US2019705A - Household appliance - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 5, 1935. T. P, HUBERT HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE original Filed oct. 15, 193i z sheets-sheet 1 se l INVENTOR Theodor?N P Hubgr ATTORNE-YUS.

Nov. 5, 1935. T. P. HUBERT HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. l5, 1931 lNvEN-roR Theodore F. Huberr BY 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE of New Jersey Application October 15, 1931, Serial No. 568,975 Renewed April 9, 1935 7 Claims.

This invention relates to household appliances, and more particularly to cleaning apparatus including a rotary brush arranged to be driven by a stream of water.

A known form of cleaning device includes a rotary brush provided with impeller blades or vanes so that the brush may be driven or rotated by a continuous stream of water Supplied thereto. This waterv is preferably defiected from the impeller blades to the brush or surface being cleaned, so that the surface is flushed as it is brushed.

Considered in one aspect, the primary object of the present invention is to improve such cleaning devices by making it possible to feed to the brush a continuous supply of a detergent, preferably soapy water. A corollary object of the invention is the provision of means to control the rate of supply of detergent to the surface being cleaned, and to entirely stop the flow of detergent, when desired. Another object of the present invention is to use the detergent in an economical and effective manner.

These objects are fulfilled, generally, by using soap in solid form as the detergent, and placing the same in a compartment into which a preferably small portion of the Water supply is diverted and sprayed against the soap. Any simple form of valve may be used to control the diversion of water into the soap compartment. The resulting suds or soapy water are fed from the soap compartment to the brush and consequently to the surface being cleaned.

Considered in another aspect, a primary object of the present invention is to improve the construction of cleaning apparatus of the type described, in order to make it directly applicable in the household for rapidly and readily washing dishes, kitchen utensils, and the like. With this object in view, the rotary brush and impeller for driving the same are mounted on a suitable frame or housing which in turn is provided with means permitting the same to be readily applied to a faucet and attached thereto in a direct and rigid manner, so that the appliance is not only supplied with water from the faucet, but is additionally supported thereby. This makes it possible to wash dishes simply by holding the same against the revolving brush. A corollary object of the invention is to make the same interchangeably applicable to any of the various kinds of faucets in current use, and with this object in view, the appliance is provided with an adaptor intended for permanent attachment to the faucet. The housing is readily attachable to or detachable from lthe adaptor. A number of forms of adaptor are available, the internal dimensions of which differ to accommodate different faucets, but the external dimensions of which are all uniform and designed to 5 mate accurately with the corresponding portion of the housing applied thereto.

Most present-day sinks are provided with faucets of the mixer type, that is, the hot and cold water faucets lead to a single outlet. However, l0 sinks provided with separate hot and cold water faucets are still made and still remain in use. Accordingly, still another object of the present invention is to make the same applicable to sinks having either a mixer faucet or separate hot and l5 cold water faucets, so that in either case water of desired temperature may be supplied to the brush.

It is frequently desirable to change the material and stiffness of the bristles of the brush according to the type of cleaning being done. It is evident that to clean the burned surface of a pot, a different character of brush may be advantageously employed than to clean the surface of delicate china. Furthermore, I have found it possible to clean or/and peel vegetables and the like by using a brush with stiff bristles such as steel wire. Accordingly, still another object of the present invention is to so design a turbine brush appliance that the brush which is 30 driven by the impeller may readily be applied to or removed from the impeller, so that a brush having bristles of desired material and stiffness may be selected and used.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and 35 such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the turbine brush mechanism elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a section taken in elevation through a preferred form of appliance designed particularly for dish washing-'and the like;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 3A in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a similar unit appropriately modified to fit a. sink having two faucets; and

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate modified forms of adaptor for different types of faucet.

For purposes of illustration, the features of my 55 invention will be described in connection with a preferred form of rotary dish washing appliance. It will be understood, however, that the invention involves a number of improvements, many of which, such as the soap supply mechanism, the interchangeable brush mechanism etc., are useful in a variety of appliances other than the dish washing appliance specifically described.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 thereof, the appliance comprises a housing I2, which is detachably attachable to an adaptor I4 permanently afiixed to the outlet of a faucet I6, the attachment being direct and rigid, so that the housing is supported and held in position by the faucet. The housing is provided with an annular or outside brush I8 which is stationary, and with a circular brush 20 which is rotatably mounted inside of the stationary brush I8. Brush 28 is arranged to be driven by a turbine wheel or impeller 22 which in turn is driven by water supplied from faucet I6. Housing I2 further includes a soap compartment 24 into which a preferably small portion of the water supply may be diverted through passage 26 under the control of a needle valve 28. The detergent formed by the diverted water squirted into the soap compartment, flows downwardly to the rotary brush 20.

Considering the apparatus in greater detail, the adaptor I4 preferably comprises a rubber collar or inner member 30, the internal shape of which is designed to fit the particular type of faucet in use. The collar 38 is surrounded near its upper periphery by a thin brass tightening band 32, and the collar 30 and band 32 are completely housed by an apertured cup-shaped aluminum collar holder 34. The latter is split at one side, as at 3'I, and provided with outwardly projecting lugs 36 and 38. These lugs are most clearly shown in Fig. 3 which also shows how they are interconnected by a tightening screw 40 which passes freely through lug 36 but is threaded in lug 38. The entire adaptor assembly including rubber collar 38, the band 32, and the collar holder 34, is applied to the faucet I6 and permanently attached thereto by tightening the screw 40. 'I'his results not only in holding the adaptor rigidly on the faucet, but also in preventing leakage of water upwardly between the faucet and the adaptor.

The housing I2 is provided at its upper end with a cup-shaped receptacle 42 dimensioned to just t over the collar holder 34. The upper rear portion of the receptacle 42 is cut away, as at 44, in order to clear the rearwardly projecting lugs 36 and 38 of collar holder 34. The sides of the receptacle 42 are provided with threaded bosses 46, best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, into which are threaded the knurled thumb screws 48. The sides of the collar holder 34 are provided with recesses 50 for receiving the ends of thumb screws 48. The bottom of receptacle 42 carries a gasket 43. With this construction it will be understood tl` at housing I2 may readily be applied to faucet I6 simply by sliding the receptacle 42 over the adaptor I4, and tightening thumb screws 48. Similarly, to detach the housing from the faucet, it is simply necessary to slightly loosen thumb screws 48 and slide the housing downwardly oi the adaptor I4.

The main frame or housing I2 has integrally formed therein the soap compartment 24. This is generally cylindrical and is provided with a lid or cover 52, hinged to the soap compartment at 54, and provided with a central knob 56 and be bled or diverted into soap compartment 24 through passage 26. This passage preferably terminates in a small opening, as is indicated at 12, so that the water fed therethrough will be squirted into the soap compartment somewhat forcibly, even though a relatively small quantity of water is diverted. This insures the water becoming sudsy or soapy even though solid soap is employed, and the latter is preferred because it is consumed relatively slowly and economically.

Regardless of the type of detergent used, the present invention is economical in its consumption thereof because the main bulk of the Water supply needed to drive the impeller 22 need not ow through the detergent, but instead is fed directly to the impeller. The soapy water flows downwardly by gravity through discharge openings 'I4 at the bottom of the soap container 24, and from there flows over the impeller 22 and to the rotating brush 20 and the surface being cleaned.

The supply of detergent is accurately controllable by means of a simple needle valve 28 the conical end of which mates with a conical seat formed at the end of passage 26. The valve stem is threaded at 'I6 so that it may be closed or opened any desired amount by rotation of the valve stem, which for this purpose has secured thereto a control handle or lever 18. Leakage of water around the valve stem may be prevented by packing confined and tightened by a packing cap 82. This in turn is screwed onto a bushing 84 which itself may be threaded into a boss 86 on housing I2. The illustrated construction simplies the machining of the parts of the valve mechanism, as well as the machining of the passage 26. It will be understood that by simple manipulation of the handle 18, the supply of water to the soap compartment may be accurately regulated to control the flow of detergent to the brush, and, if desired, may be entirely cut off, in which case the brush will receive only clear water. The arrangement then may be used for rinsing dishes and the like, or for cleaning dishes which require no detergent. In this condition, the appliance may also be used for cleaning vegetables and the like.

The bottom of housing I2 is formed into an inverted dished compartment 88 within which the impeller 22 is housed. The impeller consists of a top plate 98, a depending annular skirt 92, and a plurality of vanes or blades 94 projecting downwardly from top plate 90 and outwardly from the skirt 92. These blades may be shaped and disposed in any desired manner, but I have found that the operating emciency of the device is not noticeably or measurably impaired by making the blades in simple radial form, as is best shown in Fig. 2.v This arrangement is relatively simple to pattern, cast, and finish. By disposing the discharge nozzle 12 in proper tangential direction, the water supply is directed against the blades and after impinging upon and driving the same, tends to flow radially outward from the impeller. 'I'his ow is intercepted by the outside of the compartment 88 in housing |2, and the water is consequently defiected downwardly against the surface being brushed. To additionally confine the water to the surface being brushed, the outer or stationary brush 8 is preferably provided, this brush consisting of closely packed bristles bound in twisted wires which are pried over the bottom of the housing and held in an annular recess |02 extending around the same.

The impeller 22 is preferably provided with a bushing |04 force-fitted therein. The bushing is freely received by a main bearing screw |06 the upper end |08 of which is reduced in diameter and threaded into the bottom of the soap compartment 24. The thread is preferably a lefthand thread, so that rotation of impeller 22 tends to tighten rather than loosen screw |06. Lubrication between bearing screw |06 and bushing |04 may be obtained simply by the water with which the device is flooded when in use. Effective lubrication may also be obtained by reason of the soapy water flowing through the apparatus. This lubrication may be improved by boring bearing screw |06 with axial and transverse lubricating passages ||0. Such passages permit soapy water to flow directly from compartment 24 to the bearing. If desired, lubrication by means of a heavy oil or grease may be provided by packing waste ||2 with the lubricant, and confining the same within a protective cap ||4 applied over the end of screw |06 and shielding the lubricant from the detergent.

Brush comprises a flat disc-like brush plate |20 in which bunches |22 of bristles are set. The brush plate |20 is provided with an upwardly projecting central boss |24 the internal diameter of which is dimensioned to fit over the outside of the downwardly projecting hub |26 of irnpeller 22. The hub |26 is provided with an outwardly projecting key |28, and is further provided with a cup-shaped or hemispherical indentation |30. The boss |24 is provided with a keyway mating with key |28, whereby the rotation of impeller 22 is imparted to the brush plate |20. The boss |24 is further provided with a lug or protuberance |32 within which there is carried a reciprocable holding pin |34 resiliently urged into recess by a compression spring |36 which in turn is retained in place by a screw |40. With this construction, it will be evident that brush 20 is readily detachable from impeller 22 simply by pulling it downward from the impeller, and that another brush having bristles of any desired material and stiffness may be substituted simply by pushing the same upwardly over the hub |26 of the impeller. The fit of the brush on the impeller may and preferably is made relatively free, for in use the brush is anyway pushed upwardly by the surface being cleaned. Positive rotation of the brush, however, is obtained at all times by reason of key |28 and the mating keyway.

A kitchen sink is most frequently provided with a mixer faucet. in which case the single outlet of the n.lxer faucet is provided with an adaptor I4, and the apparatus is simply slipped over and attached to the said outlet. However, in some cases a sink may be provided with separate hot and cold water faucets. To make possible the use of water of any desired temperature when the brush is applied to such a sink, the housing I2 is provided at one side with a cylindrical hose coupling boss |42, centrally bored at |44, as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The outer end of bore |44 is preferably threaded to receive a. screw |46 and washer |48 so as to blank off the passage in the manner indicated in Fig. 3 when the device is used on a mixer faucet.

However, when the brush is to be used with separate faucets, screw |46 is removed and one end of a preferably flexible rubber hose |50 is forced thereover, as is best shown in Fig. 4. Referring to that figure, it will be seen that the receptacle 42 of housing I2 is applied to an adaptor permanently attached to the faucet I6, just as was described in connection with Fig. 1. The faucet I6 is preferably the hot water faucet, and this being ordinarily on the left side, the boss |42 is provided at the right side of the housing I2. Hose |50 therefore extends to the right and leads to the cold water faucet I6. which is of advantage because the hose is not injuriously affected by cold water. Faucet I6', like faucet I6, has permanently attached thereto an adaptor I4'. A special fitting |52 is provided the upper portion of which includes a receptacle |54 exactly like the receptacle 42 on housing I2. This receptacle is similarly provided with thumb screws 48' mating with recesses 50 on the adaptor I4. The discharge end of fitting |52 includes a tubular nozzle |56 the diameter of which equals that of the boss |42 on housing I2. The end of hose |50 is forced over tubular portion |56. The distance between hot and cold water faucets is fairly well standardized, and small variations may be taken care of by the length of the tubular nozzle |56. Large variations may be taken care of by cutting different lengths of hose |50. The ends of the hose are preferably permanently secured to boss |42 and fitting |52 by hose clamps |58 the split ends of which may be drawn together by screws |60 in conventional fashion.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that where the sink is provided with separate hot and cold water faucets, both of these are provided with adaptors, and the turbine brush is slightly modified by the addition of hose |50 and fitting |52. To apply the brush to the faucets, the receptacles 42 and |54 are fitted over adaptors I4 and I4', and thumb screws 48 and 48' are tightened. If the owner moves to a different apartment, the sink of which has a mixer faucet, he has merely to remove hose |50, and blank off the boss |52 by means of screw |46.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate typical forms of adaptor arranged to t different types of faucet. In each case the adaptor comprises a rubber collar 30 or 30", surrounded by a brass tightening band 32 and a collar holder 34, all of which may be tightened by a screw 40. from a comparison of Figs. 1, 5, and 6, that in every case the adaptors are entirely similar except for a slight change in the internal shape or dimension of the rubber collar 30, 30', or 30". The collar holder 34 being always the same, the adaptor is in every case readily received by the receptacle 42 of the brush.

A dish washing appliance of the type described is characterized by numerous advantages, among which may be listed the fact that the dishes are washed by a perfectly sanitary method including constant scrubbing accompanied by constant rinsing with hot soapy water. The soapy water affords perfect lubrication for the moving bristles, and softens and dilutes the removable material on the dishes or utensils, whether such material be greasy or not. The utensil is not only thoroughly cleaned, but is actually polished. The

It will be evidentv brush is self-cleansing because of the contnuous ow of hot soapy water therethrough, but additional cleaning, if desired, is facilitated by the ready demountability of the rotary brush, as well as of the entire unit which is light, compact, and easy to handle. In operation, the brush does not throw water, and causes less exposure to the hands of the user to water and detergent, thereby avoiding the effects of excessive immersion. The amount of soap can be regulated from heavy suds down to none at all leaving only clear water flowing from the brush. In the latter condition, the device is valuable for the washing of vegetables and even for the peeling of vegetables having a thin skin.

'Ihe mode of constructing and using, and the many advantages of my invention will, it is thought, be apparent from the foregoing detailed 'description thereof. The rotary brush, regardless of whether mounted in a portable or xed unit, and regardless of the use to which it is put, may be provided with means for supplying a detergent to the brush at an accurately controllable rate. 'Ihe supply of detergent may be entirely stopped, if desired. The detergent is consumed slowly and economically, and is used eiliciently because it is liquefied or/and transformed into suds before it is applied to the brush and the surface being cleaned. The main bulk of the Water supply which is needed for proper power drive of the turbine impeller, need not pass through the detergent with consequent waste. The amount of this water supply may also be regulated at the faucet. The rotatable brush is readily applied to and removed from the mold. and a series of brushes the bristles of whch differ in material and stiffness may be selectively employed. The device, if used for dish washing, is readily attachable to and detachable from a faucet, and when attached to the faucet is rigidly supported thereby, so that the operator need handle only the dishes being washed. Water of desired temperature may be obtained, regardless of whether the sink is provided with a mixer faucet or separate hot and cold water faucets.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. Dish washing apparatus comprising a housing having an open bottom, means localized at the housing for readily detachably attaching the housing to a faucet in a direct and rigid manner, whereby the housing is supported by the faucet and is supplied with water therefrom, an impeller in said housing near the open bottom thereof, a rotary disc brush attached directly to the lower side of said impeller and rotated thereby, the bristles of said brush projecting downwardly out of the open bottom of the housing, means for guiding water from the faucet directly to the impeller to rotate the same and thence to the brush, a soap compartment in said housing, means to divert a portion of the water supply into the soap compartment and thence to the brush, and means to control the diversion of water into the soap compartment.

2. Dish washing apparatus comprising a housing, means for readily detachably attaching the housing to a faucet in a. direct and rigid manner, whereby the housing is supported by the faucet and is supplied with water therefrom, an annular stationary brush located at the bottom of the housing, a circular rotary brush located at the bottom of the housing within the stationary brush, an impeller in said housing for rotating the rotary brush, means for guiding water from the faucet to the impeller to rotate the same and 5 thence to the brush, a soap compartment in said housing, means to divert a portion of the Water supply into the soap compartment and thence to the brush, and means to regulate and entirely stop the diversion of water into the soap compartment.

3. A household appliance for use with a sink having separate hot and cold water faucets, said apparatus comprising a housing, means for readily detachably attaching the housing to both the hot and cold water faucets, so that the housing is supplied with mixed water from both faucets, the attachment to at least one of said faucets being localized at the housing and being in a direct and rigid manner so that the housing is supported by said faucet, an annular stationary brush located at the bottom of the housing, a circular rotary brush located at the bottom of the housing within the stationary brush, an impeller in said housing for rotating the rotary brush, and means for guiding water from the faucets to the impeller to rotate the same and thence to the brush.

4. Dish washing apparatus for use with 4a sink having separate hot and cold water faucets, said apparatus comprising a housing, means for readily detachably attaching the housing to both the hot and cold water faucets, so that the housing is supplied with mixed water from .both faucets, the attachment to at least one of said faucets being in a direct and rigid manner so that the housing is supported by said faucets, an annular stationary brush located at the bottom of the housing, a circular rotary brush located at the bottom of the housing within the stationary brush, an impeller in said housing for rotating the rotary brush, means' for guiding water from the faucets to the impeller to rotate the same and thence to the brush, a soap compartment in said housing, means to divert a portion of the water supply into the soap compartment and thence to the brush, and means to control the diversion of Water into the soap compartment.

5. A household appliance comprising an openbottomed circular housing, means localized at the housing for readily detachably attaching the housing to a faucet in a direct and rigid manner, whereby the housing is supported by the faucet and is supplied with Water therefrom, a water driven impeller mounted in a horizontal plane in said housing, a rotary disc brush detachably mounted directly on said impeller, and means for guiding water from the faucet to the impeller, said impeller comprising a hub portion surrounded by blades closed by a top wall but open at the bottom thereof, and said brush comprising a hub portion received by the hub portion of the impeller, and a disc portion projecting outwardly therefrom and acting as a bottom wall for the blades of the impeller, whereby water discharged into the impeller may ow downwardly to the brush.

6. Dish washing apparatus comprising a main body including an upwardly hollowed circular housing at the bottom thereof, a cylindrical soap compartment above said housing, and a main water flow passage extending upwardly from the rear edge of the housing alongside of the rear wall of the soap compartment and terminating at the soap compartment with means for readily detachably securing the apparatus to a faucet in a direct and rigid manner, whereby the housing is supported by the faucet and is supplied with water therefrom, an annular stationary brush located around the housing, an impeller in said housing driven by water supplied thereto through the aforesaid main water passage, a circular ro tary brush mounted directly on the impeller Within the annular stationary brush, the bottom of said soap compartment communicating with the brush, and the 'impeller discharging water downwardly to the brush.

7. Dish washing apparatus comprising a main body including an upwardly hollowed circular housing at the bottom thereof, a cylindrical soap compartment above said housing, and a main water flow passage extending upwardly from the rear edge of the housing alongside of the rear wall of the soap compartment and terminating at the soap compartment with means for readily detachably securing the body to a faucet in a direct and rigid manner, whereby the body is supported by the faucet and is supplied with water therefrom, an annular stationary brush located around the housing, an impeller in said houfing driven by water supplied thereto through the aforesaid main water passage, a circular rotary brush mounted directly on the impeller within the annular stationary brush, a. valve-controlled bleeder passage for diverting a small portion of the water from the main water passage into the soap compartment, the bottom of said' soap compartment being perforated for communication 15 THEODORE P. HUBERT.

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