US1745177A - Washing-machine impeller - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 1930. a. L. MARKLEY WASHING MACHINE IMPELLER Filed March 22, 1927 an aim ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 28,. 1 930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE L. MARKLEY, OF GULVEE CITY, CALIFORNIA.

WASHING-MACHINE IMPELLEB,

Application filed March 22, 1927. Serial No. 177,310.

This invention relates to a washing machine, especially adapted for textiles, fabrics and like articles, although useful for other,

blades operating upon the fluid to cause currents therein which have components of movement outwardly and peripherally. Broadly,

such washers are well known, as it is common 'to provide an upright shaft within the con tainer and an agitator with blades. A channel for the articles to be washed is thereby provided 'between the shaft and the wall of the container. However, the currents produced by such agitators tend to move thearticles-toward and maintain them in position. at the shaft, thereby causing them to become entangled about the shaft and with each other, subjecting them to possible injury and damage and militating against etficient speedy washing.

The primary object of this invention is toprovide a washing machine having an impeller arranged to create currents which lave the articles and tend to maintain them at a distance from the shaft. 'Another object of this invention is to provide an impeller wliich will entrain air in the liquid, whip the same and thereby distribute the soap or like materials thorou hly throughout the liquid, and in the case of soap quickly form suds. A still further object of this invention is to provide a combination of an impeller and a hood to aid in producing suds and also to serve as a protector for delicate fabrics and textiles which it may be desired to wash.

These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are .obtained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of portions of the machine essential to the present invention,

with a part of the container broken up to.

better illustrate the impeller construction;

Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of my impeller detached from the. agitator; and Fig. 4 is a hood for the impeller.

I have shown herein my invention embodied in an attachment which may be mounted upon a standard type of agitator. It will be understood however, that the invention is in no manner limited to the specific construction shown. The specific details of the structureshown herein are for illustrative purposes only. Variations of the structure will be apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

In Fig. 1, a container 10 is shown which may be of the cylindrical tub type. Upstand- 'ing through the center thereof is a shaft 11 upon which is mounted an. agitator 12. In the particular construction shown, this agi-' tator comprises a disk like bottom plate with a stream line anticline toward the center and having radially extending wings 13 on one side. 'The shaft is preferably ioscill'ated by motor mechanism not shown, water bein placed within the container to about the leve indicated by the dotted line. The water or washing liquid is projected radially outward by the wings 13, impinging upon the peripheral wall of the container and then spread 89 ing, most of it upwardly, back toward the shaft and 'then downwardly. This would tend to carry fabrics and the like articles upwardly and against the shaft. Various types of agitators are made, some having 35 the disk portion above .the wings. However,

my invention is in no manner limited to any particular agitator construction or even use therewlth.

Mounted overthe shaft 11 is my improved impeller comprising a tubular portion 14 which snugly fits over the shaft and is pro vided with blades 15 of triangular form. In

the present instance, the lower edges of the blades are provided with channels as indicated by 16 for the purpose of straddling the agitator wings and seating thereon. This. particular structure aids in holding the impeller in position upon the shaft. In, the blades 15 are perforations 17, preferably distributed over the face thereof. The size and location of the perforations may be arranged as it is found expedient. An impeller so constructed forms a detachable unit. 5 With my improved impeller mounted on the agitator, the operation is as follows:

Oscillation. or rotation of the shaft will cause currents of water or liquid to be started outwardly. However, due to the variation in radial extent of the blade from top to bottom, the current flow will be greatest at the bottom of the container and least at the top there being a gradual increase in current strength from top to bottom of the blades. This causes a vortex action, the liquid moving outwardly at the bottom, then toward the top and inwardly toward the shaft and then down to the bottom plate being directed by its stream line surface outwardly. The tendency to move the article toward the shaft will be well distributed over the outer edge of the impeller. There is also a current downwardly adjacent the shaft which tends to move the articles downwardly, and, if they are in con- 25 tact with the edges of the blades, they will be moved outwardly due to the inclination of the outer edges. The holes' in the blades will tend to whip the liquid and thoroughly stir the same. The agitation of the water is such 3 that close to the impeller blades bubbles are formed which pass downwardly from the up per surface, air being entrained and aiding in the washing action. To further aid in preventing articles from wrapping about the impeller, rollers 18 are journalled at the edges of the impellers thereby providing anti-friction means for contacting with the articles being washed.

In Fig. 4, a hood 19 is shown which may he slipped over the impeller, encompassing the same. This hood is formed by a shell and has perforations 20 through which the liquid may pass. Rollers 21 are journalled on the shell and are placed to provide means for the articles to roll over without friction. The construction is such that the hood may be placed over the impeller, and any fabrics or garments within the channel between the'impeller and the wall of the container will be p rotected from contact with the blades.

urthermore, there is a somewhat violent agitation of the liquid at the blades and within the hood. Soap or washing fluid which may be added are thoroughly mixed and agitated, especially within the hood. In the case of soap, suds are quickly formed.

It will be obviousthat the impeller may be constructed as a unit to form a combined agitator and impeller or a single impeller. The impeller as an attachment may be built for mounting upon various standard types of agitators, and its mechanical construction will be varied accordingly.

What I claim is:

'1. In a washer, a container, an operating shaft extending therein, impeller blades secured to said shaft extending outwardly therefrom and ending short of the peripheral wall of said container so as to provide a channel for the articles to be Washed, said blades having perforations extending therethrough, and a shell having perforations detachably mounted over said impeller blades. I

2. In a washing machine, a container, an upright operatingshaft therein, an agitator having radially extending wings, and an impeller including perforate blades arranged to be mounted over said shaft and seated on said wings.

3. In a washer, a container, an upright operating shaft therein, anagitator having radially extending wings, an impeller including perforate bladesarranged to be mounted over said shaft and seated on said wings, said blades being of triangular form With the bases thereof arranged to straddle said agitator blades.

4. In a washer, a container, an upright operating shaft therein,yimpeller blades secured to said shaft, and a perforate shell detachably disposed over, housing and secured to said blades so as to be rotatable by the latter.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th day of March, 1927.

GEORGE L. MARKLEY.

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