US2348115A - Laundry machine - Google Patents

Description

s E ,N W O D i .E

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed oct. e, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l /NVEN rok T0/ward d .90W/765 C DL TTORNY May 2, 1944.l E. J. nowNEs LAUNDRY Mmmm:

Filed oct; 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Arron/vas Patented May 2, 1944 Unirse stares'l 'PATENT omes- LAUNDRY MACHINE l Edward J. Downes, Albany, N. y.

Application october c, 1941, serial No. 413,723

1'1 Claims.

My invention particularly relates to laundry drying machines and similar machines for laun d ry purposes which comprise a foraminous cylinder rotatably mounted within a casing, the cylinder being adapted'to receive articles of a customers wash which are therein agitated as the cylinder is rotated.

In these machines, the cylinder or drum is provided with an opening through which articles are passed into or taken from the drum and, of course, the casing is,l provided with an opening and a door therefor arranged to register with the opening in the drum.` The drum is provided interiorly thereof with a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed bailles extending longitudinally of the drum and radially inwardly from the walls thereof. 'I'hese bales serve, as the drum is rotated through some suitable driving mechanism, to agitate the articles placed therein,. turning them over and over or tumbling them. f

Since each customers wash is processed separately in the cylinder or drum and since washes vary considerably in size, it is of advantage to provide a removable partition element which may be inserted in a cylinder of the above character to subdivide the interior thereof into two compartments whereby two, comparatively small washes could be simultaneously processed.

Broadly speaking, therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel partition element for a machine of the character above pointed out which is provided with means for .promoting a highly exposed and distributed condition of the articles inthe two compartments of the cylinder formed thereby as the cylinder is rotated.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a partition element particularly designed for use with laundry machines having open-ended cylinders therein, said partition element being adapted to be positioned in cylinder-subdividing relation therein and being provided with means for preventing articles from sliding over the end edge thereofv which lies adjacent the open end of the cylinder.

.A still further object of my invention resides in providing a cylinder for laundry machines of the above described character which is provided with baille means so constructed and arranged relative to a partition element within said cylinder as to promote a highly exposed and distributed condition of the articles in the compartments formed by the partition as the cylinder is rotated.

With these and other objects in view, my invention includes the novel elements and the correlation and arrangements thereof ,described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichy Fig. 1 is an elevation view of one form of laundry drying machine embodying` my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof taken in about the plane 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view cylinder of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the partition element of my'invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view thereof taken in about the plane 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the partition element;

- Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view taken in about the plane 1-7 of Fig. 6 and through one end of the partition and the baffle element secured thereto; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, transverse' sectional view of the cylinder showing the partition ele ment operatively mounted therein.

In the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, I have shown a laundry drying machine of the type which is loaded through the end of the casing and cylinder therein, and it will be understood that the disclosure herein presented is illustrative of the elements and the combinations and correlation of the elements of my invention inassociation with laundry machines of the general character hereinabove pointed out to which my invention relates.

Referring to the drawings and iirst to Figs. 1

' to 3, inclusive, 'I indicates generally a laundry drier comprising a casing 2 having a foraminous cylinder or drum I rotatably mounted therein. As shown in Fig. 2, one end plate ,l of the cylinder is provided with an opening 5 therein which registers with an opening C in the casing 2. 'I'he articles of a customers laundry are deposited within and taken from the cylinder 3 through the openings 6 and 5 of the casing and cylinder, re# spectively, and a closure for the opening 6 or a ldoor 1 is mounted on the casing, a suitable latch serving to hold the door in closed position. The other end plate 8 of the cylinder is secured to a supporting and drive shaft 9 journaled in bear' or the in the base of the machine, the air being drawn from the interior of the casing and cylinder through an opening I3 in the bottom of the casing and discharged through a pipe I4. The suction device is operated by an electric motor I 5 which also serves to rotate the cylinder 3 through the medium of a suitable speed-reducing mechanism and sprockets I6 and I1 and chain I8.

The cylinder 3 is provided interiorly thereof with a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed bailles which extend longitudinally of the cylinder and radially inwardly from the sides. In the embodiment herein illustrated, one pair of baflles indicated at I9 are of such radial length that the inner ends thereof project inwardly beyondthe edges of the openings 5 and 6 in the cylinder and casing, respectively. The primary purpose of this arrangement, so far as the present invention is concerned, is to enable a partition element of the character hereinafter ldescribed to be slid over the ends of said baflles and supported therey on in cylinder-subdividing position. A second pair of such baiiies, as indicated at 20 and preferably in quadrature with the baies I9, are preferably of lesser radial extent than the baiiles I9 and extend inwardly from the siies of the cylinder but short of and in spaced relation to the edge of the opening 5 in the cylinder.

In accordance withlmy invention, the cylinder 3 is provided with a third pair of diametrically opposed baiiles indicated at 2l. 'I'hese baiiies are preferably disposedadjacent but in circumferentially spaced relation to the baiiies I9, as shown, and closer thereto than to the baffles 20. Furthermore, the bailles 2l precede the bailles I8 which they lie adjacent. to as the cylinder is rotated. The assumed direction of rotation of cylinder 3 is indicatedvby the arrow in Fig. 3. In other words, if the cylinder is to be ,rotated in a clockwise direction in the operation of the machine, the bailles 2| are relatively closely spaced from the baiiies I9, which are adapted to support the partition element, in a clockwise direction.

Furthermore, bafdes 2l are preferably of lesser radial extent than either of the other pairs of baiiies. lFor example, in a cylinder of a diameter of approximately 36", bailles 20 ordinarily have a radial length of about 4" and I nd that excellent results are produced in cylinders of this size when the bafiles 2l are about 2 in radial length and when spaced approximately 7" from the adjacent baiile I9. I Y

The bailles 2i when disposed as above set forth serve to promote a highly exposed and distributed condition of the articles as they pass from the sides of the cylinder to the partition element as the cylinder is rotated.v In doing this, they prevent the articles especially small articles such as face cloths and the like vfrom rolling up. When rolling and entwining of the articles occurs as compared to a thorough agitation and tumbling of the articles inwhat may be termed a distributed and opened-up or exposed condition, as the cylinder rotates, the articles take longer to dry and, .when dried, are not soft and fluffy as desired. On the other hand, when the bailies 2l are employed, even the smaller articles are malntained substantially continuously in a highly exposed and well distributed condition as the cylinder rotates. Y

In the absence of these baiiies, the articles, especially the smaller ones, have a tendency to slide on the side of. the cylinder to the cylindersubdividing partition and then across the partition to the opposite side of the cylinder. However, bailies 2l prevent this occurrence, promoting more rapid drying and a much softer and decidedly uffy condition of the articles.

A preferred form of partition element is shown in Figs. 4 through 8 and in its preferred form, as illustrated, is arranged for use in a machine of the character shown in Figs. 1 and 2 having an The partition indicated open-ended cylinder. generally at 22 is comparatively rigid so that it may be operatively supported on the baiiies I3 of the cylinder. In the embodiment shown, the partition comprises a foraminous, plate-like element 23 provided adjacent opp'osite sides thereof with strips 2t and v'i5 which cooperatively form a channel of suilicient extent to receive the ends of baiiles I9 therein and operatively to support the partition element thereon in cylinder-subdividing position. Adjacent one end thereof, I provide the partition with a baille element indicated generally at 26 which is adapted to prevent articles from passing o'ver the end edge thereof adjacent the opening in the cylinder, as the cylinder is rotated, and falling into the lower compartment causing confusion of vthe articles of one wash with those of another.

The baille element 26 is preferably arranged in upstanding relationto the element 23 and extends outwardly on both sides thereof. The baille 2B in the embodiment shown is provided along its top and bottom free edges, or the edges thereof extending crosswise of the element 2l, with a strip 30 of suitable material, ,such as felt, for example, which may project for about 1/2" beyond the edges of the vplate-like elements of the baille proper'. I prefer to provide the baille 2B with edge 'strips of this character so as to prevent the arm of an operator from being burned if in reaching into the compartments of the cylinder his arm should engage the baille. The baille 28 may be formed as :.nown in detail in Fig. 7. To the end edge of element 2l is secured a pair of up-standing plates 21 and 23, one on each side of the plate 23. A plate 20 is secured to the plates 21 and 28 preferably adjacent the free edges thereof as shown in order that the rivets or similar securing means employed for this purposemay also serve to fasten in place the overfolded ends of the strips ll disposed therebetween. 'I'hese strips, as above indicated, may be of felt or like suitable material which will prevent burning of an' operators arms.

When the partition element 22 is operatively positioned within the cylinder with the end thereof remote from baille element 28 substantially in engagement with the end wall 8 of the cylinder, the baille element 28 is designed tn lie adjacent the opening 5 in the end of the cylinder whereby to rotate as the cylinder isrotated in closely spaced relation to the door of the casing when closed.

Further in accordance with my invention, -I

prefer to provide the partition element with .baffles extending longitudinally thereof and of the cylinderv when arranged therein as indicated at 3l. These baiiies are disposed one on one side of the partition element and the other on the. other side and any suitable means may be employed to secure them to the element. Furthermore, the baffles 3i are preferably disposed' adjacent opposite side edges of the partition. For example, assuming the partition is operatively positioned within the cylinder and the cylinder is designed to rotate in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8 and if the partition is considered as lying in a more or less horizontal plane, the baille 3| on the upper side of` the partition element will lie 5 adjacent the right hand side edge of the partition while the other baille 3|, on the opposite or underside of the partition, will lie adjacent. the left hand side edge of the partition. Therefore, as the cylinder rotates in a clockwise direction, the articles will be deposited from the walls of the cylinder upon the partition from whence they will in turn be deposited upon the walls of the cylinder again.

In the absence of vbafllles 3|, the articles may slide oil the partition to thev cylinder walls causing bunching and rolling thereof. However, thebaiiles 3| prevent this and promote a more highly exposed and more continuously agitated condition of the articles as the cylinder rotates. In a cylinder about 36" in diameter, the partition element'herein disclosed will have an overall width of about 22" and I find that if the bales 3| are about 21/2 high and spaced about 5" from the 'side edges of the partition that extremely good results. are produced.

It will be observed that when the cylinder is subdivided by a partition element and the bailles 2| are provided on the interior of the cylinder in slightly circumferentially spaced relation to the partition and the partition is provided with baiiles as illustrated that the articles in both of the compartments so provided will be substantially continuously agitated andv thereby maintained in a highly exposed condition where- 35 by not only may the laundering operation be carried out in a shorter period of time but the results will be more satisfactory.

Furthermore the baille 2liV prevents the articles While undergoing such treatment from sliding l over thegend edge of the partition element and mixing with those of another customers wash. However ample room for quickly loading and for reaching into the compartments of the cylinder for unloading purposes is provided.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiments, it is to be, understood that the words which I have used are words of description rather than of limitation. Hence, changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true `scope and .spirit of vmy inventionL in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

l. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a cylinder open at one end and closed at the other and having radially arranged bailles extending inwardly from the sides thereof, of a foraminous partition element disposed aidally of and within said cylinder and extending from adjacent the closed end 0i said cylinder substantially to the oppositeopen end thereof to divide the cylinder into two, separate compartments for containing. articles during the operation of said machine, and means disposed ad jacent the open end of said cylinder for preventing articles supported on said partition element from sliding over the end edge thereof.

2. Ina machine oi' the character described, the combination with a cylinder open at one end and closed at the other and having radially arranged baiiies extending axially of said cylinder and inwardly from the sides thereof i'n diametrically opposed relation, of a` removable foraminous partition'element dividing the interior of said 7l cylinder into two, separate compartmentsfor containing articles during the operation of said mameans disposed adjacent one end of said element and in upstanding relation thereto andadapted to lie adjacent the open end of said cylinder when said element is operatively positioned within said cylinder for preventing articles supported on said partition element from sliding over the end edge thereof from one compartment formed thereby to the other.

' 3. In a machine oi' the character described,

the combination' with a cylinder open at one end l and closed at the other and having radially arranged banles extending axially of said cylinder and inwardly from the sides'thereof in diametrically opposed relation, oi' a removable, foraminous partition element dividing the interior ofsaid cylinder into two, separate compartments for containing articles during the operation of said machine, said element having channel-shaped means adjacent opposite side edges of said element for slidably engaging diametrically opposed vbailles whereby said element may be slid into. 0p-

erative position within said cylinder and in cylinder-subdividing relation thereto, said partition element when so operatively positioned extending from adjacent the closed end oi' saidcylinder substantially to the opposite, open end thereof, and upstanding means adjacent one end of said element and adapted to lie adjacent the open end of said cylinder when said element is operatively positioned thereinfor preventing articles supported on said partition element from sliding over the` end edge of said element.

4. In a machine of the character described. the combination with a cylinder open at one-end and having radially arranged baiiies extending axially therealong and inwardly from the sides thereof, of a foraminous partition element positioned axially of and within said cylinder in cylinder-'subdividing relation thereto, said element extending throughout the length of said cylinder, and a plate upstanding from opposite sides of said element and `adjacent an-end thereof and lying adjacent the open end of said cylinder; said plate being of suilicent height to prevent articles' supported on said partition element from sliding over the end edge of said element while allowing free access to the interior of-the cylinder.

5. In a machine of the character describeda rotatably mounted cylinder open at one end and having radially arranged bames extending axially therealong and inwardly from the sides thereof, means for rotating said cylinder, and a foraminous position element positioned in axially extending relation within said cylinder and in cylinder-subdividingrelation thereto, means adjacent one end oi' said element and adjacent theopen end of said cylinder for preventing articles supported on said partition element from vsliding over the end edge of said element, but

said means affording' tree access to the interior oi' said cylinder, and bame means on said partition extending lengthwise of said element and in spaced relation to its side edges for electing a highly exposed and distributed condition of ar.

- operatively to' position said element within Vsaid cylinder inv cylinder-subdividing relation thereto, and means disposed adjacent one end of said partition element and in upstanding relation thereto and adapted to lie substantially at the open end of said cylinder when said element lies in a cylinder-subdividing position for preventing articles supported on said partition element from sliding over the end edge of said element, but said means affording free access to the interior of said cylinder, `and a plurality of baiiie means on said element extending lengthwise thereof, one of said baille means being disposed on one sideof said element and another being disposed on the other side of said element.

7. In a laundry machine comprising a casing, a foraminous cylinder rotatably mounted within said casing, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of pairs of substantially diametrically opposed bailles extending longitudinally of said cylinder and radially inwardly from 'the sides thereof, one pair of said bafiies being of greater radial length than a second pair thereof and another pair of bailles being of shorter radial length than said second pair and said baiiles of greater and shorter radial length being disposed in relatively closer circumferentially spaced relation to each other than to the other baffles.

8. In a laundry machine comprising a casing having an opening in the end thereof, a foraminous cylinder rotatably mounted within said casing and having an opening in the end thereof disposed in registry with the opening in said casing, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of pairs of substantially diametrically opposed baiiles extending longitudinally of said cylinder and radially inwardly from the sides thereof, a rst pair of said bales extending inwardly beyond the edge of said opening in said cylinder, a partition element for subdividing the interior of said cylinder into two compartments, said element being adapted to pass through the opening in said casing into said cylinder, means adjacent opposite side edges of said partition for engaging said first pair of diametrically opposed baiiles to support said partition in cylinder-subdividing relationin said cylinder, and a second pair of said baffles being shorter than said firstv pair and extending radially inwardly ofvsaid cylinder but-short of the edge of the said opening therein and lying in relatively close but circumferentially spaced relation to said bafiles engaged by said partition element.

9. A laundry machine comprising a casing having an opening therein, a foraminous cylinder rotatably mounted in said casing and having an ""i of, a first pair of said baffles extending inwardly opening in one end thereof in substantial registration with the opening in said casing, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of pairs of substantially diametrically opposed baffles po sitioned within'said cylinder and extending axially and radially inwardly from the sides thereof, a partition extending between one of said pairs of baiiles and substantially from end to end of said cylinder for dividing the interior thereof into two, separate compartments, and means on said partition adjacent the open end of said cylinder and extending transversely of said partition on both ysides thereof for preventing articles supported on said partition from sliding over the end edge thereof at the open end of said cylinder; one pair of said baiiles lying on opposite sides of said partition and in relatively close relation thereto.

i0. In a laundry machine comprising a casing having an opening therein, a foraminous lcylinder open at one end rotatably mounted within said casing, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of pairs of substantially diametricaliy opposed baffles extending longitudinally of said cylinder and radially inwardly from the sides thereof, a partition element extending across said cylinder and subdividing the interior thereof into two'compartments, means adjacent one end of said partition for preventing articles supported on said partition from sliding over the end edge of said element at the open end of said cylinder and baille means extending lengthwise ofsaid partition andin spaced relation to the side edges thereof; one pair of the baiiles of said cylinder lying on opposite sides of said partition element and in relatively close but circumferentially spaced relation thereto; whereby said last mentioned baffles and the lengthwise extending baiiies of said partition are adapted to promote a highly exposed and distributed condition of articles within said cylinder as it is rotated.

11. In a laundry machine comprising a casing having an opening in the end thereof, a 'foraminous cylinder rotatably mounted within said casing and having an opening in the end thereof disposed in registry with the opening in said casing, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of pairs of substantially diametrically opposed bailies extending longitudinally of said cylinder and radially inwardly from the sides therebeyond the edge of said opening in said cylinder, a partition element for subdividing the interior of said cylinder into two, separate compartments, said element being adapted to pass through the opening in said casing into said cylinder, means adjacent opposite side edges of said partition for engaging said first pair of diametrically opposed baiiles -to support said partition in cylinder-subdividing relation in said cylinder, and baffle means upstanding from said partition element and adapted to lie vsubstantially at the open end of said cylinder for preventing articles supported on said partition element from sliding over the end edge thereof. Y

EDWARD J DOWNES.

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