US1889747A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1932. w. N. GALLAGHER WASHING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1931 Patented Dec. 6, 1932 l UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE W. NEAL GALLAGHER, F NEWTON, IOWA WASHING MACHINE Application led April 4, 1931. Serial No. 527,653.

This invention relates to washing ina,- ployed, as well as other manufacturers, have chines, and more particularly to an electrical all llSed SOnlc SOIt Of gas jet mechanism for heatlng devlce rg0-operatively Connected heating lille Witter lll the tub lIl an attempt ythereto for the purpose of maintaining the to maintain the temperature of the Water in washing water at a comparatively high teinthe tub sufficiently high to assist at least in 55 peinture, the washing operation. As a matter of fact,

One of the objects of the invention lies in it must be admitted that such gas fiames are the provision of an electrical water heater nOt able actually t0 heat the large quantity operatively connected with the washing ma- 0f Water in the tub, and the mOSt they can chine tub in such manner as to circulate the d0 S t0 Inntilin the temperature for but a 60 water in the tub and heater means in a mantGlnpOlI-y pelOdner to maintain same at a comparatively high In Order t0 pIOVdc a means for actually temperature, maintaining the water Within the Washing Another objeet lieg in the provision of an machine tub at a temperature satisfactory 5 @lenti-leal Water heater Comprising a Chamfor the Washing operation, and for a consid- 65 ber having connections with a washing ma- @fable peIOd, applicant has provided the Chine tub, which permit circulation Of the Wafollowing electrically operated water circuter within the tub, as Well as the heater, in a f latng and heating device.

manner to maintain same at a relatively high In thc drawing, a Conventional Washing temperature. machine tub is disclosed at l0 having a Well 70 Other objects will appear in the follovw known character of agitator mechanism 11 ing specification, taken in connection with disposed adjacent the bottom thereof and the annexed drawing, in Whichadapted to be reciprocated in a manner to Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially accomplish Washing of the material within in section, showing the manner of mounting the tub. No necessity is seen for describing 75 my electrical Water heater in connection With th actual dIVc mechanism OI the agitatOr, a conventional washing machine tub; and in view of its extreme conventionality.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, partially in section, Specifically, with respect to the electrical taken on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1. water heating mechanism, a metal container Before referring specifically to the drawis shown at 12, preferably made of cast alum- 80 ing, it might be well to sum up the conveninum, although obviously it might also be tional constructions which have appeared made bya stamping operation. in the trade relative not only to the actual Means for connecting this container to the heating of water Within a Washing machine tub is by the fOllOWing mechanism: An uptub, but also those calculated to maintain per pipe connection between the tub and the 85 the temperature of the Water at a comparawater chamber 12 is found at 13, which pipe tively high point. is threaded at the ends 14 and 15, as shown In considering such structures, it is found in Fig. 1 of the drawing, said ends engaging that gas burners have been disposed with the container 12 and the tub 10 respectively. relation to a washing machine tub in such Additional means for securing the pipe 13 manner that the flame thereof plays directto the tub is provided in threaded exterior ly upon the tub. Such devices have certain and interior clamping mechanism 16 and 17 disadvantages, iirst, great loss of efficiency respectively. kA lower pipe 18 engages the due to the impossibility of applying the gas electrically operated water heater at its under flame to more than a small portion of the side, the outer end 19 of said pipe passing 95 tub. This results in the ineiiicient heating through the side of the tub 10 at a point subof the water and in many instances, the tub stantially adjacent the bottom thereof. The structure soon deteriorates because of the pipe 18 has the circumferentially projecting proximity of the burner. portion 20, which abuts the exterior side of The company by which applicant is emthe tub 10, while an inner clamping portion 5 peculiarly fashioned in that same forms a protective covering 22 for the tub member and the heating chamber. lt is apparent that this protective member is provided with a plu- 'rality of apertures 23, which permit circulation of the water from the tub to the heater while actually preventing any possible exit of the clothes from the tub.

Surrounding the container 12 in ka circu lar manner is an electrical heating or resistance element 24, positioned with respect to the member 12in a manner to surround COlnpletely said element and at the same time lying im mediately adjacently thereto, this obviously for the purpose of furnishing the greatest possibleamount of heating surface. This resistance element 24 is connected by means of conventional electrical connections by means of a switch boi; 25 of conventional construeH tion, containing a manually operated switch member for controlling the iiow of current to the heating element 241. Immediately sur-v rounding the heating element 24 is an insulated area 25 which is adapted to receive any desired insulation material. Finally surrounding the insulation area there is a metal housing 2o entirely surrounding the container 12. The me .aber 26 valso includes upper and lower portions 27 2S iectiif'ely which operate to entirely house the container, the electrical heating elem-ent and the surround ing insulating portion. Y

Means for securing the outer housing tothe container 12 is provided bythe dual clamp portions 29 and 30. Obviously, this outer housin mav be vsun sorted about the con,-

tainer in. any manner desired, inasmuch as same merel yacts as a su oortinc medium for` the electrical element and insulation portion. With respect to the operation of my water ftemperature maintaining unit, operatively connected to. a washing machine, it is found that under normal conditions the operator places a considerable quantity of hot water in the tub of the washer, thereafter placing the y Ofarments to be washed within the tub and nally starting the washer, with the result that the wat-er and clothes are intermingled for the washing operation.

The operator, upon placement ofthe hot :lvvater in the tub, and upon commencement of the` washing operation, may then operate the switch controlling the :dow of current to the electrical heating member 24, with the result that same will substantially immediately become heated and operate to heat the water which has naturally passed 'through `the pipes 1B and18 to the heater.

Obviousli/due to the, placement of the electrical heater inv a position adjacent to'the tub, said container is substantially filled with water from the tub. Due to the fact that the water Within the electrical heater will have is tempera-ture raised substantially, owing to the operation of the electrical heating element, a circulation will be created between the washing machine tub and the heater, and the heated water Will flow from the heater into the washing machine through the pipe 13, in the direction indicated by the arrows, while the incoming and cooler water will iioW fromthe bottom of thelwasher through the pipe 18 to the heater inl the direction shown by the arrows. This circulation of the Water is continuous and therefore operates to assist in maintaining the water in the washing machine tub at a suficiently high temperature to insure satisfactory washing of the clothes. Obviously, to accomplish such purpose, it is necessary to have thenwater at a comparatively high temperature, and inasmuch as reciprocation of the agitator and the continuous movement of the water normally operates to lower this temperature at a rapid rate, the disposition i of applicants electrical Water heater in an operative position adjacent the tub and in a manner to continuously heat the Water and circulate same, is adapted to insure the maintcnance of the Water at a relatively high temperature.

Vhat I claim is:

Y 1. In combination, a washing machine tub, a Water container disposed adjacent said tub, upper and lower pipe connections between the tub and container, said pipe members operating as a supporting. means for the container, an electrical heating element surrounding said container, insulation means for said electrical heating element and means for housing and supporting the insulating and heating element in such manner that th` water in said container will be heated tosuchl a degree as to create a continuous circulation@ of water from the tub tothe container, there` by ope-rating tomaintain said water at a temperature suitable for the washing operation.

2. In combination, a washing machine tub,

a water heating container disposed adjacent thereto, pipe connections between the Water heater and tub, an electrical heating element surrounding said container, means. for housing and insulating said electrical heating. element in'l a position immediately adjacent the container, with theresult that the water will circulate continuously between the tub` and heater, at the same time being maintained at a temperature satisfactory for the Washing operation, and means for permitting a flow of waterA from the tub` to the container but preventing passage of the clothes from the. tub. y

In testimony whereof I `have hereunto affixed my signature.-

w. NEAL GALLAGHER,"

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