US2554566A

US2554566A - Fluid control means for automatic cleansing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2554566A
Application number: US573880A
Authority: US
Inventors: Geldhof Peter Eduard; Ringer Luther
Original assignee: Nineteen Hundred Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 1945-01-22
Filing date: 1945-01-22
Publication date: 1951-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-29

Description

y 1951 P. E. GELDHOF ET AL 2,554,566

FLUID CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 j I I' i I E 1 u f 20 J l TI J l fiTVEFZ/UFE PErEe fol/0 00 6220/101 Lon/5e [em are.

May 29, 1951 P. E. GELDHOF ETAL 2,554,566

FLUID CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1945 .r/lrll/lllll' g m Pin-e [bu/m0 6220/101 Luv/2 Buys-5e.

May 29, 1951 P. E. GELDHOF ET AL 2,554,565

FLUID CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 19 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 h V517 [UP 5 Psi-5: 50/9190 622 0/1/01 Z urn/5e (Eb/vase y 1951 P. E. GELDHOF ET AL 2,554,566

FLUID CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Parse 00 920 Gino/10F lam/2 ,envase' Patented May 29, 1951.

FLUID CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANSING APPARATUS Peter Eduard Geldhof and'Luther Ringer, St. Joseph, Mich., assignors to Nineteen Hundred Corporation, St. Joseph, Mich., a corporation of New York Application January 22, 1945, Serial No. 573,880

5 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to an automatic cleansing apparatus, and more particularly to a suds water recirculatory system for such apparatus for the discharge of suds water after a certain step in the cleansing operation, and for returning the suds Water from a temporary storage arrangement to the apparatus at another step in the operation of the automatic cleansing apparatus.

The present invention is particularly advantageously adapted for use in connection with laundering operations in which the articles to be laundered are subject to a washing operation in an automatic Washing, rinsing and drying apparatus in which heated water is employed containing soap and other suitable detergents for the furtherance of the laundering operation. It is highly desirable to save the prepared soapy water for the performance of other laundering operations while the additional steps of rinsing and drying the first batch of laundered articles are taking place.

Various arrangements have been provided heretofore for the storage of the suds water after the first step in the washing cycle and, for instance, in our patent application Serial No. 523,238, filed February 21, 1944, now Patent No. 2,498,885 issued February 28, 1950, on an Automatic Cleansing Apparatus, we have described and claimed an arrangement including a storage tank placed adjacent the fluid container of the washing apparatus with a heating coil in the auxiliary container for maintaining the temperature of the suds water. This arrangement also includes a two-way valve mounted in the base of the washing machine with a hose leading to the auxiliary storage tank and a second hose leading to a drain. The storage tank is also provided with an auxiliary pump which is connected to the main fluid container of the washing machine through another hose for returning the suds water to the main container.

We have also described in our patent application Serial No. 512,580, filed December 2, 1943, Patent No. 2,391,561, dated December 25, 1945, entitled Drain Mechanism, a washing machine placed adjacent an auxiliary storage tank and a drain with an oscillatable gooseneck discharge arrangement from the Washing machine so that the suds water may be discharged into the auxiliary storage tank or to the drain. In this arrangement also there was provided an auxiliary pump placed adjacent the storage means and connected to the fluid container of the washing.

machine through a hose for returning the suds water to the washing machine.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide an improved automatic ccleansing apparatus of the type mentioned above which is efficient in operation, and which is so constructed as to facilitate the manufacture thereof.

It is afurther object of our invention to provide an improved automatic cleansing apparatus in which the the suds water, after one of the steps in the operation of the apparatus, may be discharged into the storage tank while the rinse water, after other operations, may be discharged to a drain.

It is a further object of our invention to provide an improved control arrangement including an automatic timer switch for controlling the operation of various steps in the washing, rinsing and drying of articles of clothing.

It is a still further object of our inventionto provide an improved method of carrying out the steps of washing, rinsing and at least partially drying articles of clothing.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the accompanying draw-,

ings, and the features of novelty which characteriz'e our invention will be pointed outwith particularity in the claims annexed to and form Figure 3 is a side View of a two-Way valve and; storage pump which is employed in the construction of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a partial sectional side elevation of the storage motor of Figure 3; V

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the two-way valve employed in the construction of Figures 1 through 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation of the construction of Figure 5 taken on a plane ninety degrees disposed from that of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the auxiliary pump.-

construction of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the schedule of operation of our improved cleansing apparatus;

Figure 9 is a diagram of the control circuit for operating our improved cleansing apparatus to produce the schedule illustrated in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a view illustrating the control knob and dial of the timer switch.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings we have illustrated an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine indicated generally by the reference numeral I0. The washing machine it includes a cabinet II which includes a top panel l2 in which is disposed a cover 13 for facilitating the introduction of the articles to be laundered to the interior of the machine.

A control knob I4 for the purpose of setting 1 or adjusting a suitable timing mechanism which directs the operation of the washing'ma'chine in the performance of its cycle of operation is disposed adjacent one corner of the top panel 12 of the apparatus. This timer mechanism which may be manually set by the control knob M will be described in further detail in connection with Figure 9. The timer mechanism itself is mounted in the cabinet I l directly under the top panel l2. A second control l5 by means of which the operator may select the desired temperature of the cleansing fluid which is supplied by a suitable mixer valve (not shown) to be employed in the laundering operation is positioned in another corner of the top panel l2 of the cabinet I i. The contacts of the control mixer valve will be described in connectionwith the circuit of Figure 9.

Theautomatic washing machine In is generally of the type described and claimed in detail in our copending application Serial No. 491,618 entitled Automatic Washing, Rinsing and Drying Machine, filed June 21, 1943, now Patent No. 2,521,159, issued September 5, 1950, and reference may be had to this application for a detailed description of the washing machine struc ture.

The automatic washing machine [6 includes a container or tub I! in which the clothes to be washed are inserted through the cover [3 for carrying out the washing, rinsing and drying steps. The cleansing fluid is introduced through 'a mixer valve, not shown, which is adapted to provide water of a predetermined temperature from suitable supply sources of hot and cold water, depending upon the setting of the control knob I 5 in the top panel 12 of the cabinet II by the operator at the beginning of the operation. A'motor l8 mounted in the cabinet llofthe washing machine actuates a reciprocating agitator and a rotatable perforated drying basket (not shown) both of which are mounted in the tub ll through a suitable transmission l9 and any suitable driving connection with which'is associated a plurality of automatically operated shifter mechanisms. For a detail description of these features of the automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine, reference may be had to our above mentioned copending application Serial No. 491,618. 7

In order to provide an arrangement for removing the water from the container [1, it is provided at its base with a port which in turn'connectsto the intake side of a suitable pump 2| through a hose 22. It will be understood that the pump will be operated at the proper time from the motor [8 which is connected to the rotatable impeller of the pump through a belt 23. The outlet of the pump 21 is connected to one end of a suitable hose connection 24, the opposite end of which is connected to an integral two-way valve and auxiliary pump construction indicated generally by the numeral 25.

As has been brought out above, it isknown that it is desirable to save the suds water particularly after the first batch of clothes has been washed so as to conserve both hot water and detergents which are included with the suds. In order, therefore, to provide a very convenient arrangement for saving the suds after the washing cycle and also to return the suds at the proper time previous to the second washing cycle as well as provide a simple arrangement for discharging rinse water to a drain, we provide our two-way valve and auxiliary pump construction 25 which is illustrated in further detail in Figures 3 through 7. Referring to Figure 3, the twoway valve includes a casing 26 which has an inlet or first port 21, a second port or first outlet 2-33 and a third port or second outlet 29. The two way valve may be of any suitable construction, it being understood that it is of such a type that fluid may be selectively discharged either from one outlet or from the other outlet of the twoway valve. Referring to Figure 5, within the casing-26 of the two-way valve is placed a second casing 30 and an integral side wall portion 3| so as to divide the valve into two

separate chambers

32 and 33. The inlet 2! connects to the central portion of a tubular member 36 and the ends of the tubular member 36 are provided with flexible diaphragms 3 and It will be understood that the fiexible diaphragm 34 is operated through an operating member 36 which is pivotally mounted at 3? and is connected to a link 38 at its opposite end. The other diaphragm 35 is operated through an operating member 38 which is pivotally mounted at one end at 36 and which is connected to the movable armature i! of an operating solenoid 32. It will be noted that the link member 38 is connected to the operating arm 39 through a connection as. A spring member 64 is provided for biasing the diaphragm in a position opposite to that 'as is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. As is shown in Figure 6, the chamber 32 connects to the third port 29 while the chamber 33 connects to the second port 28. It will, therefore, be understood that when the valve is in the position as is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the fluid discharged from the tub which passes through the hose 2 and into the intake port 21 of the two-way valve will be discharged out through the third port 29. For a further detailed description cf the operation of this valve reference may be had to our copending application, Serial No. 513,138 filed December 6, 1943, now Patent No. 2,414,196, issued January 14, 19 i! and entitled Drain Mechanism.

Customary facilities in most homes where automatic washing, rinsing and drying machines may be advantageously employed, include a stationary tub construction having a pair of tubs 46 and' li as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It is therefore convenient to mount our integral two-Way valve and auxiliary pump mechanism on a wall member'48 which divides the two tubs. As will be illustrated in Figure l, adrain 56 of the tub 3'! may be left uncovered'while a drain of the tub 46 may be provided with a stopper 50. It will therefore be seen that when the twoway valve isoperated so that the second port 23 is in communication with the intake the fluid from the container of the washing machine will be discharged to the tub i? and into the drain 49 while, when the two-way valve is energized to its opposite position, the fluid will pass, from the intake port 2? of the two-way valve out through the third port 29 so as to discharge the water into the

tub

5,6 which has the stopper 56 therein so that the fluid may be saved. It is therefore into this tub that the operator, if he so desires, may save the suds watermerelyby inserting the stopper 50 in the drain of the tub 46.

In order to provide an arrangement for returning the suds water from the tub 46 to the washing machine container 11, we provide a com ve'nient arrangement including an auxiliary pump construction 51 which has a port 52 which is tightly bolted to a flange on the third port 29 of the two-way valve. The pump 5| is of any suitable construction such as having a port 55 at the lower end of the tubular housing 5! of the pump with an impeller 56 which is operated through a drive shaft 51 which in turn may be rotated in any suitable manner such as by an electric motor 58 which is mounted on top of the pump housing 5|. As will be seen in Figure 7, the bottom portion 59 of the pump housing may be removed so as to clean out the pumpor change the impeller.

The pump housing 5! may be attached to the wall 48 01 the stationary tubs in any suitable manner and as will be seen in Figure 3, a bracket construction 66 is attached to the pump housing and includes a screw 6| for supporting the bracket on the wall 48.

It will be seen from the above description that with our two-way valve and auxiliary pump connected to the end of a single hose 24, the suds water when the valve is energized may be forced from the inlet 21 of the three-way valve through the outlet 29 and then through the pump housing 5i into the tub 46. Also since it is not ordinarily necessary to save the cooler rinse water, the two-way valve may be deenergized or moved in any other suitable manner so that the rinse water will be discharged from the inlet 2'! of the two-way valve through the outlet 28 to the tub 41 and into the drain 49. Also in any suitable step in the washing operation, such as, at the beginning of the washing of a second batch of clothes, the pump motor 58 may be energized thus pumping the water from the tub 46 through the pump into the third port 29 and out through the port 21 through the hose 24, and through the pump 2| which will, of course, be inactive during this cycle of operation and through the port 20 into the container ll. Any suitable control arrangement may, of course, be employed to operate this auxiliary pump and two-way valve of our invention, and we shall describe below an automatic control arrangement for controlling the operation of the pump and two-way valve so that the two-way valve is operated to discharge the suds into the tub 46 and which is also operated to discharge the rinse water into the tub 41 and into the drain and which also controls the energization of the motor 58 so as to withdraw the water from the tub 46 and discharge it into the container ll of the washing machine previous to the commencing of the washing of a second batch of clothes.

Electrical control circuit The control circuit which is shown in Figure 9 will be described with the aid of the schedule illustrated in Figure 8 for a complete cycle of the operation of the cleansing apparatus and the control circuit will be described particularly in its relation to the operation of the suds water recirculatory system, and for a further detailed description of this type of control for controlling the operation of the other steps in the washing, rinsing and drying, reference may be had to our copending application, Serial No. 491,618 which has been mentioned above.

It will be seen from reference to the schedule of Figure 8 that the washing cycle is commenced by the introduction of mixed and hot water through the mixing valve by the operator setting the control knob I5. It will be noted from the schedule of Figure 8 that the first two operations are the operation of the two-way valve' and storage motor, but, of course, this is on the assumption that suds have already been placed into the tub 46 or storage container from a previous cycle of operation, and let us assume for the present description that the operator is commencing the washing and rinsing for the first time, and therefore it is necessary to fill the tub first from the hot and cold water mains through the mixed water and hot water valve. As will be described in further detail below in relation,

to the electrical circuit of Figure 9, the operator then sets the dial I4 which is illustrated in Figure II] for the number of minutes that the operator wishes to have the clothes washed, and it will beseen that in the part of the dial marked Wash the dial is marked off in minutes. float closes the top switch, the machine motor 18 as well as the timer motor of the time control switch, which will be described below, are energized and the agitator operates for a predetermined number of minutes. After this operation the extractor is operated to remove the suds water, and it will be seen that the two-way valve is also operated for two minutes so as to cause the suds to be discharged into the storage tub 46. After two minutes a spray rinse comes on and the two-way valve is turned off so that the water from the spray rinse is not saved but is discharged into the drain 49. The extractor is energized for a total of about four minutes and after that operation, the rinse comes on, and when suflicient water has been introduced so as to close the top contact on the top float, the

agitator is again energized for a period of two minutes. After that time the extractor again opeartes to remove the water and at least partially dry the clothes and after operation the timer is permanently deenergized, and it requires a manual setting of the timer construction, in a manner which will be described below, to again cause the cleansing machine to operate.

Referring again to Figure 9 of the drawings, a timer unit indicated generally by the numeral 65 is provided which may be of any suitable type and in the construction illustrated in the drawings it includes a plurality of disks numbered 66 through 72, inclusive, which disks are mounted on a timer shaft 73 which is, in turn, rotated by a timer motor 74. It will be seen that the knob I4 is provided on the opposite end of the shaft and is the knob which extends through the top of the machine as is illustrated in Figure 1. Also in Figure 10 is shown the dial which informs the operator where the hand control [4 is positioned.

In Figure 9 it will also be seen that there is diagrammatically illustrated the hand control l5 which controls the setting of the mixing dial for controlling the temperature of the water which is introduced into the apparatus. The water control includes cams l5 and 76 mounted on the cam shaft 'H for operating switches 18 and I9, respectively, and let us assume that the operator has so positioned the hand control switch that both the

switches

18 and 18 are closed as is illustrated in Figure 9.

i The control of the machine is operated through a source of supply indicated by the When the top",

numerals 8B and GI, and it will be seen that the source of supply 89 is connected to-lineS-BZ and 83 to the solenoid controls 84 and -85, respectively, which control the operation of the valve. The circuit for the hot water valve may then be traced to the switch 18,-a conductor 85 to a switch 81 which is operated by the-cam -88 and whichis identified as the hot water cam. The circuit may then be tracedto conductors Stand 89 to a lower contact 96 of a float control switch 9|. It will be understood that the float control switch 9| is placed adjacent the top of the container so that when the float -92 is raised by the water, the lower contact Qfi-of the top float will be opened. It will, of course, be seen that by controlling the water intake through the top float the machine will never be filled to'too higha level, assuming the top float switch operates satisfactorily. The circuit may then be traced through conductors 93 and $4 through a cam contact 95 which switch. The circuit is then connected to the other side of the source of'supply to a conductor 96. Since all. the controls pass from the concluster 96 to the switch 95, it will be seen that whenever the operator moves the handle outwardly or to the right as is illustrated in Figure 9, all circuits will be deenergized and thus the operator may mechanically move the timer shaft without causing any arcing on any of the automatic timer switches. The mix valve circuit may also be traced from the mixing valve 85 through the switch 19 and a conductor 9; to a switch 98 which is operated by the cam is and entitled Mix water. It will be seen that the remainder of the circuit is similar to that already traced above.

When suflicient water has been introduced into the container I! of the cleansing machine, the top float will break the lower contact circuit and deenergize the hot and mix valve and will make contact with its upper contact 99 which closes the circuit of the washing machine motor I8 and the timer motor M. It will be understood that the top float switch is so made that-the top contact closes before the bottom contact is opened. These circuits may be traced from one side of the line 88 through the conductor 82, the two motors in parallel to conductors H38 and IIlI to the top contact 99. The circuit may then be continued through the

conductors

93 and 94 through switch 95 to the other side of the line 8|. This will cause the timer motor to operate and rotate the shaft which opens the hot water and mix water switches 3'! and as, respectively, at the end of the washing schedule.

The float contacting its upper contact 99 will simultaneously close the circuit for the agitator solenoid and this may be traced from one side of the line 8! through the

conductors

82 and 83 to a solenoid entitled A on Figure 9, through a conductor IE2 to a switch Hi3 which is operated by the agitator cam El. A circuit may then be traced through a conductor I94 to an upper contact it? of the bottom float through its contact arm, the conductor lfil, the top contact of the top float 99 through the top float movable contact arm through the conductor 93 to the other side of the line El. The agitator will continue to operate for twenty minutes as is seen from the schedule in Figure 8.

After the agitator has operated a suitable length of time, such as about twenty minutes, the timer motor will have rotated the cam shaft'13 sufflciently to-open the agitator cam disk contact is a manually controlled and close the extractor disk contact marked I05 in Figure 9. After the top contact of them float opens the motor control circuit will be opened but the extractor switch I05 close 'a parallel circuit for the machine motor and time switch motor. Similarly the pump solenoid marked P in Figure 9 is energized and this circuit may be traced from the conductor 83 through the solenoid pump P, conductor I96 which in turn connects to a conductor I00, and through a conductor Iil'I, the extractor and pump switch I05 t0 the other side of the line 8 I.

It will be noted from the cutouts in the cams 69 and TI that the two-way valve switch is closed at the .same moment that the pump and extractor switch is closed after the washing period. Thus the circuit for the tw0-way valve maybe traced from the conductor 83, the primary I08 of the stepped down two-way valve transformer marked T1, through a conductor I09 to the twoway valve switch. The circuit may then be traced through the conductor 94 to the other side (if the power line.

As will be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, the two-way valve and motor are placed in such a position that they might easily be contacted by the operator and in order to have a very low voltage in this position so as not to shock the openator in case he touches a live line with his wet hand, the transformer T1 may be placed in the base of the washing machine under the casing I I and thus only a low voltage will be across the lines Ill} and lit. which are connected to the two-way valve.

In order that the extractor will not operate while there is still water above the bottom float it will be seen that the extractcrsolenoid marked E in Figure 9 is connected from the conductor 83 and a conductor Hito the bottom contact N2 of the bottom float. The circuit may thenbe traced through the conductor it! to the extractor switch and then to the other end of the line.

After the twoway valve has been energized for two minutes in the schedule as is illustrated l in Figure 8, the two-way valve is deenergized since the cam switch'of the two-way valve will open the-switch. At the same time thetimer will close the spray rinse switch I I2 by having the cam follower drop into the low part on the cam. In timers of the type which are or dinarily manufactured for washing machine and which have operation of a predeterminednumber of degrees in a stepped manner, it is ordinarily impractical to have a switch close for less than oneminuteand since it is desirable to only allow the spray rinse to be on for a relatively short length of time, a mechanical'ti-me delay I l3is providedfor allowing the spray rinseto only be on for about tenseconds. Thus the circuit for the spray rinse may be traced through the mixing solenoid valve 8 5 to the lower contact;

I I4 of the sprayrinse, through the conductor 88 to the bottom contact 98 of the top float SI and then throughthe conductor 93 to the other side of the line. At the end of. one minute the spray rinse switch will open circuit and thepumpwill continue to operate so long as the extractor switch IE5 is closed. However, assuming that the pump has drawn sufiicient water out of the container so as to close the bottom contact on the bottom float, the extractor solenoid IE will thenoperate so. as to rotatethe rotatable basket.

After .the extractorcam switch 'I 95 has been closed for six minutes as will be seen'in the schedule of Figure-8, theitimerimotor will have operated a suflicient length of time to open the extractor and pump switch I05.

After the extractor switch is opened, it will be seen from the schedule of Figure 8 that the rinse and agitator cam switches will be closed. By this time the hump on the spray rinse cam (56 will have moved under the cam follower of the switch H2 andcause it to close its upper contact and the rinse circuit may be traced in the manner described above in connection with the spray rinse. However, since the cam switch I I2 was moved upwardly the mechanical follower I I3 will not interfere with this operation. As has been mentioned above the agitator switch I03 is also closed but since the agitator'is connected in series with the top contacts of both the bottom and top floats, the agitator will not begin to op.- erate until the rinse has been operated sufficiently long to fill the tub until both the top contacts of the top and bottom float operate. After the agitator has run for two minutes and it will be seen that this will happen while the cam follower drops into the short valley in the agitator cam, the agitator will be deenergized and at the same time the extractor will again be energized by closing the switch I05. It will of course be understood that during the time the agitator and extractor are operating, the motor and time switch motor will be operated through the same circuits as have already been described above.

It will be understood that by our improved circuit of connecting the agitator through both the top contacts of the top and bottom floats the agitator is prevented from being energized by any inductive kick due to breaking the motor circuit at the end of the 26 minute period.

It will be understood that after the extractor has operated for a period of about six minutes the time switch will be forced to move to open the agitator circuit as well as open all the remainder of the time switch circuits. This will cause the time switch to be completely deenergized and the automatic cleansing machine will not again operate until the time switch is manually reset.

Suds recirculation control It will be recalled from the above that during the previous washing cycle the suds were passed into the storage tub 45, and assuming that the operator has previously placed the plug 50 over the drain, the operator will now have saved a considerable quantity of suds which may be used after a second batch of clothes is introduced into the cleansing machine. Referring to Figure 10 the control knob at the conclusion of the first complete cycle of operation will be in a position between the extractor and the storage motor portions of the dial and if the operator desires to return or recirculate the suds back into the container H, the control knob will be moved until the pointer is opposite the storage motor portion of the dial. This will cause a movable contact M5 to drop into the cutout portion of the cam 72 marked storage motor in Figure 9. This will energize the storage pump motor through a conductor $3, a primary winding H6 of the transformer T2 through a conductor I H, a switch H5, conductor 89 to the bottom contact 90 of the top float and from there the circuit may be traced through the conductor 93 to the other side of the source of supply.

It will be understood that the transformer T2 is employed for the same reason that the transformer T1 is employed so that only a low voltage will be impressed across the control wires which lead from the cleansing machine to the motor 58 which is susceptible of being contacted by the operator.

After the operator has drained all the water from the storage tub 46 the control knob may again be turned until it is within the range identified as Washing in the dial of Figure 10. It will be understood that since all the water is not removed during the first extraction cycle, the suds which are returned from the storage will not completely fill the tub and the remainder will be filled from the hot and cold water supply, depending upon the setting of the hand control switch I5. Upon sufficient water being introduced to raise the top float until it contacts the top contact, the agitator solenoid A will again be energized and the washing cycle will again be repeated in the manner described above.

It will be understood that after the second cycle of washing operations if the operator desires to dispose of the suds which have been transferred into the tub 46, this may be accomplished by merely opening the drain by removing the drain cap 50.

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 ap-- pended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an automatic cleansing apparatus having a fluid container for the performance of washing, rinsing and extracting steps, said container having an outlet, a hose having one end connected to said outlet, a two-way valve adapted for mounting adjacent a reservoir and a drain, said two-way valve having a first port connected to said hose, a second port connected to said drain and a third port connected to said reservoir so that fluid passing through said first port may be selectively discharged through said second port to the drain and through said third port to the reservoir or from said reservoir through said first port to said container, said valve having operating means for selectively controlling the setting of said two-way valve, and means including automatic time switch means controlling the sequence of operation of said apparatus for energizing said two-way valve after the washing step so as to discharge the hot soapy water from said first port in said valve through said third port ond washing step so that the soapy water may be discharged from the reservoir through said third and first ports of said valve back to said container.

2. In an automatic cleansing apparatus having a fluid container for the performance of washing, rinsing and extracting steps, said container having an outlet, a hose having one end connected to said outlet, a two-way valve adapted for mounting adjacent a reservoir and a drain, said twoway valve having a first port connected to said hose, a second port connected to said drain and a third port connected to said reservoir so that fluid passing through said valve first port ma be selectively discharged through said second port to the drain and through said third port to the reservoir, s'aidvalve having operating means for selectively controlling the setting of said two-way valve, means including automatic time switch means controlling the sequence of operation'of said apparatus for energizing said two-way valve after the washing step so as to discharge the hot soapy water from said first port in said valve through said third port for discharge to the reservoir, and for deenergizing said valve so as to discharge rinse water from said port in said valve through said second port for discharge into a drain, said means including said automatic time switch being arranged to again energize said twoway valve before a second washing step so thata soapy water may be discharged from the reser-' voir through said third and first ports of said valve back to said container, and means including said automatic time switch means for ener: gizing a pump to force the soapy Water back through said two-way valve to said container.

3. In an automatic cleansing apparatus having a fluid container for the performance of Wash ing, rinsing and extracting steps, said container having an outlet, a hose having one end connected to said outlet, a two-way valve adapted for mounting adjacent a reservoir and a drain, said two-way valve having a first port connected to said hose, a second port connected to said drain and a third port connected to said reservoir so that fluid passing through said valve first port may be selectivelydischarged through said second port to the drain and through said third port to the reservoir, said valve having cperating means for selectively controlling the setting of said two-way valve, means including automatic time switch means controlling the sequence of operation of said apparatus for energizing said two-way valve after the washing step so as to dis charge the hot soapy water from said first port in said valve through said third port for discharge to the reservoir, and for deenergizing said valve so as to discharge rinse water from said port in said valve through said second port for discharge into a drain, said means including said automatic time switch being arranged to again energize said two-way valve before a second washing step so that a soapy water may be discharged from the reservoir through said third and first ports of said valve back to said container, and means including said automatic time switch means for energizing a pump to force the soapy water back through said two-way valve to said container, said automatic time switch means being adapted to be manually set to effect operation thereof so as to energize said two-way valve and said pump to return the soapy water.

4 In an automatic cleansing apparatus having a fluid container for the performance of a suecession of steps of washing, rinsing and drying, said container having an outlet, an integral unit including a two-way valve and a storage pump adapted for mounting remote from said apparatus, said two-way valve having a firstport, a second port in communication with said storage pump and with a storage chamber, and a third port adapted to discharge to a drain, means including a hose for connecting said container to said first port of said valve, and means including automatic time switch means for energizing said two-way valve after the washing step so that soapy water discharged from said container will pass through said valve and first and second ports to the storage chambenand for deenergizing said two-way valve so that rinse water may be discharged through said first and third ports of said valve to a drain, and for again energizing said two-way valve and for energizing said storage pump to return soapy water from the storage chamber to said container before another washing cycle. 7

5. In an automatic cleansing apparatus having a fluid container for the performance of a success io n of steps of washing, rinsing and drying, said container having an outlet, an integral unit including a two-way valve and a storage pump adapted for mounting remote from said appa-- ratus, said two-way valve having a first port, a second port in communication with said storage pump and with a storage chamber, and a third port adapte-d to discharge to a drain, means including a hose for connecting said container to said first port of said valve, and means including automatic time switch means for energizing said two-way valve after the washing step so that soapy "water discharged from said container will pass through said valve and first and second ports to the storage chamber, for deenergizing said two way valve so that rinse water may be discharged through said first and third ports of said valve to a drain, and for again energizing said two-way valve and for energizing said storage motor to return soapy water from the storage to said container before another washing cycle, said automatic timer means being manually settable to efiect operation of said last mentioned energization of said two-way valve and energization of said storage motor.

PETER EDUARD GELDHOF. LUTHER RIN GER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1 1,145,858 Brandwood July fi, 1915 1,355,797 MacIntyre Oct. 12, 1920 1,670,611 Couch .d May 22, 1928 2,019,766 Peterson Nov. 5, 1935 2,161,203 Soderholm June 6, 1939 2,23,748 Chayie Apr. 1, 1941 2,276,147 Birr Mar. 10, 1942 2,331,897 Dyer Oct. 19, 1943 2,391,561 Geldhof Dec. 25, 1945