US2660045A

US2660045A - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: US2660045A
Application number: US303943A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bretter Walter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-08-22
Filing date: 1952-08-12
Publication date: 1953-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1970-11-24
Also published as: GB709052A

Description

W. BRETTER WASHING MACHINE Nov. 24, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 12, 1952 WALTER BRETTEI? W. BRETTER WASHING MACHINE Nov. 24, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1952 WALTER BRETTER Nov. 24, 1953 w. BIVQETTER 2,660,045

WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet s WALTER BRETTETE. lNvENTofi Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED s'mr TENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines for textile fabrics and garments, and particularly to a machine of the type in which an agitator is rotatably mounted in a tank for containing the washing liquid and the articles to be washed,said agitator being driven by an electric motor or otherwise so that the washing liquid may be circulated and the articles thoroughly washed.

It has already been proposed to provide a clothes washing machine of this type in which the base of the tank is apertured around a point ofiset from both horizontal axes which intersect at right angles and pass through the middle of said bottom, in which the agitator fits closely and co-axially within the aperture, and in which the sides of the tank are arranged in relation to the aforesaid point so that they lie tangential to a continuous curve traced from and around said point and steadily increasing its distance from said point.

It has been found that with the machine described above, satisfactory results are only obtained if the washing load is relatively small in size and weight. If the Washing load is increased even to a practical minimum, the articles are liable to become unduly damaged by the agitator, the upper surface of which is formed with vanes or ribs the crests of which are flush with the aforesaid upper surface, or alternatively with a plurality of depressions.

The present invention aims at overcoming this disadvantage.

' In accordance with the invention, a Washing machine comprises an inner tank for receiving Washing liquid and the articles to be washed, said inner tank having the base thereof apertured around a point offset from both horizontal axes which intersect at right angles and pass through the centre of said bottom and having four sides arranged in relation to said point so that they lie tan ential to a continuous curve traced from and around said point and steadily increasing its distance from said point; deflectin members interposed between adjacent sides of the inner tank; a centrifugal impeller fitting coaxially within the apertured portion of the base of the inner tank; a prime mover for imparting rotation to the impeller; an outer tank surrounding the inner tank and maintained in spaced relationship therefrom; port means in the wall of the inner tank through which washing liquid may pass to the space between the inner and outer tanks to be drawn axially into the impeller and discharged radially therefrom into the interior of the inner tank to provide a continuous circulation.

Preferably, the impeller is mounted directly on the shaft of the prime mover. It has a smooth upper surface and is provided on its underside with a plurality of blades or vanes the inner ends of which are disposed around a pitch circle described about the axis, and the blades may decrease in depth as they advance towards the periphery. Preferably, the blades are inclined to the radii of the pitch circle, for example, at an angle of For receiving the impeller, the base of the inner tank may be provided with an aperture Which, in vertical section, is of inverted frustroconical shape, the major diameter being greater than the overall diameter of the impeller, and the minor diameter less, and preferably corresponding to the pitch circle around which the inner ends of the impeller blades are disposed.

The space between the walls of the two tanks may communicate directly with the space between the bases of the tanks, such latter space in turn leading inwards to the underside of the impeller so that Washing liquid may be drawn axially into the impeller into the gap between the impeller boss and the inner ends of the blades.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of a washing machine according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line II--II in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line III-III in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an inverted plan view of the impeller.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of the impeller and surrounding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises an inner tank I having four sides, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and deflecting

members

6, 1, 8 and 9 interposed between said sides. The base In of the tank I is apertured at I! around a point It offset from both horizontal axes I3 and M which intersect at right angles and pass through the middle of the base Ill. The

sides

2, 3, 4 and 5 are arranged in relation to the point [2 so that they lie tangential to a logarithmic spiral l5 evolved from the point I2.

The aperture I! is of inverted frusto-conical shape, the major diameter being greater than the overall diameter of the impeller and the minor diameter less.

The impeller I6 is provided on its underside with eight blades I! the inner ends of which are disposed about a pitch circle l8 described about the axis I9. The blades [1 are inclined to the radii of the pitch circle I8 at an angle of 60 and, as shown, they decrease in depth as they advance outwards towards the periphery. The impeller I6 is mounted on the motor shaft with the blades II- just clear of the surface of the aperture I I.

The outer tank 2I surrounds the inner tank I and is maintained in spaced relationship-therefrom by means of a supporting member 22 having three upwardly-extending"legs 23'to;which the inner tank I is securedby screws24, and by means of additional supports22a; The supporting member 22 is attached by screws 25"to a' casting 26 to which the driving motor2'I is bolted at 28. The outer tank 2| is bolted at 29- to the casting 26.

The outer tank 2I is supported on a stand 3'! by means of inverted u-shaped brackets 3i welded to the base of the outer tank 2| andbolted on to a pair of angle iron brackets 39 provided on opposite sides of the interior of the standBl.

A pump impeller 32 is mounted on the motor shaft 22 in the space 33 between theunderside of the supporting member 22 and the casting 26, the inlet to said-pump being axial through the supportingv member 22. A discharge hose 34 communicates with the space 33-and is controlled by a valve 35 operated by a handle 36.

The Walls of the inner tank 'I are apertured at 39 to permit the-passage-of washing liquid from the inner tankinto the space .40 between the inner tank-I and the-outer tank 2 I. The base-of the inner tank I is formed with. sloping.;;drain grooves 38 to ensure proper drainage of washing liquid from the .interiocof the .tankcafter use.

the space .40. The valve 35 is kept closed and the motor 27 started. Liquid .is'drawnaxially into the impeller. I6.and discharged intothe inner tank I.. The impact of the discharging liquid upon the stationary liquid in the innertank I causes circulation of the latter and eventually avortex is formed in the centreof the inner tank.

However, since the impeller I6 is mounted olf centre, adequate motion is ,imparted to the :ar-

ti-cles to be washed and:

(a) Sincethere is no suction. from the delivery side in the inner tank, the articles are not forced on to the impeller.

'(b) The only moving part which the articles can touch is the smooth. upper surface :of the impeller so that no untoward damagecan occur.

(c) The force of the washing liquid discharged from the impeller will tend to keep the articles clear of the impeller.

The washing liquid passes through the ports 39 after most of its kinetic energ has been spent and the cycle is continued. When the washing operation is completed, the valve 35 is opened and the pump. 32 empties the machine through the hose 34.

I claim:

1. A washing machine comprising an inner tankforreceiving washing liquid and the articles to be washed,.,said inner tank having the base thereof apertured around a point oiTset from each of two horizontal axes which intersect at right angles and pass through the centre of said bottom andhaving .four sides arranged in relation to said point so that they lie tangential to a continuous curve traced from and around said point and steadily increasing its distance from said point; deflecting members interposed between adjacent sides of the inner tank; a centrifugal impeller fitting co-axially within the apertured portion of the base of the inner tank; a prime mover for imparting rotation to the impeller; an outer'tank surrounding the inner tank and maintained in spaced relationship therefrom; port means in the wall of the inner tankthrough which washing liquid may pass to the space between the inner and outer tanks to be drawn axially into :the impeller and discharged radially therefrom into the interior of the innertank-to provide a'continuous circulation.

2. A- washing machine; accordingto claim 1, in which theimpeller is provided on its underside with a plurality of vanes the inner ends of which are disposed around a pitch-circle-described about the axis, said vanes'decreasing in' depthas they advance towards the periphery, and in which, the aperture in the base of the inner tank "within which the impeller is receivedris, inwertical sec-' tion, of inverted frustro-conical shape; the'major diameter being greater than theoverall' diameter of the impeller and theminor diameter less.

3. A washing machine; according to claim- 2,- in which the vanes are inclined to the radii ofthe pitch circle.

WALTER BRE'I'TER.

References Cited in'thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,982,002 Hatch .Nov. 27, 1934 2,071,622 Gibson Feb. 23; 1937 2,105,094. Pearce- Jan. 11, 1938 2,482,319 Casse Sept, 20, 1949- 2,'502,965 Knapp Apr. 4, 1950