US1640318A - Cleaning material feeder for washing machines of the spray type - Google Patents

Description

l 1,640,318 Aug. 23, N. w. HALSEY CLEANING MATERIAL FEEDER EOE WASHING MACHINES oF TEE SPRAY TYPE Filed Dec.14, 1922 Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN W. HALSEY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SOAP FEEDER CORPORA- TION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CLEANING MATERIAL FEEDER FOR WASHING MACHINES OF THE SPRAY TYPE.

Application led December 14, 1922. Serial No. 606,770.

This invention relates to improvements in cleaning material feeders for washing machines of the spray type.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a washing machine of the spray type with a device operable by a portion of the water distributed or sprayed by the spraying nozzles for measuring and charging1 the wash-water with cleansing mate- 'I'la Another object of this invention is to provide a washing machine of the spray type with feeding means which will automatically during the spraying operation of the machine charge the Wash water with a quantity of cleansing material measured in relation to the amount of water sprayed inside .of the machine by the spraying nozzles and therefore in proportion to the wash water utilized in such machine.

Another object of this invention is to economize cleaning material by the automatic delivery thereof to the wash water in the exact proportion to give such water the most eiiicient cleaning strength. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeding device that 'will enable the automatic charging of the wash water for a relatively long period of time, thus doing away with the necessity of feeding loosey cleaning material into the tank. y

Another object of my inventionl is to provide a washing machine of the spray type with an automatic feeding device that will so automatically charge and keep the wash water charged at the most eiiicient strength without attention of any kind by the operator, and which will automatlcally stop feeding the cleaning material or charging the wash water in the tank when the water passed through the spraying nozzles inside the machine is shut oi.

Another object of my invention is to enable an automatic slow feeding or drip and the automatic cut oil of a solution of a concentrated powdered cleaning material and the feeding of an exceedingly small quantity of this concentrated solution to the wash water in proportion to the amount of water passed through the nozzles ofthe machine, and therefore in proportion to the amount of work which is being done in the machine.

Another object of this invention 1s to produce a feeding device of the character specified in which the proportion of cleaning material to the water sprayed may be varied and the proportionate amount increased or decreased to suit Avarying conditions of,A

work. a

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a' washing machine of the type specified with a feeder for cleaning material which will be an independent unit and not connected by piping to the water supply, and whichy ma attachments of any kind. f Vith these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so comillustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which Fig. 1 is a cross section of a cleaning ma-' chine of the spray type embodying my auto'- matic feeder actuated by the spray water.-

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the automaticV feeding attachment shown in Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig.v

2; and

Fig. 4 is a view in plan of the inlet-valve mechanism when thevcover is removed and turned inner side up.

Referring lnoyv to these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 indicates the outer casing of a dish washing machine of the spray type which is provided at its lower end with awash tank 2 above which is supported a strainer 3 and a dish rack 4, in which rack dishes are suitably positioned.

Within the casing 1 is provided an upright supply pipe 5 which 1s provided with the usual laterally-extending arms 5a and 5b,

on both of which are revolvably mounted therefore be removed andv replaced at wil without special fittings and.

upper and lower wash-nozzles 6 and 68L respective'ly, which nozzles are designed to spray or diffuse water on, against and between dishes 4*I in the rack 4. This sprayed or'diiiused water finally falls down through the strainer pan 3 and into the tank 2, after which such wash-water is umped by the pump 7 upwardly through t e upright pipe 5 and nozzles 6 so as to form a continuous circulation and dlstribution or' diiuslon 1n contact with the dishes of such wash water l After initial washing of the dishes by such wash-water, the dishes are usually spra ed through the rinsing-nozzles 8. The ar' di- I tion of this rinsing water to the wash-water in the tank maintains the wash-water in proper'condition for use, the surplus water and grease passing out of the tank through the overflow pipe 2B. l i The foregoing is a description of one form of washing'. machine of thespray type, and standing by itself alone, constitutes no part of my invention which consists, however, in providing a machine of this type with a 15 feeder 9 for cleaning material which utilizes I a portion of the water distributed or sprayed by the spraying nozzles for its actuation and therefore enables an extremely slow automatic feed to be provided and also an automatic cut-oit' when the machine is stopped. In the preferred form of my invention shown, I use such a portion of the sprayed water for dissolving owdered cle'ann material contained Withln the feeder, an provide for the free discharge of such solution as formed from the feeder into the wash water which will be charged with a quantity of such cleaning material in proportion to the amount of such distributed or sprayed water admitted to the feeder, and the portion of such sprayed water so utilized may be regulated by increasing or diminishin the size of the inlet aperture for suc sprayed or distributed water. l In the preferred embodiment of my invention, my automatic feeder comprises an independent unit which ma be inserted or supported at any place wlthin the area of distribution or spray of water by the spray- 40 ing nozzles and as shown, consists of a cylindrical container 10 which is preferably formed of a non-corrodible metal and is loaded or charged to a redetermined point, -as for example to the Ibroken line 11 with a suitable powdered cleaning material which is readily dissolved in Water. Such material is usually intensely concentrated and therefore expensive and only a relatively small quantity of the same is required to charge' the wash water so as to give thesame a cleaning strength of the highest efficiency and any additional material fed to the washwater is wasted. By the use of my feeding device, which utilizes in its operation a small fraction of the sprayed or distributed water, I am enabled to charge the wash water with the very small quantity of such material in solution that is necessary to give such water the highest cleaning strength. The use of the material is thus economized. I am furthermore enabled to accomplish these purposes without attention of any kind by the operator after the feeder is loaded and inserted into the machine. 4

In the preferred form of lmy invention I provide said container 10 with a removable cover` 1()a having a Water-shedding surface which is perforated to provide a relatively small inlet aperture 12 to admit a predetermined quantlty of the sprayed or ditl'used water. Obviously when the water distributed or diffused by the spraying nozzles falls on the water-shedding top surface of the cover 10 a small quantity of'such water will enter any inlet orifice or perforation in thel top or cover and the quantity admitted will be determined by the size of the inlet oriiicc in the cover, and the water so admitted will fall down upon the powdered material, a portion of which powdered material will be dissolved and the amount of such solution will be definitely determined by the quantity of Water admitted which is, as aforesaid, determined by the size of the opening through the cover y10a of the container. This dissolved portion will pass down to the bottom of the container and I provide a series of discharge openings whichlare preferably large enough to permit -free discharge of the dissolved material but small enough to retain the material in its powdered form. As illustrated, I provide one lseries of discharge openings 13 around the edge of the bottom of the container and preferably provide another series 14 of discharge apertures through the side Walls contiguous to the bottom of the container. As illustrated, the side apertures 14 are provided with shields 15 open at its bottom.

In the preferred form of my invention I provide means whereby the size of the inlet opening may be varied at will and as shown employ a plate valve 16 mounted to rotate about a pivot 17 and having a series of apertures 18 of varying size so that upon a rotation of the valve plate the size of the inlet opening therethrough which registers with the 'Ipxerforation in the cover may be varied. evariation of such opening, however, is not absolutely essential as an opening or openings of any predetermined size may be made in the cover so as to suit the conditions in a given machine.

In operation, the small inlet opening or orifice '12 will allow an exceedingly small quantity or portion of the water distributed or sprayed by the nozzles to pass through said opening and drip into the container and into the powdered material. This small portion of water then dissolves a part of the powdered material, passes in solution through the powdered cleaning material to and through the discharge openings 13. In the event that these discharge openings 13 becomeclogged from grease or other extraneous matter, the cleaning solution will rise above the same and pass out through the discharge openings 14. After the solution asses through the discharge openings it is ed into the wash water in the tank so llO lated or controlled, and this in turn will control the quantity of cleaning material dissolved and discharged so as to suit varying operating conditions. size of hole is selected,l1owever, to .suit a particular.machineforgiven conditions this size of hole may be maintained permanently,

and it is also apparent that different feeders may be provided with varying holes to suit varying conditions and varying sizes of machines and classes of work.

Havin described my invention, I claim 1. A c eaning material feeder for washing machines adapted to operate within a stream or shower of water, comprising a container having water shedding walls for confining powdered soluble cleaning material, sai container being provided on that side upon which the water impinges with an aperture for receiving a relatively small portion of the impinging water and directing it to thermaterial within the container to form a solution therewith and means to re late the effective size of said aperture, sai container also being provided on another side with apertures for allowin the liquid cleansing solution to escape w ile retaining the powdered material.

2. A cleaning material feeder for washingmachines adapted to voperate within a stream or shower of water, comprising a container having water shedding walls for confining powdered soluble cleaning material, said container being provided on that side upon which the water impinges with an aperture for receiving a relatively small portion of the impingin water and directing it to the material within the container to form a solution therewith and means to regulate the effective size of said aperture, said means consisting of a 'movable plate provided with an aperture adapted to coincide with the aperture in the wall ofthe container, said container also being provided on another side with apertures for allowing the liquid cleansin solution to escape while retaining the pow ered material.

3. A cleaning material feeder for washing machines adapted to operate within a stream or shower of. water, comprisin a container having water shedding walls 01' confining powdered soluble cleaning material, said container being provided on that side upon which the water impinges with an aperture for receiving a relatively small portion of the impingin water and-directing it to the material withln the container to form a solution therewith and means to regulate the efy escape Once the proper fective size of said aperture, said means consisting 0f a rotatable disc provided with an aperture adapted in various positions of the disc to coincide With the aperture in the wall of theV container, said. container also being:

provided on anothjerffsidetwith apertures-for allowing the liquid cleansing solution to while retaining the vpowdered material.

f1. .A cleaning material feeder for washing machines adapted to operate within a stream or shower of water, comprisin a container having water shedding walls or confining powdered soluble cleansing material, a removable cover for said container constituting the principal wall upon which the water impinges, said cover having an aperture for receiving a relatively small portion of the impingin water and directin it to the material wit in the container to orm a solution therewith and means to regulate the effective-size of said aperture, said container -'also being provided on another side with apertures for allowin the liquid cleansing solution to escape whi e retaining the powdered material.

5. A cleaning material feeder for washing. machines adapted to operate within a stream or shower of water, comprisin a container' having water shedding walls or confining powdered soluble cleaning material, a removable cover for said container constituting the principal wall u on which the water impin es, said cover aving a convex upper sur ace and an aperture at its crown for receiving a relatively small portion of the impinging water and directing it to the material within the container to form a solution therewith and means to regulate thel effective size of said aperture, said container also being provided on another side with apertures for allowing the liquid cleansing solution to escape while retaining the powdered material.

6. A soluble material feeder for washing machines adapted to operate within a stream or shower of water, comprising a container for confining a solid soluble material, having upper walls com rising means to shed the major portion o the water impinging thereagainst but to pass a small ortion of the impinging water tothe material within the container to form a solution therewith,

and a convex bottom wall having apertures adjacent its outer edges adapted to pass the solution but to retain the solid material.

7. A soluble material feeder for washing machines adapted to operate within a stream or shower of water, comprising a container for confining a solid soluble material, having upper walls comprising side walls and a top cover wall com rising means to shed the major portion o the water impinging thereagainst but to pass a small portion of the impinging water to thevmaterlal within the container to form a solution therewith, and a bottom wall for retaining the solid material, said side walls having apertures adjacent their lower edges ada ted to pass the solution but to retain the so id material.

8. A soluble material feeder for washing' machines adapted to operate withina stream or shower of water, comprising a container for confining a solid soluble material, having upper walls comprising' side walls and a top cover wall comprising means to shed the major portion of the water impinging thereagainst but to pass a small portion of the impingng water to the material within the container to form a solution therewith, l5 and a bottom wall, said side walls havin apertures adjacent their lower edges adapte to pass the solution but to retain the solid material, and shields over said apertures adapted to shed the impinging water.

In testimon whereof, I have signed my name'to the oregoing specification.

' NORMAN W. HALSEY.

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