US2231189A - Laundry machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 11, 1941. J, R Y

' LAUNDRY MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 1 JAME5 B. KIBY Original Filed May 2, 1927 Fb. 11, 1941. .1. B.'KiRBY umm MACHIN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 2, 1927 00000000 000 0000 0 0000.00 0 0000 0 I I PW MI I IW I I I IWWWI 6 2 5 .m n E K E w m. v m sn 0 r i W m F .J g 1 [2 .QN E a.

J. B. KIRBY LAUNDRY MACHINE Feb. 11, 1941.

ori inzil 'File May 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

JAMzs B. Ku ReY [BEER-[FF B MM/f H ar'zze 5 Patented Feb. 11, 1941 uiTEo STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,231,189 LAUNDRY MACHINE Application May 2, 1927, Serial No. 188,332

Renewed October 2'1, 1931 7 Claims.

This invention relates to' laundry'machines and has for its object the provision of a combined washing and extracting machine of simple and compact construction, small size, moderate cost, and large washing capacity; the provision of a machine of this character having new and improved washing expedients; the provision of a two compartment machine of 'the extractor type wherein the compartments can be used either simultaneously or successively for either washing, rinsing, bluing or extracting; the provision of a new and improved construction of casin the provision of new and improved arrangements for rinsing clothing and for transferring the liquid from and between the different compartments; the provision of new and improved driving devices; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent-as the description proceeds. 20 In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application Fig. 1 is a top plan view and Fig. 2 a front elevation of a machine including my improvements; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding to the line l-t of Fig. 3; Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detail cross sections showing the different positions of the valve as employed at different times during the washing, etc. operations; and Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the valve; Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the friction clutch and automatic tension release; Fig. 11 is a section on the line Ii-Il of Fig. 3 but drawn to reduced scale; Fig. 12 is a plan view of one of the containers illustrating the paths traveled by the articles being washed during the operation of the machine; Fig. 13 is a development of a side elevational view of the container, also illustrating the paths of the articles being washed when viewed from the side of the machine; Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of one of the containers to illustrate the circulation of the clothes adjacent to the lower half of the blade of the container; and Fig.*15,is a side elevational view of one of the containers, illustrating the circulation of the clothes adjacent to the upper half of the blade of the container.

The casing of my improvedmachine is pref-l also of sheet metal which is tightly solderedior I k e 1 otherwise secured therein thus providing a casing of maximum rigidity and minimum weight containing two similar compartments 4 and 5 defining the tubs or vats of the machine. The bottom of the casing consists of a metal sheet 6 5 which rests on a flat topped plate 1' supported by legs 88. Threaded in bosses 9, 9 of this plate are vertical cylindrical sleeves l0, Ill whose upper ends project a short distance into the chambers 4, 5 through holes in the sheet 6, said 10 holes being sealed by packed nuts H, II which also constitute lock-nuts for the sleeves. Secured to the upper edge of the wall I is a top plate l2 having a depending flange l3 which closely embraces the wall I and formed with two 15 circular holes it, one for each compartment. I have shown the top as surrounded by an upturned flange l5.

Securedto the bottom of the plate 1 is a frame in which the driving mechanism. is mounted. Journaled in each of the sleeves l0 and stepped in a thrust bearing 2| carried by the frame is a vertical shaft 22 on which is slidably splined a toothed pinion 23, and operatively connected to each pinion is a shifting yoke 24 carried by the rock shaft 25; Hand levers 26, 26 are secured to these rockshafts at the front of the machine, suitable sectors Ll being provided whereby these levers may be held in different positions. 3

Pivoted on a vertical axis carried by the frame 20 is a double ended segmental gear or rack 30, operatively connected by a pitman 3i with a worm wheel 32 pivoted to the post 33. Rotatably mounted on the exterior of each of the 85 sleeves I0 is a spiral gear 34, preferably combined with a friction clutch. In its simplest form here shown for illustrative purposes the lower face of the gear 3d is formed with atapered recess 36 receiving a similarly tapered driving member 3'! with the inter-position of a suitable lining material 38. Projecting from the lower face ofthe member 31 is a-pin 39 adapted to be engaged by a pin 40 carried by the slidable gear 23. The arrangement of parts is such as to bring the pinions 34-35 into the same horizontal plane with the wheel 32, and located in this plane isv the shaft M of the driving motor 43, said shaft being provided with a worm or spiral gear M meshing with the wheel 32, and with two spiral gears -45, one for each of the pinions 34-45. Preferably the direction of rotation is so chosen (as shown by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 4) that the tendency of the gears $545 is to raise the v pinions 84 along their respective sleeves Hi, this on tendency being opposed by springs 45' and thrust bearings 41. Accordingly if at any time the retation of the gears 34 is sumciently opposed, the elevation of the same-against the tension of the spring 46 will disengage the corresponding clutch, and the load is always limited by the tension of said spring. The gears 45 are duplicates of each other and are of dissimilar pitch as compared with the gear 44.

Located in each of the compartments 4 and 5 is.a container for the clothing to be washed and centrifuged. Each of these containers consists of a bottom member 50iormed with a hollow. central boss 5| which is recessed as shown at 52 to receive loosely the upper end of the sleeve "I and form an air seal thereabout; while the center of said boss is formed with a fluted or otherwise formed socket 53 for the detachable. reception of the similarly fashioned upper end of the shaft 22. Secured to the. outer rim of the bottom 50 is the metallic side wall 54 of the container, which is preferably and generally formed with numerous perforations for the passage of the liquid contents. It will be understood that if the side walls are flared the perforations can be omitted as in the case of the extractor container shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,633,796, issued to C.

G. Sinclair, June 28, 1927. .Provision is also madefor the agitation of the clothing and fabrics in the liquid for washing purposes. Such provision in the present embodiment consisting of an agitator or dasher in the form of a helical metal blade or vane 55, here shown as running all the way from the bottom to the top of each container and making substantially a single tum, although this arrangement is not invariable.

If it is desired to have a machine in which the dasher can be operated independently of the container, a form of construction may be employed, such as shown in my earlier filed copending application Serial No. 694,899, which matured into Patent No. 1,969,176 on August 7, 1934.

Plvoted to the top plate l2 upon a horizontal axis adjacent to the rear of the machine are a pair of circularlids 56-56, one for each of the holes. Eachof these lids is formed with a central, axial, hollow, boss 51 in which is journaled the hollow rotatable hub 58 of a circular cover plate 59 whose outer rim is formed with a depending circular flange 60 adapted to engage tightly'the upper end of the corresponding container. A suitable bearing sleeve 6! of anti-' friction metal is preferably employed between the hub and boss, and the center of the hub is apertured as at 62 for the reception of a hose 63 whereby-rinse water or washing liquid may be introduced into the machine. Preferably the flange 5|! overlaps the exterior of the container 1 so that any metal displaced by wear may not soil the clothing as it is being removed after washing.-

Carried by one end of the-shaft 42 is a pumprotor 65 which is located in apump casing 66 back and forth over the inner edge. of the blade.

a sinkor other receptacle. The pipe 51 is con nected to the discharge duct Hot a valve casing 13, the side walls of which communicate with thecontainers 4 and 5 respectively by means of conduits 7|4'|5 respectively. Rotatably mounted inside the casing 13 is the valve-member 15 which is oi turning-plug type, having webs and channels so arranged that when located in one position, as shown for example in Fig. 5, both co-nduits 14 and 75 are cut ofi from the pump and from each other, but arranged so that by turning in one direction or the other as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 either of said compartments can be connected selectively to said pump, or by turning still further both compartments can be so connected for purpose of complete drainage. The valve isoperated by means of a suitable handle 11 located above the top plate I2 and connected to the valve by the vertical shaft-.78. Suitable handles are provided as shown at 19 for manipulating the lids 56, while suitable notches 80 formed in the sectors 21 serve to hold the leversheld either in mesh with the rack 30 or in engagement with the members 36 or at an intermediate point where they are wholly out of mesh. The parts of said containers and their respective driving mechanisms are preferably made interchangeable.

In the operation of my improved washing machine the desired quantity of washing liquid is introduced into one or both compartments, either before or after the introduction of the container, and the articles to be washed are placed in the containers, the lid closed, and the levers moved to such position as to cause the pinions 23 to mesh with the rack 30 thereby imparting to the containers a vigorous oscillation. The effect of the helical dasher is alternately to raise and depress the fabrics, and to raise the liquid and.

dash it thereon.

The procedure followed in the use of this machine is the same as for the general class of washing machines to which this machine belongs and in which the clothes are washed through the action of an oscillatable agitator and fluid circulation created thereby.

When a compartment is used for washing purposes, it is preferred to maintain the liquid level in such compartment at a slight distance from the top thereof, and the load of articles being washed should not be so great as to prevent the free circulation of such articles during the opera as is customary in washing general type to which this mablade 55 may be observed to violently move back and forth in alternately reverse circular directions around the axis of the compartment in step with the oscillations of the machine. At the same time that this is taking place, the clothes adjacent tothe upper portion of the agitator hlade reciprocate along spiral paths following I jibe contour of the blade, while the clothes adjacent to the lower portionof the blade swing wardly and around the container along a spiral path corresponding to the underside of the blade,

as indicated by the broken line in Figure 12. When the article emerges from beneath the blade at the point B, the path is first circularly around the container at the upper portion thereof, as in-,

the path swings inwardly. toward theaxis of the container and then outwardly thereof as at E, completing one cycle of movement whereupon the article again follows the path A, B,.C, D and E just described.

In general the articles being washed are freely suspended in the liquid and if the machine is not tooheavily loaded the individual articles will be observed to be spaced from each other particularly at that part of the path adjacent to the lower portion of the blade. Due to this spacing vof the articles, the paths of the individual articles will often vary from the particular path described without, however, deviating greatly from the general path which includes for each revolution around the vat axis, an outward movement at E; an upward spiral movement at A; a circular movement at B; a downward and reverse spiral movement at C; and then an inward and downward movement at D across the edge of the blade whereupon this cycle of operation repeats itself. The movements from C to E are all in a generally downward direction. The general movement of the articles around'the axis of the vat in one direction hereinafter will be, referred to as a circulatory movement and the upward circular movement at A and the downward circular movement at C will be referred to asspiral movements. It is to be understood, of course, that individual articles may vary somewhat in their movement from the paths described and that some of the terms used in describing such movements and paths are not to be limited to their strict geometrical meaning.

The progress and movement of the articles being washed is caused by their receiving accelerations in reverse directions during'the successive movements of the blade which effects a reversal of movement of the articles though to a lesser extent in one direction than the other so that the resultant general movement will be in the direction and along the paths defined. In

H the operation of the machine, the articles are flexed, separated and unfurled, and particularly when in the zone'ofaction of the lower portion of the blade where they move part-by-part and pieceby-piece across the blade edge and are thus individually acted upon by the blade. The articles move more rapidly in those portions of their path which are adjacent to the blade and as one end of a long-article is acted upon by the lower portion of the blade, the article is sucked or drawn under the blade part-by-part and in this manner a relative separation is effected between this article and the articles adjacent to its end remote from, the blade. The reverse accelerationsjust described, constitute in effect a series of intermittent retardations of the circulation of tact with the upper side of the blade are accelerated upwardly during the clockwise movement of the blade. During the counterclockwise movement of the blade the container contents in contact with the underside of the blade are accelerated downwardly. The actions just described create a'turbulent condition of the liquid in the vicinity of the blade which it is believed, greatly enhances the washing speed and eniciency of the machine as it serves to keep the articles being washed from tangling and'wrapping around each other while at the same time a greater relative movement of washing fluid through the fabric of the articles being washed is achieved than would be possible if the articles moved along their paths at an even and constant speed. 1

The blades 55 each extend substantially from the bottom to the top of their respective compartments and they are thus effective from substantially the normal surface level of the liquid in the compartment to the bottom thereof. As the blade 55 is moved back and forth through the liquid alternate and reverse accelerations having vertical and horizontal components are imparted to the liquid. The opposite accelerations of the liquid apparently differ in magnitude and appear to be stronger in one direction. This theory of operation is supported by the fact that the articles being washed move or progress in one direction from the top to the bottom portion of the vat and up again while at the same time moving or progressing around the vat in one direction. If the component accelerations or movements were equal and opposite there would Owing to the entrapment of air in the recess 52, no leakage of water can occur from either compartment into either sleeve, nor can oil and grease find its way into the washing liquid. During the time that both compartments are being employed for the washing operation the valve is maintained in the position as shown in Fig. 5. As soon as the washing is finished ineither contalner, as forexample that in the compartment 4, the corresponding lever 25 is shifted to neutral position, and the valve shifted to discharging position as shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the action of the. pump causes the expulsion of the washing liquid through the hose 69 either into a sink or some receptacle for preserving or reheating the same. means of the hose 63 connected to a source of water supply, or poured in with pails if desired, after which the oscillating motion may be recommenced for a short time; or the oscillation can be allowed to continue during the draining without injury. The rinse water can now be discharged by the proper actuation of the valve, after which bluing water can be introduced if desired and likewise discharged; and after all the desired washing operations have been performed the lever 26 can be shifted .to the position causing an engagement between the pins.39 and 40 as shown at the left hand of Fig. 3 and the container rotated at high speed to extract the liquid contents. Some people find it desirable to spray the clothes with water from a hose during this Rinse water can now be introduced by Owing to the provision of two similar compartments and containers, washing in one can be accompanied by rinsing and extracting in the 'otherwhenever desired; or the washing water, bluing water, etc. can be transferred from one to the other by introducing the discharge end of the hose 69 into the proper aperture 52 and suitably manipulating the valve. By the use of two small containers 9. large washing can be readily accomplished withthe aid of a small compact and easily stored machine which is peculiarly advantageous to dwellers in flats and apartments; or by introducing the more soiled articles into one container and those less soiled into the other container, the complete operations of washing, rinsing, can be completed in the one during the accomplishment of the more extensive washing in the other so that the time of the effectively utilized.

Another convenient procedure is to start washing in one container only and later to transfer the washing liquid to the other container by the 2 use of the pump and hose; whatever the detail procedure adopted, it will be seen that it is not necessary to remove the clothing from the container or even to lift one of the lids from the time that the dry soiled garments are originally introduced into the machine until they are ready to be hung on the line, and that all the operations can be performed with a minimum amount of liquid and without wetting the hands.

Certain features of the mechanical connec-' tions and gearing construction illustrated herein are not claimed in this application, but in 00- pending application Serial No. 694,899, which matured into .Patent No. 1,969,176 on August 7, 1934 and in application Serial No. 191,483, filed May. 14, 1927, which matured into Patent No. 1,911,903, on May 30, 1933; and certain features of the casing construction herein illustrated are reserved for the subject-matter of claims in application Serial No. 238,035, filed December 6, 1927, which matured into Patent No. 1,842,030 on January 19, 1932. Certain features of this application are also dominated by claims in copending application Serial No. 176,909, filed March 21, 1927, which matured into Patent No. 1,905,912 on April 25, 1933.

It will be understood that'm-any other uses and advantages exist, and that a great manychanges in construction, design and arrangement can be made without loss of advantage or departure from the scope of my inventive idea, wherefore I do not limit myself in any wise except as specifically recited in my several claims which I desire may be construed independently of limitations contained in other claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a laundry machine, an upright casing, an upright container therein, a lid for said container adapted to overlap the same and engage the exterior of said container at its upper end, a member pivoted to said casing on a horizontal bluing and extracting operator is most axis at one side thereof, said lid being pivoted to said member upon an axis concentric with for rotating said consaid container, and means tainer and lid about their common axis.

2. In a clothes washing machine, a clothes container journaled on a vertical axis, a rotatable driving-element, reciprocating-mechanism operatively connecting said element to said container for oscillating said container about its axis, and a spiral internal cloth'es engaging blade carried by the side wall of said container, said spiral being coaxial with the axis of oscillation.

3. A laundry-machine comprising, iii-combination, an upright shaft, gearing for oscillating-said shaft about its axis, and a container for clothes having provisions for securing it to saidshaftcm,

axial therewith, and having a fixed spiral clothesengaging blade projecting inwardly from its side wall also co-axial with said shaft.

4. In a clothes washing machine, a container of greater height than diameter formed as a surface of revolution about a vertical axis and having a spiral clothes engaging blade carried by and projecting inwardly from its side wall throughout substantially its entire height, means for supporting said container with its axis vertical, :2. prime-mover, and gearing operatively connecting said prime-mover and container whereby said container is oscillated about said axis.

5. In a clothes washing machine, a liquid-receiving casing, a. clothes container journaled on a. vertical axis in said casing, said container having a spiral clothes-engaging blade carried by and projecting inwardly from the side well thereof,'driving means operatively connected to said container, said driving means including a mechanism to oscillate the container to efiect washing and an alternatively operated mechanism to rotate thecontainer to eifect centrifugal ex- 2 traction.'

6. In a laundry machine, a casing having two upright compartmentstherein, each compartment having a portion of its external side wall arcuate in horizontal-section, the side walls of said compartments approaching to define an upright dihedral angle,,valve and pump means for transferring liquid from either compartment to the other, and a control device for saidvalvemeans located in one of said dihedral angles.

7. In a; clothes washing machine, in combination, a clothes container having a foraminous

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