US1724234A

US1724234A - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: US1724234A
Application number: US49435A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles W Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-08-10
Filing date: 1925-08-10
Publication date: 1929-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1946-08-13

Description

c. w. THOMAS 1,724,234

WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug.1o, 1925 3 sneets-sheet 1 Aug. 13, 1929.

JNvf/vroR )RMA @i @417594115 1F lli IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Illl IIIIIIlllllllllllllllllllllll @Tran/Vey Aug. 13, 1929. c. w. THOMAS WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Will/Iliff,

Aug. 13, 1929. c. w. THOMAS WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. l0, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet al Illlllllllllllllllllll Umm Ill Paine-i Aeg. i is, 1929. i

UNi'riio STATES CHARLES W. THOMAS, GF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WASHING imciiiimf Application :filed August 10, 1925. Serial No. 49,435.`

This invention relates to a machine for washing fabric, garments and other wearing apparel. For convenience I will -refer to such articles as clothes.

@ne object of the invention is to construct a clothes washing machine wherein the several operations of washing and rinsing and also drying may be effected upon one or more batches of clothes without olischargu ing or diluting the washing solution o suds. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved washing machine having a collecting trough around the interior side wall of the tank, (or tub) whereby rinsing `water may be discharged into or upon the batch of clothes and discharged centrifugally against the side walls of the tank (or tub) and collected in the trough without mixing with the washing solution or necessitating the discharge or waste of the latter.

J{lnother object of the invention is to provide an improved clothes washing machine which is relatively simple and capable of effecting i'epeatcd washingsin a ready and quick manner without waste, discharge or removal of the washing solution from the holding tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a clothes washing machine having an inner vertically movable drum or tray, an auxiliary bottom that may be positioned to divide the tank into a lower and an upper compartment and a discharge pipe connected with the tank above the auxiliary bottom when it is in operative position, whereby the batch of clothes in the drum may be elevated out of the washing solution or suds and rinsed, the rinsing water discharged, the clothes dried and a new batch of clothes placed in the drum and the several washing operations carried out without discharging or removing the washing solution or suds from the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus capable of washing, rinsing and drying clothes and pieces of fabric without any handling thereof.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilledy in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein hig. 1 is a vertical section of a washing machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing a modification of the construction embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a further modificationof the construction embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a construction embodying a further modification of the invention. y

ln the drawings, l indicates as an entirety a tank for receiving the washing solution or suds and a batch of clothes. 'lhe tank 1 is supported on a horizontal frame 1a, which is secured to a plurality of uprights 1, preferably mounted on castors 1. rll`he tank 1 comprises a bottom 2, a side wall 3 (which is of special construction, as will later be set forth) and a centrally arranged sleeve 4, serving as a. guide for a rotatable and slidable shaft 5. 'lhe bottom 2 of the tank is formed with an opening 2a, in registry with the sleeve 4, so that the shaft 5 may extend upwardly as shown. 6 indicates a drum or tray having a bottom 6EL and a side wall 6b, the latter and preferably a portion of the former being formed with perforations 7. The bottom 6a is formed with an opening 6c to receive the shaft 5 and sleeve 4. 8 indi- Cates a tubular member connected to the bottom 6a concentrically to the opening 6c and extending upwardly therefrom. The upper end of the member 8 is formed with a hub 9 having an opening 9a (preferably of square shape) into which removably tits the free end of the shaft 5 (which end is shaped to fit the opening 9a), thereby eecting a driving connection between the shaft and the drum to rotate the latter for the purposes to be later set forth.

rlhe shaft 5 may be driven by the following instrumentalities: 10 indicates a motor preferably of the electric type. The shaft of the motor carries a pulley 11 for a belt 12 which runs around and drives a pulley 13. The pulley 13 is suitably mounted on a. frame member (not shown). The inner face of the pulley 13 serves as a friction disk and engages the periphery of a friction gear 14 to drive the latter, the pulley 13 and disk 14 being correlated so that suitable speed reduction is obtained. The disk 14 may comprise a pair of plates 14a, 14", supporting between them a layer of material 14c (laminas of leather) the edge of which extends beyond '31 is connected by the

plates

14, 14", for engagement with the face of the pulley 13. The plate 14a is provided with a hub`15 to which is connected a pinion 16, the urpose of which will later appear. The p ate 14h is provided with a plurality of depending arms 17 to which is integrally connected a hollow boss 18 having a key 19 which fits a spline 20 extending longitudinally of the shaft 5.

21 indicates as an entirety an agitating mechanism of a well known type comprising a pair of inverted cups 22 (only one being shown), carried at the ends of a yoke 23, which is mounted to rock on an arm 24, so that by reciprocating the arm 24 vertically, the cups 22 will engage the clothes in the drum 6 and suck them up and also propel them in .a rotative direction to effect the washing operation in the washing solution or suds. The arm 24 is removably attached to a rod 25, preferably by a clamping screw 25a. The rod 25 is reciprocated endwise in suitable guides by the following mechanism: -26 indicates a bell-crank fulcrumed on a cross rod 27 supported by the frame. One arm 26a of the bell-crank is pivoted to the lower end of the rod 25, the latter being formed with a slot 28 for the pivot pin to permit swinging movement of the arm 26a; the other arm 26b of the bell-crank is provided with a knuckle 29 pivoted between the. spaced knuckles 30 of a link 31 to provide a universal joint. The opposite end of the link a universal joint connection 32 (preferably a ball and socket joint) With a crank 33 carried by a shaft 34. rIhe shaft 34 is supported in a bearing 35and has fixed to it a gear 36 in mesh -with the pinion 16 whereby it is driven.

The drum 6 is supported by the shaft 5, so that by moving it upwardly through the sleeve 4, the drum 6 and the clothes contained therein may be moved above the level of the washing solution or suds in the tank 1 whereby the clothes lmay be rinsed and dried. The drumpraising devices preferably comprise an arm 37 on which the lower end of the shaft rests and rotates. .The inner 'end of the arm 37 is pivoted at some suitable` point on the frame; its outer end is engaged by a roller 38 carried on the end of a lever 39 preferably fulcrumed on the cross rod 27. The lever 39 is provided with an arm 40 shaped to form a pedal, which, when engaged and forced downwardly, will swing the lever 39 and arm 37 to elevate the shaft 5 and drum 6; release of the pressure on the pedal 40 will permit lowering of the shaft 5 and drum 6 under the iniuence of gravity. To maintain it in the elevated position, a suitable lock and release device or trigger (not'shown) is provided.

41 indicates a hollow boss secured to the bottom of the tank 1 and `supporting a sleeve 42 which co-operates with the -sleeve 4 to guide the shaft 5 and serve as a bearing therefor and to form a bearing for the disk 14, hub 15 and pinion 16, the lower end of the sleeve 42 being provided with a collar 43 to engage the lower face of the plate 14" and hold these parts in position.

44 indicates a drain pipeleading from the bottom of the tank 1 and controlledby a valve 45.

46 indicates a cover for the tank 1. f'

The parts so far described (except as to certain changes therein required to embody my invention and attain the new and useful results above set forth) are of known construction.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an annular collecting trouglf 47 on the inner wall of the tank 1- at a point slightly above the level attained at any time by the washing solution or suds and provide the trough with a discharge pipe 48. The discharge pipe is controlled by a suitable valve, preferably the valve 45. For this purpose, the

pipes

44 and 48 are connected to the valve casing and the valve 45 is a threeway valve, so that discharge may be effected from the tank 1 or the trough 47 or from the trough 47 into the tank 1. `The trough 47 is preferably provided by enlarging the upper portion l of the tank 1 and connecting the lower edge thereof to the outer rim of the trough and connecting the outer edge of the lower portion of the tank 1 to the inner rim of the trough. In the preferred form of construction, the wall 1 constituting the upper portion of the tank extends vertically, but it may be inclined in- -wardly, or the trough may be otherwise formed.

The operation of the washing machine may now be described: With the parts positioned as shown in the drawing, (1) a batch of. articlesto be washed is placed in the drum 6 and the tank 1 filled with water and the cleaning material (soap, powder or other substance) to form a washing solu tion or suds, (2) the agitating mechanism 21 is positioned' and (3) the motor started; when thel washing operation is com aletcd, the drum or tray 6, with the clothes t erein is elevated to the position shown in dotte lines, the driving connection made with the drum to rotate it and the valve 45 is rotated to connect the pipe 48 with the pipe 44. Asl the drum rotates the surplus portion of the washing solution or suds contained in the articles will be thrown out by centrifugal force against the wall 1 of the tank 1 from which it will flow (adhering thereto by capillary attraction) into the trough 47 and drain back through the

pipes

48, 44, to the lower portion of the tank 1. When a substantial portion of the washing solution or suds has been removed from the articles, the valve 45 is operated to close the i e 44 and o en the'pipe 48; then rinsing svelter or otheIi fluid is sprayed onto'- the batch of clothes, while continuing the rotation of the drum 6, which rotation "auses the water to pass through the articl s by centrifugal force and outwardly against the wall 1 the eifect of this operation being to rinse the clothes orv articles of all or substantially all of the washing solution or suds as well to rinse or wash out all or substantially all of the residue resulting there from. The rinsing water or luid flows down the wall 1 adhering thereto by capil- .lary attraction and collects in the trough 47,

from which it drains through the pipe 48 to some suitable discharge point.

The rinsing water or fluid may be supplied by a nozzle or spray device 49 connected to a flexible pipe 50 (shown in dotted lines) which is projected through an opening 46 formed in the top 46. The opening 46 may be closed by a pivoted plate 46. Following the rinsing operation and cut-oil:l of the rinsing water, the rotation of the drum 6 is continuedto effect va drying of the clothes.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the rinsin Water or fluid is supplied to the batch o clothes and discharged therefrom and drained from the tank l without mixing with and diluting the washing solution or suds in the lower portion thereof. Accordingly, successive batches of material may be washed and rinsed (and also dried) in the tank l without waste of the washing solution or suds or even the removal thereof from the tank l. Further more, these operations are ed'ected without removal of the clothes from the drum 6. y

At the end of the rinsing or drying operation, as the case may be, and removal of the washed batch, the drum is lowered and filled with a new batch of articles to loe washed.

lf it is .desired to close the lower portion of the tank l and to seal it after `the drum 6 and batch of clothes therein are elevated to the rinsing position, l provide the following elements: 5l indicates a ilange disposed at the upper edge of the wall forming the lower portion of the tank. The flangel extends inwardly but not far enough to affeet the raising and lowering of the drum 6. The flange 51 is shaped transversely to form an annular groove 52 on its lower face for a purpose which will presently appear. 53 indicates a plate interposed between the bottom 6a of the drum and bottom 2 of the tank l. -The plate 53 is formed with a central opening 53L and surrounding this opening is a sleeve 54 which lits between the sleeves 4 and 8, the construction beingsuch that the sleeve 8 freely slides and rotates relative to the sleeve 54 and the latter may freely slide and rotate relative to the sleeve 4, altho the embodiment of my invention does not require the sleeve 54 to rotate, this being merely -an incident to the preferred form .of construction. At its upper end, the sleeve 54 carries an inturned flange 55 which lies over the edge of a collar 56 fixed to the shaft 5. Accordingly, when the shaft 5 is elevated, it moves with it the sleeve 54 and plate 53, and causes the circumferential edge of the plate to engage the flange 5l and thus form a supplemental or auxiliary bottom for the upper portion of the tank and a supplemental top for the lower portion, as a result a rinsing chamber separate from the Washing and suds containing chamber is provided. The outer annular portion of the plate 53 is shaped to form in its upper surface an annular groove 57 to receive a gasket 58 which lits into the groove 52 and thus forms a sealed, non-leak joint. The gasket may be formed of resilient material. The auxiliary bottom 53 may be shaped to insure drainage of the liquid into the trough 47.

The operation of the machine having the supplemental bottom 53 is similar to that already described. As above set forth, the bottom 53 being connected to and moved by the shaft 5, no separate or diiierent operation is required, its function being to close the lower portion of the tank and thus prevent any portion of the rinsing water from flowing into the washing solution or yends. Due to the fact that in some instances the rinsing water cannot be supplied properly or may be supplied in a larger quantity than can be discharged outwardly or beyond the capacity of the trough 47 or pipe 43 to carry it olf, then obviously the rinsing water would drop or overiiow into the lower portion of the tank; likewise, if the drum was not rotating fast enough or some one should place their hands on the drum and slow it down on stop, if rinsing water was in or being supplied to the drum, it would drop downwardly and dilute the washing solution. By providingthe bottom 53, ll overcome all of these difliculties.

This construction also permits the drum to be elevated above the washing solution and the clothes subjected to a soaking operation, for exam ile in bluing water, before being rinsed. further advantage in this construction consists in utilizing the agitating mechanism to engage and agitato the clothes when the drum is in an elevated position. Accordingly, two separate washings in separate solutions can be effected, as well as rinsing and drying of the clothes without their removal or handling.

. Fig. 2 shows a construction of machine in whichvthe collecting and receiving trough for the rinse water is constructed to give it larger capacity by making the trough deeper. In this form of construction the trough 4'?a is provided by constructing the tank from two concentrically arranged anlill) lll] llil

ing into the trough 47. The

above the upper'edge of the inner wall, the space between the walls servin as the o enottom o the trough may be arranged at any level below the trough opening, but it is preferably disposed at the lower end of the inner wall 1*. This Iform of construction may be produced by using two tanks having different diameters and placing the smaller tank within the other as shown in Fig. 2. In this arrangement (1) the bottom of the outer tank will serve as the bottom of the trough 47a.

Arnd (2) the upper edge of the inner tank may be rolled over in an inward direction to form the flange 51a. In this form of construction it will be seen that the rinse water, when thrown centrifugally, will engage the side wall lb of the outer tank, and flow downwardly between the tanks and be dis` charged through the pipe 48a. In this form of construction, th`e` discharge pipe 44 i extends through an opening in the bottom of the outer tank.

In Fig. 3 I have shown another embodiment of my invention. In this form of construction 59 indicates the tank, which is preferably similar to the tank l shown in Fig. 1. 60 indicates a shaft extending J through an opening inthe bottom of the 'tank and the centrally arranged sleeve 59a.

The shaft is driven by a mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. l. 6l indicates a. drum or tray for the articles to be washed and provided with a centrally arranged sleeve 62 carrying at its upper end a hub 63 adapted to be'removably connected to the upper end of the shaft60. The bottom 64 or side wall of the drum or trayis provided withla flange 65 adapted to engage the flange 5l when the drum or tray 61 is elevated for the rinsing operation as shown in dotted lines. The bottom 64 of the drummay coniprise two walls connected to each other and the side wall of the rdrum in any desired manner. In this form .of construction the upper wall will be spaced above the lower wall and preferably inclined upwardly so as to guide the water above the trough 47 when the drum is elevated and rotated. It will be noted that in `this form of construction I do'A away with the auxiliary bottom shown at 53 in Fig. 1 and its supporting. sleeve 54, by

providing the sealing flange 65 on the drum itself. In this form-of construction, a slight change' inthe operation of the machine is provided for since theflange. 65, when the .drum is elevated,.engages the flange 51 and holds the drum against rotation, so that a soaking of the clothes for example in bluing water, after being washed, may be effected.' Following the washing operation, the druni or tray 61 may be elevated to move the' flangeV 65 into engagement with the flange 51', there- 1 v 1w closing tho lower Vportion of the tank,

but by preference it is moved to the position to discharge the soaking solution tated by the driving mechanism for the purpose of discharging the surplus suds and washing solution centrifugally against the wall l', whereby it flows into the trough 47 and through the pipe 48 back into the lower portion of the tank. If it is desired to soak the clothes, the drum or tray 6l is elevated to its extreme upper position thereby eli'ecting an engagement 0I the flange 65 with the flange 5l and the valve 45 closed. '.lhe soak- 111g solution is then placed in the upper portion of the tank to. the desired level and the clothes soaked as long as desired. l`l1en the valve 45 is opened and the soaking solution drained oft' then the drum is lowered slightly. to its first elevated position and rotated contained in the clothes; then the rinse water is supplied by the nozzle 49 while the rotation of the drum is continued. When the rinsing is complete, the supply of rinsing water is shut oli' but the drum is further rotated to efl'ect crying of the clothes.

A further modified form of construction is shown in Fig. 4, the object being to provide for the soaking of the clothes 1n a liquid, such as rinsing water or bluing water, when desired without the provision of a sealing means between the drum or tray as shown in Figs. l, 2 and3. In Fig. 4 I eliminate the auxiliary bottom shown in Figs. l and 2 or the flanges 65 and 5l shown 1n Fig. 3. In place of these elements, Iv provide an axinular outwardly inclined wall (36 around the side wall of the drum or tray and connect it to the lower edge of the latter wail. Accordingly the wall 66 co-operates with the bottom of the drum or tray to form a container for holding the soaking orH rinsing liquid; but since the wall 66 is inclined upwardly and outwardly, the liquid in the drum or tray and held by the wall 66 or the liquid that is sprayed therein, will, upon the rotation of the drum or tray, caused to flow up and over the edge of the Wall 66 and then outwardly against the side wallof the tank; whereupon it will flow into the trough and escape as already described.

-The wall,66 may be connected to the side -tlie rinsing of the clothes and drying thereof as already set forth.

If desired, the bottom of the drum or tray, Awhen constructed as shown in Fig. 4, may be provided with means for draining it, such as a plugged opening.

be thrown outwardly and till As will be understood in the forms of construction shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the agitating cups may be adjusted along the ro'd 25 so that they can agitate the clotheswhen the drum is in its elevated position. The cups 22 are raised and lowered by the reciprocating rod 25, and the cups are raised by adjustment of the clamp 35a on the rod so that the cups may operate in the drum when the latter is in either a raised or a lowered position. The adjustment of the drum does not ad'eet theoperation of the agitator.'

From the foregoing description it will be seen that less labor is required to operate the machine and carry out my process of washing and successive batches ot articles may be washed, rinsed and dried in the machine without the removal of either batch or the removal ot the washing solution or suds during the washing oli all the batches. Furthermore, l have found that in rinsing the clothes in this manner, a very large portion et the residue resulting from the soap or other ingredients used is removed from the articles so that they are devoid oli this objection.

Atls the general construction of washing machine illustrated is well known, l have not attempted to show all the details thereof; for example, the means for roeking the cup supporting yoke 23 and the means for engagin and disengaging the pulley 13 with the disk 14, so that the rod 25 may be operated without rotating the drum 6; but only so much of the machine as will enable one skilled in this art to understand my invention and its application and mode of operation.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changes in construction and widely didering embodiments and applications ot. my invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereol. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Wihat ll claim is:

l'. lnqapparatus oil the class described, the combination ot a tank for holding a washing solution, a drum for a batch et clothes, means for raising the drum to a position above the level of the washing solution in the tank, means 'for rotating said drum while in its elevated position, means for collecting and conveying awayV liquid' Signature.

thrown centrifugally from said drum during its rotation, and means carried by the tank and drum for closing the tank above the. level of the washing solution therein.

2. In washing machine, a tank for a solution, a perforated drum for articles, means for raising and lowering the drum into and out of said tank to submerge the articles in the solution and to elevate the articles thereabove, means for rotating the drum when in its elevated position, collectingr means above the tank for collecting liquid discharge centrifugally by the rotative action of said drum, and a closure disposed beneath and movable with the drum for closing the top of the tank when the drum is elevated.

3. ln a washing machine, a tank for a solution, a perforated drum for articles,

`means for raising and lowering the drum into and out oi' the tank, means for rotating the drum when elevated, collecting means above the drum tor carrying oil' liquid discharge centrifugally by the rotative action of said drum, said tank having an inturned flange at its upper end, a partition plate carried beneath said drum and movable therewith into engagement with said flange to seal the tank when the drum is elevated.

4. ln an apparatus of the class described, a tank for holding a washing solution, a drum for a batch of clothes, means for raising the drum to a position above the level of the washing solution in the tank, means for rotating said drum when in its elevated position, means for collecting and conveying away liquid thrown centrifugally Jfrom said drum during its rotation, and means operable upon the raising of the drum for clos ing off the tank above the level of the washing solution and below the drum.

5. lin a washing machine, a tank for a solution, a perforated drum, means for raising and lowering the drum into and out ot the tank, means tor rotating the drum when elevated, and means operable when the drum is elevated out of the tank for closing the top et the tank beneath the drum.

6. An apparatus asclaimed in claim et in which an adjustable at'gitatingV mechanism is provided to agitate the clothes in the drum in either raised or lowered position of the drum..

Iii-testimony whereof, I have aiiixed my CllARllfES W. 'IFI-Kliniek@n