US2475982A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1949- G. A. OBERG 2,475,982

WASHING mcanw Filed July 26, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 72 3mm 1 I E 1 Gum/Aka A. 055% G. A. QBERG WASHING MACHINE July 12, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26. 1944 Jvwen'toz B 5-2 GUHHHRD H. 055mg.

Gila-"wag G. A. OBERG WASHING MACHINE July 12, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 26, 1944 GUN/VA ED A. 05586 Patented July 12, 1949 WASHING MACHINE Gunnard A. Oberg, Celoron, N. Y., asslgnor to Jamestown Metal Equipment Company, Inc., Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 26, 1944, Serial No. 546,586

This invention relates to an improvement in washing machines of the type in which a single receptacle is utilized to both wash and centrifugally dry fabrics.

Generally speaking, receptacles utilized to ex-. tract liquid from fabrics may be considered as divided into two classes; namely, perforate and imperforate. The perforate receptacle functions to at least partially dry fabrics by throwing the liquid radially outwardly through the perforations. The imperforate receptacle requires that the liquid be extracted, not through perforations in the side walls of the receptacle, but in another manner, and such receptacles, for a clearer understanding of the present invention, may be further classified as being of the so-called updraft or down-draft type. The up-draft type of receptacle includes side walls that flare or incline outwardly from, or adjacent, the base toward the top; suitable liquid outlet apertures being provided at substantially the place ofgreatest diameter of the receptacle. The down-draft type of receptacle is provided with side walls that incline generally outwardly from, or adjacent, the top to the bottom of the receptacle; liquid outlet apertures being located at or near the base. In both types of imperforate receptacles, liquid must move along the side walls to reach the outlet apertures, and in so doing produces what may be described as a moving film or coating as between the receptacle walls and fabrics. This causes the fabrics to ride the liquid in its direction of flow and results in the fabrics becoming bunched either adjacent the top or base of the receptacle.

In the up-draft type of receptacle such bunching is found to be objectionable since, as the fabrics move upwardly of the receptacle walls and toward or into proximity with the receptacle top, an unbalanced or top-heavy condition is created. This results in excessive vibration, with the probable damage to support and drive mechanisms of the receptacle. However, in the down-draft type of receptacle, any tendency of the fabrics to bunch occurs adjacent the receptacle base, and this weight is helpful in that it augments any balancing weight that may be built into or attached to such base for the purpose of maintaining proper rotational balance. It is found that, since this type of receptacle is not out of vertical balance due to the fabrics being in proximity with the base, these fabrics tend to distribute themselves uniformly about the base, thus still further contributing to proper rotational balance.

4 Claims. (01. 210-63) The present invention proposes to combine, in a single receptacle capable of washing fabrics, the extraction advantages of the down-draft type of receptacle. To accomplish this it is necessary that the receptacle be capable of holding liquid during a washing period and be provided with suitable outlet apertures which may be opened to adequately remove liquid during an extraction operation. Heretofore receptacles of this nature have generally been of the up-draft imperforate type with the outlet apertures located above the normal liquid level required for a washing operation. Additionally, these receptacles have been provided with one or more valve controlled outlets in the base for the purpose of draining off excess liquid after completing a washing operation. Re-.

ceptacles of the up-draft imperforate type were heretofore found more suitable than the downdraft imperforate type since theoutlet apertures of the latter type were required to be adequately sealed during a washing operation to maintain proper liquid level and yet be readily opened to provide quick drainage of the liquid in the receptacle and further drainage of liquid from the fabrics during an extraction operation.

The present invention is primarily directed to, and has for one of its objects, the provision of an imperforate down-draft type of receptacle in which both washing and extracting operations may take place.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a receptacle in which a multiplicity of valve controlled liquid outlets are provided adjacent the juncture of the base with the sides of the receptacle.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a valve structure of such design as to assure positive closing of the liquid outlet apertures as, required during a washing operation and over a protracted period of use, despite any accumulated foreign matter commonly present in washing or extracting receptacles.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a valve structure that serves as a stabilizer to assist in maintaining a rotational balance of the receptacle during an extraction operation.

Additionally, it is an object of the invention to provide a multiplicity of spill-over apertures at or above the normal liquid level required in a washing operation, such apertures making possible a so-called spill-over rinsing operation" with or without the agitator in the receptacle being in operation.

A still further object of the invention lies in 3 the provision of mounting means of such location that the center of gravity of the receptacle, stabilizing means, and load, is located therebeneath.

Other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a washing" machine, parts being broken away and shown in vertical section to disclose a'receptacle embodying the invention, the receptacle, as shown, being set for a washing operation;

Fig. 2 is a view taken in the same plane as Fig. 1, showing the receptacle set for an extraction operation;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the. receptacle, parts being sectioned and broken away to show certain of the structural details; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modification of the receptacle, beingpartly in vertical section and partly in full line.

Reference is had more particularly to the drawings wherein the numeral Hlis employed to generally designate acomplete washing machine in which is embodied one form of the invention. The machine may include a circular base II in which is located the machine operating mechanism. n the upper edge of the base is a gasket l2 that serves to form a combined seat and-seal for an offset l3 of a-tubl4. The offset I3 is integral with a base l5 that, in the present showing, is of the nature of a drain apron. A centrally located aperture. I! in this apron is defined by a rim l5 and permits connection of the r operating mechanism with a receptacle located in the tub. Suitable connection of the apron with a drain outlet I3 is also provided. On the rim of the tub i4 is a gasket IS on which may be located the outwardly offset flange 2| of a top 22. This top has a central opening 23, defined by a flange 24 that serves to seat a cover 23.

Within the tub I4 is located a receptacle 21. This receptacle includes circular side walls 23, inclined generally inwardly from the bottom to the top. A splash ring 23, having an inwardly rolled upper edge 3|, is mounted on the upper rim of the receptacle. The splash ring, being of somewhat greater diameter than the diameter of the receptacle at its'rim, is secured in spaced relation thereto through the use of spacers 32 and rivets or other suitable fasteners 33. As may be observed in Figs. 1 and 3, the inturned flange 3i will serve to trap any liquid overflow and guide it from the receptacle through the space 34 between the splash ring and receptacle.

The receptacle 2'! also includes a compound base having upper and lower elements 35 and 35. Element 35 comprises a receptacle bottom wall 31, centrally of which is an upstanding hollow column 33. At its upper end the column terminates in an inturned rim 39 that constitutes a shoulder with which to engage a resilient block 4|, carried by a sleeve 4 la that'is in turn mounted on drive sleeve 42. At substantially the juncture of the wall 31 with the column 38 is a depending annular fiange 43. The circumferential edge of the element 35 terminates in a substan tial depending rim 44 and includes a ledge 45 on which is seated the bottom edge of the side walls 28 of the receptacle 21. Screws or other suitable means 41 secure these side walls to the base. The bottom edge of the rim 44 is formed with an inclined surface 43. It is to be particularly noted that the bottom wall 31 of the 4 a base is formed with a multiplicity of recesses that combine with the side walls 23 to form apertures 43, and that these apertures in turn open into smaller apertures 5| which open on surface 43. A number of internally threaded bosses 52 depend from the element 35 and serve to mount pins 53, four such pins being shown in the present illustration of the invention.

The other element 33 of the base has a central aperture 54 defined by a depending flange 53, this flange constituting a guide for the flange 43 of the upper element 35. The element 33 includes a substantial body portion 51, from which depends an offset 53 having an inclined surface '53 complementary to the surface 43 of element 35. Suitable openings are made in the body portion 51 to receive pins 53. These pins serve to loosely secure elements 35 and 33 tog'ther; any suitable means being provided for.

this purpose, such, for example, as the washer and pin structure II. A comparison of Figs. 1

and 2 indicates that the complementary surfaces 43 and 53 of these base elements may be brought into contact to close the outlet apertures Si or may be sufficiently separated to permit liquid drainage from the receptacle.

Mounted in the base I I is a supporting column 52. This column extends upwardly through the aperture ll of the tub and includes an annular shoulder 33 on which is mounted a collar 54. This collar includes .a somewhat dished annular flange 53, the upper surface 31 of which is com-- plementary to a bevelled edge 33 on the flange 53. The column is threaded to receive a nut 33 that serves to secure the collar against displacement. The drive sleeve 42, on which the receptacle 21 is mounted through resilient block 4|. extends downwardly through the column 32, terminating inside a drive casing ll. Within this casing the sleeve is carried by an arm 12 that, through a mechanism which forms no part of the present invention, is operable to axially reciprocate the sleeve. Furthermore, suitable mechanism is provided-by which to cause rotation of the sleeve.

To more fully understand the structure of the invention, a complete cycle of operation is set out as follows: With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, the machine is in condition for a washing operation and fabrics and liquid may be placed withinthe receptacle 21 and washing take place by oscilaltion of an agitator I3. Liquid remains in the receptacle due to the fact that the complementary surfaces 43 and 53 are in contact and close off the apertures 5|. This contact is sufficient to positively seal these apertures due to the fact that the lower element 35 is at rest on the collar 54 and the upper element is in pressure contact with the lower element, this pressure being the result of the combined weight of the upper element, receptacle walls, and receptacle contents. Following the washing operation, arm 12 is actuated to axially move sleeve 42 in a direction to raise the receptacle. Initial movement in this direction causes the upper element 35 to be lifted out ofcontact with the lower element 35, thus opening apertures 51 and allowing liquid within the receptacle to drain into the apron I 6 and thence into the drain I8. Should it be desired to rinse the fabrics in the receptacle, arm 12 is lowered, thus causing the two elements of the base to again seat along their complementary surfaces to close apertures 5i, and the receptacle may then be filled with fresh liquid. It is frequently found suitable to agitate the fabrics in rinse water and should the receptacle at this time, or during a previous washing operation, be filled to, or near the upper edge of the receptacle side walls 28, a certain amount of the liquid under agitation will strike the rim of the ring 29 and pass outwardly of the receptacle through the space ll provided for this purpose. Following the rinsing operation, arm I! is again actuated to raise the receptacle, thus separating elements 35 and 38 and effecting drainage of the rinse water. It will be noted that the extent to which elements 35 and 38 separate is controlled by the location of the washer 8| on pins 53 and that as axial movement, in an upward direction, of sleeve -42 continues, the lower element 36 is raised from ofl the collar Bl. With the parts in this position (see Fig. 2), it is now possible to rotate the receptacle 2'! at a rate of speed suflicient to extract liquid from fabrics contained in the receptacle.

Inasmuch as the receptacle 21 is of the downdraft type, liquid centrifugally extracted from the fabrics flows downwardly of the walls of the receptacle and out of the connected apertures,

49 and SI. Furthermore, since the fabrics tend to move in the direction of flow of the liquid being extracted, they will move downwardly onto the bottom wall 31 of the receptacle. Thus the bulk of the Weightof the receptacle and contents is considerably below the receptacle support, and since the receptacle support is resilient, any initial vibration will be compensated for, and the receptacle contents, should it be unevenly distributed, tend to be distributed more evenly about the bottom wall 31. It is of importance to note that the base elements 35 and 36 not only cooperate to provide a valve structure for the outlet apertures of the receptacle, but constitute a weight stabilizer as well. Also, these elements need not be of such mass as is required in stabilizers constituting a part of the structure of prior extractor receptacles, since the receptacle contents augment the weight of the base elements to provide adequate running balance when such structure is mounted on a support located well above the entire center of weight mass.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawing, a modifica= tion of the structure described is shown. Herein a receptacle '13 of the down-draft type includes side walls it that terminate in an inturned splash rim l6. Adjacent the rim it are a number of liquid overflow apertures ii. The base of the receptacle comprises a centrally disposed up standing circular column 78, having a horizontal rim is. Attached to this rim is a plate bi that, together with the rim, constitutes the base of the receptacle. A flange of the plate is attached in any suitable manner, as by rivets S2, to the rim E9. 'The edge of this plate-is formed with a fiat area 83 that terminates in a flange adapted to engage a lower flange edge of the wall M. Adjacent the wall it the area 833 is formed with a series of apertures 86. A number of bosses 81 depend from the rim is, being threaded to mount pins 33. The rim is and plate 8i combine to form the equivalent of the base element 35 of the previously described modification. In the present structure, a further base element 89 is provided, having a circular body portion 9| that terminates in a rim 92. Secured to this rim, in any suitable manner, is a gasket 93. This gasket may be a continuous member, or, as shown, consist of a number of small gaskets corresponding in number and position to the apertures 86. The column 18 and base element e I! are supported on elements substantially identical with the structure heretofore described; namely, resilient block 4| and collar 64. It will be noted that the base element 89 cooperates with the plate 8| to provide a liquid-tightreceptacle and that upon upward movement of the receptacle, element 09 becomes separated to an extent topermit escape of liquid through apertures 86.

Although appllcanthas shown and described only two modifications of the structure of a receptacle for use in both washing and extracting operations, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that variations of this structure may be made and are contemplated insofar as they are within the'spirit end scope of the invention as set out in the annexed claims.

-Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is: s

r 1. In a receptacle of the class described, a base element secured to the walls of said receptacle, an upstanding column on said element, resilient means mounting said column, axially movable means engaged with said resilient means, said element including outlet apertures adjacent the receptacle side walls, a further base element, means connecting said further element with said element and providing for limited relative movement, 8. fixed support adapted to seat said further element, complementary surfaces on the elements engageable to close said apertures when said further element rests on said support, said axially movable means being adapted to raise said receptacle and the elements from said fixed support to permit separation of the elements, to the extent determined by said limiting means, to open said apertures.

2. In a device of the class described havinga receptacle support, a rotatable receptacle for holding both the material to be cleaned and a cleaning fluid comprising side walls, a base element joined to said side walls, an upstanding circular column disposed centrally of said base, universally rochable means adapted to serve as a support for said column, said element having outlet amrtures, a further base element located beneath said element, means connecting said element and said further element, and providing for limited relative separation, complementary means on the elements engageable to close said outlet apertures, and means for moving said rbclrable means in a direction to efiect separation of the base elements.

In a device of the class described, a rotatable and axially movable receptacle for holding both the material to be cleaned and a cleaning fluid, the base of said receptacle consisting of a pair at elements, means connecting said elements and providing for limited separation, one of said i elements having apertures providing fluid outlots from said receptacle, a fixed support adapted to mount said base and effect engagement of said elements to close said apertures when said receptacle is axially moved in one direction, and other means operable to axially move said receptacle in the opposite direction to effect separation of said elements and open said apertures and render said receptacle rotatable.

4. In a device oi the class described, a rotatable receptacle, a base for said receptacle comprising a pair of elements in superposed relationship, one of said elements being fixed to the side walls of said receptacle and including outlet apertures,

I means connecting said elements and providing for limited separation thereof in an iaxial diree- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion, complementary surfaces of as d elements engageable to close said apertures. and means i gs? g li operable to move said receptacle in an axial di- 2331'7OO Kirby "T' 1943 rection to effect separation or said elements and .3 2325837 Dyer 1943 em said 2,314,155 McCleury Mar. 16, 1943 2,200,870 Armbruster May 14, 1940 GUNNARD A OBERQ 2,106,986 Pearce Feb. 1, 1938 0 1,751,982 Dunham Mar. 25, 1936 REFERENCES CITED I FOREIGN PAW The following referenlces are of record in the me of this patent: 3? cmmt Date Great Britain 1843

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