US1988468A - Extractor - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES Ex'rlmofroit A William H. Woodward, Detroit, Mich. Application July 9, 1932, Serial No. 621,592

8 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to extraotors, and particularly to devices for extracting moisture from articles or material by placing the same in a co1- lapsible receiver and subjecting the latter to` exterior pressure to eiect its collapse.

In extracting liquid from articles or material by applying 'exterior uid pressure to a collapsible bag or th like having an opening at its top -for inserting the articles or material, it commonly happens thatthe bag is not completely iilled.

- Also, whether or not the bag is filled, the articles Vor material in the lower portionof the'bag, be-

cause ofthe superposed weight, offer a greaterA resistance to compression than the upper portion o1' the bag contents. Hence collapse of the upper portion of the bag under external pressure tends to exceed that of its lower portion, compelling the liquid extracted from the main body 'of material under compression to pass through a wall.

region of still greater compression to reach the receptacle outlet andthus sacricing eiilciency.

An object of the invention is to, provide an extractor oi the above mentioned general character in which the collapsible receiver has the nature of an open-topped receptacle formed of rubber or the like, and in which a simple 'and inexpensive^ provision is made for applying uid pressure exteriorly to said receptacle to extract liquid from its contents.

Another object is to equip such an extractor with a cover ha'ving an outlet or outlets lfor the extracted liquid, and to fasten said cover in place by a means adequate to resist the pressure under which extraction is effected, while affording ready removal of said cover to permit lling and emptying the receptacle.

Still another object is to provide a receptacle collapsible to extract liquid from its contents `and having an outlet for such liquid, the flexibility of the receptacle wall being increased as said wall recedes from said outlet, whereby the contents of said receptacle are safeguarded against a greaterl compression between the outlet Iand opposed wall ofthe receptacle than prevails adjacent to 'said A further object is to provide a collapsible receptacle for extractor purposes having its wall gradually reduced in thickness from its mouth to its bottom, adapting said receptacle to yield, prof gressively from its bottom-to its mouth, to an exteriorly applied uid pressure, and eiecting a uniform compression of its contents.

A still further object is to progressively decrease the diameter of such a receptacle from its mouth to its bottom, to facilitate a telescoping of the attains by the construction hereinafter described, 5y

and illustrated in the wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved extractor,- with a portion of its cover broken away.

accompanying drawing,

Fig. 2 is an axial, sectional view of the same, l0`

taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is -a vertical sectional detail upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing one of the fasteners holding thecover in place.

In these views, nates an open-topped cylindrical casing formed preferably of sheet metal having a portion 2 adja cent its mouth of an 'enlarged diameter, and connected by an annular shoulder 3 to the main body of said casing.

Positioned within said casing and spaced from 1 its side walls and bottom, is a collapsible openx topped receptacle 4, having its Ywall flaring gradually toward its top. and having the thickness of said wall progressively reduced from top to bottom, the bottoml thickness being preferably uniform. Said receptacle is formed preferably of rubber, and is characterized by a ready flexibility of its wall, and .also preferably of its bottom, and Qby nonpermeability of its wall land bottom to iluids. Marginally oi its mouth, the receptacle 4 isv formed with an annular outstanding ange 5, seating upon the shoulder 3` and suitably held in duid-sealing engagement; with said shoulder. As illustrated, this is accomplished by a metal ring 6 superposed on the ange 5 andconnected through said flange to the shoulder 3 by rivets 7. A circular sheet metal cover 8 is adapted to .marginally seat upon the ring 6, and is formed in its outer portion .with a number of circumferentially spaced key-hole slots 9, through which may project headed studs 10 rigidly upstanding from the ring 6, whereby a slight rotative actuation of the cover serves to latch it in place. Said cover is further formed with a plurality of perforations 1l, through which liquid may rise `in use of the extractor.

The portion. 2 of the casing is formed at a suit-A able point in its peripheral wall with a spout 12 adaptedto discharge'such liquid as rises through 60 ceptacle 4 is initially lled to any desired level 55' theA reference character 1 desigl5 I withwashed garments or other articles or material requiring an extraction of liquid. The cover 8 is now applied and latched in place. The casing outlet 14 being closed, a fluid under suitable pressure is admitted at 13 to the casing.

Yielding to said fluid, the receptacle 4 progressively collapses from its bottom upward, the bottom rising within the receptacle wall andthe lower portion of the receptacle telescoping in its upper portion. Such collapse follows from the described variation in thickness of the receptacle wall and inverse variation of its resistancto collapse. 'I'he contents of the receptacle are thus forced upwardly against the .cover plate, and are, in part, at the same time compressed between the telescoping'inner and outer portions of the receptacle wall. 'I'his has the effect of preventing any compression oi the upper oran intermediate portion of the receptacle contents in excess of the compression at the same time applied to the bottom portion of the contents, and hence avoids undue resistance to the iiow of liquid extracted from the lower portion of the material in the receptacle. When the material has been brought into rm engagement with the cover member, as has been described, the uid pressure may be continued, and ii.' desired, increased until'extraction has been carried to the` desired point, the thicker portion of the receptacle wall now yielding inwardly in addition and adding to the com-V pression applied upwardly to the receptacle. 'Ihe extracted liquid arises through the perrorations of the cover 8 and discharges from the cover through the spout 12.

The described construction is simple and'inexpensive, and its operating cost is a minimum, since the energizing pressure maybe that of water derived from city mains.

- Said device is widely applicable in-eiIecting an extraction of liquid fromwashed clothes, and is particularly suitable for household use. It may be designed for numerous other applications, as for example, extraction of juices from fruits.

4While it is apparent that the illustrated embodiment of my invention is well calculated to adequately fuliiill the objects and advantages primarilystated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is':.

1.' In an extractor, a collapsible, open-topped,

ilex'ible walled receptacle having a closed bottom -having its lower portion of a lesser diameter and of a greater flexibility than its .upper portion, wherebythe lower portion tends to collapse withi `in the upper portion under externally applied fluid pressure.

2. An extractor comprising an open-topped casing forming a iiuid pressure chamber, and having a iluid inlet and outlet, a collapsible open-topped receptacle suspended within said casing, a cover member perforated throughout substantially its entire area, detachably secured" to said casing and clamping said receptacle, marginally o! its opening upon the casing, marginally tothe casing opening, the receptacle being/ relatively stiiivin its upper portion, whereby said portion resists displacement against said cover member and consequent obstruction of perforations of said cover member, under pressure of iiuid in said chamber.l

An extractor comprising an open-topped casingiorming a fluid pressure chamber, a ilexible-walled collapsible, open-topped receptacle secured marginally of its top opening to the margin of the top opening of the casing and thereby suspendedwithin the casing, a .cover member for said receptacle having a plurality of openings forming liquid outlets from the receptacle,

to and suspended within the casing, and form.

ing with the casing a uid pressure chamber, means for delivering a iiuid under pressure to such'chamber, a cover member for said receptacle aiording'a discharge ot extracted liquid, and means detachably securing the cover member to the casing, the receptacle wall being of greater flexibility in its lower portion than in its upper portion, whereby -there is precluded excessive yielding of the upper portion to applied fluid pressure and consequent `undue resistance to discharge of liquid from the lweriportion.

5,-Anextractor as set forth' inciaim .4,- s'aid receptacle having the flexibility of its wall gradually increased from top to bottom of said wall.

6, An extractor as set forth in claim 4, said receptacle having the thickness of its wall gradually reduced from top to bottom of said wall.

7. An extractor Acomprising a flexible-walled, collapsible receptacle for material requiring an extracting operation, said receptacle having at one end an opening for inserting and removing' such material and for the discharge of' an extracted liquid, the other end ofthe receptacle be.- ing closed, a casing receiving said receptacle and forming therewith a fluid pressure chamber, the casing having an opening and th'receptacle being secured marginally of its end opening'to the margin of the casing opening, means for delivex'ing a fluid under pressure to saidi chamber, and means for retaining thematerial being treated within the receptacle during extraction, the wall of the receptaclebeing progressively increased in ilexibility as it recedes from the receptacle opening, and having a stiffness adjacent to the opening, precludlng undue restrictionof the receptacle in advance of the liquid undergoing exterial requiring an extracting operation, and yfor the discharge of an extracted liquid, and being closed at its opposite end, means for supporting the receptacle marginally of such opening, means for applying iluid pressure externally to the receptacle, .and means i'or retaining the material being treated within the receptacle during extraction, the closed end of the receptacle havving a greater exibility than the receptacle wall,

and the cross-sectional area of the receptacle being progressively decreased from its opening to its closed end, said end being thereby'yieldable toward ,said opening under externally applied iluid pressures.

WILLIAM H. WOODWARD.

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