US2753708A - Washing machine with fluid circulating propellers - Google Patents

Description

E. V. ASHBY WASHING MACHINE WITH FLUID CIRCULATING PROPELLERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 10, 1956 Filed Nov. '7, 195] in m I 65 ea .35

"4.51 5 l- 4 4r J /4 40 a2 m 30 \\V\ m L 4' 56 3/ J6 --43 f v J 5 4 IZLZZA J xfl'kb y INVENTOR,'

BY ATTORNEYS.

July 10, 1956 E. v. H Y 2,753,708

WASHING MACHINE WITH FLUID CIRCULATING PROPEZLLERS Filed Nov. '7, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 34 ZZZ'fls7L2?y INVENTOR ATTORNEYS July 10, 1956 E, v, ASHBY 2,753,708

WASHING MACHINE WITH FLUID CIRCULATING PROPELLEIRS Filed Nov. '7, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 55 34 /a 1;. u fldhy INVENTOR BY 1 I ATTORNEYS.

2,753,708 1 Fatented July 10, 1956 WASHING MACHINE WITH FLUID CIRCULATING PROPELLERS Elvie V. Ashby, Miami, Fla.

Application November 7, 1951, Serial No. 255,305

Claims. (Cl. 68-190) This invention relates to washing machine construction, and aims to provide a washing machine which will thoroughly wash articles without the necessity of using agitators or movable members that contact the articles being washed, commonly used in washing machine construction, and which cause excessive wear of the articles being washed.

An important object of the invention is to provide a washing machine wherein the washing fluid or water contained in the tub of the washing machine is caused to swirl and at the same time caused to move vertically, the water propulsion means reversing the movement of the water at predetermined intervals.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for regulating the movement of the water propulsion means to prevent a too rapid movement of the water or washing fluid.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a baflie plate against which the water is directed and which sprays the water or cleaning fluid evenly in all directions, reversing the flow of water from a circular path to a lateral path towards the outer Walls of the tub, where the water or washing fluid will be directed downwardly.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a washing machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates the washing machine tub, which is supported on the legs 6.

The cover of the tub is indicated by the reference character 7 and fits over the top of the tub closing the tub, as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Mounted within the washing machine tub 5 is the upright cylinder 10, which is of a diameter appreciably smaller than the diameter of the tub 5 providing a washing compartment 11 between the cylinder and tub.

The cylinder is supported by means of the legs 12 which connect with the cylinder adjacent to the lower end thereof, the legs 12 being welded or otherwise connected to the bottom 14 of the tub.

I The bottom 14 provides a support for the cylinder 10 which is, spaced an appreciable distance above the bottom, the bottom 14 being of a diameter so that it extends beyond the wall of the cylinder 10 and rests on the inwardly extended flange 13 formed on the tub 5. The portion of the bottom 14 directly under the cylinder 10 is solid, while the portion of the bottom between the cylinder wall 10 and wall of the tub 5, is perforated, communication between the washing compartment 11 and interior of the cylinder 10 being through the perforations of the bottom 14.

At the upper end of the cylinder 10 is the baffle 15 which is provided with an outwardly flared wall 16, the wall 16 being formed with elongated openings 17 adjacent to the upper edge thereof, which openings establish communication between the cylinder 10 and compartment 11 at the upper end of the compartment 11. Rivets 18 secure the baflle 16 to the disc 19 that closes the upper end of the cylinder 5, the disc 19 being held in place by means of the bolts 20.

Formed in the disc 19 are valve openings that are fitted with rings 21 providing valve seats at the upper and lower ends of the rings 21 and against which the disc valves 22 and 22' seat in controlling the passage of fluid through the valve openings. The disc valves 22 and 22 are secured to the opposite ends of the valve stems 23' the stems moving through the spiders 23 secured within the rings 21. Coiled springs 24' are disposed on opposite sides of the spiders 23 and engage said disc valves normally holding the valves open. The upper disc valves 22 are threaded on the upper ends of the valve stems 23 so that the valves may be readily disassembled for servicing or repair. The valves 22 close with pressure of rinsing water directed to the washing compartment. The valves 22 close upon flow of the washing fluid or water in the opposite direction.

Disposed between the baffle 15 and upper end of the cylinder 10, are downwardly curved baflie rings 24, which baffle rings are held in spaced relation with respect to each other, by the bars 25 that are welded to the upper end of the cylinder 10. These balfle rings 24 guard against the articles being washed, clogging the valves 22 to prevent the operation of the valves.

Disposed adjacent to the top of the cylinder 10 and resting directly over the upper end of the cylinder 10, is the ring 26, which ring is held in place by means of the pins 27 that are secured to the upper surface of the ring, the pins 27 passing through openings formed in the baffle 15, as clearly shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings. These pins 27 have heads 28 that restrict downward movement of the pins and ring 26, under the action of the coiled springs 29 which are disposed between the baffle 15 and rings 26.

The legs 12 also provide supports for the upwardly curved baflierings 30 which are arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other, directly above the bottom 14. Due to this construction it will be seen that communication between the lower portion of cylinder 10 and compartment 11 is established through the spaces between the baffle rings 30.

The tub 5 is provided with a central opening through which the shaft 31 extends, there being provided packing .32 to provide a water seal between the bottom 14 and shaft 31. Mounted on the upper end of the shaft 31 is the disc 32 which is formed with openings providing bearings for the horizontal shafts 33 to which the propellers 34 are secured. These propellers 34 which are hollow are of a novel construction and embody spaced walls 35, the front and rear ends of the propellers being open, so that water or cleaning fluid may pass therethrough, the detail construction of these propellers being illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. As shown,jthe front and rear ends of the upper and lowerwalls of the propellers, are curved outwardly at 36 sothat as these propellers move in a rotary direction, the outwardly curved ends will tend to scoop the water or cleansing fluid, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described. Spring arms 37 extend upwardly from the upper wall of each propeller, while the spring arms 38 extend downwardly from the lower wall of each propeller.

Thus, it will be seen that as the propellers 34 move upwardly, the spring arms 37 will contact with the ring 26 causing the propellers to tilt so that they will scoop up water or washing fluid within the upright cylinder 10, causing the propellers and shaft 31 to move downwardly. When the propellers reach the limit of their downward movement, the spring arms 38 will engage the ring 39, which is mounted on the upper end of the bellows 40, that in turn is secured to the bottom 14, the bellows surrounding the portion of the shaft 31, extending through the bottom 14. The bellows 49 has an open upper end and provides a cushion for the propellers as they move to the limit of their downward movement. As the arms 38 engage ring 39, it will be seen that the propellers will tilt in the opposite direction so that continued rotation of the propellers will cause the propellers to again rise to the top of the cylinder 10, causing a circulation of the water through the cylinder 10, from the bottom.

Secured to the bottom 41 of the washing machine tub, are supporting arms 42, to which the electric motor 43 is secured, the electric motor having its armature shaft 44 formed with an elongated opening 45 in which the pin 46 secured to the shaft 31, slides. Thus it will be seen that while the motor 43 operates to rotate shaft 31, the shaft 31 is also free to move vertically through the shaft 44.

The shaft 31 is of a length to extend into the cylinder 47 mounted on the bar 48 secured to opposite legs 6 of the washing machine. This cylinder 47 is provided with a by-pass pipe 49 that has connection with the cylinder 47 at the upper end thereof at 50, while the opposite or lower end of the pipe 49 connects with the lower end of the cylinder 47, at 51. A control valve 52 is mounted in the pipe 49, and by regulating the valve 52 the flow of fluid through the pipe 49 may be controlled.

Secured to the lower end of the shaft 31 is the hollow piston 53 in which the bearing disc 54, carried at the lower end of the shaft 31 operates, there being provided ball bearings 55 disposed between the upper and lower surfaces of the disc 54 and the upper and lower walls of the hollow piston 53, permitting the free rotary movement of the shaft 31 and disc 54, with respect to the cylinder. Thus it will be seen that the disc 54 moving within the cylinder will regulate the speed of reciprocation of said disc 32 and propellers with the result that the circulation of cleaning fluid through the cylinder and tub will be controlled.

As shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, the bottom 14 is secured in spaced relation with the bottom 41, by means of spacers 56, the space between the bottom 14 and bottom 41, providing the drain space by means of which water or washing fluid may be drained from the compartment 11, through the drain valves 57.

In operation, the cover 7 and disc 19 will be removed and the clothes to be washed placed in the compartment 11. The necessary quantity of water or washing fluid will now be placed in the tub 5, and the disc 19, together with the elements supported thereby, will be replaced. The electric circuit to the motor 43 will now be completed causing rotation of the shaft 31, which willimmediately be caused to rise within the cylinder 10, cansing a circulation of the water or cleaning fluid through the cylinder 10, agitating articles to be washed.

As previously indicated, when the propellers reach the upper end of the cylinder 10, the positions of the propellers will be reversed, to the endthat continued rotation of the shaft 31 will cause the propellers to move downwardly reversing the circulation of water to thoroughly cleanse the articles being washed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine, a tub, an upright open-ended cylinder mounted within the tub, legs connected to one end of the cylinder resting on the bottom of said tub supporting said cylinder in spaced relation with the tub, establishing communication between the tub and cylinder for the circulation of washing fluid through said cylinder, a vertical shaft in said cylinder and projecting therebelow, a horizontal disc within said cylinder mounted on said vertical shaft to move therewith, said disc having openings, horizontal shafts extending across said openings centrally thereof, vertically swinging hollow openended propellers pivotally mounted on said shafts within said openings, a motor for rotating said vertical shaft and disc within said cylinder, spring arms secured to said propellers a contact ring disposed at each end of the cylinder for engaging said spring arms associated therewith, tilting said hollow propellers alternately in opposite directions, extending the open ends of the propellers above and below the disc for agitating and scooping washing fluid as the disc rotates, said motor having a tubular armature shaft and said vertical shaft being slidable but nonrotatable relative to said armature shaft, rotation of said disc and vertical shaft effecting reciprocation of said disc and propellers within the cylinder, and means for regulating the speed of reciprocation. of the disc.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, a vertical open-ended cylinder mounted within the tub, in spaced relation with the bottom of the tub, groups of vertically spaced horizontal baffle rings secured to the upper and lower ends of said upright cylinder, between which washing fluid circulates in passing through said cylinder, a vertical rotatable propeller shaft extending into said cylinder, a horizontal disc having openings, secured on the upper end of said shaft and operating within said cylinder, a motor, a slidable connection between said motor and said shaft whereby said shaft and disc may move endwise with rotation thereof, open-ended propellers within said openings, shafts extending transversely through said openings on which said propellers are mounted and means for intermittently tilting said propellers vertically in opposite directions alternately elevating their opposite ends above said disc whereby said disc and propellers are reciprocated within said cylinder.

3. In a washing machine, a tub having a main bottom, a false bottom secured within the tub and spaced from the main bottom, said false bottom having a solid central portion and having perforations between the solid central portion and wall of said tub, a vertical cylinder disposed within said tub resting on the false bottom directly over 'the solid portion of the false bottom in spaced relation therewith, groups of spaced baffle rings secured to the upper and lower ends of the cylinder between which cleaning fluid flows, a vertical shaft in said cylinder, a power member for rotating said shaft, means connecting said shaft with said power member whereby said shaft may move endwise with rotation thereof, a plurality of hollow reversible propellers in said cylinder, means rockably connecting said propellers with said shaft, said propellers in one position thereof effecting upward movement of said shaft and in another position thereof effecting downward movement of said shaft, and means in said cylinder adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof for reversing the position of said propellers.

4. In a washing machine, a tub having a main bottom and a false perforated bottom, spaced from the main bottom, a vertical cylinder closed at its upper end, mounted on the false bottom inspaced relation therewith, groups of spaced baffle rings secured to the upper and lower ends of the cylinder between which cleaning fluid is circulated, a disc having openings, means for rotating said disc within said cylinder, hollow open-ended substantially horizontally disposed propellers pivotally mounted within the openings of said disc, the ends of said propellers extending beyond the upper and lower surfaces of said disc, adapted to scoop cleaning fluid as the disc rotates, alternately exerting upward and downward pressure against said propellers, moving the disc and propellers vertically within the cylinder from one end of the 5 cylinder to the other end thereof, circulating the cleaning fluid through the cylinder and tub.

5. The subject matter as set forth in claim 4 and means for regulating the speed of vertical movement of said disc. 10

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,119,995 Sibson et a1. Dec. 8, 1914 15 6 Wayland Sept. 28, 1926 Burry Aug. 11, 1936 Rocke Feb. 28, 1939 Allwood July 16, 194-0 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 22, 1931 OTHER REFERENCES

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