US2823975A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18, 1958 1.13. KIRBY WASHING MACHINE 7 sheets-sheet 1 original File@ oct. 2, l1945 lll ATTORNEYS Feb. 18, 1958 J. B. KIRBY WASHING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed 0G12. 2, 1945 lNvENToR JAMES B. ff/may BY f /l/d/ ATTORNEYS Feb. 18, 195s- J. B. Km 2,823,975

WASHING MACHINE original Filed oct., 2, 1945 7 sheet-shset s FL c'm 7' com-zeon@ 3o 55C. Fluff INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 8 1958 J. B. KIRBY WAHSHING MAGHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original If'iled- Oct. 2. 1945 NVENTR :mw/'5s Eff/EB BY ATTORNEYS J. B. KIRBY WASHING MACHINE Feb. v18, 195s 7 sham-sheet 5 VOriginal Filed'OOb. 2, -1945 INVENTOR JA Mes B. K/fezy M Y W ATTORNEYS Feb. 148, 1958 J. B. KIRBY WASHING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 original Filed4 oci. 2, 1945 HIWI' J9 H8 :iii w, Ww u u MINI" n IIIHH 3, 6

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323 l l 1NVENT0R.

JAMES .B- /f/EBY n@ www hmlllllu.

A rroze/vfys Feb. 18, 1958- J, B. KIRBY WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 2, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Ns/Emme JAMES B K/RBY A TTOENEYS WASHING MACHINE James B. Kirby, West Richfield, Chio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Co., as trustee, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Continuation of appiication Serial No. 619,849, t'ctoher 2, 1945. This application April 5, 1954, Serial No. 421,097

Z9 Claims. (Cl. 8-l59) My invention relates to laundering and concerns particularly washing of fabrics and the like.

Among the objects of my invention are to wash flexible fabric articles such as clothes expeditiously, thoroughly, and without damage; to dry such articles expeditiously, speedily, with a high degree of extraction. and without damage, and to carry on both such washing and drying operations in the same receptacle.

A further object of my invention is to carry out washing or cleansing operations with a high degree of economy of cleansing liquid such as dry-cleaning iuid or washing water, fuel for heating water, soap or other detergent, and mechanical driving power. lt is also an object of my invention to provide a mechanical washing and drying arrangement in which no more power is required for drying than for washing.

A further object of the invention is to provide irnproved arrangements for washing, drying7 and rinsing articles without rehandling them between the washing and rinsing operations, or between the rinsing and drying operations.

A further object is to provide improved laundering methods and apparatus for eiiiciently washing and drying articles very quickly. Still another object is to provide such apparatus for automatic operation.

A further object is to increase the speed of the combination of steps in the method of washing, rinsing and extracting to shorten the cycle of operations.

Still another object is to shift from washing, to eX- tracting and to rinsing speedily without shifting gears or delayed action so as to shorten the cycle.

A further object is to provide improved arrangements for carrying on Washing or cleansing operations in which the manipulation of the articles to be cleansed is visible through steps of the operation.

A further object is to provide centrifugal handling arrangements with improved means for controlling vibration and for bringing the articles centrifuged up to speed without excessive vibration.

A further object is to provide washing arrangements with improved means for automatically maintaining an optimum supply of Washing liquid.

A further object is to provide arrangements for sup porting reciprocatory or rotary apparatus free from tendency for crawling or jumping without any need for fastening down to the floor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide alternatively for transmission of rotary motion to a driven object, such as a container, or conversion of rotary motion into reciprocatory motion. lii addition it is an object to effect such conversion by opposing rotary motion of the driven object.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In carrying out my invention in accordance with a preferred form thereof, I subject dampened clothes or other fabric articles to forces tending simultaneously to cient speed to expel the major portion of the washing fluid.

For accomplishing these actions, the clothes or other articles are held in a container having liquidi discharging openings in it and the same container is employed tor holding the clothes during both the washing; and drying operations.

ln the preferred embodiment a single rotary driving member is employed tor actuating the container to produce both tire washiiigand drying actions, and means are provided fori'ecirculating water through the container during the washing action. Mechanism is interposed between ttie driving member and the container for alternatively, either converting the rotary motion of the driving member into oscillatory motion of the container for wasniiig action or rotating the container for drying action. the preferred mechanism is such that when the container is prevented trom rotating, the oscillatory motion is produced and when the container is left free it rotates witn the driving member. The mechanism is such as to impart to the container during washing action a reciting or seesaw motion rotatively progressing around its center, what may be described as vertical reciprocation ot' the container with successive portions `of the container around its center being reciprocated in progressively dirterent phase.

This application is a continuation of my co-pending application entitled Washing Machine, Serial No. 0.9849, tired October 2, i945, which is a continuationi'n-part ot my application, Serial No. 526,154, iiled March 13, i944 and now Patent No. 2,520,366, issued August 29, 1950. Said application Serial No. 619,849 was allowed on September 13, i954, and lwas permitted to become abandoned on March 13, 1955, in View of the presentation of the allowed claims of said Serial No. 019,549 in the instant application.

A better understanding of the invention will be afforded by `the following detailed description considered in conlunction with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the invention will be set forth in the claims.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical medial section through a washing and drying machine forming an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section arrangement of the apparatus of Fig. l; t

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the `ribs which may be mounted in the container in the apparatus of Fig. l;

Fig. 3A is a view of a cross-section represented as cut by a plane .3A-3A indicated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. l, represented as cut by a plane 4--4, and showing yieldable control-shaft driving means;

Fig. 5 is a plane view of the apparatus of Fig. l, with a portion ot' the top broken away to expose the interior mechanism shown partly in section;

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the sequence of operation;

Fig. 7 is a plan view, partially in section, of the portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1 below the broken plane 7--7;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a hydraulic stabilizer for one of the supporting 1feetiii the apparatus of Fig. 1. i

of the pedestal Fig. 9 isa cross-sectional view of the water feed and drainrge arrangement of the apparatus represented as taken along a broken plane 9--9 indicated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a pendular vibration-responsive switch for the apparatus;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary plan view partially insecticn of a prrtion of'the apparatus of Fig. l below the plane ll-ll, illustrating the mechanism for. holding and for retardine speed of rotation of the control shaft;

Fig. l2 is an eevaticn of the water-pressure responsive water-How controlling mechanism of the apparatus;

Fig. I3 is a verticalsecticnal view of the portion of the sneed-retarding mechanism represented as cut by plane 13-13 indicated in Fie. l1 and asseen by looking in the direction of the arrows, and:

Fig. 14 is a circuit diagramschematically representin'y a sequence-controlling time switch and parts of the mechanism ccntroled by the time switch.

Fig. l5 isa ver-tical sectional view corresponding to Fig. l butjshowin'z a sidev elevation of the fabric ccntainer instead ff a secticn and illustrating nn embodiment in which the washing-mechanism and iuh tor the water are slidablysuoported withinan` outer casing:

Fie. 16v is a fraffmentary viewcf a modifi/:ation in the arrangement of Fig. l5 in which the tub and carriage.

therefor are slidablv supported some distance above the bottom of. theenclosinq casing;

Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram representing the portion of the apparatus of Fig. i6 below the section line 17--17; and

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view of a modified movement providing limited sdewise freedom of motion.

Like reference characters are utilized throughout the, drawingto. designate like parts.

An villustrative.embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings and which will be described comprises a casing 21V within which are mounted a pedestal 22 for supporting aclothes container 23, a driving motor 24, container-driving and controlling mechanism 2S, and other piecesof mechanism which will be pointed out particularly in connection with a detailed description of the apparatus. Brake and clutch mechanism for controlling the transmission of power from the motor 24 to the container 23 and for alternatively effecting the washing and drying action is represented generally by reference numeral 25 in Fig. 1. For automatically controlling and timing the sequence of operations, a time switch 26 is provided having manual starting knob 27..

For forming a water reservoir or tub 30 below the container 23, sheet metal pieces are provided including a cylindrical shell 20, a bottom 23 with a recessed portion 29 around the motor 24 having a raised wall 31 above. the motor 2 4- jointed to the shell 20, and to a tubular..

sheet 32 surrounding. the pedestal-22. The container 23 for clothes or other articles to be washed has a top opening 33 to permit articles to be washed to be placed therein or removed, and the casingllfhas a removable cover 34 which is. preferably transparent.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 5 a-water supply nozzle 35 is provided for directing Water into the top opening 33 of the container 23 andapair of nozzles36 is provided for re-circulating water into the container 23. The casing 21 is provided with. abase. 37 comprising a relatively heavy rnetal plate serving to assist in minimizing vibration difficulties and also serving to, support various otherl parts of the apparatus.

For' supporting the casingV 21 and the base plate. 3.7 upon a horizontal surface 3S such as a oor in a home, for example, which may be composed of wood flooring, cement, or other surfaces subject to unevenness, feet 39 are provided preferably four ininumber, and one of the feet is provided with a self-leveling, mechanism 41, preferably comprising a hydraulic stabilizer.

The container l23 is provided with openings toperrnit number of openings.

continuous circulation of' water through the mass ofi clothes or articles to be washed held in the container, and obstacles such as cleats or ribs 42 are provided which are fastened around the edges of the container 23 to retard circumferential motion of clothes around the container during the washing operation. Although the container 23 need not, necessarily, becircular as illustrated, it is preferably symmetrical with respect to a geometric axis 43, which is inclined to the axis of the pedestal 22, shown vertical. Preferably also. the. container 23..has a, reentrant lower wall 44 in order to permit supportv of the container 23 and the control of the action thereof, at a print substantially coincident withthe center of masS.. cf the container. The container 23 is preferably composed of a suitable material which combines lightness with strength, such as sheet metal, for xample, pressed aluminum. As illustrated, the reentrant lower wall porticn 44 of the container 23 is composed of over-lapping sheets cf material suchas pressed aluminum for thesake cf added strength. If desired, the lower part of the conf tainer 23 may be composedv of cast aluminum orrnagnesium alloy with the upper part drawn. from. sheet. metal.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, a supporting hub. 45. composed of suitable materialsuch as steel plate, e. g. secured to the center of the reentrantlower, wall portion 44, fer removably mounting the container 23 at the upper end of the pedestal 22.. The specific mounting arrangement illustrated will` be,V described more in detail in connection with the description of Fig. 2. Preferably, a, guard or cap 46, is mounted overv the center of the. container Z3 for preventing clothes from being caught o1'. having their movement in thecontainer interfered with.

The water-draining openings in the container 23, particularly near the lower portion thereof aresuchy in number and size as toretain a predetermined quantity of. water within the, container 23 during washing operation. The specific number and size of the openings depends upon the capacity of the apparatus for recirculating Water through the nozzles 36.` As will be explained more fully hereinafter, means are provided for automatically adjusting the rate of how through the nozzles 36 in rela-.. tion to the quantity of water. drained from the container 23. Although. the invention is obviously not limited to a specitic arrangement, l. found that satisfactory results may be obtained, in the.. case of a container about 22 inches in diameter with a 6G() l. P. Mfdrive, where the containerA has 1,0 ribs,` .42 evenly spaced around its pe-. riphery and secured to they/nilsA of the container, with a row 47 of openings in the bottom wall of the container nearA the-.peripheral edge t8 thereof, an opening 47 being betweeneach pair of ribs 42, and withA rows of side openings 49, Si, 52. and 53 around the4 outer walls of the container 23; in the specific illustrative arrangement assumed, the` row of openings 49 also consists of one openingbetween each pairof ribs 42 aboutl one and one-half inches from the bottom edge 43, the. rowof .openings 5 1., also .consists of one opening between each pair of ribs 42.. about three inches from the edge 48. The row of openings 52 about four and one-half inches fromthe edge. lconsists of two openings between each` pair of ribs 42, and above the row 52 there may be one or more rows of, openings 53 consisting of a considerable The container 23 has an upper retainingportion .d4-which preferably contains numerous openings` considerably `more numerous and larger than those in the lower portion ofthe container in order-to facilitateexpulsion of water during centrifugal drying operations..

As illustratedin Fig. 2, the pedestal 22 comprises, a.; tubular portionSS, anda tiange portion 56. For sup.- portingthepedes-tal 22 aplurality of legs 57, preferably four in number in ease of a square casing as illustrated, are bolted attheupper end to the ange 56 and at the lower end. to` the four corners of the baseplate 37 of the.

casing '21. iThe legs 57 are composed of a moderately rigid material such as cold-rolled steel strips. pressed to form, which provides the pedestal 22 with a high degree of stiffness with respect to bending action away from a vertical axis, but supply a slight degree of resiliency with respect to up and down or vertical motion along a vertical axis.

Rotatably mounted within the tubular portion 55 of the pedestal 22 are a tubular or hollow, rotating, drive shaft 58 and a control shaft 59, the latter being within the hollow shaft 58. For rotatably supporting the hollow shaft 58 within the pedestal 22, with a vertical rotation axis, upper and lower ball bearings 61 and 62 are provided, each having an inner race secured to the hollow shaft 58 and an outer race secured to one of the ends of the tubular portion 55 of the pedestal 22. The outer roll 63 of the upper ball bearing 61 is secured at the upper end of the pedestal 22 by a ring 64, and the inner race i y65 of the upper ball bearing 61 is secured to the hollow shaft 58 between the shoulder 66 and a fitting 67 secured .to the upper end of the shaft 58 which is threaded.

The fitting 67, which serves as a rotatable driving member for the container 23 in turn carries an inclined bearing l68, preferably a ball bearing upon which the container A23 is journaled through the supporting hub 45. The inclined bearing 68 has an axis of revolution at a slight angle to the rotation axis of the hollow shaft 58, for `example at an angle of 41/2 in the case of the specific .apparatus shown by way of illustration.

The bearing 68 has an outer race 69 secured to the rotatable, container-driving member 67 and an inner race 71 secured to a fitting 72 which is, in turn, secured to the :supporting hub 45 of the container 23. In the construction, as illustrated, the fitting 72 has a threaded upwardly Aextending neck portion 73 and a lower base or flange portion 74, holding the inner ball-bearing race 71. The neck 'portion 73 extends upwardly through openings in the center of the supporting hub 45 and the center of the reentrant bottom wall 44 of the container 23. A nut 75 and a washer 76 may be provided for clamping the parts 44 and 45 against the base 74 of the fitting 72. A locking pin 77 may be provided to prevent relative rotation between the container 23 and the fitting 72.

The lower portion of the fitting 72, that is the base 74 4has spherical recess 78 to receive a spherical head 79 Vformed in the upper end of the control-shaft 59. Dia- .'metrically extending slots 81 are formed in the base por- ;tion 74 of the fitting 72 to receive the ends of a pin 82 extending horizontally through the spherical head 79 of :the control shaft 59, so as to provide a flexible connection ibetween the shaft 59 and the container 23.

For supporting the protective cap 46 a hollow screw '83 may be provided which is threaded into an opening in tthe upper end of the fitting 73. An oil hole 84, closed `iby a spring-pressed ball 85 may be provided in the upper I'end of the screw 83 and the fitting 73 may be hollow, provided with oil directing holes 86 and 87 for supplying oil to the bearing 68 and to the surfaces of the spherical head '79 and the pin ends 82. Furthermore, an oil hole 88 tmay be provided in the rotatable driving member 67 for :supplying oil to the upper pedestal bearing 63 from the oil hole 84. The clearance around the spherical head 79, and between the pin 83 and the slot 81, are such as to permit tilting motion of the parts 74 and 45 secured tto the basket 23 without permitting rotation thereof :around the geometrical axis 43 with respect to the vertical control shaft 59.

Preferably, a skirt 89 hanging clear of the upper and vouter surfaces lof the ring 64 at the upper end of the pedestal 22 is provided for protecting the upper pedestal bearing 81 from spray or drip of wash water. A similar skirt 91 may be formed Aat the outeredges of the container hub 45Afor protecting the inclined bearing 68. As illustrated in Fig. 4l,an apron 92 composed of la suitable rtlexible material impervious to water'such as sheet rubber for example may be fastened to the outer edges of the ring 64 and the upper edge of the wall 32 for preventing water lroni splashing over the wall 32 and falling upon themechanisin below the tub bottom 28.

As shown in i-igs. l and 7 the motor 24 is arranged to drive the hollow shaft o8 rotatively through a belt 93 engaging a pulley 94 secured to the hollow shaft 58 at the lower end thereof.

As already explained in connection with Fig. 2, the upper end ofthe eonirol shart a) is supported by reason of the spherical houd 19 fitting into the spherical recess io iii tile oase portion I4 ot trie uiting 12. For supporting ine lower end oi `the control shaft .v9 in such a manner as lo permit relative rotation between the inner shaft 59 and ine outer shiit'l a8, a bearing prereraoly a ball bearing 9o is provided. `in the particular construction illustrated,

the bearing 96 is shown as htting within the central portion or' the pulley 9+. ror releasaoly preventing rotation of the control shaft 59 when the hollow shaft ab is rotated, a brake uriim 9i is secured to tne lower end of the control snafl a9 and a uralte band v8, adapted to grip the drum 91, is provided.

:suitable means are providedfor bringing the control shaft a9 up to me speed ot the hollow snartau when the oraiteband 9p is not in engagement with the brake orurn 9i. lo this end the puliey 94 may ne constructed in hollow form with an inner clutch surface 99 and a plurality of centrifugal clutch dogs mi may be pivotally mounted, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 4, upon the web portion lez oi ine brake drum 9i'. As illustrated, there are three clutch-dogs or fingers 101, each having an ear 1113 pivotally carried oy a post 1194 secured in the web 102 of the oraiie drum 91 and having a friction pad lo: adapted to engage the inner surface 99 of the pulley 94. ror preventing engagement or the clutch dogs 111:1 until a predetermined speed or' the brakedrum 91 has been reached, biasing springs 186 are preferably provided each fastened between the clutch-dogs 101 and pins 107 also secured in the web .to2 of the brake drumi 9i'.

buitable linkage is provided tor controlling the engagement of the brake band 98 with the brake drum 97. For example as illustrated in Figs. 4 and ll, a lever 108 may be provided which is pivoted to a pin 109 secured to the base plate 37 of the apparatus. One end of the brake band 96 is fastened to a pin 11 which is also secured to the base plate 37 and the other end is fastened to the pin 112 carried by the short end of the lever 108. i For normally producing engagement lof the brake band 98, la spring 113 is provided which is fastened at one end to a pin 114 secured to the base plate 37 andis secured at the other end to a link 115 which is in turn pivoted to the outer end ot` the lever 108.

Preferably, electrically controlled means are providedl for releasing the brake band 98. Thisirnay take the form of a solenoid coil 116 in inductive relation with. a plunger or armature 117 ot' laminated permeable magnetic material secured to the link 115 at the end 118 adjacent the spring 113.

For intermittently decelerating the control shaft 59 and thereby decelerating the rotary motion of the container 23 during centrifugal drying operations in response to any vibration which may occur greater than predetermined amplitude, an independent braking mechanism is preferably provided. This comprises a brake surface 119 inside the brake drum 97 and a brake finger or pad 121 extending upwardly as illustrated in Fig.` ll and adapted toA l engage the inner brake surface 119. Mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1l and 13 is provided for pressing the brake pad 121 against the brake surface 119 for short intervals of time in response to electrical impulses produced by vibration exceeding a predetermined minimum. Prob-A ably, this takes the form of a ratchet mechanism. For the purpose, the brake pad 121 is carried at the end of a pivotally mounted arm 122 linked by potential energy l storing means such as a tension spring 123 to a` rotatably mounted plate 12.4 having al,"L ratchet sector 12 5. For

126 through a link 129: A conventional-,return `spring 131" Vis preferably connected to the ratchet `member 1265n A rotatable `plate' :124 is providedwithv anhupwarvdly bentear 132--adapted=to engage a shoulder 1-33jon`-th e brake arrn 122 for limiting the relative motion produced'by the spring 123-between the -brake arm, 122jand-the rotatable plate'l 124.` The. rotatable tplate-y 124-is also provided with 'a downwardly-bent.ear-'134adapted to engage an adjustable screwV stop 135 threadedr'into a post,v 1:3'6f'securedin a supporting base plate1-37, whichjis, in turn,n secured4 tothe main-baseYplate'A37:

Suitable 'means-are provided for givinga slow release action tothe brake pad-121;.` Suchislow release laction may beaccomplished byy what amounts to arotary clash pot comprising a Well138'containing a highly viscousliquid such yas` a tacky oil' orpitchffor example anda Viixedly mounted drum14f1 ldripping into the tacky oil-139=j For fixing thedrum -1411 against rotation, it may be formed integrally with a disc 142 secured to'a post 143 which extendsdownwardlythrough Athe parts 138,4122 and-124 to the base 137'to which it is secured: "['o preventleakage of the fluid 139-through the opening in thevbottom` 14 4-of= the-'wel-l-138; atube 140 extending upwardlyfrom the bottom 144 yand surrounding the-postl 1431 may be pro; vided` if' fdesired. i

Ratchetteeth-145 are providedaroundjthe periphery of the bottom 144 of the well 1'38`in order to form alratc'het Wheel., Furthermore, a click paw-1146 Ais pivotally secured to-an ear147 of theV rotatable plate 124 and a biasing spring. 148 isv provided for both holding the click-pawl 146-in eng-agementwith the ratchet teeth v145 andi tending to restore or return the plate 124 to its position With-the ear-134 resting against theK stop 135. Thisy action,V however, is opposed -by-the friction of the -uid 137rbetween the downwardly extending drum 1'41 and the side wall of the well 138. i'

For energizing the solenoid 127;k and operating the ratchet 126, Whenever vibration exceeds a predetermined value, a vibration responsive switch 149 is provided which is mounted in one corner of the casing 2 1` as -illust`1- atec'l-` in Fig. 5.`

M y invention is not limited to aV particular type oi vibration-responsive switch. Satisfactory results be obtainedfor example, by employinga pen/dulargtypeofV switch such as illustrated in Fig. 10.*r Such a Switchpoinprises an insulating block secured to uthe sidewallof the tub at a suitable'cornerof the casingn 217an'dA carrying two conducting members 152 andy-153.'44u conducting member 153 has a horizontally extending side porton containing'a circular opening 154-andfthe conducting member 152 has a wire 155 suspended Vtherefrom in such a manner as to be free to swing inv all directions Y and adjustably carrying a bob 156 composed of conf ducting material. The bob 156 hangs in the opening 154.

The bob 156 may be frusto-conical in shape with the small end upward so that the higher the bob 156i is mounted on the rod 155, the closer theroute'r `surfaces thereof will be to the edges of the opening-154, and the smaller the amount of vibration required to bring the bob 156 and the contact member 153 into the electrical contact so as to close an electrical circuit between the members 152 and 153. In order to avoid having the voltage of the normal central station supply, namely 115 volts, between the bob -156 and the contact member 153, v'I prefer to utilize alow-voltage circuit for operating the solenoid 127. For example, a transformer 157 may be provided having Aa primary winding connected to the conventional 11S-volt circuit and secondarywinding supply-V ing the contact ymembers 152 and 153` in seriesI withv the solenoid127. The transformer 157 is a suitable stepdown transformer such as a bell-ringing transformer, for

8, thepumpv158 is preferably v of the vane type so asto". draw"l relativlylittle `power from the motor/24, and has.. a pair "of varies1159drawir`1g` water from an inletopening` 161 and discharging it through a passageway 162. The i inlet 161 isvconnectedy through a length of hose ortubin'gV 163'to anhopening in the tub bottom 28. The opening i's'' not visible in' Fig;` l, since itis assumed to Vbe in frontof the plane along which thefsecrtional view of sFig. 1 is, l

taken.

A `two-Way valve 164` is providedv in the discharge passageway .162 for connecting `the pump discharge 162' eitherto a drain hose 165er to a recirculatingdischarge'v head-166. The` Vtwo-way valve 164. comprises valve discs"Y 167 and 16S-adapted tocobperate with inclinedvalve" seatsv 169i and '171, respectively. VThe valve ,discs 167vr and 168 are carried by a lever 172` secured to a rotatable shaft 173extending through the pump casing. The recirculating discharge head '166 has twin outlets to which lengths ofy hose 174.- and 175 are connected, which are in turn connected atl their upper ends Vt recirculating dis;l

chargespouts 36 as illustrated in 'Figs'. 1 and 5.

For enabling the Ytwo-wayvalve- 164 to be electrically operated, arsolenoid` y176 isf provided having an armature or`plunger 1717l resilientlybiased by a spring 178'andl connected through-a yielding linkage 179V to a `crank181- keyed or pinned to the control shaft 173 of the v'alve`164'. The yielding connection 179y comprises a connecting rod 182, a crankpin 183 having an opening receiving thev` connecting rod` 182, a spring 184 surrounding the rod 182, anda collar 185. The crank pin-183 is slidable along' the rodi-182 and the 0spring 134 tits betweeri the crankl 183' andV the krcollar 185.

The linkage isl soconnected `that the spring 1-78 holds the valve `disc167 ,upward against the-valve seat `169 normally so that -thedrain through the opening '16S-Tis opened-'except lwhen the solenoid coil 176 is "energized,1` whereupon the valve disc v162g) is helda'gainst the flovtei` seat 171 so asrk ltofcause the recirculation ofv'vater. ln order to proportion the rate`of"flo w'of water re-` circulated though lthe nozzles 36V into the clothes coritainer23 to vthe ldischarge through the drain holes `47, 49, 51 etc., means are provided for controlling the supply of water -to the nozzles 36 `or the rateof'flowof wte The arrangement is such that'if a fullstrea'm ofwa'te'r is not issuing from the recirculating nozzles36, additional water willbe supplied Vthroughth'e supply noz'zle`35.` Preferably, a oat switchfdesignated generally by theI reference numeral 201, i`1i`Figs`.'5 "and 12 is provided in the lower'poirtion o f the t'11b53 0 above the bottom 428.i

The oat switch 201 may comprise a float "202 composed of a light material such as cork'o'r the like securedto ian arm 203 in the Aform of aV Athin rod 203 protruding through an openingir the side wall of `theftub 'for oper` ating a micro-switch 204'.w The micro-switch 204 is supported in one corner of the ,casingl 21'by a suitableV bracket 205,'and is provided with' an'operating arm 206 adapted l to beenga'ged by the arm 2030i the oat 202. For sealing the v vall 20 wh'ere'the rod 203 extends 'throughit,' a

As willbe'explained nr'e'iin detailgl'iereinafter, the

microeswitch 204`is`fco'nnected iii series vv'ithav erating sc l'enoidvfo'i' ciifolliligsupfily'bf eitherlit wa'sljil water or warm rinse watertliough'the suppl A' 'l Thewater supply spout y'.35'x`1iaybe co g source of hot or warm tap waterthrou'g'h a' line such as a flexible hose line 209, shown in Figs. and7. An 'lectrically operated valve unit 211 is provided having a single outlet 212 connected to the supply-water-hose-line 209, and having two separate inlets 213 and 214, including separate solenoid valves 215 and 216 (shown encased) for controlling the supply water through the lines 213 and 214. It is to be understood that suitable thermostatic mixing devices, known to those skilled in the art, may be provided for causing hot and cold tap water to be mixed in the proper proportions to supply hot washing water of the temperature of approximately 150, for example, to

the input line 213 and similarly a suitable mixing arrangement may be provided for supplying somewhat cooler, hut slightly warm rinse water at a temperature of approximately 100, for example, to the input line 214.

The ribs 42 are preferably L-shaped, each comprising a inclined leg portion 217 and a substantially horizontal, but slightly sloping scoop foot portion 218, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the leg portion 217 lies along the nearly upright, but very slightly inclined side surface of the container 23 and the scoop foot portion 218 lies radially along the inner surface `of the bottom of the container 23. The foot 218 preferably has a sloping approach surface 219 similar to the face of a mashie The front surface 219 of the foot portion 218 lies in the same continuous plane as the front surface 221 of the leg portion 218. Sections taken through the rib 42 such as a section A-A represented in Fig. 3-A are substantially triangular. In order to give action similar to that of a wash board, grooves 222 and 223 are preferably formed in the leg portion near the inner edge 224 and parallel thereto in order to form the edge 224 into a bead similar to the ribs on a washboard.

The front surface 221 of the rib 42 is preferably inclined at an angle to the geometric axis 43 of the container 23. It will be understood, that my invention is not limited to use of ribs of the precise form illustrated or to a specific angle of inclination of mounting. However, I have found the arrangements specifically disclosed to give satisfactory operation with an inclination angle My invention is not limited to a specific type of apparatus for the timer 26. Preferably, however, for the sake of precision in the operation of the timer and precision in the iixing of the intervals, since the time intervals involved are relatively short, I employ a timer of the multiple-cam type, including a plurality of separate cams 225, each actuating the protruding operating pin or button of one of the group of conventional micro-switches, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231 and 232. lThe microswitches 226 to 232, inclusive, are of the type well known to those skilled in the art having protruding pins (not shown) which are moved in when the appropriate one of the cams 25 reaches the angular position in which the radius of the cam is sufficient to depress the micro-switch operating pin. Such a timer includes a constant speed driving motor such as a synchronous motor 233, not visible in Fig. l, having a drive shaft 235 carrying the cams 225 and also extending upwardly to the manual starting knob 27. The latter is secured to the upper end of the cam shaft 235 for permitting manual starting and also permitting manual advancement of the cam to a more advanced position if desired.

The electric circuit arrangement of the electric timer 26 and the electrical apparatus controlled thereby is represented schematically in Fig. 14. The contacts of the micro-switches 226 and 232, inclusive, are indicated desired succession, the cams 'Y thus has not been specifically slide cups 239 are provided under each schematically in Fig. 14 by corresponding reference nu merals-primed. The driving motor of the timer 26 is represented in Fig. 14 by'a circle 233. Y

As indicated in Fig. 14, a source of electrical current from a power supply system is utilized having conductors 236 and 237, the latter of which is designated as a return conductor as a matter of convenience in designatl pressed piston 254, and a How restrictor 255.

ing the various branch circuits of the apparatus. ljuring" contacts 230', the hot water` supply valve solenoid 21.5

and Sylphon switch 204 to the return conductor 237; from the conductor 236 through the timer contacts 224', the warm water supply valve solenoid 216, the Sylphon switchl contact 204, back to the return conductor 237; from the conductor236 through the timer contacts 228 and the washer brake releasing solenoid 116, back to the 'return conductor 237; also from the conductor 236 through the timer contact 227 and the washer brake releasing solenoid 116, to the return conductor 237; and from the contl ductor 236 through the timer contacts 226', and the washing machine driving motor 24, back to the return conductor 237. A branch circuit is also formed paralleling that of the motor 24- including the vibration damper brake 0perating solenoid 127. The latter branch circuit exists however only when the switch 149 is closed. Preferably, a lamp 23,8 is provided which may be connected in parallel with the timer motor 233 as to be illuminated whenever the timer 26 is turned on.

The circuit diagram if Fig. 14 is merely schematic and does not serve to indicate the order in which the various timer contacts 226 and 232 inclusive are closed or make Contact. In order that the contacts will be closed in the` 225 shown in Fig. 1 are ar` ranged in different angular positions on the shaft 235 to produce circuit closing in the successive order .indicated in'Fig. 6, and are appropriately shaped to produce clos` ing of contacts for the time duration indicated in Fig. 6. Such cam shaping is known to those skilled in the art and illustrated. The significance of Fig. 6 will be explained more in detail hereinafter in connection with explanation of the manner of operation of the apparatus.

As already explained, the casing 21 is provided with four feet 39, one in each` of the four corners of the base 37. As shown in Fig. l, the feet 39 serve also to fasten the legs 57 of the pedestal 22 to the base 37. Preferably order to guard against possible transmission of vibration from the casing 21 to the licor 3S and to prevent crawling of the washing machine in the event of momentary excessive vibration. Als'previously mentioned also one. of the feet 39 stabilizer 41. the feet rest in the slide cups 239, however, the foot 39' H is identical with the other feet 39. The detailed con-` struction is shown inthe enlarged sectional View of Fig. 8,; showing also the hydraulic stabilizer 41.

Preferably the slide cups 239 are joined by web frameg work or a plate 241 to insure that the four cups 239 wilh be spaced accurately at the four corners of a square so. as to coincide with the the plate 37. Preferably, the top surface 242 of tl'rer cpp 239 is concave, e. g. in the shape of a portion of aV hollow sphere so that the feet 39 or 39 tend to slide back to the bottom of the spherical surface 242. A drop of grease may be placed under each foot in order to insure a minimum of friction or a high degree of side-wise slippageV freedom.

The hydraulic stabilizer shown at 41 comprises` a hol. low screw 249, a cylinder 251, a hollow cap 252,` a lower spring-pressed piston 253, an upper spring- The pistons 253 and 254 are slidable in the cylinder 251 which is lled with a suitable iiuid such as oil. The foot 39' preferably the lower piston 253 is integral of the feet 39 in is mounted in a self-leveler or hydraulic#- With the respect to the manner in which.,

positions of the feet 39 0r 3.9! on A Y with the shank asesora-e 37.VV In vthe specific arrangement illustrated; the-.hollow member 249 is a screw threaded -into .the .pedestal.=leg..57,Y

passes throughv an opening in the base 37, andis pro-y 'vided with a nut 258 for securing the base` 37 and the` The ends of the cylinder 251 arethreaded screw 249.

into the hollow head of the screw 249 andfinto` the cap...

252. Preferably, packing heads or the like 5259 and 2617,.l are provided for packing the pistons 253 and 254 respec-g tively. A compression spring 262 located-within the hollow cap 252 between theV upper end of the cap 252 and the piston 254 is provided for urging the ow offluid from the space in the cylinder` 251 above the How re-` strictor 2.55 through the restrictor 255 into the space Vabove the piston 25,3 for yieldably urging the foot, 39 down--A wardly into contact with cup 239. A weaker compression spring 263 is provided for limiting the downward exten- 1.

sibility of the foot 39.

The flow restrictor 25S comprises a transverser wall.

formed in thecylinder 251 having an orifice 264. Preferably the orice 264has a relatively large diameter por.- tion 265`whieh extends nearly through the transverse wall 255 and only a portion of relatively short length con stitutes the actual flow restricting orifice 264.

To assist in filling' the chambers y266 and 267 with oil/v or other suitable Huid and draining air from the chambers as well as draining excess'uid, bleed holes 268 and'269,

respectively, are provided. Screws or the like 271 are provided for plugging the bleed holes 268 and 269r after the chambers 266 and 267 have been filled solely with the desired quantity of oil or other Huid.

A timer diagram shown in Fig. 6 indicates diagram.

matically .thejshaping of the cams 225 of the timer` 26 by indicating the time periods during which the respectivey micro-switches 226 and 232 are closed. As `indicated diagrammaticallyin Fig. 6 and shown in the circuit dia.V

gram of Fig.' 14, the timer switches 230 and 224 conare also subject to modification by the pendular vibrationresponsive switch 149 in a manner which will be brought'` out more clearly hereinafter. v

The first operation .in using the illustrated apparatus obviouslyis to place the articles to be washedsuchas f clothes, for example, in the container 23 shown vin Fig: 1 and Fig:l 5.' Thefstarting knob 27 is then turned'manually in the starting direction, for example clockwise. A Y very Yslight turn causes the switch Vcontact'232 to closen; which ',energizes the drivingl motor 233 of the timer v26* f.

and from this-[point on the cams 225 of the timer 26 Aaret automatically drivento Icarry out'the timing operations` As indicated by the continuous heavy linel 272 in lthe chartof Fig. 6, theshape of the timer cam controlling. u the switch contactsv 2321is such that the contacts are closed one minute before thetime intended for the main motor 24 to start and remain closed thereafter for a period of twenty-two and one-quarter minutes;

That is,v

the switch contacts 232 remain closed, from the time minus one minute to the time twenty-one and one-quarterv being a total of twenty-two and one-quarter minutes.

Onequarter of .a minute after the switch contacts 232 have closed, the switch contacts-230, controlling the supply of hot water, are closed as a result of the shaping of the cam controlling the switch contacts 230. Thus,..a s

illustrated in the diagram of Fig. 6, the hot water supply is opened at timevminus three-quarters minuten Refer.,- tr,

ring to Fig; 14, provided `thefloat switch 204 Ais, closedf,

the hotvv water supplyyalve solenoidi215 kis energized-1h51 .s

theiclosing Vof the switch 230'-andwater 'begins ,to flow-Y into the container 230 through the `supply nozzle 35.

Qbviourslfthe switch 204` will be closed at thelcommencef,

ment;` ofioperations before any.- water hasrowed finto 'ther-'.1- containerlZS, and drained into the tub.*30l to lift the otzt; and opemthe switch 204.V Thus therwatervsupply. is startedr:

beforethe mainmotor 24 is started;

" O`r1e-quarter` of-a minute later; .namely .attheL-timef, minus ,one-.half minute" as indicated' in the -diagramwofxlA Figtia, thefswitoh 23.1 is closed to actuate rthe drainl operating-.solenoid176andjclose the drain 165. This allows thefhotwashwaterto remainain the` tub .-28 andxtobeff recirculated by the` pump 158 through'lthelrecirculatingf nozzles 36 -as soon as thev motor 24 starts. Soap-.powder .1' or Vsolution Amay lthe'ng-be admittedto the ,tuby 30. AAtl". zero-time in the diagram, the. switch l226 is closed, :enen rgizingftheffmainmotor 24, whichstarts -the pump 158, inca operation; and also rotates 'the pulley` 94A drivingzthe hbl.;l low shaft 58 shown in;Fig.:, 2.,-. Owingzto thefact thatf.: the .brake-.-drum '-97 is gripped fby the. brake bandi-98::in consequence `of/theffforce of the springqllafshownain Fig.,.1 1,1v the centerlorcontrol ,shaft .59 is prevented',from;` rotatingythe inclinedfbearing-carrying, `rotatable'driving membere67is `caused to rotate while the container23 is prevented from-rotati11g,about itsfgeometric axis..43 byx. the1stationarycondition of the 'shaft 59V linkedf'totthe, container- '23 through Vthe slotted member 81 and thepins 82. u This ,produceslfa rotativelyT progressing vertically; reciprocator-y ,motionof therlower surfaces of .the 'conf tainer23 l.which willA be discussed more in detail herein-v afters- At -thislpoint it will bel suicient .to point out that t thisfproducesfthe.washing action upon the articlesplaced .l in the container 23. A-sgindicated byy the extent of the dotted^li`ne V2,73 `in Fig.'6, thehot water supplyrvalve solenoid-:215-controlled by the switch 230 remains ener` gized until-the timeseven-minutes.-\ For the greater portion =ofthisl time, indicated by the dotting of the line 273, thefsupplyv valve is not opened owing to theA fact. thatthefswitch 204v is open as soon as sufcientwater. t has been` supplied to the tub 30 which usually takes placer.. during.,thepreparatory three-quarter minute period from.

the time-:minus three-quarters to zero minutes.'Y

The automatic control of the delivery of water tol the: container. 23through the supply spout 35 is in part dependent on the quantity of clothes in the container 23;

through the spouts 36.

One -quartcr-of a minute before "the end, of the :seven minutegwashingf.period, the drain control :switch 231 opens,causing-.the-drain- 165 to openV and allow water x to commence. tobe withdrawn from the tube 30. ,Right l at theend` of rthe seven minute period, the switch 227 is closed actuating the extractor lsolenoid 1.16 to release the brake.band98 Aas :indicated in Figwll. 1 This, allows the; center shaftfor control-shaftl59 shownin Fig. 2 to rotate, a permitting-,thecontainer-23 also `to frotate, and to come up to j speed gradually for centrifugalV :dryingLpurposesL' Owingtotheainertia Iand the continual` change of oscillation yelocityvofhe container-23,l necessary for carryingr out ,the., rotatively'fprogressingl reciprocatory `motion throughJheinclined-bearing,68,ftherefis a tendency for dynamic.coupling-` between theshafts158 and 59sothat' 'z the shaft` 59 andthe-container 23S-tend to come-"up to a speed,approachingthat` ofthe tubularshaft58.A In pracf tice the speed may attain-f,approximatelyy one-half the speed lof Ythe.,sh aft 58. Thisspeedfrhowever ;is sucient to throw, outthe clutohdogsyfltllfshownfin Fig. 4 so that an additionalwcoupling between the shaft,.58 and 59 is brakin' ,effect-isiapplied to the drum 97 :f2 -Thus' by-utiliz ing -bu `on nglefspeedsmoroi-JZS,fthe.containen23313213 alternatiuelyfbefvibrated or rotated wth-,thesamefnums berfof oscillations-,per minute-.in onezcase, or--revolutions per minute in the other case, depending upon whether the washing or the drying operations are to be produced. Furthermore, no more driving power is required for drying than for washing. i

As indicated in Fig. 6, the extracting or drying operation continues for a period of two minutes during which the switch 227 remains closed. However, at threequarters of one minute beforethe end of this period, namely at the time eight and one-quarter minutes indicated by the diagram, the switch contact 229 has closed causing the Warm supply water solenoid 216 to be energized' and thereby causing warm rinse water to How into the container 23 through the supply nozzle 35. I

One-quarter 'minute later the drain control switch 231 closes to cause the warm rinse water to be retained in the tub 28 and to permit recirculation o f warm rinse waterv through articles in the container23. When the full'stream is obtained from the recirculating nozzles 35, the Sylphon switch 204 cuts off the warm rinse water, as duringI the Washing period. o

At the time nine minutes, the switch 227 opens causing the extractor controlling brake band 98 to be reengaged with the brake drum 97 by the force of the spring 113.

The" container 23 at the time nine minutes resumes its washing action except that a fresh supply of clean warm rinse water is recirculated instead of the hot soapy water utilized during the first period, and consequently the clothes are being rinsed instead of washed although thesame mechanical action is being employed. The rinsing action continues for a period of about three minutes. One-quarter of a minute before the end of this period, however, namely at the time eleven and three-quarters minutes the drain control switch 231 reopens Aallowing the rinse water to be drained away for a period of one-quarter minute.- Whereupon, the extractor switch 227 again closes releasing the brake 98 and` allowing the center shaft 59 as well as the container 23 to be rotated as previously explained at the full speed of the tubular shaft 58 for extracting or centrifugal drying purposes. The invention is, of course, not limited to a predetermined number of extracting and rinsing periods, however, in the specific time diagram illustrated there' is a second extracting period continuing forabout two minutes followed by another rinsing period continuing for about three minutes. As indicated in the diagram at the time thirteen and one-quarter minutes, the warm water supply switch recloses, and, -at the time thirteen and one-half minutes the drain switch 231 recloses for enabling the recirculation of rinse water during the succeeding rinse period.

Atthe time sixteen and one-quarter minutes the drain switch reopens and remains open for the entire remaindcr of the operating cycle of the timer,`assuming that only two rinse periods are to be employed. Then at the time sixteen and one-half minutes the warm water supply switch 229 reopens Ythe extractor switch 227 recloses to commence extracting without rinse water for the purpose of drying the clothes sufficiently for ironing. Preferably, however, after a period of time sufcient for the bulk of the water to be extracted, for example at the time seventeen and one-half minutes, the extractor brake bank is momentarily reengaged with the brake drum 97 as indicated by the openingof the extractor lswitch contacts 227. These contacts remain open-for about eighty seconds before the parallel set of extractor switch contacts 228 is closed for resuming the extraction or `centrifugal drying operation which continues for the remainder of the period of about four and one-half minutes until the time twenty-one minutes. During the eight second interval between the opening of the switch contacts 227 and the closing of the contacts 2.28, the articles in the container are subjected to the washing action ,without water so that the clothes which may be packed agaipyst the outer walls of the con- `However, if the unbalance should tainer 23 are shaken loose` or flufed. Sinceby this time the bulkof the water has been removed, they do not repack during the rerneainder of the extracting op eration produced by the closing of the switch contacts 228.

At the time twenty-one and one-quarter minutes the switch contacts 232 reopende-energizing the timer motor 233 and the cycle comes to a close. The main mo'- tor `24 having been de-energized at the time twenty-,one minutes by the opening of the main motor switch 226.

Upon removal of the `articles from the container 23 and the refilling with other articles to be washed, the cycle just explained may be repeated.

Although a specific operating cycle has been described, my invention is not limited tothis specific cycle; For example, in an alternative cycle which I have found advantageous, there is a utling period atthe end of the drying cycle. The container 23 is operated. withthe washing action for about one-half minute after end of the drying cycle, that is, after the extracting is completed` by spinning.` This is accomplished by setting the extractor switch contacts 228 to open thirty seconds before the main motor switch contacts 226 open. Accordingly washing action is resumed forthirty seconds as indicated by the` dotted portion at the right hand end of the line 227 in Fig. 6. This iluiiing period shakes up the clothes and separates them so that they are not matted into a doughnut and the clothes may therefore be removed readily from the container 23. The hereinbefore described previous fluflng period of eight scconds, `interposed intermediate the extracting period, serves as a preliminary flufling period to minimize packing and the tluting period at the end of the dryingcycle finally shakes down the clothes for ease in`removal from the machine. If the previous flung period is not employed the switch contacts 228 may be omitted and the contacts 227 are set to remain closed until thirty seconds before the contacts 226 open.

During the extracting or centrifugal drying action when the tubular shaft 58 and the control shaft 59 are rotating together to cause rotation at the same speed of the container 23 about the axis of the shafts 58 and 59, there may be a possibility of unbalance of the load held in the container 23 which would tend to cause vibration. Such an unbalance might occur, forexample, in case a single bulky article wereplaced` in the container 23 so that notwithstanding the redistribution ordinarily produced during the washing action, a redistribution of the load in the basket 23 to balance the load could not occur in this case.

In this'case, while the article or articles held in the basket or container 23 are still quite wet the unbalance may be relatively large. Consequently, the pendulum 153 of the vibration-responsive switch 149 would be caused to bob against the guard 156 and establish a circuit through lines 157, 151, bracket 152, rod and solenoid 127. This will energize the solenoid 127 shown in Fig. l1 drawing in the ratchet 126 and causing the plate 124 to be notched up on the ratchet wheel 145. This action will tension the spring 123 and cause the brake pad 121 to engage the inner surface 119 of the brake drum 97. This will give a temporary drag to the rotation of the shaft S9 causing the centrifugal clutch dogs 101 to slip andprevent excessive vibration of the load in the container 23 by reducing the rotation speed. As` the container continues to rotate at the reduced speed, water will continue to be expelled therefrom centrifugally, and the unbalance will be reduced.

continue, the pendulum 153 willcontinue to vibrate, causing additional contacts, each `time energizing the solenoid 127. Each time suchvibration takes place` the` circuitfthrough 153- 156 willbe closed once for each vibrating movementir; one direction, the solenoid 127 willbeenergizeg asesgsve 1 ratchet wheel 145, gradually gives however rotating to 5 the-left--against the friction of the tacky'uid V139 onvthe wall' 138 sothat gradually the brake pad 121 isreleased again. Theltirne duration of application oflthe brake pad 121lobviously dependsv upon the severity-v of the vibration whichl determines the extentto whi'chthe plate k10 124 has been turned. By the time the-br'akerpad 121' has4 beenreleased,sufiicientl water has'VV been expelled" from the load in the container'23to overcomethe exces siveunbalance and the'container'Za may! then again bek brought' uplto full 'speedlwhichftakes place automatical- 15 ly and continues to thefend ofthe cycle determined'by the-'diagram of Fig. 6. A

I t willibe observed that during-the washing action'whe'n the rcontrol'shaft '59'is held stationary by the brake band* 93 acting on' the brake drumv 97, the driving member 67 20 rotates the `tilted bearing 68'in which the-supportin'ghb: 45 for the' container-23is journaled. Consequently; ,thev` geometric-axis 43 of the container 23 is continuously tilted, being tiltedin a diiferent direction progressively moving around the'axis of the shaft 59. Fr'exarfnple', a pointfin-the 'geometric axis 43 ofvthe container 23 above?A theY centerv of mass thereof such as th"^oil{"hole 84, `forexanple, rotates around'the aXsoYtheWShat' 59 whereas ythe container 23 itself is prevented fr orri'rotating' aboutl its' geometric axis 43 by"the'reash`offth`e engagement of the slot 81 with ythe'pins 82 'offthestal"1v tionary shaft 59. In consequ'ence of this"'factio'r'rgY any* givenY point in thelower'surface of the' container'23f'is being caused to rise and fall 'orto reciprocate ve'rtlcally' at a. rate which .inlthe e'mbodimentillustrated'corresponds to the rate of revolution'of thehollov/ shaft58. f *Thus* hereA any particular point I in the bottom surfac'e ofi the if container 23 rises and falls asmany times perlminutef as the tubularshaft 58 rotates per minute. 1' Differentportions of the 'mass of water and articles inthe containe'rl l 23 are reciprocatedv in a vertical direction with progresf sivelydite'rent phasearound the center.

My i'nventionris Vobviouslyrnot limited .to 'particular 5 dimensions,but I'have' found that an' anglefoftilt of`41/z for the axis of relativeyrotation of thebearing v63`whic gives a maximumy `movement vof^9 4servesgfto producesatisfactory'washing'action withfa'container 23 havin'g'an: i' 1l inchfradius. With ,-the shaftSSjsuch an` arrangement revolvingat a speed'` from-T500 to i600' R. iP. M. for ex- 7,. ample, the vertical component .of motion ofthe bottom. 'J

surface of the container 23 continuouslyvaries in velc'- ity, rwith.accelerations -Yordecelerations reaching peak-1f values exceeding the5aceleration of` gravity. Consequently, during a portion of `each oscillation each portion 1 3 of the Vbottom surfaceof the container 23 nearitsf peff riphery dropsmore rapidlythan `the articlessupported@Y by such portion ofthe container 23.

Air pockets are thereby `fo rme\dwithinrthe clothesnor other articles.- and above. the bottor'nsurface of the coni-g tainer 23. .As any portion ofthecontainer 2 3l reverses itsjj downward acceleration, such portion o fthebottom sur-j i face of the container'23drivesairrand Water rthroughjthe clothes and spanksthe` bottom surtacejpf the mass ofl articles in the container'ZS; thjiscausing/jets and geysers l g liquid such as dry m of soap Water 4or other. c lea cleaners solvent to'be'force'd t ough ther nass, o f article snin thecortainer'23 andhcailsiiig rt to be loosened. ,The4

in uyertical effect `1 vibrat p y motion fof .l

ery of the'cfontainerg' in Ithe"illustrative example" given. i 75 The frequency fof-vibration is very high, atleast `tl1`rfej"g hundred oscillations per minute, and preferably over'SOOf oscillations per minute, for example,y 600 oscillations'pe'r'f" minute. In the illustrative case the outer` periphery `of the`bottom wall of the vcontainer is caused to drop one"v and three-quartersinches'in one-twentieth of a second.

The clothes zand water `at the outer periphery of the' container 23 however; could fall a maximum of less than i' one-half inch during this time if falling freely from re'st so as to be acted upon by the full force of gravity.

Such rapidityof jpulsation' of the mass of articles'to` be washed and ythe t a3 f in 'which they are manipula'ted'-jI enables adequate "cleansing to be obtained in the vvery` short washiri'gf period' vmentioned and accordingly 'shortens' the complete washinggrinsing andf 'drying' cycle.

Owing rto `the lcontrol of liquid' supply.; relatively little i" water or other cleansingliquii is allowed tof'rernain in" the container 23 -'that is 'to'saygthe ow'offwater into"Y the containerfthrouglr the recirculatingnozzles"35, about ten gallons perminutein the specific case described for` illustration, is proportioned to v the'amount of waterdrairby ing out through'the rows ofholes 47 to 53 inclusive.l For example, withiald of s ix poundsdry'weight of clothes in the ,contai/ rier' 2 3y approximately six gallons :of waterv are retained lwithin thei'sys'temf Only. enough water'is retained inithecontainer 23for the elo'thesjto be slippery and slide i around `freely Eand rnix withy water rand air, vbut QFor 'exft' ample", `in ahor-inal washingloadtheremaybefve inches of clothes andjfwaterin vthe container 23j vbutif the con-v` tainer should gfbe :"stppedf' suddenly, `before:anyfwater" hadf" run out an'd'befrefany'imore hadru'n'in'the'rewould be' only one and one-halfi'or two' inches* of wat'ein' the4 container.

The componenfoff vertical refcipr'catofy moti'n'ofa given portion of the' containerfZSfhasa dileent:time` phas'e'froi'fth reciprocatoryfmotion fof`any` other poril" Thus theftime phase "fof 'trhere` "Y instant at whielif any 'paticla'rl point around the periphery of4 the' container-reaches itsv highest point or its'flow'e'stfpo'int" is` progressively latexaround the center of thee ntainfe'r 23.? Circmferentially progressive inclina'tidn is 'impartedto the? bottom 'wall of the container 23. Thisaction'mayalso'beldesciibed as rotatively progressing reciprcatorymotidn'or vertical reciprocatory motionof different-portions'of the' container which vvaries progressively inphase'arol'lnd'the'A center of the container." It m'ayalso be' called rotatively; progressing rockingT movement'or see-saw motion, since at any instant points onlone-side of' the' container 23` are moving in the opposite vertical direction f to points on the opposite side'of the container. As' afresult of" thisv motion of thefcontainer`V a substantially vertical' jigging faction is impartedfto clothes Vand'water disposedvrv along the bottom wallfoi the container 23 and this jigging tion of the containe ciprocation or the'tirn actionprgresses circumferentiallyf But`forthe ribs 42;"the slippery'mass of -clothes' in the container 23would tend to bey slued around at the outerl lower -edge 48ofthecontainer 23. Theribs retard this motion, but doiriot entirely prevent it. v The ribs 42 each execute anelliptical movement. With each `oscillation y"of, a rib the vfootV portion V218 comes down underthe wet mass of clothes like a mashie liftinga golfball With the-shaft 5,8V irotatin'g"at Aa velocity of approximately 600 R. representing a, vertical oscillation each tenthkofv a second; Ythe 'articles in the container`23 may be causedtotravel'around oncejin twenty seconds, thus producinga shifting action for distributing'the contents of thercontainer 23.- `Owing to the fact that the face 219 of thejcoritain'er centen t t 17 t t r periphery of the container 23 tend to rise, and then move toward the center and work down again near the center of the container 23, whereupon they slide outward again along the lower surface thereof. This roll-over motion may take place, for example, once in six or eight seconds. Thus there are three components of force acting and of motion of the articles within the container 23. @ne component is the vertical reciprocatory component or the oscillatory component which takes place each onetenth of one second in case of shaft rotation of 600 R. P. M.; the second component which is a slower action than the vertical component of motion is the roll-over component which may take place once in six to eight seconds; and the third component, which is still slower is the circum. ferential component of motion around the container which may take place in twenty seconds. These components of motion take place at sufficient speed to cause a milling action of the mass of articles in the container 23, and a boiling action in the water and clothes disposed in the container. The action of the container is such that an eight-pound load of clothes placed in one side of the container will be distributed within two minutes to almost perfect balance.

The rate of the vertical reciprocatory or oscillatory component is obviously determined by the rotative speed of the tubular shaft 58. However, the rate of velocity of the roll-over component of motion and the circumferential component of motion depend upon the arrangement of the rib 42, such as the amount of scooping action and the angle at which the inclined leg 217 of the rib 42 is mounted in the container 23. I have found that these components of motion, especially the roll-over component of motion should be fast enough to prevent the clothes from ballooning or becoming excessively lled with air, and also slow enough so as not to cause the clothes to twist or tangle. Adequate water supply is also requisite to prevent twisting or tangling of the clothes in the container 23. The action of the articles in the container 23 during washing may be observed by reason of the fact that the cover 34 is transparent and the interior of the container 23 is illuminated by the lamp 238 which is mounted outside a transparent guard or shield 274.

The container 23 is mounted just high enough to provide clearance above the tub well 31 over the motor 24, so that the center of gravity of the entire machine is kept relatively low.

Very little water is required for washing since the clothes are not immersed and merely a small quantity of water in the tub 30 in addition to that absorbed by the clothes is sucient to provide water for continuous recirculation. Consequently the machine, is highly economical of water, especially important when special sources of soft water are employed, and the machine is also economical of fuel for heating water and economical of soap.

The reciprocatory motion of the container 23 produces upward and downward forces, simultaneously of the same magnitude, by reason of the fact that one side of the container is being moved upward, while the other side is being moved downward, and the acceleration and the velocity of upward motion are always equal to the acceleration and velocity lof the downward motion. For this reason there is relatively little tendency for a vertical component of vibration to be transmitted to the floor 38. This freedom from vibration transmission is aided, also, by the fact that the legs 57 for the pedestal 22 are very slightly resilient with respect to up and down motion, but relatively stiif with respect to bending motion of the pedestal 22, the base plate 37 being relatively massive. The freedom from vertical component of vibration effects is further aided by reason of the fact that the casing 21 stands very firmly upon the floor or ground 38 regardless of the smoothness of the floor 38 by reason 18 of the fact that the fourth foot 39 is mounted in the hydraulic stabilizer 41.

Referring to Fig. 8, the spring 262 tends to expel oil from above the flow restrictor 255 through the orifice 264 into the space below the restrictor 255, thus moving the foot 39 downward to malte firm engagement with the surface 242 of the cup 239.

In the event that the foot 39 should have been placed upon a high spot in the floor 38, the additional weight upon this foo-t will force fluid back upward through the restrictor 2.55 and compress the spring 262 slightly. As far as any gradual movements are concerned, the spring 2.62 allows the foot 39 to be brought exactly in the required position, and the spring 262 serves; to yieldV in case the apparatus should be moved to a different position on the floor in which a different relative position of the foot 39 would be required. However, the orifice 264 in the restrictor 255 is so small, e. g. 0.010 inch in diameter, as to prevent rapid movement of the foot 39', so that any vibratory eifects cannot cause any relative motion of the foot 39' with respect to the hollow screw 249, and consequently a very rm engagement with the lloor is produced.

This rm engagement with the oor is helpful also during the extraction or centrifugal drying action when there might be a tendency for sidewise vibration in case of unbalance of articles within the container 23. There may then be a tendency for the casing 21 to slide back and forth sidewise at the rate of vibration corresponding to rotation speed 60() R. P. M. of the tubular shaft 53.

However, the anti-friction lower surface of the foot 39 or 39 resting upon the anti-friction surface` 242 inthe slide cup 239 permits this sidewise motion to take place without causing any movement of the slide cups 239 upon the lloor 3S. This movement will be found to very minute and so long as no opposing friction is presented to it, the feet 39 or 39' may be allowed to vibrate sidewise very slightly without causing any crawling or walking action. lf the feet rested directly upon the oor 38 so as to introduce friction effects which might be unequal on different feet, there might be a tendency for the casing 2l to crawl or move about on the floor 38.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. l and 8, there is a plate or web 241 for locating four slide cups 239 resting directly upon the lloor 38, and the entire washing machine in its casing 21 is adapted to be supported by the feet 39 and 39. In the event of an unbalanced overload causing any vibration during extraction, slight vibration of the casing 21 may be perceptible to the touch as the feet 39 slide sidewise in the cups 239. However, the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement as illustrated in Figs. l and 8 and heretofore described. In practice, I prefer to mount the carriage for the tub 30 as well as the tub 30 and the associated apparatus `within a cabinet or separate outer casing 301, e. g., as illustrated in Fig. 15. The casing 301 is provided with a lower plate 302 in the form of a hollow square corresponding to the web 241 shown in Fig. l, and carrying the four slide cups 239 within the casing 301. Instead of a solid base plate 37 for the washing machine carriage as shown in Fig. l, in the arrangement of Fig. 15, preferably a base plate 303 is provided having the center portion 304 cut away. The carriage for the tub 30 and the other operating mechanism comprises the base plate 303, the legs 57, the feet 39 and 39 secured thereto so as to rest upon the slide cups 239, and suitable means such as angle iron brackets 305 or the like provided for supporting the tub 30 upon the base plate 303. t

In order to cause the casing 301 to rest firmly upon the floor 33, regardless of the flatness of the floor 38, adjustable feet are preferably provided for the casing Stili comprising elongated nuts 231 threaded upon bolts or screws 282 extending through the web or plate member 302 forming the base of the case 301.

19 The tub 30, as in the` arrangement in Fig. l, is substantially circular whereas the casing 301 is rectangular.

The casing 301 is sufficiently larger than the tub 30 to provide a clearance 306 between them. In this manner sidewise freedom of motion is allowed the feet 39' and 39" together with the tub 30 and the carriage therefore without contacting or transmitting vibration to the casing 301, so that the presence or absence of unbalance which may cause some slight sidewise vibration or sway of the internal apparatus is not perceptible even by touching the outer casing 301.

In the arrangement of there is a splash guard 275, formed integrally with the cabinet top 276. The splash guardV 274 is to divert into the tub any liquid which may splash from the container 23. Preferably, however, a flexible seal 307 is provided between the splash guard 274l and the top 308 of the tub 30. The seal 307 comprises an endless band of llexible elastic material such as sheet rubber of theV weight and characteristics employed in automobile inner tubes, for example, having a normal unstretched` circumference somewhat less than the circumference of the tub 30. The upper rim of the tub 30 is preferably double-flared as shown so as to provide a groove 309 and a top edge 311 rounded for protecting the rubber band 307. The band 307 is stretched suiciently to lit over the edge 311, and a ring or cable 312 is fastened around the edge 308 in the groove 309 to secure the seal or band 307.

The splash guard 275 in the embodiment'of Fig. 15 maybe composed of metal formed integrally with the top 276 of the casing 301. In this case, a window 277 is provided for admitting light from the lamp 233 to the interior of the article container 23. The window 277 may be covered with a suitable translucent or transparent material vsuch as plastic, for example, Lucite.

In order to provide readily visible indications of the point in the cycle. of operations which the apparatus has reached, an illuminated dial 278 may be secured to the rotatable shaft 235y of the clockwork mechanism and switch-operating cams 225. The dial 278 is in the form of a. flat truncated cone, having a plurality of slits 279 cut in the conical surface. The slits are either open or lled with translucent material such as a suitable plastic, and are positioned to indicate the time divisions corresponding to the ends of v-arious time periods in the schedule represented in Fig. 6. A lighttransmitting opening is provided in the portion of the casing top 276 under the dial 278 in order to admit light to the slits 279. A suitable index may be marked upon the top surface of casing top 276 at the edge ofthe dial 278, or if desired, a slit may also be cut in the top 276 to form an illuminated index.

In` connection with Figs. l and ll I have described an arrangement which I have found satisfactory for preventing excessive imbalance of the articles which may be placed in thel container 23 from causing vibration when the container is rotated for extraction or drying of the articles in the container 23. However, my invention is not limited to the specic arrangement already described. Preferably, asv illustrated in Fig. l5, for example, I pro vide a simple braking mechanism with relatively movable parts adapted to contact in response to vibration. One part is secured to a. stationary element, such as the casing 301, and the other part rotates with the shaft 59 which is the control shaft of the washing apparatus, so that immediate braking takes place in the event that the mechanism carried by the carriage mounted on the base plate 303 is caused to sway or vibrate with sidewise movement.

The vibration-preventing braking mechanism for the apparatus of Fig. 15 comprises a pair of concentric brake drums with a small clearance between confronting surfaces. In the specific arrangement illustrated, the rotatable brake surface is the inner-cylindrical surface 119 of the brake drum 97 and the stationary brake surface ison the outside of a xed drum 314. The station-ary drum 314 is secured by suitable means such as strips 315 to the lower plate 302 of the casing 301. Preferably, a brake band 316 is riveted, cemented or otherwise secured to one of the confronting brake surfaces, for cxample, to the drum 314. A relatively small clearance 317 of the order /l of an inch, for example, is provided between the louter surface of the brake band 316 and the inner surface 119 of the brake drum 97, so that, although the drums 314 and 97 are normally concentric, a slight sidewise motion or sliding of the inner apparatus carried by the base plate 303, with movement of the feet 39 in the slide cups 239, results in the brake surface 119 coming into contact momentarily with the brake band 316. As pointed out previously, during the extraction or centrifugal drying operation of the apparatus, the control shaft rotates at the speed of the tubular shaft 58, causing the container 23 to rotate about the axis of the shafts, 58 and 59 at the speed thereof, which may be of the order of 600 R. P. M. for example. lf unbalance of the articles placed in the container 23 causes sidewise motion of the apparatus carried by the base plate 203, the momentary friction between the brake band 316 and the inner surface 119 of the brake drum 97 secured to the shaft 59 causes the shaft 59 to slow down thus reducing the speed of rotation of the container 23. Furthermore a temporary reduction in speed of rotation of the container 23 provides additional time for water to drain out while the rotation speed of the container is low enough to avoid objectionable vibration after sidewise motion caused by unbalance has diminished with reduced speed the brake surfaces no longer rub and the container re sumes full speed. By this time suicient water may havel drained Ifrom the container 23 so that no undesirable imbalance will remain.

The vibration overcoming braking arrangement of Fig. 15 is simple and rugged in construction, durable, with no parts to require adjustment and no moving p'arts other than the brake drum 97 itself which is already in use in connection with the washer controlling brake band 98. Since there are no other moving parts,y the operation is instantaneous upon a predetermined degree of vibration having taken place. The operation is also automatic in the sense that before the. sidewise motion of the apparatus mounted upon the base plate 203 can increase to such value as to be objectionable on account of approaching the outer casing 301, contact is made between the inner brake surface 119 and the brake band 316. This contact slows up the action and allows time for some additional drainage of water to take place as already described.

It has already been pointed out that the imperceptible` sidewise vibration or motion of the base 303 is provided for by freedom of motion of the feetV 309 in the slide cups 239, and therefore such sidewise motion has no objectionable elfects. It is only when the unbalance is so great as to cause such a great motion of the casing as to be in danger of moving the feet beyond the boundaries of the slide cups 239, or to bring the inner apparatus into contact with the outer casing 301 that there is any necessity for operation of the vibration-preventing braking mechanism including the brake surfaces 316 and 119.

Thus the same causes which might produce excessive movement of the feet 39 in the slide cups 239 or excessive movement of the tub with respect to the clearance space 306 within the casing 301 also bring about closing at some point of the clearance space 317 between the brakev surface 119 and the brake hand 316 so as to overcome the causes for sidewise motion.

It will be observed that in the arrangementv of Fig. l5 the hydraulically stabilizedfoot 39 employingv the hydraulic stabilizer 41 is one of the four feet mounted on thebase plate 303 of the interior apparatus; and the outer casing is provided with manually adjustable feet .281;y

However the invention Vis not limited thereto, and if desired the automatic foot adjustment may be provided on the outer casing 331 as illustrated in Fig. 16 for example. 1n that case there are three manually adjustable feet 283 and an automatically adjustable foot 318 controlled by the hydraulic stabiiizer d1.

Fig. 16 represents a machine of the type shown in Fig. l5 with the apparatus mounted within an outer casing 301 but with the movable supports mounted relatively high with respect to the door and bottom of the outer casing 301 so as to be relatively close to the center of gravity of the movable apparatus. In this case, the base 303 for the apparatus is mounted relatively high with various parts of the operating mechanism underslung instead of being mounted above the base 303 as in the arrangements of Figs. 1 and 15.

The motor 24 has an extended shaft 319 protruding downward through an opening 321 in the base plate 303. The base plate 303 is bolted directly to the pedestal 55 above the flange 56 thereof, and supporting feet 322 corresponding to the feet 39 in the apparatus of Figs. 1 and are secured directly to the plate 303 positioned near the corners thereof. As will be explained more in detail hereinafter, one of the feet 322 is placed a slight distance from the corner of the plate 303.

A square bed frame composed of square steel tubing 323, for example, welded together is provided for supporting the lower edges of the cabinet or casing 301. The arrangement of the supporting frame work 323 is shown mechanically in Fig. 17 representing a view of the portion of the apparatus of Fig. 16 below the line ffl-17. In this case the slide cups 239 are threaded into the top surlaces of the frame tubing 323. The sectional view of Fig. 16 is assumed to be a view of the section cut by a broken vertical plane 16-16 passing through the center vertical axis o-f the apparatus and through the axes of the supporting feet 283 and 318 of Fig. 16. The corner portions of the base plate 3133 and of the frame work 323 have been assumed to be broken away. In order to provide space for the upwardly extending hydraulic stabilizer 41, one of the corners 324 of the base plate 303 has been cut out and the slide cup 239 and slidable foot 322 which would normally have been placed in that corner have been moved slightly along the edge as represented in Fig. 17.

The stationary brake drum for the vibration-preventing apparatus may be somewhat shorter than in the arrangement of Fig. 15 and accordingly a brake drum 32S is provided which is rigidly secured to the base frame work 323 of the outer casing 301 by means of a strap 326 riveted or bolted to the lower surfaces of the side strip 323, the ends of the supporting strap 326 being broken away for the sake of clarity in Fig. 16. The function and operation of the stationary brake band 316 and the inner braking surface 119 of the brake drum 97 are,

however, the same as described in connection with Fig. 15.

The tub 30 is in this case supported upon the base plate 303 by means of suitable connections such as angle-plate brackets 327.

As illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, means are provided for supporting the washing machine carriage with limited sidewise freedom of motion or freedom to sway. In the arrangement of Fig. 16 the base plate 303 of the carriage is swayingly supported at an elevated point with respect to the bottom of the outer casing 301 by means of feet 322, slidable in cups 239. My invention is not, however, limited to the specific arrangement illustrated for swayingly supporting the washing machine carriage, or providing sidewise freedom of motion. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 18, loose columns or pins may be provided for giving sidewise freedom of motion. Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view representing one corner of an apparatus such as that shown in Fig. 16. A pin 329 is provided in ornear each corner of the casing in a position corresponding to the position of the slide cup 239 of Fig. 16.

In place of the slidable foot 322, indicated in Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, a button member 331 is provided, which is adapted to receive the upper end of the pin 329. A support in the form of a plate or disc 332 is arranged so that the lower end of the pin 329 may rest thereon. The pin 329 is free to pivot or swing in any direction around its contact with the button 331, and is, likewise free to pivot or swing in any direction around the point of contact with the plate 332. Thus the plate 303 is movable with respect to sidewise motion and substantially rigid with respect to up and down motion. For maintaining the contact of the upper end of the pin 329, at substantially a given point with respect to the plate .303, a socket 333 or the like is provided in the member 331. Similarly, a socket or other means may be provided for maintaining the lower end of the pin 329 at substantially a given point on the support 332.

Preferably, means are provided for resiliently retaining the pin 329 normally in a substantially vertical position. For example, a tube 334 may be mounted in an opening appropriately formed in the upper and lower plates of the base strip 333, and the disc 332 may form the lower end of the tube 334. Suitable resilient material such as soft vulcanized rubber, or air-filled cellular rubber of the type known as sponge rubber 335, may be provided for filling the space between the inner surface of the tube 33d and the pin 329.

While l have described a particular embodiment of my invention and certain apparatus for carrying out my method, it will be obvious to those -skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore desire to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of my invention which is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l In a washing machine, a rotatable driving member, a bearing carried by said member having a rotation axis inclined to the axis of rotation of said member, a conrainer carried by said bearing for holding articles to be washed, neans for rotating said member, a brake shaft engaging said `container at its center so as to rotate therewith, said brake shaft having an axis of rotation concentric with the rotation axis of said member, centrifugal clutch fingers carried by said brake shaft and a clutch member carried by said driving member adapted to be engaged by said clutch lingers upon rotation of said shaft, so constructed and arranged that rotation of saidV driving member with the brake shaft released causes engagement of said clutch nger with said clutch and rotation of said shaft and said container at the speed of said driving member.

2. In a combined washer and extractor, a clothes container having a peripheral wall provided with liquid discharge passages, the container having a central re-entrant bottom portion, a tubular upright supporting shaft, a bearing mounted in the upper end of the supporting shaft with its axis disposed at a small fixed angle to the axis of the supporting shaft, a stub shaft mounted in the bearing and ixed 'to the container re-entrant portion, the arrangement being such that the axis of the stub shaft intersects the axis of the supporting shaft at the central Zone of the container, and means for concurrently driving both said shafts.

3. in a combined washer and extractor, a clothes container having a peripheral wall provided with liquid discharge passages, the container having a central re-entrant bottom portion, a tubular upright supporting shaft, a bearmounted in the upper end of the supporting; shaft with its axis disposed at a small fixed angle to the axis of the supporting shaft, a stub shaft mounted in the bearing and fixed to the container re-entrant portion, the arrangement being such thatthe axis of the stub shaft intersects the axis of the supporting shaft at'the central zone of the container, means for driving the tubular shaft relative to the stub shaft during washing to'impart. rapid up and. doWnT movements. tothe container wall, andN means for rotating thev stub shaft and. container at relatively highsspeed during extraction.

4. That method of washing and extracting in a symmetrical container which comprises moving the container about a point on the central axis thereof to cause all other points on said axis tomove in a circular path with a predetermined angular velocity whereby the container is progressively tilted to effect washing and thereafter rotating said container about said axis with substantially the same yangular velocity to effect extraction.

That method of washing and extracting in a substantially circular container which comprises progressively moving the -container about a point on the central axis of the container so that all other points on said axis move in a circular path with a fixed angular veloctiy and at the same time restraining said container from rotation about said central axis and thereafter rotating said container about said axis at said same fixed angular velocity.

6. A laundry machine comprising a container having a circular bottom and side Walls defining substantially a surface of revolution about an axis normal to the bottom of the container, the central portion of the bottom of said container being re-entrant to provide a hub for distributing the `contents of the container and a drive housing, drive means rotating at a fixed predetermined angular velocity extending into said housing, means to connect said drive means to said container for concurrent rotation therewith and with the said axis of the container maintained at an angle to the axis of rotation of said drive means, a second means to connect said drive means to said container including a bearing with the axis thereof disposed angularly with respect to the axis of the drive means and interse-ctingsaid last named means within said housing whereby a point on the side wall of the container describes a closed curved path and moves around said path in a period of time lcorresponding to the time required for the same point to move about the said container axis when said container and drive means axes are connected for concurrent rotation,

7. That method of washing and extracting in a vertically disposed container having a substantially circular cross section throughout its height which comprises moving said container about a point on the central axis thereof above the bottom of the `container' and below the top thereof so that all other points on said axis move in a circular path with a predetermined angular velocity and at the same time restraining the container against rotation about said axis whereby the container is moved to cause 1a point on the side wall of the container above the horizontal plane through said first named point to travel about an elliptical path in one direction and a point on the wall of the container below said plane to follow an elliptical path in an opposite direction, to effect washing of the container contents and thereafter rotating said container about said axis with said same angular velocity to effect extraction.

3; A washing machine comprising an open top containerhaving a substantially circular cross section throughout its height and a re-entrant bottom portion, a fixed supporting pedestal extending vertically to said re-entrant bottom` portion, a pair of vertically extending concentric shafts mounted fo-r rotation in said pedestal, means to rotate one of said concentric shafts and means within said re-entrant bottom portion connecting the container to said one shaft during said rotation, said last named means including a bearing with the axis thereofC fixed at an angle with respect to said one shaft whereby the central axis ofthe container tilts about a point on the axis thereof within said re-entrant portion to effect washing of the container contents.

9; A washing machine comprising an open top container havinga substantially circular cross section throughoutits height and a re-entrantV bottom portion, a fixed supporting pedestal extending vertically to said re-entrant bottom portion a pair of vertically extending concentric Shaftsv mounted for rotation in said pedestal, means to rotate one-of said concentric shafts and means Within said re-entrant bottom portion connecting the container to said one shaft during said rotation, said last named means including a bearing with the axis thereof fixed at -an angle with respect to said one shaft whereby the central axis of the container tilts about a point on the axis thereof within said re-entrant portion to effect washing of the container contents and means within said re-entrant portion connecting said one shaft to said other shaft for concurrent rotation to effect extraction.

10. In a washing machine, a rotatable driving member, a bearing carried by said member having a rotation axis inclined to the axis of rotation of said member, a container carried by said bearing for holding articles to be washed, means for rotating said member, a brake shaft operably connected to said container at its center so as to rotate therewith, said brake shaft having an axis of rotation concentric with the rotation axis of said member, brake means movable to one position to engage said brake shaft whereby relative rotation between said member and shaft effects washing action in said container and movable to another position to release said brake shaft and effect synchronous rotation of said two shafts.

ll. ln a washing and extracting machine, a vertically disposed rotatabie driving member, a bearing secured to the upper end of said member having a rotation axis` inclined tothe axis of rotation of said member, a container carried by said bearing for holding articles to be washed, means for rotating said member and through said bearing rotating said container for extracting a brake shaft operably connected to said container at its center so as to rotate therewith, said brake shaft having an axis of rotation concentric with the rotation axis of said member, brake means operable to engage said brake shaft whereby relative rotation between said member and shaft effects a washing action.

12. In a washing machine, a rotatable driving member, a bearing secured to said member having a rotation axis inclined to the axis of rotation of said member, a clothes container having agitation means therein carried by said bearing, means for rotating said member and through said bearing rotating said container, a brake shaft secured to said agitation means so as to rotate therewith, said brake shaft having an axis of rotation concentric with the rotation axis of said member, brake means operatively engaging said shaft to restrain rotation thereof and effect a progressive tilting of said agitation means in response to the relative rotation between said brake shaft and said drivingV member.

13. In a combined washer and extractor, a clothes container having a peripheral wall provided with liquid discharge passages, the container having a central re-entrant bottom portion, a tubular upright supporting shaft, a bearing mounted in the upper end of the supporting shaft with its axis disposed at a small fixed angle to the axisof the. supporting shaft, a stub shaft mounted in the bearing and fixed to the container re-entrant portion, the arrangement being such that the axis of the stub shaft intersects the axis of the supporting shaft at the central Zone of the container, and brake means for holding one shaft during the rotation of the other.

lf-i. ln a combined washer and extractor, a clothes containcr having a lperipheral wall provided with liquid discharge passages, the container having a central re-entrant botto-m portion, a tubular upright supporting shaft, means to rotate said shaft, a bearing mounted in the upper end of the supporting shaft with its axis disposed at a small fixed angle to the axis of the supporting shaft, a stub shaft mounted in the bearing and fixed to the container re-entrant portion, means to rotate the stub shaft and containerthe arrangement being such that the axis ofthe stub shaft. intersects the axis of the supporting shaft at 25 the central `zone of the container', and brake means` for holding one shaft during the rotation of the other.

V15. In a combined washer and extractor, a clothes container having a peripheral Wall provided with liquid discharge passages, the container having a central reentrant bottom portion, a tubular upright supporting shaft, a bearing mounted in the upper end of the supporting shaft with its axis disposed at a small fixed angle to the axis of the supporting shaft, a stub shaft mounted in the bearing and fixed to the container re-entrant portion, means for concurrently driving both of said shafts, and brake mean for holding one of said shafts during the rotation of the other'.

16. In a combined washer and extractor, a clothes container having a peripheral wall provided with liquid discharge passages, the container having a central re-entrant bottom portion, a tubular upright supporting shaft, a bearing mounted in the upper end of the supporting shaft with its axis disposed at a small xed angle to the axis of the supporting shaft, a stub shaft mounted in the bearing and fixed to the container re-entrant portion, means for concurrently rotating both of said shafts at the same speed, and brake means for holding one of said shafts while the other is rotating at said speed.

17. In a combined washer `and extractor, a clothes container having a peripheral wall provided with liquid discharge passages, the container having a central reentrant bottom portion, ribs secured to said container having portions thereof terminating adjacent said central reentrant portion and adapted to underlie clothes contained therein, a tubular upright supporting shaft, a bearing mounted in the upper end of the supporting shaft with its axis disposed at a small fixed angle to the axis of the supporting shaft, a stub shaft mounted in the bearing and fixed to the container re-entrant portion, the arrangement being such that the axis of the stub shaft intersects the axis of the supporting shaft at the central Zone of the container, means for rotating said stub shaft and con. tainer for extraction, means to prevent rotation of said stub shaft and container and means to rotate said supporting shaft coincident with the non-rotation of said stub shaft to effect washing.

i8. In a combined washer and extractor, a clothes container having a peripheral wall provided with liquid discharge passages, the container having a central reentrant bottom portion, ribs secured to said container having portions thereof terminating adjacent said central re-entrant portion and adapted to underlie clothes contained therein, a tubular upright supporting shaft, a bearing mounted in the upper end of the supporting shaft with its axis disposed at a small fixed angle to the axis of the supporting shaft, a stub shaft mounted in the bearing and fixed to the container re-entrant portion, `the arrangement being such that the axis of the stub shaft intersects the axis of the supporting shaft at the central zone of the container, means for rotating said stub shaft and container at a predetermined speed for extraction, means to prevent rotation of said stub shaft and container and means to rotate said supporting shaft at said same predetermined speed coincident with the non-rotation of said stub shaft to effect washing.

19. In a combined washer and extractor, a clothes container having a peripheral wall provided with liquid discharge passages and inclined washing ribs, a tubularv upright supporting shaft for said container, a bearing fixed at the upper end of the supporting shaft with its axis disposed at a small fixed angle to the axis of the supporting shaft, a stub shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing and operatively connected to the container, means for driving the tubular shaft relative to the stub shaft to impart thereto circular motion with a predetermined angular velocity to reciprocate portions of the container vertically with accelerations exceeding the acceleration. due to gravity to effect washing, and means to rotate'said .centrically arranged rotatable drive 'Z6 stub shaft on its axis with the same angular" velocity toi effect extraction.

20. A laundry machine comprising a vertically disposed open top container having a circular bottom and side walls defining substantially a surface of revolution about the central axis of the container, vertically disposed drive shaft means rotating with a fixed angular velocity, means to connect said drive shaft means to said container for concurrent rotation whereby a point on the side wall of the container moves around the central axis thereof with said same fixed angular velocity to effect an extracting operation and a second means to connect said container to said drive shaft means with the said container axis intersecting the axis of the drive shaft means at an angle, said second means including a member restraining rotation of the container about said central axis whereby said point on the side wall thereof travels about an elliptical path with said same angular velocity to effect a washing operation.

2l. A laundry machine comprising a container having agitating means therein, drive means including a vertical shaft rotating with a fixed angular velocity, means connecting said agitating means to said drive means including a bearing with the axis thereof angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the drive means and concentricwith respect to the axis of the agitating means whereby a point on the agitating means moves about a closedv curved path with the same angular velocity as said drive means and means connecting said container and drive means to rotate the container about an axis coincident with the axis of the drive means at said same angular velocity.

22. in a combined washer and extractor, a clothes container having a peripheral wall provided with liquid dis charge passages, the container having a central re-entrant bottom portion, a tubular upright supporting shaft, a bearing mounted in the upper end of the tubular shaft at an angle to the axis of said tubular shaft, a stub shaft mounted in the bearing adapted to be moved in a fixed conical path during washing, the stub shaft axis intersecting the supporting shaft axis at the central zone of the basket, the stub shaft being fixed to the container re-entrant portion, means for rotating said bearing end thereby moving the stub shaft in said conical path during washing at a speed which will cause at least the peripheral zone of the container base to be reciprocated vertically at a rate exceeding the acceleration of gravity, and means to ro-tate the container at a speed to extract liquid from clothes disposed therein and to discharge liquid through said passages.

23. ln a washing machine, a base, a casing supported by said base, vertically disposed pedestal projecting upwardly from said base within the casing, a pair of conshafts mounted in said pedestal, a clothes container on said pedestal within the upper portion of said casing, said container circular in cross section throughout and having an open top to receive the clothes to be washed, said container having a bottom wall adapted to underlie the clothes and side Walls sloping upwardly and outwardly from the bottom to provide a maximum diameter section inter-- mediate the height of the container having apertures for the centrifugal extraction of liquid, means to connect one of said drive shafts to the bottom of said container centrally thereof for concurrent rotation of said drive shaft and container for centrifugal extraction and means to operativeiy connect the other of said drive shafts to the bottom of said container, said last-named mean-s in cluding a portion depending from the bottom of the container engaging a member carried by said other shaft to tilt the said axis of the container with respect to the axis of said other shaft and thus wobble the container in response to rotation of-said other shaft, a power unit, means connecting said power unit to said other drivev shaft for rotating the same at a rate effective to move

Claims (1)

1. 4. THAT METHOD OF WASHING AND EXTRACTING IN A SYMMETRICAL CONTAINER WHICH COMPRISES MOVING THE CONTAINER ABOUT A POINT ON THE CENTRAL AXIS THEREOF CAUSE ALL OTHER POINTS ON SAID AXIS TO MOVE IN A CIRCULAR PATH WITH A PREDETERMINED ANGULAR VELOCITY WHEREBY THE CONTAINER IS PROGRESSIVELY TILTED TO EFFECT WASHING AND THEREAFTER ROTATING SAID CONTAINER ABOUT SAID AXIS WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME ANGULAR VELOCITY TO EFFECT EXTRACTION.

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