US2700286A - Combined washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Jalh 25, 1955 R. VAN :MPE

COMBINED WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l HQBERT V41/ /Mpe Jan. 25, 1955 R. VAN IMPE COMBINED WASHING MACHINE 4` Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4. 1951 @05547- l/mv /MpE Jan. 25, 1955 R. VAN IMPE 2,700,286

COMBINED WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hoe ER 7' l/Aw /M PE m /MM Jan. 25, 1955 R. VAN 1MPE 2,700,286

COMBINED WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @055er l/QN /Mps Hfs 1965A/ 7' COMBINED WASHING MACHINE Robert Van Impe, Ransart, Belgium Application August 4, 1951, Serial No. 240,307

Claims priority, application Belgium August 8, 1950 8 Claims. (Cl. 68-26) The present invention relates to a combined machine for heating, washing and drying clothes, household linen and like articles, these articles being referred to hereafter bythe single term linen The machine according to the invention combines in a single container, having only the dimensions of an ordinary washing machine, the parts capable of carrying out the three above mentioned operations in such a way that the said operations can be effected simultaneously, that is to say that whilst one part of the machine provides for heating the wash liquid and the linen to be treated, the other part provides for drying the washed linen.

A combined heating, Washing and-drying machine made according to the invention is characterised by great simplicity, small dimensions, maximum output, and good appearance.

A machine made according to the invention comprises, in substance, a single tank, divided vertically into two compartments. One of these compartments is used for heating and washing the linen, whilst the other compartment is used for drying the linen.

T his single compartmented tank, having a single cover, is interiorly disposed at the upper part of an external casing, the lower part of which provides a space necessary for accommodating the water heating device in the washing compartment and the parts for driving, and transmitting the drive to, the movable parts of the washing and the drying parts of the machine.

Other features and advantages of a combined machine made according to the invention will become apparent from the following description of two constructional examples, given simply by way of illustration and shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l illustrates diagrammatically, in longitudinal section, taken on the line I-Il-IIl-IV-V--VI of Fig. 2, one construction of a combined washing machine made according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same machine, partly in section, the cover being removed;

Fig. 3 is an external perspective view, on a reduced scale, of the machine shown in Figs. l and 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically, in radial vertical section, a second construction embodying a modification of a combined washing machine made according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal radial section, taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a vertical radial section taken on the line Vl--Vl of Fig. 5, illustrating diagrammatically the parts of the driving transmission located in the lower part of the single tank.

The machine shown in Figs. l to 3 comprises essentially a cylindrical tub or tank 1, divided vertically into two compartments Z, 3, by a curved wall 4. The rst compartment 2 provides a receiver for the wash liquid and the linen to be treated, whilst the second compartment 3 provides the necessary space for accommodating a cylindrical receiver 5, rigidly connected with the common base 6 o'r' the tank 1. In the cylindrical receiver 5 is mounted a drier 7 formed by a substantially cylindrical movable container, the wall 8 of which has a peculiar shape resulting from the deformation, along a broken line, of the said wall, by means of which excessive aperturing of the wall of the drier is avoided. This characteristic wall is fitted with a number of peripheral rows of nited States Patent ICC apertures 9, the axis of each row coinciding with each bigger diameter part of the wall 8. The drying container 7 the maximum diameter of which is sllghtly less than the internal diameter of the container 5, thus providing a space 10 between the elements 5-8, is fitted at top with a cover 11, which can be readily removed, and which is provided with a central aperture 12 of reduced diameter, this arrangement being provided in order to exclude the projection of the linen when the drier is in operatlon. At its lower end the drying container is rigidly connected with a plate 13, preferably by means of a iianged circular ring 14 and a ring of elastic material 15, in order to reduce as much as possible the unbalanced action produced by the weight of the linen. This plate 13 is iixed at the upper end of a vertical shaft 16 guided in a bracket 17, rigidly connected with the base 6 by means of two cupels, namely an upper cupel 13 and a lower cupel 19, between the flanges of which are clamped the common base 6 and the base 20 of the container 5.

The upper cupel 18 is fitted with a fluid-tight packing 21, whilst, in the inner chamber, formed by the two cupels 18-19, there is disposed, around the shaft 16, a small bell-shaped member 22 which together with the said uid-tight ring 21, provides a supplementary safety device for protecting the bearings 23, as well as the other parts of the drivingdevice, against penetration of water from the drying operation.

The bracket 17 is joined with a lateral arm 24 carrying a support for an electric motor 25.

in the heating and washing compartment 2, the common base 6 has mounted therein, at the centre, or approximately at the centre, of the complete apparatus, two movable plates 26, arranged on both sides of the drying container 5 and iitted with a vertical rib 27, the longitudinal shape of which, in the form shown, is of spiral shape, the height of the ribs decreasing progressively from the origin to the end of the spiral.

Each plate 26 is fixed to the upper end of a vertical shaft 2S located and guided in a small bracket 29 rigidly connected with a depression 30 in the base 6, so that the top plane of the plate properly so called is approximately at the level of the top plane of the common base 6. The bracket 29 is fixed to the said depressed part 30 of the base 6 by means of a disc 31 having a fluid tight joint 32, and by a cupel 33, forming part of the bracket 29, the wall of the depression 30 being clamped between the disc 31 andthe flange of the cupel 33.

Similarly to the shaft 16 of the drier, the shafts 28 of the spiral plates are fitted with a protecting bell 34 for the bearings 35 and the other parts of the mechanism. The electric motor 25, the spindle 36 of which is fitted with a grooved pulley 37, transmits its movement directly to the drier by means of a belt 38 and a grooved wheel 39 fixed to the shaft 16 of the drier, the movement of rotation of the two plates being obtained from the shaft 16. To this end, the said shaft 16 comprises, in addition to the grooved wheel 39, two further adjacently disposed grooved pullies 40, 41 which are connected to corresponding grooved wheels 42, 43 fixed on the shafts 28 of the spiral plates 26, by means of trapezoidal belts denoted respectively 44, 45.

Below the base 6, at the side of the driving mechanism for the spiral plates 26, and in the lower part of the common cylindrical casing 46 of the machine, there is provided a gas burner 48, the inlet 47 of which, connected, in the absence of a gas distribution network, to a flask of butane gas or other suitable source of supply, comprises a numberin the present case, eightof vertical gas tubes 4S, and an air intake 49. A vertical partition 50 disposed in the vicinity of the tubes 48 and rigid with the common base 6 forms a barrier for the llames, in order to avoid damage to the transmission mechanism of the machine.

The common tank 1 has at top an outer peripheral rim 51, and an inner peripheral bead 52. This bead 52 serves as a support for the cover 53 of the machine, whilst the rim 51 provides for the suspension of the tank l, with all its active parts and its driving devices, a noninflammable joint 63 being disposed on the top edge 54 ofthe general casing 46 of the machine. This casing 46 1s xed on a circular base plate, fitted with rollers Se.

This base plate also serves as a support for a suitable number of rods 57 hooked onto the lower edge 58 of the tank 1 and tightened by means of nuts 59. The expansion effects of the device thus constructed are compensated by springs 6i) fitted on the rods 57, and bearing between the base plate 55 and the nuts 59.

Between the tank 1 and the general casing 46 there is provided a concentric space 61, and the casing is, on a part of its height corresponding approximately to the height of the tank 1, fitted with a heat insulating lining or plates 62, providing for thermal insulation of the machine and systematically excluding dangerous overheating of the casing 46.

Towards the top, and on the side of the drier, the tank 1 is formed with a number of apertures 64 and, at about the middle of its length, the tank is traversed by a tube 65 communicating with the container 5 and providing for the discharge of the water produced by the drying operation.

As above stated, the heating and washing compartment and the drying compartment are separated by the curved wall 4; the central part 4 of this separating wail extends concentrically with the container 7, but the lateral parts 4', 4 of the wall are outwardly curved and the ends are connected to the inner wall of the tank 1. By this arrangement the linen treated in the compartment 2 is prevented from penetrating into the cavities formed between the tank 1 and the container 5.

The operation of this multiple-action machine is very simple, rapid and etiicient. In use, the compartment 2 is filled with a wash liquid and the linen to be washed, the electric motor is started and the burner 47, 48 ignited` The hot gases produced by the flames from the burner 47, 48 flow along the outer wall of the common tank l and pass into the peripheral space 61 and are exhausted through the apertures 64, after having traversed the lengthy passage between the two surfaces l, 62.

Simultaneously, the ribbed plates 26, turning in the direction of the arrows shown in the drawing, stir the heated water and linen moving them upwardly, the turbulent action resulting therefrom being opposed by the curved partition 4 and the allied action of the two ribbed plates 26.

Also simultaneously, assuming that a given quantity of linen already treated in the compartment 2 has passed into the drier 7, the latter, being rapidly rotated, expels by centrifugal force the water from the linen, this expelled water being discharged through the pipe 65.

It will thus be observed that, when the motor 25 and the burner 47, 4S operate, the machine effects simultaneously the heating, the washing and the drying of the linen, whence it results that any loss of time between the two operations-the washing and drying operations-is systematically avoided. Since the cover 53 is common to the two devices it is obvious that it is only necessary to remove this single cover for the purpose of instantaneously and easily passing the linen from the washing compartment to the drying compartment.

It will, of course, be understood that some parts of the machine could be replaced by equivalent parts or parts capable of carrying out an equivalent action. Thus, for example, the plates 26 having a single spiral rib 27 could be replaced by plates having a number of ribs in the form of an interrupted spiral or by parts known per se, such as discs fitted with blades or paddles, or with radial ribs, and like devices.

Similarly, the drying container 8 might also be formed by the usual perforated container which is not suspended elastically on the shaft 16.

According to the second constructional form shown in the alternative embodiment in Figs. 4 to 6, the spindle 36 of the electric motor 2.5 is connected directly to the rigid base 66 of the basket 8 of the drier. The motor 25 is fixed to a ring 67, suspended elastically between a given number of springs 68 and 69, those in the upper series 68 bearing against washers 7 0, and those of the lower series 69 bearing on a cylindrical base 71, rigid with the general casing 46 of the machine. The springs 68-69 are compressed by bolts 72 which pass through the ring 67.

By means of these devices, the basket S of the drier of the modification, as shown in Fig. 4, is then suspended elastically, and it will be able to overcome the lack of balance produced by the unequally distributed weight 'of the linen in the basket 8, without however transmitting substantial vibrations to the static part of the machine.-

The agitating means in the heating and washing compartment for the linen, are, in accordance with the moditication, made as follows:

A vertical shaft 73 carries two paddles 74, 75 forming an angle of 90 with one another. The shaft 73 and its two paddles 74, '75, forming a projection from the base 6 of the compartment 2 have imparted thereto, in the case illustrated, an oscillating movement of rotation having an amplitude of 90, by means of a device comprising a rod 76 and a crank 77 driven by a pulley 78. The latter receives its movement of rotation from the motor 25, through a small pulley 79, keyed on the lower end of the motor spindle 36, a belt 80, a big pulley 81, rigid with the intermediate shaft 82, a small pulley 83 keyed on this same shaft 82, and a belt 84. The dimensions and the relative arrangement of the whole devicerod 76 and crank 77-are designed so that for each complete revolution of the pulley 78, the vertical shaft 73 and the paddles 74, make 1A revolution in one direction and then Mt revolution in the opposite direction.

Approximately at the height provided for the level of the wash water there is disposed a horizontal plate S5, rigidly connected with the tank 1, which partly surrounds the drying container 5 and then extends out to approximately the centre of the common tank.

The transmission mechanism is mounted on a bracket 6, rigidly connected with the base 6 of the tank l, by means of three iixing members 87, of which the central member, through which the shaft 73 passes, comprises a iluid tight joint 38.

The agitation device thus constructed operates therefore by beating by reason of the two paddles 74, '75 oscillating alternately in opposite directions, the raising of the water level by reason of the accumulation of the water expelled by the paddles alternately in the spaces 89 and 90 being systematically avoided by the presence of the dellector formed by the horizontal plate 85. In operation this plate prevents the rocking of the water tending, under the action of the paddles 74, 75, to rise in the space 89, and to fall in the space 90 and vice versa, and thus increases the action of the Whole agitator 73, 74, 75.

It is obvious that the apparatus above described, that relating to the elastic suspension of the drier, and also that relating to the agitator, and the driving and transmission parts can readily be modified. Thus, for example the relative dispositions of the motor and of the driven parts, the number of paddles on the agitator shaft, the angular relationships of the said paddles, the amplitude of the oscillating movement, the shape of the horizontal screen, the shape of the common tank, and the like can be modified to suit individual requirements.

Any such cons'tructional modifications in no way affect the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What l claim is:

l. A self-contained apparatus for washing linen, comprising, in combination, an outer casing, a tank concentrically suspended in the said casing, a wall in said tank dividing the interior thereof into two contiguous compartments one of which is a washing device disposed in one compartment and a container including a drying drum forming a drier mounted in the other compartment; a chamber being formed between the bottom of the said tank and the lower part of the said casing, a driving mechanism for the washing device and for the drier, and a heating device mounted in said chamber, the washing device and the drier being closed by a single cover fitted on to said tank.

2. Apparatus according to claim l, characterised by thev feature that the top edge of said tank is suspended resiliently on the upper edge of the outer casing, and means operable to connect its lower edge to the bottom edge of said casing comprising adjustable spring tensioned connecting elements.

3. Apparatus according to claim l, characterised by the feature that the inner wall of said outer casing is provided, to a height corresponding approximately to that of the tank, with a heat insulating lining.

4. Apparatus according to claim l, characterised by the feature that the outer casing is formed, adjacent to its upper part, with a series of apertures providing for .the discharge of hot air or gas.

5 Apparatus according to-claim l, characterised by the feature that the washing compartment has adjacent the central part thereof two mutually perpendicular interconnected oppositely turnable paddles connected to said driving mechanism.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised by the feature that the drying device is formed by a drum, the generatrix of which has the shape of a broken line, and is formed with apertures disposed perpendicular to the outer edges of the said drum.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised by the feature that said driving mechanism comprises a motor having a spindle, the motor spindle carries directly the support for the drying tank, and elastic elements operable to support said motor.

8. In a laundry machine, in combination, a cylindrical casing open on top and including a resilient rim surrounding said open top, a tub suspended from said rim for sealing the top and including on its interior a washing compartment arranged to receive water and a drying compartment partitioned therefrom, said tub dening with the Wall of said casing an apertured annular chamber disposed below said rim and surrounding said compartments and arranged for the passage of hot air, agitating means disposed in said washing compartment, a drier disposed in said drying compartment and including a drum revoluble about a vertical axis, a vertical driving shaft protruding from below into said tub and being secured to the bottom of said drum axially thereof for drum rotation, said driving shaft being resiliently supported for resilient support of said drum independently of said tub, a motor disposed below said tub and being in driving connection with said shaft and with said agitating means for combined agitated washing and rotary drying actions in said tub, an air heater disposed below said tank and intercommunicating with said annular chamber for simultaneously heating both compartments, and means actuable for resiliently connecting the lower portion of said tank to said casing and operable to impede the transmission to said casing of any vibrations developing in said tub.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,506,783 Synder Sept. 2, 1924 1,787,243 Geldhof Dec. 30, 1930 1,788,125 Scheele Jan. 6, 1931 1,799,649 Schenck Apr. 7, 1931 1,842,030 Kirby Jan. 19, 1932 1,923,580 Nelson Aug. 22, 1933 2,291,088 Morgenstern July 28, 1942 2,300,055 McCabe Oct, 27, 1942 2,328,256 Breckenbridge Aug. 31, 1943 2,390,213 Geldhof et al Dec. 4, 1945 2,555,268 Chamberlin May 2 9, 1951

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