US2787901A - Domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

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C'are/ F. A bresch BY 1 I His Attorney DOIVIESTIC APPLIANCE Carel F. Abresch, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Original application March 24, 1948, Serial No. 16,799, now Patent No. 2,666,315, dated January 19, 1954. gslglggtll and this application May 14, 1953, Serial No.

2 Claims. (CI. 68-17) This application is a division of my copending application S. N. 16,790 filed March 24, 1948, which issued on January 19, 1954, as Patent No. 2,666,315.

This invention relates to automatic washing machines, particularly those adapted for domestic or home use.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved washing machine of the automatic type, that is, the type in which the soiled clothes and suitable soap may be deposited and the machine started, whereupon it will automatically operate to wash, rinse and wring the clothes, the said machine being of extremely simple and economical construction to the end that it may be produced and retailed at a fraction of the cost of present machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved simplified and inexpensive automatic washing machine as above, and an improved method which is extremely eflicient and etfective in the washing, rinsing and wringing of the clothes, all with the use of a minimum quantity of soap.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an automatic washing machine as above outlined, in which staining or other damage to the clothes resulting from contact with concentrated soaps or cleansing substances is prevented.

Machines representing two embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and described herein, by which the above objects are accomplished. In both of these machines a clothes tank is provided, having a large and a small compartment, and having at the top a large opening through which clothes may be placed in the tank, in the large compartment thereof. In the small compartment an agitator shielded from the clothes is provided, to circulate the washing solution, and by this arrangement the clothes are subjected to a very gentle agitation which is not destructive to the threads or fibers, or buttons.

One machine has its agitator compartment at the side of the clothes tank, and has a container for holding a quantity of soap powder sufiicient for approximately twenty washings, each of ten pounds dry weight of clothes. This container is connected by means of .a gravity-feed chute with the small compartment having the agitator, and an automatically-controlled solenoid-actuated valve, disposed in the chute, provides for a predetermined quantity or charge of soap powder to be automatically deposited in the compartment for each washing cycle. Thus, the concentrated soap is prevented from coming in direct contact with the clothing, but instead is first dissolved thoroughly in the wash water by the agitator and therefore discoloration or other damage to fabric from strong soap concentrations is avoided. The correct amount of soap is automatically provided for each washing operation, resulting in an economy in the use of the soap, and providing insurance against a washing solution which has too great a concentration of cleansing agents.

nited States Patent The agitator of this machine is on a horizontal shaft driven from a reversible electric motor which also drives a second shaft having a reversible fluid pump connected with a drain opening at the bottom of the tank. The pump, which either supplies air to or removes it from the lower portion of the tank, connects with a conduit leading to a fluid outlet at the top of the tank, and a check valve is provided in the conduit to prevent influx at the outlet whereby a vacuum may be had in the tank. A drain pipe and a vent pipe are connected to the conduit between the check valve and the pump, and check valves are provided in the drain pipe and vent to prevent infiux through the drain pipe and efliux through the vent pipe respectively.

The clothes tank of the machine has a cover for the clothes-admitting opening, carrying a rubber bag which has foldable walls and normally occupies a folded position directly under the cover. The bag may be expanded to extend into the clothes tank and engage and press against the clothing therein, and to enable it to do this the cover is appropriately vented.

By the above structure the invention provides an extremely advantageous and simple organization and method whereby very effective washing, rinsing and wringing operations may be carried out on the clothes, all automatically, and whereby the cost of the machine is held to a very low value. In carrying out one method of the invention, the soiled clothing is deposited in the clothes tank, and the machine put into operation by starting a timing mechanism which automatically shuts ofl after a predetermined interval. This timing mechanism operates electrical control means whereby a predetermined quantity of mixed hot and cold water is deposited in the tank, and while this is occurring a predetermined quantity of soap is deposited in the agitator compartment of the tank. The motor driving the agitator and pump is then automatically started, causing the agitator to mix the soap with the water, and to continually circulate the water in the tank and agitate the clothes. At the same time, the pump forces air into the bottom of the tank and removes air from the top of the tank, thereby resulting in a continual aeration and further agitation of the washing solution. After an interval, the timing mechanism automatically reverses the motor, whereupon the pump evacuates the water and part of the air from the tank. This causes the rubber bag carried by the cover of the tank to expand, and to press against the clothes with a substantial force, and results in an effective yet gentle wringing of the clothes to remove most of the water therefrom. This wringing action does not rupture or destroy the threads or fibers, and tends to minimize wear and tear on the clothes. Also, the wringing action is not accomplished by any large members rotating at high speeds, such as are found in spin dyers, and as a result there is a marked absence of vibration in the machine. The .clothes having been wrung out, the motor is again reversed automatically and rinsing Water is introduced into the tank in a predetermined qauntity. During this operation the rinsing Water is agitated and circulated by the agitator being driven by the motor, and also the rinsing water is aerated by the pump, resulting in an eifective rinsing operation. The electric motor is again reversed, and a second quantity of rinsing water introduced into the tank, circulated by the agitator and aerated by the pump, and the motor is again automatically reversed, whereby the second rinsing water is evacuated, together with air, and the rubber bag again expanded to press against the clothes and remove the liquid therefrom. Thenthe motor is finally reversed,

causing the pump to force air into the bottom of the liatented Apr. 9, 1957 clothes tank, resulting in a fiufiing oftheclothes and a further aerating and partial drying thereof.

All of these operations are accomplished by automatically reversing, the motor driving the agitator and the pump, and also automatically actuating the control for the hot and cold water mixing valve, all by the timing mechanism. The machine is characterized by an absence of clutches, reverse gears or other reverse driving mechanism, etc. The agitator and pump have well balanced rotating parts of small mass and relatively small size, and therefore the machine is practically free from vibration which would require its being bolted down or otherwise secured -to an anchorage.

The simplicity of the driving mechanism and absence of large members rotating at high speed, and the relatively few parts required, together with the extremely effective yet gentle washing and rinsing; means and. simplicity thereof, result in a compact machine of small overall size, which can be produced at. extremely low cost, and yet which provides improved washing and cleansing action on the clothes with a minimum of wear and tear.

The other machine illustrative. of the; invention has a centrally located agitator compartment formed by a cage secured to the bottom of the clothes tank. A novel impeller is provided in the cage, in the form of a member having projecting ribs, the member being rotatably mounted on the crank. of a shaft passing through the bottom of the tank, the same shaft connecting. directly with the pump by which the tank is evacuated. By this one-shaft construction a simple and compact unitary assemblage is made possible, comprising a casing carrying the bearings for the shaft and the pump, and the agitator, and a single belt drive is employed from the shaft to the motor. In this machine the rubber bag which expands to press against and wring the clothes has a simplified shape, and comprises a cylindrical portion and an end portion in the form of a truncated cone having a large central opening. The rubber bag is secured to the interior of the tank in its upper portion, the tank having a top wall overlying the conical portion of the bag, and a clothes-admitting opening aligning with the opening in the bag. The clothes tank has a cover which carries the water supply line and discharge nozzle for introducing fresh water into the tank at the top thereof, and carries a check valve venting to the atmosphere. The pump is connected with a drain conduit communicating with a drain pipe through a second check valve. This machine has the advantages of the first machine, and employs still fewer and simpler parts in a more compact assemblage, enabling the cost of the machine to be still further reduced.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical front-to-rear sectional view of one improved washing machine representing an embodiment of the invention.

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

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the machine of Figures 1 and 2, partly in side elevation and partly in section, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the various movements of the fluids in the machine of Figures 1 through 3.

Figure 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of the machine in the preceding figures.

Figure 6 is a time chart illustrating the various operations occurring in a single cycle of the machine shown in the preceding figures, and

Figure 7 is a vertical front-to-rear sectional view of another improved washing machine, illustrating a modification of the invention.

The improved. washing machine of the present invention shown in Figures 1 through 6 comprises an outer casing or cabinet 19 which is preferably of rectangular cross section, having a base portion 11 of smaller area. provided with adjustable feet 12. In the cabinet a clothes tank 13 is carried, said tank preferably also having a generally rectangular cross section; the walls of the cabinet 10 may form part of the tank 13 as shown. to provide for lightness of weight and economy in the use of material. The clothes tank 13 has a bottom wall 14 sloping downward toward a drain opening 15 which is connected by a hose 16 to a reversible fluid pump 17 driven by an electric motor 18. Above the bottom 14 of the tank a perforated platform 19 is provided, in spaced relation with the bottom 14, and a perforated. partition 20 is provided in the tank to divide the latter into a main, clothes-carrying compartment 21 and a second and smaller compartment 22 which 1 term an agitator compartment. The clothes tank 13' is provided with a fiat, utility table-top cover 23 which is hingedly connected at 24 to a cabinet 10, and the latter has an upstanding housing 25 extending along its rear edge portion, in which housing is disposed a timing mechanism 2(, powdered soap container 27 and a water temperature control 28. The control 28 is connected to a mixing valve 29, in turn connected to hot and cold water pipes 30 and 31, and from the mixing valve 29. Figure 3, a nozzle 32 extends, projecting into the upper portion of the tank 13 to supply water thereto.

The mixing valve shut-off is controlled by an electric solenoid in the usual manner, the solenoid being in turn controlled by the timing mechanism 26 and by a float switch 33 of the conventional type, connected to the tank 13 to control the water level therein.

According to the present invention a novel method and structure is provided, in conjunction with the agitator compartment 22, the tank cover 23, and pump 17 whereby improved, highly eliicient and effective washing, rinsing and wringing operations may be automatically carried out on clothes deposited in the tank 13 with a minimum of wear and tear on the clothes, with a minimum of moving parts and therefore mechanical wear, and a minimum of vibration in the machine, and with a minimum of cost in producing the machine.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, the novel organization or structure comprises an agitator in the form of a propeller 34 carried in the agitator compartment 22 by a shaft 35, which latter passes through the external rear wall of the compartment and through a suitable packing and bearing means. and at its other end mounts a diive pulley 36, the pulley 36 being driven by a belt 37 from a pulley 38 on the shaft of the motor 18.

The pump 17, according to the invention, is of a suitable reversible flnid type capable of producing a vacuum. and is connected by a conduit or hose 39 with a fluid outlet. 40 in the upper portion of the clothes tank 13. the said outlet being substantially above the water line of the tank. A check valve 41 is interposed in the hose 39 to prevent influx of fluid at the outlet 40, and drain and vent pipes 42 and 43 respectively are connected to the hose 39 between the check valve 41 and the pump 17. The drain pipe 42 has check valve 44 to prevent influx of fluid in said pipe, and the vent pipe 43 has a check valve 45 to prevent efilux of fluid through said pipe.

The novel organization above referred to also comprises a normally folded, rectangular molded rubber bag 46 carried on the inside of the cover 23, the bag having a generally fiat bottom membrane or wall 47 connected with folded side walls 48, which latter have portions in the shape of truncated pyramids. Above the bag 46 the I cover 23 is provided with slits 49 which function as vent arena against the clothes in the tank and wring the latter, as will be more fully brought out later.

As shown in Figure 1 the powdered soap container 27 is connected with a chute 51 which empties into the top of the agitator compartment 22, and a solenoid operated valve 52 is provided at the bottom of the container 27 to control the discharge of soap powder therefrom. A hinged lid 53 is provided on the container, to enable the latter to be conveniently filled with soap powder when necessary, and preferably the capacity of the container 27 is sufficient to hold enough soap for at least twenty washing operations.

The circuit diagram of the improved washing machine of Figures 1 through 4 is shown in Figure 5. The timing mechanism 26 of the machine includes an electric timing motor 54 driving a shaft 55 having cams 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61. The cam 56 controls a switch 62 which in turn controls the energization of the timing motor 54 whereby, once the latter has been initially energized, it will operate for thirty minutes and will then be automatically turned off or deenergized. The cam 57 controls a switch 63 connected with a solenoid 64 which operates the shut-off for the mixing valve 29, and the cam 58 controls a switch 65 for energizing and deenergizing a solenoid 66 which in turn controls the valve 52 of the soap dispenser. The cam 59 controls the main switch 67 of the motor 18, the latter being preferably of the singlephase induction type having a main winding 68 and a starting winding 69. The winding 69 is controlled by the usual centrifugal switch 70 within the motor, and by reversing switches 71 and 72, respectively actuated by the earns 60 and 61. The cams 59, 60 and 61 are so arranged that the switch 67 is always opened before the switches 71 and 72 are actuated, and is always closed after completion of the actuation of the switches 71 and 72. A circuit breaker 62a is connected in one of the main supply lines as shown, the breaker being automatically actuated by raising and lowering of the cover 23 whereby the machine is halted whenever the cover is raised and resumes its operations again when the cover is lowered.

The operation of the improved washing machine of the invention and method of washing according to the invention is as follows, reference being had to Figure 6 which shows the related functions. The operator first lifts the cover 23 of the machine, the cover carrying with it the folded or collapsed rubber bag 47, and-deposits in the tank 13 the soiled clothes to be washed. The cover 23 is then closed, the water temperature control 28 set for the desired temperature and the timing mechanism 26 started, to energize the motor 54, as by turning a knob 73 connected with said mechanism.

Timing mechanisms of this type are well-known in the art of automatic washing machines, and therefore the specific details will not be shown or described herein since they form no part of the present invention.

Upon the motor 54 being energized, referring to Figure 5, the cam 57 will close the switch 63 to open the shutoff for the mixing valve 29, and hot and cold water will be forced through the inlet nozzle 32 into the tank 13. When the water has reached a predetermined level, the float switch 33 will become operative and will shut off the water supply. During the supplying of water to the tank 13 the soap dispenser valve 52 will be opened by the solenoid 66, which is energized by the switch 65 being actuated from the cam 58, and a charge of soap will be deposited in the agitating compartment 22. It will be noted that this charge of soap powder will not be deposited on the clothes carried in the compartment 21, and therefore any likelihood of the clothes being stained or injured by the concentrated soap is prevented.

After the required quantity of water has been introduced into the tank 13, the motor 18 is started in a forward direction, by closing of the switch 67 actuated by the cam 59. The motor will drive the impeller 34 and also the pump 17. The impeller 34, as shown in Figure 4,

will immediately agitate the water in the compartment 22 and mix the charge of soap with the water, and will establish a forced circulation of water between the compartments 21 and 22 of the tank 13, and in so doing will agitate the washing solution and the clothes carried in the compartment 21. At the same time, the pump 17 will force air through the hose 16 into the bottom of the tank 13, the said air being fed to the pump through the conduit 39 and passing through the check valve 41 from the top of the clothes tank 13. Also, air may be fed to the pump 17 from the atmospheric vent 43, such air passing through the check valve 45. Any of the washing solution in the tank 13 which might inadvertently be discharged through the outlet 40 will be returned to the tank with the air being circulated by the pump 17. An effec tive aeration of the washing solution in the tank 13 is therefore accomplished by the pump 17, resulting in a further agitation of the clothes in the washing solution, and providing the benefit of the presence of oxygen in the washing solution to further cleanse and purify the clothes.

As shown in Figure 6, after an elapse approximately of eleven minutes from the start of the machine, the washing operation will be halted by the switch 67 deenergizing the motor 18. The motor will now be connected for reverse by actuation of the switches 71 and 72, and the switch 67 will then again be closed to operate the motor 18 in the reverse direction. This will reverse the rotation of the agitator 34 and the pump 17, and the latter will evacuate the water and part of the air from the clothes tank 13, such water and air being forced out through the drain pipe 42 and check valve 44. The check valves 41 and 45 prevent the water and air being evacuated by the pump 17 from passing either to the atmosphere or back into the clothes tank 13. Also, the pump 17 will create a partial vacuum in the tank, and this will cause the flexible rubber bag 46 to expand to a position somewhat as indicated at 73 in Fig. 1. This position is determined by the contour or configuration of the top of the pile of clothes in the tank 13, the bag 46 expanding until halted by the clothes.

As the vacuum in the tank 13 continues, the bag 46 will press against the clothes with considerable force and will squeeze most of the water from the clothes, the said water being completely evacuated from the tank 13 through the drain pipe 42. After an interval of approximately three minutes during which the tank 13 is emptied and the clothes are wrung, and shortly after the fourteenth minute of operation of the machine, the motor switch 6'7 will be opened and the motor deenergized, the rubber bag 46 will again fold under and the inlet mixing valve shut-off will be automatically actuated to fill the tank 13 with a supply of rinsing water.

Upon the motor being deenergized, the switches 71 and 72 will again be actuated to connect the motor for forward operation, and then the switch 67 will again be closed to cause the motor to drive the impeller 34 and the pump 17. This will cause the rinsing water to be agitated and circulated between the compartments 21 and 22, and will agitate the clothes in the compartment 21, and the pump 17 will force air into the compartment 21 to further agitate the rinsing water and clothes, and to aerate the rinsing water. This rinsing operation will continue for approximately four minutes, whereupon the motor 18 will again be automatically reversed to carry out a second wringing and drain operation.

A second rinsing operation is then gone through terminating approximately at the twenty-sixth minute of operation, whereupon a third wring and drain operation is instituted. This third wring and drain operation has a duration of approximately three minutes, whereupon the motor 18 is again reversed, but this time no rinsing water is introduced into the tank 13. Instead, the pump 18 is driven to force air under pressure into the bottom 7 of the tank 13, thereby to find the clothes in the tank and to further remove moisture therefrom. The washing, rinsing and draining operations are completed in thirty minutes, whereupon the switch 62 is automatically opened to deenergize the timing motor 54, and the clothes are ready to be removed from the machine.

I have found that, by the provision of the expandable bag 46 in conjunction with the reversible pump 17, reversible motor 18, and impeller agitator 34 in the compartment separate from the main compartment of the clothes tank, and with the provision of means for depositing soap powder in the agitator compartment and not on the clothes, an extremely elficient and effective washing, rinsing and draining of the clothes is accomplished by a gentle and yet thorough action which results in a minimum of wear and tear on the clothes. These operations are accomplished by the use of very few parts, which parts are of simple and economical construction, and without the use of costly clutches, reversing gears or reversing drive mechanisms, etc.

The various operations carried out in the washing cycle are accomplished by actuation of switches controlled by the timing mechanism, the main operations being accomplished by a reversing of the motor 18 and the operations of dispensing soap and adding Water to the tank being accomplished by actuation of the solenoids 64 and 66. Therefore the apparatus or machine of my invention is free from any considerable mechanical wear, being extremely reliable in operation over an extended period of use, and is very economical to produce. The parts are small and compactly arranged so that the overall size of the machine is small compared with other automatic machines, and the present machine is remarkably free from vibration and therefore need not be bolted down to a floor or other supporting surface.

To effect a thorough washing of the clothes 1 have found that, with a suitably pitched propeller or agitator, the speed of the agitator may be relatively slow and in the neighborhood of from 400 to 450 R. P. M.

The mechanism by which the clothes are wrung is extremely simple and effective, and a very large amount of water is removed from the clothes during the wringing thereof, as compared with the amount remaining in the clothes.

The operation of the machine is simple, and the machine is very convenient to use since the dispensing of soap is automatic, and since the operations of filling the clothes tank 13 with clothes and filling the soap container 27 with soap powder may be easily done by an inexperienced person. The automatic dispensing of the soap results in an economy in the use of the soap, and prevents the likelihood of injurious soap concentrations occurring.

It will be noted that the creation of the vacuum in the tank 13 tends to hold the cover 23 securely down in place, and tends to increase the seal of the cover against the sealing strip 59, thereby preventing leakage of atmospheric air into the tank which might reduce the force exerted by the bag 46 on the clothes.

An improved washing machine illustrating another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 7. This machine comprises a cabinet 80 which is preferably of rectangular cross section, having mounted within it a clothes tank 31 of generally cylindrical shape. The tank 81 has a bottom wall 82 sloping downwardly to a drain pipe 83, which latter is connected with a hose S4 in turn leading to a reversible pump 85 driven from a shaft 86. The shaft 86 has a pulley 87 which is driven, by a belt 88, from a reversible electric motor 89. The shaft 86 is carried in bearings 90, and 91., provided with suitable packings, and is mounted in a housing or casing 92 which also houses the pump 85. The shaft 86 extends through the bottom wall of the tank 31 and has an offset portion or crank 93 on which is rotatably mounted an agitator member 94 having a plurality of tapered projecting ribs 95, preferably six in number. A cage 96 is mounted on the bottom wall 82 of'the tank to enclose the agitator 94, the cage being in the form of a truncated cone having a removable cap 97 at its top to enable soap powder to be deposited in the cage prior to starting a washing cycle. The tank 81 has a perforated platform 98 spaced above the bottom 82 and surrounding the bottom or base of the cage 96.

During the running of the motor 89 the crank 93 of the shaft 86 will travel in a circular path, and the agitator 2 will he free to rotate on the crank pin 93, and the axis of the agitator will follow the circular path of said crank pin. By this organization a gentle and yet thorough agitation of the soap solution and the clothes is accom plished, and such agitation is facilitated by the induction of air into the tank by the pump 85.

At its top the tank 31 has a top wall 99 which is generally in the form of a truncated cone, having a large central opening 100 to admit clothes into the tank 8i. A hollow cover 1%]. is provided for the tank, having a conical portion 162 closely fitting the upper wall 99 of the tank, the cover being hinged at 293 to the cabinet 80. The wall of the cover 102 has a discharge opening 194 connected with a check valve 135 arranged to discharge into the cover, and apertures 66 are provided in the portion N2 of the cover to enable the interior of the cover to have access to the atmosphere. A flexible water supply hose 1 57 is brought from a mixing valve 108 in the cabinet, into the cover 191 to a discharge nozzle 169 which is secured in the portion 1&2 of the cover.

The tank 81 is provided with an expandable rubber bag or membrane Hi,- having a cylindrical wall portion 111 secured at its lower end to the side walls of the tank 81, and having an upper wall portion 112 of frustroconical shape, the inner rim of which is secured to the top wall 99 of the tank. The bag is expandable so that the wall portions thereof may assume various positions, such as the position shown by the dot-and-dash line 113, such positions being determined by the configuration of the clothes carried in the tank 81.

The pump 85 is connected with a hose 114 the end of which has a check valve 115, and between the valve 115 and the pump 85 a drain pipe 116 is connected to the hose, having a check valve 117.

The operation of the washing machine shown in Figure 7 is generally similar to that of the machine shown in the preceding figures, except that when the pump 85 forces air into the lower portion of the tank 81 the air will be sucked directly from the atmosphere through the check valve 115, and air which is discharged from the upper portion of the tank 81 will pass out of the check valve 105 and into the atmosphere through the openings 166 into the cover 101.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7 rinsing water may be introduced into the top of the tank 81 through the nozzle 109 for a short time at the beginning of the wringing and drain operations whereby the rinsing water will act to remove all suds and soap from the upper portion of the tank, and from the upper portion of the clothes, thereby to facilitate the rinsing of the clothes.

The shape of the flexible rubber bag ill) is such that it may be readily molded, in simple mold forms.

It will be noted that all of the operations of washing. wringing, rinsing etc. are carried out by the use of a single belt drive from the motor 89, and that these operations are carried out by the use of a single shaft 86 which drives the pump 85 and also the agitator 94. The shaft 86, pump 85, casing 92 and bearings 90 and 91 constitute a simple and compact unit which may be fabricated at low cost, and which may be easily serviced and replaced if necessary, and by the provision of such a unit the structure of the washing machine is considerably simplified and the overall cost considerably reduced.

described herein as embodying the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to these specific structures, the stcope being more properly taken in connection with the appended claims, and vaiiations and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In an automatic washing machine, a clothes tank having a perforated dividing wall separating a main clothes receiving compartment and a second compartment communicating with vthe main compartment through the perforations of the dividing wall; liquid-agitating means in the second compartment; a container for soap powder, located above the bottom of the second compartment; a gravity-teed conduit between said container and second compartment; a normally closed valve in said conduit; power means for actuating the valve; and automatic timing means for controlling said power means whereby the valve is held open for a predetermined interval of time during operation of the machine, thereby to deposit a predetermined charge of soap powder into the second compartment by gravity, to be mixed with the liquid in the second compartment by said liquid-agitating means therein.

2. In an automatic washing machine, a clothes t-ank having a perforated dividing wall separating a main clothes receiving compartment and a second compartment communicating with the main compartment through the perforations of the dividing wall; liquid-agitating means for circulating liquid from the main compartment through the second compartment, a detergent container for dry detergent located above the bottom of said second compartment, a gravity feed conduit between said container 10 ,and said second compartment, a normally closed valve in said conduit, power means for operating said valve to open position, liquid supply means for said clothes tank, and timing means for opening said supply means for a predetermined time interval and for energizing said power means to open said valve for a predetermined time interval and for operating said agitating means for a predetermined time interval.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,267,351 Gohl Dec. 23, 1941 2,278,769 Chayie Apr. 7, 1942 2,323,993 Harvey July 13, 1943 2,490,634 Keene Dec. 6, 1949

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