US2758462A - Cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1956 Filed May 31, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 l. I Q-- -n =u a J INVENTOR.

AFTER/V5? Aug. 14, 1956 A. H. DE Moss CLEANING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 51, 1950 5 5 n. mu m. r m

m z w (m 4 u m w [klllfifl v I w a D 7 3 1. MU 6- Z d a 8 7 6 /.a.. M w l 4 4 6 l IN V EN TOR. I94 sem- H. 05 Moss 14, 1956 A. H. DE Moss 2,758,462

CLEANING MACHINE 9 Sheets s et 4 Filed May 31" 50 v L'ETE-"4.

Aug. 14, 1956 A. H. DE Moss 2,758,462

CLEANING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet E dzw Aug. 14, 1956 A. H. DE MOSS 2,758,462

CLEANING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR. ALeERr H. 05 Moss ZMW Aug. 14, 1956 A. H. DE MOSS 2,758,462

CLEANING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. Anem- H. 0: Moss Aug. 14, 1956 A. H. DE MOSS 2,758,462

CLEANING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. ALBERT h. D: Moss United States Patent CLEANING MACHINE Albert H. DeMoss, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 3'1, 1950, Serial No. 165,330

1 Claim. (Cl. 68-142) This invention relates to cleaning machines and to methods of and apparatus for washing and cleaning clothes and other fabric or other materials. The invention has particular relation to a new method of and an apparatus for cleaning by a rotary floatation method or process of cleaning, to be hereinafter described, and, to the various kinds of mechanisms .and devices employed in constructing such apparatus and in the practice of such method.

At present there are two general types of washing machines which have achieved great popularity with the public .and which are now in general houshold and commercial use. These are generally referred to as the agitator washer and the tumble action washer.

The agitator washer operates on the principle of floating the material to be cleaned in a large quantity of .detergent, and employs an agitating device or impeller to move the material and the detergent back and forth within the machine. This type of washer has two very serious and well-known objections, and, neither of which appears to have been avoidable Without injury to the material being cleaned or without rendering the device relatively ineffective as a washing machine.

The first of these objections is that an excessive amount of water is required to wash the material being cleaned, this amount being generally between one and one-half (1.5) and two (2) gallons of water per pound of material to be cleaned. In order to wash clothes effectively with this amount of water per pound of material cleaned it is necessary to employ a minimum concentration of soap or other cleaning material or fluid and this minimum is more soap than would be required to effectively clean the same material in a smaller quantity of water. The result of being required to employ such excessive amounts of soap and water to make the agitator type of machine operate satisfactorily is that the housewife is required to choose between washing a second load of material in the same water and soap or of throwing the water and soap away, thereby wasting much of both the hot water and the soap comprising this partially used detergent.

If a second load is washed, then the soil which is suspended in the detergent limits the amount of additional cleaning that can be done and makes it necessary to wash only excessively soiled material in the second load.

The second objection to the agitator type washing machine is that it is destructive of the material being cleaned, the agitator acting somewhat like a shredding device upon the material being cleaned. The agitator performs in this manner because it is generally small in size, operates at high speed in first one direction and then another, and, in order to be effective, its motion must consist of a succession of violent jerks and pulls first one direction and then another. This action seems necessary in order to create any kind of an effective motion in the large amount of detergent employed; If the agitator machine is even slightly overloaded, this shredding action can become very damaging and may cause Patented Aug. 14, 1956 the material to be torn or the fibers to be broken down to such an extent that the life of the material will be greatly reduced.

The tumble action machine presents problems which are the opposite of those to be found in the agitator machine.

The amount of water used in the tumble action machine is in the vicinity of five-tenths (.5) of a gallon of water per pound of material to be cleaned, and this amount is so small that it is insufficient either to float the material or to suspend therein the amount of soil .to be found in a normal load of material to be cleaned. The small amount of water per pound of material to be cleaned makes it necessary to keep a large part of the material being cleaned out of the detergent in order to have enough detergent to immerse the remaining material.

It is this process of removing material from the detergent and returning it to the detergent that distinguishes the tumble action washer from other washing methods and apparatus.

If any tumble act-ion washer is observed, it will be at once apparent that more of the material being cleaned is in the air than is in the detergent, and, since the material is out of the detergent for a large part of the time involved in the cleaning process, this would appear to account for the fact that the time required for cleaning material in the tumble action machine is generally much greater than in other types of machines.

The amount of water used in a tumble action machine is not only great enough to wash all of the material all of the time but it is not great enough to effectively dissolve the amount of soap required for cleaning the amount of material in a normal load. This difficulty causes the housewife to tend to use more soap than the machine will use and this often results in the formation of a heavy suds which does not effectively clean the clothes and often renders the machine inoperative. This heavy suds stays in the machine at the end of a Washing operation and tends to load up the machine to such an extent that fuses are blown and sometimes even the motor is burned out, when the machine commences an extraction cycle.

Another result of this low amount of water per pound of material to be cleaned is that the amount of soil usually found in a load of medium or heavily soiled material cannot be suspended in this amount of Water. \Such a load of material can therefore only be partly cleaned and the amount of cleaning which can be done under such circumstances cannot be greatly increased regardless of how much the washing operation may be extended in time.

All-of these di-fiiculties with the tumble action machine result in the necessity :fOr building in to such machine prevsoaking and multiple washing, rinsing and extracting Operations, thereby greatly lengthening the time required for operating such a machine.

Notwithstanding the fact that a very small amount of Water is used in the cleaning of material in the tumble actionxrnachine, the total amount of water required for a complete .cycle of operations is excessive. This is due to :the fact that starving the washing operation of water simply makes it necessary to .use other soaking, washing, and rinsing operations and all of which require water and require more water than would have been required if a =suflicient amount of water had been used in the initial washing operation.

Manyattempts have been made to use greater quantities of water in the tumble action type of machine, but these attempts to date have not appeared to be successful. it has been found that as the water level increases and as the floatation of material increases there is a 3 serious and progressive decrease in the already slow rate of soil removal that is characteristic of machines of this type.

Also, when the tumble action machine is overloaded to any great extent the machine practically ceases to function from the standpoint of soil removal.

This invention comprises a new method of cleaning and an apparatus for practicing such method and both of which involve principles that conflict with the practices heretofore employed.

It is proposed to clean clothing and other material to be cleaned by a rotary floatation process in which a greater amount of water per pound of material to be cleaned is employed than is employed in the tumble action machine. But the amount of water is not so great as to exceed the amount of water required for cleaning the material as is required in the agitator type of machine.

It is proposed to suspend the material to be cleaned in water at the ratio of about one (1) gallon of water for each pound of material to be cleaned, and it is proposed to keep this material in suspension and floating in water throughout the entire operation required for cleaning the material.

It is proposed to internally rotate this body of detergent and the floating mass of material suspended there in to cause an internal scrubbing action between the different parts of the material so suspended, and somewhat like the scrubbing of clothes by hand that occurs when a housewife finds some garment, as for example a collar of a shirt, that has not been washed clean enough.

This internal scrubbing of parts or pieces of the material is brought about by creating ascending and descending currents of detergent and the material suspended therein, to provide a somewhat vertically disposed column of detergent and material, with the rotating body being impelled upwardly on one side and falling by gravity downwardly on the other side of said column.

In such a rotating body, comprising the correct amount and quality of detergent for the material being cleaned, it is possible to wash even the most soiled material in a minimum length of time.

It is proposed to practice this method in a container having an impeller which will move the body of detergent and the mass of material suspended therein upwardly on one side of the body thereafter allowing the detergent and material to fall by gravity into the body.

Suitable apparatus for use in practicing this method is a cylinder having batfles projecting inwardly thereof and in which the baffles in the container or both balfles and container may be rotated in such a way as to rotate the floating material and the detergent as described.

In practicing this method it has been found to be possible to rotate such a container and the baffles therein at a greater speed than heretofore has been considered possible in machines employing such devices.

In the tumble action washer, for example, it has been considered impossible to rotate such a container at a speed that might be said to exceed the force of gravity. A speed not exceeding the force of gravity has been considered to be a speed at which the material being cleaned and being rotated with the container will fall by the force of gravity at or before it reaches the top of the container and will fall across the container to strike the container or the detergent therein adjacent the bottom of the container. In such a machine the material is cleaned by the flexing of fibers of the material when the material strikes the detergent or the container and by flexing the fibers again when the battles of the container engage the material and forceably pull the material through the small quantity of water to be found in the bottom of the container. However the fibers of the material are not appreciably flexed after the baffles carry the material out of the water and during the time it is ascending on the upwardly moving side of the container and during the time the material falls across the container.

It is therefore apparent why the tumble action machine must be operated at a speed below the speed at which the force of gravity will cause the material being cleaned to fall from the top of the container. If the container were operated at a greater speed, that is, a speed at which the centrifugal force at the top of the container equals the force of gravity, then the material will not fall from the top of the container and will not tumble across the container and strike the bottom of the container or the detergent therein. The process therefore would lose the cleaning effect that occurs when the fibers of the material being cleaned are vigorously and violently flexed as the material falls against the bottom part of the container or the detergent therein. The material simply would be carried around the container and the only washing action that would occur would be when the material was carried through the limited supply of water at the bottom of the Y container. This washing effect would not be great because not only would the fibers not be flexed to an extent as great as before, the material would not change position in the container and therefore each piece of material would tend to be only partly cleaned or to be cleaned only on one side.

It is now proposed to increase the peripheral speed of such a rotating container to a value exceeding the force of gravity and not only to prevent the material from rotating around the inside of the container in response to the force of gravity but to prevent the material from even tumbling from the top of the container and into the detergent or against the container adjacent the bottom of the container.

This speed, which may be described as being in excess of the force of gravity, must exceed unity (1) when calculated for any rotating container by squaring the speed of the container in revolutions per minute, then multiplying the product by the diameter of the container in inches, and then by the factor .0000142.

A tumble action washer operating at a speed exceeding the value of one (1), when determined by this formula, will not operate as a tumble action washer because the clothes will no longer tumble, and, as a matter of fact the machine will be altogether inoperative as a practical cleaning machine.

In order to construct a practical washing machine that will operate at a speed exceeding the force of gravity as determined by the foregoing formula it is possible to proceed as follows.

First it is proposed to employ a quantity of detergent that is sufiicient for cleaning a normal load of material. Thus, if a machine is to be constructed to wash a normal load of clothes of ten pounds, then approximately ten gallons of water should be used in such a machine. This amount of water in a machine having a container 24" in diameter and 9" in depth will fill the container to a depth exceeding 40 percent of the diameter of the container. Such an amount of detergent in such a container will float the material to be cleaned in the detergent and somewhat above the bottom of the container, so that it will be possible to employ battles which can be rotated through the body of detergent without picking up the floating mass of material within the detergent.

It has been found desirable to make these bafilcs of different heights and to provide baflies with the leading surfaces thereof extending substantially axially and radially with respect to the container. When such bafilcs are rotated by the container, they will tend to pump or to elevate the detergent on one side of the detergent body.

When baflies are employed that slope to a large extent in one direction or another, with respect to a radial plane extending through the axis of the container, such batiles tend to pump the detergent either inwardly or outwardly with respect to the container and do not tend to cause an effective column of detergent on one side of the container.

It has also been found desirable to provide a relatively .;J imperforate peripheral shell forming outside of the container, 150 that a i-arge part :of the detergent not tend .to iflow outwardly through perforations in the container and to flow in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the container and between the material container and the :detergent container.

In order to drain the container during the extraction process, it has been found suitable to provide limited perforations at opposite ends of this cylindrical shell and While these perforations are suflicient for the purposes of extraction, they do not cause the liquid to flow outside of the material container in the direction opposite to the rotation of the container.

It has been found desirable also to cut down the clearance between inner rotating and outer stationary parts of the container. The rotary flotation process herein described puiposes to utilize as :much of the detergent as is possible inside the rotating part .of the container where it can be employed in holding the material in suspension therein and in the process of washing and scrubbing the material being cleaned.

By employing such construction and by rotating the container at speeds exceeding the force of gravity it has been found possible to create an ascending and descending column of detergent and material being cleaned, on one side of the container. In this column the clothes tend to remain within the body of detergent, as a floating mass of material that is rotated and scrubbed by the bafiles and by the continuous and varying contact between the various parts comprising the total mass of material in a normal machine load.

Under such circumstances the fibrous particles of the floating mass of material are continuously flexed and agitated throughout the entire extent of each rotation of the material within the container and throughout the entire washing operation performed by the container. This continuing flexing and agitation. results in an excellent cleaning process which is easy on the material being cleaned and does not require an excessive amount of detergent or of time. In the employment of such apparatus and process it has been found that a totally different cycle of cleaning operations can be employed than has been employed heretofore in machines having rotating containers.

Since it has been found possible to employ a suflicient quantity of detergent for the quantity of material being cleaned, the soil from a normal load of such material does not exceed the amount which will remain in suspension in such detergent and consequently the material is washed clean in a relatively short time.

It has therefore been found unnecessary to provide the machine with presoaking operations and with additional and unnecessary washing, rinsing and extracting operations.

Also it has been found unnecessary to decrease the speed of rotation of the container at the end of the washing operation in order to provide a tumbling operation as is now found to be necessary in machines having rotating containers.

Instead of tumbling the clothes at the end of the washing operation, it has been discovered that it is better immediately to increase the speed of rotation of the container to provide for the centrifugal extraction of the detergent from the material being cleaned. This extraction takes out a large part of the detergent so that it is only necessary thereafter to provide a single rinsing operation.

This single rinsing operation is performed after the extracting operation referred to, by again filling the container with cold or only slightly warm water and the rotary flotation process of cleaning is then repeated for rinsing the material. After a short time the rinsing detergent can be drained and then the container again can be rotated at extracting speed and the remaining rinsing detergent removed. The material is then damp dry and ready to be taken from the machine.

It has been found unnecessary to provide any kind of special distribution speed or mechanism in order to distribute the material in the container so that the two extracting operations can be performed. in the rotary flotation process of cleaning and rinsing the container is already traveling at a :speed exceeding the force of gravity so that all that is required is to drain the detergent from the container; As the level of the detergent in the container commences to fall, the material will cease to float above the bottom of the container and the baffies then will commence to engage parts of the material and to carry this material out of the detergent. Since the container is rotating at a speed exceeding the force of gravity any material that is so carried out of the detergent will immediately cling to the container and will be rotated and distributed entirely around the container. .As the deter-gent level continues to fall other and successive parts of the material being cleaned will be carried out :of the detergent and in this manner the whole mass of material will be suitably distributed around the container within a relatively short time.

It is further proposed to simplify the design of machines having rotating containers to such an extent that expensive tools will not be required in the manufacture thereof and to simplify and to improve the drive and control mechanism required for the operation of such machines and to such an extent that an entire machine can be manufactured and sold .at a cost comparable with cost of present manually operated agitator and wringer machines.

In order .to providesuch driving mechanism it is proposed .to do away with expensive gears and clutches and to substitute therefore a simple belt and pulley drive that can be operated at different speeds merely by engaging .and. disengaging spring clutches.

It is also proposed to do away with the use of expensive motors. By employing continuously rotating belt and pulley or other drives that may be alternately connected and disconnected to the shaft of the machine for operating the machine at different speeds, it is possible to use a split-phase motor. The inertia resulting from the rotation of the high speed drive tends to aid the motor in accelerating the container of the machine at the beginning of extracting. operations and with such aid a split-phase motor has been found to .be sufiicient for operating the machine throughout all loading conditions and for any number of successive cycles of operations.

It .is also proposed .to dispense with the use of electric timers which are both unreliable and expensive and which require continuous and expensive service operations. It is proposed to employ a mechanical timer which .is responsive to the operation of the low speed drive of the machine and which .is constructed in such a way as to become a part of the drive mechanism and of the various parts of the machine which the control mechanism .is designed to operate, so that the whole structure can be manufactured and sold as a single sub-assembly part.

It is proposed also .to dispense with the timing mechanism when .a fully automatic machine is not desired and for such purposes the timing and driving mechanism is so constructed that the timing mechanism can be left off the machine without .any essential change in the machine and the machine then can be sold and operated as a machine that will wash, rinse and extract in response to the personal operation of the housewife.

A further improvement proposed is a way of filling the machine with detergent that does not require a float valve or other expensive mechanisms and a way of draining the machine which will prevent the injurious effects that have resulted from the use of an excessive amount of soap in rotating cylinder machines as heretofore designed.

:It is proposed to .fill the machine from an exposed conduit :at the top of the machine so that the temperature of the water employed in the machine can be regulated ahdcontrolled merely by feeling the water andd'etermining its temperature in this manner. The water level in the machine is limited by an overflow conduit which also drains away excessive soap. This conduit is located on the side of the machine opposite that on which the ascending and descending column of floating material and detergent is formed, so that the machine will not overflow after the water level has once been established and during the cleaning operation of the machine.

Since a proper ratio is provided between the water and soap employed in the machine to provide proper detergent for cleaning the material to be cleaned, it is not likely that an excessive amount of soap may be used in the machine. In other words with the amount of water employed it is possible to use the amount of soap that the housewife feels should be used without so much danger of creating a heavy suds caused by excessive soap. If any such excessive amount of soap is used and a heavy suds is formed in the machine it has been found that this suds will completely drain from the machine if a large drain conduit is employed and if the conduit is otherwise constructed so as not to materially restrict the flow of detergent and suds from the machine. By such expedient the heavy suds will be sufliciently drained by the time the first extracting operation commences that no excessive load will be imposed on the machine and the remaining suds will immediately be caused to drain from the machine by the detergent thrown out of the material and around the entire periphery of the container. This detergent will break up the suds and carry away the suds through the large drain provided.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this specification in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a washing or cleaning machine embracing the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the machine illustrated by Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the machine illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 and in the plane of lines 33 on Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of line 4-4 on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through a part of the drive mechanism employed in the machine. Figure 5 is taken substantially in the plane of line 5-5 on Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the valve and timing mechanism unit employed in the machine, and is taken substantially in the plane of line 6-6 on Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating in elevation a part of the ratchet and pawl mechanism embraced in the structure illustrated in Figure 6. Figure 7 is taken in the plane of line 77 on Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows thereon.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view taken through the motor drive pulley, and as the pulley will be seen in section substantially in the plane of line 88 on Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the overflow outlet and gravity actuated valve therefor, which are employed in the machine. Figure 9 is taken substantially in the plane of line 9-9 on Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows thereon.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view through the rotary container of the machine and illustrating a crosssectional view through one of the baflles of the machine. Figure 10 is taken substantially in the plane of line 10-10 on Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows thereon.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from outside the container and of the part of the container illustrated in the fragmentary view shown by Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the driving mechanism shown by Figure 5. Figure 12 illustrates the pitman member and the drive therefor employed for operating the timing mechanism of the machine and is taken substantially in the plane of line 12-12 on Figure 5.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatical illustration of a rotating container embracing the principles of the invention and in which the rotary floatation process of cleaning soiled material is illustrated.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatical illustration of a cycle of operations which the timing mechanism of the machine may perform and which may be employed in operating the machine illustrated by the preceding figures.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 4, there is employed in practicing the invention a washing or cleaning machine which is illustrated generally by the numeral 10.

The machine is supported by a frame consisting of pairs of U-shape channel members indicated at 12 and 13. Each of the channel members comprises a horizontal part 14, a pair of parallel and vertically disposed parts 16 and 17, and inwardly bent ends indicated at 18 and 19 respectively. The lower parts of the channel members 12 and 13 are secured together by angle members 21 and 22 which are welded or otherwise secured in the corners at the ends of the parts 14. The inwardly bent ends 18 and 19 of each of the channel members 12 and 13 also are secured together by angle members 23 and 24 respectively, which are welded or otherwise secured thereto in any suitable manner.

The angle members 23 and 24 are secured to and support a detergent and material container indicated generally at 26. Gussets 27 are welded or otherwise secured in the corners of the channel members 12 and 13 for generally reinforcing the frame 11.

The front of the frame 11 is covered by a removable panel indicated at 28 as likewise are the sides and back covered by panels indicated respectively at 29 and 31. The back panel 31 extends upwardly and is spaced rearwardly of the container 26 and forms the rear panel for a drive mechanism compartment indicated generally at 32. The top and sides of the compartment 32 above the container 26 are formed by an upper panel or cap 33 and the space on each side of the compartment 32 and rearwardly of container 26 is closed by arcuate members which extend downwardly from the sides of cap 33 and which form substantially a continuous surface with respect to the sides of the container 26.

The space within the compartment 32 houses a drive mechanism which is indicated generally at 34. The drive mechanism 34 is adapted to be driven by a motor 36 disposed within a mechanism compartment 37 which is formed within the frame 11. The mechanism com partment 3'7 also encloses a drain valve, water valve and timing mechanism unit indicated generally at 38 and a strainer and water pump unit indicated generally at 39.

The container 26 comprises an outer stationary detergent container 41 and an inner rotating detergent and material container 42. The container 42 is disposed within the container 41 and is adapted to rotate therein in closely spaced relation thereto.

The outer container 41 comprises a pair of end panels 43 and 44 and a cylindrical shell 46. The shell 46 has beads rolled inwardly around the opposite ends thereof to provide outwardly disposed flanges adjacent the peripheral edges of the end panels 43 and 44. Rubber or other suitable gaskets 4'7 are disposed between the edges and flanges referred to and are clamped therein by clamping rings indicated at 48 and 49. The clamping rings 43 and 49 are formed in such way as to provide angularly disposed sides that are adapted to engage the edges of the panels 43 and 44 and the flanges formed at the ends of the shell 46. The clamping members 48 have ends which are brought together adjacent the bottom of the stationary container 41 and are provided with lugs 51 at the opposite ends thereof which are adapted to be clamped together by bolts indicated at 52. When the bolts 52 9 are tightened the clamping rings :tend to compress the gaskets 47 between the edges of the panels 43 and 44 the flanges formed at the ends of the shell 46, .to provide a rigid water-tight container such as is required in the construction of washing machines.

The central part of the front panel 43 is provided with aci-rc-ular opening indicated at '53 in which a door 54 is adapted to project. The door '54 is hinged at 56 and is provided witha latch57 by which the door may be opened and closed with respect to the opening 53. The door 54 is formed in such a Way as to provide a glass or other suitable window 58 which is secured by a gasket 59 around the inwardly flanged edge of frame member 61 in which the window 58 is received. The front part of the frame member 61 is flanged outwardly and inwardly as is indicated at 62 for receiving a gasket 63 adapted to engage the outer surface of the panel 43 to prevent leakage of detergent from the opening 53.

The inner rotating container comprises end panels 64 and 66 between which are secured an imperforate cylindrical shell '67 and a plurality of bafiles 63, 69 and 71. The panels or ends 64 and 66 are formed to provide spaced and radially disposed channels 72 which extend entirely around the edges thereof, in such a way as to provide outlet openings for the interior of the container 42 at the :ends of the shell 67. The ends of the shell 67 are flanged outwardly as is indicated at 73 and these flanges are spot-welded as at 74 to the container ends 64 and 66 between the channels 72.

The bafiies 68, 69 and 71 are disposed axially with respect to the axis of rotation of the container 42 and are secured in position between the ends 64 and 66 by tongues 75 formed between the ends of the baffles and which project from the outer edges thereof and extend through openings 76 cut in the shell 67 for receiving the tongues.

Beyond the shell 67 the tongues 75 are bent in opposite directions against the outer surface of the shell 66 for securing the baflles in position. The baflles 68, 69 and 71 are formed in such a way as to provide leading surfaces or edges 77 which project inwardly from the inside surface .of the shell 67 in radial planes intersecting the axis of rotation of the container 42. The baflies 68, 69 and 71 are formed of dilferent heights, the baffle 68 being formed in such a way as to extend inwardly almost twice as far as the baffles 69 and 71. All of the balfles are provided with relatively sharp bends 78 at the inner extremities thereof. The baffles 69 and 71 are disposed with the leading edges thereof approximately ninety degrees apart, while the baffle 60 is disposed in opposite relation thereto with the leading edge thereof approximately bisecting the angle between the leading edges of the baffles 69 and 71.

The front end of the container 42 is supported by .a plurality of wheels 79 which are adapted to run upon an inwardly disposed circular track 81 secured to the outer surface of the container ends 64 around a flanged opening 82 which is provided therein in alignment with the opening 53 in the end panel 43. The wheels 79 are supported on axial pins 83 having threaded ends which project through openings formed in circular reinforcing plates 84 which are welded or otherwise secured in equally spaced relation against the front panel 43. The pins 83 are rigidly secured against the plates 84 by nuts 86 which are adapted to be tightened on the threaded ends of the pins against shoulders formed thereon. The wheels 79 are adapted to rotate with respect to the pins 83 and adjacent a flange and within a groove formed around the edge of the track 81.

The opposite end of the container 42 is supported by a shaft 87 having an inwardly flanged end 88 secured by rivets 89 to the central part of the container end 66. The shaft 87 projects outwardly of the container 26 through a rotary seal member 91 and a bearing 92 which is secured by rivets 93 to the outer surface of a vertically disposed plate 94. The plate 94 is flanged at the edges for the 10 purpose of reenforcing the structure and is secured in vertically disposed relation to the outer container 26 by welding or by other suitable means not shown.

A short distance beyond the bearing 92 the shaft 87 is provided with areduoed end indicated at 94 and on which is mounted a pair of V-be'lt pulleys '96 and 97 forming multi-speed driven members of the drive 34. The pulleys 96 and 97 have hubs 101 and 102 in which are secured bushings 98 and 99 respectively and which are adapted to be rotatably journaled upon the reduced end 94 of the shaft 87.

The enlarged end of the shaft 87 and the hub 101 loose- -ly support an overrunning clutch spring 103 having an outwardly bent end formed in such a way as to provide a hook indicated at 106. When the hook 106 is released the spring 103 will rotate with the hub 101 and will contract in such a way as frictionally to grip both the hub 101 and the shaft 87, thus tightening the convolutions of the spring 103 with respect to one another. When the hook 106 is engaged in such manner as to prevent rotation of the spring 103 the convolutions of the spring 103 will tend to be unwound with respect to one another and the spring 103 will be released from the hub 101 by the frictional force resulting from engagement between the spring and the shaft 87.

The reduced end 94 of the shaft 87 is provided at the end thereof with a collar 107 which is secured to the shaft :by a pin 108. The hub 102 and the collar 107 are likewise surrounded by an over-running clutch spring indicated at 109 which may be mounted loosely 011 the collar 107 and the hub 102 or the spring 109 may be pr0- vided with an inwardly bent end 111 secured in an opening formed in the hub 102 of the pulley 97. The opposite end of the spring 109 will engage the collar 107 and in either event will drive the collar 107 if the collar 107 is not rotating at greater speed than the hub 102. If the collar 107 is being driven at a greater speed than the hub 1-02 the friction between the collar 107 and the spring 109 will merely tend to unwind and enlarge the spring 109 until the collar overruns the spring.

In the drive 34 the pulley 96 is adapted to be driven at a greater speed than the pulley 97 so that the collar 107 will always overrun the spring 109 when the shaft 87 is being driven by the pulley 96. The shaft 87 will be driven by the pulley 96 when .the hooked end 106 of the spring 103 is released, thereby permitting the spring 103 to contract upon the hub 101 and the shaft 07. The shaft 87 then will be driven at high or extracting speed by the operation of the spring 103 and the power delivered by the pulley 96.

However when the spring 103 is released from the hub 101 by preventing the rotation of the hook 106 the frictional force on the spring will tend to expand and to separate the convolutions of the spring 103 and the shaft 87 will then be driven at low or washing speed by the operation of the clutch spring 109 and the power delivered by the pulley 97.

The pulley 96 is driven constantly at such high or extracting speed by a belt 112 which is trained around thepulley 96, around an intermediate pulley 113 and around a drive pulley 114. The pulleys 96, 113 and 114 and the belt 112 comprise a continuously rotating high speed drive indicated generally at 115.

The pulley 97 is driven at low or washing speed by a belt 116 which is also trained about a drive pulley 117 secured rigidly to the hub of the pulley 113.

The pulleys 97 and 11.7 and the belt 116. comprise a continuously rotating low speed drive indicated generally at 120.

The large pulley 113 and the small pulley 117 secured thereto .act as a speed reducing means to provide for reducing the speed of the pulley 97 to a fraction of the speed :of the policy 96. The pulleys 113 and 117 also tie the two drives and 120 together, so that the two actually comprise a single rotating body which acts as a fiy-wheel when the component parts thereof have attained their normal operating speeds. Since the drive 34 has a drive 115 rotating at high speed and a drive 120 rotating at low speed it is possible to change from low speed to high speed merely by actuating the hook 106. Such a change in speed does not require the acceleration of either of the drives 115 and 120. In fact the drives both tend to decclerate, thus applying the kinetic energy involved in such deceleration to the acceleration of the load. The inertia of the drive 34 therefore can be utilized to decrease the load on the motor 36 when changing from low speed to high speed and to such extent that it has been found to be entirely practical to employ a split-phase motor for driving the machine.

The pulleys 96, 113 and 114 and the belt 112 trained thereabout and comprising the drive 115, provide a high speed drive for rotating the container 42 at a speed suitable for extracting detergent from the material being cleaned, after the washing and rinsing operations of the machine respectively. The pulleys 97 and 117 and the belt 116 trained thereabout and comprising the drive 120, provide a low speed drive for driving the container 42 at a speed suitable for performing the rotary flotation process of cleaning hereinbefore described. Although the process may be performed at lower speeds, a preferred speed for performing the rotary flotation process of cleaning is a few revolutions per minute greater speed than a speed equal to the force of gravity. Another way of expressing such preferred speed is, a speed at which the material being cleaned will cling to the inner surface of the container 42 when the water is drained to a level low enough that the clothes will not float in the water but will be carried entirely around the inner surface of the container 42 by the action of centrifugal force.

The pulleys 113 and 117 are mounted as a unit upon the bent end of 118 of a sub-shaft 119 secured at the opposite end thereof to an intermediate portion of a shaft 121. The opposite ends of the shaft 121 are secured for oscillating movement against the inside surface of the vertical legs 16 of the channel members 12 and 13 by brackets indicated at 122. A washer 123 is secured by a pin 124 against the outside surface of the pulley 117 for preventing the pulley unit 113 and 117 from being displaced upon the end of the shaft 118. A spring 126 secured to an intermediate portion of the shaft 119 and to an opening in one of the gussets 27 tends to pull downwardly on the shaft 118 for tightening the belt 116 upon the pulleys 97 and 117.

The pulley 114 is mounted on a shaft 127 extending from one end of the motor 36. The pulley 114 comprises a friction drive mechanism for preventing injury to the motor 36 by employing a spring 128 for holding the various parts of the pulley together by frictional engagement therebetween. The pulley 114 comprises a frictional drive member 129 which is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 127 between a collar 131 and a collar 132. The collar 131 is secured to the shaft 127 by a pin 133 while the collar 132 is urged against one side of the pulley member 129 by the spring 128. The opposite end of the spring 128 is engaged by a collar 134 which is likewise pinned to the shaft 127 as is indicated at 136. Under normal conditions the friction between the inter-engaging surfaces of the pulley member 129 and the collars 131 and 132 will cause the pulley member 129 to be driven by the shaft 127. However should any abnormal load be placed upon the pulley member 129, such as might occur should someone inadvertently move the machine control from off position t extract position when the machine is filled with deter- 12 137 are secured in spaced relation to intermediate portions of a shaft 139 adapted to oscillate against the inner surfaces of the channel members 12 and 13 within brackets 141 which are secured to the channel members for movably supporting the ends of the shaft 139.

As will be apparent from Figure 2, the shaft 139 is located somewhat above the axis of rotation of the motor 36 so that the weight of the motor 36 always tends to move the motor downwardly by gravity about the axis of the shaft 139. Such movement however is opposed by the belt 112 which is trained around the pulleys 114, 113 and 96, thereby tightening the belt 112 to provide the proper tension in the belt for driving the pulleys 113 and 96.

It will be apparent from observing the way in which the motor 36 is mounted and the way in which the pulleys 113 and 117 are mounted that the belts 112 and 116 will always remain properly tightened regardless of the fact that one of the belts may be badly stretched and worn while the other may be a new belt.

The valve and timing mechanism 38 comprises a chambered casing indicated at 144 having an inlet passage 146 that connects to the drain opening 147 for the container 41. The passage 146 leads to a drain valve chamber 148 having a seat 149 extending around an intermediate portion thereof and against which a resilient spherical drain valve 151 is adapted to seat for cutting off the flow of fluid within the chamber 148. The chamber 148 has an outlet 152 at one side thereof adapted to project within the end of a flexible conduit 153 and the opposite end of which is adapted to receive the inlet coupling 154 of a strainer casing 156. One end of the casing 156 is crimped around an outwardly projecting flange formed at one end of the casing of a pump 157 that is driven by the shaft 127 projecting from the end of the motor 36 opposite the pulley 114. The pump 157 is provided with an outlet through which used detergent from the machine is discharged. A strainer 158 is disposed inside the casing 156 and over the inlet for the pump 157. The opposite end of the casing 156 is closed by a cap 159 that is secured over the end of the casing by bale indicated as 161.

The valve 151 is closed by spring 162 one end of which is disposed against an end 163 of the casing 144 while the opposite end thereof engages a cap 164 mounted on a stem 166 and one end of which is secured in the valve 151. The opposite end of the stern 166 projects through the casing end 163 and there is secured by a pin 167 to the end of a lever 168 having a laterally projecting fulcrum 169 secured by a pin 171 between a pair of bosses projecting from the end of the casing 144. The opposite end of the lever 168 has a roller cam follower 172 secured thereto by a suitable pin not shown.

Below the chamber 148 the casing 144 has a laterally disposed water passage 173 adapted to be supplied with hot and cold water for filling the container 41. Hot water is supplied by a hot water supply passage indicated at 174, and cold water is supplied by a cold water supply passage indicated at 176, both passages being formed in the casing 144 and being adapted to extend laterally and in spaced relation to one another from the inner end of the passage 173. The casing 144 is formed to provide an outlet 177 for the passage 173, the outlet 177 being adapted to project within the end of a flexible conduit or hose indicated at 178. The hose 178 extends around the end of the container 41 and is there connected to the lower end of the hot and cold water supply conduit indicated at 179. The upper end of the conduit 179 is bent in such a way as to extend forwardly over the upper middle portion of the container 41 and there has a downwardly bent end indicated at 181 which terminates just above an opening 182 formed in the upper part of and near the back of the shell 46. The opening 182 is surrounded by a flexible grommet indicated at 183 and is adapted to be closed by cover 184 which is mounted upon 13 a pin 186 secured within a pair of lugs. 187 projecting above to the top of the shell 46.

Whenever it is desired to fill the container 41 the cover 184 is opened upon the pin 186 so that the flow of Water from the end of the conduit 179 may be observed and the water temperature may be determined by feeling the water with the hands.

The flow of water from the passages 174 and 176 to the passage 173 is controlled by valves indicated at 188 and 189. The valves 188 and 189 have reduced stems 191 and 192 extending through the passages 174 and 176, the opposite end of the stems being enlarged to form pistons 193 and 194 which fit the ends of the openings 174 and 176 and extend from the casing 144 in the form of bifurcated rods indicated at 196 and 197. The rods 196 and 197 have roller followers 198 and 199 secured respectively by pins extending between the bifurcated ends thereof.

The valves 188 and 189 are adapted to close against seats 201 and 202 which are formed in the casing 144 at the ends of the passages 174 and 175 respectively. The valves 188 and 189 are held against the seats 201 and 202 by springs 203 and 204 surrounding the rods 196 and 197 and engaging the casing 144 at one end and at the opposite end engaging caps 206 and 207 secured around the rods 196 and 197 just within the bifurcated ends thereof. The springs 203 and 204 are strong enough to hold the valves 188 and 189 closed against any water pressure normally to be expected within the passages 174 and 176.

The drain valve follower 172 and the hot and cold water valve followers 198 and 199 respectively are mounted axially with respect to one another and are adapted to engage and be operated by rotating cams 208, 209 and 211 respectively. The cams 208, 209 and 211 ,are mounted for rotation upon a camshaft 212 which is ljournaled adjacent one end thereof in a bearing 213 formed in a laterally disposed web 214 projecting upwardly from a plate 216 that extends beneath the cams 208, 209 and 211. The plate 216 and the web 2.1-4 pro- -ject laterally from and form integral parts of the easing 144.

The hot and cold water for supplying the passages 174 and 176 is admitted to the casing 144 through inlet openings 217 and 218, these openings being adapted to communicate respectively with nipples 219 and 221 formed on the casing 144 and are adapted to be connected by couplings 224 to hot and cold water conduits 222 and 223 respectively.

When the cams 209 and 211 actuate the followers 198 and 199 in such manner as to unseat the valves 188 and 189, hot and cold water or hot or cold water will be supplied to the passage 173 and then to the container 41 through the conduit 179 as has been previously described.

As the cam 208 is rotated by the shaft 212 the follower 172 will be driven by the cam for operating the drain valve 151 for draining the container 41 or for retaining detergent therein as may be desired.

The opposite end of the shaft 212 is rotatably supported by a boss 226 which projects upwardly from and is formed integrally with the plate or support 216. Cam .227 is also mounted upon the shaft 212 immediately next to the bearing 213 and this cam is adapted to actuate a switch 228 for starting and stopping the motor .36. The switch 228 has an actuating member 229 which acts as a follower for engaging the peripheral surface of the earn 229 and for actuating the switch 228. The switch 228 is secured in any suitable manner to the upper surface of the plate 216.

Shaft 212 also drives a cam 231 which is mounted on the shaft 212 beyond the cam 211. Cam 231 is adapted to drive a roller follower 232 which is secured by a pin to the lower end of a lever 233 having an end adapted to move into and out of the path of rotation of the hook 106 employed in operating the spring clutch 103. The

14 lever 233 is pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof upon a stud 234 secured by a pin 236 to an adjacent part of the end panel 44 of the container 41.

Rotation of the cam 231 actuates the follower 232 for moving the hook 106 in such :a way as to engage or to release the spring clutch 103 with respect to the hub 106 of the pulley 96 and the shaft 87.

The cams 227, 209, 208, 211 and 231 are held in spaced relation to one another by spacing collars indicated at 237, 238, 239, 241 and 242 respectively. The elements referred to are held in engagement with one another by a bracket 243 the lower part of which is slidably mounted on plate 216 and in the upper part of which is provided with an opening through which the shaft 212 projects. The bracket 243 is urged against the spacers and the cams referred to by :a spring 244 which surrounds the shaft 212 and one end of which engages the part of the bracket through which the shaft 212 projects. The opposite end of the spring 244 rests upon one of a plurality of spacing and friction disks indicated at 246, 247, and .248 and between which are mounted the pair of ratchet members indicated at 249 and 251 respectively.

The cams 227, 209, 208, 211, and 231 are all secured rigidly to the shaft 212 for rotation therewith by a key indicated at 252. The ratchet 249 is secured rotatably on the shaft 212 between the spacing discs 246 and 247. The ratchet 251 is secured rigidly to the shaft 212 for rotating the shaft, by a key indicated at 253.

The ratchets 249 and 251 are adapted to be driven by a single pawl member indicated at 254. The pawl member 254 is radially mounted with respect to the ratchet members 249 and 251 within an opening formed in a boss 256 which projects laterally from the end of an arm indicated at 257. The opposite end of the arm 257 is adapted to be movably mounted on the shaft 212 between the boss 226 and the spacing member 258. The member 258 is disposed on the shaft 212 between the arm 257 and one of the spacing discs indicated at 248.

It will be apparent that the spring 244 resiliently holds all of the cams, spacing members, ratchets, and arm, in operative relation with respect to one another between the bearing 213 and the boss 226.

Pawl 254 has an angularly disposed and pointed end indicated at 259 which is adapted to be operatively associated with teeth 261 and 262 formed around the peripheral edges of the ratchet members 249 and 251. The pawl 254 is so held in engagement with such teeth by a spring 263 which engages the outer end of the pawl beyond the boss 256 and is secured to the end of the arm 257, by a screw indicated at 264.

The ratchet 249 is larger in diameter than the ratchet 251 by an amount equal to the depth of the teeth 261 which are formed on the outer periphery of the ratchet 249. The pawl 254 when oscillated by the arm 257 I therefore normally will engage only the teeth 261 on the ratchet 249. Since the ratchet 259 is not secured to the shaft 212 and is only frictionally held between the discs 246 and 247, it will be apparent that the pawl 254 will rotate the ratchet 249 idly upon the shaft 212 without rotating the ratchet 251 and the shaft 212. However, there is one tooth which is formed in the periphery of the ratchet 249 which is deeper than the remaining teeth 261 formed around the periphery of the ratchet 249. This deep tooth which is indicated by the numeral 266 extends into the ratchet 249 to such an extent that the root and the pitch diameter of the innermost part of the tooth is the same as that of the teeth 262 which are formed around the outer periphery of the ratchet 251. It will therefore be apparent that the pawl 254 will turn the ratchet 249 idly upon the shaft until the pawl reaches the deep tooth indicated at 266, and then the pawl will project inwardly of the deep tooth 266 and will engage and move one of the teeth 262 of the ratchet 251. The pawl 254 therefore will turn the ratchet 249 throughout 7 one complete revolution of the ratchet before it turns the ratchet 251 further than the extent of the single tooth which happens to be opposite the deep tooth 266 when the pawl 254 engages the deep tooth 266. The shaft 212 and each of the cams 227, 209, 208, 211 and 231 secured thereon therefore will be turned by an angular distance equal to the width of one of the teeth 262 on the ratchet 251 each time the ratchet 249 is rotated throughout one revolution.

The ratchet and pawl device may be made to accelerate the movement of the ratchet 251 and the cams 227, 209, 208, 211 and 231, by having long teeth such as those indicated at 270, project from the ratchet 251. The long teeth have end portions having the same slope and pitch diameter as have the teeth 261 on the ratchet 249. The long teeth may be formed on the ratchet 251 opposite the surfaces on the cams 209, 208, and 211 to be employed in opening the drain valve and the water valves during the automatic operation of the machine. When the pawl 254 projects into the deep tooth 266 and engages one of the teeth 262 preceding one of the long teeth 270, then the pawl will thereafter continue to rotate the ratchet 251 until all of the long teeth 270 have been passed. Such an expedient makes it possible to dispense with abruptly sloping cam surfaces, high ratio lever arms, etc., and to be able to quickly open the valves without employing large instantaneous actuating forces.

The pawl is moved throughout an angular distance equal to the width of one of the teeth 261 or 262 on the ratchets 249 and 251 by a pitman rod indicated at 267 and one end of which is pivoted by a pin 268 upon an intermediate part of the arm 257. The pitman rod 257 extends upwardly into the space between the pulleys 96 and 97 and has an opening in the upper end thereof which is rotatably mounted upon an eccentric end indicated at 269 which end is formed on the hub 102 of pulley 97. The pitman rod is secured upon the eccentric end 269 against a shoulder portion of the hub 102 by a snap ring indicated at 271. The snap ring 271 is secured in a groove formed in the hub adjacent the outer surface of the pitman rod 268.

It will be apparent that the pitman rod 267 may be made to move the pawl 254 by an angular distance equal to the width of one of the teeth 261 or 262 each time the pulley 97 makes one revolution thereby rotating the cams 227, 209, 208, 211 and 231 to an equal extent.

The shaft 212 is extended beyond the boss 226 and at the end thereof there is secured a bevel gear indicated at 272. The gear 272 operatively engages another bevel gear indicated at 273, the latter being secured rigidly to a vertically disposed shaft 274 having the lower end thereof rotatably mounted on a laterally extending brackct 276 which is formed integrally with and projects from one side of the boss 226. The upper end of the shaft 274 is rotatably mounted in an opening formed in the cap 33 which forms the upper wall of the drive compartment 32. Beyond the cap 33 the shaft 274 is provided with an operating knob 277 which in turn is provided with a pointer for indicating various positions on a dial surrounding the knob 277 and having thereon indicia showing the various operational events that are adapted to occur throughout a complete washing, extracting, rinsing, and extracting cycle of operations of the machine.

The knob 277 may be rotated manually in one direction for filling the machine with water at the desired temperature and then may be rotated further for starting the automatic cycle of operations of the machine. As the machine progresses throughout such cycle of operation the knob 277 will turn with the cams of the timing mechanism for the purpose of indicating on the dial referred to the progress of the various events in the complete cycle of operations being performed.

The transparent closure member 58 in the door 54 is marked in such a way as to provide a line 281 which indicates the minimum water level at which the machine normally may be operated. When the machine is supplied with Water by manual operation of the knob 277 until the water level reaches the line 281 then the knob 277 may be turned further in the same direction to start the automatic cycle of operation of the machine. How ever if the housewife does not happen to notice that the water level in the machine has reached the line 281 then no serious consequences will occur because the machine may be provided with an overflow outlet indicated at 282 (Fig. 9) and the lower edge of which may be located a suitable distance above the level of the line 281. The outlet 232 is connected to the end of a conduit 283 which extends downwardly within a drive compartment 32 and across the top of the machine compartment 237 and is connected to the drain screen casing inlet 154 as is indicated at 284. The excess water therefore will simply overflow through the outlet 282 and the conduit 283 and into the drain screen and pump unit 39. However, when the machine is started the water will not splash into the outlet 282 because the water level is adapted to fall on this side of the machine as soon as the machine starts the washing operation of the machine. Neither will soap suds overflow through the opening during the washing operation of the machine because a gravity actuated valve 286 is provided in the conduit 283 just beyond the outlet 282 and this valve normally will remain closed against the formation of soap suds that may strike the valve during the normal operation of the machine. However in the event too much soap is used in the machine and the suds level rises in such a way that a heavy suds almost fills the machine, then this heavy suds will open the valve 286 and the suds will flow from the machine through the conduit 233.

The weight of the valve 236 may be adjusted by adding weights thereto such as that indicated at 287. By a variation of the weights 287 the valve 286 may be made to partly open when only a normal suds is being formed in the machine. This has been found to be advantageous for the reason that a certain amount of scum may be formed in the suds and above the water level on the down side of the container, and this suds containing scum may be made to drain through the partly open valve 286 when the machine is operating in a washing cycle.

Figure 14 is a chart illustrating a complete cycle of operations of the machine.

The central part of the chart illustrates the control knob 277 and the arrow 289 illustrates the position of the control knob 277 with respect to the dial showing the operational events of the machine. Successive angular rings on the chart illustrate the events resulting from the operation of the ratchet 249, the ratchet 251, the motor actuating cam 227, the speed-changing cam 231, the drain valve actuating cam 208, the hot water inlet valve actuating cam 209, and the cold water inlet valve actuating cam 211.

As the ratchets and earns referred to are rotated by the pawl 254, the pointer 288 on this knob 277 will be rotated past the stationary pointer 289 which is located on the dial of events positioned below and around the actuating knob 277. The events of the cycle of operations will occur at the various angular positions indicated by Figure 14. For example when the knob 277 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction the cams and the ratchets referred to will rotate with the control knob 277 in the same direction.

When the part of the cam 211 indicated at 291 reaches a position opposite the pointer 289 the cold water inlet valve 189 will commence to open and this valve will continue to open as the cam is further rotated until the part of the cam 211 indicated at 292 reaches a position opposite the pointer 289. When such event occurs the cold water inlet valve 189 will be fully open.

If it is desired to fill the container 41 with a mixture of hot and cold water then the knob 277 is further rotated in a counter-clockwise direction until the part of cam 209 indicated by the numeral 293 is reached.

When the cam 209 reaches this position the hot water inlet valve 188 will start to open and will continue tov openv as the cam rotates in a counter-clockwise direction until the part indicated at 294 is reached. When such position is reached the cold and the hot water inlet valves 188 and 189 will be fully open. As the knob 277' is further rotated in the same direction the cam 211 also will reach a position indicated at 295 where the cam will commence to close the cold water inlet valve 189. As the cam 211 is further rotated in a counter-clockwise directionv the valve 189 will continue to close until the position indicated at 296 is reached. A At theposition 296 the cold water inlet valve 189 will bev fully closed. and the hot water valve 188 will be fully open and. will remain open as the cams are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and until the cam 209 reaches a position indicated by the numeral 297. At such time the earn 209 will close the inlet valve 188' completely.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the container 41 may be filled with cold water or hot water or with. any desired mixture of hot and cold water merely by rotating the knob 277 into various desired positions between the positions. indicated by the numerals 291 and 297.

The knob 277' may be adjusted to the desired position to fill' the container 26 with water at the desired temperature by opening the closure member indicated at 184 and by feeling the temperature of the water supplied to the container through conduit 179. When the container 41 is filled to the level indicated by line 281 then the knob 277 may be turned still further in a counter clockwise direction until the water ceases to flow from the end of the conduit 179. It will be apparent from observing Figure 14 that the knob 277' may be turned to any position between the; positions indicated at 297 and 298 and the water will remain shut oh and the machine will not start.

Assuming a normal load of material to be cleaned to have been placed in the machine through the door 54, before the filling of the machine with water, then the machine thereafter may be operated automatically by further rotating the knob 277 until the cam 227' reaches the position indicated at 298. When such. event occurs cam 227 will actuate the switch 228' for starting the. motor 36.

v When the' shaft of the motor 36 commences to rotate the drives 115' and 120 will immediately commence to rotate at different speeds but in the same direction. When the pulley 97 commences to rotate, the eccentric 269 will operate the pitman rod 268 for actuating the pawl 254 and the pawl 254 will rotate the ratchet 249' idly upon the shaft 212 until the pawl reaches the deeptooth of ratchet 249 which is indicated by the numeral 266; When such event occurs the pawl 254 will extend inwardly within the deep" tooth until it engages one of the teeth 262' of the ratchet 251 and then the ratchet 251. will rotate the shaft 212 and the cams 227, 209, 208', 2'11 and 231 to an angular extent equal to the width of one of the teeth 262; If any of thelong teeth indicatedat 270 are in position to be engaged by the pawl 254' then the pawl will continue to rotate the ratchet 251 and the cams driven by the ratchet until all of the long teeth are passed; The pawl 254 will thereafter continue to rotate't he ratchet 249 idly upon the shaft 212 until the deep tooth 266 is again engaged by the pawl 254 and at which time the previously described events will be repeated.

, When the cam 227 reaches the position indicated at 298 the cam 231 will be holding'the lever 233 in a position" in' which it will prevent rotation of the hook 106' thus loosening the spring 103 with respect to the shaft 87 and the hub 101' of the pulley 96. The pulley 96 therefore will run freely at high speed upon the'reduced end 94 of the shaft 87 and within the spring 103". Pulley 96 therefore will run at a greter speed than the sha'ft'87 but without driving, shaft 87. The container 42 there -18 fore will. be driven by the pulley 97 by frictional engagennent between the spring 109 and the collar 107 and at a speed just above a speed equal to the force of gravity.

The knob 277 may be manually rotated beyond the position indicated at 298 where the motor 36 is started. The knob 27 7 may be rotated to any desired extent beyond the position 2 98 for determining the length of the washing operation.

For example, the dial of the machine may have positions indicated. at 299-, 301 and 302 thereon these positions being identified by indicia indicating heavy, medium and light soil. The housewife therefore may move the knob 2.77? to any position beyond the position indicated at 298 and within the range indicated by the numerals 299-, 301 and 302. The extent of such movement will depend upon the. housewifes estimate of the soil. contained in the. clothes, and she will learn to move the knob 277 toan extent which will. be determined. by her opinion of the washing time required. I

The machine thereafter will perform the material cleaning or washing operation of the machine, until the operation of the machine is interrupted by some other event in the cycle of events.

The end of the washing operation is determined by the cam 208 which eventually will reach the position indicated at 3 03. In such position the sam 208 willact'uate the follower 172 in such manner as to open the. drain valve 151. In response to the operation of the long teeth indicated at 270 the cam 2081 will continue to. move from the position indicated at 303 to the position indicated at 304 and when the latter position is reached the drain valve 151 will be fully open. When the. drain valve. 151 is fully openthewater and suds will be entirely drained from the machine. through the large outlet opening 147 leading from the container 41 and through the output passage 148 and the large conduit 153. The pump 15'] will deliver the water andsuds from the strainer 39 through an outlet passage leading from the pump casing and indicated at 155. The drain valve 151' being spherical and being opened in the channel 148 until the spring 162 is practically compressed within a single plane it will be apparent that the drain valve will not greatly interfere with the passage of water and suds through the drain conduit system of the machine. The spherical shape of the drainvalve 151 assists in the draining" of both detergent and suds from the machine because it does not present any sharp corners of edges or other obstructions that might interrupt the flow of such fluid from the system.

As the water and soap commence to drain from the. container 41 a level soon will be reached Where the water will not float the material being washed and at such time the. material will commence to adhere to the inside surface of the rotatingv shell 67 of the container 42 Since the shell is. rotated at a speed greater than the force of gravity during the entire washing and draining operations of the machine it will be apparent that the material being cleaned will be distributed piece by piece around the inner periphery of the shell 67. This distribution will be com.- pleted even before the water and suds is completely drained fromthe container 41.

The cam 231 is constructed in such a way as to reachthe position indicated at 306 some time after the water is entirely drained from the container 41 and after the material is properly distributed within the container 42.. When the position 306 is'reached the cam 231 will actuate the lever 233 in such manner as to release the hook 106 andthereupon the spring 103 will be tightened. upon the. hub 101 of the pulley 96 and the shaft 87. As soon as this event occurs the shaft 87 will be driven by the pulley 96 at a higher speed than before, this higher speed being aspeed suitable for rotating the container 42 at a peripheral. speed which will c'entrifugall'y extract the water and suds from the material distributed within the shell 67 of the container 42'; At the instant the spring 103 commences to drive the shaft 87 from the hub 101 of the pulley 96 the collar 107 will overrun the spring 109 and the pulley 97 thereupon will be automatically disconnected from the reduced end 94 of the shaft 97.

When the position indicated at 307 is reached on the cam 231 the cam 231 will again actuate the lever 233 in such manner as to stop the rotation of the hook 106 and thereupon spring 103 will release the hub 101 of the pulley 96. When such event occurs the high speed drive through the pulley 96 will be discontinued and thereafter the shaft 87 again will be driven by the pulley 97. No particular operation of the spring 109 is necessary to produce this change in drive as the spring 109 will drive the collar 107 as soon as the prepiheral speed of the collar 107 slows down to the speed at which the spring 109 is being rotated by the pulley 97. The container 42 thereupon will again be driven at a peripheral speed slightly exceeding the force of gravity as heretofore described.

When the cam 231 reaches the position indicated at 307 the cam 208 also will reach the position indicated at 307 and the drain valve 151 thereupon will be closed upon the seat 149.

Simultaneously therewith the cams 209 and 211 also will reach the positions indicated at 307 and thereupon the cams 209 and 211 will commence to open the water valves indicated respectively at 188 and 189. When with the aid of the long teeth indicated at 270 the cams 209 and 211 reach the positions indicated at 308 both the hot and cold water valves 188 and 189 respectively will be fully open. The machine thereupon will continue operating at washing speed as it continues to fill with hot and cold water. When the cam 209 reaches the position indicated at 309 the hot water valve 188 will be immediately closed and thereafter the machine will continue to operate for rinsing the clothes with only cold water flowing into the container 41. When the position on the cam 211 indicated at 311 is reached the cold water valve 189 will immediately close and simultaneously therewith the drain valve 151 will commence to open in response to the operation of the cam 208. The drain valve 151 will continue to open with the aid of long teeth 270 and will be fully open when the earn 208 reaches the position indicated at 312. The drain valve 151 then will be fully open and the rinse water will drain from the container 41 through the outlet 147 in a relatively short time.

When the cam 231 reaches the position indicated at 313 the cam will again actuate the lever 233 and in such manner as to release the hook 106 and thereupon the clutch 103 will immediately engage the hub 101 of the pulley 96 and the shaft 87 and the clutch 109 will be overrun by the sleeve 107. The speed of the container 42 thereupon will be increased immediately to extracting speed and the extraction operation of the container will continue until the material being cleaned is dry enough to remove from the machine.

When the cams 208 and 231 reach the positions indicated at 314 the cams will actuate the drain valve 151 to close the drain valve and the lever 233 to stop the rotation of the hook 106 for releasing the spring 103 from the hub 101 and the shaft 87. The pulley 96 thereupon will cease to drive the shaft 87 and the shaft will be driven thereafter by pulley 97 by engagement of the spring 109 with the sleeve 107.

When the cam 227 reaches the position indicated at 316 the cam will actuate the switch 228 to shut off the motor 36 and the cycle of operations heretofore described will terminate.

The cycle of operations of the machine can be timed in many other Ways than as indicated by Figure 14 and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing statement it is proposed to suggest one variation that may be made in the cycle of operations illustrated by Figure 14.

For example, the cam 227 may be made to close the 20 circuit through the switch 228 to start the motor 36 at. the position indicated at 291.

Under such circumstances the material to be cleaned will be placed in the machine before starting the machine and thereafter when the knob 277 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction the motor 36 will be started as soon. as the cold water valve 186 commences to open. The container 42 thereupon will be rotated throughout the entire operation of filling the machine.

A change also will be required in the line 281 indicating the water level in the machine. A line such as the dot and dash line indicated in 318 will be required on the transparent part of the door 54, since the normal operating water level will substantially follow the line 318 with the motor in operation.

Also the over-flow outlet for the machine which is indicated at 282 then may be placed on the down side of the rotating container and below the upper extremity of the operating water level in the machine. Under such circumstances the outlet may be placed as is indicated in dot-and-dash lines at 320 in Figure 2 or at 321 in Figure 13. In Figure 13, the outlet is formed by forming a plurality of elongated openings across the shell 46 and then securing a U-shape cap over the openings on the outside of the shell 46. The drain conduit 283 then may be connected to the central portion of the cap.

It will be apparent that if the drain is placed either as indicated at 320 in Figure 2 or at 321 in Figure 13, it will be in a position to drain away the scum that may collect at the end of the downwardly tumbling cascade of clothes and material illustrated by Figure 13.

Figure 13 also illustrates the water and material action that will take place during the washing operation in a machine constructed according to the principles of the invention herein disclosed.

The line indicated at 322 may be considered as representing the minimum water level in the machine when the container 42 is not rotating and before any clothes are put in the machine. The dot-and-dash line 323 may be considered to represent the normal level of clothes and water within the machine when the container 42 is not rotating. As before stated line 318 will represent the water level of clothes and water when the container 42 is rotating at washing speed.

Assuming the container 42 to be rotating at a speed exceeding the force of gravity, as has been herein before referred to, then it will be apparent that the bafiles 68, 69, and 71 will be rotated into the water and clothes suspended therein and will tend to rotate the entire body of clothes and Water in the direction of rotation of the container 41. The baffle 68 is illustrated in Figure 13 in the process of rotating through the body of clothes and water as the baffle will rotate during the washing operation. It will be noted that the water level is high enough that the level of the clothes and material will be a sub stantial distance above the end of the bafiie as the baffie rotates through the Water and material. Under such circumstances, it will be apparent that the baffies 68, 69, and 71 cannot rotate the entire body of water and material at a peripheral speed of the container 42. The container cannot rotate the body at this peripheral speed because the body of clothes and Water beyond the baffies will tend to flow around the battles and in the opposite direction from the direction of the rotation of the baffies. Even the Water and the material that is below or outside the inner ends of the bafiies will tend to some extent to fiow around the baflles as is indicated in Figure 13. If the water and clothes did not flow around the baffles as is indicated in Figure 13, then all of the clothes and the water would tend to spread out between the baffles and to rotate with the container 42 at a peripheral speed ex ceeding the force of gravity. The clothes and water will not so spread out, however, because the inertia of the water opposing such movement creates a tendency for a considerable amount of the water and clothes to flow around the baffles'. While the water and clothes}- around the outer periphery of the container'do: to some extent tend to rotate with the baffles and in-thedirection of-rot-ation of the baffles, this water and clothes do not rotate at a peripheral speed equal to the peripheral speed of; the container 42*. Since the water and. clothes donot rotate as fast as do. the container 42 the baflles 68,69, and 71, then it is apparent that the water and clothes around the outer periphery of the body 324 must rotate at a speed which is less than the force of gravity and hence will fall over at the crest of the ascending column indicated at 325 and which is carried upwardly by the baflies on one side of the body 324. When the water and the material so fall over, downwardly and away from the container 42 at the top of the column referred to, the material and water will flow downwardly beneath the diagonally disposed upper surface of the body 324 as is indicated at 330 and will form a descending cascade of water and material flowing downwardly and laterally toward the opposite side of the container 42. As soon as such water and material approaches the container 42, it will be friction'ally engaged by the surface of the container 42 and by the bafiles 68, 69 and 71 and will then flow laterally and upwardly within the lower part of the body 324, to provide the ascending column referred to.

It will be apparent that the body 324 simulates a wave, in that it flows upwardly on one side until it reaches a crest and then flows downwardly on the opposite side of the wave, thus providing an ascending and descending rotational movement within the body 324 which thoroughly scrubs and agitates every piece of material against other pieces of material so floating and rotating within the body.

It will also be apparent that the pieces of material submerged and floating within the rotating body are carried upwardly and downwardly in suspension within the body and do not become separated from the body. If the pieces of material did become separated from the rotating body of water, they would immediately travel around the container without tumbling across the container because the peripheral speed of the container exceeds the force of gravity. In such event the pieces of material would be centrifugally held against the outer surface of the container.

It will also be apparent that the water outside the container 42 and in the annular space between the containers 41 and 42 will be impelled by friction to rotate in the direction of the container 42 and will not rotate in the opposite direction as does the wateroutside the rotating container in a tumble action washer. Such unidirectional rotation is brought about by having the clearance between the containers 41 and 42 reduced as much as possible so that the container 42 will merely have suflicient clearance to rotate freely within the container 41. When the container 42 is rotating at a speed exceeding the force of gravity the small clearance provides a greater tendency to frictionally rotate the water outside the container 42 in the direction of rotation of the container 42.

It is desirable to have the water outside the container 42 rotate in the direction of the container 42 for the reason that the rotary floatation process of cleaning herein disclosed contemplates the formation of a column of water and material being cleaned on one side of the container and to have the crest of this column fall over toward the central part of the container to produce the internal scrubbing of one piece of material against another. The rotation of the fluid outside of the container 42 in the direction of the container 42 assists in bringing about this condition because it keeps the annular clearance space filled with liquid to the crest of the column referred to and, therefore, does not provide an opportunity for the fluid inside the container to flow outside the container in the opposite direction to destroy the column sought to be provided.

It will also be apparent that the formation of the leading edges or surfaces of the baflies 68, 69, and 71 in such a way as to extend radially with respect to the axis of rota- :22 tion of the container 42. helpsin the'formation of the column referred to. If the balfles were sloped to a large extent inwardly, then the baffles would tend to: pump the body 324 toward the central part of the container '42 and to build an upwardly projecting 'c'olii'mn within the central part of the rotating container; If o'n the other hand the bafll'es 68, 69, and 71 had the leading surfaces thereof sloped in the opposite direction to any great extent, the bafiles would tend to pump the liquid outwardly into the annular space between the containers 41 and 42, as is intentionally done in the tumble action washer. In neither event would an elongated column of floating material and detergent be formed on one side of the container, that would extend upwardly within the container far enough to spread out the pieces of material submerged within the detergent to prevent tangling of the material and to provide opportunity for the pieces of material to be scrubbed one against the other during the rotation of the material internally of such elongated body.

It will also be apparent from inspecting Figure 13 that the liquid and material on the outside of the body 324 and rotating in the direction of the container 41 rotates about an axis that is generally located near the center of the container 42. It will be further apparent from inspecting Figure 13 that the center of the container 42 may be somewhat outside the rotating body 324.

It will also be apparent from Figure 13 that the descending currents rotate in the opposite direction and on the same side of the center of rotation of the container 42, and about an axis of curvature that is far away from the body 324, but on the same side of the body 324 as is the axis of rotation of the container 42. The internal currents within the body 324, therefore, represent currents rotating in opposite directions about axes of rotation on the same side of the body 324 but which may be outside the body 324.

It will also be apparent from Figure 13 that the material floating within the body 324 will tend to rotate upwardly at a greater rate of speed and downwardly at a lesser rate of speed as the liquid level in the container 41 is decreased by opening the drain valve. As the water flows through the drain valve various pieces of material will commence to rotate at the peripheral speed of the container 42 and will be completely distributed around the container 42 when the liquid is entirely removed.

I claim:

A cleaning machine comprising a container for material to be cleaned, a pair of battles projecting inwardly from a peripheral surface of said container, said bafl'les being provided with radially disposed leading surfaces thereon and with said leading surfaces disposed substantially at with respect to one another, and a third baflie projecting inwardly from the opposite surface of said container and having a leading surface lying in a plane bisecting the angle between said leading surfaces of said pair of bafiies, the radial height of said third bafile being substantially 20% of the container diameter and that of said pair of baffles being substantially 10% of the container diameter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 2,075 Manning Sept. 26, 1865 Re. 22,375 Chamberlin et al Sept. 14, 1943 3,586 Soule May 17, 1844 25,152 Wagoner et al Aug. 16, 1859 40,774 Smith Dec. 1, 1863 53,052 Smith Mar. 6, 1866 121,203 Schroyer Nov. 21, 1871 161,731 Armbrust Apr. 6, 1875 290,110 Rau Dec. 11, 1883 913,904 Miller Mar. 2, 1909 1,389,182 Binder Aug. 30, 1921 (Other references on following page)

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