US1803412A - Apparatus for extracting water from clothes and the like - Google Patents

Description

y 1931. E. B. THOMPSON 1,803,412

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING WATER FROM CLOTHES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21, 1927' Patentecl May 5, 1931 -ELMER B. THOMPSON, OF DES MOINES, IOWA APPARATUSVFOR nx'rimc'rine WATER FROM CLOTHES AND THE LIKE Application filed February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,840.

The purpose of my invention is to provide an extractor for washing machines and the like of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

Moreparticularly, it isgmy purpose to provide an extractor for washing machines and the like of a type in which'the garments-or other articles from which the water is to be taken are subjectedto pressure rather than to the action of an ordinary wringer or centrifugal extractor.

Another p'urposejis toprovide an extractor of the pressure type having means whereby the mechanism for subjecting the clothes to pressure is rendered inoperative, so far as further increase in the pressureis concerned when a predetermined. pressure. has been reached.

With these and other objects in view, my

invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my apparatus and in the practice of my method, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a washing machine showing my improved extractor in vertical cross section.

Figure 2 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1. f

Figure 3 is a detail view, partly in section and with parts broken away, illustrating part of the operating mechanism, whereby the pressure causing mechanism is rendered inoperative for causing further pressure when a predetermined pressure has been reached.

Figure 4 is a similar view of a modified form of my device. I 3 I Figure 5 is a side elevation of a washing machine showing a modified formrof my extractor in vertical section; and

Figure 6 is a front elevation of a washing machine showing still another form of my extractor, partly in vertical section.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a washing machine. 7 r p In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, I mount on the washing machine 10 a frame having the'spaced upright.

members 12 connected at their lower ends by the inwardly inclined members 12a and the bottom connecting member 14. Extending upwardly from the member 14 are bracket arms 16, having at their upper ends the bearings 18 for a shaft 19.

Mounted in suitable guides 20, preferably on the brackets 16 for vertical sliding move-. ment, is an upright post or the like 22. Supported on the upper end of the post 22 is a" water receptacle 24. A cross bar 26 is slid ably mounted on the uprights 12 and connected with the receptacle 24.

The central portion of the cross bar 26 forms a disc orthe like 28, which serves as the bottom of a closed container. On the disc 28 is an upwardly extending annular rib 30 within which maybe detachably seated the lower end of a hollow, cylindrical 0011-,

tainer member 32.

The upper ends of the members 12 are connected by a cross bar 34 in which is a suitable slot 35. For coacting with the member 32, I provide a plunger or disc 36, which has a stem 38. The stem 38 has a series of spaced, angular lugs 40 so arranged that the stem may be slipped into the slots 35 in the cross bar 34 for holding the plunger disc 36 at different heights.

On the upper end of the container member 32 are drain plates 42. I

At one end of the receptacle 24 are trans-, verse compartments 44 having openings, 46 into the main body of. the compartment 24 controlled by spring-pressed valves 48.

The stems 50 of the valves 48 may be operated from outside the compartments for allowing the water from the compartments 24 to flowinto the compartments'44 and thence outwardly through flexible discharge tubes 52 and 56. (See Figure 1.)

On the tub 10 is apivoted arm 51, weighted at one end and adapted to be swung to positions to engage therespective heads 50 for automatically opening either of the valves 48 for'discharging water from the compartment 24 through either of the compartments 44 to a spout 54 on the tub 10 or to a rinse tub.

In the operation of the device, the bar 26 in the container 32 is raised and the clothes in the container are pressed against the plunger disc 36 for extracting the water in the clothes and letting the water flow through the holes 58 in the bottom portion 28 of the container, and thence into the compartment or container 24.

For raising the container 32, I provide the following means:

On the upright post or the like 22 are rack teeth 60, which mesh with the teeth of a pinion 62 on the shaft 19. On the shaft 19 is a ratchet wheel 64.

On the tub 10 is a pawl 66 normally held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 64 by means of a spring 68 for preventing such rotation of the ratchet wheel as would permit the lowering of the upright post 22.

For rotating the ratchet wheel 64 and thus raising the post, I have provided the following mechanism:

Suitably mounted for rotation on the tub 10 is a shaft 7 0, which may be operated from any suitable source of power, preferably that which operates the washing machine mechanism.

On the lower end of the shaft 70 is a crank arm 72 and crank pin 74. The crank pin 74 is pivoted to a reciprocating link 76. The link 76 is pivoted at one end to an upright bar 78. The bar 78 is mounted in its lower end to slide horizontally in a guide 80. At its upper end, the bar 78 is pivoted to a strong, coil spring 82. One end of the spring 82 is connected with a threaded rod 84 projected through a frame member 85 on the tub 10.

On the rod 84 is a wing nut 86 for adjusting the tension of the spring 82. Fixed to the bar 78 between the link 76 and spring 82 is an operating pawl 88 arranged for cooperation with the ratchet wheel'64.

I will now explain briefly the operation of the particular mechanism hereinbefore described.

Assuming that the post 22 is at the lower limit of its movement, the plunger disc 36 is laid aside, the container member 32 is filled with wet clothes, for instance from the washing machine tub, the disc 36 is then placed in position in the upper end of the member32 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The shaft 70 is then thrown into gear with its operating means, not shown, and its rotation actuates the crank 72 and the link 76 for reciprocating the lower end of the bar 73 and successively actuating the ratchet wheel 64 for raising the upright post 22, the container 24 and the container 32.

Since the disc 36 and stems 38 are held against upward movement, the clothes will be compressed in the container 32 and the water will run throughthe holes 58 into the container 24, and thus be extracted from the clothes.

I find that clothes can be dried in this way as effectively as with a wringer or centrifugal extractor. 1

In order to avoid accidents and automatically stop the pressure creating means when the pressure has reached a certain predetermined point, I have provided the mechanism shown in Figure 3.

It will be noted that whenever the pressure necessary to actuate the ratchet wheel 64 through the medium of the pawl 88 is so great as to overcome the tension of the spring 82, the reciprocation of the bar 78 instead of further rotating the ratchet wheel 64 will stretch the spring 82 and the pressure mechanism will become inoperative, so far as increasing the pressure is concerned.

It is assumed that the containers will have been raised to a suflicient height, so that the flexible tube 52 may discharge into the spout 54 when the valve 48 is opened.

The shaft 70 is then thrown out of gear and by releasing the pawls 66 and 88, the clothes container may be lowered slightly, the disc 36 may be taken out of the container 32, and the clothes lifted from the container, or the container 32 may be lifted off of the bottom 28 for removing the clothes from which the water has been taken.

I have attempted in this application to show only crude embodiments of a mechanism for practicing my invention.

In Figure 4, I have shown a slightly modified form of the actuating mechanism for the shaft 19 and means for automatically stopping the increase of pressure when a certain predetermined pressure has been reached.

In the form of device shown in Figure 4, the pawl 88a is similar to the pawl 88, but is arranged to work above the ratchet wheel instead of below. The pawl 88a is pivoted directly to the crank on the shaft 70.

For moving the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet when the pressure reaches a certain maximum, I provide an arm 90 pivoted at 92 to a support 94.

A link 96 is pivoted at one end to the pawl 88a and at the other end to the arm 90. A strong coil spring 98 is connected to the arm 90 at its end opposite its pivot 92. The spring 98 is connected with a threaded rod 100, which is extended through a fixed support 102, and has on it the adjusting wing nut 104.

Where the form of device shown in Figure 4 is used, there is provided instead of the stem 38, a stem 106 having at its upper end an offset portion 108 arranged below the arm 90 between the link 96 and the pivot 92.

The other mechanism is the same as that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

When the pawl 88a has been operated for raising the container 32 until the pressure lSU reaches a certain point, the stem 106 will force the arm 90 upwardly, thus stretching the spring 98. This movement raises the pawl 88a, so that it will no longer be effective in imparting intermittent rotation to the ratchet wheel 64.

Either the device shown in Figure 3 or that shown in Figure 4 may be employed for the purpose intended.

In Figure 5, I have shown a slightly modified form of my device in which there is provided a fixed cylindrical container 110 instead of the container 32. Instead of the upright post 22, I provide an upright 112 carrying at its upper end a plunger 114, fitting tightly in the lower end of the cylinder 110.

A removable cover 116 is provided for the cylinder 110 and may be fastened thereto in any suitable way not shown.

The upright 112 is operated in the manner hereinbefore described for the post 22.

As the plunger 114 is raised, it compresses the clothes, squeezing the water therefrom. The water passes out through openings 118 in the cover 116 and thence by way of the drain trough 120 to the tub, or by way of the drain 122 to a rinsing tub or the like.

In Figure 6, I have shown another form of the device in which there is a fixed bottom member 124 for the container and a hinged upper member 126 adapted to be locked in its closed position when the extracting operationis being performed.

The hinged member 126 may be swung over to the position shown in full lines in Figure 6 and filled with garments and then swung over to its dotted line position shown in that figure, and locked in closed position by means not shown.

In the container bottom 124 is a perforated plunger 128. An upright 131 extends from the plunger 128 through the bottom of the container 124 and through the stuifing'box L 130, and is then mounted in the same way as the upright 22 and actuated in the same manner as the upright 22; v

The container 124 is arranged to drain into the tub 10.

Either of the devices shown in Figures 3 and 4 may be used with either of the forms illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. I

It is my purpose to provide, generally speaking, a means for extracting Water by simply squeezing the garments in a body in a container and to provide means for stopping the further compressing operation when the pressure reaches a certain point.

These objects can be accomplished by a variety ofmechanisms and I have shown the mechanisms here disclosed simply for purposes of illustration.

It is my purpose likewise to afford a process or method which involves the subjecting of the clothes in a container to pressure for extracting water therefrom, and the stopping of the pressure at a predetermined point.

It is my purpose in my claims to cover different process and to cover any equivalent form of mechanism to those shown, whereby my objects can be properly attained.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an extractor ofthe kind described, a container having a foraminous bottom, a plunger mounted to enter the container, one of said elements being mounted for movement relative to the other for squeezing water from the contents of the container, mechanism for moving one of said elements, means for rendering said mechanism inoperative when the pressure reaches a predetermined degree, a compartment below the container for receiving the extracted water, means for discharging water from opposite sides of said compartment, and an adjustable member for cooperating with said last means for causing adischarge at the respective sides of the compartment depending upon the position in which said adjustable member is set.

2. In a device of the class described, a container having an open upper end, a member above the container, a plunger adapted to enter said container, a stem for said plunger, said member andstem having coacting slots and shoulders, whereby the stem may be detachably supported on said member at different heights and adjustably held against upward movement, means for moving said container upwardly for compressing the contents thereof.

8. In a device of the class described, a container having a foramious bottom, a plunger adapted to coact with said container, a com- .partment below the bottom of said container for receiving water discharged through said bottom, having an outlet, a valve for controlling said outlet, means for imparting movement to the container for compressing the contents thereof in cooperation with the plunger, and an adjustable member adapted to be set for moving said valve to open position when the container is moved to a certain position.

4. In a device of the class described, a container having a foraminous bottom, a com partment arranged to receive water discharged through said bottom, having an outlet, a valve for controlling said outlet, a plunger adapted to coact with said container, means for imparting relative movement to the plunger and container, and means for actuating said valve for permitting discharge of liquid from the compartment when the parts'have moved to a certain position of their adjustment.

5. In a device ofthe class described, the combination of a washing machine tub, a container mounted thereon for vertical adjustment, a plunger mounted for cooperation with said container, said container having a foraminous bottom, and a water receiving compartment therebelow, and having an outlet, a valve "for controlling said outlet, means for discharging water from said outlet into said tub when the container reaches a certain height, and means for raising said container for compressing the contents thereof by means of said plunger, and means for automatically opening said valve when the container is raised to proper height for discharging water from said compartment into said tub.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a washing machine tub with a container mounted thereon for vertical sliding adjustment, said container having a toraminous bottom, a water receiving compartment below said bottom, a plunger mounted for cooperation with said container, means for raising said container for compressing the contents thereof by means of said plunger and means actuated by upward movement of the container for automatically discharging water from said compartment into said tub when the container reaches a certain height.

7. In a device of the class described, a container mounted for vertical reciprocation, a plunger supported for cooperation therewith, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for raising said container, including an actuating pawl, and means whereby said actuating pawl is rendered inoperative when the resistance thereto due to pressure in the container reaches a certain degree.

8. In a device of the class described, a con tainer having a foraminous bottom, a plunger mounted for cooperation therewith, means for imparting movement to said container toward the plunger, said means including a pawl and ratchet mechanism having an actuating pawl. an arm connected with said pawl, a yielding device connected with one end of said arm, a power device connected with the other end of said arm for reciprocating the arm, and the pawl, whereby when the resistance from the container is great enough to overcome the tension of said yieldiug device, said actuating pawl will be rendered inoperative. V

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tub with an extractor mounted on the side of said tub for vertical sliding movement, adapted when down to stand substantially level with the tub, means for forcing the extractor upwardly and for thus extracting water from the contents thereof, said extractor having a water containing compartment at its lower end, said compartment having an outlet and a valve for controlling said outlet, means on the tub for actuating said valve when the extractor is in an upper position of movement, and means llb

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