US2651190A - Cleaning and extracting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

J. F. HORVATH CLEANING AND EXTRACTING APPARATUS Sept. 8, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1947 Sept. 8, 1953 J. F. HORVATH CLEANING AND EXTRACTING APPARATUS l Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1947 J" .Z: Z6 'I ill" II I" Sept. 8, 1953 J. F. HORVATH CLEANING AND EXTRACTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 50, 1947 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jain? f. Ham :72]? v p 8, 1953 J. F. HORVATH 2,651,190

CLEANING AND EXTRACTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 50, 1947 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 8, 1953 J. F. HORVATH CLEANING AND EXTRACTING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 50. 1947 $400M Jahn F. HUPIg'di/Z J. F. HORVATH CLEANING AND EXTRACTING APPARATUS .Sept. 8, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheetfi Filed Jan. 30, 1947 Sept. 8, 1953 J. F. HORVATH CLEANING AND EXTRACTING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 50, 1947 Jam? P 1953 J. F. HORVATH 2,651,190

' CLEANING AND EXTRACTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 50. 1947 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Ja/m F. Harvai/z 57 73., QM, XQAAA, M W e Sept. 8, 1953 J. F. HORVATH CLEANING AND EXTRACTING APPARATUS 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. 30, 1947 Ja/m ff Harvazh EWXQM :7

Sept. 8, 1953 J. F. HORVATH CLEANING AND EXTRACTING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Jan. 30, 1947 63mm Jahn F. Hal". 1/5115 Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEANING AND EXTRACTIN G APPARATUS John F: Horvath, Milwaukee, Wis;, assignor to Appliance Corporation of- America, Milwaukee, Wis., a. corporation of Wisconsin Application January 30, 1947, Serial No. 725,299

11 Claims.

This invention relates more particularly to an apparatus for cleaning, and extracting the cleaning liquid from materials and has for its general object the provision of a new and improved apparatus of this type.

Another object is to provide a new and im'-- proved combined cleaning and extracting apparatus of the type embodying means for squeezing the materials to extract the liquid therefrom.

Another object is toprovidesuch an apparatus I embodying a container for materials (as, for example, clothes) oscillatable about a generally upright axis and at a, relatively low speed during-both cleaning and extracting operations and having novel means'for cleaning the materialsand for extractingthe liquid from the materials.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus embodyingan oscillatable container having ribs or--other projectingmeans on the interior thereof effective to produce a cleaning or washing action and a flexiblemember adapted to fit against the lower portion of the container to form a bottomwall thereof and for the liquid therein during a was-hing operation, and'means operableto supply a fluid to the bottom of the-container beneath said member operable during continued oscillation-of the container to raisethe-materials while discharging the washing liquid through openings in the top of the container, and subse quentlysqueezing the materials against the top ofthe container to extract the liquid therefrom;

Another object is to extracting apparatus embodying a general spherical container mounted tooscillate onan upright axis andhavingribs'on the .inner- Wall thereof effective to produce a Washing action when materials and therein, a flexible member having its edge anchored inwater-tight relation with the wall of the container and normally arranged to fit against the lower portion of the container and said ribs and adapted alternatively to'be pressed upwardly against the upper portion of the container to empty liquid from said portion, certain of" saidribs located in the container above said flexible member being of yieldable material.

A further object is to provide means for introducing liquid under pressure behind; a flexible linerfor extracting cleansing liquid from the material being; cleansed and means to introduce rinse'water into an oscillatable container, and meansenabling the transfer ofthe liquid under pressure back of the flexible liner into the con;- tainer above the liner so as to use said liquid for rinsing purposes.

provide a cleaning and;

suitable liquid are placed A still'further object is to provide in'the highpressure line a recirculating check valve which is so constructed and'arranged' as to permit the recirculation of water through a high-pressure pump when the noise.

Further objects of' the invention are: to provide a cleaning and extracting apparatus embodying a container mounted for oscillation about an upright axis and having a perforated cover at the upper-end thereof,vmeansfor oscillating the container'continuously during" washing, extracting and rinsing operations, means for supplying hot water to the container for'a cleaning and washing operation, and" means for supplying cold water to the container duringa rinsing operation; to provide such an apparatus with 'meansfor controlling, the operation thereof, including a housing lid interlock which prevents starting the machine while or partially'open; to provide'novel cover means for the oscillatable I spherical container to enable sliding the coverbodily in a single plane and means for locking thecover closed with relation to the container to prevent opened during the operation'of the machine; to

provide an improved timer control handle'and associated parts; toprovide means for easily, quieklyand positively holding-the chime ring in position when assembling two halves of the spherical container; to provide novel motor mounting and drive connections for oscillating provide a tub draina lint trap assembly in the tub drain and. having a. removable perforated basket; toiprovid'e a pressure relief valve in the high-pressure line to of. the liquid behind the: flexible liner at adesiredLamountand reliefofmaintain the pressure excess pressure after it exceeds said amount; to provide such an apparatus "embodying an automatic sequential timer. for. obtaining washing, i extracting, rins n and, extracting operations in the order named; and to provide a combination;

cleaning and extracting apparatus of extremely simple construction which operates. only at a relatively slow speed and: without producing, noticeable vibrations" and is effective to wash pump is not delivering pressure behind the flexible liner, to eliminate wear and the lidis open the cover being and rinse clothes and to extract the wash and rinse water therefrom in a manner removing substantially all of the foreign material from the clothes and leaving them substantially dry.

Important objects of the invention are: to provide a new apparatus for effectively rinsing washed materials with cold water; and to provide a new and improved apparatus for washing, extracting, rinsing and extracting materials in the sequence named and obtaining improved washing, rinsing and drying of the materials. I

Other objects will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of the invention wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning and,

extracting apparatus embodying my invention, part of the housing being broken away to more clearly show the arrangement of the oscillatable container in the upper compartment of the hous- Fig. 2 is a vertical central section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section at right angles to Fig. 2 and taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical central section through the container and somewhat similar to Fig. 3 (on a reduced scale) but showing liquid and materials in operation.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the relative positions of the parts during an extracting operation.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 86 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section through the upper portion of the container and the adjacent top portion of the housing showing the container cover and the housing lid in closed position.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the housing lid and the container cover open.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the container showing the container cover in closed and locked position.

Fig. 10 is a perspective exploded view of the drain fitting of the upper compartment, the cap' therefor and the removable line removing screen.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the top of the housing and portion of the lid and control means, showing the housing lid closed and the locking means released to permit operation of the control shaft.

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation looking toward the left hand side of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a perspective exploded view of the control handle, a portion of the control shaft and a portion of the housing top showing the setting starter dial, these parts being shown just prior to their being assembled together.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section on the line I l-I4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through adjacent parts of the upper and lower sections of the container and showing how they, the flexible liner and the upper flexible ribs are mounted with relation to each. other.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view (on a reduced scale) of the flexible liner or diaphragm to be mounted as shown in Fig. 15 within the container.

Fig. 17 is a perspective exploded view of the mechanism for oscillating the container and for reducing the speed of the control shaft.

the container during a washing Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic representation of the operative parts of the apparatus with its hydraulic and electrical circuits and its timing mechanism.

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 but showing a modification including mechanism to utilize the squeezing liquid underneath the flexible liner for rinsing.

While my invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I have shown therein, for illustrative purposes only, a

preferred embodiment setting forth an exemplification of the principles of the invention and wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The present application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 637,964, filed December 29, 1945, now abandoned.

In the drawings, and particularly in Figs. 1. 2 and 14, the invention is embodied in a household type washing and extracting apparatus or machine comprising a generally rectangular housing having a top part 2|] and a bottom part 2|, a partition 22 extending horizontally across the housing to divide it into an upper compartment 23 and a lower compartment 24, a lid 25 for an opening 26 in the top of the upper compartment and a base member 21 secured to the bottom of the housing. A generally spherical container 28 is positioned in the compartment 23 and is supported for oscillation about an upright axis by means of a member 29 secured to the upper end of a drive shaft 30 which is supported in a bearing 3| in the partition 22 and a bearing 32 secured to the base member 21.

The container 28, as illustrated herein, consists of a lower substantially hemi-spherical part 35 and an upper part 36, provided with an opening 31. A closure or cover 38 for the opening 31 has its peripheral edge 39 located within the part 36 and is movably supported thereon for sliding movement in a circular path. The cover 38 is perforated by a plurality of apertures 4| and is located immediately below the lid 25 of the housing. As shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the cover is slidable back and forth in a single path by means of a slide bar 251, slidable back and forth in a bracket 251 (as later more fully explained) so as to enable moving the cover to an open position, giving access to the container for the purpose of inserting and withdrawing clothes or other materials when the lid 25 is open.

Internally, the container 28 has a pair of ribs 45, which are in effect a continuation of each other, extending inwardly from the lower part 35, and a pair of ribs 46 extending inwardly from the upper part 36. Prefereably, these ribs are in a common vertical plane, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and function during a slow oscillatory movement of the container to produce a washing action of liquid on the clothes or other materials placed in the container. A flexible member 41 is arranged normally to fit against the inner surface of the lower part 35 and snugly over the ribs 45, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 18 and 19. The flexible member or diaphragm 41 is substantially bowl shaped, may be of rubber or other suitable material, and is provided with an outwardly and laterally extending flange 41a which is secured intermediate radially extending flanges 48 and 49 on the container parts 35 and 36, respectively. This flange 41a is securely clamped between the flanges 48 and 49 by means of an annular clamping ring 50 which is held together at its adjacent ends by a pair of clips 42, each provided in each of its legs with a slot 43 to provide undercut projections 44 engaging complemental notches in the flanges of the chime clamping ring 50. The connection between the container and diaphragm is made fiuidtight by the provision of a downward y extending lip 41b on the under side of the diaphragm or flexible liner adjacent the attaching flange 41a. An annular ring 52 presses this lip 41b against the inner wall of the container and provides an efiective seal between the diaphragm and the con-- tainer.

In the form of the invention disclosed herein, the container 23 is arranged to be oscillated at a relatively slow speed continuously throughout washing, extracting and rinsing operations. To

wheel 55 meshing with a pinion 51 fixed to rotate with the vertical drive shaft 58 driven by belt 59 movement operates through the link 56 and rocker arm 5| to oscillate the shaft and container 28 through an angle of approximately 90 (see Figs. 14 and 17). The shaft 58, pinion 51, gear 55, link 56, rocker arm 5i, the lower end of shaft 30, the upper ratchet wheel I 2|, the lower ratchet taine'r. The wall of the. container part 36 is provided with one or more openings 36a behind each of the ribs. 46 whereby the air and water which ribs are compressed.

In order to facilitate filling the container with water or other liquid, an arcuately bent pip 10 (Figs. 2, 3, l8 and 19) is provided With a plurality of spaced connections 1| and 12 with the top part of the container. Pipe 10 is connected at 11 extends from pipe 18 around the major portion of the housing (Figs. 1 and 3) to permit the container to be oscillated with a minimum The pipe 16 is arranged to conduct hot water to the hose 14, arcuate pipe 10 and to the interior of the container, for Washing purposes, and cold Water for 85, 81 to a high-pressure drain valve 88. Pipe 86, 81 is also connected by a pipe 15 to a low- From the connection 8i, cold water passes through a pipe to a rinse valve 92.

having therein a valve stem 252 connected to move with the diaphragm 203 which is normally positioned by a spring 25 3 to hold this valve open. From recirculating valve 25! extends a pipe 295 connected with the inlet port of the high-presvalve 29!, at a point adjacent the valve on valve stem 252, extends a pipe 268 having connection with pipe 209. Pipe 209 above the adjacent end sureirelief'valve 2Il'which has in its interior a valve 2I2 normally 'held against its seat by a spring 2I3; The housing of the relief valve 2II isprovided with any desired number of openings 2 to permit relief of the high-pressure water therein when the same exceeds 150 pounds per square inch, or any other predetermined pressure. In other words, the pressure relief valve 2 maintains the pressure in the high-pressure line attl50 pounds per square inch, or any other predetermined pressure.

As' will be'seen in Figs. 18 and 19, the passagewaythrough pipe I8 and connection 65 leads into thev space between the flexible diaphragm 4'? and the inner surface of the bottom part of the spherical container. Pipe 209 below its connection with pipe 268 leads to pipe 2I5 which connects with the drain valve 33.

.. Cold water passes from pipe 9| through rinse valve 92 (when the latter is open) and thence through pipes 2I6 and I6 to the vacuum breaker 2H, and thence through hose I4 to the interior of the spherical container for rinsing purposes, as later more fully explained. Hot water passes from the connection 83 through a pipe I62 to the mixing valve 9 3, this mixing valve being provided with a manual control handle I33, which is adjustable to determine the relative amount of hot and cold water issuing from the mixing valve to a pipe I04 within which is positioned a check valve 2 I8 to permit flow of not or warm water to the right, as viewed in Fig, 18, but prevent flow of the same in the opposite direction. This hot water (when the rinse valve 32 is closed) passes upwardly through pipe I6, vacuum breaker 2i! and hose 14 to the interior of the spherical container for washing purposes, as later more fully explained.

A control mechanism is provided for governing automatically the operation of the machine after an initial manual starting operation. The automatic control includes a series of cams (Figs. 2, 1'7, 18 and 19) H8, III, H2, H3 and 259, all mounted on a single shaft H4. The shaft is driven from the vertical shaft 39 by means including a pawl and ratchet speed reducing mechanism I2I, I26, etc. (Fig. 1'7).

The rocker arm i extends to the right, as viewed in Fig. 17, beyond shaft to form a cam II6, which during oscillation of rocker arm 5i, contacts the adjustable projection 220 on arm 22I loosely mounted to oscillate about control shaft I I4. Arm 22I is normally urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 17, by spring 222, except when forced in counterclockwise direction bycam H6. Also loosely mounted on shaft H4 is the ratchet wheel I2I rotatably mounted below the plate 223 so positioned with relation to the casing II5 so as to properly position ratchet I2! in a vertical direction. Pivotally mounted on arm 22I is a pawl 224 having at its free end a tooth engaging the teeth of ratchet wheel I2I and normally held in engagement with said teeth by spring 225. From this it is seen that oscillation of arm 22I will cause ratchet wheel I2I to loosely rotate on shaft H4 an amount equal to the throw of pawl 224 and arm 22I. Pivotally mounted on plate 223 is a spring pressed dog 226 to hold ratchet wheel I2I against inadvertent rearward movement, but permitting forward movement by pawl 224. Fixed to the bottom end of control shaft m is a second ratchet I26 separated from ratchet I2I by a separating plate 221. Ratchet I2I has one of its teeth 228 of greater depth than the remainder of its teeth. Ratchet wheel I26 of slightly smaller diameter than ratchet I2I so that during the normal operation of pawl 224, the latter does not have engagement with the teeth of ratchet I26. When, however, the tooth of pawl 224 enters the deeper toot-h 228 of ratchet I2I, it contacts the teeth of ratchet I26 for one oscillation of arm 22 I, after which it is free from the teeth of ratchet I26 until ratchet I2I'has made a complete revolution. This means that the control shaft I I4 is moved only one tooth of ratchet I26 for each revolution of ratchet I2I, thus greatly reducing the speed of rotation of shaft II4. Pivotally mounted upon plate 221 is a spring pressed dog 244 having yieldable engagement with the teeth of ratchet I26 to prevent inadvertent rearward movement thereof.

The electrical connections consist of supply leads I30 and I3I, the former of which leads to a switch device I32. Lead I3I is connected to one terminal of the motor 66. The other terminal of the motor 60 is connected by a lead I34 to the switch device I32. It will be apparent that the motor may be started by closing the switch I32.

Switch I32 is arranged to be closed by the cam III). This cam has a notch I35 therein into which a follower I36 extends when the machine is stopped. The follower is connected to actuate the switch I32 when the cam III! is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 18. Means is provided for moving the cam H6 manually for starting purposes. This means consists of a starter handle I31 (shown more clearly in Figs. 11-13) mounted by ratchet means, more clearly described later herein, upon a square shaft I36 which extends through and is rotatable within a supporting pipe I33, which has its lower end fixed to the partition 22. Fixed at the bottom of shaft I38 is a pinion I46, which rotates the series of pinions I4I, which in turn rotate the pinion I42 fixed to the control shaft H4. Thus, by manually rotating the starter handle I31 in a clockwise direction, the pinion I42 and starter shaft H4 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction suffioiently to force the follower I36 out of the notch I35, thereby closing the switch I32. The motor 66 is thereby started and the machine placed in operation.

As will be apparent from Fig. 18, cam Ii I controls the high-pressure drain valve 88, cam II2 controls the squeeze valve 98, cam II3 controls the rinse valve 92, and cam 2I9 controls the low-pressure drain valve 83. Cam III is provided with a follower I45 supported on a pivot II6and engageable with a stem I47 of a .valve member I48, normally urged into closed position by a coil spring 225. Cam III, has raised peripheral portions I49 and I59 and depressed portions I5I and I52 therebetween.

Cam II2 has a follower I53 supported on a pivot I54 and is engageable with a stem I55 of a valve member I56, which is normally held in closed position by a coil spring 236. The cam II2 has raised peripheral portions I51 and I58 and intermediate depressed portions I59 and IE0. Cam I I3 has a follower IBI supported on a pivot I62 and engageable with a stem I63 of a valve member I64, normally held in closed position by a coil spring 23L Cam II3 has a single raised peripheral portion I65 and a depressed portion IB'B. v

' The low-pressure drain cam 2|!) has a follower 232 supported on a pivot I46 and engageable with a stem 234 of a valve member 235, normally held in closed position by a coil spring 236. Cam 2|9 has two raised peripheral portions 231 and 238 extracting, in the order named.

The vacuum breakers 200 and 2|! disc 243 is not the inner end of opening 242, thus leaving the top of pipe 95 open for the passage of cold water from pipe I into pipe 95 during the inverting of the flexible diaphragm in the spherical container.

Vacuum breaker 2 I 1 operates in a manner similar to that described above for vacuum breaker which similar reference numerals have been applied excepting for the addition of a the like 245 to the cover 38 is a. U-shaped member 246 having laterally spaced apart arms between which is mounted on pivot 24! a cover locking member 243, as will be best understood in Figs. 7 and 8.

lower end to the base portion of the U-shaped member 245. A coil spring 253 is mounted between the base of U-shaped member 246 cover is being moved from closed to tion.

open posiis in operation. In Figure 7, is shown in closed and locked time the inwardly extending while the machine the container cover position at which that the coil spring 253 is compressed between the slide bar 25| and the base of the U-shaped member 245. To unlock the container closed to open position and vice versa. It will also be noted that locking arm 248 can not be moved to open position until after the tub lid 25 has been opened. lid 25 has been Th it to be rotated any desired amount to correbore 263 cylindrical stem 264, which stem has fixed thereto the flange 265 housing. Depending is tubular portion 210 within which is fixed by pin 2.1! the upper end of the square shaft I38 which extends downwardly within tube 139 and has fixed at its lower end the pinion The upper portion of square shaft I38 passes through a square opening 212 in a disc 213 which disc has fixed thereto a downwardly extending cup shaped portion 214 having an extension 214 adapted to be freely rotatable within tube I39. The bottom surface of the cup 214 rests upon the upper edge of tube I39 which locates the disc 213 and cup 214 at a predetermined height. By this construction the disc 213 rotates with the shaft I39. Just above the top panel 269 is fixed a plate 215 constituting a dial on which is marked indication points for the various operations, such as Off, Heavy, Average, Wool, Rinse and Damp dry. As seen in Fig. 13, an indicator 216 is fixed to, and projects laterally from, the flange 265 so that rotation of this flange by the starter handle will enable the operator to position the indicator at the desired point of operation indicated in the dial 219.

Resiliently and slidably mounted in diametrically opposite non-circular holes 211 are a pair of dogs 218 each normally urged outwardly by coil springs 219. The lower end of each of does 218 are inclined and the ratchet teeth 266 so formed that when the starter handle I31 is rotated in a clockwise direction when viewed from above, the starter handle will rotate the shaft I38 in the same direction until the indicator 216 is positioned at the point on the dial indicating the desired operation. The starter handle may then be returned to the neutral point which is its initial position while the indicator or pointer continues with the timer control to indicate inwhich portion of the cycle the machine is operating. The starter handle is releasably held in its initial position in the concavity 289 by a ball detent 28L When the starter handle is thus moved in a clockwise direction from its initial position any desired amount, it will be understood from the foregoing description that the follower I36 will move from the depression I35 in cam I III up onto the raised periphery, thus closing the switch I32 and the machine will then continue to operate throughout the entire cycle until the indicator or pointer 213 has finished its path around the circle and again returns to the off position on the dial, which will return the follower I36 to a position where its end will again be seated in the depression I35 to open the switch I32 and stop the motor.

Associated with the tub lid is door interlock means for preventing starting the machine while the lid 25 is open, to provide a safety feature to preclude starting the machine until both the container cover and the lid 25 are closed. This door interlock means comprises a pair of brackets 282 and 283 bolted or otherwise secured to the lower face of that portion of the housing cover which is pressed downwardly to form a seat for reception of the lid 25. These brackets each have a bearing member 234 which is fastened thereto by a bolt 285. The lower end 236 of the bearing member is formed to provide a bearing in which a shaft 281 is rotatably mounted. At its left hand ,end, as viewed in Fig. 11, shaft 281 is laterally bent at 298 (see also Fig. 12) to provide a crank portion 289 which will rotate in the arc of a circle upon rotation of shaft 281. The opposite end of shaft 281 is provided with a laterally extending arm 29!! which at its free end is bent downwardly to provide a slightly curved locking projection 29I. Fixed to the lower face of lid 25 is a bracket 292 having in its lower end portion an arcuate slot 293 within which the crank arm 289 is positioned and the arm 299 is swung upwardly when the lid is closed, and from which it is removed and the arm 299 swung downwardly when the lid is opened. This means that when the crank arm 289 is positioned within the slot 293, the arm 299 is swung upwardly and the lid is locked against opening.

It is also to be noted that disc 213 of shaft I38 is provided at one point in its periphery with a slot 294 for receiving the curved projection 29I of arm 290 when these parts are in registry. It will be understood that while the machine is in operation, the disc 213 is being slowly rotated by means of the control shaft H4 and the speed reducing ratchets shown in Fig. 11. Projection 29I of arm 299 and the slot 294 of disc 213 are so positioned that when the slot registers with projection 29I the latter may be moved downwardly into this slot and prevent further operation of the machine. This slot and projection are so positioned that when arm 29I passes downwardly into slot 294 the machine will be in off position and the motor stopped, thus making it impossible to start the motor until the projection 29I of arm 293 is again raised from slot 294. Arcuate slot 293 of bracket 292 is so formed that the lower edge of this slot acts as a cam so that when lid 25 is raised, this cam slot will force crank arm 289 thereoutof to enable raising of the lid. As stated above, the disc 213 at this time is standing at off position, thus enabling projection 29I to enter slot 294. At any other than off position of disc 213, it would be impossible to open lid 25 for the reason that the bottom end of projection 29f of arm 293 would be held upwardly by contact with the upper surface of disc 212 and could not enter slot 294 until the washing cycle had been completed. In other words, the lid can not be raised until projection 29I is in registry with slot 292 at which point the motor is not in operation.

the arcuate slot 293 extends farther laterally than the bottom edge, as seen in Fig. 11, so that when the lid is closed after having been opened, the top edge of this slot will act as a cam upon the crank arm 239 and force it farthey inwardly into this slot to lock the lid closed and similarly withdraw projection 29I from slot 294.

The ribs 45 in the bottom of the lower part of the sphere or container are provided with a number of apertures 295 to permit entry of squeezing liquid from connection 35 to the space underheath the flexible diaphragm 41. The relative arrangement of the motor, the speed reducing ratchet mechanism, the timer shaft and earns. drain pump, and other associated parts, will be readily understood from inspection of Fig. 14.

The drain connection 93 for draining water from the upper compartment of the housing is attached to the partition 22 by screwing the top member 299 into the upstanding neck of the drain member 99 to clamp these parts onto partition 22. The cover or plug 299 is formed with a drain opening 291 leading into the hollow interior of the drain member 99 which latter extends laterally at 299, which extension has formed at its free end a flange 299 for receiving the cover plate 399, of the screen carrying member which is clamped against flange 299 by a swingable spring yoke 3M and a toggle lever 322 provided with an adjusting screw 303 adapted to be seated in the seat 394 of the cover 393 and clamped thereagainst by the force of the spring yoke. Fixed to cover 300 and extending inwardly of the hollow interior of the drain 9!) is a preferably concave screen member 305 which at its inner end is curved in the form of a semi-circle at 306 to tightly contact with the semi-circular interior of the adjacent side of the neck of the drain member 90. This or other extraneous matter, and the screen then replaced, as described above.

The recirculating check valve in the highpressure line (see Fig. 18) functions to permit the high-pressure passes down through this vertical tube 95 to the recirculating valve 20! and high-pressure pump 206. The water passes through all the passages of the recirculating valve until the pressure in the high-pressure pump to the flexible diaphragm 4?.

A modification of the control diagram shown in Fig. 18

rinsing. This is accomplished by pro-- viding a double valve operated by the rinse cam. In Fig. 19, a second valve 301 is mounted upon the housing of the rinse valve 92 moves to open position, thus connecting the highp-ressure line 209- with the rinse water line 2|6. The outlet of the second rinse valve connects with an inlet port N2 of an injector SIS, while the slot 294 to prevent starting of the motor and operation of the machine. The clothes or other materials are inserted into the'container through the opening 31 and hot water is supplied to the container by turning the handle I03 of the mixof lid 25 moves the projection 29! upwardly out of slot 294 after which the motor will be started by rotation of the starter handle I31.

Thereafter, upon rotating the starter handle upper compartment of the housing through the drain member 9a, lox-v-pressure drain valve 83, and pipes and 83 to the drain pump 85 to discharge it to the drain pipe 82. At this time, the squeeze valve 98 is closed to supply of water from the cold inlet 8| from prevent the.

reaching the bottom of the container. The rinse valve 92 is also Closed.

The washing operation continues as long as the follower I45 rides on the raised peripheral portion I49 of the high-pressure cam III. At the end of the washing operation, the follower I45 rides off the end of the raised portion I49 of cam III and effects the closing of the drain valve 88. At substantially the same time, the follower I53 of the squeeze cam II2 rides up on the'raised portion I58 of that cam and opens the squeeze valve 98. The opening of the squeeze valve 98 permits cold water under inlet line pressure to flow through the pipe 9|, valve 98, pipe I00, vacuum breaker 2B0, pipe 95, through recirculating check valve L pipe 288, hose I1 and connection 85 to the bottom of the container and beneath the flexible diaphragm 41 to push the same upwardly. As soon as the pressure from the city mains entering through the path just described above is equalized in the pipes passing to and from the recirculating check valve, the pressure from the high-pressure pump 206 builds up to close this recirculating check valve and exert higher pressure in the pipe line 201, 208, hose 1! and connection 65 to the space between the flexible diaphragm and the container until this pressure reaches I50 pounds per square inch, or such other predetermined pressure as may be determined by the pressure relief valve 2. The water at line pressure introduced to the space underneath the flexible diaphragm is admitted in a relatively large volume so as to obtain rather rapid upward movement of the flexible diaphragm from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5. This upward movement of the flexible diaphragm forces the washing liquid in the container upwardly through the holes 41 in the container cover from which it overflows into the upper compartment of the housing.

The high-pressure pump 2% has a relatively small output, which does not add measurably to the rapid rise of the flexible diaphragm, but is intended to become efieotive when the line pressure from the city mains is not sufiiciently great to complete a proper extracting operation. After the rapid rise of the flexible diaphragm by the cold water from the city mains, continued operation of the high-pressure pump closes the recirculating check valve 2I'II and raises the pressure of the liquid beneath the flexible diaphragm to the maximum of that provided for by the relief valve 2 I I, which as stated above, is preferably about 150 pounds per square inch. Flow of water from the high-pressure pump reversely through the pipes 95 and I00 is prevented by the recirculating check valve 20L which nevertheless provides for flow of water from the city mains through the recirculating check valve to the high-pressure pump.

During the extracting operation, the container continues to oscillate with the result that the clothes are in continual agitation and the foreign matter or dirt therefrom is retained in suspension in the liquid until the flexible diaphragm or member A! forces the clothes against the top of the container and the liquid is extracted. Furthermore, the continued oscillation causes the suds and a substantial amount of the dirt to be retained on the surface of the liquid so that it is forced outwardly through the apertures AI in the cover 38 early in the extracting movement of the flexible member 41. Also during the extracting operatic the continued agitation of the materials and liquid causes the materials to rise in suspension in the liquid so that they reach the upper portion of the container relatively early in the extracting operation. The pressure of the line supply of cold water is generally suficient to force out through the cover 38 all of the free liquid in the container, but not all of that reta'ned in the clothes. The high-pressure pump thereupon functions during the final portion of the operation to force out substantially all of the liquid from the clothes. The discharged liquid, as stated above, empties into the upper compartment 23 and is drained out through the opening 291, pipe 89, low-pressure drain valve 83, and pipes I5 and 86 to the drain pump 85 and drain pipe 82.

In the form herein illustrated, the length of the extracting operation is determined by the length of the raised portion I58 of the squeeze cam II2. When the follower I53 rides down off the raised portion I58 of this cam and onto the depressed portion I60 thereof, the squeeze valve 98 is again closed to cut off the supply of water from the line connection to the bottom of the container. This at the same time cuts off the supply of Water from the line connection to the high-pressure pump and prevents further addition of high-pressure water to the space below the flexible member 41. At the same time, the follower I of the high-pressure drain cam III rides up on the raised portion I of that cam and again opens the high-pressure drain valve 88 to permit drainage of all of the water from the container underneath the flexible member 41, thereby permitting the flexible member to descend to its normal or washing position, as

high-pressure water underneath the flexible member again opens the valve on stem 202 in the recirculating check valve and permits the water from the high-pressure pump 206 to be idly recirculated through the recirculating check valve and back to the high-pressure pump through pipes 201 and 205. At the same time that the valves 88 and 98 are operated upon the completion of the extracting or squeeze operation, the follower IBI of the rinse cam II3 rides up on the raised portion I of said cam to open the rinse valve 92 and admit cold water to the container through the pipe 9 I valve 92, pipes 2 I6 and I6, vacuum breaker 2 I1, hose I4 and pipe III. It should be kept in mind that the check valve 2I8 prevents back flow of this rinse water from pipe It to the mixing valve 94. The rinse water is discharged into the upper portion of the container and over the clothes in sufficiently large volume and aids in returning the flexible member 41 to its normal position. Here again, the oscillating motion of the container continues, with the result that the clothes are agitated in the rinse water. To effect a highly improved rinsing of the clothes and at the same time permit the use of cold water therefor, the rinse water continues to flow into the container until the entire container is filled and thereafter continues flowing into the container during the agitated rinsing operation while surplus rinse water overflows cover 38 of the container and carries away additional foreign matter, principally soap, which remained in the clothes after the extracting operation. As a result, substantially all of the soap is removed from the clothes and carried away with the overflow rinse water before the extracting operation commences when the follower I53 of the squeeze cam H 2 ridesup'on the ra-ised portion l 51" thereofzandi simultaneously followers- I45, and; I 6-! creams; I I l; and Ha ride down from the raisedportions; 150' Atthis that the low-pressure drain camzil 9 hasitssraisedg and 238', and its depressed t portions tures in the cover and then expressed from the clothes.-

This extracting op- I eration also continues for a sufiicient length of.

of the rinse water for an the extracting period:

The extraction 7 of: therinse water-is: completedwhen the follower I 45. rides the raised portion The valves are then' in the position shown mFig.18 whereuponthe water under the flexible member 47* is drained off through the high-pressure drain valvefliliandther flexible member descends in the container'to its this proportionof cleaning: fluid. Whenthercontainer oscillates with this load ofwashing fiuid, and material, a violent-action occurs in the,containenthe material and fluidat the end ofeach oscillation strike the ribs and aretossedupwardly in' the container. This causesconsiderable rubbing, or 'fiexing of the mass of material against the ribs and when the material drops down against: the; wall of the; container, henceialli the;-

next: oscillation.

Wl 1en. however, the rinsing action commences, the rinse water" completely fills" the tub and over; .theowater and: i p p ciently; in, the container so that of; the material gradually, move the'bottom, of, theucontainer and aresult no scum. or" soap suds trapped. underneath'any of the material and all of. th'isfsoap willlfiowjout. of. the container by the time the rinsing. period is concluded and. none Willlfbe deposited on. the material.

Withaspherical container approximately nineteen} inches. in diameter-,1 havejfound that the best washing action. occurs whenthe container diiferent pieces from the top. to back again. As will be caught or is oscillated at approximately seventy-two times I When the number of oscillations is decreaseda relatively small, amount; such as 15%,

the tossing. action referred to above does not oc cur and'thewashing actionfd'ecreases as much as l25fto30'%,..- Also,.,to give the; best resultls, the upper; ribsshould extend above the level of a full load in the container preferablyj about '80 to of its; capacity Referring. to themodifiCation in Fig; 19, it will be. the addition ofthe additional rinse valve till, the high-pressure water, underneath thezfiexible member 41; will be used for rinsing because of the tworinse valves 92: and{ 3111' being both open simultaneously. during, the rinsev interval. a At this time, the high-pressure, drain cam j 88: is closed, so. that the highepressure liquid underneath the flexible member isforcoedthroug'h. pipe 3 I l,

wise, Figs19,is',s1m11a1:-to Fig, thechanges. referredv to th'e same reference numerals have been ,used. on, the. other. correspond; ingzparts.

Itlis. also to benoted that 'themoto'r, ismountunderstood; from the foregoing description that 19 1y from said motor during the operation of the machine, a slowly rotatable control shaft having means for effecting sequential operation of the machine to obtain a cycle comprising washing, extracting, rinsing and extracting in the order named, and connections between said container shaft arm and said control shaft for slowly rotating the latter for effecting said sequential operation.

2. A laundry machine comprising an oscillatable container, a rigid fluid agitating rib on the interior of said container, a flexible member adapted to divide said container into a washing compartment and a compression compartment and arranged snugly to overlie said rib, a hollow collapsible rubber rib fixed around its marginal edges to the interior of the upper portion of said container so that said edges are immovable with relation to said upper portion of the container to travel therewith during its oscillation, means for supplying cleaning and rinsing fluid to said washing compartment, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said compression compartmentwhereby to force said member against said material and the wall of said container to extract fluid from said material exteriorly of said container and to collapse said hollow rib, power means, and means continuously driven thereby for oscillating said container, said rubber rib being separate from the flexible member and projecting outwardly into the upper portion of the washing compartment during the washing operation and being collapsed against the container wall by the pressure of the flexible member during the extracting operation.

3. A washing and extracting machine having in combination a clothes container supported for oscillation about an upright axis extending through the vertical center line of the container, means for oscillating said container, control means for effecting sequential operation of the machine to obtain a cycle comprising washing, extracting, rinsing and extracting in the order named and to stop the machine sometime after the completion of the second extracting operation, said means comprising a motor driven shaft having a pinion, a gear driven by said pinion, a container supporting shaft having fixed thereto a rocker arm, and a link connecting the gear and rocker arm, whereby rotation of the motor driven shaft Jwill oscillate the container continuously while the motor is running, said control means including a slowly rotatable control shaft, and connectionsbetween said container shaft rocker arm and said control shaft for slowly rotating the latter for effecting said sequential operation.

4. A machine as the rocker arm at the end opposite the link connected end extends beyond the container shaft, and said connections include speed reduction mechanism operatively connected between the control shaft and the extended end of the rocker arm for rotating the control shaft at a slow speed while the container is oscillating at a considerably faster speed.

5. A washing and extracting machine having in combination a clothes container having agitating means in the lower portion thereof and having a flexible liner therein and an apertured cover, means for introducing high-pressure liquid behind the liner for pushing the liner forwardly for extracting purposes, means for introducing rinse liquid in the container in front of the liner, and means for transferring the liquid 75 the for oscillating the container claimed in claim 3, in which behind the liner into the container in front of" the liner to be used for rinse purposes and then discharged through said apertured cover to drain, a motor, a vertical shaft oscillated by said motor, and said container being fixed to said shaft to oscillate therewith in horizontal planes about an axis of rotation which is an extension of the axis of rotation of said shaft.

6. A washing and extracting machine, comprising, .a container for textile materials and liquid, said container having agitating means in the lower portion thereof and having a flexible liner therein and an apertured closure, a pump and pipe line for introducing high-pressure liquid behind the liner for pushing the liner forwardly for extracting purposes, a conduit connecting a rinse liquid supply with the interior of the container in front of the liner, a valve in said conduit, a further pipe leading from said pipe line, a pipe connection between said further pipe and said conduit for conducting liquid from behind the liner to in front of the liner for rinse purposes, and a valve in said pipe connection for controlling said last mentioned passage of liquid to in front of the liner.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, including a drain pipe connected with said further pipe, and a valve in said drain pipe,

8. A machine as claimed in claim 7, including cams for operating said valves, said cams be-' ing formed so that during the rinsing operation the liner may be again pushed forwardly for extracting the rinse liquid from in front thereof and from the materials, and the liquid behind the liner may be conducted to a drain by opening the valve in the drain pipe shortly before the end of the rinsing operation.

9. A washing and extracting machine, comprising, an oscillatable container for textile materials and liquid, said container having a flexible liner therein and an apertured wall opposite said liner, hollow collapsible rubber ribs fixed to the inner surface of the container independently of the flexible liner for agitating the materials in the liquid during movement of the container, and means for introducing high-pressure liquid behind the liner for pushing the liner forwardly for extracting the liquid from the container and the materials, said rubber ribs collapsing against the container wall when the liner is extracting liquid from the materials, each of said hollow collapsible rubber ribs being fixed around its marginal edges to the interior of the upper portion of said container so that said edges are immovable with relation to said upper portion of the container to travel therewith as the container is oscillated.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9 in which the container wall back of each of said ribs is formed with an aperture connecting the hollow of the rib with the outside air exterior of the container for venting the ribs during 001- lapsing.

11. A washing and extracting machine, comprising an oscillatable container for textile materials and liquid, a flexible liner anchored in said container so as to divide it into a washing compartment on one side of the liner and a surface of the container wall in the washing compartment, and means for introducing liquid under high pressure behind the liner to push liner forwardly for extracting purposes,'said

Images