US1911903A

US1911903A - Laundry machine

Info

Publication number: US1911903A
Application number: US191483A
Authority: US
Inventors: James B Kirby
Original assignee: IND IMPROVEMENTS Inc
Current assignee: IND IMPROVEMENTS Inc; INDUSTRIAL IMPROVEMENTS Inc
Priority date: 1927-05-14
Filing date: 1927-05-14
Publication date: 1933-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1950-05-30

Description

May 30, 1933.v .1. B. KIRBY LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed May 14 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l James B. IGrbg A ttornegs May 30, 1933. J, |51,l KlRBY fl,9l1,903

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed May 14, 1927 :s sheets-sheet 5 At borne 59 Patented May .30, 1933 LAUNDRY MACHINE Application led Hay 14,

This invention relates to laundry machines and has for its objects the provision of a new, improved, and simplified machine for performing the functions of washing and of extracting in a single container, necessity of handling the clothes in any way between the commencement and completion of the operation. Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine which combines the advantages of the osc-illating dasher for washing and the centrifugal separator for extracting. Other objects of the invention relate to means for removing the scum and soap lees prior to the extracting operation; the

tion of grit and Water from the fabrics; the new, improved and simplified operating mechanism; the provision of new and simplified means for raising and lowering and connecting and disconnecting the rotating tub; the provision of an improved dasher which shall facilitate the rotating and distributing movements of the clothing; the provision of a dasher so related to its tub as to reduce the danger of clothing or other articles from becoming caught therebeneath and to increase the ease of discharging the liquid contents of the tub; the provision of new and improved means for lubricating the various parts; while further objects and ad vantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and formof this application I have shown an washing posection being indicated by 1-,1 in Fig. 3; Fig. 2 illustrates the same machine with parts occupying the position assumed during line of section being that indicated at 2-2 of F ig, 3; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding to the line 3 3 of-Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding to the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a development of the lower end of the vertical shaft;

without the d the extracting operation the 1927. Serial No. 191,483.

and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the upper end of said shaft.

Describing by reference characters the particular machine illustrated in the present plate 4, a bottom plate 5 and a plurality of vertical posts 6, 7, 8, Secured to the top of the plate 1 is the casing in which t e washing mechanism is located and the washing process performed. This casing in its present form comprises a substantially cylindrical upright sheet metal wall 10 seamed at its lower end to a circular bottom plate 11 and having intermediate its height an outwardly embossed hollow enlargement 12 proucing an inwardly facing circumferential recess. Located in the bottom part of this cylinder is a sheet metal lining member comprising a cylindrical wall 13 here shown as integral with a bottom 14 which overlies the height of the enlargement 12, and adjacent to the' bottom of said enlargement the wall 13 is clrcumferentially enlarged as illustrated,

at 16, to fit tightly against the wall 10 to wh1ch it is soldered in leak-proof relation,

can be used and the two, if used together can be made separately.

The top late 4 of the mechanism frame is formed wit a central upright hollow socket 24 in which is received the upright cylindrical sleeve 25, the bottom of the tub being suitably apertured therefor, and slidably and rotatably mounted in this sleeve is the vertical e space outside the.

shaft 26 havmg its lower end reduced as shown at '27 to enter a socket 28 formed in the plate 5 and there rest-ing upon a thrust bearing 29. Tightly secured to said shaft above said reduced portion is a spiral pinion and secured above said pinion is the hallbearing 31 embraced by a cup member 32 to whose sides is pivoted the bifurcated end of the lever 33. T he other end of said lever is articulated at 34 to the free end of an arm 35 pivoted at 36 about a bracket 4a carried by the plate 4. The upper end of the 4post 6 is squared as shown at G in Figs. 2 and 3 so as to afford room for bearings, and in the same is pivoted a horizontal rock shaft 37, having secured to one end the pedal lever 38 and to the other 'end the lifting lever 39 whose free end carries a roller 40` running along a suitably shaped track 41 on the lever 33. By pressing this pedal from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the lever 33 is moved from lower to upper position and with it the shaft 26. In order to hold the parts in elevated position I have shown a trigger lever 42 pivoted to the pedal lever at 43 and having one end formed to engage with a suitable pin 44 carried by the post 6a. The trigger is located so as to be actuated by the toe of the same foot with which the pedal is operated.

The upper end of the shaft 26 has a plurality of angularly spaced vertical grooves 45 cut therein as illustrated in Fig. 6, after which a portion of the teeth so produced are removed by turning down the shaft as shown at 46 thereby forming two

luted portions

47 and 48 constituting a kind of head and shoulder respectively, separated by the neck 46. Loosely surrounding the sleeve 25 is another sleeve 50 having at its upper end an inwardly projecting annular flange 51 which, when the shaft 26 is depressed as illustrated in Fig. 1, rests on the upper end of the sleeve 25. The interior of the passageway through this flange is grooved to match the teeth on the head 47, while the distance between the thrust bearing 29 and neck 46 is so chosen that when the shaft is in lowered position as shown in Fig. 1 said flange shall register with said neck, the head 47 projecting thereabove and the shoulder 48 being withdrawn therebelow. i

To the lower end of the sleeve 50 is secured the tub or container in which the clothing is washed and centrifuged. This tub or container is preferably made of two sheet metal members seamed together circumferentially at 52. The outer or rim member consists merely of a vertical perforated'portionr 53- merglng w1th an inwardly tapered part 54' terminating in a roll rim 55. The other member consists of a circular bottom part 56 tightly secured to the sleeve 50 and surrounded by 'an upstanding annular bead 57 having an abrupt inner face 58 and a gradually slanting outer face 59. Outside of said bead the bottom of the tub first drops a little way as illustrated at 60 and then swings upwardly as at 6l to a cylindrical portion 62 which extends to the seam 52. This construction-produces an annular trough or channel surrounding the elevated central portion of the tub, and adapted to catch buttons, sand, nails, pins and other articles sometimes aceidentally found in clothing, and prevent the same from working under the dasher. The bottom of this trough or channel is formed with discharge provisions 63 for the drainage of liquid therefrom. The portion 62 is also perforated for the centrifugal discharge of the extracted liquid.

The container is preferably formed with a rounded bottom on any section taken through the axis of rotation of the container, and it is also shown herein as having its top part similarly rounded lnwardly. This not only produces a device which is easy to make, but one which is devoid of angles in which clothing or sediment can collect, although these features are susceptible of wide changes.

Located inside the tub is a false bottom comprising a circular portion 64 tightly secured to the sleeve at 65 and having a downturned rim 66 braced against and soldered to the abrupt wall 58 of the rib 57. This false bottom has the multiple purpose of bracing the lower part of the tub, lightening the same by constituting a floating chamber, and guarding against the entering of clothing beneath the agitator or dasher now to be described. This agitator or dasher may take any one of numerous detail shapes, particu larly as regards its blades, but as regards its body it preferably comprises a hollow cylindrical central sleeve 68 formed at its upper end with a hollow head 69 which is internally grooved to intermesh with the teeth on the head 47. I have shown a hollow sheet metal cap 70 as secured to the end of the shaft 26 and slidably overlapping the head 69 to prevent the ingress of water. At its lower end the sleeve 68 expands to form a Haring circular disk 71 terminating in a downturned flange 72 which laps over the vertical wall 66 of the false bottom. The disk 71 merges into the sleeve 68 in a long sweep as shown at 73, and the exterior of the device is provided with blades or vancs 74 of any desired conformation.

Journaled in the upper ends of the posts and 7 above the rock shaft 37 is the horizbntal driving shaft 78 to which is connected the motor 79 and on which is tightly mounted the worin gear 80 and the hub 81 of the friction clutch 82. Journaled on a horizontal stud 83 carried by the. post 7 beneath the shaft 78 is a worm gear 84 meshing with the worm 80 and having a rigid ball 85 projecting from its face. Rotatably sleeved on the post 8 is the hub 86 of a segmental gear 87. Pivoted to said hub on the horizontal axis 88 is the bifurcated end of a crank arm 89 having at lof ' duce engagement between be spiral-pinion when the-latter is lowered as shown in 1 Loosely journaled onv the shaft 78 adjacent to the clutch member 82 is a' sleeve 91 ha tightly secured to one end a companion clutch member 92 and to the other end a spiral gear 93 adapted tov mesh with the pinion 30 when the latter is raised to the'position shown in Fig. 2. Pivoted to the plate 1 upon a vertical axis 94 is a clutching lever 95 which engages said sleeve through the medium of a thrust bearing 96, a spring 97 being provided to prothe members 82 and 92 of the clutch whenever said lever is released by the turning of the cam 98 carried by the upright rod 99 provided with the control handle 100. The direction of slant of the gear teeth 93 is so chosen relative to the direction of rotation of the shaft 78 as to tend to disengage the clutch members 82-92 against the action of the spring 97 whenever the re- Sistance to rotation of the shaft 26 is excessive, as upon starting the same from rest. Accordingly the load on the motor is determined by the stili'ness and adjustment of the spring 97 and can never excessive. angle of the pinion 30 and rack 87 are dematerial can be inserted at the opposite side of the gear 93 in order to bring the container rapidly to rest whenever the cam 98 is rotated in the appropriate direction.

depends the lower end of the sheet metal housin 106; and for the purpose of distributing 51e oil to different gears I have shown a simple oil pump plane of the rack 87, said rack being rovided with a suitable plunger 108 adapted to enter said cylinder at each oscillation and force its contents through an oil pipe 109. This pipe delivers into a hollow "basin 110 formed in the upper surface of the plate 4. The bottom of this basin is formed above each gear and adjacent to each shaft with suitable perforations as indicated at 111 to ischarge a continuous supply of oil thereto. Also a radial oil hole 112 is provided into the interior of the sleeve 25. To produce the desired flow of oil throughout the height of the shaft 26 engaged by the sleeve 25 when the shaft is in its raised position, special provisions are made as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. To this end the surface of said shaft is provided with two parallel longitudinal oil grooves 113 and 114 connected at their upper ends in any suitable manner but preflocated in the 1 erably'by a slanted ve 115 which exends-from the dnwno `on as to tend, wh rection shown by. the arrow in Fig. 5, to draw the oil downwardly. To the lower end of the groove 113 is joined another groove 116 slanted and to the lower end of the groove 114 is joined et another spiral groove 117 of the Same ant as groove 15. The oil hole 112 must intersect the ve 116 and the groove 114. As a result t e continuous rotation of the shaft in the direction shown b the arrow causes the oil entering through t e hole 112 move upwardly in th hence throug the inclination of the portlons and 117 en rotated in the dithe sleeve at such times to serve the comparatively slight requirements of the intervening washing periods In case the tub be made to operate always at one level the oil grooves are arranged to operate all the time. The pattern of the grooves is of very little importance except at the two ends, and espeend nearest the oil hole. This en- In use the gears are supplied with a quantity of oil such as a quart, the valves 19 and 122 are closed, the tub lowered to the position shown Yin Fig. 1 and supplied with [the articles preferably to submerge the rims 55 and 15. It Will be noted that while those rims here exhibit the same level they need not always do so. Energizing the motor imparts a brisk oscillation to the dasher which not only creaxial section. The apertures 63 at the lowest point of the extractor container discharge all sand and grit, the slanting portion 59 d1rects the clothes past the edge of the ange to be washed, and liquid introduced groove 114 in such oppositely from the groove 115,

72 and minimizes the tendency to catch. The cone portion 6-1 decreases the tendency of clothes to work beneath the dasher and also facilitates discharge of the liquid contents of the tuh. The scum and grit are discharged from the tub by the currents produced by the dasher, and are separated from the detergent liquid in the quiet zone between the tub and casing.

During the washing operation the toothed collar 51 registers with the neck 46.

The pedal 38 is now depressed, which raises the shaft 26 and inserts the teeth 48 into this collar in driving relation, while the engagement of this collar with the bottoms of the grooves which produce these teeth causes the tub to be raised to the position shown in Fig. 2. rI`he head 47 also preferably slips through the head 69, thus leaving the dasher undisturbed so as not to produce any gaps in which clothes can find their way. At the same time the pinion 30 disengages the rack 87 and eventually engages with the gear 93, which is supposed to be free since the clutch 8292 is supposed to be engaged only while the centrifuge is in actual use. The casing is preferably rather small so that the liquid remaining behind after the tub is elevated stands well below the bottom thereof as shown in Fig. 2.

The handle 100 is now turned to release the lever 95 to the action of the spring 97 which causes such an acceleration of the tub as the motor can bear. The dasher is not removed but rotates with the tub and clothes, the blades producing such an air current as to assist the drying effect if long continued. If desired to save the extracted liquid the valve 19 can be closed so that the gutter will overflow back into the casing. It will be noted that the rim of this gutter is shown as above the bottom of the tub but if it be below the extracting perforations it will catch the eiiluent therefrom. The clothes can also be rinsed by causing a hose to discharge into the tub during the rotation thereof, all the rinse water passing into the annular gutter and none into the casing so long as the rotation be maintained.

The rotation is arrested by turning the handle 100 so that the cam 98 may force the gear 93- against the brake material 101 through the action of the lever 95. The finished clothes are removed, the tub depressed to its original position, and more clothes added, enough fresh liquid being introduced to compensate for that discharged While floating out the scum. The lowering of the shaft 26 automatically disengages it from the tub and engages it with the rack 87.

It will be understood that although the various parts and features of this machine have been designed with reference to the most successful interaction it is possible to modify or substitute many of those parts and features without serious impairment of the device so that I do not limit myself in any wise to the things illustrated or described, except as the same are specifically recited in my several claims which I desire may be construed each independently of limitations contained in other claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing adapted to hold washing liquid, a clothes container located inside said casing and conforming to a surface of revolution about a vertical axis, the side wall of said container having liquid discharge apertures, a clothes agitating element located inside said container, means working through the bottom of said casing and container for producing a to-andfro movement of said washing element independently of any movement of said container and also for rotating said container to discharge liquid through said wall apertures, means for raising said container to an extracting position and for lowering said container to a washing position, and an annular trough surrounding said container inside said casing and located below said wall apertures during the rotation of said container so as-to receive the liquid expelled therefrom during such rotation.

2. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing adapted to hold washing liquid, a container located inside said casing and having its side and bottom walls conforming to a surface of revolution about a vertical axis, the lower portion of said side walls being slanted outwardly and upwardly and substantially devoid of perforations, the upper portion of said side walls being perforated above said slanting portion, a clothes agitating element located inside said container, means working through the bottom of said casing and container for producing a reciprocating movement of sai-d element and also for rotat-I ing said container to discharge liquid through said wall apertures, means for raising sai container to an extracting position and for lowering said container to a washing position, and an annular trough surrounding said container inside said casing to receive the liquid expelled therefrom during the rotation thereof, said trough being located at a lower level than that defined by the lowermost of said wall apertures during the extracting operation.

3. In a laundry machine, a combined clothes container and centrifuge having substantially the shape of a very oblate spheroid mounted with its axis vertical and having water discharge apertures formed in its equatorial zone and an opening through its upper polar zone, in combination with a washing element located inside said clothes container and movable independently thereof.

4. In a clothes washing machine, a casing, a circular container for clothing therein having a perforated wall for the circulation of liquid, an oscillatable dasher mounted in said container on a vertical axis, and means for oscillating said dasher about said axis, said dasher having radial blades and having at its lower end an outwardly flaring circular disk, said disk underlying the clothing and overlapping the container bottom.

In a laundry machine, a casing, a circular tub therein, anV oscillatable dasher mounted on a vertical' axis 'inside said tub and having at its lower end a circular disk .JZ-fclose to the t-ub bottom, and nieans for selectively oscillating said dasher 'and spinning said tub, the lateral wall of said tub having tical-bearing in perforations and forated outside of the bottom wall being persaid disk.

6. In a laundry machine, a casing, a verits bottom, a shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in said bearing, a congears thereon, a rack tainer in said casing, a washing element in said container operatively connected to said shaft, means for raising and lowering said shaft, means for securing said container to said shaft to rise and rotate therewith, said container when elevated being located above the liquid contents of the casing, a pinion carried by said shaft and mechanism beneath said casing for driving said pinion, said mechanism including a constantly rotating gear engaged by said pinion at its uppermost position and a constantly reciprocating rack engaged by said pinion at its lowermost position.

7. In a laundry machine, a casing, a vertical bearing in its bottom, a shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in said bearing, a container in said casing, a washing element in said container operatively connected to said shaft, means for raising and lowering said shaft, means for securing said container to said shaft torise and rotate therewith and for disengaging said container from said shaft at its lowest position, said container when elevated being located above the liquid contents of the casing, a horizontal drive shaft beneath said casing having two spiral gearr oscillatably mounted below said drive shaft, driving connections for said rack gear including one of said spiral gears, and a spiral pinion on said first shaft adapted at opposite limits of its 'vertical movement to mesh with said other the lower part of side of said agitator, and drainage provisions in said trough, said trough having its inner wall slanting downwardly and outwardly outside of the margin of said agitator.

9. In a laundry machine a tub, a vertical shaft projecting through the tub bottom, an agitator carried by said shaft and having at its lower end a circular disk which overlies the tub bottom, said tub bottom being slanted downwardly and outwardly outside of said disk to define an annular trough, and drainage provisions at the lowest point of said trough.

10. In a combined clothes washing and extractng machine, a sheet metal container having a region of maximum diameter intermediate the top and bottom thereof, said region having water discharge perforations therein, a casing surrounding said container, said casing conforming closely to the shape of the portion of said container below the largest part of said container, means for supporting said container at different heights in said casin 11.` A washing machine comprising: a casing for Washing liquid, a perforated tub in said washing li disposed clear of said li and an oscillatable dasher in said tub ing a base adjacent to the bottom thereof and underlying the articles immersed in said liquid and for rotating said b when disposed above the liquid.

12. A washing machine comprising: a casing, a tub and an agitating device in said for effecting oscillating movements of said agitating device about t e axis of said tub and for rotating said tub; and an annular trough adapted to catch liquid discharged centrifugally from said tub.

washing machine comprising: a casing, a tub in said casin and an oscillatable dasher in said tub, said tub and d of said dasher about the axis of said tub when in its lowered position and for rotating tub when in its elevated position; and an annular trough adapted to catch liquid discharged from said tub during such rotation.

14. In a combined clothes washing machine and extractor, a container having approxi-l mately the form of the equatorial zone of a' respect to said casing; means highly oblate spheroid and formed with liquid discharge apertures at its region of greatest diameter, the side wall being substantial-A ly imperforate elsewhere.

15,. In a laundry machine, a casing, a clothes container in said casing, a washing element located in'said container and mounted for oscillation about a vertical axis, means for raising and lowering said container and washing element, said container when lowered being immersed in the liquid contents of said casing and when elevated being located above the liquid contents of the casing, a rotating member and an oscillating meinber located beneath said casing, and means operative upon the elevation of said container for automatically connecting said rotating member thereto in operating .relation and automatically disconnecting said oscillating member from said washing element, said means also operative upon the lowering of said container connect said oscillating member automatically said washing element and to disconnect said container automatically from said rotating element.

16. In a laundry machine in combination, a casing, a clothes container in said casing, an agitator located in said container and mounted for oscillation about a vertical ams. means for raising and lowering s aid container and agitator relatively to said ca singso as to locate the same above the washing liquid and immerse the same such washing liquid respectively, oscillating mechamsm and rotating mechanism located below said casing, means operative solel when said container and agitator occupy t e ir lowered position for connecting said oscillating mechanism to said agitator and for disconnecting said rotating mechanism from said coiitamerE and means operative upon the elevation o said container and agitator for connecting said rotating mechanism to said container and disconnecting said oscillating mechanism from said agitator.

17. In a laundry machine, in combination, a casing, a container located inside said casing, an agitator located inside said container and mounted therein for oscillation about a vertical axis, a lever pivoted outside s aid casing upon a horizontal axis, connections be-` tween said lever and container for raising and lowering said container inside said casing, oscillating mechanism and rotating mechanism located below said casing, means operative when said container is lowered for automatically connecting said oscillating mechanism to said agitator, said means serving upon the elevation of said container to disconnect said agitator from such oscillating mechanism, and means operative upon the elevation of said container for connecting such rotating mechanism thereto, said means also serving to disconnect said container from said rotating mechanism when lowered. i

18. In a laundry machine, a casing for the reception of detergent liquid, a hollow :verti-v cal sleeve carried by the casing bottom and rising above liquid level, a second vertical sleeve surrounding said first sleeve and movable relatively thereto, a container for articles to be washed secured to. said second sleeve coaxial therewith and having its wall formed to discharge liquid centrifugally upon rapid rotation, a third vertical sleeve surrounding said second sleeve and movable relatively thereto, dasher blades carried by said third sleeve, a rotating member and an oscillating member located below said casing, shaft means working through said first sleeve, means located beneath said casin and working in cooperation with said sha t-means for raising and lowering said second and third.

sleeves, and means operative upon elevation of said second and third sleeves to disconnect said third sleeve from said oscillating member and to connect said second sleeve in operated relation to said rotating member, said means also operative upon lowering of said second and third sleeves to disconnect said second sleeve from said rotating member and to connect said third sleeve in operated relation to said oscillatin member.

19. In a clothes was ing machine, a casing, a container for clothing located inside said casing and defining with the casing wall a narrow annular liquid space, said container being everywhere circular in horizontal section and its side wall bein outwardly rounded in vertical-section ad]acent to its upper and lower margins, in combination with an ocillatable dasher mounted inside said container on a vertical axis and having at its lower end a circular Haring disk which projects close to the bottom of said container, said dasher also having blades projecting from said disk, and said side wall having apertures adjacent to its portion of greatest diameter, there being an imperforate region between said perforations and the top rim of said container.

20. In a combination washing machine and extractor, a casing having an upright sleeve, an extractor Ahaving an upright sleeve adapted to loosely surround said first sleeve, a washing element having a sleeve loosely surrounding said second sleeve, a shaft in said first sleeve having said Washing element secured thereto, means for moving said shaft vertically, means for connecting said shaft to said second sleeve at one height and for disconnecting it therefrom at a different height, and means for imparting to said shaft a diierent type of motion at different heights.

21. In a combined washing machine and extractor, a casing having an upright sleeve. an extractor in said casing havin a central sleeve loosely surrounding said rst sleeve,

the top of said first `toothed,`a vertical shaft in said teeth of said collar and also having adjacent by said horizontal shaft, a plnion meshing,

thereto a reduced neck adapted to pass freely through said collar, means for raising and lowering said shaft and thereby engaging and disengaging said shaft relative to said centra] sleeve, and driving mechanism adapted to rotate said shaft when` the same is located at the height which causes said tinted portion to engage the teeth in said collar.

22. In a combined washing machine and extractor, a casing having an upright sleeve, an extractor in said casing havin a central sleeve loosely surrounding said rst sleeve, said second sleeve having a collar overlappin the top of said lirst sleeve and toothed, a washing device in said device interlorly 23. In a combined washing machine and extractor, in combination, a casmg, a container in said casinga washing device in said container, a vertical shaft'rotatably and slidably mounted in the bottom of said vcasin having said washing device secured thereto, a spiral pinion fixed on said shaft below said container and rotatable therewith, means for raising and lowering said shaft and pinion, a horizontal shaft having two spiral gears thereon, a pinion meshing with one of said gears, a rack operatively last. pinionl and adapted to engage said first pinion in one position of the latter, the secbeing located so as 1 to engage said first inion -at another position ond of said spiral gears of the latter, said rst pinion and rack also having spiral teeth, and means for connecting said shaft to said container in driving lrelation at the elevation corresponding to the engagement of said pinion with said second gear and disconnecting'it from said container at the elevation corresponding to its engagement 4with said rack.

24. In a combined washing machine and extractor, in combination, a casing, a vertical shaft journaled in said casing adapted to operate a washing and extracting mechanism, a pinion carried by said shaft casing, means compelling said shaft and p inion to rotate together at all times while permitting vertical movement of said pinion along the axis of said shaft, a horizontal shaft beneath said casing, two spiral gears carried said conl .said

`nected to said shaft and g to and disconnecting it from .said container connected to said f vment locatedin the beneath said,

with one of said gears, a rack operatively connected to said last pinion and movable transversely of saidiirst shaft, and means 'for raising and .lowering said first pinion, said first pinion meshing with said rack at position of its second of said of its elevation,

from, a clothes container inside said casing g andalso having a hollow vertical sleeve carcent to the bottom thereof and having vanes extending upwardly therefromithe side of container having perfogns for the passage of liquid, alrotata le power shaft belowsaid casing, two sets of movement-converting mechanism operatively conboth rotational ,movement and' oscillating respectively,

and means at the upper end of said Asecond sleeve for connecting saidy shaft impart backand forth motion thereto. 26. In a combined washing machine and extractor, a' casing, a hollow vertical sleeve d v container adapted to have clothes washed and extracted therein,

a washing elebottom part of said conand having vanes extending upwardly therefrom, a rotatable powershaft below said casing, two sets of movement-converting mechanism operatively connected to ,saidv shaft and adapted to produce both rotational movementand oscillating movement, a vertically movableshaft inside said first sleeve for transmitting such movement to said container and washing element respectively,

means for connecting said shaft to said washing element in operating relation, and interfitting provisions carried lby the upper end of said shaftand by the' upper end of said second sleeve, whereby said shaft is connected to said container when 4said shaft stands at one elev'ation and is disconnected from said said first pinvertical sleeve l' one 0 ly through said collar,

container when said shaft stands at a second elevation.

27. In a combined clothes washing machine and extractor, a casing having an up right sleeve, an extractor in said casing having a central sleeve loosely surrounding said first sleeve, said second sleeve having a collar overlapping the top of said first sleeve and interiorly toothed, first sleeve having a fluted portion adapted to fit the teeth in said collar and also having adjacent thereto a reduced neck adapted to pass freely through said collar, means for shifting said extractor and shaft vertically one relatively to the other to cause said fluted portion to be engaged with and disengaged from said collar, and driving mechanism adapted to operate said shaft.

28. In a combined clothes washing machine and extractor, a casing having an upright sleeve, washing means and extracting means in said casing, said extracting means having a central sleeve loosely sleeve, said second sleeve having a collar overlappingv the top of said first sleeve and being interiorly toothed, vertical shaftmeans projecting through said first sleeve and having two vertically spaced fluted portions having teeth complementa to the teeth of said collar, one of the flute portions of said shaft-means being selectively engageable therewith and the other of the uted rtions of said shaft-means being provided for drivin engagement Ywith said washing means, an also having between said fiuted portions a reduced neck adapted to pass freesaid neck having a length greater than they height of the-toothed portion of said collar, said collar and shaftmeans bein vertically movable one relatively to the ot er to engage and disengage said shaft means and central sleeve, and driving mechanism operatively connected to said shaft-means to produce rotative movement and oscillating movement thereof.

29. In a laundry machine, a casing, an upright sleeve therein, a tub in saidcasin having a verticalsleeve surrounding sai first sleeve, a dasher in said tub having a verticaly sleeve surrounding said second sleeve, a vertical shaft slidably and rotatably mounted in said first sleeve, the upper end of said shaft havin two engagingportions, one for said secon sleeve and one for said third sleeve, and said second and third sleeves being formed to cooperate therewith, and means for raising and gaging portions said second sleeve as to become disconnected upon lowering said shaft and connected upon` raising said shaft.

30. n a laundry machine, a casing, an upright sleeve therein, a tub in said casing having a vertical sleeve surrounding said first sleeve, a dasher in 'said tub having a vertical a vertical shaft in saidv surrounding said firstv lowering said shaft, the enthereof being so related to sleeve surrounding said second sleeve, a vertical shaft slidably and rotatably mounted in said first sleeve, the upper end of said shaft having two engaging portions, and a reduced neck between them, said second sleeve being constructed to engage with the lower portion and said third sleeve being constructed to engage with the upper portion, means for raising and lowering said shaft, and mechanism for rotating said shaft when in elevated position and oscillating it when in lowered osition, the lower engaging portion being ormed when raised to enga e and elevate and drive said second sleeve an when lowered to lower and disengage said second sleeve.

31. Iii a laundry machine, a casing having an upright sleeve, anextractor in said casing having a central sleeve loosely surrounding lsaid first sleeve, said second sleeve having interiorly projecting teeth located above the top of said first sleeve, a. vertical shaft in said first sleeve having a luted portion adapted to fit said teeth and also having adjacent. thereto a reduced neck adapted to pass freely through the aperture defined by said teeth, said shaft and extractor being vertically shiftable one relatively to the other to produce engagement and disengagement between said teeth and said fluted portion, means for operating said shaft, and means for maintaining said shaft and said extractor in their` relative selected positions of adjustment.

32. In a combined washing Amachine and extractor, a casing having an. upright sleeve, an extractor in said casing havin a central sleeve loosely surrounding said rst sleeve, said second'sleeve having inte'riorly projecting teeth located above the top of said first sleeve, a Washing device in said container, said device having an interiorly toothed socket located above said first teeth, a vertical shaft in said first sleeve having a fluted head adapted to fit said socket and also having a neck adapted to project loosely through the aperture defined by said teeth, said shaft and extractor being vertically shiftable one relatively to the other to produce engagement and disengagement between said teeth and fiuted head, means for maintaining said shaft and extractor in their relative selected posi` tion of adjustment, a motor, and mechanism for connecting said motor to said shaft in oscillating relation' and in rotating relation selectively.

33. In a combined washing machine and extractor, a casing having an upright bearing, vertical shaft-means journaled in said bearing and having vertically spaced f'luted portions, washin .means and extracting means in said casing, said extracting means having a central sleeve coaxial with said bearin and formed with interiorly rojecting teeth adapted toA interfit with said uted portions selectively, .said shaft-means and ex- 'trac'ting means being vertically shiftable, one relatively to the other, to produce en"- gagement and disengagement between said teeth and one of the fluted portions of said shaft-means, the other of the iluted portions of said shaft-means being provided for driving engagement with said washing means, means for maintaining said extractor and shaft-means in their relative selected positions of adjustment, and means for imparting oscillating and rotating movements to said uted portions.

34. In a clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing for holding the washin liquid, a clothes container therein, means or raising and lowering said container so as either to immerge its contents in said washing liquid, or to elevate the same above the level ot the liquid, an agitator in said container blades extending therefrom, means working through the bottom of said container and casing for oscillating said agitator independently of said container when said container is lowered, and means for rotating said container in its raised position.

35. In a clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing for holding the washing liquid, a clothes container therein, means for raising and lowering said container in said casing so as either to-raise it above said washing liquid, or to immerge its contents in said liquid, an agitator located in said container having a plate portion with liquid agitating blades traversing the face of the plate and projecting therefrom and ymounted for angular oscillation about a vertical axis relative thereto, means for oscillating said agitator to effect 'the washing operation, and means operative when said container is in its elevated position for rotating said container about its vertical axis.

36. In a clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, a casing for holding a detergent liquid, a clothes container in said casing adapted to be positioned adjacent to the bottom of the casing and in the liquid during the time the washing operation takes place, liquid circulating vanes located adjacent to the bottom central portion of said container and projecting upwardly therefrom, means for oscillating said vanes about atvertical axis and means for rotating said container to' discharge its liquid contents.

37. In a combined clothes Washing machine and extractor, in combination, an agitator oscillatable about a vertical axis to effect the washing operation, a centrifuge container rotatable about a vertical axis to extract adherent liquid from the clothing, driving means for said agitator and container comprising a source of power, a pair of axially aligned spiral having a hub with gears driven by said source of power, the axes of said gears bein substantially at right angles to the axis o said agitator and container, a continuously driven worm gear meshin with one of said spiral gears, motion trans ating means for connecting said worm gear to said agitator to eect its oscillation, a second worm gear meshing with the other of said spiral ears and coaxial with said container an operatively connected thereto, and a friction clutch having a part fixed to rotate with said source of power and said first worm gear and having another part movable along the spiral gears for connecting and disconnecting said second spiral gear to and from said source of power.

38. In a laundry machine, a casing, an upright sleeve therein, a container in said casing having a vertical sleeve movably surrounding said first sleeve, a dasher in said container having a vertical sleeve movably surrounding said second sleeve and also having blades located in position -to be immersed in the liquid contentsl of said container, operating mechanism located beneath said casing, said mechanism comprising an oscillating elementvand a rotating element, and a vertically movable shaft working in said rst Vto said second sleeve and for connecting said oscillating element to said third sleeve.

39. In a laundry machine, an upright casing having an unobstructed top opening, an vupright sleeve rising from the bottom of said casing, an upright, open-topped container in said casing having a vertical sleeve movably surrounding said first sleeve and coaxial therewith, a dasher in said container having a vertical sleeve movably, surrounding said second sleeve and also having'liquid-agitating blades, vertical shaft-means journaled inside said iirst sleeve for supporting and operating said second and third sleeves, driving mechanism located beneath said casing, and mechanism including said shaft-means for connecting said driving mechanism in operative relation to said second and third sleeves selectively.

40. In a laundry machine, a casing, an upright stationary hollow sleeve located therein and having its lower end secured to the casing-bottom in leak-tight relation, a vertical shaft movably mounted inside said "sleeve, means located beneath said casing for operating said shaft, two hollow sleeves located inside said lcasing one outside the other and both surrounding and coaxial with said first sleeve, means for securing the uppervends of said two last-named sleeves to said shaft above said first sleeve, agitator blades carried by one of said last mentioned sleeves, and a container carried by the other of said last mentioned sleeves.

4l. In a combined clothes-washing extracting machine, a casing,

and a vertical sleeve axis of said inde endentl in the bottom thereof, a vertical shaft in said sleeve, a clothes-container concentric with said shaft inside said. casing and movable verticall to and between-positions in and'out of liqui contact, a washing-element in said container operatively connected to said shaft, a driving-element located below said casing, two selectively operable driving connections between said driving element and shaft, one of said connections servin to rotate said shaft continuously in one irection and the other serving to rotate said shaft first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, said washing-element being of a type to be actuated by such oscillation, means for detachably connecting said shaft to said container whereby the same may be elevated and rotated, means independent of said shaft for supporting said container during the washing operation, a lever adapted and arranged for raising and lowering said shaft, and means operative upon determined changes in position of said lever to connect said driving element to said shaft through one or the other of said driving connections.

42. In a combined clothes-washing tracting machine, a casing, a vertical sleeve in the bottom thereof, a vertical shaft in said sleeve, a clothes-container concentric with said shaft inside said casing and movable verticall to and between positions in and out of the liquid, a washing-element' in said container operatively connected to said shaft, means for detachably connecting said container to said shaft whereby the container may be raised and rotated for extracting adherent .liquid from its fabric contents, means independent of said shaft for supporting said container during the washing operation, a

edal for raisin and lowering said shaft, a

riving-elementocated beneath said casing, two selectively operable driving-connections between said driving-element and shaft, one of said connections serving to rotate and the other to oscillate said shaft angularly, said washing-element being of a type to be actuated by such oscillation, and means operatively connected with said pedal for automatically connecting said driving-element and shaft through one or the other of said connections according to the position of said pedal.

43. In a washing machine, a casing, a vertical bearing sleeve therein, a clothes-contain- 55 er inside said casing adapted to rest upon a stationary part of said casin during the washing operation, a washing-e ement in said container having blades adapted to produce liquid movement when oscillated angularly, 60 a shaft projecting through said sleeve, driving-connections between said shaft and washing element, means for connecting said shaft to said container, a lever located for actuation by the operator, operative connections from 65 said lever to said shaft for elevating said and exshaft to lift said container out of contact with the wash ing liquid, a driving-element, means operative when said lever is in one position for connecting said driving-element to said shaft in a manner to produce angular oscillation thereof relative to said container, and means operative when said lever is in another position for connecting said driving-element to said shaft in a manner to rotate the same continuously in one direction.l

44. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, a casing, a container therein, a vertical shaft traversin the bottom of both said` casing and container, a drivingelement below said casing, operative connections between said driving-element and said shaft adapted to impart to said shaft either a motion of angular oscillation or a motion of continuous rotation, a washing element having a base portion overlying the bottom of said container and connected to said shaft, means for securing said shaft detachably to said container in rotating relation in addition to said washing element, said washin element having liquid agitating blades, an means for supportin the container close tov the bottom of th-e casing during the washing operation.

45. In a combined washing machine and centrifuge, in combination, an upright liquid-containing casing, an upright container,

means for supporting sald container inside said casing and close tothe casing bottom,

said container having an apertured side wall defining a surface `of revolution about its axis, a washing element located inside said container and having liquid agitating blades extending upwardly from the bottom thereof and adapted to set up currents of liquid upon oscillation of said washing-element about a vertical axis, an electric motor, two trains of gearing, one train including oscillating elements and the other train including rotating elements, and means for connecting said oscillating element to said washing-element in operating relation and for connecting said rotating elements to said container in rotating relation, said means including a manually operable element outside'of said casing andl also including a selectively positioned art whereby simultaneous connection of sai .oscillating and rotating elements is rendered impossible.

46. In a combined clothes-washing and extracting machine, a casing, a vertical shaft therein, an upright container located therein and having liquid circulation apertures formed at a plurality of different elevations in its side wall, said side Wall defining a surface of revolution about said shaft, means including an electric motor for oscillating said shaft angularly about its axis, a washing element located inside said container and comprising liquid agitating blades extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, operative connections between said shaft and washing element, means for connectin said shaft to said container, means inclu ing the same motor for thereafter rotating said shaft and container, said means` being interdependent and exclusive each of the other and said container being located close to the bottom of said casing during the operation of said oscillating means.

47. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, a casing, a container inside said casing and having side walls which define a surface of revolution about a vertical axis, said casing and container having registering openings at their upper ends and the wall of said container being formed to allow the centrifugal expulsion of its liquid contents upon the rapid rotation of said container about its axis, a washing-element mounted on a vertical axis inside said container and movable relative to said container, said washing-element having blades extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom and adapted to produce liquid currents when said washing element is oscillated angularly about its axis, an electric motor, means for supporting said motor relative to said casing, gearing including oscillating devices for connecting said motor to said washing element in operating relation, gearing including rotating devices for connecting said motor to said container in rotating relation, means for effecting the attachment of said gearing selectively to said washing-element and container and preventing the attachment of said gearing simultaneously to said washing-element and container, and means for supporting said container in close Iproximity to the bottom of said casing during the connection of said motor to said washing-element.

48. In a clothes washin and extracting machlne, a casing, a forammous walled container inside said casing, a washing element inside said container, reciprocating mechanism for said element and rotating mechanism for said container located below, said casing and working through Athe bottom thereof, a pedal pivoted on a horizontal axis beneath said casing and means controlled by said pedal and operative when said pedal stands at one limit of its movement for causing the actuation of said reciprocatin mechanism, and operative when said pedastands at the other limit of its movement for causing the actuation of said rotating mechanism, means connecting said washing element to said reciprocating mechanism for producin a washing operation,

container' to said rotating mechanism for producing an extracting operation, means for supporting said container close to the bottom of said casing during the connection of said reciprocating mechanism to said was g element, means connecting said pedal to said container whereby said container is elevated above liquid level by the movement of said pedal to effect connection of said rotating mechanism to said container. and means for releasably securing said pedal in its last-named position. y

49. In a combined washing and extracting machine, a container for the articles to be washe means for washing the articles therein and also for rotating said container at extracting speed, a sheet metal casing surrounding said container and arranged to catch the liquid expelled therefrom, and a metal shield surrounding the li uid-contacting part of said casing and 'de ning therewith an annular air-chamber, and serving to protect the casing both against blows and against heat-loss.

50. In a laundry machine, a casinghaving a circular bottom formed with an upwardly rounded side wall and an outwardly displaced annular portion in the upper part thereof, and a circular side wall member spaced from and surrounding said rounded portion and in contact with said annular portion, said side wall member extending upwardly above said annular portion.

. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JAMES B. KIRBY.

CERTIFICATE or comemos A man No. 1,911,903. May so, 1933.

JAMES B. KIRBY.

-It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 75, for "l5" read "ll5"; page 5, line l0, claim 4, after "disk" insert the words "coaxiahwith said vertical axis"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and 'sealed this 22nd day of August. A. D. 1933.

MLMoore- (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patente.