US2643537A

US2643537A - Combination water inlet and soap dispenser for washing machines

Info

Publication number: US2643537A
Application number: US113614A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas T Woodson
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1949-09-01
Filing date: 1949-09-01
Publication date: 1953-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1970-06-30

Description

June 1953 1'. T. wooDsoN ,643,537

COMBINATION WATER INLET AND SOAP DISPENSER FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Sept. 1, 1949 Ficgl.

Inventor; Thoma-s T Woodso I r I r is Atorne Patented June 30, 1953 COMBINATION WATER INLET AND SOAP DISPENSER FOR WASHING MACHINES Thomas T. Woodson, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a. corporation of New York Application September 1, 1949, Serial No. 113,614

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved combination water inlet means and soap'dispenser for automatic washing machines.

In certain domestic types of washing machines, automatic timing means direct a program of operations, among which are soaking, washing and rinsing. In such machines, means are provided to accommodate a charge of soap powder or other detergent material, placed in the machine at the start for automatic introduction into the washing soak water and the rinsing water is avoided. Ex-

amples of a soap dispenser and a water inlet system are found in my presently pending application Serial No. 623,991, filed October 23, 1945, for Powdered Soap Dispenser for Clothes Washing Machines and now Patent 2,523,800, dated September 26, 1950, and the application of Frank A. Rosenkrans et al., Serial No. 789,406, filed December 3, 1947, for Trap for Water Supply to Clothes Washing Machine, both of which are assigned to the assignee herein. The Rosenkrans device discloses a water inlet system having a suds trap or water seal to prevent the outflow of the suds which build upin large volume within the tub. Although these devices satisfactorily perform their intended functions they are relatively costly and obviously require individual application to the washing machine.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a combination soap dispenser, water inlet system, and suds trap which is inexpensive to manufacture and install and will perform its several functions efficiently.

This broad objective may be attained by molding a unitary structure having an enlarged chamher into which the spouts from the hot and warm water valves discharge, and a U-trap communieating between said chamber and an outlet in registry with an inlet opening or conduit through which water flows to the machine. The chamber receives the charge of soap powder or the like, which may be fed from outside the machine. The respective spouts are so arranged that the warm water stream will pass over the soap pile directly into the trap, whereas the hot water discharge will undermine the soap pile and flush it through the trap into the machine. The chamber presents a large area open to the atmosphere, and by positioning the lower edge of the respective spouts at least one inch above the maximum overflow spill level of the chamber, anti-siphonage requirements of the plumbing codes may be met. The U-trap functions efiiciently as a suds trap.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a washing machine partly in section showing my combined soap dispenser and water inlet system in its relation to the water valve and the soap powder inlet; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the washing machine with certain portions being broken away to more clearly reveal the underlying structure; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the introduction of water directly into the basket of the washing machine.

The drawings show so much of an automatic washing machine as is necessary for an understanding of the invention. Illustratively the washing machine is of the well-known commercial type disclosed and claimed in my Patent 2,523,800 and in which an outer casing l conceals a tub 2', which comprises a water receptacle into which the water for soaking, washing and rinsing is initially fed and from which it passes to a basket disposed within the tub, and within which the clothes are actually washed. At the completion of the various operational stages, the

water returns to the tub, from which it may again be pumped to the basket or discharged to a plumbing drain, according to the stage of operation.

A pair of water valves 3, 4 are suitably mounted on a bracket 5 for connection with hot and cold water services (not shown). The operation of said valves is controlled by individual solenoids t which are appropriately energized to suit the operational cycle established by a time-cycle switch (not shown), as is well known in the art. The valve 3 will be considered to be the warm water valve, thermostatically or otherwise arranged ior a water discharge temperature of, say, 100 F.;' whereas valve 4 is the hot water valve arranged to discharge water at a temperature of the order of 140 F. As is well known to those familiar with washing machine operation,

warm water is used for soaking and rinsing and either hot water or a medium temperature water arrived at bythe conjoint operation. of valves 3 and 4, is used for washing. In other words, during soaking and rinsing only valve 3 is in operation whereas during washing either valve 4, or

valves 3 and 4 jointly, may be used. The valves have the respective individual spouts I, 8.

The discharge from the valve spouts enters the tub by means of the combined inlet system and soap dispenser I comprising the present invention. The device is advantageously molded from rubber compositions or equivalent to have walls II, I2, I3, I4 which,'with the wall of the tub collectively define a chamber I5 of relatively large floor area and height communicating by means of an upwardly disposed elbow portion I6 with a tub wall opening I8. An extended flange provides means by which the device may be secured directly to the wall of the tub 2 by the illustrated screws or equivalent means. The flexibility of the unit is adaptable to the tub curvature.

For charging the chamber I5 with soap, I provide a funnel-like structure 2I suitably affixed to the top wall 22 of the outer casing and closed by a hinged orremovable cap 23. As appears from Figs. 1 and 2 the discharge end of said funnel overlies the chamber closer to walls II and I2 than to the tub wall, and particularly is remote from the mouth 24 of the trap I6. Thus soap powder entering the chamber will arrange itself in a pile 25 :in which because of the normal, predictable, angle of repose of the dry material there will be a substantial depth of material at walls .II and I2. The bottom wall 13 slopes toward the trap and merges into wall I2 through a smooth curve; and there will thus inevitably be some small accumulation of soap powder near the trap because of the travel of the granular material as it first enters the chamber.

It will be noted that the nozzle I extends relatively close to the forward wall I4 and the tub wall, and is directed to reach over the soap pile and discharge water substantially directly into the trap mouth 24. The :nozzle 1 preferably has a circular mouth, so that its discharge will be a concentrated stream; splashes forwardly of the nozzle will strike the sloping wall I4 at an angle and be deflected directly into the trap I6, and drips or rearward sprays will not enter the pile of soap powder. The slight overhang of the upper edge of wall I 4 guards against the splashing of water over said edge. .In contrast to the round stream from spout I, the spout 8 has a flat nozzle portion intended to direct a fanlike stream of ,water over substantially-the width of the rear wall I2 to discharge relatively close v thereto. The fan-wise discharge from spout 8 therefore will enter the soap pile at 'the rear thereof and intermix thoroughly therewith to convey it along the bottom wall I3 into the trap I6 and thence into the tub 2. In practice the hot water flow continues long after the soap has been evacuated, so there is no substantial residue within the chamber, and none in the trap water. I V

The tub wall opening I8 is, of course, well above the maximum waterjevelin the tub. .However, where said port is below the blanket of suds of substantial depth which will accumulate during operation, the suds will tend to :force their way out through the tub wall opening. In such situation, the trap I6 serves adequately to prevent suds escape through the opening IB. The position of said opening establishes the trap water level; and it is obvious that in order to prevent submerging the bottom portion of the soap pile the floor I3 of 'the chamber must be suitably above said level. My consideration of thisproblem indicates that with .the'relative proportions shown in Fig. 1 an adequate water level is assured.

In some forms of washing machines, the water is introduced directly into the basket 26 of the washing machine. In this arrangement, a suitable nozzle 21 may be fixed to the tub wall at its opening I8, to extend in a horizontal or downwardly sloping reach over the upper rim of the basket to discharge directly thereinto, as shown in Fig. 3;

As is well known, many plumbing codes require protection against the possibility of the submersion of any potable water faucet or nozzle in water or liquids which may be contaminated, and have required a minimum air gap of at least one inch between the lowermost end of such a nozzle and the maximum overflow spill level of any receptacle which may contain contaminated water. The present invention provides adequately for such protection because of the large overflow area at the top of the chamber I5 and the ease with which the ends of the spouts l and 8 may be fixed to provide more than the necessary one inch clearance level. It is to be considered .in viewing the drawing, therefore, that nozzles 1 and 8 are related to the maximum effective height of the chamber walls sufficiently to establish the necessary clearance, with due appreciation of the relatively small meniscus effect of soapy or otherwise contaminated water.

While ,I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, itwill be understood, of course, that 'I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made; and I therefore contemplate by the appendedclaims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I-c1aim as 'new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent-of the United States is:

1. Ina clothes washing machine, the combination of a receptacle having water inlet means, means providing a combined soap container and water conduit fixed relative to the receptacle through which the same may be filled to a predetermined level, said soap container and water conduit :providingmeans including a chamber of relatively large floor area and depth and a U-trap communicating between said chamber and a discharge means registering with said inlet means, means accessible externally of said washing machine .to receive soap powder or the like and deposit the same within said chamber remote from the entrance to said trap; means-including a pair of spouts .for discharging water into said chamber for passage through said trap into the receptacle, one of said spouts reaching over the pile of deposited'soap powder and adapted to discharge water substantially directly into said trap with minimum pickup of soap powder and the second spoutadapted to discharge water into said soap pi'leto create a turbulent mixture of soap and water for passage into said receptacle, and independently operable shutoff valves for said spouts.

2. 'In a washing machine, a water receiving tub, a' detergent receptacle with upstanding side walls and a floor of relatively large area-said receptacle having an'out-let in one corner thereof below the level of said-floor, means accessible externallyof said washing machine to receive comminuted detergent and deposit it in a pile within said receptacle, said receptacle outlet communicating with said :tub above the normal water level in said tub, a water supply system for said tub comprising a first-and second spout above said detergent receptacle and a separately operable valve for each of said spouts, said first spout being positioned for water discharge directly into said receptacle outlet, said receptacle floor being within the pattern of discharge of said second spout, and said first and second spouts being fixed relative to said chamber to establish the lowermost level of said spouts at least one inch above the top of the lowermost side wall of said receptacle.

3. A water and detergent supply system for a clothes washer tub, comprising a receptacle arranged to provide a combined detergent container and water inlet conduit, said receptacle having a sloping floor of relatively large area and a wall extending upwardly from the uppermost edge of said fioor, dispensing means above said receptacle to deposit comminuted detergent in a pile on said floor near said wall, said receptacle having an outlet below the level of said floor and remote from said wall, said receptacle outlet communicating with said tub above the normal water level in said tub, a first spout for supplying water for soaking clothes, a second spout for supplying water for washing clothes, said first spout being positioned above said receptacle outlet to discharge water directly thereinto, and said second spout being positioned above said receptacle and having a flat nozzle portion to discharge a flat spray of water against said receptacle wall to create a fanwise discharge across said receptacle floor.

4. A Water and detergent supply system for a clothes washer having a tub within which clothes may be selectively soaked and washed, comprising a receptacle adapted to provide a combined detergent container and water inlet conduit, said receptacle having a sloping floor of relatively large area and a wall extending upwardly from the uppermost edge thereof, dispensing means above said receptacle to deposit comminuted detergent in a pile on said floor adjacent said wall, said receptacle having an outlet below the level of said fioor and remote from said wall disposed for discharge into said tub at a point above the normal wash water level in said tub, a pair of discharge nozzles with one thereof having a flat nozzle portion for forming a fiat water spray, and means including said discharge spouts operable selectively to discharge water directly into said receptacle outlet to provide water for soaking said clothes and to discharge said flat water spray on said receptacle floor and adjacent said wall to create a fanwise discharge across said floor to provide water and detergent for washing said clothes.

THOMAS T. WOODSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,038,260 Ash Apr. 21, 1936 2,228,914 Pierce Jan. 14,1941 2,372,770 De Remer Apr. 3, 1945