US2391561A - Drain mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1945. P. E. GELDHOF ETAL DRAIN MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1943 F a h E V Pare-e f'aumeo Qeza/voF.

Dec. 25, 1945. P. E. GELDHOF ETAL DRAIN MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I-Lr/Er-z DP PEI-5e} fiuneo Gino/10F. LurHse Envaee. W

Dec. 25, 1945. P. E. GELDI-V-IOF ET AL 2,391,561

DRAIN MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 25, 1945. P. E. GELDHOF ET AL 2,391,561

DRAIN MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v MINUTES AGITATOR VALVE I VALVE 2 PUMP EXTRAOTOR VALVE 2 AGITATOR DRAIN PUMP EXTRACTOR MOTOR CONTROL //4 M5 40 36 /5/ L/ M Top y A E p 0 /Z3- //2 fay/00 VALVE/ Big-0Z0:

m 02 //7 m ///a, w

HOT WATER MIXED EXTQACTdE 1461714702 8 TOE CON TPOL WA TEB PU MP & N0 DEA/N EE 2: FE

PEI-2 [00420 621060;: Luz-use Ewsze.

Paiented Dec. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAIN MECHANIQM of New York Application December 2, 1943, Serial No. 512,580

Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in home laundry apparatus. More particularly, the instant invention is concerned with a means for discharging the cleansing fluid from the container of such a machine for temporary storage pending the use of the container for the performance of other allied steps in the complete cycle of a laundering operation.

The means of the present invention are particularly advantageously adapted to be employed in connection with an automatic washing, rinsing and drying apparatus. As is customary in the use of such equipment, a complete cycle of operations is performed normally including washing, rinsing and drying of the clothes or other fabrics to be laundered in the container. The rinsing operations, of which there are ordinarily several, usually employ only clear water of relatively low or medium temperature and, therefore, no great loss is experienced by the discharge of such water to the drain and the use of a fresh water supply for each of these operations.

In'the case of the washing step, however, an abundance of water at a relatively high temperature in which large quantities of soap or other suitable cleansing agents are dissolved is required for carrying out the laundering operation. For this reason, it is particularly advantageous to remove the soapy water from the container of the automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine following the washing step to some suitable storage means for temporary retention pending the completion of the subsequent steps in the complete cycle of operations all of which are performed in or with the aid of the container. Then upon the completion of the rinsing and drying operation, the soapy water employed in the previous washing step may be again introduced to the container for reuse.

Such a procedure as that outlined above makes possible a considerable saving in the hot water supply and also in the quantity of detergent required to complete the laundering .operation. This is indeed important under conditions where water is scarce or where the hot water supply system is incapable of producing a continuous supply of water of a temperature sumciently high to perform the several washing steps for numerous batches of laundry with the greatest facility.

It will be understood that during the storage of the water for the temporary period preceding its reintroduction to the container of the washing apparatus it may, if desired, be heated to maintain a temperature nearer that required for its use in the subsequent washing operation.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide means capable of producing the aforementioned advantageous results and, in so doing, to facilitate the use of home laundry ap paratus.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a drain mechanism for discharging the cleansing fiuid from the container of a laundry machine into temporary storage pending the conclusion of intermediate steps in the cycle of operations employed in connection with such apparatus so that the cleansing fluid may be returned to the machine for any desired number of subsequent washing operations.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide means which are capable of operating automatically in accordance with the timed cycle of operations performed by the automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine to deliver the cleansing fluid to the storage means and, thereafter, to discharge additional fluid employed in the subsequent operations to the drain outlet.

Other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

0n the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical form of automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine with which the device of the present invention is particularly advantageously adapted to be employed;

Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus associated with a suitable storage means and a drain outlet;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the machine of Figure 1 with parts removed for the sake of clearness to illustrate the application of the device of the present invention to the structure of the automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the machine with parts broken away illustrating the drain mechanism in elevation;

Figure 5 represents a horizontal section along the line VV through the upper portion of the machine illustrated in Figure 1 with parts broken away to show the drain mechanism in plan with the outlet in one of its operating positions;

Figure 6 corresponds generally to Figure 5 but illustrates the outlet of the drain mechanism positioned in the other of its operating positions;

Figure 7 represents a diagrammatic showing of a typical electrical circuit for controlling the operation of an automatic washing machine embodying the drain mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a chart illustrating the complete operating cycle for an automatic washing.ma-

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, of:

the drawings, the typical automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine l with which the means of the present invention is advantageously employed is provided with a cabinet ll housing the operating elements of the apparatus. A cover i3 is disposed in the top panel l2 of the cabinet II for introducing ,the articles tobe laundered to the interior of the machine. A control knob l4 for setting the timing mechanism which directs the operation of the machine in the performance of the complete cycle of its operations is mounted on the top panel i2 adjacent one corner thereof. The control knob l5 for selecting the desired temperature for the cleansing fluid, in this case, water whichissupplied by a suitable mixer type valve (not shown) to be employed in the various steps of the launperformed by, the ma-'.

of the washing machine It. The pump 25, which dering operations is located adjacent another comer of the top panel [2.

The drain mechanism of the present invention, which is indicated generally by the reference character I5, is advantageously positioned adjacent that comer of the cabinet II in close proximity to the temperature control knob i5. The discharge tube ll of the drain mechanism l6 extends through the top panel 12 of the cabinet H and is adapted to be shifted from a position communicating with the section l8 to one in communication with section [9 of a divided laundry tray 20. Aswill be more fully explained hereinafter, the discharge tube ll of the drain mechanism I5 is adapted to be manually and auto-v matically shiftable from one of its positions to the other (see Figure 2) depending upon whether the water supply is to be stored or discharged to waste.

It will be understood that any suitable storage means and drainage outlet may be employed in lieu of the laundry tray 20. laundry tray oi. the type illustrated is standard equipment in many homes, it is advantageous to employ one of the sections thereof for the storage of, the hot soapy water removed from the machine In following the'washing operation and I However, since a charged to the drain. This maybe readily accomplished by plugging the drain outlet 2| of the section l8 to retain the soapy water temporarily therein while leaving the drain outlet 22 of the section IQ of the tray 20 open to the drain.

Anylsuitable means, such, for example, as an electrically operated Dump 23, may be provided and demountably attached to the laundry tray 23 for withdrawing the stored water from the section l8 of said tray and to return it to the.

automatic washing machine l0.

As illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the

' drain mechanism I5 is connected as by means of the hose connection 24 to the discharge side of thepump unit 25 mounted in and forming part 3 crank arm 43 and the post-42.

able perforated rotatably mounted basket in which the articles oi. clothing or other fabrics to be laundered are adapted to be centrifugally dried and a concentrically mounted agitator for circulating' the water in the tub 3i. as well as imparting a constant motion. and bending action to the articles being laundered in the course of the washing and rinsing operations. The washing machine [0 is adapted to perform, in succession, each of the laundering operations without attendance after the operator has once adjusted the control knob I4 for the automatic timing device to set the apparatus in motion. At the same time, the operator selects, by setting control knob 15, the desired temperature for the supply of water to be introduced to the tub 3! of the machine at its proper interval in accordance with the cycle of operations which is controlled by the timing device.

As will be apparent from Figures 4 to 6 of the drawings, the drain mechanism I6 is adapted to be mounted in the automatic washing machine I0 as by means of the bracket 34 which is secured to the frame of the cabinet H by a plurality of bolts 35' with the drainage tube l1 extending upwardly through the top panel [2 of said cabinet II. The bracket 34 is advantageously generally U-shaped having a, pair of projecting legs 35 and 36 extending substantially horizontally and joined by the base portion 31. The legs 35 and 35 of the bracket 34 are apertured to receive the portion of the discharge tube l1 extending downwardly through the top panel l2 of the cabinet 34 and is adapted to extend downwardly in substantially perpendicular relation to the leg when the bracket 34 is supported in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. A bell crank arm 43 is pivotally mounted on the end of the post 42 and is held in place thereon as by means of a cotter pin 53. Thebell crank arm 43 is provided, ad iacent the free end of the leg 45 thereof, with a 'pin 46. The leg 44 of the bell crank arm 43 is connected by means of the-flexible linkage 49 made up of the link member 50 and pins 5| and 52, to an end of core 41 of the solenoid 48 which .is secured to the base portion 31 of the bracket 34.

Mounted about the post 42 above andimmediately adjacent to the bell crank arm 43 is a latch dates the post 42 and affords relative movement of the latch member 54 with respect to the bell One'end of the latch member 54 has a hook 56 which is adapted to disengageably receive therein the pin 45 secured to the leg. 45 of thebell crank arm 43. At the end of the latch member 54 opposite the The discharge tube I! is freely rotatably hook 56 is an aperture 51 to which is connected one end of a coil spring 58 which is secured at its other end to the base 31 of the bracket 34..

A clamp 59, which advantageously takes the form of a U the projecting arms of which are provided with arcuate depressions therein for accommodating the vertically extending portion of the discharge tube ll, has one of its legs secured to the latch member 54. The clamp 59 may be tightened about the external periphery of the discharge tube I! by means of the bolt 69 which extends through an aperture in one of the legs of the clamp and is threaded into the other of the legs. Thus, the discharge tube I1 is adapted to be shifted as the latch member 54 changes its position.

The solenoid 48 which may be of any suitable type embodies an electrical coil which magnetizes the core 41 when an electrical current is introduced thereto at the proper interval in accordance with the cycle of operations controlled by the timing mechanism of the automatic washing machine. The core 41 connected to the bell crank arm 43 through the linkage 49 causes said arm to pivot about the post 42 when the solenoid 48 is energized.

A spring element 6| is wound about the post 42. One end of the spring 6| is anchored against the pin 52 of the linkage 49 and the other end against the end of the U-shaped clamp 59 in such manner that it tends to retain the several parts of the drain mechanism IS in their cocked position as illustrated in Figure 5. 'With the lateral movement of the core 41 of the solenoid 48, when the magnet thereof is energized, the spring 6| causes the discharge tube to snap to a position corresponding to that illustrated in Figure 6 after the manner characteristic of an overcenter toggle arrangement.

When, upon the completion of the entire operating cycle, the parts are to be restored to their original positions for again storing water, they may be manually cocked. The ends of the electrical coil of. the solenoid 48 are provided with connections 62 which are connected into the electrical circuit in the manner hereinafter to be described.

The electrical control circuit for the operation of the automatic washing machine with which the drain mechanism of the present invention is advantageously adapted to be employed may include any suitable form of timing device for controlling the sequential performance of the series of steps in a complete laundering operation. A conventional form of timer 64, which has been diagrammatically illustrated in Figure '7 of the accompanying drawings, employs a shaft 65 attached to the control knob I4 mounted in the upper portion of the cabinet H, a motor 66 for rotating the shaft and a plurality of cam disks 61 to 10, inclusive. The details of cam disks 6! to 16, inclusive which are mounted on the shaft 65 and rotated therewith will best be understood from Figure 9 of the drawings. The power supply conductors II and 12 provide electrical energy for the timer 64..

The cam disk 61 controls the motor 66 and that part of the mixer valve 14 which delivers hot water while the cam disk 68 controls the delivery of the mixed water supply from another part of the mixer valve 14 to the tub 3! of the automatic washing machine 'at the proper interval. The temperature of the water delivered depends upon the setting by the operator of the control knob l mounted in the upper portion of the cabinet H. The adjustment of the knob I! mounted on the shaft 15 of the temperature control unit causes the cam disks 16 and H to be rotated to a position such that the associated movable contacts 18 and I9, respectively, are caused to make or break contact with fixed contacts and 8|, respectively, for the mixer valve 14.

It will be understood that when the movable contact 18 is permitted by the position of the cam disk 16 associated therewith to contact the fixed contact 80, the valve 14 will deliver hot water when it is opened at the proper interval by the cam disk 61 of the timer 64. In the same way, when the movable contact I9 is permitted by the cam disk TI to contact the fixed contact 8|, the valve 14 will deliver mixed water as it is opened by the cam disk 68 of the timer 64. Thus, with the control knob I5 in the position illustrated in the diagrammatic illustration of Figure '7, both hot and mixed water will be introduced simultaneously by the mixer valve 14 to the tub 3! of the washing machine as the cam disks 6! and 68 of the timer unit 64 operate the mixer valve 14 at the proper intervals.

The cam disk 69 operates the extractor (not shown) and the pump 25 of the automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine ID at the proper interval in the cycle of operation controlled by the timer 64. The cam disk 69 also serves to energize the solenoid 48 which shifts the position of the discharge tube H of the drain mechanism Hi from one in which it discharges the soapy water employed in the washing operation for storage in section l8 of the laundry tray 20 to a position in which it directs the water used in the operations following the washing operation into section l9 for discharge through the drain 22 thereof. The cam disk 16 of the timer 64 operates the agitator unit (not shown) of the washing machine for circulating the water and imparting continual motion to the articles to be laundered in the tub 3| in the washing and rinsing operations.

The cam disks 61, 68, 69 and ID of the timer 64 are provided with movable contact arms 82, 83, 84 and 85, respectively. The contact arm 62 associated with the cam disk 61 is provided with a follower 86 which is adapted to trace the periphery of the cam disk and in so doing causes the contact arm 82 to move between the fixed contacts 81 and 88 intermittently making and breaking contact therewith. The contact arms 83 and 84 are provided with followers 69 and 90, respectively, which trace the peripheries of their associated cam disks 68 and 69 to make and break contact with their respective pairs of fixed contacts 9!, 92 and 93, 94. The movable contact arm associated with the cam disk 10 has a follower 95 which, as in the previous instances, traces the periphery of said cam disk 16 to make and'break contact with the single fixed contact 96.

The timer unit 64 is provided with a switch embodying a disk 91 and contacts 98 and 99 which enable the operator by grasping the control knob l4 and moving the shaft 65 slightly in an axial direction to reset the timer at certain desired positions in the cycle of operation and thereby adjusting the comparative length of certain of the operating steps. A suitable fluid level control device, indicated generally by the reference character I06, may be associated with the tub 3| of the automatic washing machine. This device aids in controlling the depth of the water 11. the tub 3| so as to maintain the same at the proping operation, for example.

The fluid level control I may take any suitable form but usually employs a pair of floats one of which indicates when the water inthe tub 3| has reached the desired upper level and the other of which indicates when all of the water has been removed from the tub. Each of the floats is associated with suitable switch elements such, for example, as mercury or toggle switches IOI and I02.

With the conventional timing mechanism employed in connection with the apparatus of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the motor 68 rotates the shaft 65 of the timer 64 in a step-by-step action at approximately sixty second intervals. More specifically, the construction of the timer 64 is such that the shaft 65 is rotated through an angle of approximately eight degrees every sixty seconds. As the several cam disks 61 to 10, inclusivefmounted upon the shaft 65 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows, the cam followers 86, 89, 90 and 95 of the contact arms 82, 83, 84 and 85, respectively, cause said contact arms to open and close electrical circuits associated with their respective fixed contacts so as to energize one or more of the elements of the washing machine structure and to cause each, in its turn, to perform its required duty in the complete cycle of operation.

Turning our attention first to the electrical circuit associated with the cam disk 61, we find that; at the beginning of operations, the parts of the timer 64 will be in the respective relation illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 7 of the drawings. When the follower 86 of the movable contact arm 82 is positioned on the high point I04 on the cam disk 61 (see Figure 9), assuming that the temperature control knob I5 is in the position illustrated such that the movable contact 18 is closed with its fixed contact 80, the circuit from the power supply conductor 12 will be completed through conductor I06, connections I01 and I08 for the portion of the mixer valve 14 which delivers hot water, the fixed contact 80, movable contact 18, conductor I09, fixed contact 81, movable contact arm 82, conductors I I0 and III, fixed contact II2 of the switch I M associated with the fiuid level control device I00, conductor H3 and switch parts 91, 98 and 99 to the other main power supply conductor 1|.

contemporaneously, the movable contact arm 83 makes contact with its fixed contact 92 by reason of the fact that its follower 89 is positioned on the low point II5 on its associated cam disk 68. By virtue of the setting of the temperature control knob I5 illustrated in Figure 'I, the movable contact 19 makes contact with its fixed contact 8I so that mixed water will be admitted by the mixer valve 14 simultaneously with the introduction of hot water therefrom to produce a supply of water of medium temperature in the tub 3|. With the movable contact arm 83 in its illustrated position in Figure 7, the circuit controlling the portion of the mixer valve 14 for the delivery of mixed water is completed from the power supply conductor 12 through the conductor I06, connections H6 and H1 for the mixer valve 14, fixed contact 8|, movable contact 19, conductor II8, fixed contact 92, contact arm 83, conductor III,

It will be understood that the circuits described above will be complete only so long as the toggle switch IOI of the fluid level control device I00 is in the position illustrated. When the top fioat actuates this toggle switch, which occurs when tub 3| is filled to the desired level, it will break contact with the fixed contact I I2 and thereafter make contact with the opposite fixed contact II4. Thus, the further addition of water to the tub 8| by mixer valve 14 will be discontinued unless for some reason the 'water level drops in the course of the washing step in which event the toggle switch IOI would halt operations and cause the valve 14 to reopen to fill up the tub. The closing of the toggle switch IOI with fixed contact II4 completes the circuit for the timer motor 66 and the main motor 26 and also causes the agitator drive to be engaged.

The electrical circuit for the operation of the motor 26 is thus completed from the power supply conductor I2 through conductors I06 and I20, through the motor 26 to conductors I2I, I22 and I23, the fixed contact II4 for the toggle switch IOI, conductor II 3, and the switch parts 91, 88 and 99 to the other power supply conductor 1|. Since the movable contact arm 85 is simultaneously in contact with its fixed contact 96 by reason of the fact that its follower 95 is positioned on the low point I24 on the cam disk 10, the circuit to energize the shifting mechanism A for the agitator drive is complete when the toggle switch IOI makes contact with its fixed contact H4 and the motor 26 is operating. The circuit for the agitator shifting mechanism A is completed from the main power conductor I2 through the conductor I06, connections I25 and I26 for the agitator shifting mechanism A, fixed contract 96, movable contact arm 85, conductors I22 and I23, fixed contact II4 for the toggle switch IOI, conductor I I3 and the switch parts 9'3, 96 and 99 to the other power supply conductor.

The motor 26 and the agitator continue operating for the complete washing cycle, which may be a period of 5 to 20'minutes, as selected by the operator, and is the time required for the timer motor 66 to rotate the shaft and the disk I0 through the arc defined by the low point I24 on said disk. The timer motor 66 is energized upon I the closing of fixed contact II4 of toggle switch IOI. The circuit for the motor 66 of the timer 64 is completed from the main power conductor 12 through the conductor I28 on one side thereof and on the other side through the conductors I29, I22'and I23, fixed point II4 of the toggle switch IOI, conductor H3 and switch parts 91, 98'and 99 to the other power supply conductor II. a

In the rotation of the shaft 65, the follower 86 of the movable contact arm 82 eventually drops off the high point I04 and begins to trace the intermediate portion I30 which positions the contact arm 82 between both of its fixed contacts 81 and 88. lower 89 of the movable contact arm 83 associated with the cam disk 68 reaches the end of the low point I I5 thereof and begins to trace the intermediate portion I3I on the disk causing the movable contact arm 83.to position itself between its'fixed contacts 9I and 92. The contact between the movable contact arm 85 and its fixed contact 96 is also broken by reason of the fact contemporaneously, the fol-' intermediate portion I48 of the cam disk 09 sothat the follower 95 of the arm begins to trace the portion I32 of the periphery of the cam disk 10 thereby raising the fixed contact 85 out of contact with fixed contact 86 and the agitator will cease operating.

At the same time, the rotation of the shaft 85 of-the timer 64 changes the position of the cam disk 58 so that the cam follower 90 for the movable contact arm 84 which has been tracing the intermediate portion I33 of the periphery now begins to trace the low point I34 thereof. Thus, the movable contact arm 84 makes contact with fixed contact 94 and closes the electrical circuit which energizes shifting mechanism P causing the pump unit 25 to be operated by motor 26. The pump 25 discharges the water from the tub 3| through tube I1 of the drain mechanism It which has been cocked manually to discharge into section I8 of the laundry tray 20 (see Figures 2 and since this hot, soapy water is to be stored temporarily pending the completion of the remaining steps in the cycle of operation of the machine. The shifting of the movable contact arm 84 causes the electrical circuit from the power supply conductor 12 to be closed through the conductor I06, connections I36 and I31 for the shifting mechanism P for connecting in the pump unit 25 of the washing machine, conductor I38, fixed contact 94, movable contact arm 84, conductor II 3, and switch parts 91, 98 and 98 to the other power supply conductor 1I.

When the bottom float of the fluid level control device I00 indicates that all of the water has been removed from the tub 3| by the pump 25 its toggle switch I02 will close contact with its fixed contact I39 and the electrical circuit will thereupon be completed through the shifting mechanism E which causes motor 26 to actuate the extractor unit. The electrical circuit is then completed from the power supply conductor 12 through conductor I06, connections I40 and MI for the extractor shifting mechanism E, the fixed contact I39 for the toggle switch I02, conductors I42 and I38, fixed contact 94', movable contact arm 84, conductor II3 and the switch parts 91, 98 and 98 to the other power supply conductor 1I. It will be understood that the extractor unit and the pump will then be operating simultaneously for the duration of the drying cycle.

After the water has been completely pumped out of tub 3|, the follower 86 for the movable contact arm 82 begins to traverse the low point I 44 on the disk 61 and thus closes the contact between the movable contact arm 82 and its fixed contact 88 thereby changing the electrical circuit through the motor 66 of the timer 84. In this way, the motor 86 is driven by electrical energy supplied through the conductor I28 from the power supply conductor 12- on one side and on the other side through the conductor I45, fixed point 88, movable contact arm 82, conductors H0 and III, fixed point II2 of the toggle switch IOI (which is now closed by reason of the fact that the top float is in its lowermost position and thereby closes the toggle switch),

as to position the contact arm 84 intermediate of its fixed contacts 93 and 94 and halting th operation of the extractor. The follower 88 for the movable contact arm will now be positioned on the high point I41 on the cam disk 68 and will, therefore, raise the movable contact arm 83 to contact with its fixed contact 9 I.

This operation causes that portion of the mixer valve which delivers mixed water to open and deliver rinse water to the tub 3I for rinsing the articles to be laundered. The electrical circuit thus completed is from the power supply conductor 12 through conductor I 06, connections H6 and H1 for the mixer valve 14, conductor I48, fixed contact 9|, movable contact 83, conductor III, fixed contact II2 of the toggle switch IOI, conductor II3 and switch parts 91, 88 and 99 to the other power supply conductor 1|. During the filling of tub 3I with rinse water from mixer valve 14, it will be understood that the timer motor 66 and main motor 26 will not be operat- 8.

When the tub 3I is filled to its maximum level, the .top fioat of the fluid level control device I00, as before, causes the toggle switch IM to break contact with its fixed contact H2 and thereby discontinue the further introduction of mixed water from the mixer valve 14 to the tub 3|. The toggle switch IOI now makes contact with its fixed contact II4 to again energize the main motor 2B and timer motor 68. At this point also, the follower 95 for the movable contact arm 85 will begin to trace the low point I49 of the disk 10 as shaft 85 is rotated. The circuit is now completed as before through the agitator shifter mechanism A by contact with its fixed contact 86 and, due to the operation of the motor 28, the articles to be laundered will be circulated during the rinsing operation.

While the agitator unit is operated, and as the shaft 85 continues to be rotated by the motor 65 of the timer 64 the follower 90 for the movable contact arm 84 reaches the high point I on the cam disk 68. The movable contact arm 84 is thereby raised so as to close the circuit with the fixed point 93. Thus, an electrical circuit is comconductor II3 and the switch parts 81, 98 and pleted from the power supply conductor 12 through the conductor I08, the connections I5I and I52 (with which are connected the connections 62 for the solenoid 48 of the drain mechanism I8), fixed contact 93, movable contact arm 84, conductor II3, and switch parts 91, 98 and 99 with the power supply conductor H.

The closing of this electrical circuit energizes the solenoid 48 of the drain mechanism I6 so as to cause the core 41 to shift the bell crank arm 43 and cause the several parts of the apparatus to assume the position illustrated in Figure 6. The discharge tube I1 shifts from the position shown in full lines in Figure 2 to that shown in dotted lines so that the water subsequently discharged by the pump 25 will pass into the section I9 of the laundry tray 20 and out through the drain outlet 22 therein. I

It will be understood thatwhen th core 41 is shifted to the left, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, the linkage 49 connecting said core 41 with leg 44 of the bell crank arm 43 will cause the pin 46 in said crank arm to approach the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5 thereby disengaging itself from the hook 58 of the latch member 54. As the pin 46 is moved downwardly with the rotation of the bell crank arm 43 about the post 42, the arcuate or cam surface I54 of latch member 54, contacts the pin 48 and thus permits the latch member to move with respect to the post 42. The spring 58, which is in tension when the discharge tube I! is cocked so that the hook 56 of the latch member is engaged by the pin 45 and has one extremity of the arcuate slot 55 against the post 42, causes the latch member 54 to shift its position so that the post 42 is thereafter against the opposite extremity of the arcuate slot 55 when the solenoid 48 trips the mechanism.

With the operation of the solenoid 48 by the cam disk 58 of the timer 54, the relative positions of the elements of the drain mechanism I8 which in the starting position are in the general arrangement illustrated in Figure will assume the positions illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. Thus, the discharge tube I1 is shifted from a position in which 'it will discharge fluid into the section l8 of the laundry tray to one in which it will discharge into the adjoining section IQ of the tray in readiness for the next operation of pump 25. The water being pumped out of the tub 3| by the pump will thereafter be discharged to waste through the drain outlet 22.

As the shaft 65 of the timer 64 continues to rotate, the follower 80 of'the movable contact arm 84 drops down to the intermediate portion I55 of disk 69 and again causes the arm 84 to be positioned between its fixed contacts 83 and 94. The follower 95 of the movable contact arm 85 in the interim. will reach the end of the low point I48 on the cam disk I0 and will begin to trace the high point I58 thereof. This latter step causes the contact arm 85 to break contact with its fixed contact 96 and discontinues the operation of the agitator. The follower 88 for the fixed contact arm 88 meanwhile will be tracing the intermediate portion I51 on the cam disk 58 and will therefore be positioned intermediate its fixed contacts 8| and 92 for the remainder of the operating cycle.

The follower 80 of the movable contact arm 84 will next contact the low point I58 on the disk 58 as shaft 65 rotates and will make contact between said arm and its fixed contact 84 thereby closing the circuit through the pump 25 which now operates to discharge the rinse water from the tub 3| through the discharge tube II into section I 8 of the laundry tray 20 and through the drain outlet 22 therein. The follower 88 for the movable contact arm 82 will begin to trace the low point I58 on the cam 61 and contact will be made with the fixed contact 88 thereby completing the circuit to the motor 56 as before, independently of the fluid level control device I80. When the bottom float of the fluid level control device I80 indicates that all of the water has been removed from the tub 3|, toggle switch I 82 thereof will complete the circuit with its fixed contact I38 causing the extractor solenoid E to be energized through the circuit previously described and the extraction of the water from the laundered articles will continue until the follower 80 of the movable contact arm 84 reaches the end of the low point I59 of the disk 69.

At this point, follower 80 will again begin to trace the intermediate portion I33 of the cam disk 88 and will cause the movable contact arm 84 to be positioned intermediate of its fixed contacts 83 and 84. The follower 86 for the movable contact arm 82 will also have reached the intermediate portion I 50 on the cam disk 61 and the movable contact arm will thus be positioned intermediate of its fixed contacts 81 and 88 thereby discontinuing the operation of the timer motor 68 for the remainder of the cycle. It will be seen that the motor 26 for driving the several elements of the washing machine will also be halted and the entire machine is thereafter ready to be reset for the next complete cycle 01' operations for another batch of articles to be laundered.

The chart of Figure 8 illustrates the complete cycle of operations performed by the automatic washing machine in accordance with the setting of the control knob I5 for the timer 54. The duration in minutes of each of the several steps is indicated by the length of the heavy black lines. The sequence of the several steps is indicated by the relative positions of the lines on the chart.

It will be understood that upon the completion of this complete washing cycle, the operator may start the pump unit 23 operating for withdrawing the water from the section I8 in which it has been temporarily stored since the completion of the washing step and returning it .to the tub 3|. After all of the soapy water has been withdrawn from the section I8 of the laundry tray 20 and the tub 3| is again filled, the operator may set the control knob I4 and cause the automatic washing machine to operate in accordance with the cycle of operation previously described.

On resetting the knob I4, if it is desired to again reuse the soapy water following the second washing operation, the operator may manually cock or shift the discharge tube I I of the drain mechanism I5 so that it will thereafter be in readiness to discharge water from the pump 25 into the section I8 of the laundry tray 20. The water from the tub 3I employed in the washing operation may be reused as many times as it is found desirable to do so and, at the beginning of each new cycle of operations, the operator need only. to shift the discharge tube H from its final position with reference to the section I9 to that in which it will discharge the water into the storage section I8 01' the laundry tray 20.

If it is desired to discharge the soapy water to the drain after it has been reused one or more times, the discharge tube I! may be left in its last position into which it has been shifted so that the water may then pass into the section I9 of the laundry tray 20 and out through the drain outlet 22 to the sewer. This shifting of the discharge tube ll of the drain mechanism It may be unnecessary when the water is to be discharged to the drain outlet in the event that storage means such, for example, as the laundry tray 20 with outlets in each of the sections which may be opened or closed at will, is employed.

When a storage tank or other form of receptacle not provided with a drain outlet is employed for the storage of the soapy water, it will be understood that it will be desirable to have the discharge tube I1 positioned so that the water will be discharged to the drain outlet to avoid the necessity of dumping or pumping out the receptacle. In such circumstances, if the operator has inadvertently shifted the discharge tube ll of the drain mechanism I6 so that the soapy water will be discharged into the storage receptacle when it is instead desired to discharge the water to the drain outlet, it is not necessary to wait until that portion of the cycle when the discharge tube may be automatically shifted in the manner hereinbefore described. The latch member 54 may be readily released from the pin 46 on the bell crank arm 43 to permit the discharge tube I! to be shifted to its released position (that illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2) simply by grasping the discharge tube l1 and moving it sharply to the right. This action will cause the release of the pin 46 from the hook 56 and permit the arcuate cam surface I54 to pass the pin 46 thereby permitting the discharge tube to trip so that it will assume the dotted line location or the other extremity of its operating position.

Certain modifications may readily be made in the apparatus of the present invention such, for example, as the addition of another cam disk, for controlling the shifting of the drain mechanism i6 alone, on the shaft 65 of the timer 64 adjacent the disklfl. In this event, the high point I50 could be omitted from cam disk 69 and the connection I52 together with the fixed contact 93 could be eliminated. A similar connection and fixed contact would be employed for the newly added cam disk.

The new cam disk would have only a single high point on its periphery. This high point would extend over an arcuate portion of the periphery of the cam disk which subtends an angle of 8 degrees to energize the solenoid 48 of the drain mechanism for an interval of one minute. The disposition of this high point on the new cam disk would preferably correspond to that of the high point I50 on cam disk 69 so that the relationship of the several operations would remain unaltered.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A drain mechanism for a washing machine' or the like comprising a support, a discharge tube pivotally mounted with respect to said support and swingable between two extreme positions, means biasing said tube toward one of its positions, means for retaining the tube in the other of its positions against the biasing means, and means for releasing the retaining means whereby the biasing means shifts the discharge tube to its first mentioned position.

2. A drain mechanism for a washing machine or the like comprising a support, means pivotally mounted with respect to said support and swingable between two extreme positions, means biasing said pivotally mounted means toward one of its positions, retaining means shiftably mounted with respect to the pivotal mounting of said pivotally mounted means for holding the same in the other of its positions in opposition to the biasing means, a discharge tube secured to said pivotally mounting means, and means for releasing the retaining means and causing the biasing means to shift the pivotally mounted means carrying the discharge tube to its first mentioned position.

3. A drain mechanism for a washing machine or the like comprising a support, a bell crank arm pivotally mounted on the support and swingable between two extreme positions, biasing means urging the arm toward one of its positions, a latch member shiftably mounted with respect to the pivotal mounting for the arm, a discharge tube on said latch member, means on said arm engaging said latch member for retaining the arm in that position which is in opposition to the biasing means, and means for disengaging the retaining means from the latch member which causes the biasingfmeans to move the arm to its first mentioned position and to shift the discharge tube.

4. In an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine having a tub into which water is admitted for the performance of a complete cycle of operations and a pump which operates to withdraw the water from the tub after each operation, a drain mechanism connected to the outlet for the pump comprising a pivotally mounted discharge tube, disengagable mean for holding the discharge tube adjacent one of the extremities of its shiftable movement, and automatically operable means for disengaging the holding means to shift the discharge tube to a position adjacent the other extremity of its shiftable movement.

5. In an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine having a tub into which water is admitted for the performance of a complete cycle of operations, a pump which operates to withdraw the water from the tub after each operation and electrical control means for controlling each of the several steps in the complete cycle of operations of the machine, a discharge tube connected to the discharge end of said pump and shiftable between two extreme positions, disengageable means for holding said discharge tube adjacent one of the extremities of its shiftable movement, automatically operable means for disengaging the holding means to shift the discharge tube to a position adjacent the other extremity of its shiftable movement, said disengaging means being actuated by the electrical control means in accordance with the timed schedule of washing, rinsing and drying operations performed by the machine.

6. In an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine having a tub into which water is admitted for the performance of a complete sequence of operations, a pump which withdraws the water from the tub after each operation, drive means for operating the-pump, and electrical control means for controlling each of the several steps in the complete cycle of operations and the drive means for the pump, a drain mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted tube connected to the pump discharge, means biasing the discharge tube toward one extremity of its pivotal movement, disengageable means for urging the pivotally mounted tube toward the other extremity of its pivotal movement, means for releasing the disengageable means, and electrical means operated by the electrical control means for actuating the releasing meansat the proper interval in the timed cycle of operations.

'7. A drain mechanism for a washing machine or the like comprising a pivotally mounted discharge tube, disengageable means for holding the tube adjacent one of the extremities of its shiftable movement, and electricall operated disengaging means for releasing the holding means to cause the discharge tube to shift to a position adjacent the other extremity of its shiftable movement.

8. A drain mechanism for a washing machine or the like comprising a discharge tube mounted to pivot from one position to another, disengageable means for holding the tube in one of its positions, means for releasing the holding means, means urging the discharge tube toward another of its positions, and means for actuating the re. leasing means.

9. A drain mechanism for a washing machine or the like comprising a pivotally mounted means swingable through an arcuate path, a discharge tube secured to said pivotally mounted means, biasing means urging the pivotally mounted means toward one extremity of its arcuate path,

, disengageable means for holding the pivotally position to another, and electrically operated means actuated by the control means for shifting the discharge tube from one of its positions to the other in accordance with the timed cycle of operations of the machine.

11. An automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine comprising a tub into which water is admitted for the performance 01' a series of operations, a pump for withdrawing water from said tub after each operation, an electrical control means for controlling the several operations in addition to the pump in their proper sequence, and a drain mechanism connected to the pump and automatically shiftable from one to another of two extreme positions for directing the discharge from the pump, said drain mechanism being actuated by the control means in accordance with the timed cycle of operations or the machine.

12. An automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine comprising a tub into which water is admitted for the performance of a series of operations, a pump for withdrawing water from said tub after each operation, an electrical control means for controlling the several operations in addition to the pump in their proper sequence, a support adjacent to the tub, a means pivotally mounted in said support and swingable .between two extreme positions, means biasing the pivotally mounted means toward one of its positions, means holding the pivotally mounted means in the other of its positions in opposition to the biasing means, a discharge tube secured to the pivotally mounted means and connected to the pump, and electrical means actuated by the control means ior releasing the holding means and causing the biasing means to shift the position of the pivotally mounted means and the discharge tube.

13. A drain mechanism for a washing machine or the like comprising a support, means pivotally mounted with respect to the support and swingable between two extreme positions, a dischar e tube secured to the pivotally mounted means, biasing means urging the pivotally mounted means toward One of the positions of its movement, disengageable latch means for holding the pivotally mounted means in that position which is in opposition to that toward which the biasing means urges said pivotally mounted means, and electrically operated means for releasing the latch means and shifting the pivotally mounted means thereby changing the position of the discharge means.

14. In an automatic washing, rinsing and dry- 20 ing machine, a tub into which water is admitted for the performance of each of a sequence of laundering operations, a pump for discharging the water from the tub following each operation, an automatic timer for controlling the several operations and a drain mechanism comprising a support disposed adjacent the tub, a bell crank arm pivotally mounted on the support, a latch member shiftably mounted with respect to the support to swing from one to another of two extreme positions, biasing means for urging the latch member toward one of its positions, disengageable retaining means on said crank arm for engaging'the latch means to hold the same in the position opposite that to which it is urged by the .biasing means, a discharge tube secured to said latch means, and a solenoid actuated by said control means for disengaging the retaining means whereby the biasing means shifts the latch member and the discharge tube in accordance 40 with the timed cycle of operations performed by the machine.

15. A drain mechanism for a washing machine or the like comprising a support, a discharge tube pivotally mounted with respect to said support and swingable between two predetermined positions, means biasing said tube toward one oi! said positions, latching means for retaining the tube in the other of said positions against the biasing force of said biasing means, and remote control means for releasing said latching means, said latching means being constructed to be released also by manual movement of the tube away from the secondmentioned position in a direction opposed to the biasing force.

PETER EDUARD GELDHOF.

I LUTHER RINGER.

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