US2367408A

US2367408A - Fluid treating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2367408A
Application number: US433819A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kuhn George
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1937-09-20
Filing date: 1942-03-07
Publication date: 1945-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1962-01-16

Description

Jan, 16, 1945., KUHN 7 2,367,408

FLUID TREATING APPARATUS 0 Original Filed Sept. 20, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 IN ENTO 6502s: Kay v Jane 16, 1945. e. KUHN 2,367,408

FLUID TREATING APPARATUS Original Fil ed Sept. 20, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR aka/w:- K0

ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1945. G. KUHN FLUID TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 20, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 3 8 W 6 a 7 M Q a i ww r a 9 i .1114: lhl I m a W a Ii. A a" Patented Jan. 16, 1945 FLUID TREATING APPARATUS George Kuhn, Silver Spring, Md., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware Original application September 20, 193.7, Serial Divided and this application March 7, 1942, Serial No. 433,819

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the washing and cleaning of fabrics and articles and more particularly pertains to power driven washing and cleaning machines.

The invention provides a washing and cleaning machine which operates to effect a rapid and thorough cleaning or washing of the articles without vibration or the production of unbalanced forces. The operations performed by the machine include circulation of the articles in the washing fluid, scrubbing and shaking of the articles, agitating and flexing of the fabric of.

the articles and rapidly pulsating the fluid through the fabric.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 164,820, filed September 20, 1937, now Patent No. 2,275,444.

The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof,ancl in which:

Fig. l. is a vertical sectional view of a washing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of part of the machine taken on line 2-2 of Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. 1, showing another form of washing machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line il-t of Fig. 3;

i Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line tt of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. l and 2 oi the drawings, reference character designates the tub of the washing machine which is preferably cylindrical in form with. a closed bottom it and an opening 52 at the top which is closed by a hinged cover 13. Th tub is supported on a suitable pedestal indicated M. The bottom of the tub has a raised centre-i portion E5 and a drain it connects with the lowermost part of the bottom 5 i. Y

The fluid circulating or propelling means is axially disposed in the tub is and, in general, comprises a pulsator consisting of a hollow tubular member such as a cylinder ll and an elemerit such as a piston is, and a fluid propelling and directing piston skirt as. The cylinder it is of metal and has a closed upper end and an open lower end around the outer periphery of which is a ring it of rubber or other suitable material. The cylinder is secured on the upper end of a reciprocable shaft 26 which passes through the upper end of the cylinder and the lower end of the cylinder is submerged so longas the water or other fluid t2 is-maintained at sub stantially thelevel shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The

inner and outer walls of the cylinder are disposed parallel to the direction of motion of thecylinder and during normal operation the cylinder is neither completely submerged nor entirely out of the fluid so that splashing is prevented. The pulsator piston 18 is a cylindrical metallic member shaped similarly to the cylinder I! but is of sufliciently smaller diameter to provide an annular opening 91 of substantial flow area between the cylinder and piston through which the fluid readily may flow. The piston is axially disposed with respect to the cylinder and is mounted on a fitting 23. preferably a die casting, which is fixed to the upper end of a piston sleeve 24 through' which shaft Zl passes and upon which the sleeve bears at its upper end. Shaft 2! passes in a smooth running fit through a collar 25 carried by the upper closed end of the piston l8. The fluid propelling and directing skirt l 9 has an outer surface which curves gradually outwardly and downwardly and has a metallic upper part and a flexible fin 26 which is preferably rubber but may be of other suitable flexible material, secured to the upper part. The upper end of the skirt i9 is secured to the fitting 23 and the-skirt is axially disposed with respect to the piston is This horizontal skirt is effective for the purpose because the opposing streams of fluid from the upwardly moving skirt and from th cylinder will meet and be thrown radially outwardly. Shaft 2i and sleeve is extend through an opening in the bottom il of'the'tub to the operating mechanism disposed beneath the tub. To prevent leakage of fluid through this opening and to eliminate the necessity of a'stufiing box, upper and lower bellows 2": and 28 of rubber or other fluid-proof flexible material are used. The upper end of the upper bellows 27 is secured by means of a metallic ring 2% or the like in fluid pressure tight relationship to shaft 2i at a point which will not interfere with the movement of the piston l8, and the lower end is similarly fixed to the upper portion of fitting 23. The upper portion of bellows 28 is also similarly fixed to the lower end of fitting 23 and the lower end is fixed to a neck 3% on the operating mecha nism housing 3i through which the sleeve 26 and shaft it pass. A nut 32 threaded on neck 3t compresses packing material against the bottom ii of the tub which is pressed against the upper part of the housing ti thereby preventing leakage i fluid at this point. A plurality of air vents 33 pass through fitting 23 next to sleeve 24 to connect the chambers formed by the upper and

lower bellows

21 and 28 to relieve air pressure and vacuum produced during operation. The fitting 23 is also provided with a plurality of water vents 34 next to the walls of the pulsator piston to relieve water pressure in the upper portion of the pulsator piston durin operation. In place of the lower bellow 28, a diaphragm, of rubber or other suitable material, of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 106,080, filed October 17, 1936, may be used.

The fluid circulating or propelling meansis driven by an electric motor 36 through mechanism which is mechanically balanced and the parts of which move with complete symmetry of motion during all phases of the operative cycle. A belt 31 runs over a small driving pulley 3! on the shaft of the motor and a large driven pulley l! which runs freely on one end of an eccentric shaft 40. Pulley 39 has an annular friction surface 4| on one face thereof which engages a cooperative friction surface 42 on one face of a disc 42 which is fixed to eccentric shaft 40 by a set screw 44. Pulley 28 and disc 43 are'normally disengaged due to the action of a coil spring 45 on eccentric shaft 40 positioned within a recess in the hub of pulley 18. This pulley-disc arrangement constitutes a friction clutch which may be operated from the top of the machine; In the form shown, a handcrank 46 at the top of the tub i operates a vertically disposed rod 41 at the side of the .tub, the lower end of which operates a link 48 which is pivotally connected at one end to a shaft 49 disposed in axial alignment with eccentric shaft 40 and with its other end I in a socket of the pulley II. A coil biasing spring ill extending betweena pin on the frame of the machine and a properly located arm on link 4!, retains the clutch in engagement after it has been engaged.

The eccentric shaft 40 has bearings II and 54 in the sides of the housing ll and has keyed thereto within the housing, eccentrics I! and 54 having laterally extending, abutting hub portions 59. The eccentrics are fixed to the shaft 40 in such manner that their maximum points of eccentricity are diametrically opposed. Eccentric 51 has a strap 60 which carries a connecting rod 6| extending upwardly from strap 80 and shaft 40 and which is connected at its upper end through a wrist pin 62 to an extension I! fixed to sleeve 24 upon which the pulsator piston I! and'the skirt is are mounted. Eccentric 50 has a strap 63 which carries a connecting rod 04 extending downwardly from the strap 63 and shaft 40 and which is connected at its lower end through a wrist pin 65 to the lower end of a yoke 88 of rectangular configuration which straddles shaft 40 and is connected at its upper end to the lower end of rod 2! upon which pulsator cylinder I1 is mounted. The abutting hubs 59 of the eccentrics bear in a vertically split block 61, Fig. 6, having oppositely disposed recesses which receive guides it which extend vertically along the inner side walls of the-yoke l6. eccentric 58 causes pulsator cylinder II to vertically reciprocate in the tub l0 and eccentric 51 causes pulsator piston is and skirt II also to vertically reciprocate in the tub but in directions opposite to the direction of movement-of the cylinder H. The strokes of the piston and cylinder are such that the piston moves into the cylinder as far as is practically possible to provide the maximum displacement. The several parts are so proportioned that the weight of the cylinder I1 and the parts reciprocating with it are equal to the total weight of the piston i8 and skirt II and the parts reciprocating with them. The "opposed" relationship of the connecting rods 4| and 64, that is. the arrangement of the operating mechanism so that connecting rod 4| extends above and is connected to sleeve 24 above a horizontal plane passing through the axis of eccentric shaft 40, and so that connecting rod 84 extends below and is connected to shaft 2i, in effect below such plane results in absolute symmetry of motion through all phases of the operative cycle of the oppositely reciprocating parts and the parts connected to and moving with them with complete mechanical balance being obtained and with resultant freedom from vibration. It will be understood that complete symmetry of motion would not be obtained if both of the connecting rods ti and 04 extended in the same direction, that is, if they were both connected to the respective parts which they operate at the same side, either above or below, of a horizontal plane passing through the axis of eccentric shaft 40. ,Also since the cylinder H, the piston II and the skirt I! are disposed and operate, in alignment with the axis of shaft 2!, and the eccentrics are located and operate equidistantly from said axis and also operate in "opposed" relationship as previously mentioned, no unbalanced couples or forces will be produced during operation. 80 arranged, or similarly arranged, the fluid circulating or propelling means and its operative mechanism is in absolute mechanical balance, so that no'vibration results which originates in a mechanical source. Complete hydraulic balance is also obtained, due to the fact that the pulsator cylinder and piston are proportioned to perform the same amount of work on the fluid in the tub on each stroke as the skirt performs, and since this work is done in opposite directions and in alignment, no unbalanced forces result. It will be appreciated that mechanical and hydraulic balance has been emphasized herein because these 1 factors have not presented themselves as probdisclosed for actuating the fluid propelling means With this arrangement,

is not limited in its application to fluid treating machines but is capable of a wide variety of uses.

The pulsator piston and cylinder and the skirt I! are rapidly reciprocated with relatively short strokes. The movement of the members I I, II and II should be materially faster than it is possible for the articles being treated to follow such movement. Good results are obtained with a speed of the eccentric shaft of 500 R. P. M. with strokes of the reciprocating elements of 1% in. to 1% in., but satisfactory results will be obtained at speeds between 400 and 650 R. P. M. with the same stroke. The stroke in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be varied between 1 in. and 1% in. with satisfactory results.

During operation, on the upstroke of the cylinder l1 and the downstroke of the piston ll, fluid is sucked into the cylinder from all directions which'draws the articles in the upper portion of the fluid radially inwardly toward the cylinder. At the same time, the skirt II has moved downwardly and has forced fluid from below theskirt radially outwardly along the bottom of the tub. n the 'downstroke of the cylinder and the upstroke of the piston, fluid is expelled from the cylinder in a downward direction parallel to the wall of the cylinder through the annular opening .81 and against the upwardly moving, outwardly and downwardly curving surface of the skirt H! which deflects the fluid downwardly and radially outwardly in the lower portion of the tub, with gradually increasing velocity as it moves over the skirt. On each upstroke of the skirt l9 fluid is forced outwardly and downwardly thereof due to the action of the upper surface of the skirt, and fluid is also drawn under the skirt and is expelled on the downstroke as previously described, along the bottom of the tub. Due to the flexibility and downward inclination of the fln 26 on the skirt I 9, it pumps fluid toward the bottom of the tub in the upper portion of its downward stroke, while in the lower portion of its downward stroke it-flattens out due to the radial flow of water from under the skirt is thus allowing free escape of the fluid from under the skirt. The use of the fin also makes it possible to bring the skirt almost into contact with the bottom of the tub at the end of its downstroke without danger of injury to one who might put his hand under it, whereby it functions as a safety feature. With rapid reciprocation of these elements ll, i8 and iii, the fluid is subjected to a series of unidirectional, intermittent jerks or pushes which result in the fluid and the articles therein being continuallyinoved in unidirectional circulatory paths about these elements in directions radially outwardly along the bottom of the tub, upwardly 'along the wall thereof, radially inwardly at the upper portion of the body of fluid and downwardly along the cylinder I! and piston l8 as indicated by the direction-of-flow arrows in Fig. 1. These short, fast fluid jerks, pushes, or squirts originate at the open edge of the pulsator cylinder and at the edge of the skirt and set up a series of rapid pulsations in the fluid which spread throughout the body of the fluid and result in the pulsing or forcing of the fluid through the fabric of articles being treated. They also cause rapid shaking and flexing of the articles being treated with consequent scrubbing due to the rubbing of the articles on one another and rubbing of parts of each article on other parts thereof in the active zones adjacent the open lower end of the pulsator cylinder l1. and at the lower edge of the skirt l9. As the articles move into the aforesaid active zones, the end of an article first coming under the influence of the zone adjacent the pulsator cylinder is vigorously shaken, scrubbed and jerked and gradually fed downwardly. These jerks spread through the article so that its other portions and other end are liberated from the other articles which have not yet entered said zone, thus untangling the article. At the beginning of the fluid treating operation, the action of the pulsator on the fluid heretofore described, breaks up bubbles of air in articles such as clothes and the like, which if left unbroken would cause the articles to float on the top of the fluid, and pushes the articles under the surface of the fluid. The scrubbing action produced by the machine, results primarily from the vigorous flexing and shaking of the articles as previously described during the circulatory movement.

As an illustrative example, but without limiting effect, a washing machine embodying the form of the invention heretofore described and having the dimensions set forth, when operated at speeds between 450 and 500 R. P. M. with a full load of eight pounds of clothes, completed the wash in ten minutes without previous soaking of the clothes. Pulsator cylinder4 in. in diameter and 7 in. in axial length. Pulsator piston-4% in. in diameter and 6 in. in axial length to the piston skirt. Piston skirt without fln6 /2 in. bottom diameter and 2% in. axial length. Fin on skirt- 8% in. in its outermost d ameter. Mechanism stroke-1% in. clothes, the washing time would be less than ten minutes. Actual tests with this machine have resulted in washings at least 33 faster than the washing time required by conventional washing machines now on the market in a ten minute washing test, with 20% less wear on the washed clothes, measured by the amount of lint collected after two hours of continuous washing.

The conventional worm and gear wringer drive, driven by a belt from the loose pulley 39 may be used if desired. However, the form of wringer drive disclosed in Fig. 1 eliminates the necessity for the gear, worm, bearings and an oil tight housing required for such conventional drive and thereby effects considerable saving in manufacture. As shown, the wringer is driven from loose pulley 39 by a belt 10 which is driven by a small pulley 1| fixed to the loose pulley 39, the belt 10 driving a relatively large pulley 12 which is horizontally positioned and is fixed to the end of the wringer drive shaft I3 disposed in ahousing M. A bevelled gear on the upper end of the drive shaft 13 meshes with the bevelled gear on the shaft of the lower wringer roll. at the top of the tub I 0 is provided with the usual drain board 16. A spring-pressed pulley 11 engages the belt 10 to prevent it from running off the pulleys H and 12. With this arrangement, the proper speed for the' wringer is obtained through the speed reduction resulting from the use of the loose pulley 39 which is used to drive the machine mechanism and the small pulley 1| flxed thereto. It will be appreciated that the belt wringer drive is possible only because of the useof the loose pulley 39 in the mechanism for driving the fluid circulating or propelling means. It is believed this form of wringer drive has not been used before.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs.

3 and 4, the arrangement of the fluid circulating or propelling means is the same as the other form shown in Fig. 1, excepting that the pulsator cylinder 80 is stationary and the eccentric 58 and connecting rod drive a vertically reciprocable counterweight 8! to obtain the same mechanical balance obtained in the other form. Cylinder B0 is mounted upon the upper end of shaft 82 which is fixed at its lower end to a cross bar 83 against the curved upper surface of the skirt IS.

The sizes of the pulsator cylinder and piston and the skirt I9 are so proportioned that the two actions just described neutralize each other thereby producinghydraulic balance. On the downstroke, fluid is sucked into the cylinder from all directions so that no hydraulic un- With previous soaking of the The wringer 15 mounted a balance results. Also on the downstroke, the skirt I9 ejects fluid radially therefrom along the bottom of the tub which also results in no hydraulic unbalance. In this form of the invention, as in the other form, both mechanical and hydraulic balance are maintained at all times. To provide the same flu'id displacement per stroke and the same downward speed of the fluid ejected from the cylinder as in the other embodiment shown in Fig. l, the cross-sectional area of piston I8 should be twice that of the piston in Fig. l and the area of the cylinder 80 should be willciently great so that the flow area of the annular clearance 91 between the piston and the cylinder will be the same as in Fig. 1. This follows from the fact that in this embodiment the stroke of the fluid circulating and propelling means is onehalf of that in Fig, 1, due to the fact that the cylinder 80 is stationary. For example, if the piston of. Fig. 1 is 2% in. in diameter and the cylinder 4 in. in diameter, the piston in Fig. 3 should be approximately 3% in. in diameter and the cylinder 4% in. in diameter. Otherwise, the proportions of the several parts are the same as in the other form, and the rmults obtained are the same as described in connection with the other form, including the undirectional circulatory movement of the fluid and the articles being treated and the washing action produced which comprises pulsating of the fluid through the fabric of the articles, the flexing and shaking of the articles which produces rubbing contact of the articles as previously described with consequent scrubbing of the articles on themselves, together with the separating and untangling of the articles resulting from the pulling forces produced by the series of short fast fluid jerks produced by the action of the pulsator cylinder and the piston. During the first few strokes of the fluid circulating or propelling means in both forms disclosed, the air is knocked out of the cylinder, after which the action is entirely hydraulic.

Variations in' the rate of speed of the eccentric shaft and consequent variations in the rate at which the fluid propelling and directing means reciprocates may be readily accomplished by any suitable means, such for example, as a belt drive which will provide speed variations between the motor 36 and the loose pulley 39.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form, location, relative arrangement and the materials of the several parts of the machine disclosed without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Mechanism comprising separate, aligned parts simultaneously reciprocable in opposite directions and meansfor operating said parts including a rotatable shaft, connecting rods operable by said shaft and operatively connected to said parts, said parts being disposed at the same side of a plane passing through the. axis of the shaft and normal to the axis of reciprocation of said parts, the connection between one ofthe rods and one of said parts including, a reciprocable shaft disposed at the side of said plane at which said parts are disposed, and the connection between the other rod and an extension of the other part including a sleeve surrounding said reciprocable shaft and connected to parts disposed at the other side of said plane at the same distance therefrom as said other connection, the arrangement being such that symmetry of motion of the parts is obtained.

2. Mechanism comprising separate, aligned parts simultaneously reciprocable in opposite directions and means for operating said parts including a rotatable shaft, connecting rods operable by said shaft and operatively connected to said parts, said parts being disposed at the same side of a plane passing through the axis of the shaft and normal to the axis of reciprocation of said parts, said rods extending from the shaft at opposite sides of said plane, the motion of the rod which lies on that side of the plane which is opposite the side upon which said parts are disposed being transmitted to one of said parts through a member extending from said one part to said opposite side of the plane, said parts being connected respectively to said connecting rods by a reciprocable shaft and a coaxial reciprocable sleeve.

3. Mechanism comprising separate, aligned parts simultaneously reciprocable in opposite directions and means for operating said parts including a rotatable shaft, connecting rods operable by said shaft and operatively connected to said parts, said parts being disposed at the same side of a plane passing through the axis of the shaft and normal to the axis of reciprocation of said parts, said rods extending from the shaft at opposite sides of said plane, the motion of the rod which lies on that side of the plane which is opposite the side upon which said parts are disposed being transmitted to' one of said parts through a member extending from said one part to said opposite side of the plane and straddling said shaft, said parts being connected respectively to said connecting rods by a reciprocable shaft and a coaxial reciprocable sleeve.

4. Mechanism comprising a rotatable drive shaft, oppositely disposed eccentrics on said shaft, a guide member on said shaft between said eccentrics, a reciprocable yoke surrounding said shaft and having a guiding bearing on said guide'member, connecting rods reciprocated by said eccentrics, oppositely reciprocable parts. driving connections from said connecting rods to said parts, one of said connections including said yoke.

5. Mechanism comprising a rotatable drive shaft, oppositely disposed eccentrics on said shaft, a guide block loosely bearing on said shaft between said eccentrics, a reciprocable yoke surrounding said shaft and having a guiding bearing on said guide block, connecting rods reciprocated by said eccentrics, oppositely reciprocable parts, driving connections from said connecting rods to said parts, one of said connections including said yoke.

6. Mechanism comprising a rotatable drive shaft, oppositely disposed eccentrics on' said shaft, a guide split block loosely bearing on said shaft between said eccentrics, a reciprocable yoke surrounding said shaft and having a guiding bearing on said guide block, connecting rods reciprocated by said eccentrics, oppositely re-' oiprocable parts, driving connections from said connecting rods tosaid parts, one of said connections including said yoke.

- GEORGE KUHN.