US1991803A

US1991803A - Laundry machinery

Info

Publication number: US1991803A
Application number: US487531A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harvey C Hubbell
Original assignee: AUGUST F HERBSLEB
Current assignee: AUGUST F HERBSLEB
Priority date: 1930-10-09
Filing date: 1930-10-09
Publication date: 1935-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 1952-02-19

Description

Feb. 19, 1935. .c. HUBBl-:LL 1,991,803

LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed'OCt. 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 19, 1935. H. c. HuBBELL LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed Oct. 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.`

A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 19, 1935. H. c. HUBBELL 1,991,803

LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed Oct. 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.'

A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 1 9, 1935. H. c. 'HUBB'ELL 1,991,803

LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed Oct. 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.'

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ATTORNEY.

Feb. 19, H. C. HUBBELL LAUNDRY MACHINERY 5 sheets-'sheet 5 Filed Oct. 9, 1930 ATTORNEY.

'atenei ab; 19, i935 l 1,991,803

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY MACHINERY Harvey C. Hubbell, Cincinnati, Ohio, assigner to August F. Hcrbsleb, Cincinnati, Ohio Application October 9).,1930, Serial No. 487,531 i 4 Claims. (Cl. 6818v)` It is the object of my invention to provide novel cleansing liquid through the closely packed mameans whereby material may be laundered in terial of said batches. comparatively compact masses and in such man- It is the object of my invention, further, to pro- A ner that the mass of material being cleansed is vide a rotor having goods compartments arranged 5 caused to move speedily in a cleansing bath for in novel manner about the axis of the rotor and 5 causing the cleansing liquid to be urged or pushed 1 passages between said goods compartments servforcefully through the material being cleansed, ing as channels for the cleansing liquid; further, and in such passage to loosen and absorb and to provide the outer peripheral portions of said carry with it the soilin the material; whereby goods compartments with indentations commufurther a plurality of such masses of material are nicating with said goods .compartments for pass- 10 separated from each other by passages preferably ing cleansing liquid into said goods comparthaving perforated walls, and are caused to rotate ments through said indentations; further, to proabout a common axis so that said respective vide goods compartments of the character menmasses of material are successively located above tioned side by side extending lengthwise of the each other for draining the cleansing liquid thereaxis of rotation of the rotor; and, further, to l5 from into Said passages and int-,0 the masses of provide a reservoir for the rotor for receiving material below the same, for providing said recleansing liquid and so arranged with reference spective masses of material with continuous'supto the rotor as to cause surging of the cleansing ply of cleansing liquid, and forcing said cleansing liquid through the material. -v 2o liquid through the material being cleansed; and It iS the Object Of my inVentiOn, further, to pro- 20 whereby, further, the cleansing liquid is forced vide a novel rotor in'a machine of the character outwardly through the mass of lmaterial by cendescribed; further, to provide novel relation betrifugal force in the cleansing operation tween parts of the rotor and the complemental The term material includes clothes, sheets, Wall 0f the reservoir; further, t0 provide novel napkins, blankets and any and all other articles means fOr mounting the 101201; and, further, t0 25 of personal or household Wear of fabric and other DIOVifie HOVel means f01 IOia'ing the IOOI and structure, and waste, wiping cloths and other ar- Controlling itsrotations.

ticles, such asY are usually laundered or cleansed It iS i311e Object 0f my iuVeniOn, further, t0 in a power washing or cleansing machine; the provide such relation between the material being terms laundry and laundering include dry cleancleansed and the cleansing liquid as to accelerate 30 ing; and the term cleansing liquid includes wathe cleansing of the'material and permit such ter and detergents or other cleansing substances Cleansing t0 be aCCOmplished with less cleansing as well as volatile cleansing agencies. liquid than by usual present methods and mech- Itis the object of my invention further to proanisms, the Operation of my improved device vide novel means whereby to rotatively pass the demonstrating, for example, that substantially 35 material through a cleansing bath and in novel three times as much or more material may be manner to mechanically force substantial porcleansed within a shorter time and with substantions of the bath through the material, and to tially one-third the amount of cleansing liquid cause reversals of movements of the material at or detergents for an equal -amount of material 40 short intervals for frequently changing the direccleansed as compared with the most emcient of 40 tions in which the cleansing fluid is forced other present methods and mechanisms. through the material.- A My present invention is an elaboration of the It is the object oi' my invention, further, to promethod and mechanism shown, described and vide novel means whereby to move a plurality of claimed in my copending application on improvemasses of such material about a substantially mentsnlaundry machinery and method of laun- 45 horizontal axis-and to provide passages between dering, Serial N0. 367,368, filed in the United said masses of material to cause drainage of said States Patent Office May 3l, 1929. l masses of material from and into said passages, The invention will be further readily underand, further, across said passages, upon` masses Stood from the following description and claims,

of material therebelow, during rotations of said and from the drawings, in which latter: 50 masses of material. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved de- It is the object of my invention, further, to provice showing a door of the casing open for exvide novel means whereby to move closely packed posing the rotor therein, and a door of the rotor separated batches of material through the cleanspartly open for exposing the material being ing liquid at high peripheral speed for surging the cleansed. 55

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but showing the doors closed.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal axial section of the same, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view, showing the relation of the doors, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is detail view in cross-section, showing sliding means for the doors.

Fig. 7 is a front detail view of the latching means for the doors of the casing; and,

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing holes in the arcuate wall of the rotor.

A reservoir for the cleansing liquid comprises a trough 21 which is part of a casing 22. The trough is arcuate in cross-section, being shown as the sector of a cylinder, the casing being preferably cylindrical and concentric to the outer periphery'of a rotor 23. Trunnions 24 extend from the respective ends of the rotor and are journaled in bearings 25 of end walls 26, shown as part of the casing. The end Walls have legs 27, intermediate legs 28 being secured to the cas- The trunnions are fixed in hubs 29 of spiders 30 at the respective ends of the rotor.

Sheets 31 are secured to the respective spiders, preferably at their inner sides.

The wall 35 of the casing' preferably forms the sector of a cylinder and extends throughout the length of the casing, being secured at its respective ends to flanges 36 of the end Walls 26, as by rivets, forming a water-tight joint therewith. (Fig. 4). The casing is provided with door openings 37 arranged to be closed by doors 38. (Figs. 1 and 5). The casing is provided with an arcuate guide 39 on each of the end walls 26, and with an intermediate arcuate guide 40. Each of these guides is provided with a guide groove, the guide 40 being provided with oppositely opening guide grooves. The guide grooves for each door are presented toward each other. The upper and lower ends of the intermediate arcuate guide are rigidly connected with the casing.Y The respective ends of the doors are provided with arcuate tongues 41 received in arcuate guide grooves in the respective arcuate guides at the respective ends of the doors. (Fig. 6).

The lower end of the door has a tongue 42 extending lengthwise thereof received in a groove 43 in a cross-brace 44, said groove extending lengthwise of said cross-brace. (Fig. 5). The upper end of the door overlaps the upper wall of the door opening 37 and has sufliciently tight joint therewith to avoid spilling of the bath therethrough when the door is closed. (Fig. 3)

Each of the doors is provided with an extension 51, an opening 52 in which is arranged to be closed by a flap 53. This extension has a handle 54 thereon for moving the door. The ap 53 may be opened for observation of the operation of the machine, and for the insertion of detergents or cleansing substances. (Figs. 1, 3 and 5).

Each of the trunnions is provided with a gear 56 xed thereon. End housings 57 are received about these gears. i These end housings are secured to the end walls, as by bolts received through flanges 58 on said housings and threaded into said end walls. (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) These end housings may form lubricant reservoirs for receiving lubricant in the lower portions thereof,

of liquid or lubricant between said reservoirs.

A shaft 61 extends lengthwise of the casing v and is journaled in bearings 62 in upward extensions 63 of the end plates and in bearings -64 on a stand 65, supported on beams 66 extendf ing lengthwise of the machine between the end walls. (Figs. 1,2 and 3). f

'Pinions 71 fixed to this shaft mesh with intermediate gears 72 xed to a shaft 73 journaled in the upward extensions, the gears 72 meshing with the gears 56. The housings 57 are provided with upward extensions 74 in which said pinions and intermediate gears are located. (Fig, 2).

An electric motor 75 is mounted on the frame. A pinion 76 on the shaft 77 of said motor meshes with a gear 78 on the shaft 61. This motor is preferably a reversing motor for rotating the shaft in opposite directions. (Fig. 1).

A brake 8l is provided which is exemplified as comprising a pulley 82 xed to the shaft 77 and brake-shoes 83 received about said pulley. (Figs. 1 and 3). One end of each of said brake-shoes is anchored on a shoulder-screw 84 in an arm 85 of a bracket 86 on the stand 65. The other ends of the brakel-shoes 'are normally urged toward each other by a. spring 87 about a bolt 88 passing through lugs 89 of the brake-shoes and having a nut 90 thereon, the spring being located between one of said lugs and said nut for normally clamping said brake-shoes on said pulley 82.

An eccentric 91 is journaled in a bearing 92 on the other arm 93 of the bracket 86, said eccentric being provided with an armactuated in manner hereinafter described for applying and releasing the brake.

The material containing rotor 23 is preferably rotated at substantial speed and is rotated a given number of revolutions in one direction, whereupon its direction of rotation is reversed and the rotor rotated for a given number of revolutions in the opposite direction, whereupon the rotor is again reversed for rotating in the first direction. The speeds of rotation are preferably high and the reversals occur at short intervals. For instance, assuming a material containing rotor of a diameter of fifty-four inches, the said rotor is caused to rotate twenty revolutions per minute, including time lost in reversals and speed lost at the beginning and end -of each direction of rotation, the rotor rotating for instance in steps of four revolutions in each direction, at the end of each of which steps reversal takes place. The effective peripheral speed of the rotor may be instanced as in a range of three hundred and fifty to four hundred and fty feet per minute, although my invention is not limited to such speeds.

Means are provided whereby rotation of the rotor is automatically controlled -in steps of a plurality of rotations alternately in reverse directions for normal operation of the machine, during which the brake 81 is out of action, and whereby further rotation of the rotor may be controlled by a manually controlled switch for rotating the motor in a single direction and only while the manual switch is held closed manually, for socalled inching of the rotor, as when positioning the'rotor for coincidence of its various doors with the door of the casing for loading and unloading the compartments, or for attention in other respects.

A control lever 101 is provided. The brake is preferably in braking relation while the control lever is in neutral position, that is, while the rotor is neither under automatic control nor under inching control, for holding the rotor stationary. The brake is moved into release relation by the manual movement of the control lever for either'operation of the machine. (Figs. 1 and 2).

The control lever is pivoted on a stud 102 in the end wall 26, and comprises a bell-crank arm 103. This bell-crank arm is articulatedy at 104 with a link 105, articulated at 106 with an arm 107 extending from a rock-shaft 108. This rockshaft has an arm 109 thereon, which is articulatedat 110 with a link 111, articulated at 112 with an arm 113 iixed on a rock-shaft 114 of a control-box 115 in which the switches for controlling the rotations of the motor are located. (Figs. 2 and 3).

An arm 118 on the rock-shaft 108 is articulated with a link 119, in turn articulated with the arm 120 for operating the cam 91'i'or controlling the brake-shoes.

The lever 101 has a pawl 121 pivoted thereto, operated by a spring-pressed plunger 123 in the lever articulated with the pawl. The pawl is received in the tooth spaces of a rack 124 for positioning the lever. When the lever is in neutral position, as exemplied in Fig. 2, the brake (Fig. 3) is in clamped relation, with the cam 91 in neutral position between the brake-shoes. When the lever 101 is moved in either direction out of neutral position, the cam 91 is rotated for releasing the brake-shoes.

When the lever 101 is moved toward the right in Fig. 2, and the pawl is engaged with the right hand notch out of neutral, the switches in the switch-box 115 are so'placed that the motor will rotate and automatically reverse in steps of a given number of revolutions. This is the relation of the parts for usual operation of the machine.

If, on the other hand, the lever 101 is moved toward the left, viewed in Fig. 2, and the pawl 121 is engaged with the notch toward the left, then the switches in the switch-box 115 are arranged for opening the switches for usual or reverse rotations of the motor, and the switches in the switch-box 115 are arranged for closing a switch in a partial circuit arranged to be closed by another manually controlled switch 125, controlled by a button 127 for closing the circuit of the motor, for rotating the motor in one direction only as long as the last-named switch 125 is manually maintained closed. l (Figs. 1 and 2).

The pressing of the button 127 on the front portion of the housing 57 closes said manually controlled switch only as long as said button is held pressed by the operator. This control is for positioning the rotor in its casing, i. e., inching the' rotor. v

Means are also provided whereby operation of the switches for the electric motor other than for manual control is prevented while either of the doors of the casing is in unclosed relation. 'I'hus each of the doors is provided with a contact-part 131. (Fig.3). A rock-shaft 132 is journaled in bearings 133 in one of the beams 66, and has obstructing arms 134 xed thereto, there being one of these obstructing arms for the contact part on each of the doors in the casing. A link 135 is articulated with the obstructing arm the material being cleaned.

and with an arm 136 on the rock-shaft 108. There is one of these obstructing arms, links and arms 136 for each of the doors.

Each of these obstructing arms is provided with a latch 137, which engages the contact part on its door when the door is closed and the manipulating handle 101 is in position for automatic rotations of the rotor.. This control lever must be first placed in neutral position or in position for inching control of the rotor before the door can be opened.` The handle 101 and the latch 137 are respectively shown in neutral positions in Figs. 2 and 3.

Placing such lever in neutral position moves the latch 137 upwardly out of range of the contact part 131 onthe door, so;as to permit opening of the door. This contactl part extends throughout an angle of the door equal to the angle of movement oi.' the door in opening the same. so that immediately upon the beginning `o1' opening movement of the door, the contact part of the door moves under the latch 137 and remains under the latch throughout the balance of movement of the door, so as to maintain said latch in obstructed relation and prevent return of the control lever 101 into operative position for reverse rotations of the rotor during open relation of either door oi the casing.

When the manipulating lever 101 is moved in the opposite direction, to the left in Fig. 2, for manual control of the rotor by means of the switch 125, the latch is raised further, and the doors of the casing may be opened, and the rotor rotated under inching control.

'I'he rotor 23 comprises a plurality of compart- Aments 141 arranged radially about the axis of rotation of the rotor, three of these compartments being shown. Radial passages 142 are located between the radially arranged compartments. These passages extend lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the rotor and preferably separate the compartments from each other. They are shown converging toward the axis of the rotor. (Figs. 3' and 4).

If desired, a number of such radially arranged compartments may be located side by side in the rotor, four of such compartments being exempliiied at a, b, c and d.

' Each of the compartments has an outer peripheral arcuate wall 143, and an arcuate outer opening 144, arranged to be closed by an arcuate door 145. There is an indenting wall 146 located in this outer periphery for forming a recess 147 in said outer periphery extending lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the rotor between said arcuate wall 143 and said arcuate opening 144. This indenting wall forms a rubbing rib for (Figs. 1, 3 and 5). There is an arcuate bar 151 at each end of each of the compartments, formed up out of layers of metal and provided with an arcuate groove 152 at each end of each of the compartments, these arcuate grooves of each compartment facing each other and forming guideways for the outer edges of the arcuate doors, these outer edges being formed as arcuate tongues 153 received in said arcuate grooves (Figs. 1 and 5).

The lower margin 155 of each of the openings opening, the hook being received about said flange when the door is closed. (Fig.

The door is provided with a latch 161- at each of its sides comprising a bolt 162 movable in a slot 163 in the door and received in either of locking

slots

164, 165, in the side wall of the door opening. (Figs. 1 and 7).

The locking slot 164 is in position for holding the door closed. The locking'slot 165 is in position for holding the door open.

A handle 166 is pivoted on a pin 167 and has articulating connection with the latch, the handle normally being within a recess 168 in the l door, when the door is in open relation, the bolts l 162 are automatically received in the locking said lock or latch, the latch `being normally urged I into closing position by a spring 169 between the wall of said recess and the latch or handle.

When the door is to be raised for opening thai compartments, the fingers of the operator will be placed under the handle 166 for Vraising the handle and thereby unlatching the lock, further exertion of the operator in similar direction on the handle opening the door. Upon release of the handles 166 at the respective ends of the slots for maintaining the door open.

If it is desired to close the door, the operator places his fingers onthe upper face of the handles 166 and presses downwardly, whereby the latch is opened, further downward pressure on the handles closing the door. Upon release of the handles, the bolts 162 are automaticallyreceived in the locking slots 164 for locked position of the door.

vThe material containing rotor comprises crossplates, instanced as the end plates 31, and intermediate plates 171. The end plates and the intermediate plates preferably extend throughout the cross-sectional area of the rotor 23. (Fig. 4)

Each of the nest of radially arranged compartments comprises a portion of one of the crossplates at each end thereof. Each compartment also comprises inner walls 172 formed by plates. (Figs. 3, 4 and 5).v These plates are arranged at acute angles with relation to each other, the angle ci the compartment preferably extending to substantially the axis of rotation of the rotor. The proximate plates between neighboring compartments form the radial spaces 142 which form passages between said radially arranged compartments.

Angle strips 173 are fixed respectively to the end Wall and to the respective plates 172, for xing the latter plates in the rotor. (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) An angle strip 174 is fixed to the inner ends of the plates 172, and extends throughout the length of the compartment for strengthening the rotor at the inner angle of the compartment. The outer ends of the plates 172 are pro` vided with flanges 175, fixed tov the outer wall of the compartment.

The inner faces of the plates 172 are provided with ribs 181 formed by bending sheet metal strips with a central curvature extending into the compartment and with flanges 182 extending lengthwise of said ribs xed to the inner faces of the plates 172. These ribs extend into the radially arranged compartments and form rubbing ribs for the material therein. (Figs. 3 and 4).

The spaces 142 preferably connect with each other at the middle portion of the rotor 23, by

a free space 184, preferably forming continuous and diverging passages extending radially and angularly with relation to each other between the axis and the` outer periphery of the rotor, the free space'184 connecting said spaces 142 across said axis. (Figs. 3 and 4). These spaces form passages for the cleansing liquid.

The Walls of said compartments are preferably formed of sheet metal, and the metal parts of the rotor and of the casing contacted by cleansing liquid are preferably of rust resisting and acid resisting metal for resisting action thereon by the cleansing liquid.

The margins of the metal sheets of the rotor are secured together in such manner as to form a rigid rotor capable of great resistance to tortional strains and to beating actions by the clothes and the cleansing liquid and the rotor is preferably supported by trunnions extending outwardly from the end walls of the rotor, for leaving the interior of the rotor free of central obstruction for freedom of the passage of cleans- 5), forming additional means for the passage of the cleansing liquid into and through the material.

The angular walls 172 are also preferably pro-4 vided with perforations '185.

The ribs 181 are provided with similar perforations, the perforations in the plates 172 extending under these ribs, so as to permit passage of cleansing liquid through the ribs and walls. (Figs. 4 and 5). The perforations 185 are holes, the margins of the holes being preferably formed with outwardly extending flanges 186, extending outwardly from the compartment. (Fig. 8). The flanges are rounded at their inner ends and strengthen said walls and form rubbing surfaces over which the material is moved in the cleansing operation.

The passages 142 are preferably wider'than the width of the arcuate space 188 between the outer periphery of the rotor and the wall of the trough 21. (Figs. 3, 4, and 5).

This has the effect, when the rotor is rotating, of crowding the Icleansing liquid for resisting movement with the rotor, for causing a surge of the cleansing liquid in the trough and into and through the material being cleansed, the tendency of gravitybeing to return said cleansing liquid to thev bottom of the trough. lThe radial passages in turn form relief areas for said cleansing liquid, and cause the cleansing liquid to rush into said passages, due firstly to the rotation of the rotor tending to cause the cleansing liquid to move Vin the direction of rotation of the rotor and the resistance of the liquid to such movement, and, secondly, to the weight of the cleansing liquid causing its inrush into the ascending passage.

Such action upon the cleansing liquid also causes the cleansing liquid to be forced through the holes in the advancing wall and in the outer peripheral wall of the advancing compartment against vand through the material therein. The inrush of said cleansing liquid into the radially arranged compartment and the material therein is aided by the peripheral longitudinally extending recess 147, the walls of which extend into the compartment for directing the cleansing liquid into the compartment.

The advancing walls of the passages and of the recesses also form scoops for scooping the cleansing liquid in their ascent and causing inward movement of the cleansing liquid.

The material is closely packed lin 'the compartments. This material is represented at 190 in Figs. 1 and 3 as laundry in usual net bags. In Fig. 3 but one of the compartments is shown filled with the material, it being understood that in operation all the compartments are so filled. The 4 rotation of the rotor at high speed causes forceful surge of the bath into the compartments and through the closely packed material therein, The material is thereforesubjected to the forceful surge of the cleansing liquid from all directions during its movement in the lower portion of its path, the surge and weight of the bath causing the bath to permeate all portions of the charge of material in the rotor. The force and weight of the liquid causes it to soak and pass rapidly through the material for loosening and carrying with it the soil that may be in the material.

As a compartmentmoves upwardly in its paththe excess liquid will, due to its surge and gravity, pass out of the inner portion of the compartment and descend through the angular space between compartments, and as the compartment moves toward the upper portion of its path, the liquid will drain across the axial space between the compartments and flow along the depending radial space and into the material in the compartment or compartments therebelow. A maximum amount of passage of the cleansing liquid through the material is thereby obtained, the cleansing liquid being forced through the midst of the closely packed material so as to penetrate `and iiow through its pores, carrying the soil with it out of the material.

The cleansing liquid is further forced through the material, especially at the peripheral portions of the rotor, by centrifugal action, still further aiding in the cleansing action.

During the rotations of the rotor, further, the mass of material being cleansed drops in its compartment when the compartment nears the upper portio of its path and when it returns toward the bottom of its path, causing violent contact between the saturated mass and the walls of the compartment which squashes .or ejects the liquid violently through and out of the material.

A rubbing between the mass of material and the walls and its ribs and indentations also takes place, aiding in the cleansing operation.

In my improved device the movement of the material takes place without twisting or unduly torsionally straining the material, whereby the cleansing takes place without detriment to the fabric or injury to the material. i

The imperforate lend walls of the compartments compelthe cleansing fluid in each of said compartments to perform its full action without end dissipation, and retain the cleansing liquid in its divisions lengthwise of the rotor, and compel the cleansing liquid to take paths crosswise of the rotor and its axis, for maximum cleansin effect.

The heavier particles of the soil will descend to the bottom of the casing and be received in extensions 191 in the lower portion of the wall of the casing, each of the extensions being provided with a valve 192 having connection with the rockshaft 193 having suitable operating mechanism connected therewith for automatic and for manual control of said valves. (Figs. 1 and 3).

The valves are opened at the end of each washing, rinsing, blulng, or other period in the cleans- .ing operation, for discharging the bath into a gutter 194, whence it iiows to a recovering receptacle or waste passage, a fresh bath being provided. These steps may take place manually or automatically.

A feed pipe 196 is provided with branches 197 communicating with the interior ofthe casing for charging thecasing with a suitable bath. (Fig. 3). The feed pipe may have suitable connection with suitable supply pipes, one of which is shown at 198 provided with a valve 199. A suitable number of such supply pipes may be provided for feeding hot water, cold water, rinsing water, bluing water, and other ingredients for the bath,`into the casing.

A control box 201 contains mechanism operated by a sprocket chain 202 and

sprocket wheels

203, 204, and has suitable connections, for controlling the baths and the durations of periods of automatic operation of the machine or intervals between baths. The durations between said intervals is determined by the setting of an indicator finger 205. (Figs. 1 and 3).

Suitable automatic electrically controlled reversing mechanism is provided for operating the electric motor intermittently in reverse direc'- tlons for causing the reversals of rotations of the rotor 23. (Fig. 1). 'I'hese electrical control means may be of suitable construction and arrangement and be contained in an automatic reversal control box' 207, in which suitable partial circuits and switches are contained for effecting such automatic reversals, these partial electric circuits being complemental to the switches in the control box 115, when the operating lever 101 is moved to the right in Fig. 2 for placing the machine under automatic reversal control.

In practice, when loading the rotor 23, the door 38 of the casing is opened, and the doors 145 of |one of the battery of radially arranged compartments are brought into registry therewith by rotation of the rotor 23, as by causing inching movement of the rotor by means of the motor 'l5 by manipulation of the inching button 127, operating the inching switch in the electric circuits of the motor.

The doors 145 are then opened, and the ma.- terial placed in the compartments with which they connect. This material may for instance be in net bags or in separated batches.

In my improved device it is possible to compactly fill the compartments with the material, in fact, practice has shown that it is possible to supply a rotor of given cubic contents with in excess of three times the amount of material to be cleansed than it is possible to load rotors of similar cubic contents in machines now in general use, and to cleanse the same in less time than it now takes to cleanse a smaller charge of material in rotors of machines now in general use.

In my improved device the successive radially arranged compartments are successively vcompactly filled, the respective doors thereof closed and latched when filled, and the doors 38 of the casing closed when the rotor has been loaded.

A suitable amount of cleansing liquid is supplied in the cleansing reservoir. I have found inches, need be illled with the cleansing liquid for performing the cleansing operation, assuming that the material has been soaked with the cleansing liquid by rotation of the rotor.

As the rotor rotates, the compactly arranged material is mechanically forced. through the cleansing liquid as hereinbefore stated, the cleansing liquid in consequence being mechanically forced through the material, with the benecial results stated. l

The upwardly advancing walls of the passages 142 and of the recesses 147 also act as scoops for scooping the cleansing liquid, and causing the same to move into said passages and indentations along the walls thereof, and through the holes therein, aided by the gravity action on the raised cleansing liquid raised by the rotation of the rotor, gravity causing a backward surge of said liquid into the recesses and indentations for passing therealong and entering the holes therein into contact with the material. The cleansing liquid is also caused to surge into the outer peripheral walls of the rotor acting to move the cleansing liquid as stated.

This action causes the cleansing liquid to surge ,into the compartments and through the material for cleansing the same and to provide the material in a lower compartment with an excess amount of cleansing liquid which, as said compartment rises in the rotation of the rotor, drains through the inner walls of said compartments upon the compartment or compartments therebelow. When a compartment nears the top of the rotor, a portion o1' the cleansing liquid passes into the passage therebelow, the rotation of the rotor causing such cleansing liquid thus dropping to contact the sides of said passages for again passing into lthe compartments therebelow through the holes in said sides.

My improved device provides i'or maximum passage and drainage of the cleansing liquid through the materials.

Upon reversal of rotation of the rotor the said actions take place in reverse directions.

The relative arrangement of the cross-sectional areas of the space in the trough between the rotor and the bottom of the trough and of the passages and indentations, the relative cubic contents of said spaces and said passages and indentations, and the compactness of packing of the material in the compartments, compel the cleansing iluid to pass through the material, and

enhance the eiectiveness of the actions hereinbefore described and aid in thorough and quick cleansing of the material, which is further enhanced by rotation of the material `containing rotor at high peripheral speed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a rotor therein, trunnions on the ends of said rotor for rotatingly supporting said rotor in said casing, said rotor comprising a plurality of radially arranged compartments, `said respective compartments having Walls at the respective sides thereof, adjacent walls of proximate compartments spaced apart and forming radial spaces between said compartments, said compartments extending toward but spaced slightly from the axis of rotation of said rotor, and said spaces connecting l directly and unobstructedly with each other across said axis, said adjacent walls being pertorate for the passage of cleansing liquid from said radial spaces into said compartments and between compartments through said radial spaces, and means for rotating said rotor.`

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a rotor therein. said rotor comprising a plurality of radially arranged compartments, said respective compartments having walls at the respective sides thereof, the adjacent walls of proximate compartments forming radial spaces between said compartments, said compartments extending toward but spaced slightly from the axis of rotation of said rotor, and alined spaced apart outwardly extending trunnions at the respective ends of said rotor tor rotatively supporting said rotor, said radial spaces connecting with each other directly and unobstructedly across said axis of rotation substantially throughout the length of said rotor.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a rotor therein, said rotor comprising a plurality of radially arranged compartments spaced apart radially by radial spaces, the radial spaces between compartmentsl connected directly and unobstructedly substantially throughout the length of said rotor across the axis of said rotor and forming unobstructed passage for cleansing liquid across said axis substantially throughout the length of said rotor, the front and rear walls of said spaces being pertorate for passage of cleansing liquid from said radial spaces sidewardly into said compartments and out of said compartments into said radial spaces and between compartments through said radial spaces, and said compartments comprising imperforate end walls, and means for rotating sal rotor in steps of a series of revolutions sequentially in reverse directions.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a rotor therein, said rotor comprising a plurality of radially arranged compartments and respectively having walls at the respective sides thereof, neighboring ones of said walls converging toward each other and forming narrow radial spaces between compartments, said compartments extending to substantially the axis of rotation of said rotor, said radial spaces contracting toward said axis, the radial spaces between compartments connected unobstructedly across the axis of said rotor substantially throughout the length of said rotor for forming unobstructed passage for the cleansing liquid past said axis substantially throughout the length of said rotor, said neighboring walls of said spaces being perforate for the passage of cleansing liquid from said radial spaces sidewardly into said compartments and out of said compartments into saidradial spaces and between compartments through said radial spaces, and said compartments comprising imperforate end walls, the outer peripheries of said compartments provided with openings, arcuate doors for said openings, and arcuate guides on said rotor for guiding the said doors in arcuate directions across said openings.

HARVEY C. HUBBELL.