTOMATIG GONTROLLING MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1909. RENEWED JULY 27, 1911.

1,005,093. Patented 0013,1911

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AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1909. RENEWED JULY 27. 1911.

1,0 O5,093, Patented Oct 3, 1911.

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all whom it may concern:

' STATES PATENT OFFICE."

GEORGE WILSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC'LAUNDRY APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING MEANS FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

Application filed July 27, 1909, Serial No. 509,881. Renewed July 27, 1911. Serial No. 640,955.

' "*Be it .knownthat I, Gnonon WILSON, of Boston,.in the county of Suflolk' and'State of Massachusetts, have invented certain' newand useful Improvements in Automatic Controlling Means for Washing-Machines, of which the followmg is a specification.

This invention relates to washing ma-- chinesof the type commonly employed by laundries for Washing clothes in large quantities. Many machines of this type, hitherto used, have been without means for measuring the quantities of washing, bluing, and rinsing fluids; and have been without means for measuring the periods of operation of the machine, without means for notifying the attendant when a pre-determined period of time has elapsed, without means for antomatically discontinuing the operation of the machine, and without means for automatically opening the discharge conduit through which the fluid in the machine may ass. p When diflerent lots of articles are washed by machinery, it is impossible to supply them with equal quantities of washing, bluing and rinsing fluids, and to time the washing,

bluing and rinsing operations accurately without employing automatic devices for measuring the fluids and the periods of operation. An attendant frequently has the supervision of several washing machines, and it is impossible for one to operate all so as to give all of the lots of articlesequal supplies of Washing, bluing or rinsingfluids, and equal periods of immersion therein. For example: the attendant may be delayed for an unusually long period at one machine, as a result of which the periods of time during which other machines are in operation may be prolonged beyond the desired point. These inequalities in the supply of the several fluids and in the periods of operation result in difi'erences in the appear ance of the several lots when finished. The

differences are especially objectionable when the articles of one owner are divided in several lots, of which one lot is washed, blued and rinsed to a greater degree than the others.

This invention seeks to overcome these objections by providing automatic means for measuring predetermined quantities of the several fluids, for measuring the periods of time for operating the machines, and for giving a signal, disconnecting the power, and or opening an outlet through which. the fluid 1n. the machines may be discharged when a predetermined period of operation has elapsed. The signal may be operated in any manner desired, and may give warning by a visible index or by sound.

One advantage of providing automatic means for performing these functions is that a uniform result is obtained whereby the articles may all be treated alike.

Another advantage is that the" periods of operation are terminated without any action on the part of the attendant and that the attendant is notified when each operation is finished, and is thereby enabled to discharge his duties accordingly.

Means for controlling the supply of fluid embraces two elements. It is customary with work of this'character to supply clear water, either hot or cold, to the machine through a supply pipe, and to supply a secondary fluid, such as soap in liquid form, bluing, bleaching fluid or sour as the case may be. The secondary fluid in each case is usually poured into the machine without regard to the supply of water. Careless attendants sometimes pour in the secondary fluid before the full quantity of water is sup plied, with the result that the articles in the machine receive the secondary fluid in its concentrated form. Those articles which are thus touched by the secondary fluid are treated to a greater extent than those which receive the secondary fluid only after it has become diluted by the water.

According to the present invention, ama-- chine is provided with separate supply pipes, one for water, and the other for a' secondary fluid. The supply pipe for the water may receive its supply from a water main, a boiler or some other reservoir as desired. Automatic mechanism is provided for closing the water supply pipe after a predetermlned fluid includes a small reservoir-closely associated with the machine and of such pro-.

portion as to contain a single charge. The.

supply pipe between the secondary reservoir and the machine is'initially closed and is automatically opened only when the supply of water is closed. By reason of con: trolling the supplies of water and secondary fluid in this order, all danger of subjecting quantity has been supplied. The means for supplying the secondary the articles to the secondary fluid in its concentrated form is avoided. The means for automatically disconnecting the power and for opening the discharge pipe of the machine is controlled by timing mechanism which may also I. control 'signaling means. The timing mechanism in turn is controlled by the means which automatically closes the water-supply pipe, wherebythe period of operation begins not when water 15 first supplied to the machine, but when the supply is discontinued and the secondary fluld is admitted.

' Qf the accompanying drawings, which vertical section of a valve for one of the v represents a section on line 4-4 of branches of the water-supply pipe. I.lfig. 4:

1g. 1. Fig. 5represents an elevation of a portion of one form of timing mechanism. Fig. 6 represents a vertical section of a discharge valve for controlling the discharge from the machine. Fig. 7 represents a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

Fig. 1 illustrates in a general way a cylindrical washing machine of usual construction. It is customary to provide machines for this purpose with an outer shell or casing 10, and with a container 11, rotatablymounted within the casing, for containing the articles to be washed, blued, rinsed or bleached. The container is usually formed with apertures 12 or other open ings through which fluid may pass from the casing. The ends of the container are usually provided with trunnions 13 which are mounted in bearings in the ends of the casing 10 and of which one is driven for the purpose of revolving the container first in one direction and then in the other so as to agitate the articles in the fluid.

14 indicates a supply pipe'eonnected to the casing for supplyin water thereto. The

.supply pipe may inc ude a plurality of branches 14', one for a cold water and one for hot water. A third branch (not shown) is sometimes provided for supplying steam. Each of the branches 14 is provided with a valve 15, said valves being independently operative. A valve appropriate for the purpose is illustrated in detail by Fig. 3, in which 15 represents avalve casing and in which 16 represents agate adapted to open and close the flow passage. In this form of valve, the gate is'attached to the free end of a lever 17 aflixed upon one end of a valve stem' 18. The valve stem extends through the casing and has a handle 19 aflixed upon its outer end. The handle here shown is in the form of a lever. The valves of the several branches are preferably arranged in one and the same plane as shown by Fig. 1, so that they can be operated in unison by automatic means for closing them. The means here shown for closing the valves includes the sliding bar 20, mounted in bearings 21, and provided with pins or projections 22 adapted to engage the {handles 19. Aspring 23 is connected to the bar 20 in such a way as to move the bar to the left and thereby close the valves. It is obvious that the pins 22 are adapted to close only the valves which may be open. The

bar 20 is provided with a shoulder 24 which is adapted to engage and cooperate with a latch 25 by which the bar may be held in retracted position. The latch-has the form of a lever and is connected to a float by which it may be raised to release he bar. The latch or lever'is pivoted at 26 'and its free end is connected to the upper end of a two-part telescopic rod including the outer sleeve 27 and the inner member28. The lower end of the member carries' a float 29 which isadapted to rise and fall in a float chamber 30. The chamber is connected by a pipe-31 with the supply pipe 14 whereby the supply of water may rise in the chamber to the same level as in the casing 10 The pipe 31 might be connected-directly to the easing with the same effect. The upper end of the rod 28 is provided with a pin 32 which is arranged to slide in a slot 33 formed in the sleeve 27.

Notches

34, 35 and 36 are formed in the sleeveso as to join the slot 33. The pin 32 may-be placed in any of the notches, and in this way the length of the two-part connecting rod may be varied so as to support the float at difii'erent heights. The float rod is supported by the lever 25 and the lever is in turn supported by the sliding bar 20. When the supply of fluid rises sutficiently to give buoyancy to the float, the lever 25 is raised and the bar 20, if previously held in retracted position, is released so that it may close such valves as may be open. In this way, the supply of water is automatically controlled.

40 indicates a reservoir provided for the purpose of containing a charge of secondary fluid. The reservoir is connected to the easing 10 by a pipe 41 and it is arranged above the maximum level of the fluid in the casing 10, so that its contents may flow by ravity into the casing. A valve 12 is provided for closing the outlet of the reservoir 40, said valve being provided with a stem 43 by which it may be opened. The means here shown for automatically opening the valve 42 comprises a bell crank 44 pivoted at 45 and arranged to be engaged by a finger 46 projecting from the sliding bar 20. The arrangement of the bell crank and the finger 46 with relation to the pins 22 is such that the valve 42 is opened when the bar 20 is moved to close the valves 15. It will be ob served that the entire contents of the reser voir 40 may be discharged when the valves 15 are closed.

As hereinbefore stated, it is usual to provide power-transmitting mechanism for rotating the container 11 first in one direction and then in the other direction. This method of operating the container may be disregarded for the purpose of explaining the present invention, inasmuch as it has no particular bearing. For this reason, the drawings include only so much of the powertransmitting mechanism as isrequired to show that the container may be rotated. The form of power-transmitting mechanism commonly used includes a prime power shaft 50, provided with a tight pulley 51, and loose pulleys 52 one on either side of the tight pulley. A pair of

belts

53 and 54 is provided for driving the tight pulley in either one direction or the other. Some form of beltshifting mechanism is usually provided for causing first one belt and then the other to engage the tight pulley, but the mechanism for this purpose is intentionally omitted for the sake of clearer illustration. The power shaft 50 may be provided with a gear 55 internieshing with a gear 56 loosely mounted upon one of the trunnions 13 of the container. The hub of the gear 56 is here shown as one part of a driving clutch of'which the other part is a sleeve 57 splined upon the trunnion so as to be movable toward and from the hub and to transmit rotation to the trunnion. In this way, power is transmitted from the shaft 50 to the container. The

belts

53 and 54 are presumably driven continuously and power may be connected with or disconnected from the container by moving the sleeve 57 toward or from the hub of the gear 56. Automatic means is provided whereby the power of the continuously rotating gear 56 may be employed for disconnecting the clutch and for opening a valve 58 for controlling a discharge pipe 59 at the bottom of the casing 10. The sleeve 57 is formed with a groove 57 adapted to receive a yoke 60 formed at one end of a lever 61. The lever is pivoted at 62 in a bracket 63 affixed to one end of the casing 10. The other end of the lever 61 is connected by a rod 64 to one end of a bell crank 65 pivoted at 66 in the bracket 63. The other arm of the bell crank 65 carries a lever 67 pivoted at 68. As shown by Fig. 7, the lever is adapted to swing between guides 6: affixed to the bracket 63. One end of the lever 67 carries a wheel or roll 70 which is adapted to coiiperate with a cam or projection 71 formed on or otherwise attached to the gear 56. The other end of the lever 67 coiiperates with means whereby the wheel 70 may be moved to and from the path of the cam 71. \Vhen the wheel lies in the path of the cam, it is adapted to be displaced so as to move the lever 67 and swing the bell crank 65 about its pivot. In this way, the clutch lever 61 may be actuated to retract the sleeve 57 so as to disconnect the gear 56 from the trunnion. The bell crank 65 is also connected to one end of a. rod 72 of which the other end is pivotally connected to an arm 73 attached to the valve 58. As shown by Fig. 6, the valve is adapted to be opened by swinging the arm 73 about its axis. In this way the discharge pipe 59 may be opened simultaneously when disconnecting the power-transmitting mechanism, and the power for actuating the valve, and the clutch sleeve is supplied by the power-transmitting mechanism. The application of the power is, however, controlled by automatic means which in this form of the invention is operated by an electro-magnet 74.

The lever 67 is embraced by two pins 75 affixed to the core or armature 76 of the electro-magnet .74., which, as here shown, is of the solenoid type. The outer end of the core is arranged to slide in a bearing 77. The electrical circuit for operating the electro-magnet includes a source of current 78, a signal 79, timing mechanism 80, the elec tro-magnet 74, and a switch 81. The timing mechanism is here shown as a clock movement and includes a time switch of which is a stationary contact and 83 a movable contact adapted to cooperate therewith. The stationary contact 82 is insulated from the timing mechanism which is inserted between the conductors S4 and 85, by which the source of current, the signal, the switch 81, and the electro-magnet 74 are included in series. The movable contact 83 serves two other purposes. It is aflixed to the central arbor 86 of the timing mechanism and is therefore adapted to serve as a handle for winding a spring 87 by which the train of gears of the timing mechanism may be driven. In addition to serving as a handle for winding the spring, the movable contact is adapted to cooperate with a dial 88 with which the timing mechanism is provided. The escapement for the timing mechanism is indicated as a whole in Fig. 5 at 89. 90 indicates a stop pin affixed to an arm 91 and adapted to engage the escapement 89 and render it inoperative. The stop arm 91 is pivoted at 92 and is engaged by a spring 93 which tends to hold the stop in operative position in engagement with the escapement. The free end of the arm 91 is arranged to be engaged by a projection on the sliding bar 20. According to &

In preparing the machine for an operation,

itis necessary to close the. discharge valve 58 and to close the secondary valve 49.. After the articles have been placed in the contalner 11, and the casing, which is provided with a.

door (not shown), is closed, the bar 20 may be retracted until the shoulder 2i is engaged and held-by the latch 25. The discharge valve 58 may be closed and the powertransmitting mechanism may at the. same time be connected by manually moving the lever 61 so as to place the sleeve 57 in cooperative engagement with the gear 56. The casing 10 is 110w ready to receive. the desired fluid which may be either for a washing, bluing, rinsing or bleaching operation. Either or both of the valves 15 may then be manually opened and the float may be adjusted to the desired height by placing the pin 32 in the appropriate notch in the sleeve 27. For a washing operation, the pin is usually placed in the lowest notch; for a bluing operation it is usually placed in the next notch; and for a rinsing operation it is placed. in the highestnotch. The placing of the pin determines the level to which the supply of fluid may rise before releasing the bar 20. The reservoir 46, which is now closed by its valve42, may receive a charge of concentrated washing, bluing, bleaching or other secondary fluid to be admitted to the casing after the predetermined quantity of 'ater has been supplied. Having provided the secondary fluid, the attendant may move the handle 83' in a clockwise direction to a point on the ,dial corresponding to the length of time desired for the operation. The central arbor, to which the handle is aflixed, carries a ratchet wheel 9% which cooperates with a pawl 95 on the master gear of the timing mechanism. The timing mechanism atthis time is rendered inoperative by the action of the stop 90 and the handle 83 is therefore held stationary so long as the escapement 89 is engaged by the stop. After having placed the handle at the desired point, the attendant may close the switch 81 and leave the machine to be thereafter controlled by the sev eral automatic devices hereinbefore. described. \Vhen the supply of water reaches the desired height, the float is lifted and the bar 20 is released, whereupon the open branch or branches of the supply pipell are closed. The finger -16 on the bar 20 engages the bell crank 44 and the stop arm 91, thereby opening the supply pipe for the secondary fluid and thereby releasing the timing mechanism. The secondary fluid continues to flow intothe casing until the reservoir 40 is entirely discharged, and the timing mechanism thereupon drives the escapement and moves the contact. 83 in a counter-clockwise direction until it engages the stationary contact 82. Upon engaging the stationary contact, the circuit is closed through the timing mechanism, thereby completing the electrical circuit by which the signal 79 and the electro-magnet 74 are operated. The electromagnet swings the lever (37 so as to place the wheel in the path of the cam 71, and upon engagement of the wheel by the cam, the lever (37 is displaced thereby swinging the bell crank (35 to open the discharge valve and disconnect the clutch as hereinbet'ore described: The container 11 thereupon comes to a state of rest and the contents of the easing 10 is permitted to flow out through the discharge pipe 59. The operation is thus completed after the lapse of a predetermined period of time, and the attendant may subsequently remove the articles from the container whenever it is convenient. Another advantage of the movable contact 83 cooperating with the dial 88 is that the attendant, in passing to and fro from one machine to another, may observe the progress of the several machines and is thereby enabled to gage his several duties so that they may be performed in the most expeditious order. For a rinsing operation, it is obvious that no secondary fluid is required, and it is therefore immaterial whether the valve 42 be open or closed, provided no secondary fluid is contained in the reservoir 40.

It is proposed to provide timing mechanism of such proportions that the central arbor 86 shall be revolved at the rate of one revolution per hour, and to provide the ratchet 9+ with twelve equi-distant teeth. Each tooth would therefore represent five minutes, and the pawl 95 would be adapted to hold the handle 83 at any position representing a multiple of five. If the handle should be moved past the desired point, it would return ,to that point unless it be moved so far as to include the next higher multiple of five. Inequalities in timing successive operations may thus be avoided.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention, and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth. all of the forms in which itmay be made or all of the modes of its use, what- I claim is:

1. The combination with a washing machine, of means for supplying fluid thereto, power-transmitting means, and means actuated by the fluid for disconnecting the power-transmitting means.

2. The combination with a washing machine, of means for supplying fluid thereto, discharging means, powertransmitting means, and means actuated by the fluid for operating the discharging means and disconnecting the power-transmitting means.

3. The combination with a Washing machine, of power-transmitting means including a continuously rotating member and a disconnectible member, a discharge valve, means including a retractable member adapted to be actuated by said continuously rotating member for opening the discharge valve and retracting said disconnectible member, and automatic means for moving said retractable member to operative position.

4. The combination with a fluid container of means for supplying fluid thereto, discharging means for the container, and automatic means actuated by the fluid for stopping the supply and for operating the discharging means.- ,7

5. The combination with a fluid container of means for supplying a primary fluid thereto, stationary means for supplying a secondary fluid thereto, and automatic means for closing the primary supply means and opening the secondary supply means.

6. The .combination with a fluid container of meansfor supplying a primary fluid thereto, means for supplying a secondary fluid thereto, and automatic means actuated by the primary fluid for closing the primary supply means and opening the secondary supply means.

7. The combination with a fluid container of means for supplying a primary fluid thereto, means for supplying asecondary fluid thereto, discharging means for the container, and automatic means actuated by the primary fluid for closing the primary supply means and opening the secondary supply means, and for opemng the discharging means after the closing of the primary supply means.

8. A laundry apparatus, comprising a washing machine, means for supplying the fluid thereto, power-transmitting means for operating the machine, and automatic means for stopping the supply and for disconnecting said power-transmitting means.

9. A laundry apparatus, comprising a washing machine, means for supplying fluid thereto, discharging means for the machine, power-transmitting means for operating the machine, and automatic means for stopping the supply and for operating said discharging means and disconnecting said power transmitting means.

10. A laundry apparatus, comprising a washing machine, means for supplying fluid thereto, discharging means for the machine, power-tran'smitting means for operating the machine, a signal, and automatic means for stopping the supply and for operating the signal and discharging means, and disconnecting the power-transmitting means.

11. A laundry apparatus, comprising a washing machine, means for supplying a primary fluid to the machine, means for supplying a secondary fluid to the machine, discharging means for the machine, and automatic means for closing the primary supply means and opening the secondary supply means, and for opening the discharging means.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE WILSON.

Witnesses:

W. P. ABELL, P. PEzzn'raI.