US2303578A - Cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

' H.. c. PORTER 2,303,578

CLEANING MACHINE I Filed' Dec. 24, 1940 I'NVENTOR flow/W0 C. PORTER vBY A I ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 1, 1942 OFFICE Y CLEANING MACHINE Howard C. Porter, South Bend, Ind, assignorto Bendix Home Appliances, Inc., South Bend,

Intl a corporation of Delaware Application December 24, 1940, Serial No. 371,575

Claims.

This invention relates to cleaning machines and, more particularly, to closure constructions for openings in the tubs of cleaning machines.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro-- vide a cleaning machine having an opening closed by a device which is extremely simple toconstruct and install, which provides a mechanically and liquid tight seal and which presents a pleasing appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure device for a cleaning machine in which rubber or like yielding material is employed in a novel manner, so that accurate shaping or forming of the parts isnot necessary and sothat if the closure is struck while it is standing open its support will flex and even allow the cover to pop out of its pivotal support without being broken.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a closure device for a cleaning machine which will close tightly to. prevent splashing out of suds or detergent liquid and at the same time will provide a vent to take care of any expansion or contraction of air contained in the machine. The above and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent.

the lines 33 The illustrated machine is substantially of the type disclosed and claimed in the patent to Chamberlin and Bassett No. 2,165,884 and is constructed in many respectsaccording to the disclosure of the patent to Dodge No. 2,173,603.

As seen in Figure l, the machine comprises a base formed by front and back plates I0 resting .on adjustable legs l2 and connected by side A cylindrical tub I 4 is supported on the plates. base with its axis horizontal and has a door IS on one end for 'the introduction and removalof material to be cleaned. Within the tub l4 there is provided a perforated drum to receive the material, which is driven by motor and transmission mechanism mounted within the base. Operation of the machine may be controlled automatically according to the disclosure 'of the aforementioned Patent No.- 2,165,884 or, if desired, may be controlled manually to carry any desired cleaning operation.

In normal operation of the machine, material to be cleaned is placed in the inner perforated drum through the door I6 and water is supplied "to the tub through suitable water, inlets, not

shown. Soap or like detergent material is then introduced, and for this purpose the tub is provided at its upper portion with a soap door indicated generally at 2 l8. The present invention concerns itself principally with the construction of the soap door l8.

As best seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the tub is formed with an opening in its upper surface de-' fined by an outwardly turned flange 2D. A sleeve member of soft rubber or the like is adapted to fit within this opening and includes a groove which fits snugly over the edge of the flange, 20, a sleeve portion 22 slidablyfitting within the flange, and an enlargement v24 extending radially both inwardly and outwardly from th sleeve walls. The sleeve portion 22 extends upwardly, beyond the flange 20, to provide a free sleeve portion and is integrally formed with a flared skirt 26,

which contacts the tub around the flange 20.

At the rear edge of the sleeve member a tail portion 28 is provided, seating against the tub surface at a 'distance from the flared skirt 26.

flange 32.

The sleeve member is held in place in the tub by pressing it through the flange 20 and by then pressing into the sleeve portion Neither a ring or a coarse grill, indicated at 30. The ring or grill 3,0 is formed of metal orv like rigid material and has aroundits edges an outwardly flaring After the sleeve has been placed in the opening, the ring or grill 30'is pressed into the sleeve, so that the outermost edge of the flange 32 will press into the portion 22 of the sleeve to hold itself in place. The ring or grill is pressed down until its lower edge abuts the axially inwardly extending part of the enlargement 24, thereby holding the enlargement in contact with the inner surface of the tub and securely locking the sleeve in place.

The opening through the sleeve is adapted to be closed by a rigid cover member 34 formed with an axial flange 36 adapted to fit within the free outer portion of the sleeve 22. Due to this construction, accurate sizing of the flanges 20 and 36 is not necessary, sincethey are supported or engaged by spaced portions of the rubber sleeve member.

The cover 34 is formed with an extension 38 -at one end extending into a recess 40 in the sleeve member and carrying a transverse pivot pin 42 adapted to extend into elongated sockets 44 in the sides of the recess 40. The pin and sockets areso related in sizethat the pin fits loosely in the sockets, but its ends engage the bottoms of the sockets frictionally to resist turning of the cover. with this construction, the cover is loosely supported and can find its own position in the sleeve 22 so-as to seat properly therein. At the same time, its end is connected to the rubber sleeve member so that it cannot become displaced and in such a way that rattling or free motion thereof is prevented.

In the operation of the machine, it is desirablethat an atmosphericvent be provided in order to vent steam or other gases forming during the cleaning operation and to provide for the venting of pressure tending to be created by the formation of suds in the tub. The present invention provides such a vent by means of a hole 46 in the flange 36 registering with the recess 40 in the sleeve, it being noted-that the recess is slightly larger than the extension 38 on the cover. This construction provides an adequate atmospheric vent opening which communicates with the tub through a somewhat tortuous passage so as to block any tendencyof cleaning liquid or suds to be thrown from the tub.

The present invention provides a very simple and inexpensive structure, which is extremely easy to install and which, when once installed, will remain in place unless struck while standing open, as often happens when a basket of clothes is placed on top of the cleaning machine. When this happens, one end or both ends of the pivot pin 42 become forced out of the sockets 44 without, however, damaging either the cover 34 or the soap door l8.

While one particular construction embodying the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, nor otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A closure for a vessel having, a thin metal wall with a substantially circular flanged opening therein, a soft rubber sleeve extending through the opening and having an enlargement toward one end extending radially both toward and away from the axis of the sleeve, the part extending away from the axis engaging the wall of the vessel and the part extending toward the axis constituting an abutment of less diameter than the inner wall of the sleeve, a substantially rigid ring within the sleeve engaging the abutment and the inner Wall of the sleeve to prevent the sleeve from being contracted and moved axially in one direction through the vessel opening, a grooved part toward the other end of the sleeve into which the edge of the flange of the vessel extends to prevent the sleeve from moving axially in the other direction, and a hinged cover attached to the sleeve.

2. A closure for a vessel having a thin metal wall with a substantially circular outwardly flanged opening therein, a soft rubber sleeve extending through the opening and having an enlargement within the vessel extending radially both toward and away from the axis of the sleeve, the part extending away from the axis engaging the inner part of the vessel and the part extending toward the axis constituting an the vessel opening, a grooved part toward the outer end of the sleeve into which the outer edge of the flange of the vessel extends to prevent the sleeve from moving inwardly, and a hinged cover attached to the sleeve.

3. A closure for a vessel having a thin metal wall with a substantially circular outwardly flanged opening therein, a soft rubber sleeve extending through the opening and having an enlargement within the vessel extending radially both toward and away from the axis of the sleeve, the part extending away from the axis engaging the inner part of the vessel and the part extending toward the axis constituting an abutment of less diameter than the inner wall of the sleeve, a substantially rigid ring within the sleeve flange of the vessel extends to prevent the sleeve from moving inwardly, said' sleeve having a free portion extending outwardly beyond the edge oi the vessel flange, and a cover having a portion adapted to be pressed within the free part of the sleeve.

4. A closure for a vessel having a thin metal wall with a substantially circular outwardly flanged opening therein, a soft rubber sleeve extending through the opening and having an enabutment of less diameter than the inner wall largement within the vessel extending radially both toward and away from the axis of the sleeve, the part extending away from the axis enga in the irmer part of the vessel and the part extending toward the axis constituting an abutment of less diameter than the inner wall of the sleeve, a substantially rigid ring within the sleeve engaging the abutment and the inner wall of the sleeve to prevent the sleeve from being contracted and removed outwardly through the vessel opening, a grooved part toward the outer end of the sleeveinto which the outer edge of the flange of the vessel extends to prevent the sleeve from moving inwardly, the outwardly extending part of said sleeve having a pair of hinge sockets therein, and a cover having hinge projections adapted to be snapped into the hinge sockets by flexing the soft rubber of the sleeve extension.

5. A closure for a vessel having a thin metal wall with a substantially circular outwardly flanged opening therein, a soft rubber sleeve extending through the opening and having an enlargement-within the vessel extending radially both toward and away from the axis of the sleeve, the part extending away from the axls engaging the inner part of the vessel and the part extending toward the axis constituting an abutment of less diameter than the inner wall of the sleeve, a substantially rigid ring within the sleeve engaging the abutment and the inner wall of the ,sleeve to prevent the sleeve from being contracted and removed outwardly through the vessel opening, a laterally extending part of said sleeve overlying the outer edge of the flange about the vessel opening and having a skirt portion engaging the outer surface of the vessel,

and a rigid cover hinged into the extended part of said sleeve.

HOWARD C. PORTER.

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