US2173572A - Tumbler washer - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 19, 1939. R. 'c. ASHENDEN 2,173,572

TUMBLER WASHER Filed April 28, 1938 Fig.1.

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Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tumbler washers and the object of the invention is to provide a construction which will prevent sewage, which may accumulate as a result of obstruction in the waste or sewage pipe leading from the tumbler washer, from coming in contact with the tumbler being washed and to prevent back siphon age into the pipe through which a cleansing fluid is supplied to the tumbler washer.

Usual tumbler washer constructions comprise a vertical cylindrical bowl having an integral bottom in which is mounted valve-controlled means for projecting sprays of cleansing liquid, usually clear water, from a usual service line upon the interior and exterior of an inverted tumbler inserted in the washer, the bowl being provided with an outlet which is connected to a sewer pipe.

It has been found that where the sewer pipe becomes clogged somewhere along its line its contents back up into the tumbler washer casing to such an extent that it may contact with the tumbler and contaminate it, or even overflow the bowl. Under such circumstances the level of the water is above the nozzle through which the spray is projected upon the tumbler and if the supply of cleansing liquid is shut off, or drawn from another pipe, and the valve in the supply pipe opened by pressure or" a tumbler, or by other causes, water will be back-siphoned into the supply pipe so that upon opening of another faucet in the supply line contaminated water will be delivered from the faucet. Many cases of illness have been traced to contamination of tumblers and to drinking water drawn from the supply pipe under such circumstances.

The object of the present invention is to provide a tumbler washer in which such accumulation of contaminated liquid and back siphonage is wholly prevented.

A preferred form of tumbler washer mechanism embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a yiew showing in elevation the mechanism for supplying a cleansing liquid, such as clear water, from a service pipe, the usual mechanism for spraying jets of cleansing liquid upon the tumbler, and illustrating in vertical diametrical section the bowl and easing of a tumbler base or bowl I, preferably of cast metal, having an outwardly and downwardly extending peripheral flange 2 adapted to rest upon and be supported by a drainboard 3 having an upwardly extending flange and adapted to deliver the waste water into a sink 4 having an outlet pipe 5 leading to the sewer. The base or bowl I of the tumbler washer is provided with relatively thicker portions 6 having an outlet communicating with the upper end of a waste pipe I also leading to the sewer.

The mechanism for projecting jets of cleansing fluid upon the interior and exterior of a tumbler may be of any desired form such as that disclosed in the prior patents to Levi L. Rowe No. 910,587 granted January 26, 1909, and 1,645,156 granted October 11, 1927, which have heretofore been mounted in the bottom of a cylindrical bowl having an integral bottom provided with an outlet leading to the sewer pipe in which construction no means have been provided for preventing accumulation of sewage from backing up into the bowl upon stoppage of. the sewer pipe.

In the present construction a supply of cleansing fluid, usually fresh water under pressure, which is supplied through a pipe 8, and a suitable branch, communicates with the bottom of a vertical cylindrical fitting 3 which is mounted preferably by screw threaded connection in the thickened portion 6 of the base I. A valve casing I0,

which is mounted upon the fitting $3, is provided with valve-controlled means, such as are illustrated in the Rowe patents above mentioned, for projecting jets of cleansing liquid into the interior of an inverted tumbler through a nozzle Iflw, and is also provided with an outlet communicating near its lower end with a vertical pipe I I the upper end of which communicates with a hollow ring I2 having suitable perforations for projecting a cleansing liquid downwardly upon the exterior of the tumbler. The ring I2 desirably is provided with other supporting rods which are connected attheir lower ends to the valve casing I!) to provide a rigid superstructure.

The valve actuating mechanism is of the type illustrated in the patents to Rowe above cited and comprises levers I3 and I4 which yieldably support a rest I5 for the tumbler provided with three radially extending rubber cylinders adapted to be engaged by the mouth of the tumbler so as to prevent it from being injured when depressed to actuate the levers I3 and I4 which open the valve in the casing Ill, thereby causing jets of cleansing liquid to be projected upon the interior and exterior of the tumbler.

In usual constructions as above described an ing.

integral casing extends upwardly from the base or bottom of the bowl and encloses the spray producing means to prevent liquid from rebounding from the surface of the tumbler and spraying the operator and adjacent objects. In such usual constructions the upper end of the cylindrical wall has usually been provided with an outwardly extending flange adapted to rest upon a drainboard which leads to a sink associated with a liquid dispensing apparatus, ice cream containers, or the like.

In the preferred construction illustrated the tumbler washer casing instead of being supported from the top is supported by the peripheral flange 2 upon the drainboard and suitable means are provided for permitting such escape of'liquid from the lower part of the bowl if stoppage of the waste pipe occurs as will prevent an accumulation of contaminated liquid which will overflow the spray nozzle [a or submerge the mouth and wall of the tumbler.

In order more fully to illustrate the invention and to show the manner in which back siphonage may occur and how it is prevented by the present invention, a conventional illustration is made of another pipe connected to the supply pipe 8 through which drinking water may be delivered from a faucet. Assuming that clear water from a service pipe is supplied to the pipe 8 and through the branch to the tumbler washer another pipe I! communicates through a suitable T ]8 with the supply pipe 8 and is provided at its upper end with a faucet 19.

nozzle Illa and submerge a part or all of the tumbler and perhaps overflow the top of the cas- If then a valve in the supply pipe 8 or in the main which supplies water to it is closed, andparticularly if the spillway of the valve is opened, a vacuum will be created in the pipe 8 which will cause back siphonage of the contaminated water. If then the faucet is opened water will descend through the pipe I! below the branch which leads to the tumbler washer and a "considerable accumulation of contaminated water in the supply pipe will occur. When the valve in the service pipe is again opened this contaminated water will be forced upwardly into the pipe I! and also the branch leading to the tumbler washer. Anyone who drinks the contaminated Water under such conditions is liable to disease.

- by providing the base I with an upwardly extending peripheral flange 2D and providing a suitable number of lugs 2!, which preferably are integral with and extend upwardly from the base i, a considerable distance above the edge of the flange 2D, and mounting upon said lugs a cylindrical casing 22 preferably of sheet metal of sufl'iciently smaller diameter than the flange 20 to provide a space between the lower end 23 of the casing and the flange 20 to form a spillway of sufficient capacity to discharge all liquid which can possibly accumulate in the base by reason of such stoppage and the opening of the valve in the casing Ill by the pressure of the tumbler upon the cylinders l6 and rest l5.

By reason of this construction therefore the level of the contaminated water in the tumbler washer cannot rise above the upper edge of the flange 20 and therefore cannot overflow the nozzle lOa or reach the mouth of the tumbler which is attempted to be washed while such stoppage occurs.

The upper end of the casing 22 desirably is provided with a beaded edge 24 to avoid abrasion or cutting of the hand of the operator.

It will be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention, which essentially provides means for so discharging the supply of contaminated liquid as to avoid submergence of the nozzle or the mouth of the tumbler, is of an illustrative character, and that various changes in form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

It will also be understood that while the invention is referred to herein as improvements in tumbler washers, that it may be employed for other purposes, such as washing steins, bottles, ice cream scoops, and other devices, with such changes in construction as may be necessary to enable the valve mechanism to be convenient- -ing above the-top of said bowl, valve mechanism in said conduit having actuating levers adapted tobe engaged by the rim of an inverted tumbler and operable when the tumbler is depressed to open said valve and thereby discharge water under pressure from said nozzle, and a casing of such diameter and height as to surround and enclose the inverted tumbler when engaging said lever mechanism, mounted upon said bowl and spaced therefrom to provide an outlet between said casing and said bowl of such area as will prevehtsuflic'ient accumulation of liquid in said bowl and the casing, upon stoppage of the waste pipe or backing up of sewage, as will engage the rim'of the tumbler or overflow said nozzle.

2. A'tumbler washer mechanism comprising a cylindrical metal bowl having at its bottom an outlet connected to a waste pipe leading to a sewer and at its top an upwardly extending flange of greater diameter than the body of the bowl, and a downwardly and outwardly extending flange adapted to be mounted upon the drainboard of a sink having means for discharging liquid to an outlet'independent of said waste pipe, jet-producing means comprising a conduit for water under pressure mounted centrally of thebottom of said bowl'and having a nozzle extending above the top' of said bowl, valve mechanism in said conduit having actuating levers 75 adapted to be engaged by the rim of an inverted tumbler and operable when depressed by said tumbler to open said valve, a cylindrical casing of less diameter than the diameter of the upwardly extending flange and of such height as to surround the inverted tumbler mounted upon said bowl with its lower end extending below the upper end of said flange and so spaced from the body of said bowl as to provide an outlet between the casing and the bowl of such area as will prevent suflicient accumulation of liquid in the bowl and the casing, upon stoppage of the waste pipe or backing up of sewage, as will engage the tumbler or overflow said nozzle.

RICHARD CHADWICK ASHENDEN.

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