US2218686A

US2218686A - Vegetable washer

Info

Publication number: US2218686A
Application number: US246876A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry N Showers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-12-20
Filing date: 1938-12-20
Publication date: 1940-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1957-10-22

Description

Oct. 22, 1940- H. N. SHOWERS VEGETABLE WASHER Filed Deg. 20, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS;

Oct. 22, 1940.

H. N. SHOWERS VEGETABLE WASHER Filed'Dec. 20, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 22, 1940- H. N. SHOWERS VEGETABLE WASHER Filed Dec. 20, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fvz/QPv (SHOWERS INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT [OF ICE This invention relates to apparatus: designed primarily for use in washing vegetables and the like.

I An object of the invention is to provide a struc-a -ture in which vegetables can be thoroughly scoured so as to leave the machine in a clean condition ready for shipment after they have been properly dried. t

A further object is to'providea means for subjecting the vegetables or the like to the action of opposed moving sprayers so that all portions of the material under treatment will be reached, the spraying means being housed so that the spray will be confined and it is thus possible to use the apparatus without danger of wetting persons handling the same. 7

A still further object is to provide washing apparatus which is simple in construction and easy to operate.

20 With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the 25 claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred 30 form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, a portion of the drive mechanism being broken away.

35 Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1. Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the sprayers. Figure 5 is a vertical section through the hub portion of a sprayer.

40 Figure 6 is a View partly in side elevation and I partly in section of a spraying nozzle.

Figure 7 is an end view of the nozzle.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8, Figure 6.

Referring to the figures by characters of ref- 45 erence I designates the trough-like body of the apparatus which is supported on suitable uprights 2, The bottom of this body is inclined downwardly to an outlet 3. Transverse shafts 4 are located in the end portions of the body and are provided with sprockets 5 or the like for supporting and operating an endless belt. In the present instance this belt is made up of parallel endless chains 6 connected by spaced rods 1 on which the vegetables or other materials to be 55 washed are placed. The belt is actuated by any suitable mechanism. For example a worm gear 8 can be secured to one of the shafts '4 and actuated by a speed reduction mechanism indicated generally at 9, this mechanism being driven by a motor I0 pivotally located. f

-' overlying the middle portion of the top flight of the endless belt formed by chains 6 and rods 'I--is an upper housing II. Curtains I2 formed-of any suitable material of a flexible nature are used to close the inlet and outlet ends of the upper.

housing.

A water supply pipe I3 is located outside of the body I and has a laterally extended branch I 4 from which a pipe I5 is extended upwardly. Outlet pipes are extended from pipes I3 and I5 through one side of the body and into position between the upper and lower flights of the belt.

Each of these pipes I6 is provided at its inner end with an elbow II adapted to deliver water under tating hub I9 of the sprayer, this hub being held against displacement by any suitable means, although being capable of rotating freely. Preferably four tubular arms are carried by and radiate from the hub l9 and each of these arms is provided at its outer end with an elbow 2I in the upper end of which is seated a screw plug 22. This plug hasa. fiat end 23 forming a shoulder through which opens a delivery passage 24 extending through the plug 22 and located away from the longitudinal center thereof. An elongated spraying finger 25 is extended outwardly from the shoulder 23 at one side thereof and overhangs the passage 24, that surface of the finger which overhangs the passage being V- shaped transversely so that a jet of water, when discharged from the passage, will be split by said V-shaped surface and dissipated laterally thereby.

The pipes I3 and I5 are extended upwardly at one side of the upper housing II and over the top thereof where they project downwardly into the housing and are connected to rotating sprayers 25 similar in construction and operation to the ones thus far described but these upper sprayers 26 are inverted so that the jets of water will be discharged downwardly instead of upwardly.

A header 2! is extended laterally fro-m pipe I at a point slightly above the level of the top flight of the belt and this header has branch pipes 28 extending therefrom through the adja'cent side wall of the upper housing I I where it is provided with spraying nozzles 29 of any suitable construction adapted to project a spray transversely across the material resting on the ing ll.

belt. Suitably arranged valves 353 can be provided for controlling the flow of water through the pipes.

It is intended to so position the spraying nozzles that, when the water is delivered therefrom,

it will react against the atmosphere to set up a rotation of thesprayer about its point of connection with the pipe supporting it.

In practice the vegetables or other materials to be washed are placed on the upper flight of the belt above one end of the body I. This belt moves quite slowly and serves to carry the supported material under the first or nearest curtain I2 and into the upper housing ll. Here the material passes between the upper and lower revolving sprinklers, the spraying head's operating to direct spray under pressure upwardly and downwardly onto the supported vegetables or the like as they travel through the upper hous- At the same time these vegetables are subjected to the action of the transverse jets deing this delivery, the sprinklers are rotating so' that all parts of the vegetables, etc., will thus be subjected'to the action of the Water.

By providing the curtains l2 at the inlet and outlet ends of the upper housing, water is prevented from splashing upon persons operating the apparatus and is kept confined within the upper housing and the body thereunder.

What is claimed is:

A rotary spraying element including a rotary hub, means for directing liquid thereto under pressure, tubular arms radiating from the hub, and nozzles at the free ends of the arms, each nozzle including a plug seated in the outlet end of the arm, an outlet opening extending through the plug away from the longitudinal center thereof, anelongated spraying finger extending "outwardly from and integral with the plug at one side of the opening, said finger being V- 'shaped in cross section and having an arcuate surface alined with the plug and a longitudinal ridge inclined relative to the end of the plug, said ridge being obliquely disposed relative to and extending across the axial center of the outlet opening, the finger being positioned to split a jet of liquiddelivered from the opening and to exert a propelling force to rotate the hub and arms, said plug and finger being adjustable about the axis of the arm outlet thereby to change the direction and speed of rotation.

HARRY N. SHOWERS.