US1886201A

US1886201A - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: US1886201A
Application number: US345556A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lange Robert Stewart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-03-16
Filing date: 1929-03-08
Publication date: 1932-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1949-11-01

Description

Nov. 1, 1932. R. s. LANGE 6,

WASHING MACHINE Filed March s, 1929 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Nov. 1, 1932. LAN E 1,886,201

WASHING MACHINE Filed March a, 1929 Z SheetS-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1932 FPATNT oFic ROBERT STEWART LANGE, F GORE, NEW ZEALAND WASHING MACHINE Application filed March 8, 1929, Serial No. 345,556, and in New ZeaIand March 16, 1928. I

This invention relates to that well known class of machine, generally electrically driven, used in washing clothes in which a clothes receiving perforated bowl is mounted on a rotating spindle within an enclosed tank and is capable of having its axis changed from vertical to horizontal so that it may be rotated by the driving gear in either position. In the horizontal position of the axis, the bowl is designed to dip into washing, rinsing-or blueing fluid placed within the tank in order that the fluid may penetrate the bowl and thereby-wash, and (or) blue-the clothes therein, through the rotation of the bowl. In the vertical position of the spindle the bowl is designed to be raised clear of the fluid level so that bythe rapid spinning of the bowl, the clothes therein may be drie on the hydro-extractor principle. 7 a

1 In the present invention the construction is such as to provide for the tank, and the bowl within it, being tipped together so that the 'bowl and its spindlealways remain relatively to the tank in the same position and the fluid, when the tank is vertical, isbelow the level of the bowl and, when horizontal, lies within the, then, bottom portion of the tank so that the bowl dips into it in the required I This also has a door covered top 16 to provide manner. In this invention also the means I for driving the bowl when in either of its positions, are much simplified, so that a1together a machine is provided that is simpler and cheaper and more readily operated.

The construction also embodies means for lowering the tank from the vertical to the horizontal positions, and for raising it again, and other appliances for generally facilitating the operations of the device. 2

In fully describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings,

inwhichz e V Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, thetank and bowlbeing shown in'the raised positionandpartly broken away to showthe 4 bowl within it;

- Figure 2 is a planfiof the under-framing and operating gear for the machine, the motor and driving connection therefor being omitted. r T T a 9 Figure 3 is 'a small detail of the holding underframing with the tankand bowl to .materials,'fittings and so on, the machine as in Figure 5, and serves to retain within the .tank the water with which it is charged.

device for the tank that willfbe hereinafter more fully referred to. a

Figure 4 is a rear end elevation-of the ma chine in the raised-position. 7

. Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the (shown in elevation) tilted out of vertical position. I 7 a In its general features of. constructionas follows along the established lines exemplifled in the construction of appliances of similar nature now well known in the art.

I 10 is the tank which in this inventionis mounted on an underframing or carriage 11 by being hinged at 12 to one edge thereof, so that the tank maybe turned up to extend in a vertical axis, as'in Figures 1 and l, or may be swung over to .a position inclinedtothe horizontal, as in Figure 5. The tank 10 9 which is of cylindricalform is provided with acover over its top, one part 13 of which is' hinged at 13ct'to provide for access thereto,

while the other part 14: is fixed. This part is the lower part when thetank is turned over, 7

' 15 is the rotating bowl fitted in the tank 10.

for its charging and discharging in the well known way. The bowl is made of perforated material inthe well known way and is mount.- ed on a central spindle 17 which passes down througha bearing18 in the tank bottomv and is journalled therein to permit of its free ro- 35 tation. To the lower end ofthe spindle, a

driving wheel 19 is fixed such wheel having a plain lower surface. i i f Journalled in the frame 11 is a horizontal shaft'20 that is preferably mounted atits ends in

bearings

21 and 22 one of which, 21, may be spring cushioned as suggested in dotted lines at 21a in Fig. 5 to support the shaft so that it such wheel and'the bowl, when thefshaftais 9 driven. Such drive is imparted to the shaft 20 by driving connection 2425 with an electric motor 26 arranged within the bottom of the frame 11.

The shaft 20, through reduction gearing 27 also actuates a short countershaft 28 that is j ournalled in one end of the frame 11, and on this countershaft 28 a mitre friction wheel 29 is fixed. These are so positioned that when the tank 10 is turned over on to its side, the wheel 29 will engage the mitred peripheral edge of the driving wheel 19 with a driving engagement as shown in Figure 5, and thus cause the bowl 15 to be rotated when the parts are in this position, but at a reduced rate.

Thus there is provision for the bowl 15 being driven rapidly when it is in the vertical position, and slowly when in the horizontal position. In the latter position it is used in the known way for washing and rinsing the clothes placed within it, the water being held within the tank, and in the former position, for wringing or drying them, the bowl then being above the water level, and the water being thrown out from the bowl into the tank by the centrifugal action. I

The tank is held in the vertical position by means of a catch 30 upon the lever 31 pivoted to the frame 11v which engages a catch 32 upon the tank, when the lever31 is moved laterally on its pivot. The tank is released for tipping over, by a-reverse movement of the lever. A buffer 33 containing a cushioning spring 33a is fixed to the frame 11 toengage and cushion the tank at its free edge, as such tank is turned up to the vertical from the horizontal.

' The said

catches

30 and 32 are so made as to provide for a wedging action being eflected as shown in the detail Figure 3,by means of which the tank may be forced downward against the buffer 33 to cause the wheel 19 to bear upon the periphery of the wheel 23. Consequently the driving motion, when the tank is in this position, is imparted to the i bowl by moving the handle lever 31 across in one direction, and is stopped by moving it in the other direction, the buffer being designed to hold the tank up so that the wheel 19 is just free from contact with the wheel 23.

By mounting the shaft 20 in the'spring cushioned bearing 21 provision is made for a certain amount of slip between the frictional surfaces of'thc

wheels

23 and 19 when the wheel 19 is taking up its rotation from the wheel 23, thus ensuring that the inertia.

of the bowl will be gradually overcome and the full power rotation gradually conveyed to the bowl. Consequently no overloading of the electric motor 26 is liable to take place. The tank 10 is fitted with an approved form of discharge valve 34 so that the water may be drained away therefrom-as and when required.

The tank may have an electric heater element indicated diagrammatically at 35 placed within it for heating its water con tents and may be fitted with a thermometer to record the heat of such contents. This element may be of any approved form and will be suitably protected from contact with the bowl and supplied with current by a conductor cable 35a.

The appliance may be fitted with hydraulic jacking means for use in lowering the tank from the vertical to the horizontal positions and for raising it again. These means comprise an ordinary hydraulic jack 36 affixed at an angle to the frame 11 and having its spear or plunger rod 37 extending upward and pivotally'attached at 37a to'the edge of the tank 10 that tips downward when the tank is turned over. This jack is controlled by a handle rod 38 which opens and-closes its relief valve 36a. It is designed to be actuated to force the plunger outwards and '48, also mounted on the bracket 41, by means of gearing44. This spindle 43 has acrank disc 50 mounted thereon which has a crank 'pin 45. A rocking lever 46 is pivoted to the frame'll and one end is connected to the pump 47 of the hydraulic jack. Its other end extends across the face of the disc .44 and isformed with a longitudinal slot 48 into which the crank pin 45 enters. The rotation of the disc spindle will thus impart a rocking motion to the lever 46 and thereby actuate the pump 47 in the required manner, to force the tank upward to the horizontal position. When the tank is to be lowered, the relief valve is opened.

Iclaim: I s a c m 1. A washing machine including a. water containing tank, a clothes receiving bowl mounted torotatewithin said tank, a frame horizontally pivotally supporting said tank to enable the latter to move from vertical to inclined positions, a. friction driving wheel arranged externally of the tank and connected with the bowl for rotation therewith and having a flat friction surface and a peripheral friction surface lateral thereto, and separate driving members supported in the frame alternately engageable with the fiat and pe# ripheral friction surfaces ,of the wheel' rellO spectively when the tank is shifted fromone 7 position to the other. 7

2. A washmg machine includlng awater containing tank and an upright clothes Washing bowl rotatably mounted therein, a frame pivotally supporting the tank for swinging movement about ahorizontal axis, a driving gear supported in said frame for imparting rotary movement to the washing bowl, a hydraulic jack disposed to extend vertically beneath the tank and having its upper end pivotally attached thereto, said jack including a fluid pump and a clutch controlled driving connection between the driving gear and the pump.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

ROBERT STEWART LANGE.