US2574798A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 13, 1951 c. o. RASMUSSEN 2,574,798

WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l W 7! 6 a2 79 J87, 7 0 a; /5 87 :4 J7 1/ 39 .56 V :17

3 a? 72 I0 l 89 I 9 HI 4/ 7 a a j Z/ 20 22 2e Nov. 13, 1951 Q Q RASMUSSEN 2,574,798

WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. firzfzalz 0. fiasmame/z 1951 I c. o. RASMUSSEN WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 mmvrox. (A/131F112 Q/ias'muuevz Filed Jan. 21, 1947 Patented Nov. 13, 1951.

WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Christian Oskar Rasmussen, mark, assignor to Simplex, mark, a Danish company Application January 21, 1947, Serial No.

Copenhagen, Den- Copenhagen, Den- In New Zealand January 7, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires January 7, 1966 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an improved washing or drying machine of the kind having during the washing period air circulation through the water by means of a fan in the lid of the machine pressing the air through a space between the wall of the washing tub and an inner container through the open bottom of which the air passes into the interior of the container with water and clothes.

It is known to fix the top part of said inner container to the lid of the washing tub and to let the said top part rest with an airtight lining on the vertical walls of the container being retained in the tub when the lid and the-top part are removed.

A washing or drying machine is also known, comprising a centrifugal drum disposed in the interior of the container and resting on a central base or bearing fixed to the bottom of the washing tub, while the drum can be removed during the washing periods. In the drying periods the tub is emptied of water, the vertical walls of the container are removed and the drum is filled with clothes and put into a rotating movement by the circulating air which passes wings formed in the walls of the drum or by a mechanical power transmission from "the shaft of the fan to the drum.

The main object of the invention is to provide the machine with a base or hearing which can be removed during the washing periods, as a permanent central base or hearing during said periods may tear the clothes.

The invention consists of an improved washing or drying machine of the kind first reterred to, in which the open bottom end of the inner container is situated in such a. distance from the bottom of the tub that supporting legs on a removable base can pass under the container and rest along the border of the bottom of the tub when the machine is not in use, said base supporting a column on the upper end of which a detachable centrifugal drum is mounted, having wings for rotation of the drum in order to dry the clothes and being dimensioned in such a manner that it can be disposed in the interior of the container, the upper part of which being closed with a plate beneath the lid of the tub, said plate having operable means for guiding the air current.

Another object oi the invention is to obtain an airtight packing ring or lining at the border of the top part of the container to cooperate with the upper border of the vertical walls of said container, and for this purpose the pack- 2 ing ring is fixed by glueing or vulcanizing to the lower side of the plate or a flange attached thereto.

In order to secure the best possible guidance of the air current the machine has in the plate forming the top part of the container a downwards turned and open cone in which another and movable cone, connected to the braking handles when used, puts the cones in contact with each other, realizing guide of the air current to the use of suction and pressure for washing or drying respectively.

The invention also comprises means for facilitating the removal of the container during the drying periods and means for supporting a removable perforated bottom or wire net of the container, said means consisting of projections at the inner lower end of the container for supporting a removable perforated bottom or wire net, said projectionsconsisting preferably of legs projecting from the surface of the container. The bottom or net makes it possible after each washing period to take up the container with the clothes therein as in a basket. The perforated bottom or net can be disposed on the bottom of the tub when the machine is not in In order that the machine could also be used as a plate-washer the said bottom or net can be provided with guides or grooves for placing tableware, and the machine can have an expansible grate to be fixed in a groove in the interior ofthe container above said net or bottom for'the supporting of the plates to be washed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a noise absorbing support for the centrifugal drum and for this purpose the machine has a base with a rubber sleeve as a bearing for the column on which the centrifugal drum is mounted. The drum is suspended by a ball turning in a ball cup on the end of a column, said ball cup having a diameter which is greater than that of the ball, and said ball being itself loosely fixed in a spherical hearing. In this bearing horizontal movement of the drum will not be transferred to the column, and even small horizontal movements of the column will not be transferred through the rubber sleeve to the tub.

According to a further feature of the invention a row of vertical wings are disposed inside the top of the centrifugal drum, giving this drum a rotating movement when the air current is caused to circulate, which is suflicient to probe released without the drum being braked at the same time.

The invention also comprises a frame on which the tub is loosely disposed, and to which the machine lid is hinged in order to facilitate its opening, and the lid is preferably mounted in journals on a handle bar linked to the column on the frame supporting the tub. In a preferred form the mounting of the lid must only be tiltable to such an extent that in any open position its lower border will remain over the tub in order that water dripping from the lid will fall into the tub.

The invention finally comprises means for opening the lid with the foot, said means consisting therein that a retraction spring is disposed between a sleeve fixed to the interior of the column and an enlargement at the lower end of the bar linked to the handle bar, said enlargement being in cooperation with a horizontal bar, which is slidably controlled by a spring-controlled pedal in such a way that the enlargement is locked by the horizontal bar, when the machine lid is in its closed position, and is released from the said position, when the pedal is pushed down.

The accompanying drawings shows an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a vertical middle section of the machine, when used as a drier,

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the frame of the machine with the machine lid,

Fig. 3 shows a perforated bottom plate for the container,

Fig. 4 shows a section along the line H of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows an expansible grate for cooperation with said perforated bottom,

Fig. 6 shows a section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows certain parts in the interior of the machine seen from above with the lid broken y,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, when the ma-' chine is used as a washer, and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 8, when the machine is not in use.

The washing machine comprises a tub I having a bottom 2 and a removable cover 3 in which a fan 5 is suspended in bearings B from a dome I. When the fan is operated, air is taken in at the lower side of its wings I and discharged at the upper side of the wings I as indicated by the arrows 8. The fan 5 is surrounded by a downwardly tapered cone 9 formed in a plate III which along its edge is secured to a cylindrical ring I I the upper rim of which is secured to the cover 3 of the machine.

The said cone 9 is provided with large openings I2 which may, however, be closed by inserting a movable cone l3 into the cone 9.

At the lower end the cone 9 has a supporting ring I4 in which a perforated deflector I5 and a net are mounted.

When the machine is used as a drier, on the bottom 2 of the tub I there is placed a tripod the legs I6 of which are extended to the circumference of the bottom 2 and carrying at its upper end a. resilient bearing II for a spindle I8 which in turn supports a centrifugal drum I9. This spindle carries at its upper end a ball cup 20, and resting thereon a ball 2| with a smaller diameter than the ball cup 20. This ball 2I is loosely fixed in a spherical bearing 22 mounted on the drum I9. At the upper end of its circumference the centrifugal drum I9 carries a row of vertical wings 23, and the bottom 24 of the drum I9 is placed so low in relation to the bearing of the drum I9 that the center of gravity of the drum with washings therein will be positioned below the lower surface of the-ball 2 I.

When the machine is used as a washer, on the bottom 2 of the tub I there is placed a container 25 open at its lower end. The container 25 is supported by three legs 26, of which only two are shown in Fig. 8. These legs 26 have projections 21 extending so far inside the inner diameter of the container 25 as to serve the purpose of supporting a loose perforated bottom 28 which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the said bottom having a series of guides 29 each provided with a series of holes 30.

Furthermore, the container 25 has a groove 3I in which an elastically expansible grate 32 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be mounted. This grate 32, which may also be deposited on the bottom 2 of the tub I, comprises a number of parallel rods 33 secured to a slitted ring. When the grate 32 is mounted in the container 25 the free ends 34 of the ring 32 are pressed together so that the grate 32 can be laid down into the groove 3|, and when next the grate is released the ring 32 will elastically expand in the groove 3|. The grate cooperates with the bottom 28 when plates are to be washed in the machine, the plates being placed on the bottom and laterally supported by the rods 33.

The container 25 has also finger pockets 35 continuously connected to the cylindrical wall of the container 25 and being so large as to be engaged by the fingers of the worker when the container 25 should be taken out of the tub I.

At the upper end the container 25 is provided with an air-proof packing ring 36 abutting against a flange 31 at the lower end of the ring II, but the packing ring 36 may also be glued or vulcanized to the lower surface of the flange 31.

When washings are to be cleaned in the machine the cover 3 is lifted and all the parts of the tub I are removed. The loose bottom 28 is positioned in the container 25 abutting against the projections 21, and the washing is filled into the container 25 which is next mounted in the tub I by the worker, inserting his finger into the finger pockets 35. Then the tub I is filled with water, and the cover 3 is closed thereby providing air-tight connection between the container 25 and the plate In forming the cover for the container. Then the cone I3 is inserted into the cone 9 and the air contained in the machine is forced in the direction indicated by the arrow 39 through the holes 38 of the ring II out into the space between the tub I and the container 25. Here the air will press the water level down, and the air will flow below the edge of the container 25 and up through the holes 30 in the bottom 28 of the container, the movement of the washing being thereby initiated. The air will fiow upwards through the water and the washing in the interior of the container 25 and then be sucked in by the wings I of the fan 5. The defiector I5 will prevent the washing, waterdr-ops and soap from touching the wings "I. When the wash is finished the cover 3 is opened again, and the container 25 with the cleaned washing can be removed from the tub I while the water is tapped from the tub by means of a tap 40.

When the washing is then to be dried in the will be driven out against the outer wall of the drum I9 the diameter of which increases slightly downwardly, and the water will then be discharged through a slit 42 along the lower edge of the drum. The air will through openings 43 in the bottom 24 of the drum I9.pass upwards to the wings I.

As will be understood the position of the cone I3 will determine whether the air inside the wings I should be blown out through the openings I2 as indicated by the arrow H, or through the holes 38 as indicated by the arrow 39. I

The driving device of the cone I3 is shown in Fig.5. To open the cover 3 a pair of hoop-shaped handles II must be turned upwardly into a position shown in dotted lines 13 in Fig. 1. Each handle II has an arm I4 pivoted to a vertical rod 15, which is secured by a pin to a sleeve 16 on a braking arm 11, pivoted at one end in a fixed bearing I8 and carrying at its other end a rod 81 with a braking block I2. The rod 81 is introduced into an opening in the plate I8, and in order to keep this opening closed in an airtight manner, a packing plate 88 round the rod 81 is pressed against the plate III by a helical spring 89. By lifting the handle II the rod I5 is pressed down thereby pressing the braking block 12 against the upper surface of the centrifugal drum I9 to stop the drum I9 before the cover 3 is opened.

However, the braking arm I1 carries a crank arm 88 pivoted to a double-armed lever 83 rotating on a fixed pin 8| and being again by means of a pin slidable in a longitudinal slit pivoted to a double-armed lever 84. This lever 84 is rotatably mounted on a fixed pin 82 and'carries a hoop 85 pivoted to vertical arms of which only one is shown in Fig. 1, the said vertical arms being secured inwardly of the cone I3 the vertical movement of which is controlled by a guide not shown in the drawings. When the rod I5 is pressed down the crank arm 88 together with the outer end of the lever 83 is lowered while whereas the opposite ends of the levers 83 and 84 are lifted. Consequently the hoop 85 will be lowered thus barring the air flow to the wings 23, and simultaneously the drum I9 will be-checked. When starting the operation air will not be admitted to the wings 23 until the cover 3 has been secured to the tub I by pressing the handles II down to the position shown in Fig. l. The fastening means cooperating with the handles II may consist of hooks or claws mounted in the cover 3 and adapted to engage or disengage with fixed abutments on the tub I when the handles II are manipulated. The fastening means being of a simple type and not disclosing any novel features they are not shown in the drawings thereby facilitating the disclosure.

In Fig. 2 a frame is shown comprising three legs 44, 45 and 46 carrying a circular ring 41 of angular cross section. The tub I may be loosely rotating the latter, and the water in the washing mounted on the said ring as shown in dotted lines 43'. The cover 3 is suspended from a bifurcated arm 48 having the front ends of its prongs 49 connected by means of a handle 59. At the rear end'the arm 48 is by means of a pin 5| pivoted to a lug 52 secured to the leg 46 which is longer than the legs 4'4 and and takes the form of a column. By means of a link 53 the arm 48 is connected to a rod 54 mounted in the hollow leg 46 and cooperating with a tension spring 55 so as to open the cover 3 when a pedal 56 is pressed down by the foot. By means of a pin 51 the pedal is pivoted on 9. lug 58 at the front end of a tube 59 which at the rear end opensinto the hollow leg 46. The pedal 56 is pivotally connected with a stop rod 60 which by action of a coil spring 6I is pressed against a short cylinder 63 fastened to the lower end of the rod 54 and forming an enlargement thereof. When the cover 3 is closed the rod 68 will engage with a hole 64 in the cylinder 63 thereby retaining the cover 3 in a closed position. When pressing down the pedal 56 the stop rod 66 is disengaged from the cylinder. 63, and the coil spring 55, which is a tension spring, secured at its lower end to the cylinder 63 and at its upper end to a metal ring 66, secured to the leg 46 by means of a screw 65, will pull the cylinder 63 upwardly to open the cover. At the front end the tube 59 is secured to the upper side of a cross member Bl connecting the legs 44 and 45.

The cover 3 is pivotally mounted in the prongs 49 of the arm 48. Each prong 49 has a longitudinal slit 68 for a journal 69 on the cover 3. In consequence of the bearings in the prongs 49 the cover 3 can easily fit into the tube and be pressed into its place when the arm 48 is swung down towards the tub I. When being opened the cover 3 will swing a. little, and in consequence of the weight of the parts in the*' dome 4 the lower point 18 of the cover 3 will be swung inwardly over the tub so that the cover may drain oif therein.

The resilience of the spring 55 is so adapted that in connection with the friction of the various sliding members belonging to the opening deviceof the cover it will retain the'cover in any open position. However, the spring 55 may be replaced by a counterweight. Copending application Serial No. 723,261, filed January 21, 1947, contains subject matter related to that herein disclosed.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by,Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for performing the two operations of washing articles with a washing fluid and subsequently removing the washing fluid from the articles, the combination of a receptacle for containing said fluid; a casing, dimensioned to provide a space between said receptacle and said casing, for containing the articles to be washed; a drum for containing the washed articles, having fluid discharge ports, said casing and said drum being operatively disposed in said receptacle during said operations of the 7 machine, in succession; means for rotatably supporting said drum in said receptacle, said means being removably mounted in said receptacle; a removable cover for said receptacle; means carried on the inner side of said cover for inducing a flowing current of air, said receptacle, casing and cover being so designed and related, when said casing is disposed in said receptacle and said cover closes said receptacle that a conduit for 7 said air current is provided so that the current flows from said inducing means downwardly through said space between the receptacle and the casing and upwardly through said casing to said inducing means; a plurality of impeller blades on said drum; a housing depending from said cover, about said inducing means and having a plurality of air ports. said ports being dis-.

posed adjacent said blades when the drum is mounted in the receptacle and the cover closes the receptacle; and a manually operated deflector shiftable on said cover for movement into and out of position between said ports and said blades, said deflector directing said current into said conduit when in said position, and said current impinging said blades to rotate the drum when the deflector is out of said position.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which an annular plate depends from the cover, said housing comprises a frusto-conical member depending concentrically from said plate, said air ports being disposed circumferentially of said member, and said deflector comprises a frusto-conical member concentric with said housing and shiftable axially of said housing.

3. A machine according, to claim 1 in which a pair of operating handles are pivoted on the outside of the cover, and linkages connect said handles with said deflector whereby said deflector is shiftable by manipulation of said handles when the cover closes the receptacle.

4. A machine according to claim 1 in which a brake is movably mounted on the inner face of the cover, co-acting with said drum; a pair of 8 operating handles are pivoted on the outside of the cover. and linkages connect said handles with said brake whereby said drum can be braked by manipulation of said handles when the cover closes the receptacle.

5. A machine according to claim 1 in which a brake is movably mounted on the inner face of the cover, co-acting with said drum, a pair of operating handles are pivoted on the outside of the cover, and linkages connect said handles with said deflector and said brake whereby said deflector is shiitable and said drum can be braked, by manipulation of said handles when the cover closes the receptacle.

CHRIS'IIAN OSKAR RASMUSSEN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 309,826 Dolph Dec. 30, 1884 1,731,517 Barker Oct. 15, 1929 1,899,005 Barker Feb. 28, 1933 1,913,600 Krauss June 13, 1933 1,927,433 Case Sept. 19, 1933 2,106,609 Krauss Jan. 25, 1938 2,203,029 Partridge June 4, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 60,248 Denmark Oct. 19, 1942 232,583 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1944

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