US1374202A - Heating unit for washing-machines - Google Patents

Description

UNITED 'STATES IRVIN E. HARRIS, OF EVANSTON, WYOMING.

HEATING UNIT FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lPatent-@d dpr. 12, 192i.

n Application filed January 11,1, 1920. Serial No. 351,467.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, IRVIN H. HARRIS, citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, State of l/Vyoming, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Heating Units for Vlashingachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in an electrical heating attachment for washing machines.

It is an object of the invention to provide a washing machine with a water heating attachment of a unit' construction that is adapted to be placed within a socket disposed in the washing-surface of the machine, and to be positively seated therein against dis lacement during the washing of materia s within the machine.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide a hea-ting device of the character described that is formed along its lsurface with a washing area conformingto the formation of the bottom of the washing machine, so that the application of the heating attachment does not sacrifice any of the necessary washing surface of the machine.

Structually speaking, the invention preferably comprises a washing machine formed in its bottom with a seat adapted to receive. an electrical heating unit covered with a corrugated member lying substantially flush with the corrugated surface of the washing machine. The unit is preferably permanently applied to and forms a part of the washing machine and is of such a strength as to withstand on its corrugated surface the necessary stresses incurred dun ing a scrubbing action. rl`his manifestly enables water to be heated in the machine when the same is in use without lessening 'the area of the washing surface.

While the unit is, as'before stated, usually permanently applied to the machine, the invention has in mind the provision of a unit which is complete in itself and may be readily applied to any of the machines now in use with little trouble, and may also be removed from such machines whenever desirable.

In the accompanying drawings l have shown the preferred embodiment of the in-i vention but this disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration and not for limitation and l wish it to be understood that ymany changes can be made without depart- In the drawings Figure l represents a plan view locking at the bottom of the washing machine;

F ig. 2- is a sectional View taken through the machine.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, the numeral l designates a washing machine which may be of any well known construction. The machine is provided with a hinged or removable top 2, to enable materials to be inserted therein and removed therefrom and a suitable bottom portion 3, the surface of which is formed with lateral corrugations 4. 'While lateral/corrugations are disclosed as constituting the washing surface it will be apparent that the surface of the machine may consist of raisedl washing elements of any desired configuration.

There is formed within the bottom of the machine a socket 5 constituting a countersunk pocket for receiving a heating element which is preferably of a unitary construction that is adapted to be applied to the machine. It is particularly desirable to heat the water while in the machine, thereby eliminating the trouble of carrying heated water from one point to another, and at the same time to prevent the heating element from lessening or decreasing the washing surface of the machine. `With this in mind there is disposed within the machine the electrical unit 5, having a heating plate S, of a fiat resisting formation seated upon the insulating plate 7. Arranged above the heating plate 6 are the relatively flat circular plates 8, 9 and l0 through which the heat developed radiates to the interior of the machine, thereby heating the water therein during the washing action, and maintaining the same in the proper heated condition. The plates are all preferably of a metallic constructionl and become very hot when electrical energy is introduced thereto through the conducting wires 11 extending from any suitable source of energy.

ln the drawings l have disclosed the heating unit as being of a circular formation, the different elements thereof being retained in position by the insulated confining ring 12 serving to not only retain such elements in theirproper association but to also sup-- port the unit in the pocket 5 against lateral dis lacement.

. highlyimportant feature of the present invention resides in the application of the plate 10 to the attachment, Which plate is' corrugated so as to conform to the corrugations 4 of the bottom of the Washing machine, and constitutes a Washing surface capable of withstanding any pressure placed thereon. It will be apparent that the .uti1ization of the heating plates does not sacrin lice any of theWaShing surface of the machine inasmuch as such plate is formed itself with a suitable Washing surface that may be of any configuration from which the most beneficial results can be secured.

It Will be understood that While l have disclosed a relatively flat resistance plate (3, to which the electrical energy is introduced, a coil or a like heating element may be employed in lieu of the resistance plate should this construction be found more desirable. However, the plate 6 adds to the strength of the unit and Where the same is to With.- stand a Washing pressure it is more desirable than he'ating coils.

'llhe unit is intended to be applied to a washing machine at the time of its manufacture and generally is a permanent part of the machine. lt may be secured in place by fastening elements 12 coperating with the bottom of the machine and the unit so as to avoid any possibility of the unit becoming disengaged from the machine. lt is likewise apparent that inasmuch as the unit is of a self-contained structure, the same may be applied with ease to any Washing machine novv in use by forming in the bottom f thereof a suitable seat to receive the same,

and that -the application of the unit does not serve to sacrlfice the much needed roughenedsurface of the machine.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat I claim is l. A washing machine having a bottom provided with a socket therein, and a corrugated surface surrounding said socket, said socket being of circular formation, and an electrical Water heating device seated Within the socket and having a resistance element therein, said water heating device being of a circular formation, and engaging the side Walls of the socket and provided along its upper surface with a transversely corrugated plate conforming to the upstanding Washing elements in the bottom of the machine.

2. Washing machine having a bottom provided with a corrugated surface and a socket formed therein surrounded by said surface, an electrical Water heating unit adapted to be placed in said socket and maintained in position by the Walls thereof, said unit having a surface of corrugated forma.- tion` corresponding to the formation of the bottom of the machine, so that the entire bottom presents a uniformly fashioned Washing surface.

3. Washing machine having a bottom provided with raised separated washing projections, and a socket disposed within said bottom surrounded by said raised projections, an electrical unit adapted to be inscrted within said socket and having a resistance element and an electrical connection therewith, said unit being provided with a plate formed to correspond to the formation of the surface of the washing vmachine so that the entire bottom of the machine is uniform in formation.

ln testimon)v whereof l affix my signature.

ltRl/YlN H. HRRS.

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