US1434595A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

T. C. DAVIS.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21.1920.

Patented Nov. 7 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z INVENTOR. 7'6? 0/) V/S.

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Patented Nova 7, 1922..

PATENT THOMA C. DAVIS, 0F PUEBLO, COLORADO.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed .l'nly 21, 1920. Serial No. 397,875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing machines and its primary object is to provide a machine of simple and highly eflicient construction in which different kinds of clothes can be washed separately and simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to provide a washing machine of this character in which clothes classified according to their materials or colors, are washed simultaneously in a continuous operation by waters transferred systematically between the different classes, and still other objectsreside in the constructions, arrangement and combinations of parts fully described in the course of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred method of applying the principle of the invention and modifications thereof.

In the drawings in the several views of which like parts are designated by corresponding characters of reference,

Figure 1 represents a plan view of the washing machine in its preferred form;

Figure 2, a sectional side elevation thereof;

Figure 3, a transverse section on the line 33, Figure 2';

Figure 1', a fragmentary end elevation of the machine shown in F igure 2 looking in the direction of the arrow X.

Referring in detail to the drawings my improved washing machine comprisesan open tub 5 interiorly of semi-cylindrical form and mounted on a suitable supporting structure 6. The tub is divided by vertical partitions 7 into three compartments one of" which at an end of the tub has a plug closed outlet 8 for the dirt carrying water after the washing operation is completed.

Two tanks 9 supported upon an elevated structure at the opposite end of the tub are provided with faucets for the supply of hot and cold water to the adjacent compartment thereof.

A plurality of cylindrical drums or barrels 10 partially extending in the compartments of the tub in spaced and concentric relation to the interior surface thereof are mounted for conjunctive rotation upon a horizontal shaft 12 rotatably supported in boxes which are fastened upon the end'walls and the partitions of the tub.

The circumferential wall of each barrel is perforated for the ingress and egress of water contained in the respective compartments of the tub and a portion thereof is loose and hinged at one of its ends as at 14, to permit of opening the barrel for the admission or removal of clothes.

A spring catch 13 at the end of the movable section of the perforated barrel wall opposite to its hinge connection 14 serves to lock it in its closed position.

Each barrel is divided into two compartments by longitudinal partitions 15 alined at opposite sides of its hub and, in effect, constituting one partition, and the different barrels are preferably arranged on the shafts so that their partitions extend angularlv with relation to eachother, i. e., are staggered, as shown in Figure 3, for the purpose of facilitating their rotary motion by even distribution of the weights of their contents.

Each compartment of the tub, except that at the discharge end which as hereinbefore described has the plug-closed outlet, is connected with the intake opening of a centrifugal pump 16 the outlet of which is connected to an opening in the next adjoining compartment by a conduit 17.

It will be seen that by these means the liquid supplied to the first compartment ofthe series from the elevated tanks 9, may

-be transferrerl successively to the other compartments until it reaches the last compartment from which it is discharged by removing the plug from the outlet.

The operating mechanism of the machine consists of a horizontal driving shaft 18 mounted in hearings on the supporting structure of the tub and carrying a pulley it) for its connection with a conveniently located source of mechanical energy.

A sleeve :20 slid-ably mounted on the shaft by means of a feather which prevents its relative rotation, has at its ends beveled gear wheels 21 adapted for separate connection with a corresponding gear 22 at the lower end of a vertical shaft 23 which is mounted for rotation on a bracket 2% at the adjacent end of the tub. I canal-S fastened on the? drivingshaft llO by set screws, limit the sliding movement of the connected gear wheels in opposite directions.

A hand lever 25 fulcrumed on the bracket 23 has an actuative connection with the sleeve 20 and it .carries as usual a pivoted grip 26 in connection with a sliding detent which cooperates with a relatively stationary segment to secure the parts in their adjusted positions.

The shaft has at its upper end a worm 27 which meshes with a correspondingly toothed wheel 28 on a horizontal shaft 29 mounted in bearings at the upper end of the bracket and the end wall of the tub, and a gear wheel 30 on the last-mentioned shaft engages a similar wheel 31 of'larger diameter on the shaft 12 of the barrels.

It will be seen that by moving the beveled gear-wheels. 21 alternately in engagement with the interposed gear at the end of the worm shaft, the rotary movement of the barrels may be reversed whenever desired for the purpose of subjecting every part of their contents to the cleansing influence of the liquids contained in the respective compartments of the tub.

The operating mechanism of the pumps by which the waters are transferred between the compartments of the tub consist of a beveled gear wheel 32 on the driving shaft which meshes with a corresponding wheel 33 at an end of a shaft 34 mounted in hangers underneaththe tub.

Beveled gear wheels 35 meshing with similar gears 36 on therotary elements of the centrifugal pumps are loosely mounted on the shaft 34 so that under normal condition while the barrels are in motion, no action is imparted to the pumps.

A sliding clutch 37 connected for rotation with the shaft by the usual feathers, consists of two connected members 38 adapted for interlocking engagement with the gear wheels 35 which to this end have series of ratchet teeth at the ends of their oppositely extendin hubs.

The c utch is pivotally connected to a hand-lever 39 and coiled springs 40 interposed between the clutch members and the respectivergears maintain the clutch in its normal inactive position.

In the operation of the washing machine an appropriate quantity of water is supplied to the first compartment of the tub from the supply tanks 9 together with soap or other cleansing preparations and the clothes to be washed are placed in the compartments of the barrel by lifting the hinged portions of the circumferential walls thereof. The clothes are divided so that white oods of fine and delicate fabric are in the rst barrel, those of coarser texture in the next adjoining barrel, and the coarsest and above stated colored pieces in the barrel which rotates in the last compartment of the tub.

The shaft 12 is made to rotate alternately in opposite directions during periods of arbitrary length, by reversing the position of the sliding gears 21 through the medium of the hand lever 25, thereby causing the liquidcontained in the compartment of the tub to freely and forcibly circulate through the contents of the barrel into which it en- 'ters through the perforations in the circumferential wall thereof.

Vhen the clothes in the first barrel of the series are thoroughly cleansed, the water of the first compartment of the tub is transferred to the second compartment through the medium of the first pump which is operated by moving the clutch 37 into interlocking engagement with the respective beveled gear wheel on the shaft 34.

After the first compartment of the tub hasthus been drained, a fresh supply of water is admitted thereto from the supply tanks 9.

The water used in the first operation to cleanse the clothes contained in the first barrel of the series now performs a similar function with respect,to the contents of the second barrel while the washed clothes in the first barrel are rinsed by the fresh water entering its perforations as before.

After a second period of operation during which the clothes contained in the second barrel are washed, the water of the first and second compartments of the tub are transferred respectively to the next adjoining compartments and the above described operation is repeated until finally the contents of the last barrel have been washed and rinsed, when the remaining water is discharged through the outlet 8.

It will thus be seen that by the use of my washing machine, clothes of different grades of fineness or different colors are thoroughly washed at one and the same time without coming in contact with each other and with the same quantity of cleansing and rinsing liquids.

It will be apparent that the apparatus is susceptible of variations in the construction and arrangement of its parts within the rinciple of my invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a washing machine, the combination of a driving shaft, a plurality of cylindrical drums, each partitioned into two compartments. concentrically mounted on and fast to said driving shaft and disposed with the partitions in staggered relation, and means for rotating said driving shaft.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

THOMAS C. DAVIS.

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