US1446534A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb 27, i923,

, R. A. WORKMAN WASHING MACHINE Filed May 25,'

5 sheets-sheet l Z;

IIIA.

Feb. 27, E923'.

LMI-6,534 R. A. WORKMAN v WASING MACHINE Filed 25, 1921 5 Sheets-sheet 2 Vf' FQ@ /T J7. ffl/0 @WAM/y f Feb. 27, 1923, M4653@ R. A. WORKMAN WASHING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 5 i. f1? Y Patented ROSS ALEXANDER VORKMAN, OF TULSA, OKLAHOLVIA.

- XVASHXNG MACHINE.

Application filed May 25, 1921. Serial No. 472,342.

To all /wiomi 'it' may concern le it known that l, Ross A. lfoiiiriiiAN, a. citizen ot' the United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in li/Vashing Machines; and lV do heieby declare the following to be a ilull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a-ppertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to clothes washing machines and aims to provide improvements in a washing machine utilizing an oscillatory or reciprocatory tub, i'or the eflicient and convenient washing ot clothes, and other -fabrics.

Another object is the provision of novel means for mounting `the tub tor reciprocatory motion, ior the effective agitation oic the water in the tub. Y

A further object is theprovision 01: novel means withinthe tub for the action of the water and clothes lthereover to accomplish the cleaning of the clothes, and such means providing a settling chamber in which the dirty water can settle, to be drained oit at intervals. y

A further object is the provision ot novel means for preventing the water Jirom splashing from the tub during the reciprocation thereof, should the water iind its way past the cover or lid, thereby avoiding the spilling or running over oi thewater on the exterior of the tub.

The invention has for another object the provision of novel actuating means for driving the tub in an ei'iicient manner and .tory the convenient connection oi? the tub with and disconnection thereof from the driving means` YWith the toregoing and other objects in view, which will be understood as the de scription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement olf parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the Scope ot' what is claimed, without departing from the spirit ot' the invention.

The invention is illustrated inthe accompanying dra-wings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation ot the niachine, portions beingl broken away and. shown in section, depicting the tub in intermediate position in full lines and in one ei;- treme position in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine, portions being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the lower p0rtion of the tub talren on the line 3--2'5 of Fig. 2. f

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the clutch device taken on the line 1 4 ot Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig.V e

Fig. 6 isv a detail view o one of the frame raising and supporting devices showing it in position with the corresponding leg raised.

The machine includes a. suitable trame 10 having-the legs or posts 11 at the four corners, and supported on rollers or casters 12 in order that the machine can be readily moved about on the floor.

ln order t0 raise the :trame and support it with the rollers or casters 12 cti the iioor. and to prevent the machine t'rom being moved when in one position, a. lifting and supporting device is provided for each leg 11, and includes a vertical supporting rod 13 slidable in the guide ears 141 outstanding from the leg 11. The upper end ot' the rod 13 is pivoted, as at 16, to an ear 17 extending laterally from a lifting lever 18 between the ends of said lever; Y The lever is bifurcated at one end and provided with a pin 19 on which a roller 19 is rotatable to travel in an inclined slot 20 in the ear 15 extending from the leg 11. A coiled expansion spring 21 surrounds the rod 13 and is confined between the lower ear 111 and a pin 22 secured to the rod 13 under the upper ear 14, whereby said spring has a tendency to raise said rod.

When the 'tree ends oli the levers 18 are swung upwardly, as seen in Fig. 2, the rollers 19 move inwardly in the slots 20, and the rods Ai9 are slid upwardly in the ears lei 4by the springs 21 until the pins 22 contact with the upper ears 14. This retracts the rods 12% oil the tloor, so that the rollers or 'ast-err; l2 rest on the i'ioor, 'tor the 'li'ee end easy movement oil the traine on the surface on which the machine rests.v lllhen it is desired to raise the Jframe and vsupport it with the rollers i2 off the door. the levers are swung dowiiwai'dly.y tliereoy depressing the rods 13 against the floor, and. the rollers 19 moving outwardly in the slots 2() will lift the trame 10. .The levers 18 swing on the pivots 16 and the rollers 19 move outwardly past 'the 'vertical axes of the rods y13, in order that the weight of the frame in bearing down on the rollers 12)', will tend to swing thelevers 1S downwardly, thereby retaining the lifting and supporting devices in such position, until theleversare swung upwardly to move the rollers 1.9 inwardly past the axes ofthe rods d3, when the weight of the machine will swing such levers inwardly and downwardly at ltheir upper ends, 'to lpermit the frame to again come to rest lon therollers 12, the springs 2l raising the rods 13 off the'floon In this way, when it `is vdesired to have the machine Ystand in its position, without danger of .moving about, it is lifted and supported by such devices on'the legs.

The ,tub or casing 23, which is `made of sheet `metal or other vsuitable '1naterial, is of elliptical contour in side elevation, and its side walls are inclined so as yto diverge upwardly, as seen in Fig. 2.

VThe tub is supported between the opposite sides of the frame 10 for .longitudinal reciprocatory vor oscillatory motion'and in order to support the tub, longitudinal bars 24 "are secured to the side walls ofthe tub at the major diameters thereof. At each sideof the tub within the frame l0 is provided 'a pair of crossing oscillating bars 25 4'having their upper'ends pivoted to the corresponding bar 24, as at '26. The lower Vends of the bars 25 are mounted for oscillation on transverse rods 27 secured in the lower portion of lthe `frame l0. These oscillating bars 25 v'being inclined oppositely and crossing one another will 'resuit in a peculiar reciprocatingor oscillating motion of vthe v(tub longitudinally. Thus, when Ithe tub is moved longitudinally in either direction, the forward end of the tub Vmoves downwardly slightly on arc, While the rear end portion ofthe tube moves upwardly yon an are, to a position as shown in dotted llines in F ig. l, owing tothe fact that one bar 25 of each pair swings downwardly while the other bar swings upwardly. The pivot points 26 between said bars 25 and the tub thus swing 'around the parallel axes of the rod 27, producinga motion which is the component of two oscillatory movements, vand thereby obtaining an effective reciprocatory motion in which the opposite ends of the tub are alternately raised and lowered with a 'rocking action and the tub reciprocated longitudinally, although the center of the bottom of r'the tub has very little longitudinal and vertical motion.

inclined retractile springs 28 have their upper `ends 'connected to the bars 25 'near the upper kends of said bars, and the -lower ends of said ysprings are connected to the corner1 posts 'of memliiers 'of the vframe 10, thereby pulling' downward and outward on said oscillating bars to make the reciprocating action ofthe `tub easier and smoother, as well balancing the Vmotion Aof the'tub back and forth.

The bottomof the tub 23 is formed intermediate its ends with a transverse trough or `deorcssion 29 into which the dirt water settles, and such trough being at the central portion-of lthe bottom, will have very little motion either vertically or longitudinally of the tub. A member 3O ofl lsheet metal or other-.suitable material is disposed over the e dislodginglthe dirt therefrom, similar-tothe rubbing of clothes ,on an ordinary wash board. The opposite sidesof the member 30 being inclined, will valso Ideflect the water upwardly by the `relative longitudinal motion lof the water 'and Ltub during the reciproea'tion of the tub, thereby resulting in the effective agitation and motion of the water. v

lPlates 33 are secured "to the ends 3l ofthe member 30 within said member and depend therefrom to enter the ends'of theitrough 29, thereby retaining the member 30 inl position, and 'said plates also preferably serve as weights for holding thememb'er 30 ldown 'on thebottom 'of the tub. f

The ysides 32 ofthe member 30 have the lower inclined edge portions 34 provided with longitudinal series 'of small apertures '35 directly adjacent rto the 'lower edges of said sides, for 'the How of dirt-laden water Valong the bottom of the tub under -fthe sides 32'of the `member 30 and into 'the vtrough 29. The upper portions 36 of the sides 32, immediately adjacent'to the 'top of said vmember 30, are also provided with longitudinal series of small apertures 37 in order that -the clearer water under the top ofthe fmember 30 can pass on out through said apertures v37. The sides ofthe member 30 are imperforate between the lower 'apertures' and the upper apertures 37 and are also of 4stepped formation between said lower and 4upper apertures, whereby the clothes are agitated by said stepped sides between the lower and upper apertures, and fthe water can only enter and leave the settling chamvber immediately adjacent to the lower-edges of the sides and the top of the 'member 30. 7

The member 30 is hollow vto provide a settling chamber therein over the trough 29. This chamber provides a dead'water space, in which there is little agitation of *the water during the freciprocation -of the tub,

excepting for the 'natural tendency ofthe dirty water `to settle to the vbottom 'fand'flow through the apertures 35 into A:the settling chamber or dead `'water space, vand for the clearer water at Vthe upper portion of said 413() chamber to pass out vthroug'fh 'the `aperture's 37. The dirtthus settles gradually during the washing action from the ends of the tub and the sides 32 of the member 30 to the lower portions 34 of said sides 82, and passes with the water through the apertures 85, and as the dirt is precipitated into the trough 29, the clearer water rises within the member and passes on out through the apertures 37. The member 30 has rpractically an oscillating motion during the reciprocation of the tub, and the portions 34 swing up and down with little of any motion longitudinally of the tub, whereas the top portion of the member 30 has a small movement longitudinally of the tub, for enhancing the flow of water through the apertures 37.

The ends 81 of the member 80 being` inclined will permit said member to be readily lifted oif the bottom of the tub for removal,

in order to clean said member and tub conveniently,A and a drain spout VA38 extends from the trough 29 for convenience in draining the water therefrom at intervals. Said spout has a suitable valve 39.

The top portions of the tub formed'by the upward and inward extension of the ends are formed with baiiles or guards in order to prevent the water from splashing or spilling from the tub during the motion thereof. Thus, the blank from which the ends and bottom of the tub are formed, has its terminal portions extending toward one another and downwardly to define the ends of the mouth or opening of the tub, while the Yupper portions of the side walls define thc sides of the opening or mouth. Each of said terminal portions, as seen in Fig. 1, is bent to provide the curved overhanging portion 40 extending in a direction toward the .mouth of the tub, and the metal is then bent back to provide the bead 41 embracing a transverse rod 42 secured to the side walls ot the tub to stiffen the structure, and the metal is then doubled or extended under the portion 40, as at 43. From the portion 43, the metal extends inwardly and downwardly. as at 44, and then horizontally to form the seat 45. F rom the seat 45, the metal extends downwardly at an angle, as at 46, and the end portion of the blank is bent around another transverse rod 47, as at 45%. to form a stii bead. rlhe portions 40 and 4? provide overhanging baillcs or guards 49 beyond the seats 45 and opposite ends of the opening or mouth of the tub.` for arresting any water that may pass the ends of the corer or lid 50.

rlfhe cover 50 is of sheet metal or other suitable material and has flanges 52 to bear on the seats 45 and the inwardly offset side seats a1 of plates 51 at the inner sides of the side walls of the tub. The upper edges of said side walls are beaded, as at 51, over the upper edges of the plates 51. The cover vented from splashing or spilling over the ends of the tub, such water being thrown back and finding its way into the tub again past the cover. In this way, by having the side walls of the tub extend upwardly above the cover, and by having the `baffles or guards 49 beyond the ends of the cover, the

annoyance of water splashing or spilling fromth'e tub, during the operation thereof, is eliminated.

The actuating mechanism includes a trans'- verse shaft 54 journaled in the frame 10 below one end of the tubi, and having eccentrics 55 thereon at the opposite sides of the tub. Pitmen or links 56'are pivoted to the opposite sides of the tub and have bands or straps 57 embracing the eccentrics 55, in order that the rotation of the shaft 54 will impart a smooth reciprocatory motion to the tub, without a. jerking action. Oil trougl1s58 are carried by the frame 10 and are so arranged that the eccentrics 55 when rotated will dip in the oil, for lubricating such eccentrics.

In order to' rotate the shaft 54, a gear wheel 59 is mounted for rotation thereon at one side o-f the frame, and meshes with a gear pinion 60. Said gear wheel and pinion are enclosed within a. gear case 61 and the pinion 60 is secured on ashort transverse shaft 63 journaled in the frame below the tub. A bevel gear wheel 64 is secured on the inner end of the shaft 63 and meshes with a bevel pinion 65 secured to one end of a` longitudinal shaft 65 mounted in the frame below the tub, and a pulley wheel 67' secured on said shaft 65 is connected by an endless belt 68 with a pulley wheel 59 on the armature of an electric motor 70 car-Y ried by the opposite side of the frame. T he power is thus transmitted from the motor to the gear wheel 59, and a clutch is pro-Y vided for connecting the shaft 54 with said gear wheel.

The clutch for. bringing the tub into and out of motion, includes a spool-shaped clutch member 71 slidable on a splined portion 72 of the shaft 54 beyond the gear wheel and thehub of the gear wheel and adjacent end of the clutch member 71 have clutch teeth 73 to engage one another, whereby the Clutch member and shaft are compelled to turn with said gear wheel. A clutch shift lever 7 4 has one end engaged in the groove 74 'of the clutch member 71, and said lever is ful'- crumed, as at 75, to the geary case 61, wherebyl the lever can be conveniently swung by hand,

lor closing and opening"theclutch to start and stop the vtub at will.

ln order to Aretain rthe clutch member in either position, a catch pin `'76 is slidable in a bore 7 7 in 'the portion T2 of the' rshaft 54, and is yprojected from l,said fborelby means 'oi' a coiled spring'7SA within t-liebore confined behind said pin. The pin has a rou-ndedend to snap into'frecesses or lnotches 79 in the clutch'member v71. Said pinlis eammed out ol yeither Anotch 7 9 by the'movem'ent of AVthe clutch member, `and will snap finto :the other notch.7 to retain the clutch :member yin the corresponding position against accidental movement, but perm-ittingthe clutch member to be shifted wh-enslid by the manual pressure on ,the `lever 74. The. clutch yis also preferably housed within ,the v.gearcase GJ., asseen .inFigt 4L 1 In operationfafte'r:the water, clothes :and soap have been ,put in the-tub, andthe :cover '50 inserted to closethe tub, the tub is lieciproeated by moving the lever 74 to bring 'the,clutehfmemlber 711 into engagement with the gear wheel 59 during the operation of the motor 'O.A .This` reciprocationf of X.the tub -will thrownthe water'baclr and forth therein,v and .thefwate'r in impinging against theopposite sides of the 4member 8O will be deflected upwardly from end to end i-n the tub, giving the lwater a motion somewhat in the form of the ligure 3. Tfhe clothes contacting' with and rubbing ,past the steppedsides 82 of the member 30 'will assist in d-islodgingthe dirtrfrom the clothes, owing tothe rubbing. aetion,. simi-1arte the action .fof clothes -onan 'ordinary wash vboard. The waiter in thesettlingchamberlor dead water :space under Athe .member -BO'has `very little motion; and the dirtyr waterwill settle to the bottom andipassfthro-ugh the apertures l under ,the member 30 tosthe trough 29, while the clearer water under f'said membratthe ltop will pass out throughthe apertures `87 assisted "by the 'centrifugal action when lthe tub lis rocked, it being noted that the memlber 30 has :an'arcuate motion about a point 'below 'said emember. A circulation through Ithe member 80 is thus establisheth with a' comparatively slowf-azctiomin yorder that the fdirt-:cansettle into the troughl), andr the motion of said member I3() and trough is just sutlic'ient lor'the Vprecipitationl 'oi' the `dirt -into .thel trough without agitatin-g or stirring vup-the sediment.` The dirty water can be drained 'out from `the trough throughl fthe spout l38 at intervals,

the tub Vbeing stopped v'by lopening the 'clutch to vpermit the valve 39v to -fbe-opened .for the draining of the dirty water 4'from the-tub. Said -fval-ve is "againiclosed after the dirty water has been drainedo'ut, and additional fresh 'water' can be rpoured yintocthe 'tub before 'it is again started ,in motion' Tby the closing of thef'elutch.`

A `tub permitthe co'ver 5() and also the member 30 to be readily removed from the tub7 and this also permits the interior of the tub 1 as well as the-finemberj-BO to be cleaned thoroughly and' easily. Y

VThe actuating mechanism canfalso be used for the operation ot' a wringer (not shown). `rlh-usf a vertical shait't 8O is disposed for rotationin a vertical tubular casing Sl, andhas a bevel gear 82 secured thereto near its lower end meshing with a .bevel gear 83' secu-red to lthe outer end of the shaft 63. The casing .S0 is secured to one end or' a cross bar S4 disposed above the tub .and supported by braces S5secured on the sides oi the frame l0, and converging upwardly 4to the har Sli-to ywhich said braces are secured. The wringer mechanism not `being apart or' this invention is 4not shown ordescribecb although provision is made `forthe wringer as just described.v j

Having thus described the invention, v-.fhat is claimed as new is:-f

l. i washing :machine including a` reciprocatory tub, and a sheet metal member on the lbottom ofthe tub having inclined converging sides and a top between said sides, said sides having lower smal-l n apertures therein immediately iadjacent to vthe lower edges' ot the sides and valso .having upper small apertures limmediately adjacent to the top, the lower edges of the sidesseating on the bottom oft the tub, the tub havingdraining means below said member, and said sides being imperforat'e Vbetween said lower and upperapertures. 2. A washing machineincluding a recip-v rocatory tub, anda sheet metal memberon the bottom' of the tub having inclined yconverging sides and a top between saidsides, said sides having ylower small apertures therein immediately 'adjacent to the rlower edges of the sides and also having upper small aperturesV immediately adjacent to the top, they -lower edges of the sides seating on lthe bottom of the tub, the tub having draining means below said member, said sides being imjjierforate between said lower and upper apertures and said sides being of stepped formation between said lower and upper apertures. i A

A washing machine including a reciprocato'ry tub, the'bottoin of which has a trough, said trough having draining means and a fmeinbei" disposed on thebottoni of the tub for agitating the water andclothes and providing a settling chamber v5.for dirty water thereunder abo-'ve said trough, said member having-means 'to lfit in said trough for holding Ethe member in place.

d. A washing machine including a-reciprocatory tub, the bottom of lwhich has a transverse "trough, a member disposed on rthe bottom of the tub 'having ends to be disposed adjacent to the sides of the tub and n testimony WhereorI I have signed my sides arranged 'for the agitation of the name to this speciioation in the presence of waer and clothes tbereover, said member two subscribingf Witnesses.

'forming` a settling chamber for dirty Water ROSS ALEXANDER KRKTYL-XN. thereunder, and portions carried by the ends Witnesses:

of said member to fit in said trough for GEORGE WV. 1WILLooomoN,

holding said member in place. y'ELsm KATE Comas.

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