US1954261A - Laundry mechanism and method - Google Patents

Description

April 10, 1934. L. PIERCE 1,954,261

LAUNDRY MECHANISM AND METHOD 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ril 10, 1934. L. PIERCE v 1,954,261

LAUNDRY MECHANISM AND METHOD Fi1ed-0ct. 2, 19s 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 10, 1934. L. new; 1,954,261,

LAUNDRY MECHANISM AND METHOD File d Oct. 2, 1928 I 4 Sheets-Sheet s April 10,1934. L. PIERCE 1,954,261

LAUNDRY MECHANISM AND METHOD Filed Oct. 2', 1928, 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 flm-yg-fwawr 12/4764 l/l/af flaw? Jaw/z {ii/6 chine such as is i 5 blue, and the like.

Patented Apr. 3, 1934,,

LAUNDRY MECHANISM AND METHOD Lucien Pierce, Malden, Mass, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to George W; Hooper, Salem. Mass., and one-half to Family Laundry Company Malden, Malden,. Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 2, 1928, Serial No. 309,701

controlling the series of steps required for the washing of a batch of clothes.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of mechanism for operating a water valve.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary portion of certain mechanism included in the machine.

Figure 5 is a transverse section of the cam drum. quired for uniform and satisfactory results. Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the These steps require frequent changes of water surface of the cam drum, showing a pair of and the introduction from time to time of other adjustable cam lugs t e eon. laundering agents such as soap, bleach, sour, Figure 7 is a section on the line l7 o According to the customary ure 6. practice, these substances are severally inserted igures 819 inclusive are diagrammatic views into a washing machine in separate steps of the showing an illustrative arrangementof lugs for Washing cycle, the machine being operated to controlling each individual element which is emtumblethe fabrics within the washing cylinder ployed in the washing process. for given periods of time, at the end of each of Referring tothe drawings in detail; 20 reprewhich an alarm may ring to notify the attendsents a commercial washing machine of the horiant that the clothes are ready for the next step. zontal cylinder type such as is commonly used If the attendant is busy with another machine, in power laundries. This machine is conventionthis means thatthe process in the first machine ally indicated on the drawings since the structure goes on after the alarm has sounded, using unof such machines is well known. The inner pernecessary power and consuming unnecessary forated cylinder which is within the casing and time. By my invention, I provide means for auwhich contains the fabrics to be washed may be tomatically operating the washing machine rotated by any desired power means (not shown). through all the various steps of washing a batch A dump valve 21 is provided for the purpose of of fabrics, and for stopping the entire machine emptying the casing of liquids therein when deat the end of a washing cycle, this means being sired. This valve is preferably of relatively adjustable to vary the periods of operation for large cross section to permit the wash waters to the different steps to suit the particular circumrun out quickly when the valve is opened, and may stances, such as the condition of the clothes to be operated by arock shaft 22 to which is/at- 5 be washed. By my invention, I secure a more tachedacrank arm 23, the latter being automati thorough and, uniform washing of fabrics and] cally controlled as will be hereinafter described. at the same time effect this result with a saving For the introduction of wash waters and other of time through the proper regulation of time Washing fluids into the machine, I may provide for each step, of temperatures of the washing,

a suitable conduit 24 extending along one side of and of the amounts of materials used. These dethe casing 20 and connected thereto by a series of sirable results are brought about by novel mechslots 25 or other convenient apertures spaced anism which controls. the introduction and realong the casing 20 and preferably slightly above moval of the washing substances and insures a 4 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for automatically regulating the various steps required for the washing of fabrics, such as clothing, bedding and the'like. While the invention is applicable to washing machines of domestic or commercial type,it is disclosed hereinafter as applied to a commercial type of washing magenerally used in power laundries. In'the washing of a batch of fabrics in a power laundry, many separate steps are rethe highest water. level customarily employed thorough admixture of the various laundering withinthe casing. This location of the conduit insures that all the wash water which is admitted through the valve controlling the water supply, enters the washing compartment and is used therein. This construction avoids the waste, incurred where water supply pipes enter the casing below the operating waterline, of idle water which stands in the pipes during the washing operation and drains unused through the dump valve with the used water in the casing. Where large supply pipes are employed and there are 5 agents with the charges of wash waterbefore their introduction into the machine, also by automatic regulation of the successive periods of time during which these washing processes are carried on.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is had to the description thereof which follows and to the drawings, of which,-+ j

Figure 1 is a'rear elevation of a washing ma- 35 chine together with apparatus for automatically f equent changes of water in a machine through- 110 sponsive element within the casing 20.

The various washing materials which are used in washing a batch of fabrics are preferably introduced into the stream of water which is entering the casing 20. This insures a thorough mixing of these ingredients with the water before they enter the casing. The spaced openings 25 insure the immediate and substantially uniform distribution of these substances through the wash at the very beginning of the washing period. This is a great practical improvement over the practice of introducing a quantity of soap, blue or other ingredient into the machine at one point and allowing this material to diffuse itself through the solution by the motion of the cylinder within the machine. Where such methods are used, it often takes a considerable portion of the washing period for such ingredients 'to become evenly distributed throughout the wash so that their effect on the fabrics is varied, some of the fabrics getting too much and others too little. In order to regulate the quantity of each ingredient for a washing operation, I may introduce each ingredient through a measuring receptacle which for convenience I will term a doser. As shown, I provide two such'dosers 2'7, 28, the former being for the blue, sour, bleach, and other cold ingredients. The doser 28 is provided to measure the soap which ispreferably supplied hot in order to maintain it in liquid form for easy handling. Suitably positioned at a level above the machine, I supply a series of receptacles or storage tanks 29,30, 31 and 32, these tanks as shown being respectively for blue, sour, bleach, and soap. It is to be understood that the number of tanks shown herein is merely by way of illustration and that I do not limit myself tothis or any other definite number, but may use as many tanks as the ingredients desired for a complete washing operation. Since the doser 2'7 is of fixed capacity; I preferably regulate the actual quantities of blue, sour, and the like, to enter the machine for each batch of washing by suitably diluting the solutions of these ingredients so that the doser when filled will contain a solution having the correct amount of ingredient therein for one batch. Suitable heating means 33, such as steam pipes, or the like, may be provided in the tank 32 to maintain the soap in suitably liquid condition. The doser 28 and the piping associated therewith may also be lagged. or supplied with a heating jacket as desired in order to maintain the soap hot as it descends from the tank 32 to the machine 20.

The admission of water,steam, soap, and other ingredients into the machine 20 may be regulated by a number of suitable valves. As indicated in Figure 1, the hot and cold water is supplied through an automatic valve 34 which is preferably of a type well known in the art, by which the flow of the hot and cold water may be independently regulated by the manipulation of separate handles 35, 36. The flow through each of these valves may be regulated by the 7 height to which its operating handle is raised.

A. rack 340 or similar device is attached to each operating handle and is caught by a pawl 341 when raised so that its valve is held open until the pawl is disengaged; Both pawls341 for the hot and cold water valves may be mounted on bell-cranks having outwardly extending arms 342. In order to trip both pawls at once, a lever arm 343 may be arranged between the arms 342 and may be provided with a cross-piece 344 adapted to engage the lower faces of both arms. Thereupon the handles 35, 36 descend under their own weight and close both the hot and cold water valves. For the control of the other ingredients, I may supply a number of valves 37 which may be of any desired type actuable preferably by the reciprocation of a stem projecting from the valve casing. Valves of this type are well known in the art and need not be described in detail. The steam may be supplied to a suitable pipe 38 which passes through one of the valves 3'7 and the thermostatically controlled valve 261 and enters the conduit 24 in such a .way as to project a jet of steam along. this conduit toward the openings 25. The soap tank 32 may be connected with the doser 28 as by a pipe 39 through a valve 3'7, the doser in turn being connected to another valve 37 and a pipe 40 toa pipe 41 which leads from, the water valve 34 to the conduit 24. The connection of the pipe 40 with the pipe 41 is preferably made in such a way that the stream of water flowing through the pipe 41 acts as an aspirator andv assists in the flow of the soap through the pipe 40. The supply tanks for blue, sour, and bleach, may be connected respectively by pipes 42, 43 and 44 to the doser 2'7, each of these pipes having a valve 3'7 therein. The dose;- 2'7 in turn is connected as by a pipe 45 through a valve 3'7 to the pipe 40 which as previously mentioned enters the pipe 41 and the conduit 24. In order to permit the escape of air from the dosers'2'7 and 28 and to facilitate the rapid and complete filling of these dosers, each may be supplied with a suitable vent, preferably of small cross section. These vents 46 and 4'7 may be connected respectively with the tops of the dosers 2'7, 28 and rise abovethe tops of the storage tanks '50 that overflows through these vents is prevented. The cubic capacity of these vents is negligible so that a change of level in a tank does not appreciably affect the quantity of ingredient measured from that tank by the doser. This system of valves and piping may be supported as by suitable standards 48 or any other desired means.

' The action of the various valves 3'7 and the valves 34 and 21 may be controlled by any suitable mechanism. I may, for example, provide a number of cams mounted on one or more cylinders. As shown, a pair of cylinders 49, 50 are provided mounted on a common shaft 51 which is preferably rotated by a suitable constant speed motor 52. This motor may be suitably geared down or otherwise connected with the shaft 51 so as to turn the shaft relatively slowly. I do not limit myself to any particular speed but for the purpose of illustration will describe a control mechanism making one revolution in somewhat more than the maximum period of time which would ordinarily be required for a complete washing operation. As illustrated on the drawings, the shaft- 51 may make a revolution every ninety minutes, or an hour and a half. This period is more than ample for any ordinary wash if the various steps of the operation are carried out successively without waste of time in between. If desired, however, the period of revolution of the shaft and drums may be longer 1,954,261 with a series of circumferential grooves 53 in which are carried one or more cam members 531 having portions projecting radially outward beyond the cylindrical surface of the drum. These cam members are preferably secured in the grooves 53 in such a way as to be adjustably movable about the periphery of the drum so that the particular operation which each cam controls may be performed at any desired time in the cycle of operations. To this end grooves 53 may be undercut, "as shown for example in Figure 6, each cam member being provided with a suitable block 532 with radially extending bolts 533 by which the cam member may be adjustably secured to the drum. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, each cam member may cooperate with a bell crank lever arm 54, at the end of which is preferably mounted a suitable roller 55 adapted to engage the cam members and to be moved thereby so as to rock the arm 54 and thereby to raise a lever arm 56 which is rigidly connected therewith, the arms 54 and 56 being rockably mounted on asuitable shaft such as 57. The.

forward face 534' of each cam member 531 is preferably steep so that in spite of the slow motion of the drums, a roller 55, upon meeting a cam member, climbs quickly up its face. As shown in Figure 5, the rear face 535 of each cam member 531 may be curved with a radius substantially equal to the arm 54 so that when the roller 55 reaches the end of the top face 536, it rolls quickly down the rear face 535, thus causing a quick operation of the valve or other instrumentality controlled by the cam member. As shown in Figure 1; one of the bell cranks 54, 56 is connected as by a wire or suitable tension member 58 to the lever 23 which controls the dump valve. Another bell crank is connected to the cold water valve handle 35 as by a rod or other connecting member 59. Another bell crankis connected to the hot water handle 36 as by a rod or other connecting member60. While a washing cycle may be carried'through with either hot or cold water alone for each of the successive steps, it may be desired in some cases to mix the hot and cold for some of the steps in order to obtain water of desired intermediate temperature. To this end the hot and cold water valves should be opened to admit desired proportions. This may be accomplished by a releasing mechanism as illustrated in Figure 4. As shown the arm 56' has attached thereto an end member 61 provided with a perforation 62 through which the upper end portion of the rod 59 extends. A similar device may be provided for the rod 60, as shown in Figure 1. The rod 59 is notched so as-to provide a. shoulder 63 which rests on the upper surface of the member 61. Below the member'61 the rod 59 may be provided with a projecting portion 64 having a sloping cam face 65 which bears against a fixed lug 66 supported by the frame of the mechanism. The sloping face 65 rides against the lug 66 when the rod 59 rises to a suflicient height, and the rod is thus pushed laterally so that the shoulder 63 slips off the member 61 and the rod 59 is released from the arm 56. This limits the extent of opening of the valve which is held open by a ratchet and pawl mechanism adapted to be tripped by float-actuated mechanism as hereinafter described. As the location of the lug 66 determines the point at which the valve rod 59 or 60 is released from its arm .56, the amount of opening of the valve may be readily adjusted by shifting the lug up or down on the slot 621 over which it is secured as by a bolt 622 and nut. In order to shut the valve 34 and thus to stop simultaneously the flow of hot and cold water into the machine 20 the tripping lever may be provided with a counterweight 345 which is heavy enough to swing the lever 343 up to disengage the pawls 341. A suitable cord orchain 67 may be secured at one end to the weight 345, this cord or chain being passed over a pulley 68 and secured at its other end to a float 69 in a vertical cylinder 70 which is connected to the container 20 as by a pipe 71 entering the container near its bottom so that the water level in the cylinder 70 is the same as that in the container 20. The free weight of the float 69' is sufficient to hold up the counterweight 345 and thus to maintain the pawls 341 in engagement with their racks 340. When the water in the container 20 and the 'cylinder 70 rises 'sufliciently to buoy up the float 69, the tension on the chain 67 is relaxed and the weight 345 is permitted to operate the trip lever 343, thus causing both valves to close. In order to provide for various quantities of water for different steps of a washing cycle, thepulley 68 over which the chain 67 passes may be secured to an arm 56 so as to be raised to different heights by suitable cams as and when desired. Since the water level will have to reach the float before the water valves are. closed, the container 20 vmay thus be filled to any desired level by the use of cams of proportional heights and of sufficient lengths to hold the pulley in its elevated position long enough to allow the water to reach the desired levels. For example in Figure 9 cam members of three different heights are illustrated, but it is understood that cams of other heights may be introduced if desired to obtain other le'vels'of water in the tank 20. As shown, certain of the cam members 72 will elevate the arm 56 a short distance so that a relatively small amount of water will be admitted into the machine before the valve 34 is closed. Cam members 73 are somewhat higher and permit a higher level in the tank before the valve 34 closes. A still greater amount of water is admitted by a higher cam member 74 as is desirable for the final rinse. These cams are preferably adjusted on the drum to operate just before the water valves are opened. The lowest cams 72 may be omitted by regulating the length of the chain so that the float 69 will be suspended at water-level of the minimum charge of water which is "to be put into the machine, when the corresponding cam follower 55 rests on the surface of the drum itself. In such case, the heights of the cams 73 and 74 will thus be determined by the differences between the higher levels desired and the minimum level.

In order to control the supply of the various washing ingredients to the machine, movable cam control arms 56 may be provided for each of the valves 37. These valves as previously stated are preferably of a' type actuable by a reciprocating stem projecting from the valve casing. This stem as shown in Figure 2 may be connected to 76 for the purpose of closing the valve 37 when the arm 75 is released. In order to open each valve 37, a tension element 77 may be employed to connect each valve arm 75 with its corresponding cam-actuated arm 56. Thus there is a separate cam-actuated arm 56 corresponding to each of the valves 37 between the supply tanks 29, 30, 31 and the closer 27. There is also a separate cam-actuated lever 56 for the valve 37 between the doser 27 and the conduit 24. In like manner, the valves 37 between the soap tank 32 and'the soap doser 28, between the doser 28 and the conduit 24, and between the steam'supply and the conduit 24, are each independently operated by a separate set of cams. Figures 8 to 19 inclusive illustrate diagrammatically thearrangement of the several sets of cams for operating the various valves which are employed in carrying out the successive steps of a complete-washing operation. The drums 49, 50 may be set at the zero mark as by a convenient hand wheel .78 atthe beginning of a washing operation. vWhen the .batch of fabrics is in the washer 20, the motor52 may be started and the washing operation will proceed automatically as controlled by the cams on the drums 49 and 50. An illustrative washingoperation will be described, it being understood that I do not limit myself to this or any other sequence of steps but that the cam members may be arranged as desired to carry out any washing operation desired. Starting with the cam drums set at the zero mark, it will be seen from Figure 8 that the dump valve 21 is closed. The float is thereupon elevated by the raising of the pulley 68 so as to engage the pawls and ratchets of the valve 34 to be ready to hold the handles 35, 36 elevated. As hereinbefore stated, the length of the chain 67 may be such that the pawls and ratchets of the valve 34 are always engaged when the level of the waterin the container is below that of the minimum charge. The hot water side of the valve 34 is immediately opened as indicated inFigure 10 and the valve 37 connecting the soap doser with ,the conduit 24 islikewise opened. This permits an inflow of hot water for the first step in the washing operation. After washing for about ten minutes with hot suds, the

dump valve is opened for a sufficient time to allow the first wash water to drain out; The hot water may be supplied at the temperature desired for several of the steps of the washing process, or at any other convenient temperature, steam or cold water being used as required to regulate the temperature in the container. After the first water has been drained, the second supply of hot water is admitted to the machine, the float being raised in order to hold the valve 34' open until the water in the machine reaches the proper level. As indicated in Figure 12 during the first washing operation, the soap inlet valve between the soap tank 32 and the doser 28 is opened so as to permit the doser to be refilled before the second step of the washing operation begins. As the second supply of hot water is admitted, the doser 28 is opened as shown in Figure 11 to mingle with the hot waterand enter through the openings 25 in the form of suds. In the example of a washing cycle illustrated, a higher temperature may be desired for the second and third waters. To this end the steam supply is turned on as the second wash water enters the machine, the steam supply being regulated during these steps as by a thermostat 262 to maintain the desired temperature in the machine.

After about ten minutes of washing, the dump valve is again opened and the second wash water is drained. The steam is keep the temperature elevated during this change.

The hot water is again turned on'with a fresh supply of soap as shown in Figures 10 and 11. During the succeeding washing operation, the soap doser 28 is again refilled from the tank 32. At the end of about fifteen minutes of washing, the third step is ended by opening the dump .mitted for the various washing steps. Ibleaching operation is pleted, a cam member main switch 83.

kept on inorder to claims.

valve and draining the suds from the'machine. Hot water is again admitted for, the fourth time to rinse the fabrics. After'a short period of rinse, about five minutes, this water is drained and a fifth charge of hot water is admitted, accompanied by a charge of bleach from'the doser 27. It will be noted from Figure 9 that the cam member '73 elevates the pulley 68 and float 69 to a level higher than for the other supplies of water thus far. In order words, a greater quantity of water is admitted for the rinsing step than is ad- The carried on for about ten minutes whereupon the bleach water is drained from the machine. The sixth and seventh charges of water, as indicated in Figure 10, are clear for'rinsing the bleach from the fabrics. As shown in Figure 9, these supplies of water may be up to the second level in the machine. I The eighth supply of water is also hot and to it is added a supply of sour as shown in Figure 14. This sour has been admitted to the doser during the previous washing step as indicated in Figure 16. This washing step is carried on for about five minutes and the sour is then drained from the machine. The ninth step consists in the admission of cold water accompanied by blue to the second level in the machine, the actuation of the cold water valve being indicated in .Figure '18 and the opening of the doser being indicated in Figure 14. As shown intFigure 1'7, the doser has during the previous washing step been filled with blue from the tank 29. The final washing step isa cold rinse'with cold water admitted to a still higher or third level in the machine. This is a brief rinse, say three minutes, after which the dump valve is opened and the machine may be automatically stopped.- The stopping mechanism may comprise an electric switch mounted L for operation by a cam-actuated lever 56. Whenthe cycle of washing operations is com- 531 may be mounted to actuate a switch closing lever 56. Closing .of the switch 80, as shown in Figure 1, completes a cir- 1 cuit through a solenoid 81 and a suitable source .of energy 82. The armature of the solenoid may be connected to a main switch 83 in such a way that energization of the solenoid opens the main switch, stopping the motor 52 which drives the cam drums, and the motor which drives the washing machine itself. If the machine is belt driven,

the solenoid armature may beconnected to a suitable belt-shifter ina manner well known in the art. In order to. avoid waste of current from the battery or other energy source 82, the solenoid may be arranged toopen a switch 84 in its 'own circuit simultaneously with the opening of the In starting the machine on itsv next cycle, the cam drums may first be turned as by a' hand wheel 78 to the zero mark. Then the machine and automatic mechanism are started by hand, and the cycle proceedsautomatically. The movable mounting of the cam members permits any -desired variation of the steps recited as illustrative of a complete washing operation.

Any of the periods can be shortened or lengthened atwilL Having thus described certain embodiments of this invention, it should be evident to'those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications mightbe made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the 1 appended 1. In combination with a container for washing-fiuids and fabrics to be washed, means for supplying quantities of water to said container at predetermined times during a washing cycle, and mechanism for supplying measured amounts of other laundering agents with some ofsaid quantities of water, said mechanism including a measuring receptacle, a plurality of storage tanks 1 for said other laundering agents, pipes leading from said tanks to said receptacle and from said receptacle to said water supply means, valves in all said pipes, means for automatically operating said valves to fill said receptacle successively with said other laundering agents and to drain said agents into said water supply means at times definitely related to the times of introduction of said quantities of water into said container.

2. A method oi supplying to a washing ma.- chine predetermined quantities of washing substances for washing purposes, Which cQmprises preparing separate solutions of said substances of such strength that like volumes of the several solutions contain the desired amounts of the respective substances therein for the batch of articles to be washed, successively collecting in and discharging from said machine successive charges of water for the several steps of a washing cycle, and introducing into respective charges of water for certain of said steps of the washing cycle like volumes of corresponding washing substances,

each said substance being introduced into the respective charge of water prior to the entry of said water into the machine.

3. A method of supplying quantities of washing substances for washing purposes, which comprises poses, which comprises preparing separate solutions of said substances of such strength that like volumes of solutions of the several substances I contain the desired amount of the respective substancesfor a single batch of washing, and mess uring into successive pools of water of suitable size for washing purposes likevolumes of selected solutions.

LUCIEN PIERCE.

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