US1850523A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

March 22', 1932'. G, H WEST 1,850,523

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 19'. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT OR March 22, 1932. G. H. WEST WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 19, 1928 gVENTOR WT)I%% EYS Patented Mar. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRANVILLE H. WEST, OF NOBWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO WASHING MACHINE Application filed April 19,

This invention relates .to fabric treating apparatus such as washing, drying and dry cleaning machines.

The present invention compr ses an outer tub for receiving treating liquid, an inner revolving cylinder spaced therefrom and comprising preferably imperforate end heads, an outer cylindrical wall and radial compartment forming partitions, three in number, for example, extending from the center to the outer cylindrical wall with perforated zones or areas in the structure, thus formed, adjacent the junction of the part1- tions and the cylindrical wall only, whereby the load or batch of material in any compartment when lodged against the perforated areas will operate as a valve and close such perforations thereby trapping the treating liquid in the compartment and causing it to travel up and over and remain with the load in the compartment to prolong and continue the treating operation around the cylinder. The treating operation in any compartment is quite similar to that practiced in the unpartition baflled type of Washing cylinder above referred to. By such an'arrangement the batch, in any one compartment, is progressively submerged in the liquid at the bottom of the cylinder, is spread out therein permitting penetration of the treating liquid, and thereafter crowded with a squeezin action in the presence of the trapped liquid in one of the corner pockets of the compartments. As the particular compartment con- -tinues to travel upward and over the top, the batch is lifted by a suitable baflie in the compartment and caused to tumble into a pool in another corner pocket of the compartment where a further squeezing action is produced in the presence of the treating liquid. As the cylinder continues to rotate, the liquid from' the compartment is discharged into the outer tub or'ciising and an additional supply is drawn in, the batch of materials being separated and distributed throughout the new 1928. Serial No. 271,271.

supply and being again subjected to a like treatment. It is obvious that the trapped liquid, when taken up in a. compartment where imperforate partitions are used, is not discharged into another compartment but is confined to the batch of material in that compartment and from thence is discharged into the outer tub where foreign matter, if any, may have an opportunity to settle to the bottom of the outer tub and be collected in a trap, such as is used in this type of machine.

It is also apparent that the materials will besubjected to baths of treating liquids in the compartments as they move up and over the top, giving the trapped liquid an opportunity to penetrate to the center, which action is followed by a. squeezing action when the materials gravitate to an angular corner pocket. The trapping of liquid in-the compartments also avoids the sliding of the batch along what might be termed dry surfaces thereby preventing-injury to the materials and avoiding pounding by the materials or batch being tumbled into a pool or bath of treating liquid. Where the materialstreated are placed in nets, it is found, especially Where baffles are arranged upon the part-itions, that the batch of nets is rotated in the sense that they are tumbled over along the surfaces and into the corner pockets with the result that any one net never remains in the same position throughout the operation of the machine, but moves from place to place 1n the compartment thereby insuring even and ideal penetration of the treating liquid so as to cause the compartments to function substantially the same in both directions.

An important aspect of the case is the extent of the perforated areas so that the predetermined normal batch of material in the of these areas to the extent of trapping the desired amount of treating liquid for treating is closed by a suitable door 11 of any prement in each compartment, the valve action being automatic with the rotation of the cyl-- indera Other objects and benefits of the invention will be more fully apparent fr m the,

following description, drawings and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view broken away illustrating the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section; and Figs. 3 to 18 are schematic cross sections showing the various positions of a load in one of the compartments as the cylinder revolves in one direction and completes one revolution.

In the embodiment shown, 1 illustrates one of the end frames which support the tub cylinder 2 of the usual type and provided with a suitable opening 3 adapted to be closed by an outer door 4. Rotatably mounted in this tub is the treating cylinder comprising end heads 5 preferably imperforate. Secured to these end heads in any improved manner is an outer cylindrical wall having imperforate portions 6 and spaced isolated perforated portions 7, three being shown. Secured within this cylinder, in any preferred manner, are radial partitions 8 preferably imperforate and extending from the center of the cylinder to the outer wall and meeting the same along a line preferably within and at the center of the circumferential dimension of one of the perforated areas 7. These partitions extend from end to end of the cylinder and on one of the faces of each partition there is a baflle 9 of substantially pyramid form in cross section and co-extensive with the length partition to which it is attached. These batfles are arranged near but at a distance from the center of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2. The partitions with the accompanying arcuate outer cylinder wall portion form sector-shaped compartments with an angular pocket at the center of the cylinder and angular pockets at the junction ofthe partitions with the outer cylinderwall. These angular pockets receive the batch as itis moved about in the compartment and serve to produce a squeezing action for discharging treating liquid from the material of the batch, as will more fully appear.

Since it is essential that access be had to the compartments for loading and unloading, the arcuate portion of the outer cylindrical wall of each compartment is provided with an opening 10 extendingirom substantially the middle of the periphery of the compart ment to one face of one-of the partitions of the compartment. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the opening extends to the right hand lower partition, as shown. This openferred construction and is provided with a group of perforations indicated at 12 to continue and maintain the isolated perforated group arrangement.

In Figs. 3 to 18, a single batch of material in nets is shown in a single compartment with the various views taken at step by step in movement of the cylinder throughout one complete revolution in one direction and .the various nets of material are indicated with reference letters so that they may be identified in their progress during the complete revolution. These nets are indicated by the reference characters a, b, 0, (Z,- c and f. In Fig. 3 the compartment X, for instance, is provided with a load of nets and the lower vertical partition is moving clock-wise through the liquid in the bottom of the tub and with the cylinder carrying ahead of it, this load of nets, together with a quantity of treating liquid, which isbeing trapped in this compartment by the sliding of the nets in a counter-clockwise direction along the outer cylinder wall and blocking the openings 7, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. Continued rotation of the cylinder causes this same partition to elevate the load and settle it more completely in the lower left hand corner pocket of the compartment X. The nets are also being lodged between the baflie on this partition and the outer wall, as shown in Fi 6. This arrangement continues through ig. 7 with slight shifting of the load, Figs. 7 and 8, until the nets and load are caused to separate and tumble in a more or less separated condition into the bath of treating liquid which is now shifted tothe position shown in Fig. 9, with the result that some" liquid is discharged through the perforated area to the right of this compartment but much of it is sprayed up over the materials as they fall into the bath. This operation is completed with the progression of the cylinder through Figs. 10 and 11 where the batch is a ain lodged in the right hand corner pocket 0 the compartment X and the perforations through the outer wall at this corner pocket are completely blocked by the load. The materials shift slightly as the cylinder progresses to bring the compartment X to the position shown in Fi 13, where the load is near the bottom an is spreading out in the compartment, slight discharge from the compartment taking place. In Fig. 15 the load is further shifting in the bath liquid in the compart ment as well as in such liquid as is flowing in through the perforations at the left hand side of the compartment. Fig. 16 shows additional transfer of liquid from the tub to this same compartment with the shifting of the load through the step in this figure and in Fig. 17 back to the original position as indicated in Fig. 18.

During various stages, as illustrated for example, in Figs. 4, 5, 9, 10 and 11, the bath of liquid is caused to be sprayed and thrown up among the nets or the portions of the batch with varying degrees of penetration into these nets due to either their tight or loose condition, depending upon their being permitted to separate and float apart in the bath.

It is evident from the foregoing description that the various portions of the batch or the nets shift in their positions not only with respect to the other ina compartment, but are rotated as to location in the compartment, so to speak, so that the treating liquid has ample opportunity to act upon all parts of the load and penetrate the same.

From the foregoing it will be seen that any load or batch in any compartment throughout a single revolution of the cylinder is subjected to several squeezing and separating operations in the bath of treating liquid resulting therefore in several penetrating effects throughout one revolution. It is also uite evident that the materials never slide a ong what might be termed dry partition walls, but are always well lubricated by the bath which is trapped in the compartment. It is also still further quite evident that pounding action resulting from a batch dropped into a dry pocket or corner is done away with since the batch always slides. falls or tumbles into a pool or bath of treating liquid. It is also evident from the rotation of the portions of the load. due to opportunity for separation, that balling of the load is prevented, thereby increasing the opportunity for penetration of the treating liquid and preventing tang It is also apparent that by the use of imperforate partitions the treating liquid from any one compartment may not enter another compartment carrying with it undesirable materials resulting from the treatment in the compartment from which it is flowing, but on the other hand, the liquid from any compartment discharges into the outer tub where it may have ample opportunity to permit any undesirable foreign matter to settle down into the bottom of the tub and not settle into another compartment on the batch therein. These machines are used with traps so that there is ample opportunity for such foreign material to settle into the trap as a result of the foregoing. This is particularly important in the washing and dry cleaning industries.

The arrangement, operation and function of the battles 9 are also of considerable importance, contributing their share to the beneficial results of the invention. As shown inthe drawings and as before described, each of the radial partition members 8 is provided with a single baflie member 9 upon one of its faces only. said baffle extending longitudinally of the cylinder axis. These baflies are located between the-central axis and the periphery of the cylinder but preferably nearer to the former than to the latter. Their purpose is to retard or hold back the work so that instead of simply sliding outwardly from the axis toward the periphery of the cylinder, it tends to move more or less suddenly, in addition to which the load is somewhat turned over or mixed up, as is indicated by comparison in order of Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive. While each compartment has but oneof the radial partition members which bound it provided with a baflie, nevertheless this bafiie acts in practically the same manner in both directions of rotation of the cylinder. Figs. 3 to 18 inclusive show the cylinder rotating in but one direction and, as described, each bafiie in turn retards or'holds back the work in its compartment as the compartment comes forward over the axis. When the cylinder is rotated in the other direction, the work collects at the axis in the pocket formed by thebaflle and is again held back until it is finally released over the edge of the baflie and falls to the angular pocket at the periphery of the compartment.

' Furthermore, all of these bafiies are located upon the corresponding faces of the several partition members, and they preferably are on one particular face of each partition, to wit. that face which is underneath when the partition is in a horizontal position, as approximately shown in the partition at the right in Fig. 9. Thedoor opening of the outer tub has its lower edge at approximately the level of the drum axis, as shown in Fig. 2,'and one edge of the door opening in each compartment of the drum is in the plane of the smooth or uninterrupted or unribbed face of a partition member, the door opening extending circumferentially of the cylinder toward the ribbed face of the other partition member of the compartment. As a result, when the cylinder is stopped with a given compartment in position for unloading or loading, the parts are approximately in the position shown in Fig. 9, the door of the tub being in the upper right hand or front quadrant in that view, as" will be observed by comparison with Fig. 2, and in this position of the parts the work is supported entirely upon the smooth unobstructed partition face and can be readily removed from or inserted into the compartment without interference by any baliling rib.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, an outer tub for treating liquid, and a load carrying cylinder rotatably mounted in said tub and comprising end heads, an outer cylindrical wall connected to said end heads, and a longitudinally extending compartment forming partition extending radially to the outer cylindrical wall and forming angular pockets at the junction therewith, said cylinder wall having perforated areas only at the angular pockets with. imperforate outer cylsaid areas being separated circumferentially of the cylinder by an intervening imperforate area, and a longitudinally extending pocketforming partition member extending radially to the cylindrical outer wall along a line within each perforated area.

3. A machine of the class described in claim 2, wherein the junction of each partitionmember with the outer wall is along a line midway of the circumferential dimension of its perforated area.

4. In a machine of the class described, a tub for treating liquid, a load carrying cylinder rotatably mounted in said tube and comprising imperforate end heads, an outer cylindrical wall having a plurality of isolated perforate areas spaced by imperforate areas and extending substantially from one end of the cylinder to the other, and longitudinal pocket-forming partitions extending radially from the center to the cylindrical wall with a partition meeting said wall along a line midway of the circumferential dimension of its perforated area.

5. A machine of the class described in claim 4, wherein each partition is provided with a single baflle on one side spaced from but near the cylinder axis.

6. In a machine of the character described, a work holding drum of cylindrical form provided with a plurality of radial partitions which are parallel with the drum axis and intersect each other at said axis and form separate compartments, each compartment having a door closed opening in its cylindrical wall, one edge of the door opening to each compartment lying approximately in the plane of one face of a artition bounding such compartment and suc face being smooth and uninterrupted, and each partition having a single bafiiing rib on its opposite face.

7 A machine of the character described in claim 6, including an outer casing or tub having a loading door in its upper front quadrant, and means for mounting the cylinder in the tub so that the rib on each parti- .ion is underneath when the partition extends horizontally at the lower edge of the loading door in the tub.

8. A machine of the class described in claim 2, wherein each partition member joins the outer wall along a line midway of the circumnature.

GRANVILLE H. WEST.

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