US2823602A - Method and apparatus for washing and water-extracting clothes - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18,1958 JjzlMARlK ETAL 2,823,602

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND-WATER-EXTRACTING CLOTHES Filed June 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS JOHN Z/MAR/K a y PAUL a. ZARRS ATTORNEY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND WATER-EXTRACTING CLOTHES Filed June 5. 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTORS JOHN z/mm/r a By PAUL vc. ZARRS A TTORNEY Feb. 18, 1958 J. ZlMARlK ETAL 2,823,602

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND WATER-EXTRACTING CLOTHES Filed June 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JOHN Z/MAR/K a PAUL a. ZARRS Feb. 18, 1958 J. ZlMARlK ET AL 2,823,602

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND WATER-EXTRACTING CLOTHES Filed June 5 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS JOHN Z/MAR/K a By PAUL a. 2mm

A T TOR/VE'Y 1958 J. ZIMARIK ET AL ,6

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND WATER-EXTRACTING CLOTHES INVENTORS JOHN z/mn/x a BY PAUL p. ZARRS' A T TORNEY United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND WATER-EXTRACTIN G CLOTHES John Zimarik and Paul C. Zarrs, Akron, Ohio, assignors to International Laundry Machinery Co., Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 5, 1952, Serial No. 291,914

15 Claims. (Cl. 100-35) This invention relates to washing machines, and in particular relates to a method and apparatus for washingand water-extracting clothes.

In the past, laundries, in washing a batch of clothes of given size, have been required to process the batch through a long series of steps, including moving a dolly containing the batch up to a washing machine having a rotary drum, manually transferring the clothes from the dolly to the rotary drum for a clothes-washing operation, manually transferring the washed clothes from the rotary drum to a dolly, moving this dolly to a spin dryer or water-extracting machine, and manually transferring the water-extracted clothes from the extracting machine to a dolly for removal to an ironing or pressing machine, orwhen ironing or pressing is not required to a clothesdrying machine. Thus, the entire process of washing and water-extracting the articles necessitated manual handling thereof a great number of times including two handlings while water-saturated, as well as the use of two pieces of expensive machinery for the'washing and water-extracting steps, which in addition to being expensive to maintain required the provision of a relatively large area of floor space. Because 32 pounds of dry clothes weighs approximately 156 pounds when saturated inthe washing operation it is obviously no easy task for the operator to lift them by hand. Moreover, saturated clothes after a wash-- ing operation become a tangled, twisted mass and the operator must virtually remove the wet articles piece-bypiece. It is known also that wet clothes tear much" more readily than dry clothes, and hence the tugging usually necessary toremove the clothes piece-by-piece frequently results in torn or otherwise damaged" articles;

An important object of the present invention is to provide a single piece of equipment, particularly suitable for commercial operations such as in laundries, namely a washing machine, capable of extracting substantially all of the washing or rinsing water from clothes or the like treated therein, and which, therefore, reduces the floor area usually required for such washing and water-extracting equipment and operations by approximately one half.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined washing and water-extracting machine of the char: acter described which utilizes an economical single rotary drum, as distinguished from the usual perforated rotary drum within a stationary container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary machine of the character described wherein is eliminated entirely the usual necessity for the operator to lift or otherwise handle cumbersome wet or water-saturated articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which obviates the aforementioned disadvantages of prior machines with respect to damage resulting from the washed clothes being in a wet, tangled or twisted mass... and therefore, diflicult to remove from the machine.

Another object'ofthe invention 'is to provide a machine of the character described which not only extracts substantially all of the washing water from the washed articles but, by a simple continuing operation thereof, also fiufis the clothes into an expanded, substantially non twisted, non-tangled mass, which is particularly desirable because it greatly facilitates subsequent ironing or pressing operations and in many instances obviates the necessity of ironing or pressing, such as in the case of turkish towels, corduroys, bluejeans, cotton bed spreads, Woolen blankets and many rayon, cotton or nylon articles of clothing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved washing and extracting machine, as described, having novel means for mechanically ejecting the washed,- dried and flutfed articles therefrom, and thereby performing a function formerly done by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary multiple-purpose machine of the character described which is not substantially larger than the usual machine of equivalent capacity designed only for washing clothes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a washing machine of the type described wherein carry-over of dirty water from one washing or rinsing operation to another is eliminated, and wherein the number of rinsings may begreatly reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of extracting Water from washed clothes or the like, having the advantages described above.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the washer in the closed condition of Figure 1 as viewed from the right. thereof,

and the same being partly broken away and in section through the vertical center line of the drum, showing the machine in clothes-washing condition.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, withparts partly broken away and in section, and illustrating a waterextracting condition of the machine.

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal cross-section taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 3, illustrating one of the latching devices for locking the plunger in fixed position for a water-extracting operation on the clothes.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section, on the same scale, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a washing machine incorporating therein the features of the invention, the same including a clothes-containing drum 11 having an imperforate cylindrical part 12 which is open substantially to its full diameter at a forward end thereof, and closed at the other end thereof by a rear wall or partition 13 from which extends a hollow supporting shaft 14. The drum 11 is supported at the rear thereof to be rotatable about a horizontal axis of the same by said shaft 14 being suitably journalled in bearing means 15 in the upper end of an upright 16 on a bedplate 17. The front opening 18 of the drum part 12 is defined by an offset or enlarged portion 19 providing a radially inwardly presented, annular seat for sliding reception of a complemental annular portion 20 of a closure 21 for the opening 18, the closure being adapted to be shifted from the closed position of Figure 3 to a fully open position of Figure 2 in which the opening 18 is free and unobstructed, for putposes to be described later. In said closed position of the closure the inner edge of an annular flange extension 22 of closure portion yieldingly engages the annular fluidsealing rubber or like gasket secured to the seat portion 18. The closure 21 is of hollow construction, the same having a dome-shaped outer wall 25 and a flat inner backing wall 26.

For opening the closure 21 the same may be mounted to be first shiftable axially forwardly of the drum 11, as shown in full and chain-dotted lines in Figure 3, and then swung to one side of the drum, as shown in Figure 2. To this end, the closure 21 may be rotatably mounted on forward support 23, including a bottom part 27 suitably pivoted on bedplate 17 at one side of the vertical centerline of drum 11 to be swingable about a vertical axis, and an upright 28, having at the upper end of the same a hollow central shaft extension 29 from the closure journalled in bearing means 30 at the upper end thereof, may be axially slidably mounted on a forwardly extended horizontal platform 31 integral with the pivoted support part 27 (see Figures 1 and 3).

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the drum includes a water-pumping and discharge chamber 33, which is defined by a relatively fixed imperforate wall 34, mounted on the rear supporting upright 16, and has a forwardly extended annular flange 35 in mating relation to a rearward annular extension 36 of cylindrical drum part 12. A space 37 between the fixed flange 35 and relatively rotatable drum extension 36 may be fluid-sealed as by means of a molded annular rubber-like gasket, secured along one edge at 38 to flange 35 and having an opposite edge yieldingly slidably engaging an inner marginal edge portion 39 of drum extension 36. Water or other fluid from the clothes-receiving or treating compartment 40 enters chamber 33 through openings 41, 41 in wall 13 of drum part 12 from where it may be quickly discharged outwardly of the drum, through an outlet valve 42 in the bottom portion of fixed drum part 34, as by means of a manually or otherwise operable lever 43 for opening and closing valve closure 44. Discharge of liquid from the compartment 40 may be hastened by provision of a series of radial vanes 45 defining pockets 46 between the same which are adapted to lift the fluid and pump it toward outlet valve 42. Thus, opening of valve 42 while the drum is rotating is efiective to discharge all water from compartment 40 in a very few minutes.

Referring now to Figures 1, 3 and 4, provided on the inner periphery of rotatable drum part 12 may be a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending, clothes-agitating or tumbling ribs 46, 46 of radially inwardly tapering cross-section (three being shown). Intermediate adjacent ribs 46 may be pairs of circumferentially spaced, axially extending tumbling ribs 47, 47 of lesser depth and of rectangular cross-section. Ribs 46 and 47 are hollow for purposes to be described later.

A water-extracting plunger 48 may be mounted in the drum compartment 40 to be axially shiftable from a position adjacent the rear wall13 to a given position in relatively closely spaced relation parallel to the inner wall 26 of drum closure 21, as shown in Figure 4. Suitable manually or otherwise operable locking means 49 may be provided for locking of the plunger 48, in said given position, in which a forward wall 50 of the plunger is adapted to define a confining space of relatively small volume as compared with the total volume of compartment 40.

For axially shifting the plunger 48, as described the same may be mounted on a piston rod 52 which extends through an opening 53 in drum shaft 14, and which has a piston 54 on the other end thereof reciprocable in a piston cylinder 55 secured to the upper end of fixed support 16. The piston 54 is reciprocable, as by use of pressure-fluid such as water from a suitable source (not shown) and supplied to alternate ends of the cylinder through suitable conduit means 56 and 57. Plunger 48 extends to substantially the full diameter of drum part 12 and has cut- outs 58 and 59 in the edge portions thereof complementally receiving the agitator ribs, and thereby providing guide means which permits axial movement of the plunger but also prevents rotation of the same relatively of the drum.

Suitable locking means 61 is provided for releasably locking the closure 21 on the drum part 12. To this end, a series of circumferentially spaced detents 62 are radially shiftable in bosses 63 in the peripheral portion 20 of the closure to be releasably engaged in aligned apertures 64 in the offset portion 19 of drum part 12. Radial shifting.

of the detents 62 may be accomplished through stems 65 extended radially inwardly therefrom and connected at 1' inner ends thereof to arms 66 of bell-cranks 67, the other arms 68 of which are pivotally connected to pins 69 protruding through arcuate slots 70 in the outer closure wall 25 from a hand-wheel 71, rotatably mounted on closure shaft 29 intermediate the closure and support 28. By

, rotating the wheel 71 the detents 62 are operable in shaft 75 journalled in bearing 76 on the upper portion of fixed drum part 34, the shaft 75 in turn being powerdriven by a belt 77 between a pulley 78 thereon and a pulley 79 on a shaft of an electric motor 80. The motor 80 is of reversing type operable to reverse the direction of rotation of the drum during clothes-washing, rinsing or tumbling operations.

It will be manifest that the water-extracting pressure applicable to clothes by plunger 48 at the forward end of the drum 11 is limited to the size of the pressure effective area of piston 54. In other Words, in order to utilize plunger 48 to squeeze out as much as sixty percent of wash water from clothes in the drum 40, the cylinder 55 would necessarily be so large and cumbersome as to be commercially impractical. In the present invention the plunger 48, after use for a preliminary squeezing of the clothes, is held fixed against rearward movement, in the aforementioned forward position shown in Figure 4, and the clothes thus confined in substantially reduced space are subjected to further, much heavier pressure of a fluidpressure expandable diaphragm 82 mounted on the inner wall 26 of closure 21.

Diaphragm 82 may be of fabric-reinforced vulcanized rubber, molded in substantially flat disc-like form, as shown in Figure 3, peripheral edge portions of the dia- .phragm being suitably secured in fluid-sealed relation against the solid backing of closure wall 26. Pressure fluid from a suitable source, such as water from a pressure pump (not shown) is admitted to the interior of diaphragm or expandable fluid-containing member 82, through a sleeve 83 mounted through hollow closure shaft 29 to rotate therewith, a slip-seal joint 84 attached to an outward extension 85 of sleeve 83, and a flexible conduit 86 extending between joint 84 and a foot-controlled valve 87 in a line to said pressure-fluid source. Water-pressure at to 200 pounds per square inch is readily available for this purpose.

' The plunger-locking meansv49 is best shown in Figures 5 and 6, wherein is shown a manually operable latching device 88, there being one such independently operable latching device at forward end of-each hollow agitator rib 46 or 47 (see Figure 2).

Each latchingdevice 88 includes a pair of elongated latches or dogs 89, 89 pivoted in spaced relation at 90, 90, between spaced side- walls 91, 91 to extend forwardly of the drum and to be swingable laterally of. said side-walls which oppositely out-turned protuberances 92, 92 extend through holes 93, 93 in the rib walls 91 and engage behind rearwardly presented Wall portions 94, 94 of the plunger 48. For pivoting the latches between latching 'and retracted positions thereof shown in full and chaindotted lines, respectively, in Figure 6, the forward ends of the latches may have pins 95 and 96, extending at right angles to a plane of pivotal movement of the latches, and received through slots 97 and 98, respectively, in a cam plate 99 in a plane parallel to said plane of pivotal move.-

ment, said cam plate v being, integrally attached to one rod 100 which is slidably received through a bore 101 in .a block 202 fixed at the forward endof the rib 46 (or 47;). A second rod 103 is slidably received in a bore 104 laterally spaced from said bore 101, and a link 105 pivoted to block 102, at. a point 106, is suitably pivotally con.- nected at 107 and 108 to the rods 1% and 103 in a manner whereby depression of rod 103 to stop engagement of a head 109 on the outer .end thereof with the forward face of block 102 Will simultaneously urge the rod 100 forwardly from similar stop engagement of a head 110 thereof with block 102, and vice versa. The slots 97 and 98 in cam plate 99 converge rearwardly at approximately forty-five degrees to a radial plane through the center of the rib 46 (or 47) so that upon alternately depressing the rods 103 and 100 as described the cam plate 99 is correspondingly moved forwardly and rearwardly, and the re.- sulting oppositely inward and outward cam movement of the pins 95 and 96 in the angular slots 97 and 98 will move the latches 89, 89 from and toward the above described locked position thereof shown in full lines in Figure 6.

For manually unlocking and locking the latching device 88 from a position exteriorly of the drum, spaced oper ating plungers 112 and 113 slidably mounted in the closure 21 in axial alignment with rods 100 and 103, respectively, have rounded inner ends thereof engaging the heads 110 and 109, respectively, in the closed position of the closure 21. Outwardly exposed knobs 114 and 115 on the rods 113 and 112 are thereby alternately de pressible to provide corresponding alternate depression -of the rods 103 and 100. Knobs 114 and 115 may be marked Unlock and Lock, respectively, so that the diaphragm 82 may not be expanded until all of the Lock rods 113 are fully depressed to engage the latch protrusions 92 behind the plunger portions 94 in said fixed position of plunger 48. Obviously this mechanism may be readily modified for automatic operation of the latching devices 88.

The improved method is inherent in the description of the operation of the machine which follows.

In preparation for a cycle of washing and waterextraeting operations on a batch of clothes B, for example, the drum 1 2 initially will be in non-rotating condition, the plunger 48 will be retracted rearwardly, and the closureZl will have been swung to one side, as shown in Figure 2. After placing a batch of soiled clothes B in compartment 40, the closure 21 is swung forwardly with the pivoted part 27, into axial alignment with the drum part 12, and then is axially shifted rearwardly by means of the sliding connection between closure support upright 28 and platform 31, until the closure portion 20 is seated in fluid-sealed relation in seat portion 18 on said drum part 12. In this seated position the operator turns hand-wheel 71 and thereby, through movement of the series of bell-cranks 67, moves corresponding detents 62 into locking reception in previously aligned apertures 64 in said drum portion 19 (see Figure 3).

In this condition of the machine, with valving means 42: closed, water is run into the drum chamber 40 through conduit 116 communicating with the water pumping .and discharge chamber 33, and a soap access box 117 mounted on'the fixed wall 34, and soap is supplied in the same way through a lid 118 in said box. Next, the closed was drum 11 is rotated by operation of the motor 18 for a predetermined length of time in reversing directions.

Now, the operator, after opening valv-mg means 42, and while continuing rotation of the drum, to remove all flowable water from the same, operates cylinder 55 to move the plunger 48 forwardly to the position thereof shown in Figure 4, in which the latching means 88 of Figures 5 and 6 may be operated by pressing all of the knobs toward the position best shown in Figure 6, thereby to lock the plunger against rearward movement. In this condition of the plunger the clothes B will be uniformly pancaked against the diaphragm 82, which may then be expanded under very heavy internal pressure by foot-operation of valve 87 to admit pressure-fluid thereto. The heavy diaphragm pressure is thus applied uniformly to the pancaked clothes over a wide area approximating the cross-section of the drum part 12', against the solid backing of plunger wall 50. Thus, the initial forward operation'ofthe plunger is effective to squeeze out a substantial proportion of the water from the clothes, after which the diaphragm is expanded to remove substantially all of the water remaining therein. This substantially eliminates carry-over of dirty water from the above described washing operation to a subsequent rinsing opera tion.

Said rinsing operation is accomplished by closing valving means 42, and running, clear rinsing water into the still rotating drum, after unlocking the latching mechanisms 88 and operating the plunger 48 to its rearward po sition of Figure 3. After a sufiicient rinsing period the valve 42 is again opened and plunger 50 and diaphragm 82 are operated as before to extract the rinsing water. This rinsing and extracting operation may be repeated, although in some instances only one rinsing may be necessary.

In any event, after the final rinsing and water-extracting operation as described, the plunger 48 is operated rearwardly with continued rotation of the drum, causing the pancake of resultantly substantially dry clothes B to fall away and to be individually agitated by the vanes 46 and 47 to very desirable flufly condition.

After the clothes have been sufficiently dried and flufied as described, rotation of the drum is stopped so that the closure 21 may be opened and swung to one side to leave the drum opening 18 forwardly free and unobstructed, whereupon the plunger 48 may be operated forwardly while the drum is again rotated, thereby to urge the dry, fluify clothes into a suitable container or dolly (not shown) placed under said opening for that purpose.

By the washing and water-extracting method described above it has been found that a thirty-two pound batch of dry clothes B, which weighs approximately 156 pounds in saturated condition, will weigh only about fifty-four pounds or less upon being ejected from the machine, in which condition substantially all of the water is removed. In other words, the treated clothes are sufliciently dry to be taken immediately for ironing or steam-pressing operations. Moreover, because there is substantially no carry-over of dirty wash water to the rinsing operations, only one washing and one or two rinsing operations are required, as compared with about eight changes of Water required in prior art commercial laundry methods, including about three washing and five rinsing operations. The operator is never at any time required to handle saturated clothes, and handles them manually only once, that is, in placing the dry clothes in the machine, the treated clothes being ejected from the machine by plunger 48. In contrast with the previously described many handlings of the clothes in the prior art methods the present ma? chine is economical in many ways, but particularly in eliminating the necessity for use of expensive separate extractors, and in cutting down on the labor usually required to operate a multiple machine system andto' move the articles from one machine to the other. The

1- flufied .up clothes B fall easily from the drum compartment without manual assistance, whereas in the prior art Washing machines the wet clothes, being in tangled, twisted condition, were often required to be removed piece-by-piece'and'damage by tearing was not uncommon.

Modifications of the lnvention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for fluid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising an imperforate article-containing drum provided with an access opening at one end axially thereof, said opening being of diameter approximating that of the clothes-containing portion of the drum, a closure member removably attached to said drum over said opening, a plunger axially shiftable in the drum,'power means for axially shifting said plunger toward a given position at the one end of the drum to compress articles in a confined space of substantially reduced volume at said one end, locking means for retaining said plunger against retraction in said v given position, a fluid-containing member mounted on said closure member and having an inwardly presented fluid-expandable flexible wall portion of broad lateral area aproximating that of the area of said access opening, and means for aplying fluid-pressure within said member to expand said wall portion against the articles in said confined space further to compress the articles against the backing of said plunger in said given position thereof, said plunger also being axially shiftable by said power means toward said one end while said closure member is released to leave said one end substantially free and unobstructed, whereby the plunger will eject said articles from the open end of the drum. 7

2. A machine for fluid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising an article-containing drum provided with an access opening at one end axially thereof, said opening being of flow area approximating that of the clothescontaining portion of the drum, a closure member removably attached to said drum over said opening, a plunger axially shiftable in the drum, power means for axially shifting said plunger toward a given position at said one end of the drum to compress articles in a confined space of substantially reduced volume at said one end, locking means for retaining said plunger against retraction in said given position, a fluid-containing member mounted to be at said one end of the drum when said plunger is in said given position and having a fluidexpandable flexible wall portion of broad lateral area approximating that of the clothes-containing portion of the drum and means for applying fluid-pressure Within said member to expand said wall portion against the articles in said confined space further to compress the articles in said given position of the plunger, said plunger also being axially shiftable by said power means toward said one end while said closure member is released to leave said one end substantially free and unobstructed, whereby the plunger will eject said articles from the open end of the drum.

3. A machine for fluid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising an article-containing drum provided with an access opening at one end axially thereof, said opening being of flow area approximating that of the clothescontaining diameter of the drum, means for rotatably mounting said drum, a closure member, supporting means for removably attaching said closure member to said drum over said opening to rotate with the drum, a plunger axially shiftable in the drum, power means for axially shifting said plunger toward a given position at the open end of the drum to compress articles in a confined space of substantially reduced volumeat said one end, locking means for retaining said plunger against retraction in said given position, a fluid-containing member mounted on said closure member and having an inwardly presented fluid-expandable flexible wall portion of broad ing, and means for applying fluid-pressure within said member to expand said wall portion against the articles in said confined space further to compress the articles against the backing of said plunger in said given position thereof, said plunger also being axially shiftable by said power means toward said one end while said closure mem her is released to leave said one end substantially free and unobstructed, whereby the plunger will eject said articles from the open end of 'the drum, the connection between said closure member and said supporting means including a conduit extended through the closure member to communicate with the interior of said fluid-containing member, and valving means controlling supply of pressure fluid to said fluid-containing member through said conduit.

4. A machine for washing and fluid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising a drum support, a drum mounted on said support to be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a forward open end, power-operated means for rotating said drum on said drum support, a plunger mounted to be axially shiftable in said drum, power means for axially shifting said plunger toward and from a given position at the forward end of the-drum, locking means for locking said plunger against retraction from said given position, a closure at said open end of the drum including releasable locking means for locking the same in closed position on the drum to rotate therewith, a closure support rotatably supporting said closure, said closure support being movable to operate the closure from and toward said closed position thereof, a fluid-containing member mounted on said closure presenting a fluid-expandable diaphragm inwardly of the drum, means for applying fluid-pressure in said fluid-containing member to expand said diaphragm to- 'ward said plunger in locked position thereof, the rotatable connection between said closure and said closure support including a conduit extended through the closure to communicate with the interior of said fluid-containing member, and valving means controlling supply of pressure fluid to said fluid-containing member through said conduit.

5. A machine for washing and fluid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising a drum support, an imperforate fluid-containing drum mounted on said support to be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a forward open end, power-operated means for rotating said drum on said drum support, a plunger mounted to be axially shiftable in said drum, power means for axially shifting said plunger toward and from a given position at the forward end of the drum, locking means for locking said plunger against rearward retraction from said given position, a closure at said open end of the drum including releasable locking means for locking the same in closed position on the drum to rotate therewith, a closure support rotatably supporting said closure, said closure support being movable to operate the closure from-and toward said closed-position thereof, a fluid-containing member mounted on said closure presenting a fluid-expandable diaphragm inwardly of the drum through said open end, means for applying fluid-pressure in said fluid-containing member to expand said diaphragm toward said plunger in locked position thereof, the rotatable connection between said closure and said closure support including a conduit extended through the closure to communicate with the interior of said fluid-containing member, valving means controlling supply of pressure fluid to said fluid-containing member through said conduit, said drum support including thereon a fixed part communicating with the interior of the drum, and means for fluid-sealing said drum with respect to said fixed part, said fixed part having adjacent 6. A machine for fluid-extracting clothes or like varticles, comprising an imperforate article-containing drum provided with an access opening at one end axiallythereof, said opening being of: diameter approximating the clothes-containing diameter of the drum, a closure member removably attached to said drurn over said opening, a plunger axially shiftable in the drum, power means for axially shifting said plunger toward a given position at the one end of the drum to compress articles in ,a confined space of substantially reduced volume at said one end, locking means for retaining said plunger against retraction in said given position, a fluid-containing member mounted on said closure member and having an inwardly presented fluid-expandable flexible wall portion of broad lateral area approximating the area of said access opennig, means for applying fluid-pressure within said member to expand said wall portion against the articles in said confined space further to compress the articles against the backing of said plunger in said vgiven position thereof, said plunger also being axially shiftable by said power means toward said one end while said closure member ,is released to leave said .one end substantially free and unobstructed, whereby the plunger will eject said articles from the open end of the drum, a drum support for mounting said drum to rotate about a horizontal axis and having thereon a fixed part provided with fluid outlet ,means communicating with the interior of the drum adjacent the bottom thereof and an outlet valve connected to said outlet means and operable to release fluid from said drum by gravity.

7. A machine for fiuid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising an imperforate article-containing drum provided with an access opening at one end axially thereof, said opening being of diameter approximating the clothes-containing diameter of the drum, a closure member removably attached to said drum over said opening, a plunger axially shiftable in the drum, power means for axially shifting saidplunger toward a given position at the one end of the drum to compress articles in a confined space of substantially reduced volume at said one end, locking means for retaining said plunger against retraction in said given position, a fluid-containingrnem ber mounted on said closure member and having an inwardly presented fluid-expandable flexible wall portion of broad lateral area approximating the area of said access opening, means for applying fluid-pressure within said member to expand said wall portion against thearticles in said confined space further to compress the articles against the backing of said plunger in said given position thereof, said plunger also being axially shiftable by said power means toward said one end while said closure member is released to leave said one end substantially free and unobstructed, whereby the plunger will eject said articles from the open end of the drum, and valve means for emptying fluid from said drum.

8. A machine for washing and fluid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising a drum support, a drum mount-V ed on said support to be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a forward open end, poweroperated means for rotating said drum on said support, a plunger mounted to be axially shiftable in said drum, power means for axially shifting said plunger toward and from a given position at the forward end of the drum, locking means for locking said plunger against retraction from said given position, a closure at said open end of the drum including releasable locking means for locking the same in closed position on the drum to rotate therewith, a closure support rotatably supporting said closure, said closure support being movable to operate the closure from and toward said closed position thereof, a fluid-containing member mounted on said closure presenting a fluid-expandable diaphragm inwardly of the drum, means for applying fluid-pressure in said fluidcontaining member to expand said diaphragm toward said plunger in locked position thereof, the rotatable connection between said closure and said forward support including a conduit axially extended through the closure l c mprising an imperforate article-containing drum provided with an access opening at one endaxially thereof, said opening being of diameter approximating the clothes-containing diameter ofthe drum, a closure member jremovablyattached' to said drum over said opening, a,plungeraxi1allyshiftable in the drum, power means for axiallyshiftin-g said plunger toward a given position fat the one endpfi'the drum to compress articles in a. confinedspace of substantiallyreduced volume at said one end, locking m'eansfor retaining said plunger against retraction in said given position, afluid-containing memberrnounted'ons'aid closure member and. having an in; war'dly pr esented fluid-expandable flexible wall portion of broad lateral area approximating the area of said access opening, and means for applying fluid-pressure within said member to expand said wall. portion against the articles in .said confined space further .to compress the articles against the backing of said plunger in said given positiontl ereof, said plunger also being axially shiftable by said power means toward said one end while said closure member is released to leave said one end substantially tree and unobstructed, whereby the plunger will eject said articles from the open end of the drum, said power means including a relatively fixed cylinder and a fluid pressure operated piston relatively reciprocable therein said' piston having a rod extending inwardly of the drum, saidplunger being mounted on said piston r-odto be axially shifted thereby.

10. A method of extracting fluid' f rorn wet clothes or like articles, comprising the steps of tumbling the articles in a drum having a closed opening at one end while simultaneously mechanically compacting the. same 'into. a confined space of substantially reduced volume to remove a substantial proportion of said fluid therefrom, while said batch is held confined expandinga fluid presa. surized diaphragm against the batch further .to compact the same at a substantially higher pressure to extract additional fluid'therefrom, increasingrthe volume. o f,said confining space for thearticles whiletumbling said arti-v cles to relatively loose fluffy condition, and thereafter while maintaining said openingin open condition utilizing the mechanical compacting force to urge said flufiy articles through the opening.

11. A machine for washing andrfluidvextractingclothes' or like articles, comprising a drum support, an imper-- forate drum mounted on said support to be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a forward open end, power-operated means for rotating said drum, a plunger mountedlto be axially shiftable in said drum, power means for axially shifting'said plunger toward and from a fixed position at the forward endof.

the drum, lockingmeans for locking said plunger insaid fixed position, a closure at said open end of the drum1 including releasablelocking means for locking the same in closed position on the drum to rotate therewith, a closure support rotatably supporting said closure to be movable from and toward said closed position, a fluid? containing member mounted on said closure presenting a fluid-expandable diaphragm inwardly of the, drum, and

means for applying fluid-pressure in said fluid-ctmtain-x mg member to expandsaid diaphragm towardsaid. fixed;

forward upright being mounted to be shiftable away from the drum when said closure locking means is released to leave said open end free and unobstructed, the rotatable connection between said closure and said forward support including a conduit axially extended through the closure to communicate with the interior of said fluidcontaining member, and valving means controlling supply of pressure fluid to said fluid-containing member through said conduit.

12. A machine for washing and fluid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising a drum support, an imperforate drum mounted on said support to be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a forward open end, power-operated means for rotating said drum, a plunger mounted to be axially shiftable in said drum, power means for axially shifting said plunger toward and from a fixed position at the forward end of the drum, locking means for locking said plunger in said fixed position, a closure at said open end of the drum including releasable locking means for locking the same in closed position on the drum to rotate therewith, a closure support rotatably supporting Said closure to be movable from and toward said closed position, a fluidcontaining member mounted on said closure presenting a fluid-expandable diaphragm inwardly of the drum, and means for applying fluid-pressure in said fluid-containing member to expand said diaphrgam toward said fixed plunger, said plunger-locking means including at least one latching device comprising an axially extending hol low guide portion on the inner periphery of the drum received through a complementary guide portion at the peripheral edge of said plunger, at least one latch shiftably mounted in said hollow guide portion to have a protuberance thereof shiftable with the latch toward and from a projecting stop position behind a rearwardly presented portion of the plunger, and interengaging means on said drum and closure selectively operable to shift said latch toward and from said stop position.

' 13. A machine for washing and fluid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising a drum support, an imperforate drum mounted on said support to be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a forward open end, power-operated means for rotating said drum, a plunger mounted to be axially shiftable in said drum, power means for axially shifting said plunger toward and from a fixed position at the forward end of the drum, locking means for locking said plunger in said fixed posi tion, a closure at said open end of the drum including releasable locking means for locking the same in closed position on the drum to rotate therewith, a closure support rotatably supporting said closure to be movable from and toward said closed position, a fluid-containing member mounted on said closure presenting a fluid-expandable diaphragm inwardly of the drum, and means for applying fluid-pressure in said fluid-containing member to expand said diaphragm toward said fixed plunger, said plunger-locking means including at least one latching device comprising an axially extending hollow guide portion on the inner periphery of the drum received through a complementary guide portion at the peripheral edge of said plunger, at least one latch shiftably mounted in said hollow guide portion to have a protuberance thereof shiftable with the latch toward and from a projecting stop position behind a rearwardly presented portion of the plunger, and interengaging means on said drum and closure selectively operable to shift said latch toward and from said stop position, said latch being pivoted in the hollow guide portion, said interengaging means including a pair of elements mounted in said hollow guide portion to be shiftable in unison in opposite directions and a cam connection from one of the elements to the latch operable by alternately depressing said elements to move the latch to projecting and retracted positions of said protuberance, and selectively shiftable members on said closure having portions engaging said elements for alternately depressing the same.

14. A machine for washing and fluid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising a drum support, an imperforate drum mounted on said support to be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a forward open end, power-operated means for rotating said drum, a plunger mounted to be axially shiftable in said drum, power means for axially shifting said plunger toward and from a fixed position at the forward end of the drum, locking means for locking said plunger in said fixed position, a closure at said open end of the drum including releasable locking means for locking the same in closed position on the drum to rotate therewith, a closure support rotatably supporting said closure to be movable from and toward said closed position, a fluid-containing member mounted on said closure presenting a fluid-expandable diaphragm inwardly of the drum, and means for applying fluid-pressure in said fluid-containing member to expand said diaphragm toward said fixed plunger, said plungerlocking means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced latching devices each comprising an axially extending guide portion on the inner periphery of the drum received through a complementary guide portion in the peripheral edge of the plunger, a pair of latches pivoted in said hollow guide portion to have protuberances there on projecting in opposite directions shiftable with the latches toward and from stop positions of the protuberances behind rearwardly presented portions of the plunger, and interengaging means on said drum and closure including selectively operable portions on the closure for shifting said latches toward and from said stop positions of the protuberances.

15. A machine for washing and fluid-extracting clothes or like articles, comprising a bedplate having a rear upright thereon provided with bearing means above the bedplate, an imperforate fluid-containing drum mounted on said bearing means to rotate about a horizontal axis, power means for rotating said drum, said drum having clothes-agitating means therein, said drum being open at a forward end thereof and provided with a closure for said open end, releasable locking means on said drum and closure for locking the same together, a plunger in said drum mounted to be axially reciprocable therein toward and from a fixed position at the forward end of the drum, guide portions on said drum and plunger permitting axial shifting of the plunger, a fluid-pressure operated piston means on said rear upright having a piston axially relatively shiftable therein by fluid pressure to reciprocate said plunger, means for supporting said closure to be moved away from said open end of the drum to leave the same forwardly free and unobstructed, locking means on said,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 570,190 Sunderland Oct. 27, 1896 2,399,319 Bowen et a1 Apr. 30, 1946 2,496,011 Mikshel Ian. 31, 1950 2,611,257

Kahn Sept. 23, 1952

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