US2571438A

US2571438A - Convertible dishwashing and clothes-washing machine

Info

Publication number: US2571438A
Application number: US540332A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew H Gerhardt; Arthur P Schulz
Original assignee: Thor Corp
Current assignee: Thor Corp
Priority date: 1944-06-14
Filing date: 1944-06-14
Publication date: 1951-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1968-10-16
Also published as: NL73685C; DE944992C; GB629013A

Description

1951 A. H. GERHARDT ETAL 2,571,433

CONVERTIBLE DISHWASHING AND CLOTHES-WASHING momma Filed June 14, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 1951 A. H. GERHARDT ETAL 2,571,438

'CONVERTIBLE DISHWASHING AND CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE 7 Filed June 14, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. flA/UFEW/Z [km/#007 Br fiPTA/UFFECHL/LZ 795/? flTTUPA/EY 0611. 16, A GERHARDT ETAL CONVERTIBLE DISHWASHING AND CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 14, 1944 m2 H (a 1 mm m ma m r Mfl w a iii/1m M 5 J mr r 1 7 J J 1 x r 4/ a flfi I l H 4 n/wi 1 x 2 m M M 1 i m), 1 m mm 9 m m Z mm J 5 mm 6 KT N m. mm 3 I m U m Oct. 16, 1951 GERHARD-r ETAL 2,571,438

CONVERTIBLE DISK- WASHING AND CLOTHES-IASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 14. 1944 06L 1951 I A. H. GERHARDT ETAL 2, 7 ,438

CONVERTIBLE DISHWASHING AND CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 14, 1944 W \Jl y Z Z 9 y 7 a N y g m o u N a m a m a a m g I. y w W N MBI \JQF 1 2T N mw QHw'WHG armurzsc/rug,

THE/e Patented Oct. 16, 1951 CONVERTIBLE DISHWASHING AND CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE Andrew H. Gerhardt, Skokie, and Arthur P.

Schulz, Hinsdale, Ill., assignors to Thor Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application June 14, 1944, Serial No. 540,332

28 Claims. (Cl. 134-115) This invention relates to article cleaning machines employing washing liquids for cleansing, and particularly to domestic washing machines such as those used in homes for laundering clothes, and for washing and rinsing dishes and like articles.

One primary object of the invention is to provide a multiple function convertible washing machine which is equally efiicient in cleaning different types of articles, and wherein different modes of liquid circulation are employed according to the nature of the articles to accomplish thorough cleaning.

Our invention, in broad aspect, particularly contemplates as one of its objectives the provision of a single machine adapted to be utilized either as a clothes laundering machine or as a dish washing machine, and adapted to be readily converted from clothes laundering to dish washing purposes and/or from dishwashing to clothes laundering purposes. The machine may be produced as a portable piece of apparatus in a form complete with its own individual casing or cabinet and adapted to be placed in a suitable location in a kitchen or other room. The machine also may be produced in a form adapted to be installed in and completely housed by built-in cabinet and counter-top structures, preferably adjacent a kitchen sink so as to permit making convenient connections to sources of hot and cold water supply as well as to a drain or soil pipe.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a conversion unit or attachment in the form of new and improved dishwashing accessories, including a dish holding receptacle or rack I and washing liquid circulating mechanism, which may quickly and easily be installed in conventional forms of clothes washing machines, usually in replacement of at least some of the clothes laundering parts, to convert them into an efiicient dishwashing apparatus, and adapted readily to be removed from such machines for cleaning and replacement. The conversion unit may be supplied with new clothes laundering machines or supplied separately for use with existing machines.

While there are obvious practical advantages such as the saving of household space in providing one machine which will serve dual purposes, there may be instances where a person desires only, or initially, a dishwashing machine. It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved dishwashing machine which may be supplied in such character only,

- 2 at a saving in cost from the omission of parts employed in clothes laundering, and which constitutes a novel and extremely eflicient but simple dishwashing machine having important features adapting it to thoroughly clean dishes and easy to operate with a minimum of effort.

Because of their essentially difierent nature clothes and dishes require different modes of washing. Accordingly, clothes washing and dishwashing machines have been constructed along such essentially difierent lines that one machine 1 is not adapted for the purpose of the other. For this reason, and likewise because of the spacesaving compactness of present day machines, a serious problem is presented in providing a machine which will be equally eflicient in cleaning both clothes and dishes. Prior attempts have been made to convert various forms of clothes washing machines to dishwashing purposes, but none of such machines have found public acceptance. In some instances such prior machines have been too bulky and complicated ,to be practical, but in the main their lack of success may be attributed to the fact that regardless ofhow satisfactory machines might be for clothes washing purposes the mechanism and mode of operation' employed for dishwashing was ineiiicient and, in many instances, more or less make-shift in character.

Whereas clothes laundering machines are generally designed to immerse and agitate clothes in a deep body of washing liquid, satisfactory cleaning of dishes cannot be accomplished in this manner, since when immersed in a deep body of cleaning liquid the liquid cannot be circulated around the dishes with suflicient force to effect a thorough cleansing action because of the strong adherence of grease and food particles to the dish surfaces. Hence a different mode of operation must be employed in dishwashing, and the most eflicient method we have found is a high pressure spray method in which the dishes are supported by a perforate holder and subjected to the blast of high velocity jets or streams of washing liquid projected from and draining back to a reservoir which can be, and for purposes of economy in soap or other cleaning agents employed with the liquid normally will be, of comparatively small liquid holding capacity, a gallon or less of washing liquid being adequate.

A major problem in converting a clothes washing machine into a dishwashing machine, and at the same time enabling the machine to be readilyconverted back to clothes washing purposes, involves the matter of securing high velocamuse ity circulation of the dishwashing liquid, whereas only relatively slow circulation between the clothesandwashingliquidisrequiredinclothes washing machines. However, we have solved this problem, with the present invention to obtain ahighvelocitysprayofwashing q doverthe dishes by employing the power m of clothes laundering machines to operate novel high velocity liquid distributing designed to take the utmost advantage of the liquid circulating potentialities of the power mechankmyetofsuchcharacterastohereadilyinstalled and avoiding the use of complicated mechanical parts such as might obiectionahly encumber the machine or make it difficult to operate.

A factor in the clothes washing machine for dishwashing purposes is a 8 Speed rotary motor driven shaft which can be employed for circulation of the dishwashing liquid. Clothes machines of the washer-extractor type satisfy this requirement since we have discovered that the extractor drive shaft of such machines is extremely well adapted to produce a high velocity circulation of dishwashing liquid. It is appropriate to state here that one of the specific but important objects of the invention is to adapt a washer-extractor type of clothes washing machine to eilicient dishwashing purposes through the employment of the extractor drive, and preferably,'though not essential to the production of a practical machine, through the combined employment of the extractor drive and an agitator or equivalent drive to obtain projection of high velocity liquid streams with a constant shift in position of the points of projection relative to the dishes and thus insure that each and every dish is thoroughly cleansed.

The dishwashing mechanism employs centrifugal force to effect high velocity projection of washing liquid over the dishes and in addition to a dish holder includes liquid circulating mechanism comprising a washing liquid reservoir or receptacle means and liquid diffusing jet or nozzle spray means to deliver streams of liquid with considerable force against the dishes in the holder. One of such parts of the liquid distributing means will be rotated at high centrifugal speed relative to the other, say in the range of 500to700R.P.M. Thesecondpartmaybe stationary or may be, and preferably is, also driven but with a different motion from the cooperating part.

Great advantage is gained by driving the reservoir at high rotary speed since a high velocity moving annular body of liquid is built up around the inner periphery of the reservoir from which the liquid can be delivered to the dishes through the adjunctive nozzle or equivalent projecting mechanism. In conjunction with a power driven centrifugal liquid receptacle under this arrangement it is possible to use stationary cooperating liquid distributing elements with relatively good results, but it is preferable to mount such elements for movement-in a fixed path relative to the liquid reservoir and the dish holder so as to project high velocity streams of liquid over the dishes from constantly changing p ints and angles and obtain a complete coverage of the a 4 as when the dishwashing is embodied in a clothes washing machine having in addition toahishspeedrotar shaftanoscillatory agitator shaft which can be employed to actuate the liquid distributing elements.

While the high velocity distribution of liquid to-thedisheshofthegreatestimportancein securing satisfactory cleaning of the dishes the construction of the dishwashing m is such as to give various additional benefits. As previously mentioned it is necessary to use only a limited quantity of washing liquid, and the dishwashing mechanism advantageously is so designed as to automatically measure and retain the proper quantity of liquid for use and reject any excess liquid so that the operatorv of the machine is not required to predetermine the quantity to he introduced, or to carefully watch during the filling operation.

The dishwashing mechanism may also be constructed according to the invention to be selfdraining at the termination of each cleaning and rinsing operation. It is unnecessary to employ drain cocks or equivalent devices which must be opened in order to discharge liquid from the liquid reservoir. Drain cocks or valves when employed in machines of this type frequently become clogged with food particles, and by devising suitable drain outlets which do not require the use of drain cocks or valve elements, the possibility of such clogging of the drain conduits or outlets by food particles is eliminated.

Still further, it is proposed to provide a selfcleansing, sanitary dishwashing mechanism which does not require scouring or other cleansing after each use, which is so consh'ucted and operated as to minimize adherence to its operating parts of waste matter removed from the articles. and in which a flushing operation is automatically effective to insure elimination of waste matter from the The two last mentioned features together with the small quantity of liquid required and the automatic measuring feature are a great convenience and collectively they make operation of the machine remarkably easy and economical.

While in the case of clothes washing machines having centrifugal extractor receptacles which function as washing tubs during the washing stage it is possible to construct the receptacle to flmction additionally as a centrifugal liquid reservoir for dishwashing purposes, it is highly preferable to provide a separate rwervoir and associated dishwashing parts, since for sanitary reasons it is undesirable to permit dishwashing liquid contaminated with'grease and food particles to contact the operative parts of the clothes washing and/or extractor mechanism, or conversely topermit clothes washing liquid to contact operative parts of the dishwashing unit. Accordingly, the dishwashing conversion attachment is designed as a complete operative unit except for the driving mechanism which is formed as a built-in part of the power unit of the clothes washingmachine,andthe partsofthe unitare sodesignedastobereadilyinsertableinand removable from the clothes washing machine. In the case of a combined washer-extractor entire area of the dish holder with a minimmn 1' W lalmdering Mine having wmbined number of distributing elements. The liquid distributing elements may have a rotary movement, in either direction, faster or slower than the movement of the annular body of liquid, or prefclothes washing and extractor receptacle and clothes agitating parts, the dishwashing unit can and advantageously will be designed to replace such clothes mechanism and occupy the same erably, they may have an oscillatory movement 7 position in the machine both to avoid increasing the size of the machine and avoid complications in mechanical design.

From the above it will be understood that the invention aims to improve washing machines generally in a number of respects, and that while all of the novel features of the invention may be embodied in a single machine as hereafter pointed out various features may be employed without utilizing other of such features.

The invention which has heretofore been generally described will be more fully understood from the preferred forms thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereafter to be explained in detail.

In such drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical section through our novel washing machine as arranged for laundering clothes; 1

Fig. 2 is a face view of a control panel for the machine;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view looking down upon the power mechanism, and taken substantially at lines 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 7;

Fig. 4 is a vertical view mostly in section showing certain parts of the main drive mechanism and also showing a pump and drive mechanism therefor, and taken substantially as indicated at line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the drive mechanism taken substantially at lines i5 'of Figs. 4 and 6;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional viewthrough the drive mechanism, taken substantially at line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the machine substantially similar to Fig. 1, but arranged to function as a dishwashing machine;

Fig. 8 is a top view corresponding to Fig. 7, but with certain parts of the dishwashing mechanism removed, and with certain portions broken away and other parts in section to show details of construction;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of certain details shown in Fig. '7 sometimes employed as an auxiliary part of the dishwashing liquid distributing mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a vertical staggered sectional view of the same parts and taken substantially at the line llll0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a vertical view partly in elevation but mainly in section of the dishwashing mechanism conversion unit or attachment apart from the machine, the same representing a somewhat simplified form of the mechanism shown installed in the machine in Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 is an expanded view in vertical elevation of the dishwashing mechanism of Fig. 11 showing the individual parts disassembled;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of a washing machine arranged for dishwashing and embodying a modified form of dishwashing mechanism; and,

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of one form of selective control circuit for the power mechanism and designed to be operated through the control panel of Fig. 2.

The foundation unit of the washing machine as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to 6 includes a base frame 20, a power unit comprising an electric motor 2| and selective operative gear drive mechanism generally designated 22 through which the motor operates drive shaft means in a manner suitable for actuation of clothes laundering mechanism and dishwashing mechanism.

In the preferred form of washing machine two driving shafts are provided adapted to be oper- 6 ated with different. motions and selectively through the gearing and control mechanism hereafter to be described. We prefer to provide two shafts because it is advantageous although not entirely necessary to actuate each of a plurality of operating parts of both clothes laundering mechanism and dishwashing mechanism. One shaft will be a low speed shaft and the other a high speed shaft. While some embodiments of our dishwashing mechanism, which are practical but without all the benefits of other embodiments, require only one drive shaft it must be a high speed shaft, whereas simpler one-operation forms of clothes washing machines employing only one shaft require that it be a low speed shaft and modification by the provision of a change speed drive would be necessary as a minimum to adapt the single shaft to dishwashing purposes. Further a single shaft with a two speed drive has the disadvantage that only one speed drive can be employed at a time, whereas with two shafts two speed drives are available for simultaneous employment in dishwashing.

Shaft 23 is adapted to be driven at high rotary speed, for example a speed of 600 R. P. M. more or less, and the same may be referred to as the centrifugal shaft since it can-be employed to drive mechanisms for clothes laundering and dishwashing purposes which operate in dependency on centrifugal force. As employed in a clothes laundering machine of the preferred type herein illustrated and shortly to be described. shaft 23 may be specifically identified as the extractor drive shaft.

A second shaft, 24, can be rotated at a relative slow speed of 60 R. P. M. or less, but preferably will be oscillated on its axis at relatively slow speed of say 40 to 80 cycles per minute by the power mechanism through an arc of say 225 for clothes washing. With such motion the same is adapted to drive an agitator, and shaft 24 may conveniently be referred to specifically as the agitator drive shaft. Where, as preferable, sh'afts 23 and 24 are both employed for dishwashing purposes they are driven simultaneously to effect high velocity circulation of the dishwashing liquid, and both shafts can be operated with the same motions as employed when they drive parts of clothes laundering mechanism. On the other -hand in the dishwashing operation shaft 24 may be given a rotary movement, in either direction, faster or slower than the movement of shaft 22,

instead of the slow speed oscillatory motion which it has for driving the clothes washing agitator. The essential requirement is only that the two shafts shall have a marked differential in speed. In those cases where only one of the shafts is operated rotatively and the other remains stationary during dishwashing operation shaft 24 will preferably be the shaft to remain stationary since the high speed rotary drive of shaft 23 as employed for clothes extraction is well suited for dishwashing, employing the same speed and drive mechanism, through appropriate design of the dishwashing mechanism.

The auxiliary structure of the -main unit in addition to the power mechanism drive shafts so far described will include a supporting structure upstanding from the base 20. The form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 represents a portable cabinet model washing machine, and in such form the supporting structure consists of a skirt 25 of sheet metal surrounding the base to a point above the power unit. Supported on the 7 upper marginal area of the skirt on a seat formed by a resilient gasket is an upwardly open casing 21 which forms with the skirt an external cabinet for the machine. The upper end of the casing is formed with a. relatively large opening 23 which is adapted to be normally closed by a suitable cover. For purposes of sanitation separate covers may be employed when the machine is employed for clothes laundering and dishwashing. Secured to the lower part of the casing is a water collector or drain pan 29 having a drain port 30 connecting with a flexible drain hose 3|. It is advisable although not necessary in all cases to provide a rotary impeller or equivalent pump 32 for positivel draining oil! the water from the drain pan, such pump being driven by the power unit and delivering the water from hose 3| to a discharge hose 33.

Casing 21 may be secured to the skirt 25 and/or base 20 by any suitable means such as bolts or the like. It may be dispensed with entirely when the machine is supplied in a form to be installed in built-in cabinet and counter-top structures, since it is preferable to employ washing receptacles independent of the casing. The skirt also may be dispensed with. The drain pan 29 and pump 32 will ordinarily be supplied for built-in installations, although any suitable form of drain pan could be installed in lieu thereof to catch washing liquid draining from the machine.

The drain pan 29 has its central area formed with a flanged upwardly projecting annulus 34 surrounding the drive shafts and their supporting structure in spaced-apart relation to permit lateral movement relative to the drain pan.

Integral with the cast top member 35 of the housing of the power unit 22 is tubular standard 36 from which extends a further tubular member 31 provided with a bearing 38 at its upper end which journals centrifugal tubular shaft 23. Such shaft is of relatively short length and provided at an intermediate position a short distance above member 31 with a driving flange 35 secured to the shaft by any suitable means such as welding. Shaft 24 is of greater length and is journaled at an intermediate point by a suitable bearing within the upper end of shaft 23. The outer end of shaft 24 is provided with a driving block 4|. Driving flange 39 and block 4i of the respective shafts may be of a frictional type, but preferably will be provided with driving elements, not shown, adapted to make interfltting engagement with parts of the washing mechanisms to be driven to avoid any danger of slippage.

The arrangement of the power unit, drive shafts and other parts so far described constitute the foundation structure of the machine as designed for operating a known type of clothes laundering mechanism now to be described. In passing it should be observed that no structural modiflcationof the foundation mechanism is required to enable the same to serve equally well in the use of the machine for dishwashing. The motions of the

respective drive shafts

23 and 24 have been indicated above as a suilicient basis for understanding operation of the machine in its several uses, and the details of the power unit through which the shafts are driven will be deferred until later as being only of collateral importance.

Clothes laundering machine In the use of the machine for clothes washing purposes we prefer to utilize elements and structures which permit both washing and extracting 8 operations, and as a labor saving convenience it is desirable that such operations be carried out in a single receptacle which functions as a washing tub during the washing operation and a centrifugal extractor to remove washing liquid from the clothes after they have been thoroughly washed. The washer-extractor mechanism is of known form and includes a receptacle 50 designed to hold clothes and adapted to function both as a wash tub and extractor. Such receptacle is imperforate throughout its major area in order to retain washing liquid in its capacity as a tub. To enable washing liquid withdrawn from the clothes to be removed a circumferential series of drain apertures II are provided in the receptacle in the upper marginal portion of the side wall, and such side wall is tapered slightly preferably in an upward and outward direction.

Centrally of the receptacle and extending upwardly from the bottom thereof substantially to the open top is a tubular standard 52 protecting the shafts from the washing liquid having an enlarged lower portion 53 adapted to receive centrifugal shaft 23. The receptacle is removably supported on driving flange 39 on such shaftlas clearly shown in Fig. 1, and in driving engagement therewith.

Mounted within receptacle 50 is a conventional form of vaned agitator element 54 comprising a tubular body portion 55 spaced from tubular standard 52 and supported by and in driving engagement with driving block 4| of agitator shaft 24.

In the use of the machine for laundering, the clothes, washing liquid and suitable detergent material are placed within the receptacle 50 and shaft 24 is driven by the power unit at relatively slow speed, and preferably with an oscillatory motion through an arc of about 225, more or less, to actuate the agitator. During the washing operation the receptacle 5. may remain stationary and centrifugal shaft 23 idle.

After the washing operation has been carried on a desired length of time to produce a proper cleansing of the clothes, the agitator and shaft 24 are disconnected from the drive, permitting free rotation and shaft 23 is then operated to rotate receptacle 5|! at a centrifugal speed sufficient to effect removal of the washing liquid from the clothes and out of the receptacle. The speed is variable over a considerable range and will depend on factors such as the diameter of the receptacle, the time limit to be permitted for extraction, the tendency of the machine to vibrate and the presence or absence of vibration absorbing mechanism. A speed within range for shaft 23 of 500 to 700 R. P. M. is ordinarily satisfactory, and for a receptacle having a twenty inch top diameter and a nineteen inch bottom diameter we prefer to employ a speed of approximately 600 R. P. M. It will be evident that the centrifugal force created by the high speed of rotation of the receptacle causes the washing liquid to travel outwardly against and upwardly along the inclined inner wall of the receptacle until it reaches the drain apertures 5| through which it passes and thence drops to drain pan 25 from which it is discharged by pump 32. Extraction of the liquid from the clothes is accomplished in this manner to a degree at least equal to present day power driven wringers.

After completion of the washing operation, the clothes may be subjected to one or more rinsing operations, which consist in introducing fresh liquid into receptacle 50 and repeating the agitating and extracting operations.

Because of the possibility of an out-of-balance load condition in the receptacle resulting from non-uniform distribution 91' the clothes around the axis of rotation, substantial vibration sometimes is caused to be set up in the machine during the extraction operation due to the high speed of rotation. It is desirable to provide suitable means to compensate for such vibration, and to effect a dampening or absorbing action thereof. No such means has been shown on the drawings, since it forms no part of the present invention. One method of accomplishing this effect consists in mounting the entire power unit including motor 2 I, driving mechanism housing 22 and drive

shafts

23 and 24 independently of supporting base 20 on some suitable suspension means, such as disclosed in John P. Beattie Patent 2,334,858, granted November 23, 1943. With such an arrangement the mechanism indicated and the'receptacle 50 are permitted a range of lateral movement relative to the casing 21 and drain pan 29. Because of such movement the opening in the central flanged portion 34 of the drain pan is made of relatively large diameter. To prevent excessive lateral movement under very unusua1 circumstances of out-of-balance load condition which will sometime arise when the receptacle is building up to or slowing down from its extracting speed, the portion of tubular member 31 in registry with the annular central portion 34 of the drain pan maybe surrounded with a bumper member 56 of resilient material. If receptacle 50 tends to swing laterally in too large an orbit the bumper engages the wall of the upper portion of part 31 and confines the receptacle until the condition has been overcome with a change in speed of rotation, It is found that when the receptacle is operating at extracting speed it tends to balance itself against lateral motion.

Dishwashing conversion unit and machine As previously stated the dishwashing mechanism is designed to spray high velocity streams of washing liquid over dishes and like articles to be cleansed, utilizing centrifugal force to accomplish this. A limited body of preheated washing liquid with detergent is continually recirculated during the cleansing operation and thereafter discharged with any accumulated grease and food particles removed from the articles, following which one or more further bodies of plain liquid may be introduced to effect rinsing of the articles. The mechanism is designed to operate entirely independently of line water pressure and is extremely economical in operation because of the small quantity of hot washing and rinsing liquid and detergent required.

While the invention contemplates a single function washing machine for dishwashing pur-- poses only within its scope, the more important aspects of the invention consist in the discovery that conventional clothes laundering machines may be converted into efficient dishwashing machines and in the novel design of dishwashing mechanism-serving to accomplish this purpose.

The dishwashing mechanism proper is extremely simple and consists of only a few parts designed for utmost efficiency yet involving a relatively low manufacturing cost. The same includes means for holding the dishes and means for continuously recirculating washing liquid in high velocity streams over the dishes. The washing liquid circulating or distributing mechanism comprises a washing liquid receptacle and liquid projecting means, and one or both parts of such circulating mechanism are designed to be driven by drive shaft means of a clothes laundering machine.

As earlier noted, it is desirable for reasons of sanitation that a separate receptacle be employed ,for dishwashing than for clothes washing and/or extracting so as to avoid contact with the receptacle and other operative parts employed for one operation by the washing liquid employed in the other operation. Preferably at least a. part of the clothes operating mechanism including the agitator and ordinarily also the tub or extractor receptacle will be removed from the machine and replaced by the dishwashing unit since such arrangement not only satisfies sanitary considerations, but permits a construction providing the greatest dish holding capacity without increasing the overall size of the machine. However, it is possible, though not so desirable, to carry out the dishwashing operation within the tub or extractor receptacle either by employing a suitably constructed clothes receptacle for the dishwashing liquid or by locating a smaller separate dishwashing liquid receptacle within the clothes receptacle.

Referring to Fig. 7 a preferred tom of the dishwashing mechanism is shown installed in the cloths laundering machine of vFig. 1 in the position occupied by clothes receptacle 50 and agitator '54. As part of such mechanism is includeda perforated or open mesh reticulated rack or basket 60 constituting a dishholder, and having relatively large openings adapted to permit unimpeded projection of spray streams of washing liquid therethrough against the dishes. Desirably. a series of wire or other dish supports such as 6| will be secured to the rack in upstanding relation at recurrent circumferential points to support the dishes with spaces between them such as to allow thorough coverage of all surfaces of each dish by the washing liquid. Preferably the arrangement of supports 6| will be such as to position the dishes such as A more or less radially of the rack, since such arrangement is calculated to best avoid interference by one dish with the projection of liquid stream against another dish. 7

. Surrounding rack 60 is a spray shield 62. While not necessary such spray shield is secured to the outer periphery of the rack permanently or detachably through an inturned flange 63 at the lower end of the shield, and in such form the shield may be said to constitute part of the dish holder. In the particular arrangement shown the spray shield 60 provides support for the dish holder through an outturned flange 64 at the upper end of the shield adapted to engage the inturned flange surrounding the top opening 28 of the machine cabinet 21. However, the dish rack may be supported independently of the spray shield and the spray shield may be supported independently of the top of the machine casing or the top of a biult-in cabinet structure. In models where the casing is dispensed with, it will be evident that the main function of the spray shield is to prevent loss of washing liquid from the dishwashing mechanism during prolonged recirculation. In some cases the spray shield may be dispensed with entirely although this is not considered so desirable. Upstanding from the central area of the rack 60 and preferably flared outwardly in its lower 11 porlionasadrainageguideisanupstandim sheet metal thimble ilfimctioningasaprotecbut interacting parts to produce high velocity projection of washing liquid in streams against dishes supported in racks l and it b! employment of the drive of the washing machine and preferably, as previously indicated, with the drive shaft means operating under the same motion as employed during clothes laundering. Such m'includes projectingnozzleorscoopmeans'llandawashingliquid receptacle or reservoir 1 I, one of which is adapted tobedrivenathighrotaryspeedand-the other of which may be stationary but preferably also will be driven with a motion different from the firstmeansandhyadiiferentdriveshaft.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced nonlu or scoops II are employed. the number being variable, to insure projection of adequate volume ofwashingliquidintoallpartsofthe dish holder. In the t of Fig. '1, and as best shown in Fig. 8, three such'elements are employed being arranged at intervals of 120. It will be understood, however. that from one to four or more elements may be employed, and the numberselectedinanycasewilldependonthe size of the dish holder, the form of the elements, and whether the elements are mounted stationarily or are movable in a path, and if movable the speed of their motion and whether their pathismerelyanarcoracompleterotary path. The elements are here shown as being of U- shaped cross-section and of curving shape in a lengthwise direction, but tubular nozzles of various lengths and shapes have been found satisfactory. The main point is that the nozzles should be adapted to project the washing liquid in a sufilciently concentrated spray and limited diffusion that the velocity of the liquid shall not be so dissipated by the time it impinges upon the dishesastohavelostitscleaningforce. ltwill be evident that the projection of the liquid as widely diffused individual droplets at random and without regard as to direction, while giving wide coverage which might serve for mere riming of the dishes, is not adapted to produce satisfactory cleansing of the dishes of adhering grease and food particles. Satisfactory coverage of the various areas of the dish holder is accomplished in the present mechanism through the use of a number of nozzle elements at spaced projection points, and by oscillating the elements over an arcuate path or rotating them the points of projection are continually changed so that a relatively small number of elements will adequately serve the entire area of the dish holder.

The scoop or nozzle elements II will be mounted ably,fromdishrackorsprayshieldl2,but prefer-ablyandassbowninl'igs.7and8they 'mbe mew--- moimtedformovemcntrelativetothedishholderandreceptacle on amable moimting dmbned to be positively driven. Suchmotmtingincludesa central tubularmemliquid Adjmtahilityoftheelements isdesirabletoregulatetheextentof oftheirinletendsinthewashingliquidandto control the velocity and direction of projection oftheliquidintothedishholder.

The-washirmliquidreceptaclellcanbeandis thedishwashingliquid. Itmayunderlieinwhole orinpartthedishracklandsprayshieldfl, andpreferablywillbeatleastaslargeindiameterastherackandsprayshieldiorexample 20inches,sothatfllliquidcirculatedwilldrain backintothereceptacle.

Agearlhrstatedgreatadvantageisgainedby employing receptacle II as an active element of theliquidcirculatingmechanismbyrotating it atcentrifugalspecdthromhthepowerunitof thewashingmachinesothatthebodyofwashing liquidthereinisforoedoutwardlyfromtheaxis ofrotationtoforma iquidannulusBagainst theinnersidewallofthereceptacle. Buchannulus rotatu with the receptacle at, or perhaps r somewhatbelow,receptaclespeed. Assumingthat thereceptaclehssatwentyinchdiameterandis rotatedat600R.P.ll.,thespeedadJacentthe receptacle side wall will be approximately 52 feet persecond,orbetween2200and3l42 feetper minute. It k evident, therefore, that regardles of whether the liquid projecting nozzles II are, or are not, themselves driven liquid scooped thereby from the liquid annulus will be projected athigh velocity intothedishholder in aconcentrated fan-like or other shape of stream depending on the form of nossie II.

The proiecflng of the liquid by the nomes will be generally upwardly and inwardly when employing the arrangement of parts shown in Fig. 7 sothatallarticlesinrackstl'andtiwillbe thoroughly cleansed. The liquid will then drain backthroughrackilintoreceptaclelLbethrown outwardly by centrifugal force to the annular body of liquid B at the periphery of the receptacle and again projected by the nozzle element ll. Continuous circulation is thus maintained as long as the machine is operated.

In some depending upon the form and arrangement of nozzle element II, a series of auxiliary liquid projecting elements It may be provided at various vertical and circumferential points of the inner wall of spray shield 2. Such elements may be arranged as vertically spaced with their inlet ends immersed in the body of 1s tierswiththeelementsoftherespcctivetiersdisposed in staggered and overlapping relation as seen in Fig. 9. Such elements are preferably formed of sheet metal, and each include a pair of oppositely disposed upwardly and inwardly inclined wing elements 14, connected together at their upper ends as will be understood from Figs. 9 and 10. The purpose of these auxiliary projecting elements is to deflect portions of the liquid streams projected upwardly in the region of the spray shield out of range of the dishes transversely inwardly against the dishes as indicated by certain of the directional arrows in Fig. 7. It is generally preferable that the main projecting elements be so formed and arranged that the liquid be projected therefrom directly against the dishes, since it will be apparent that the velocity of such portions of the liquid passing upwardly out of range of the dishes adjacent the spray shield will largely be spent against the auxiliary projecting elements 14, and when deflected thereby the liquid will move with a much lower velocity and be in a more highly diffused state. Such deflected portions of the liquid do not have as high a cleansing action on the articles as the liquid projected from receptacle II by nozzle 10 directly against the articles.

Centrifugal rotation of receptacle H is obtained by removably mounting the same in driving engagement with a shaft in the washing machine which is rotatable at high speed. As seen in Fig. 7 the receptacle is provided with anelongated hub 15 adapted to surround the centrifugal or extractor drive shaft 23 with the receptacle resting on and in operative engagement with driving flange 39 of such shaft. Shaft 23 can be rotated at the same speed when driving the dishwashing receptacle II as when driving the extractorreceptacle 50 in the clothes laundering operation, say about 600 R. P. M., although the purposes are difierent in the two instances in that centrifugal force is employed to produce high velocity circulation within the dishwashing unit, whereas it is employed to remove washing liquid from the clothes laundering unit.

The mounting of the projecting nozzles 10 for oscillating or other movement by the agitator shaft 24 simultaneously with the high speed centrifugal rotation of receptacles II by the centrifugal or extractor shaft23 as shown in the embodiment of Fig. '7 serves to continually shift the location of projecting nozzle 10 relative to dish racks'lifl and. 66 so that each nozzle serves to cleanse dishes over a considerable circumferential area of the dish rack. Assuming that the regular oscillating drive of the agitator shaft is employed, producing movement through a path of approximately 225, and further assuming that there are three nozzle elements 10, each nozzle element will oscillate back and forth through a path of 225 and therefore cover nearly two-thirds of the area. The paths of the the clothes laundering machine where the latter is oscillated instead of being rotated for clothes washing purposes, and that within the scope of the invention the nozzle elements may be driven rotatively in the same, but preferably in the opposite, direction of rotation as the direction of rotation of the centrifugal receptacle H. Ordinarily. and as shown in Fig. 8, the nozzle elements will be adjustably mounted at an inclined angle to the liquid annular body or wall B with merely their intake ends projecting into the liquid and facing against the direction of rotation of the liquid in the receptacle.

Receptacle H is not only relatively shallow, but is designed to retain therein a quantity of liquid less than the cubic area of the receptacle as determined by its overall dimensions, since it has been found that the dishwashing mechanism will function very satisfactorily with a relatively small quantity of washing liquid. Because of the high speed of rotation employed for the receptacle the washing liquid is urged outwardly, and by locating the nozzle elements adjacent the periphery of the receptacle it is unnecessary to fill the receptacle with more than enough liquid to maintain a relatively thin annulus or liquid wall around the inner side wall. The inner area of the receptacle serves merely as a catch pan to receive liquid draining back from the dish rack 60, which liquid is immediately thrown outwardly. The bottom of the receptacle can be preferably formed upwardly convex with this point in mind.

In order that the receptacle H in its shallow form retain the quantity of washing liquid required for use a relatively narrow intumed flange I6 is provided around the upper edge of the receptacle. The width of such flange will generally determine theradial thickness of the annular liquid wall B, and any excess liquid inwardly of the inner periphery of the flange will be discharge from the receptacle at centrifugal speed either through the top of the receptacle over the flange and/or through drain openings 11 in the bottom of the receptacle which are preferably arranged with their outer limits in substantial vertical alignment with the inner edge of flange l6. Receptacle 'II is therefore self-measuring as to the quantity of washing liquid it will retain, regardless of how much washing liquid may be initially supplied to the receptacle. Thus no premeasuring of the liquid to be supplied is required, since any excess liquid rejected from the receptacle will be imrotation of the receptacle, but also are designed nozzle would overlap one another as shown by v tion is available from the agitator shaft 24 of to automatically drain all washing liquid out of the receptacle after the drive is discontinued at the end of the dishwashing operation and the receptacle slows down and comes to a stop. As shown in Figs. '7 and 8 such openings are formed out of the bottom of receptacle II in relatively elongated form at recurrent circumferential points to provide shields or louvres I8 which face in a radially outward direction. When washing liquid is initially supplied to the receptacle,

which will be done when the receptacle is being centrifugally driven, the liquid will pass outwardly under centrifugal force over louvre I8 to form the annular liquid wall B and only ex- 7 cess quantities of the liquid will be discharged a through opening 'I'I before rotation is discontinued. However, as soon as the receptacle stops, or slows down sufficiently that centrifugal force is no longer able to maintain the annular liquid wall, all liquid will be discharged downwardly through drain opening .11.

During dishwashing operation the washing liquid is maintained constantly in motion so there is little tendency for grease, food particles or other waste matter removed from the dishes and carried by the liquid to adhere to the dishwashing mechanism. Further, when the high speed rotation of receptacle II is discontinued by interruption of its drive at the termination of a washing operation, the liquid annulus, for a short interval of time, travels at a speed greater than the speed of the receptacle and gradually breaks down into a downwardly swirling motion against the inner wall of the receptacle to exert a flushing action which insures elimination of waste matter when the liquid discharges through drain openings 11. Such flushing action can be accentuated by bringing the receptacle to a stop relatively quickly from its high speed rotary motion, as by applying a braking force through extractor drive shaft brake mechanism such as hereafter referred to. Thus, the dishwashing mechanism is sanitary and self-cleansing, and does not require manual or other cleaning after each use of the machine for dishwashing operation.

The operation of the machine as shown in Fig. 7 may be briefly summarized. A quantity of washing liquid and detergent will be supplied to the receptacle after first starting the driving mechanism to actuate the liquid distributing parts II and 'Il either by removing cover 68 of the dishwashing unit, or by supplying it through a suitable inlet port provided at any suitable point in the structure, as in the cover. The dishes and related articles will have been placed in rack 60 and 66 before the liquid is introduced. Operation of the machine is continued for an appropriate period to cause the washing liquid circulated to thoroughly cleanse the articles. Operation is then stopped. All of the washing liquid with accumulated grease and food particles will automatically drain out of the receptacle to drain pan 2! and be removed subsequently by operation of pump 32. One or more rinsings of the articles may then be effected by again starting operation of the machine and supplying clear rinsing liquid. When the machine is again stopped the rinsing liquid will automatically drain out, and thereafter the dishes and other articles may be removed from the dish holder at any time. It will be understood from what has been said that the construction and operation of the dishwashing mechanism is well adapted to efilcient cleansing of dishes and related articles. Moreover, the mechanism is admirably adapted to installation in a clothes laundering machine to convert the same to dishwashing purposes. The simplicity of the dishwashing mechanism and its adaptability to be supplied in the form of a conversion unit or attachment for or as a part of a clothes washing machine is best visualized in Figs. 11 and 12, wherein the same is shown removed from operative position in the washing machine as in Fig. 7. The construction is the same as illustrated in Fig. 7 except that spray shield 62' is not provided with auxiliary liquid projecting elements such as 14 previously referred to, and as illustrated the liquid projecting element 10 in some 1g cases may be formed and arranged to project the streams of washing liquid in a radially more inward area than nozzle elements III in Fig. 7.

The dishwashing conversion unit can be supplied merely with the parts illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. As will be seen there are only three independent parts. and all of these are in a form which may be handled easily and quickly installed in the washing machine. Ordinarily an additional article holder or holders such as rack 66 of Fig. 7 will be supplied as a part of the unit, and preferably also a special cover such as illustrated at O8 in the latter figure will be supplied so that the usual cover of the clothes washing machine will not be contaminated by grease or food particles through employment during the dishwashing operation.

,The form and mounting of the dish rack and spray shield, which here conveniently are secured together to form a relatively deep dish holder, may be varied considerably. Thus instead of being mounted stationarily by suspen- Sion from the top of the machine casing they may be supported centrally and for free movement about an axis so as to be independent of the machine casing, as indicated in Fig. 13, and such arrangement is particularly desirable for models lacking a casing and intended for installation in built-in cabinet or counter-top structures. Spray shield 62' is formed at its top with an inturned flange 64" adapted to support a dishwashing unit cover 60'. The mounting comprises a central tubular standard 65" upstanding from rack 60 having a top portion adapted to be supported for free movement on a pivot pin 8! provided at the upper end of tubular standard 12 of the liquid projecting nozzle assembly. A bearing 02 is provided at an intermediate portion of the height of standard to further journal the same on standard I2. In this embodiment also the liquid projecting nozzles ll are of tubular form instead of U-shaped crosssection as elements Ill and II- of previous embodiments.

Conversion 0] machine It will be seen that through the present invention a clothes laundering machine having a drive shaft rotatable at high speed can be quickly converted from a clothes laundering operation to a dishwashing operation. Known types of washer-extractor clothes laundering machines are particularly adapted for such conversion in that no essential change is required in the power driving mechanism and advantage may be taken of the drive provided by the agitator shaft as well as that provided by the extractor shaft to produce driving motion of both parts (liquid receptacle and projecting nozzles) of the dishwashing mechanism to give extremely satisfactory dishwashing operation, although quite satisfactory results may be obtained by employing the extractor shaft alone where the projecting nozzles of the dishwashing unit are stationarily mounted so as not to require use of the agitator drive in simpler embodiments of the invention.

No objection on sanitary grounds arises from the dual employment of the machine in the preferred embodiments shown since the dishwashing liquid receptacle and associated operative parts form a complete operative dishwashing unit separate and apart from the clothes receptacle and other operative parts of the clothes laundering unit.

As will be understood by a comparison of Figs. 1 and 7 conversion is effected by removing one 17 of the units from the nachine and substituting the other therefor. The driven operative parts of each unit are so formed as to be quickly and easily applied to and removed from driving engagement with the shaft means of the washing machine.

While both the clothes unit and dishwashing unit are of adequate capacity for practical domestic use, they are nevertheless sufficiently compact that whichever one is removed from the machine at a particular time requires only a relatively small storage space, and the parts are sufliciently light and simple that they may be easily handled and installed by a woman.

Power unit In the preferred forms of the invention hereinabove described, for clothes laundering use is made of the agitator shaft 24 alone in the washing stage, and the extractor shaft 23 alone during the extracting stage. For the dish washing operation, the extractor or centrifugal shaft 23 may be used alone in forms of the invention where only one part of the dishwashing liquid distributing mechanism is driven, but the extractor shaft and agitator shaft are required to be simultaneously driven in the preferred forms of the invention where both parts of the washing liquid distributing mechanism are driven.

While any suitable form of selective drive mechanism which will produce the required motions of the shafts for the different operations may be employed, we preferred to employ a drive mechanism such as shown in Andrew H. Gerhardt application, Serial No. 497,649, filed August 6, 1943, now Patent No. 2,494,436, dated January 10, 1950, since such mechanism is particularly well adapted to provide for the successive drive of the agitator and extractor shafts during the several stages of the colthes laundering operation and to produce simultaneous operation of the two shafts for the dishwashing operation without any change in the drive mechanism and merely through the provision of suitable control means. The driving mechanism is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 to 6 and generally conforms to the mechanism of the aforesaid Gerhardt application except for the addition of an extractor shaft brake means which serves to hasten stopping of the extractor shaft and receptacle 50 at the end of an extracting operation and holds the receptacle against rotary movement during the clothes washing stage.

Electric motor 2I is of a reversible type and is adapted through the employment of suitable clutches in the driving mechanism to drive the agitator shaft when the motor rotates in one direction and to drive the extractor shaft alone, and also both shafts simultaneously, when rotating reversely.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 6 in conjunction with Fig. 1, the reversible electrically driven motor 2|, preferably of a split phase type with a starting coil, and having a drive shaft 90, is connected by coupling 9| to a main drive shaft 92 of the driving mechanism 22. The cast metal top member 35 of the driving mechanism housing, as will be presently described, serves to provide total support for the drive mechanism which effects oscillation of agitator shaft 24, and rotation of centrifugal or extractor shaft 23, and the parts of the clothes and dish units which are supported by such shafts.

The top housing member 35 also includes an upwardly offset marginal flange 88 disposed a of screws 94, is a sheet metal upwardly-open,

flanged housing receptacle which serves to fully enclose the drive mechanism suspended from the top housing member 35.

Depending from the top housing member 35 are three aligned bearing

brackets

96, 91, and 98, providing journal support for the main drive shaft 92, and the bearing brackets 96 and 98 are provided with suitable bushings 96 and 98, respectively. An oil seal 99 is mounted on shaft 92 within a threaded nut I00 having threaded connection with the interior of a recess in bearing bracket 98.

The left hand portion 92 of main shaft 92 between bearing

brackets

96 and 91 is enlarged and formed with an integral worm gear IOI through which one of the agitator and

extractor shafts

24 and 23 is driven. To drive the second of such shafts the right hand portion of shaft 92 carries a second worm gear I02 loosely joumaled on the shaft intermediate bearing brackets 91 and 98 and engaged at one end by a thrust bearing I03 and being connected at its other end to shaft 92 through an overrunning one-way drive clutch indicated generally at I04. Said clutch includes a ratchet I05 which at its left end abuts against a shoulder 92 formed by the enlarged left hand portion of main drive shaft 92. The second clutch part comprises a, cylindrical body member I06 rigidly secured by a set screw I0'I to the enlarged shaft portion adjacent shoulder 92, and housing ratchet I05. The right hand housing portion of the body member I06 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart jaws I08 disposed in transaxial alignment with the teeth of ratchet member I05. Such jaws are so formed as to provide clearance pockets for accommodating steel balls I09 which are confined in position by a cup-shaped member IIO pressfitted on the body I06. When shaft 92 is driven by the motor in a clockwise direction balls I09 seat in the clearance pockets formed between the jaws of clutch member I06 so that ratchet I05 is not engaged and no drive is provided for worm I02. When shaft 92 rotates in a counter-clock! wise direction certain of balls I09 wedged between teeth of ratchet I05 and inclined surfaces of jaws I08 to positively drive worm I02.

Through mechanism now to be described left hand worm MI is employed to drive agitator shaft 24 with an ocillating motion when the motor rotates shaft 92 in a. clockwise direction, and worm I02 is employed to drive extractor or centrifugal shaft 23 with a high speed rotary motion when the motor rotates shaft 92 in a counter-clockwise direction to connect worm I02 to shaft 92 through the one-way clutch just described.

Meshing continuously with worm IOI is a gear III joumaled on a stud II2 which is rigidly secured by a drive fit in a boss I I3 formed integral with the top housing member 35, as seen in Fig. 6. The underside of gear III is provided with an enlargement II4, the bottom portion of which constitutes an eccentric II5. Such eccentric is joumaled in a rectangular block II6 slidably guided in a yoke member I I1. The yoke member is joumaled at one end on a flanged bearing II8 pinned to the end of a vertical stud II9 supported in a depending boss I20 projecting from the underside of top housing member 35. The upper end of the stud is threaded and provided with a nut I2l for supporting the yoke in proper relation to the other mechanism. The outer end i9 oftheyokeoppositethepivotconnectionis' formed with a segmental rack III which is continuously muhed with a pinion if! iournaled onthelowerendoftbeagitatordriveshaftfl, as seen in Pig. 6.

'Iheouterendofthesegmentalrackisguided and supported for movement on a curved member llisecuredtotwodependinglegs lIIaofa bracket III, as seen in Pig. 4. Bracket I! in turnis connected by screws ill to the lower ends ofapluralltyofspacedapartdependinglegs ifl formedasanintegralpartofthetophousing member II as seen in Pig. 4.

Pinion iflisadaptedtobeclutch-connectedto the agitator drive shaft by upward axial movement of the pinion to engage a notch or jaw lfl onthehubofthepinionwithapin lflseeured to the lower portion of agitator shaft 24. Centrally of the face of pinion III is a circumferentialgroove lflextendingintctheteethandinto thebodyportionofthepinionwithinthe root diameter of the teeth. An actuating yoke I33 for clutching and unclutching the pinion extends into groove I20. Such yoke is attached to an upwardly extending rod iii which is guided in thexgg bracket member I26 and in the top housing memberl iasseeninrigaiand 6. Theupp l'end of rod III is pivotally connected to an operating lever I82 fulcrumed by pin ill between a pair of upstanding lugs I formed on the upper side of the top housing member, as seen in Pig. 1. The outer end of the operating lever It! is connected by links I31 and I tothe core of a solenoid I35. The solenoid when energised through a control circuit such as hereafter to be described simultaneously with energization of the motor to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction will, through the actuating linkage Just referred to, engage pinion clutch parts I and lfl and effect an oscillating drive of agitator shaft 24 through worm Ill, gear Ill, eccentric Ill, yoke H1, rack I22 and pinion I. when solenoid I3! is deenergised a coil spring I It surrounding the lower portion of rod Ill and interposed between yoke Ill and bracket lft expands to move pinion I23 in a downward direction to release clutch parts I and Iii.

The tubular extractor or centrifugal shaft is journaledinthelowerendofstandardflbya hearing I, and has a lower portion extending therebelow to which is rigidly secured a helical gear ill having an upwardly projecting hub portion In press-fitted in the lower end of the drive shaft, and having a depending hub portion I iournaledbyaballbearing illintheupperend of bracket If. Press-fitted within gear III is a bearing III which iournals agitator shaft 2|. Ballbearing lllthusservestoprovidebearing support for agitator shaft 24 as well as hearing support for gear Ill, and in addition, serves as anendthrustbearingforsaidgearandextractor drive shaft 23.

Gear III is in constant mesh with worm ill on main drive shaft 02, and when the motor rotates such shaft in a counter-clockwise direction to secure wonn It! to the shaft through its oneway clutch I, gear I serves to rotate shaft 28 at a high speed of preferably about 600 R. P. M. Under such conditions, for certain operations of the washing machine, the agitator shaft control solenoid I" will be deenergized and the clutch between gear pinion If! and agitator shaft 24 will be disengaged so that the agitator shaft will remain stationary while extractor shaft 23 is driven, whereas for other operations of the machine solenoid III will be energized to engage 20 the clutch while the extractor shaft is driven so that the agitator shaft will be driven with its oscillatory motion simultaneously with high speedrotarydriveoftheextractorshaftunder rotation of the motor in a counter-clockwise direction.

Brake means are provided to hasten stopping of the extractor shaft at the end of a period of operation, and secure such shaft against rotation at tima when the agitator shaft alone is being employed for a clothes washing operation and the extractor shaft is capable of free rotation through overriding of the one-way clutch I of worm II! when the motor and main drive shaft .2 arerotatinginaclockwisedirection. Such means includes a brake shoe Ill pivotally connected to the lower end of a rotatable stud-like member ill iournaled in a boss formed on the top housing member II. The upper end of member Ill projects beyond the boss, and is rigidly attached to an operating lever ill, the outer end ofwhichisconnectedbyalink ll! tothecore of a brake control solenoid I. A coil spring I" is connected to the top of the housing at one end, andatitsoppositeendisconnectedtothe outer end of operating lever ill. Such spring normally tends to press brake shoe Ill into braking engagement with the lower portion of extractor shaft 23 when the solenoid is deenergised and only the extractor shaft is to be driven, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 8. 'Energization of solenoid Ill serves to release the brake shoe from braking engagement with the extractor shaft when such shaft is to be driven.

Pump 32 which serves to drain used washing liquid from drain pan 2. is operated from the power unit through driving means which, in the present instance, serves to drive the pump only when the extractor shaft is driven, as during clothes extracting operation and dishwashing operation of the machine, the pump remaining idle when only the agitator shaft is driven as during clothes washing operation of the machine. As shown in Fig. 4 the housing of pump 32 has 7 a reduced neck portion Ill extending into the side of drive housing portion l5 and supported in the adjacent depending leg in by a set screw Iii. The rotatable impeller member, not shown, of the pump is operatively connected to a helical pinion it! which meshes with worm gear I" which is driven through its one-way clutch only when the motor rotates main drive shaft .2 in a counter-clockwise direction.

If desired. the pump may be mounted with its pinion Iii in engagement with worm is! instead of in engagement with worm III, in which case the pump will function under all conditions whether the motor rotates drive shaft If either clockwise or counter-clockwise, and whether either or both of the agitator and extractor shafts are driven. Such arrangement may be desirable under certain conditions of operation, as in the event the machine is functioning in such manner that washing liquid is permitted to flow into drain pan II during the time agitator shaft fl is operating and extractor-shaft 23 remains stationary.

As indicated previously the entire power unit, including motor 2|, driving mechanism 22 with the associated pump 82, agitator shaft control solenoid I" and extractor shaft brake control solenoid I" may be supported through a floating mounting for movement relative to the base member 2| in such manner as to dampen and absorb vibrations. as by employment of suspension means such as shown in John P. Beattie Patent No. 2,334,858, previously referred to.

Control device and circuit Any suitable form of control mechanism and control circuit may be employed to selectively operate the drive mechanism to perform its clothes laundering and dishwashing functions.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a manual control de-- vice I having a dial HI and a rotatable knobbed pointer I12 adjustable to four positions indicated by indicia I13 on the dial. When the pointer is opposite Off the machine is entirely inoperative. The pointer is turned to the left to Wash, and in such position the power unit is adjusted to drive the agitator for clothes washing. When the pointer is set in Dry" position the power unit drives the extractor shaft while the agitator shaft is free to rotate or remain stationary.

When the pointer is turned to Dishw ash the power is set to simultaneously operate the agitator and extractor shafts with the dishwashing unit installed in the machine. I

Control device I10 may be applied to any suitable part of the machine, for example at a convenient point of the cabinet as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. r

A suitable control circuit for use with the control device I10 is shown in Fig. 14. Use is made of a switch arm rotatable by knobbed pointer I12 having independent inner and outer contact elements S-l and 8-2 respectively connected to lines L-I and L-2 of an electric power source. The reversible electric motor 2! has two pairs of terminals, M-l and M-2, and M-3 and M-4. The agitator clutch control solenoid I has two terminals A-l and'A-Z, and the extractor shaft brake control solenoid I54 has two terminas B-l and B-2. Terminal M-2 and terminals A-2 and B4, of the respective solenoids are directly connected to power line L-l. The other motor and solenoid terminals are in circuits controlled by the rotatable switch. The switch contacts for motor terminals M-l, M-3 and M-4 -are respectively designated SM-l, SM-3 and SM-4. The contacts for establishing the circuit to the agitator solenoid through terminal A-l are designated SA-l, and the switch contacts for establishing a. circuit to the extractor brake solenoid through terminal B-I are designated SBI.

In Wash position switch member S-J engages motor contact SM-d, and switch member S2 engage motor contact M-l and M-3, also agitator contact A-|,, to effect rotation of the motor in a clockwise direction and energize the agitator control solenoid to engage the agitator shaft to be driven by the power unit with an oscillating motion. The extractor brake solenoid is not energized so that the brake operatively engages the extractor shaft to prevent rotation.

With the switch set to Dry position inner switch member 8-! engages motor contact SM-3, and switch member S-Z engages motor contacts M-l and M4, and extractor brake solenoid contact SB-l. The motor is now rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to drive the extractor operative. In Dishwash position inner switch member 84 engages motor contact SM-3 as in Dry" position instead of contact SM-4 as in effect operation of the agitator shaft, and the extractor shaft is simultaneously driven by reason of the release of the brake through energizer tion of the brake control solenoid and by reason of the driving connection of the extractor shaft 'with the power unit effected through the automatic one-way clutch under counter clockwise. rotation of the motor. Accordingly, with the dishwashing conversion unit positioned in the machine one part of the washing liquid circulating mechanism will be driven rotatively at high speed by the extractor shaft, and the other part of such mechanism with a slow speed oscillator motion by the agitator shaft.

In the event only one part of the dishwash liquid circulating mechanism is to be power driven while the other part remains stationary as contemplated in certain embodiments of the invention, a three-position switch, instead of the four position switch shown in Fig. 14, can be employed. Under such conditions the agitator shaft will not be driven simultaneously with the extractor or centrifugal shaft Accordingly, the right hand position of the switch designated Dishwash" in Fig. 14 may be dispensed with. The far left position of the switch designated Dry employed for extracting in clothes laundering would then be employed also as the Dishwash position, since the same circuits would be appropriate in the two instances.

It is to be understood that the particular control device I10 of Fig. 2, and the control circuit of Fig. 14 are merely illustrative. Other forms of control devices could equally well be employed with the particular form of motor and selective drive mechanism herein shown and described. Obviously, also, other forms of motor and drive mechanism with any appropriate control devices and circuits might be employed to effect selective operation of the drive shaft means of the machine. v

By virtue of the invention it is possible by th use of .a conversion unit involving only a few accessory parts to quickly and easily convert a clothes laundering machine into a dishwashing machine, or to convert a dishwashing machine into a clothes laundering machine, utilizing the same power unit and supporting structure, but providing different methods of washing liquid circulation appropriate to effective cleansing of clothes and dishes in the light of their essentially different character. It is therefore possible by having available machines capable of such double usage to effect a substantial saving in cost of manufacture as compared with two separate machines. Another .and relatively important consideration, moreover, is the fact that the dual machines embodying the present invention lends itself to use in homes, apartments, etc., when the matter of space is of major importance. It permits having a dual machine occupying the floor space of asingle machine heretofore available for performing either clothes washing or dishwashing operations, but not both operations. Further it permits having available for use in a household a single machine for efficiently carrying on both clothes laundering and dishwashing operation which otherwise would require employment, with a greater space requirement, of two separate ma- 23 chines of essentially different mechanical construction.

Not only have we provided for the conversion of clothes laundering machine into a dishwashing machine, and dishwashing mechanism designed to be supplied as an attachment or conversion unit to accomplish such purpose, but we have further provided a novel dishwashing machine of simple mechanical construction designed to thoroughly clean dishes, and other articles which may be cleaned through the same expedients as dishes, and providing benefits which distinguished the same as a distinct improvement over dishwashing machines of the prior art.

Although we have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be manifest that the invention is capable of modification and equivalency without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The scope of the invention, therefore, is to be determined according to the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a combination clothes and dish washing machine comprising an upright oscillatable shaft, an upright rotatable shaft surrounding the oscillatable shaft, means on the rotatable shaft constituting a seat for supporting interchangeably an upwardly open clothes washing receptacle and an upwardly open dish washing receptacle, the upper end of said oscillatable shaft being formed to provide a seat and driving conections for both an agitator for cooperative use with the clothes washing receptacle and a member for cooperative use with the dish washing receptacle, means for selectively operating said shaft singl when the machine is to be used for washing clothes, and means for altering said selective means to effect simultaneous operation of said shafts when the machine is to be used for washing dishes.

2. In a convertible clothes machine having a drive shaft adapted to drive a clothes agitator, and a high speed rotary drive shaft adapted to drive a clothes extractor, dishwashing mechanism comprising a rotatable receptacle detachably driven by said extractor shaft and adapted when driven to retain liquid therein, a dish holder removably mounted in the machine independently of rotation of the extractor drive shaft, and means operated by the agitator drive'shaft for distributing liquid from the receptacle to the dish holder.

3. A convertible clothes washing and dish washing machine comprising a shaft adapted to drive a clothes agitator and a high speed rotary shaft, and dish washing mechanism including'a dish holder and cooperative relatively movable liquid supply members for distributing washing liquid to th dish holder and driven respectively by said agitator shaft and said high speed rotary shaft.

4. In a convertible clothes washing and extracting and dish washing machine having separate power driven means for operating a clothes washing element and clothes extractor element, a dish washing unit comprisin a dish holding member and a water-diffusing mechanism including a water-holding part adaptable for driving connection with one of said power-driven means and a relatively movable water-dispensing part adapted for driving connections with the other power driven means.

5. A dish washing attachment for a combined clothes washing and extracting machine having an agitator shaft and an extractor shaft; comprising a dish washing liquid receptacle and liq- 24 uid distributing means, and means for removably mountin said receptacle and liquid distributor in cooperative relation in a clothes washing and extracting machine, one on each of the machine agitator and extractor shafts with at least one of said mounting means adapted to make detachable driving connection with one of the shafts.

6. A dish washing attachment for a clothes washing machine of the type having concentric shafts; comprising a dish holder having means for removably mounting the same in a clothes washing machine, and dish washing liquid receptacle and distributor means for circulating washing liquid in the receptacle through the dish holder, and means for detachably mounting said receptacle and said liquid distributin means on the respective concentric shafts of a clothes washing machine.

7. A dish washing attachment for a clothes washing machine of. the type having concentric shafts; comprising a dish holder, a dish washing liquid receptacle and liquid spray means for circulating liquid from the receptacle to the dish holder, means for removably mounting the spray means on one of the concentric shafts of a clothes washing machine, and means for detachably securing said receptacle to another of the concentric shafts of a clothes washing machine in operative relation to the spray means and dish holder.

8. Dish washing mechanism including a rotatable washing liquid receptacle, a separate dish holder supported above said receptacle, spray means mounted in th receptacle for conducting washing liquid from the receptacle to the dish holder, and means for mounting said spray means for rotative movement in a fixed path relative to the dish holder and the receptacle.

9. Dish washing mechanism including a rotatable liquid retaining receptacle, a separate dish holder supported above said receptacle, a plurality of liquid distributing elements mounted in the receptacle and adapted to distribute liquid from the receptacle to the dish holder and means mounting the liquid distributing elements in circumferentially spaced relation to one another for rotative movement in a fixed path relative to the dish holder and the receptacle.

l0. Washing mechanism including a rotatable washing liquid receptacle having means to be rendered operative in response to rotation at relatively high speed to retain a predetermined quantity of washing liquid in the receptacle and discharge any excess liquid, and having openings in the bottom wall, adapted in response to cessation of relatively high rotative speed of the receptacle to drain the receptacle of the predetermined quantity of washing liquid, said openings being entirely remote from the axis of rotation of the receptacle and at the lowest portion of said bottom wall of the receptacle.

11. A dish washing machine comprising an article receiving rack, liquid receiving means supported below said rack and adapted when rotated at a speed suflicient to create an annulus of liquid, means comprising a member mounted in the liquid receiving means and adapted to be positioned in the path of travel of the liquid annulus for deflecting liquid from the annulus and producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack, means for rotating said liquid receiving means, and means for causing rotative movement of the member relatively to the liquid annulus while said member is ceiving receptacle and rack, and means mounted for rotative movement in said liquid receiving receptacle and positioned in the path of travel of the liquid annulus for projecting liquid from the annulus and producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack.

13. A dish washing machine comprising an article receiving rack, an upwardly open liquid receiving receptacle supported below said rack,

means for rotating said receptacle at a speed suflicient to create a rotating annulus of liquid against the interior wall of the receptacle, means mounted for rotative movement in said liquid receiving receptacle and positioned in the path of travel of the liquid annulu for projecting liquid from the annulus and producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack, and means for causing rotative movement of said projecting means relatively to the liquid annulus while disposed in said liquid annulus.

14. A machine comprising an article receiving rack, an upwardly open liquid receiving receptacle mounted below said rack, means for rotating said receptacle at a speed suflicient to create a rotating annulus of liquid against the interior wall of the receptacle, and means positioned in' the path of travel of the liquid annulus for projecting liquid from the annulus and producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack, the bottom wall of said receptacle having one or more openings located so that the liquid when flowing in an outwardly direction under influence of centrifugal force created incident to rotation of the receptacle by-passes said openings, and adapted for discharging the liquid therethrough from the receptacle as the centrifugal force is reduced incident to retardation of the receptacle.

15. A machine for washing articles, comprising an article receiving rack, an upwardly open liquid receiving receptacle, mounted below said rack, means for rotating said receptacle at a speed suflicient to create a rotating annulus of liquid against the interior wall of the receptacle, and mean positioned in the path of travel of the liquid annulus for projecting liquid from the annulus and producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack, the bottom wall of said receptacle having one or more openings located so that the liquid when flowing in an outwardly direction under influence of centrifugal force created incident to rotation of the receptacle by-passes said openings, and adapted for discharging the liquid therethrough from the receptacle as the centrifugal force is reduced incident to retardation of the receptacle, said openings being located relatively to the side wall of the receptacle so as to create and maintain a predetermined quantity of liquid in the liquid annulus.

16. A machine for washing articles, comprising an upright oscillatable shaft, an upright rotatable shaft surrounding the oscillatable shaft, an article receiving rack surrounding the upper ends of said shafts, an upwardly open liquid re-.

ceiving receptacle mounted on and rotatable with said rotatable shaft, means for oscillating said oscillatable shaft, means for driving said rotatable shaft for effecting rotation of the receptacle at a speed suflicient to create and maintain a rotating annulus of liquid against theinteriorwall of the receptacle, and means connected to and oscillated with said oscillatable shaft, said means comprising a member positioned in the path of travel of the liquid annulus for projecting liquid from the annulus and producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack.

17. A machine for washing articles, comprising an upright oscillatable shaft, an upright rotatable shaft surrounding the oscillatable shaft, an article receiving rack surrounding the upper ends of said shafts, an upwardly open liquid receiving receptacle mounted on and rotatable with said rotatable shaft, said receptacle being of circular contour, means for oscillating said oscillatable shaft, means for driving said rotatable shaft for effecting rotation of the receptacle at a speed suflicient to create a rotating annulus of liquid against the interior wall of the receptacle, and means connected to and oscillated with said oscillatable shaft, said means comprising a member positioned in the path of travel of the liquid annulus for projecting liquid from the annulus for producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack, the bottom wall of said receptacle having one or more shielded openings for by-passing the liquid when flowing in an outwardly direction under influence of centrifugal force created incident to rotation of the receptacle, and adapted for discharging the liquid therethrough from the receptacle as the centrifugal force is reduced incident to retardation of the receptacle.

18. A machine comprising an upright oscillatable shaft. an upright rotatable shaft surrounding the oscillatable shaft, an article receiving rack surrounding the upper ends of said shafts, an upwardly open liquid receiving receptacle mounted on and rotatable with said rotatable shaft, means for oscillating said oscillatable shaft, means for driving said rotatable shaft for effecting rotation of the receptacle at a speed suflicient to create a rotating annulus of liquid against the interior wall of the receptacle, an upwardly open liquid collector tub disposed below said rack and receptacle, and means connected to and oscillated with said oscillatable shaft, said means comprising a member positioned in the path of travel of the liquid annulus for projecting liquid from the annulus and producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack.

19. A machine for washing articles, comprising an upright oscillatable shaft, an upright rotatable shaft surrounding the oscillatable shaft, an article receiving rack surrounding the upper ends of said shafts, an upwardly open liquid receiving receptacle mounted on and rotatable with said rotatable shaft, means for oscillating said oscillatable shaft, means for driving said rotatable shaft for effecting rotation of the receptacle at a speed suflicient to create a rotating annulus of liquid against the interior wall of the receptacle, the upper end of said receptacle terminating in an inturned marginal flange to cream and maintain a predetermined quantity of liquid in the liquid annulus, and means connected to and oscillated with said oscillatable shaft and positioned in the path of travel of the awn-ass liquid annulus for projecting liquid from the annulus and producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack.

20. A machine for washing articles, comprising an upright oscillatable shaft, an upright rotatable shaft surrounding the oscillatable shaft, an article receiving rack surrounding the upper ends of said shafts, an upwardly open liquid receiving receptacle mounted on and rotatable with said rotatable shaft, means for oscillating said oscillatable shaft, means for driving said rotatable shaft for effecting rotation of the receptacle at a speed sufllcient to create a rotating annulus of liquid against the interior wall of the receptacle, the bottom wall of said receptacle having one or more openings located so that the liquid when flowing in an outwardly direction under influence of centrifugal force created incident to rotation of the receptacle by-passes said openings, and adapted for discharging the liquid therethrough from said receptacle as the centrifugal force is reduced incident to retardation of the receptacle, said openings being located relatively to the side wall of the receptacle to create and maintain a predetermined quantity of liquid in the liquid annulus, and means connected to and oscillated with said oscillatable shaft and positioned in the path of travel of the liquid annulus for pro- Jecting liquid from the annulus and producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack.

21. A machine for washing articles, comprising an upright oscillatable shaft, an upright rotatable shaft surrounding the oscillatable shaft, an article receiving rack surrounding the upper ends of said shafts, an upwardb' open liquid receiving receptacle mounted on and rotatable with said rotatable shaft, means for simultaneously oscillating the oscillatable shaft and driving the rotatable shaft, said latter shaft serving to rotate the receptacle at a speed suillcient to create a rotating annulus of liquid against the interior wall of the receptacle, and means connected to and oscillated with said oscillatable shaft and positioned in the path of travel of the liquid annulus for projecting liquid from the annulus and producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack.

22. A dish washing machine comprising driving mechanism, an electric motor for actuating said so mechanism, upright shaft means operably connected to and driven by said mechanism, an upwardly open liquid-receiving receptacle removably mounted on and adapted to be rotated by said shaft means to build up an annulus of liquid, an article receiving rack removably mounted around said shaft means, an upwardly open liquid collector receptacle disposed below said liquidreceiving receptacle and adapted to receive liquid therefrom, said liquid collector receptacle having a drain outlet adapted to be connected to a discharge conduit, and means driven by said shaft means and extending into said annulus of liquid, for producing and directing a liquid spray against and around the articles on the rack.

23'. A machine comprising an upwardly open liquid receiving receptacle, and means for rotating said receptacle at a speed sufficient to create a rotating annulus of liquid against the interior wall of the receptacle, the bottom wall of said receptacle having one or more openings located so that the liquid when flowing in an outwardly direction under influence of centrifugal force created incident to rotation of the receptacle bypasses said openings, and adapted for discharg- 28 ing the liquid therethrough from the receptacle as the centrifugal force is reduced incident to retardation of the receptacle.

24. A machine comprising an upwardly open liquid receiving receptacle, means for rotating said receptacle at a speed sumcient to create a rotating annulus of liquid against the interior wall of the receptacle, the bottom wall of said receptacle having one or more openings located so that the liquid when flowing in an outwardly direction under influence of centrifugal force created incident to rotation of the receptacle bypasses said openings, and adapted for discharging the liquid therethrough from the receptacle as the centrifugal force is reduced incident to retardation of the receptacle, and a liquid collecting receptacle disposed below said liquid receiving receptacle and having a continuously open outlet adapted to be connected to a drain, whereby liquid discharging from the liquid receiving receptacle into the liquid collecting receptacle is instantly discharged through the drain outlet.

25. A machine for washing articles in liquid, adapted when washing operation has been completed to allow the articles to be substantially free of the washing liquid, comprising a pair of concentric shafts driven independently of each other, means mounted on one of said shafts for directing circulation of washing liquid over and about the articles to be washed. and means operable by the other of said shafts adapted to substantially free the washing liquid by the force of gravity from the articles being washed when said other shaft becomes inoperative, and adapted to produce a substantially vertical wall of washing liquid surrounding the articles being washed when said other shaft means is operating.

26. A machine for washing articles in liquid and when the washing operation has been completed to allow the articles to be substantially free of the washing liquid, comprising a splash preventing outer casing, a pair of concentric shafts driven independently of each other, means mounted on one of said shafts for directing circulation of washing liquid over and about the articles to be washed, and means driven by the other of said shafts adapted to substantially free the washing liquid by the force of gravity from the articles being washed when said other shaft becomes inoperative, and adapted to produce a substantially vertical wall of washing liquid surrounding the articles being washed when said other shaft means is operating.

27. A washing machine comprising a relatively shallow, rotatably mounted washing liquid receptacle, a perforate article holding rack means stationarily supported above said receptacle, means for spraying washing liquid from the receptacle into the rack means, and means for collecting and redirecting washing liquid into said receptacle, comprising a stationary splash shield separate from the receptacle and surrounding said article holding rack means.

28. In combination in a clothes washingmachine having power means adapted to drive clothes agitating means, an oscillatable shaft driven by said power means and a high speed rotary shaft operable by said power means, dish washing mechanism including receptacle means constituting a reservoir for dish washing liquid and nozzle means connected to and driven by the oscillatable shaft extending into the liquid in the receptacle means for diifusing liquid from the reservoir in forced streams, said nozzle means and receptacle being mounted for relative rota-