US2712826A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

WASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1949 d M: 1 N 2 P H5 w I Z Y B E j h; E

July 12, 1955 v. SCHLEYER ET AL WASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2'7, 1949 EYE/P and [IMF/(K5, 24; 47701914673,

1N VEN TOR.

a mwmmm w n 2 'A mmv/m July 12, 1955 v. SCHLEYER ET AL WASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 27, 1949 July 12, 1955 v. SCHLEYER ET AL 2,712,826

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 27, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JNVENTORJ 147 Wcroe 52/145752 and ITTUEA EYJ.

United States Patent thee 2,712,826 Fatented July 12, 1955 will This invention relates to a washing machine, as for washing dishes, especially in domestic application.

It is an object of'the invention to provide an improved washing machine, which will accomplish a thorough washing in a minimum time with minimum power requirements. It is an object of the invention to apply a liquid wash medium in a highly efficient manner, and to accomplish an eifective wash with a minimum quantity of such liquid, for economy of the wash medium in a portable machine adapted to be filled by hand. A further object is to provide recirculation of the small quantity of wash medium at low head and large volume. A further object is to provide an improved pattern of wash medium application, and to avoid the need for a critical placement pattern for the articles being washed. A further object is to provide a machine, which may be readily manufactured, and which among other novel features will include a unitary manifold for distributing the washing medium. A further object is to provide an improved wash support for small articles, such as silverware.

Our invention is especially applicable to a domestic dishwasher, using water or a water solution as the wash liquid, and for convenience, is so scribed. In this and other applications of the invention. the wash cycle may be controlled either manually or automatically. The wash cycle may include a preliminary rinse, a washing with detergent solution, a final rinse, and a drying period, and the manual or automatic controls may be of any suitable type. For convenience here, we show and describe manual controls.

In accordance with our invention, We support the dishes for movement through a washing path, conveniently in a carrier freely rotatable about a vertical axis, and we form across the path of the dishes a covering pattern of spaced largevolume solid streams of water. Desirably, we support the dishes in a position with their bottoms facing in the direction of rotation and inclined rearwardly. The streams of water are distinct, substantially solid streams, in which the water flows in large volume at low head; and the streams are arranged in a controlled pattern such that (a) collectively they substantially cover the transverse area of the path, (b) they are so spaced from each other as substantially to avoid interference with each others action on the dishes, and (c) they flood the dishes at repeatedly changing areas, in a repeatedly changing pattern, from repeatedly changing directions. With a freely rotatable dish carrier, the streams are desirably made to flow from a plurality of ports distributed below and about the carrier, preferably with most of the ports directed upward from below the carrier, a few directed at an angle from below the carrier, and a few directed inward from the side of the carrier. The distribution of ports below the carrier is preferably such that they are spaced both radially and circumferentially, desirably in differ ing orders so that circumferentially successive streams are generally non-successive radially but flood the dish in an alternating sequence of radially spaced areas, and desirably in a distribution pattern of upward streams which leaves open areas for the angular streams flowillustrated and de' ing from below and from the sides of the carrier. With such a port arrangement, we

In our dishwashing machine, we mount a dish-supporting basket for rotation about a vertical axis within a tank, desirably with the basket elevated somewhat above the bottom of the tank to provide a reservoir in quantity of wash water; we discharge the upward streams of water and desirably some of the angular streams of water rom upstanding spouts leading from a manifold in the bottom of the may be entrained with the Desirably the bottom of the tank is formed to provide some or all of the waterways leading to and from the pump and to the spouts. In accordance with a particular aspect of our invention, we provide in the rotating basket a generally horizontal support provided with elongated openings to suspend articles of silverware in vertical position and spaced from each other so that all areas of such ware are exposed to the action of the wash water.

The accompanying drawings illustrate our invention. In such drawings, W tion through a standard domestic size dishwasher involving our invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the dishwasher shown in Fig. l, with the cover thereof removed; Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a silverware support adapted for use with the dishwasher of Figs. 1 Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of a portable dishwasher involving our invention; Fig. 4a is an section showing a hose-receiving fitting in the lid of the portable dishwasher; Fig. 5 is pattern for the stream ports in a dishwasher embodying our invention;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic circumferential projection on a single radial plane of the streams of water discharged by ports shown in Pig. 5, and showing their collective tion; Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are vertical sections showing pump constructions adapted for use in a dishwasher involving our invention; and Fig. 14 is a vertical transverse section of a portable dishwasher in which the motor and pump are mounted on a horizontal axis, and showing a convenient manner of mounting the casting which forms the bottom of the tank.

The dishwasher shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a tank 26 supported on a suitable frame 21 and having a cylindrical wall 22 and a cast bottom 24. A dish basket or carrier 26 having a plurality of dish supports 27 is mounted for free rotation on a vertical post 28 at the center of the bottom 24. Desirably, an inverted cupshaped runner 30 is carried on anti-friction bearings by the post 28 and normally remains in position on that post, and the basket is provided with a central sleeve 32 by which it is removably supported on the runner.

A silver basket 50 is removably carried in a radially extending position adjacent the outer periphery of the dish basket 26. The top wall 61 of the silver basket is formed with spaced elongated openings, its side walis 62 formed as a close-mesh pan.

one step in the cycle,

V g are mainly of open framework, and its bottom 63 is The top openings of the silver basket are of a size suitable to receive and pass the handles of ordinary forks and spoons and to receive and pass either the handles or the blades of knives. The bottom 63 is desirably formed of sufliciently close-mesh material to retain even the smallest pieces of silverware. Silverware may be readily positioned in the basket in an arrangement indicated in Fig. 3, with forks and spoons supported by their bowls from the top and with their handlesdepending into the basket, and with knives supported in vertical position with one end against the bottom 63, and with all such pieces held by the top openings in spaced relationship]substantially out of contact with eachother.

The tank bottom 24 is a hollow casting, and forms a manifold 34 to the several spouts'36 rising from its top wall. Side spouts 56 are mounted through the side wall 22 of thetank 20, and desirably these are in a closely spaced group and have a common header 58 which is connected by a supply pipe 59 to the manifold 34. An outlet 38 through the bottom 24 is shaped to receive a drain screen 39, and is connected by a pipe 40 to the intake side 42 of a pump 43 driven by an electric motor 44. The discharge 46 of the pump is connected by a pipe 48 to the manifold 34. 'The discharge 46 of the pump is also connected to a valve 51. A water-supply pipe 52 containing a manually operated valve 53 opens into the tank 20 near its top. a

The construction of the pump 43 is shown in Fig. 11. The intake 42 of the pump forms a downwardly inclined waterway 70 leading to a central eye 71 surrounding the drive shaft, and desirably provided with one or more radial guide vanes 74. At its upper end, the drive shaft 72 is surrounded by a suitable seal 75 and at its lower end carries a pump rotor 76 having an eye 7 8. The pump rotor 76 discharges radially and horizontally toa volute 8 communicating by waterways which lead continuously upward through the discharge 46 to the pipe 48. Wash waterv handled by the pump will contain detergent and may form suds containing considerable entrained air, and the pump is made capable of handling the water-air mixture and of venting itself of the entrained air, sothat it does not become airlocked. To this end, the waterways on the suction side lead continuously downward to avoid pockets in which air might be entrapped and to permit air'to escape freely upward through them; the impeller eye '78 is of relatively small cross-sectional area, desirably smaller than the area at any other point in the recirculation path, to provide a high velocity of flow through such eyeyand the discharge waterways from the pump lead continuously upward to avoid air-trapping pockets and to permit air to risetfreely through them,

' The water system is arranged to obtain the desired application of the water to the dishes in the carrier 26. The capacity of the reservoir and the recirculation system is made to contain the amount of water to be used in any and may be of the order of l /z to 2 /2 gallons in the standard-size washer of Figs. 1 and 2.

The upstanding spouts 36 leading from the manifold 34 terminate in water discharge ports of relatively large cross section, for example of A to A1 inch diameter, formed to discharge the water in large-volume solid streams. a

The water recirculation'system desirably employs a centrifugal pump andoperates at relatively low head and at high capacity so that the water is applied to the dishes in mass-in solid streams of large volnme-substantially without atomization or other separation, and floods the dishes in sheets; for this not only effects a highly efficient washing action, but permits that action to,beobtained with low power requirements. In a standard domestic size dishwater having for example a dish carrier of drain 50 provided with a suitable leaves an open area into which charge. As appears in Figs. 5 and 6, the discharge from' V 111 to 113.

inch diameter, using about 1 /2 to 2 /2 gallons of wash solution, we desirably recirculate that small quantity of solution at a rate of at least about 30 gallons per minute and at a head of not over about 10 feet as a maximum; and for power economy with highly effective washing in a short cycle, we consider it preferable to recirculate the solution at about to gallons, per minute, conveniently about 50 gallons per minute, under a head of about 6 to 8 feet, using a centrifugal pump driven by a A H. P. motor. Larger or smaller dishwashers will of course involve proportionately larger or smaller rates of recirculation, but still at low head.

The shape of the ports of the spouts 36 may be some what'elongated radially of the tank 20 and hence transverse to the path of the dishes, so that the streams are broad transversely of such path and relativelythinner in the direction of such path, as indicated by the oval outlines thereof in Fig. 5.

The several spouts 36 are spaced both radially and circumferentially, generally with circumferentially ad jacent spouts non-adjacent radially, to avoid interference and to enhance the'washing action. A suitable pattern is shown in Fig. 5. The ports 101 to 107 inclusive dis-; charge vertically, the ports 108 to discharge at an angle, and the ports 111 to 113 discharge from the side. The ports 101 to 107 are radially successive in that order, but 'circumferentially successive in a quite different order. Thus, the ports 101 and 107 are at the inner and outer edges of the pattern radially but substantially at the same position circumferentially. Proceeding clockwise therefrom, the next port circumferentially is the port'105, positioned at an intermediate point radially, and this is followed in the circumferential succession by the ports 103, 104, 102, and 106. The pattern of vertical ports 101-107 leaves certain open areas, in which the angular ports are located. Counterclockwise from the ports 101 and 107 there is an open area in which the angular port 108 discharges its stream vertically and clockwise. Between ports 103, 104 and 102 there is an open area in which the angular port 109 discharges its stream. 'A third open area outwardly from the ports 104 and 102 provides space in which the angular port 110 discharges. The spacing between the ports 108, 101, 1 02, and 106 the ports 111 to'113 disthe port 111 is directed downward and slightly clockwise, the discharge from the port 112 is directed somewhat downward and more clockwise thanthe port 111, and the port 113 discharges horizontally and in part counter clockwise. V i

In circumferential projection, as shown in Fig. 6, the solid streams from the ports 101 to 107 form a pattern which is substantially complete across the path of the dishes, .and this coverage is supplemented, especially adjacent the central axis, by streams from the side ports The streams 101 to' 113 collectively form a substantially complete sheet of solid moving wateracross the path of revolution of dishes in the carrier 26, but the several streams are distinct and separate, and act substantially without interference with each other.

Their action, of course, involves reaction on and from the dishes in the rotating carrier and on and from the continuously changing pattern of surfaces of such dishes. As the streams strike the dishes the mass of water in them is spread and floods across the dish surfaces, exerting a scrubbing action not only of the'area in the direct paths of the streams but also of surrounding and adjacent areas. The simplified sectional'diagrams of Figures 7 to 10 indicate in part the reaction and deflection of the streams on and from the dishes. The plate 115 and saucer 116 are supported by the rack 27 in spaced relationship in the carrier 26, desirablyin the aspect shown, with their bottoms facing'in the direction of rotation .and inclined in the opposite direction. The angular streams of water, say that from the port 108, flow against the concave faces of the dishes and the mass of water floods the concave faces of the dishes, and their reaction thereto propels the rotation of the carrier 26. As the dishes are carried over the several vertical ports, for example over the port 105, the heavy-bodied stream of water rising therefrom first floods the back of the saucer 116, then as the edge thereof passes through the column, the water floods the front of the saucer to a progressively increasing extent, and the inclined faces deflect the water against adjacent dish surfaces, as against the back of the plate 115, as shown in Fig. 9. As the plate 115 passes through the column of water, its lower back is flooded, then a progressively greater portion of the column floods across the face of the plate 115 and is deflected thereby. The reaction between the dishes and the vertical columns of water also results in a propelling force to rotate the basket.

Operation of the dishwasher is as follows:

The dishes are placed in the basket 26 against the supporting rack members 27, generally with their bottoms facing in the clockwise direction of rotation of the basket and with their faces inclined rearwardly rom that direction. The dish supporting rack is readily arranged to facilitate and induce this desirable placement of dishes, and beyond a rather natural radial positioning of the dishes there is substantially no special arrangement which is critical to the operation and the effective results of the dishwasher. Silverware is simply dropped handle-down into the diamond shaped openings of the top 61 of the silver basket 60, and a l ost automatically arranges itself in that basket in an effective way, with spoons and forks supported in depending positions from their bowls, and with knives supported in an upright position from the bottom of the silver basket 60. The elongation of the top openings in a common, generally radial direction causes the articles of silverware to arrange themselves in enerally open spaced relationship with their faces transverse to the path of movement.

A suitable quantity of wash water is then placed in the machine, as by opening the valve 53. If desired, a preliminary rinsing step with clear water may be cairied out, in the same manner described below for the washing step, and the preliminary rinse water then drained through the valve 51 and the drain 59. For the washing step,

somewhat below the tops of the spouts 36, a suitable detergent is added, desirably a detergent which produces little suds, the lid 23 is closed, and the motor 44 is then energized to operate the pump 43. The wash solution flows from the reservoir at the bottom of the tank Zll through the screen 39, the outlet 38, and the pipe 46, into i the pump 43, and is discharged from that pump through the pipe 48 into the manifold 34. From such manifold the water issues through the several ports 91 to 113 of the spouts 36 and 56 in heavy-bodied streams or columns of water. volume and at low pressure. Preferably, in a standard domestic size washer, the quantity of water employed is about 1 /2 to 2%. gallons and the pump recirculates that small quantity of water at a rate of to gallons per minute at a head of 6-8 feet. The dish carrier is propelled by dish reaction both from the vertical streams and from the angular streams, and desirably rotates at a rate of about 50 to 60 revolutions per minute, for a period of from 1 to 3 minutes in each wash period.

The dishes are thus carried through the stream pattern repeatedly, and in each pass, the dishes are first flooded at the bottom and center in an upward angular direction from the angular port 198, then simultaneously at both outer edges of their path in a vertical direction from ports H21 and 167, then at an outer central area vertically from the port 185, then at an inner central area vertically from the port N3, then at a bottom central area at an angle from the port 169, then at an outer central area vertically from the port 104, then adjacent the outer edge at an angle from the port 11%, then adjacent the inner edge The recirculation thus produced is in large vertically from port 1G2, then adjacent the outer edge vertically from the port 106, and then from the top by the side ports 111 to 113, the first port 113 of which discharges transversely through the dish pattern, striking the backs of the dishes counter to the direction of rotation, the second port 111 of which discharges transverse and downward, and the third port 112 of which discharges from above and with a component in the direction of rotation. The several streams flood likewise through the silverware, and the side streams are especially effective in cleaning even the usually ditficult areas such as the faces and spaces between the tines of the forks.

In this action, the water is applied in large volume and in solid and heavy quantities; and the whole cycle of varying water application is repeated 50 to 60 times per minute. Repeatedly changing spaced areas of the dishes are successively and repeatedly flooded in a repeatedly changing pattern, alternating between inner and outer portions of the dish path, by separate streams, from repeatedly diifering directions; and each area of the dishes is scrubbed by successive and repeated floods from differing directions, from the right, from the left, from the top, from the bottom. The soil on the dishes is successively and repeatedly subjected to variously alternating floods heavy masses of water. Tests show that the result is highly effective, and that the action is quite distinct from prior practices of attempting to remove the soil with high pressure and high velocity jets or sprays of washing solution.

At the end of the washing period, which ordinarily requires but a minute or a minute and a half, the drain valve 51 is opened with the pump still operating, and the wash solution is rapidly discharged and drains both from the tank 2% and from the manifold 34. The drain valve 51 is then closed, rinse water is admitted through the valve 53, and rinsing is effected with the same thorough action as the washing period. Upon completion of the rinsing step, which may take about a minute, the drain valve Si is again opened to empty the tank, the lid 23 is opened, and the hot dishes are permitted to drain and dry. Rotation of the basket will normally continue for some time, and will assist in the drying.

The portable washer shown in Fig. 4 comprises a single cylindrical outer wall and a cast manifold bottom 122 secured within the cylinder 120 at a mid-point of its height. The top and bottom edges of the wall 120 are fitted with rubber rims 124, and the lid 126 is formed to make a liquid tight joint with the upper rim 124. Prei erably the wall lid is of minimum height and the lid is deeply dished to provide additional head room within the machine in its normal position, and the lid also fits in an inverted position, to substantially reduce the space required for storage of the portable machine.

The bottom 122 is cast to provide a manifold 130, an outlet receptacle for a strainer 132, and a volute and housing 134 for the pump. A mounting plate 136 received in a suitable opening in the bottom of the pump rousing 334, supports the motor 142 with its drive shaft extending upward through the plate 136, and an impeller 133 is mounted at the upper end of the drive shaft with its inlet eye in alinement with the outlet opening below the strainer 132.

The bottom 122 carries an upstanding spindle 145 at the axis of the cylindrical wall 126, and a dish carrier 1 :6 is rotatably mounted on the spindle 145, as by a central mounting sleeve 144.

Spouts E48 upstanding from the top wall of the manifold 13% provide water passageways and ports in a pattern like that described above.

The volute of the pump housing "134 has a lateral opening 136 to which a fitting 151 is attached, leading to a flexible hose 152. The upper end of the flexible hose 152 carries a down-turned nipple 154, which during operation of the dishwasher has a normal position with its end releasably received in a fitting 155 on the lid 126,

plate 173 which is 'rotor are formed to avoid air entrapping pockets.

7 from which water discharges in downward spouts 156,

The portable dishwasher operates generally in the same way as the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2. During the washing operation the wash solution is constantly recirculated, flowing through the screen 132 into the rotor 138, and discharged therefrom into the manifold and thence through the nipples 148 in a heavy-bodied stream pattern like that described above. Simultaneously, a portion of the wash solution is circulated through the flexible hose 152 and its nipple 154 to the spouts 156 discharging adjacent the top of the washer. To empty the machine, the motor 142 is stopped, the flexible hose 152 is disengaged from the fitting and led to a suitable drain for the wash solution, and the motor 142 is again actuated to pump the solution through the flexible hose 152 out of the tank 120 to the drain.

Figs. 12 and 13 show alternative manifold and pump constructions useable in either the standard size dishwasher of Figs. 1 and 2 or the portable size dishwasher of Fig.4. In Fig. 12 the bottom of the tank is of hollow construction, forming a manifold 166, and iSpI'OVldfid with an outlet opening 161. A pump housing 162 is secured against the bottom wall of the tank bottom, and the motor 163 is dependingly supported from that housing 162. The housing 162 forms a well 164 alined with theoutlet opening 161 of the tank bottom, and from such well 164 a waterway 165 leads horizontally to a pumpinlet which opens upward in alinement with the eye 166 of the pump rotor 167. About the rotor 167 the housing forms a volute 168 leading to a discharge passage 169. This in turn leads to a two-way valve 170 which in the position shown leads the discharge from the pump upward to the manifold 160. If the valve 170 is turned 90 clockwise, the discharge from the pump then leads to a drain pipe 171. In this case, as with the pump of Fig. 11 the waterways leading to the pump are streams from disposed ata downward inclination or horizontally, to

avoid pockets in which air may be entrapped, and the waterways from the pump lead horizontally or upward I -to avoid airentrapping pockets.

In Fig. 13, the hollow bottom construction not only forms a manifold 160 but also forms a volute 172 at substantially the same level, and receives the pump rotor 167 within the bottom itself. The rotor and its shaft and its driving motor 163 are supported in a bottom formed to provide the bottom portion of an outlet well 174 and a waterway 175 leading therefrom to the eye of the rotor 167. The discharge from the rotor 167 is through a passage manifold 160 and leading to a valve 177. In the position shown, the valve connects the passage 176 with a drain passage 178 formed in the bottom casting and connected to the drain elbow 179. Rotation of the valve closesthe drain passage charge passage 176 with a lateral port 180 leading to the manifold 160. As in the other pump constructions, the inlet and discharge passages to and from the pump construction is advantageously compact and efiective, and is relatively inexpensive to'manufacture. Substantially all machine work required is done on the bottom casting and on the single bottom fitting 173 associated therewith, and substantially all machine operations may be done by rotary cutters on axes parallel with the central axis of the cast bottom. 7

In the modified portable dishwasher shown in Fig. 14, the casting which forms the bottom of the tank is formed with a peripheral groove 191 to receive a tubular gasket 192 of slightly larger diameter than the depth of the groove 191. The casting is conveniently inserted in the cylindrical outer Wall 193 by positioning it in a vertical position within the wall 193 and then tilting it about a horizontal diametric axis to its horizontal position. It may be fixed in the desired position by a few 176 separate from the 178 and connects the pump dis- The tit)

circumferentially spaced self tapping screws or bolts 194,

inserted through the wall 193 into the depending flange of the cast bottom 19%).

Fig. 14 also shows the use of a pump and motor on a horizontal axis. The drain fitting 195 leading from the bottom of the tank, to which the tank drains through a suitable screen, leads to the inlet eye 196 of the pump, and the discharge volute 197 of the pump is connected to a manifold 198 formed in the bottom casting 190. The propelling motor may be supported from the pump casing, and is positioned co-axial with the shaft 199 of the pump. Operation of the dishwasher corresponds to that of the washers described above.

We claim as our invention:

1. A dishwasher, comprising a dish-supporting carrier rotatable in a horizontal of spaced points beneath the area traversed by said carrier to discharge full-bodied streams of liquid upward across the path of said carrier, said discharge ports being spaced circumferentially and radially and at interferenceavoiding distances in a pattern leaving open areas, and means to discharge angular streams of liquid in said open areas, said carrier and streams being inter-related whereby dish'reaction to said streams produces carrier rotation, and a pump to recirculate liquid in large volume and at low head through said discharge means.

2. A washer, comprising a tank adapted to contain a quantity of wash-liquid in its bottom, a manifold formed in the bottom of the tank, a rotatable, carrier in said tank for articles to be washed, spouts upstanding of the tank and leading from said from the bottom wall below said carrier and above the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,936 Wilson 179,274 Cosgrove Iune 27, 1876 193,222 Buell Iuly 17, 1877 372,123 Cox Oct. 25, 1887 415,634 Guptill Nov. 19, 1889 999,956 Campbell Aug. 8, 1911 1,050,698 Scheurmann Jan. .14, 1913 1,206,206 Cary et a1. Nov. 28, 1916 1,405,243 Wing Ian. 31, 1922 1,528,083 Schmidt Mar. 3, 1925 1,542,041 Doble June 16, 1925 1,553,428 Benn Sept. 15, 1925 1,570,296 Cave Ian. 19, 1926 1,599,074 Breer Sept. 7, 1926 1,645,815 Murdoch Oct. 18, 1927 1,656,139 reton Ian. 10,1928 1,675,192 Murdoch June 26, 1928. 1,793,798 'Harker Feb. 24, 1931 1,804,715 Tafel May 12, 1931 1,827,478 Lichtman Oct. 13, 1931 1,907,269 Selmer May 2, 1933 2,076,688 West Apr. 13, 1937 2,333,715 Hahnemann Nov. 9, 1943 2,384,254 r'ieredew Sept. 4, 1945 2,393,127 Summers Ian. 15, 1946 2,442,709 Rarnsdell June 1, 1948 2,480,931 Iaeger Sept. 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 821,438 France Aug. 23, 1937 829,495 France Apr. 5, 1938 OTHER REFERENCES Murdoch Machine Corp., 101 Park Ave, N. Y., N. Y.

75 Received, June 23, 1926. Pamphletplane, ports at a plurality below their openings Q Nov. 18, 1947

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