US2315684A - Electric washing machine - Google Patents

Description

April 6, 1943. B. A. BENSON ELECTRIC WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Ber/$507 5 Q. 36%

A ORNEYfi April 6, 1943. B. A. BENSON ELECTRIC WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m mw 1 %.Q Q QM- WM W N w m uL m H M NQN Qm.

1 .IIIIIIIIIII IIII I/lff/ Patented Apr. 6, 1943 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE merino $252; moms Bernhart A.

Chicago Benson, Chicago, Electric Manufacturing 111., assignor to Company,

Chicago. 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 13, 1939, Serial No. 299,339

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a washing machine of the portable type driven by an electric motor. It is an object of this invention to provide a compact, inexpensive, portable washing machine embodying a simple, self-lubricating and noiseless driving mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a washing machine in which a substantial or major portion of the driving mechanism is automatically lubricated by the washing medium, 1. e., soapy water, and the leakage of oils and greases into the washing chamber is entirely prevented.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a portable washing machine in which the motor and the mechanism driven by the motor for operating the impeller are mounted upon the cover, which'cover forms part of a motor and mechanism housing that is sell-supporting when inverted to facilitate the charging and discharging of the container and the storage of the machine when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide Another object of the invention is to provide in a portable washing machine, wherein the motor and the impeller drive mechanism are mounted in a housing above the washing chamber, means for preventing an accumulation of washing medium in such housingand without the use of packing means, glands or the like.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of a washing machine embodying the invention; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a breather cap which forms parts of the washing machine;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line i-B of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, one embodiment of the invention comprises a container, vessel or pot 2, an impeller or agitator 4, a motor 6, a transmission mechanism 8, a cover II! which cooperates with a hood I2 to form a housing for the motor I and transmission mechanism 8, and handles l4 and ii for the container and cover respectively.

The upstanding wall it of the container is preferably cylindrical in configuration and at its upper edge is turned outwardly or rolled to provide a peripheral annular bead 20. The agitator or impeller 4 comprises an inverted cup-shaped or hemispherical member 22 secured to the lower end of a slide rod 24 as by a cap screw 28, and [the lower edge 01' the member 22 is bent upwardly upon itself as at 28 to provide a smooth or rolled edge which will not damage the articles in the container as the member 22 is rapidly reciprocated.

The motor 8 is mounted upon the upstanding portion 30 of a casting 32 which also carries the driving mechanism 8. The shaft 34 or the motor carries at one end a fan 3', preferably of a cage type, which cooperates with slots 31 in the hood to circulate air through the hood, across the cover, the operating mechanism and the motor. The other end of the shaft 34 i rotatably supported in a bearing provided in the upstanding portion 30 of the casting 32 and has secured thereto or formed thereon a worm 38 which meshes with a worm-wheel 40 forming part of the transmission drive mechanism 8. The wormwheel 40 is secured to one end of a shaft 42 Journalled in a boss 44 formed integrally with and surmounting the upstanding portion of the casting 32. A crank 46 is secured to the other end 01' the shaft 34 and has a pivot connection 48 with a link or pitman 50 which in turn has a pivot connection 52 with the arm 54 of a gear segment 56.

The pivot connections 48 and 52 each comprise a boss so formed on an end of the link 50 and apertured to receive a pivot stud secured to the crank 46, or the arm 54, as by upsetting the inner end 62 of the pivot stud. At the outer edge the boss 58 is provided with an enlarged opening re ceiving a lubricating washer 64 of felt or similar material embracing the stud 60. The link is retained against axial movement on the stud, and the Washer 64 held in position, by a plate or washer 66 held on the end of the stud by the cap screw 68. A radial opening or notch 10 at the outer 2 edge of the boss 58 permits the lubricating of the washer 84.

The gear segment 58 is provided with an axially extending boss 12 rotatably received in an apertured boss I4 formed in the casting 32, the segment being journalled on a headed stud 16 passing through the boss 14, provided with a positioning shoulder TI, to prevent clamping of the stud to the casting 32, and secured by the nut 18. Lubricating washers 19, of felt or similar material, provide lubrication for the stud l8 and boss 12.

The gear teeth of the segment 58 mesh with a rack 80 formed in the upper end of the slide rod 24. The combined slide rod 24 and rack 80 are slidably supported in and guided by a cylindrical bushing 82 formed integrally with the casting 32, the bushing 82 extending through an opening disposed on the coincident axis of the cover and container.

On one side the bushing 82 is cut away or apertured as at 84 to permit the segment to pass therethrough and the teeth thereof to engage the teeth of the rack. The casting 32 is provided with a horizontally directed flange portion 86 receiving rivets or similar fastening means 88 by which the casting is secured to the cover I0.

Beneath the segment 58, the flange portion 86 is extended horizontally to provide a catch basin 89 and the bushing 82 above this basinprovidles a lip 90. Extending outwardly from this lip 90, the catch basin 89 is provided with a drain trough 9| communicating, at a point adjacent the bushing 82, with a vertical opening 92 receiving a small tube 94 closed at its lower end by an integrally formed cap piece 98, but provided with a radial opening 88-above the cap piece 98. The tube 94 may, however, be formed integrally with the casting 32.

Below the teeth of the rack 80, the slide rod is provided with a notch or recess I (Fig. 6) which extends below the upper edge of the lip 80 when the slide bar reaches its upper limit of movement as shown in said figure. During operation, as the impeller or agitator 22 is reciprocated in the washing medium, which is generally soapy water, the surface of the slide rod beneath the "bushing is wetted by this soapy water that is carried upwardly as a film on the rod into the bushing 82 and thusit lubricates the inner surface of this bushing. The rack teeth as shown at I02 in Figure 7, are provided with arcuate edges conforming to the inner wall surface of the bushing 82 so that as the rack moves up and down in the bushing, a lubricating film of soapy water is picked up by the rack teeth and hence serves to lubricate the intermeshing teeth of the rack and segment, insuring noiseless operation of these intermeshing gear elements. Further, as the slide rod reciprocates, a supply of the soapy water 1ubricant collects in the notch or recess I00. This supply of such lubricant automatically tends to maintain the surface of the bushing properly in bricated. When an excess amount of soapy water lubricant collects in the notch I00, the surface thereof will-be brought above the upper edge of the lip 90 when the slide bar reaches its upper limit of movement, and hence this excess amount trickles downwardly out of the notch over the bevelled surface I04 of the lip 90, or is thrown over the lip 90 into the catch basin 88 from which it drains through the opening 92 into the tube 94, in the bottom of which tube the water accumulates and finally drops back into the container.

The tube 94 in the form of the invention shown, or the opening in the support casting when this soapy tube is formed integrally-with the casting, pro vides means for returning excess amounts of water to the container from the bushing and the slide rod lubricated by the soapy water.

It is of course apparent that the invention is not restricted to the use of soapy water for such lubricating purposes, for any washing medium normally employed in awashing machine will act in the same manner to lubricate these parts and the catch basin 89 and tube 84 will similarly return any excess amounts of such washing medium to the container from the bushing and the slide rod after they have been lubricated by such medium.

The upper portion of thebushing 82 is beveled on the inside as at I08 to catch the water brought up by the rack-rods and to allow the water to run back into the container or tub through the bush- An inverted cup-shaped member H0 is secured as by a screw I I2 to the upper somewhat reduced end of the combined slide rod 24and rack bar 80, the cup-shaped member being of an internal diameter substantially larger than the reduced end of said bar. This cup-shaped member prevents the soapy water from being sprayed or thrown off of the upper end of the rack bar as the same reciprocates, and also serves to cause the excess film at the upper end of the rod to collect into a, droplet which gravitates down the surface of the rack bar until it collects in the upper beveled portion I08 of the bushing 82 and is thence returned to the bushing through which it may return to the tub or from which it may be re-distributed as a lubricating film upon the rack-rod.

The cover I0 comprises a generally disc-shaped,

preferably sheet metal member having a centrally, upwardly central section opening bowl-shaped or concave II2, oppositely inclined annular sections or flanges H4 and H8, an outwardly di- H8 and curved sections the bowl 2 to the inthe inclined section II4 rected peripheral flange I20 and I22 connecting clined section H4 and to the oppositely inclined section IIB. The outwardly directed peripheral flange I I8 overlies the bead 20 of the container and is embraced by an annular strip I24 of a suitable resilient and frictional material, such as soft rubber or rubberlike substance. The annular strip I24 is provided with an annular depending skirt portion I28 extending along the outer surface of the inclined section 8- of the cover. The resilience of the strip may be employed to secure it to the peripheral flange H8 and the inclined section H8, or if desired, the strip may be adhesively bound to these portions of the cover. Below the depending skirt portion I28, the resilient strip is formed with an outwardly extending section I28 which is adapted to engage the inner surface of the upstanding wall I8 of the container and to be forced by the frictional engagement of the section I28 with the container and the weight of the cover and operating mechanism into the upwardly facing concave position in which the section I28 is placed under suflicient compressive forces to effect a tight-fitting seal between the cover and the container.

The hood I2 which cooperates with the central section I I2 of the cover to form a housing for the motor 8 and operating mechanism 8, comprises an inverted bowl having a flat upper wall portion I30 and a generally cylindrical side wall I32, the lower edge of which side wall flares outwardly as at I34 to seat-upon the curved section I20 of the cover so that the cover rigidifies the hood.

why. These pins .iace upon which the cover may be placed when through-an opening cess washing medium through Pins 'or buttons 136' of rubber or like substance are secured to and project above the top wall I so as to form feet for supporting, through the lpcd, the cover and the mechanism can'ied there- I36 prevent abrading oi the surinverted, Spring strips I38, secured to the hood as by screws I40, depend from the hood and engage 'the innersurface of the bowl-shaped section II2 to prevent relative vibration of the hood and cover. a The handle means It for the container preferably comprises a pair of handles I42 of inverted L-shape in vertical section, but arcuate in form to conform to the container to which it is secured as by fastening means I passing through the wall I8 oi the container and received in the.

ends of the depending flange of the handle.

1 The handle means I6 for the cover comprises a pair of vertically disposed handles I" extending at their lower ends between the oppositely inclined flange sections I I4 and H6 of the cover and beingsecured to the cover as by fastening means I48 passing through the flange section H4 01' the cover and into the lower ends of the handle. At their upper ends the handles I 48 terminate adjacent the top fiat section I30 of the hood I! and are secured to the hood as by fastening means I 50 passing through the curved section of the hood between the upper horizontal portion I 30 and the cylindrical vertical wall means penetrating into the upper end of the handle. It will be seen that the bandies I46 not only provide convenient means for lifting the cover with its attached mechanism from the container, but also provide means rigidiiying the sheet metal cover and hood and tending to prevent relative lateral movement of these members.

As the agitator or impeller reclprocates in the washing medium, the container above the washing medium increases and decreases. As the pressure increases, a considerable amount of the washing medium tends to become forced bythe increased pressure through the bushing into the cover titles that its return through the tube 94 would i not beinsured. Applicant has found that this tendency may be overcome by providing at suitably spaced points in the cover, as for example inthe flange section II I of the cover, breather caps I 52, each of which preferably comprises a cap I 54 of generally hemispherical shape and provided with depending lugs I58 passing or openings I58 in the flange section I. The free ends of the lugs are turned outwardly as at ISO to limit the outward movement of the breather devices. Therefore as the pressure of the air in the container above the washing medium increases, the breather devices are moved outwardly to uncover the opening or openings I58, which action neutralizes the increased pressure and prevents pumping of exthe bushing and into the cover so that the amount of washing medium carried into the cover for lubricating purposes is kept to the desired quantity and slightly excess amounts may be easily returned to the container by the tube 94.

It will be seen from the above description that applicant has provided a compact, inexpensive, portable washing machine embodying a simple, sell-lubricating and noiseless driving mechanism.

Applicant has further provided a. washing machine in which a substantial or major portion and the leakage of oils and greases into the washing chamber is entirely prevented.

Applicant has further provided a portable in which the motor and the mechanism driven by the motor for operating the impeller are mounted upon the cover, which cover forms part of a motor and mechanism housing that is self-supporting when inverted to facilitate the charging and discharging of the container and the storage of the machine when not in use. g

The present invention has also provided a portable washing machine having a motor and mechanism housing of wherein certain of the mechanism in such housing is lubricated by the washing medium extracted from the washing chamber and wherein means are provided for returning an excess of the medium into the washing chamber.

The invention the impeller drive mechanism are mounted in a housing above the washing chamber, means for preventing an accumulation of washing medium in such packing means, glands or the like.

Changes may be made in the form, arrangement and construction of the invention without departing from its spirit or scope or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, and the right make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a washing machine of the vertical reciprocating agitator type, a drive mechanism dispressure of the air in the in such quanposed in a housing and comprising a vertically reciprocable agitator operating rod passing through a bushing in the said housing, a suction cup agitator mounted on the rod and extending into a closed washing vessel means for vertically longitudinally reciprocating said rod, said bushing completely circumferentially embracing the rod, said rod being operative in moving to carry Washing liquid along the bushing, a catch basin in the housing adjacent one side of the bushing and below the upper peripheral margin of the bushing, means on the upper peripheral margin medium from the catch basin into the washing vessel. r

2. In a washing machine of the vertical reciprocating agitator type, a drive mechanism disposed in vertically longitudinally reciprocating said rod, said bushing completely circumferentially embracing the rod, said rod having a series of exially disposed medium from th 3. In a washing which the cover forms a part,

has further provided in a port-- able washing machine, wherein the motor and.

housing and without the use of rocating agitator type, a drive mechanism disposed in a housing and comprising a vertically reciprocable agitator operating rod passing through a bushing in the said housing, means for vertically longitudinally reciprocating said rod, said bushing completely circumferentially embracing the rod, said rod having a series of axially disposed rack teeth on one side thereof sectionally complementary to the inner surface of said bushing, and said means for reciprocating the rod comprising an angularly shiftable gear member in lntermeshing engagement with the rack teeth, said rod being operative in moving to carry washing liquid along the bushing, a catch basin in the housing adjacent one sid of the bushing and below the upper peripheral mar gin of the bushing, means on the upper peripheral margin forming the drain communicating with the catch basin, and means for draining excess washing medium from the catch basin.

4. In a washing machine of the vertical reciprocating agitator type, a drive mechanism disposed in a housing and comprising a vertically reciprocable agitator operating rod passing through a bushing in the said housing, means for vertically longitudinally reciprocating said rod, said bushing completely circumferentially embracing the rod, said rod having a series of axially disposed rack teeth on one side thereof, and said means for reciprocating the rod comprising an angularly shiftable gear member in lntermeshing engagement with the rack teeth, said rod being operative in moving to carry washing liquid along the bushing, a catch basin in the housing adjacent one side of th bushing and below the upper peripheral margin of the bushing, means on the upper peripheral margin forming the drain communicating with the catch basin, and means for draining excess washing medium from the catch basin, said catch basin and said first named drain being disposed laterally of said bushing opposite said rack.

5. In a washing machine, a container, a bodily removable cover, an agitator, an operating mechanism therefor carried by said cover, said agitator comprising a reciprocable rod slidably mounted in a guide sleeve carried by the cover and passing through the cover and a suction cup mounted upon said rod and extending into said container, means for sealing the cover to the container, the agitator rod in reciprocating carrying a film of surface thereof and into the cover tolubricate the rod in its guide, and breather means above the level of the washing medium in the container to neutralize the change in pressure of the air above the washing medium as the agitator rod reciprocates, whereby to limit the carryingoi washing medium through the cover by the agitator rod, said breather means comprising a valve normally closed but operable to open at pressures greater than atmospheric within the container for limiting passage of fluid along the rod. 1

6. In awashing machine, a container, a cover, a vertically reciprocable agitator carried by and extending through said cover, a bearing guide sleeve in which the agitator reciprocates, said sleeve being carried by the cover, operating mechanism carried by said cover on the upper side thereof for reciprocating said agitator longitudinally of the sleeve, and air release means above the level of the washing medium in the container and adapted to open at a predetermined pressure above atmospheric for limiting the carrying of washing medium by the agitator from the container through the cover.

the washing medium along the '7. In a washing machine of the vertical rceiprocating agitator type, a drive mechanism disposed in a housing and comprising a vertically reciprocable agitator operating rod passing through a bushing in the said housing, means for vertically longitudinally reciprocating said rod. said bushing completely circumferentially embracing the rod, said rod having a series of axially disposed rack teeth on one side thereof, and said means for reciprocating the rod comprising an angularly shiftable gear member in lntermeshing engagement with the rack teeth, said rod being operative in moving to carry washing liquid along the bushing, a catch basin in the housing adjacent one side of the bushing and below the upper peripheral margin of the bushing, means on the upper peripheral margin forming the drain communicating with the catch basin, and means for draining excess washing medium from the catch basin, said catch basin and said first named drain being disposed laterally of said bushing opposite'said rack, and said angularly shiftabl gear being operated in a path including said catch basin.

8. In a washing machine of the vertical reciprocating agitator type, a drive mechanism disposed in a housing and comprising a vertically reciprocable agitator operating rod passing through a bushing in the said housing, means for vertically longitudinally reciprocating said rod, said rod having a series of axially disposed rack teeth on one side thereof, and said means for reciprocating the rod comprising an angularly shiftable gear member in lntermeshing engagement with the rack teeth, said rod being operative in moving to carry washing liquid along the bushing, a catch basin in the housing adjacent one side of the bushing and below the upper peripheral margin of the bushing, means on the upper peripheral margin forming the drain communicating with the catch basin, and means for draining excess washing medium from the catch basin, a longitudinally extending recess in said shaft below the lowermost extremity of said rack, said recess terminating just below the said first named drain when the rod is in uppermost position and said rod below said recess being complementarily received in said bushing for creating a wash liquid retaining pocket, the recess being disposed circumferentially on the same side as said drain,

9. In a washing machine of the vertically reciprocating agitator type, a drive mechanism comprising a housing and a vertically reciprocable agitator operating rod passing through a bushing in said housing, said bushing being circumferentially uninterrupted and circumferentially embracing said rod, means for vertically longitudinally reciprocating said rod and comprising an angularly movable gear member in intermeshing engagement with rack teeth on said rod, said rod being operative in moving to carry washing liquid upwardly through said bushing, a catch basin disposed adjacent said bushing below the upper periphery thereof, and being located to receive the periphery of said angularly shiftabl gear in at least one operative position, means forming a drain between the upper peripheral margin of said bushing and said catch basin, and conduit means for draining excess washing medium from the catch basin.

10. In a washing machine of the vertical reciprocating agitator type, a drive mechanism disposed in a housing and comprising a vertically reciprocable agitator operating rod passing through a bushing in the said housing, means for vertically longitudinally reciprocating said rod, said bushing completely circumterentially embracing the rod, said rod being operative in moving to carry washing liquid along the bushing, a catch basin in the housing adjacent one side of the bushing and below the upper peripheral margin or the bushing, means on the upperperipheral margin forming the drain communicating with the catch basin, and means for draining excess washing medium from the catch basin, and means preventing washing liquid from being mechanically projected from the upper extremity of said rod comprising a flange extending radially outwardly from the upper margin of said rod and terminating in a downwardly projecting annular flange spaced outwardly a substantial distance from the outer surface of said rod.

11. In a washing machine, a container, a cover, an agitator plunger, an operating mechanism including drive means carried by the cover and a longitudinally reciprocable operating rod forming a part of the agitator and extending through the cover, guide sleeve means on the cover embracing the rod, the reciprocable rod in reciprocating tending to carry washing medium from the container through the cover, and breather means above the level of the washing medium in the container to neutralize the change in rod longitudinally movable through a bushing in the walls of said chamber, the agitator rod being operable during reciprocation to carry a film of washing medium along the surface thereof and exteriorly or said chamber, said machine having in combination therewith a valve means operable to open at pressures greater than atmospheric within the chamber for restricting the v flow of washing medium from the chamber.

- 13. A washing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said vessel is provided with a valve means normally closed but operative to open at pressures greater than atmospheric within the BERNHART A BENSON.

vessel.

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