US2930217A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

March 29, 1960 w. F. REVHIMKE WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 7, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WILL/HM F. PEHMKE ATTORNEY March 23, 1960 w. F. REHMKE 7 WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 7, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. PEI- Mk5 2AM w rgmg ,4rraezwsy WASHING MAQHINE William F. Rehmke, Seattle, Wash.

Application January 7, 1957, Serial No. 632,758

Claims. (Cl. 68-24) This invention relates to clothes washing, cleaning and drying machines, and it has reference more particularly to a power driven machine of large capacity, comprising a perforated, cylindrical tub or drum for containing the articles to be cleaned or washed, mounted in a liquid containing case or housing for controlled rotation on a horiziontal axis; such a machine being especially suited to the needs of commercial laundries, institutions and other establishments for dry-cleaning services, and may also be used, in like manner, for ordinary clothes washing purposes.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a substantial and efficient power driven machine of large capacity and equipped with controls that make it fully automatic through its complete operating cycle including its filling, washing, draining, and spin-drying operations.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved form of resilient mounting for thecylindrical tub whereby vibration that may result, especially during a spin-drying operation, from unbalanced loading of the tub, will be dampened or absorbed. Also to provide means whereby, should any loading condition causeexcessive vibration to take place, the machine will be automatically stopped to permit readjustment of the load in the spinning drum.

' A further object of the present invention is to provide means for causing rotation of the tub at different washing and drying speeds, to best suit the requirements of different kinds or types of garments or fabrics being worked on.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a' washing machine of the above character having an enclosing case which will be vapor tight when the charging door is closed, and wherein means is provided whereby the opening of the door effects an automatic opening of the valve of a fume and vapor extraction duct leading from the case, so that fumes and vapor will not flow from the case into the working area.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention reside in the novel details of construction and in the combination of parts and in the mode of operation of the machine, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the' improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the present washing machine showing the case or housing door closed.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine, showing the tub driving motor and shock or vibration absorbers as applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged sectional detail, taken on the line 33 in Fig. 2, illustrating construction details of one of the shock absorbing units. 4

F ig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of the washingmachine, taken substantially on the line 44 in Fig. l.

Fig 5 is a diagrammatic showing of the hydraulic and electrical system, and controls for the machine.

Referring more in detail to the drawings: In its present preferred form of construction, the machine of this invention comprises a case or housing, desig nated in its entirety by numeral 10; this part now being constructed of steel plates of appropriate thickness. In

the present instance, the case includes a cylindrical, horizontally disposed tub enclosing portion 11, closed at its rear end by a vertical backwall 11b that is welded thereto about its periphery, and closed at its forward end by a' front end wall 11a that is removably secured by bolts 12, to an out-turned flange 11) on the forward end of the cylindrical portion 11; removal of this plate being desir able for mounting of the tub, and to give access to the,

housing for any reason.

The cylindrical tub enclosing portion 11 of the case, as thus formed, is supported horizontally and at a suitable working height, by a box-like base structure designated in Figs. 1 and 2 by reference numeral 15. This base structure also is made of sheet steel plates, and is designed to rigidly and adequately support the tub enclosure 11 and also carry the tub. The base structure, in turn, is formed about its lower edge with a horizontal flange 16 through which bolts, or the like, as shown at 17 in Fig. 4, may be applied to properly and adequately anchor the machineto a suitable foundation, such as that designated at 19.

It is to be noted, particularly by reference to Fig. 4,

that the steel plate 1112 that forms the rear end wall of the tub enclosure 11, is of substantially greater thickness than plates forming its other walls. Also, that this plate extends to the base flange 16, thus to give the structure additional strength and rigidity for the functional support of the tub therefrom in the manner and by themeans Which will now be described.

The cylindrical drum-like member, designated as the tub and in which articles are placed for cleaning or washing, is designated in its entirety by reference numeral 20. It has a body 20b of cylindrical form, equipped with a forwardly crowned forward end wall 20 and a rearwardly crowned rear end wall 20r. This tub is supported in the case for rotation about a horizontal axis that co-' incides with the axial line of the cylindrical tub enclosure 11. At its forward end, the tub 20 is formed with a central, circular opening 22 through which it can be charged and emptied. This opening registers with and is quite close to a'circular opening 23 formed in the front end wall 11a of the case it). The wall opening 23 is adapted to be closed by an outwardly opening door 24, mounted onwall plate 11a in a manner presently fully explained.

Fixed rigidly to the rear end wall 20r of the tub and extended rearwardly and coaxial thereof, is the tub supporting and driving shaft 30. This shaft is revolubly mounted in anti-friction bearings 32 and 33 that are fitted in opposite end portions of a tubular housing 34 which comprises the hub member of a wheel-like tub sup-- porting structure 35 which is equipped, coaxially of the hub portion 30 with a flanged rim 36 which mounts an inflated tire 38 thereon. The tire 38 is confined under compression within an annular channel forming frame wheel 43 that is fixed on the drive shafts of axially aligned dual hydraulic motors 44 and 44; a part of motor 44' being broken away in Fig. 4. V-belts 45 extend about the aligned pulleys 42-43, as seen in Figs. '2 and 4, and

effect a driving connection for the tub. It is to be noted that the motors 44 and 44' are supported rigidly from the rear end portion of the bearing shaft mounting and tub supporting structure 35 by a hanger plate or bracket Patented Mar. 29,. 19 s 3 48 that is fixed to and extended downwardly from said structure. Also, in this arrangement of motors their drive shafts are joined by an over-running clutch 440, shown in Fig. 4. l

The tub body 20 is contained, with substantial clearance, within the cylindrical container 11. Its body wall is formed with perforations 47 for inflow or outflow of the cleaning liquid as may be supplied within the container 11. Within the tub body, at regularly spaced intervals thereabout, the tub wall is equipped with cross ribs 48 that will impart a tumbling action to the articles contained in the tub, as it rotates.

It is further observed that a flexible, sleeve form of seal 49 is applied about the shaft between the back wall of the case and the end of the bearing housing 34 to prevent leakage from the tub at this point; this sleeve is fixed at its ends by suitable clamp rings, to the parts to which it is applied.

With the tub so constructed and mounted for rotation, av substantial part of the vibration that results from any unbalanced loading will be absorbed by the inflated tire 38 on the tub carrying structure 35. The degree of rigidity between tub and case can be controlled to some extent by varying the tire inflating pressure and it has been found most practical, in the present instance, to influte the tire to approximately 200 pounds per square inch. However, this pressure might be changed if different speeds for spin-drying and washing were employed, or to meet other conditions of use of the machine.

Vibration and shock damping means 56 have been provided to supplement the tire 38; these being attached to the case or housing structure and to the tub shaft bearing structure 35 as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. In the present machine there are three of these absorbers; one being located directly above the structure 35 and the other two being equally spaced from and located at opposite sides of the vertical plane of and below the axial line of the structure as shown in Fig. 2.

Each of the three shock and vibration damping devices 50 is like that shown in Fig. 3, which is seen to comprise a closed hydraulic cylinder 51 containing a piston 52. The cylinder of each device is pivotally connected at its inner end by a pivot bolt 54 to a bracket 55 that is fixed to and extended outwardly from the rigid frame structure of the machine. A rod 53 extends from the piston through the outer end of the cylinder 51 and is pivotally connected at its outer end by a pivot bolt 56 to an arm 57 that is fixed rigidly to and extends radially outward from the rear end portion of the frame structure 35, as is best shown in Fig. 4. The cylinder 51 is filled with a hydraulic medium, such as oil, and the piston 52 has one or more ports 52x of small diameter therethrough. Thus, with the tub mounting structure 35 so damped, all radial vibration that results from the revolving of the tub, as when it contains an unbalanced load, is resisted both by the inflated tire 38 and by the hydraulic resistance of the several devices 50. As a feature of the present invention, I have provided for an automatic stopping of the driving of the machine in the event of excessive vibration. To accomplish this, a power control switch 58 of push button type is mounted on one side of a cylinder 51 as noted in Fig. 3. A sleeve 59 telescopically enclosing an end portion of the cylinder, and fixed also to the outer end of piston rod 53, carries an adjustable contact member 53): thereon. in the event of excessive vibration, the reciprocal action of the sleeve will cause the contact 58x to engage the switch to so actuate it as to open the drive control circuit, thus to stop the machinefor a readjustment of the load in the drum.

The door 24 which closes the opening 23 in the front walllla of the case, is hinged to plate 11a to swing upwardly and forwardly from closed to open position; it being, equipped with a pair of laterally spaced, vertical hanger arms 60--60, fixed at their upper ends by a horizontal pivot pin 61 to ears 62 on the front wall plate 11a.

Actuation of the door between closed and open positions is elfected by an air cylinder mechanism 64 that is pivotally supported betwen brackets 65 fixed to the top edge of the front plate 11a. The cylinder contains a piston 66 with rod 66 extended downwardly therefrom and pivotally connected, as at 67, to the joint of an elbow linkage 68 which pivotally connects at its ends to the door below the hinge pin 61 and to the plate 11a at a substantial distance above the door, as seen in Fig. 4. Air under pressure can be applied selectively to opposite ends of the cylinder 64, by means presently disclosed, to effect either the door opening or closing operation, and by maintaining the applied pressure, the door will be held at the selected position.

Leading upwardly from the top of the cylindrical housing 11 in which the water or other fluid used for washing or cleaning is contained, is a vapor and gas vent tube 70 which generally leads to a roof outlet and is there connected with a suction fan. This tube is equipped adja' cent the case connection, with a closure valve 71 on a mounting shaft 72 which extends through the tube and is equipped at one outer end with a crank arm 73. The arm 73, as seen in Fig. 4, is pivotally connected by a pin 74 with the outer end of the piston rod 75 of an air cylinder 76; this being pivoted, as at 76x on the case 10.

Air under pressure is adapted to be delivered from a source of supply to the cylinder 64 through conduits 77 and 77 and from these conduits, branch conduits 78 -78 lead, respectively, to the opposite ends of the cylinder 76. This provides that when the pressure medium is applied to the lower end of cylinder 64, to open the door 24, it is simultaneously applied to the forward end of cylinder 76 to cause the opening of the vent valve 71, thus to allow fumes and vapors to be drawn out through the vent pipe and not permitted to flow out through the opening 23 into the working area. Likewise, when the air pressure is applied to the upper end of cylinder 64 to close the-door 24, it simultaneously acts on the rearward end of cylinder 76 to cause closing of the vent valve 71.

For a washing or cleaning operation, the tub enclosure 11 receives the water or cleaning fluid employed through a supply pipe 89, and it is drained or drawn off from the container 11 through a pipe 31 leading from its lower portion, as seen in Fig. 4. It is customary for a washing or cleaning operation to fill the container up to a level about one inch below the lower edge of the opening 23,

and it also is customary to maintain circulation of thecleaning fluid during a washing operation by pumping the fluid in through pipe 80 and drawing it out through pipe 81. Ordinary washing anticipates use of hot water and soap, while cleaning anticipates use of a liquid solvent and this might be explosive and toxic, giving off fumes,

and it is for this reason that the vent is provided. While.

I have indicated the operations comprising the cycle as being automatically controlled, it is to be understood that they could, if desired or if necessary, be manually controlled.

A cycle of operations, which is the same for washing and cleaning, comprises the following: First, the door 24 is opened and the tub charged with the articles to be cleaned or washed. The door 24 is then closed, and the cleaning fluid, which is to be employed, is delivered into the housing through pipe 80 up to the desired level. The tub is then caused to be rotated at a speed of about 30 revolutions per minute for a predetermined time interval. At the end of this interval, the liquid is quickly drawn off through pipe 81. Then the speed of rotation of the drum is increased to about 500 revolutions per minute for centrifugal extraction of liquid from the washed or cleaned articles; this liquid being dissipated from the tub through its wall perforations.

After the machine has completed the spin-dry" operation, it is stopped, the door 24 opened and the tub unloaded. This completes the cycle.

Referring now to Fig. 5: This view diagrammatically illustrates the hydraulic control system for the m'achinel The parts involved in this system may be remotefrom the machine if so desired, and connected to the two inachine driving motors 44 and 44' through suitable pipe mes.

In the diagrammatic illustration, A designates a reser-. voir or storage tank for the hydraulic pressure medium employed in the system, and which medium hereinafter will be referred to as oil. An electric motor designated by reference character B is operatively connected with two hydraulic pumps designated, respectively, by characters PFI and PFZ, which operate to draw oil from the reservoir A and discharge it under pressure for driving the previously mentioned motors 44 and 44, and thus effect rotation of the tub 20 as required for washing or for spin drying"; the delivery of the oil to the motors being under control of various valve means as explained in the following:

A pressure pipe line 100 leads from pump PF1 to the motor 44; a check valve G being interposed in this line as shown. Delivery through line 160 is controlled in part by a remote controlled pressure relief valve D that is connected to line 160 at a point between the pump PF1 and check valve G; the valve D being operable under control of a solenoid valve mechanism indicated at C1. When the solenoid of valve C1 i de-energized it operates to cause valves D to remain open. The discharge from the pump PFI is then passed from line 100, through valve D and a connecting line 101, to a heat exchanger HE, and from this is returned to the reservoir A. When the solenoid of valve C2 is energized, valve E will close, and the discharge from pump PFZ is then forced past valve H and delivered through lines 106 and 100 to the motor 44. A part of this discharge from pump PFZ is directed to motor 44 under control of valve L, as presently explained.

The valve L is connected to line 100 by a line 100a and is connected to motor 44' through a line It is controlled by a solenoid valve mechanism C3 so that when C3 is energized, the valve L i open, and a part of the oil discharged by pump PFZ through lines 106 and 100 is diverted to motor 44. If valve L is closed, then no oil is delivered to the motor 44.

Oil is returned from motors 44 and 44 to the reservoir A through a line 102, a pressure relief valve M and a line 103 that leads from valve M to the reservoir A through the heat exchanger HE. Lines 104 and 105 are drain lines for oil that leaks past the shaft seal. Thus, the pump PFZ discharges through a pressure line 166 and a check valve H into line 100 for distribution to one or both motors. Line 100 also connects with return line 103 through a line 108, a flow control valve J and line 107. Flow through line 106 is controlled by a pressure relief valve E which, in turn, is controlled by a solenoid valve mechanism C2 through connection 109. When valve E is open, oil is returned therethrough to reservoir A through the heat exchanger HE. When the valve E is closed, the oil is then discharged through line 106 and valve H to line 100.

With the system so arranged, delivery of oil from the pumps PFl and PFZ, during the idle" portion of the cycle, will be circulated through the valve D and E, respectively, at a low pilot pressure of, for example, sixty pounds per square inch, and returned to the reservoir. No oil flows through the motors, therefore, they do not rotate.

To initiate the was portion of the cycle, the solenoid valves C2 and C3 are closed and by reason of this particular valve setting, the valve E is closed and L is opened. Therefore, oil discharged by pump PFl is still unloaded through relief valve D to reservoir A, while that discharged from pump PF2 is directed through valves E and H into line 100 for supplying both motors 44 and 44'; motor 44 being supplied through line 100a, valve L and line 10%. Pressure relief valve M is unloaded to allow free return of the oil therethrough, from both motors, to: the reservoir, passing through heat exchanger HE. Thedesired drum speed for the washing operation may be.

established or regulated by adjustment of a flowcontrol valve J by which more or less oil is permitted to return, from the pressure line to the reservoir before reaching the motors.

To initiate the spin dry portion of the cycle, after the washing cycle, solenoid valve C1 is energized causing valve D to close. This causes the discharge of oil from both pumps to be directed into line 100 and delivered only to motor 44. The motor 44 then operates at high speed" trol valve K which allows a controlled amount of the-: pressure medium to be returned from the pressure line to the storage reservoir.

To return to idle after spin drying, all solenoid valves are de-energized, thus discontinuing delivery of oil to the motor 44 and 44 and causing valve M to close so that a pressure of about 700 pounds per square inch is received to force the oil from the motors to the reservoir. When this takes place, motor 44, now driven by the load or drum, acts as a pump, and takes the discharge of the pumps and delivers it through valve M at relief pressure, to the storage reservoir A until the load is completely decelerated.

The electrical and manual controls for the various valves herein shown have not been illustrated; it being understood, however, that they are conventional and may be either manually or automatically regulated to effect the previously disclosed sequence of operations. It is to be remembered, however, that in the event of excessive vibration of the drum, the automatic cut-out switch 58 is so actuated that an electrical circuit is opened to effect the stopping of the driving motor.

Such an electrical connection has been indicated in Fig. 5, however, other forms of connections might be employed to deenergize the motor under control of switch 58.

What I claim as new is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a rigid housing providing a character for containing a cleaning liquid, a cylindrical tub contained horizontally in said chamber having a supporting and driving shaft fixed to one end wall thereof and extending therefrom; said housing having a back wall formed with an opening through which said shaft extends with clearance, an annular frame of inwardly opening channel form fixed to said back wall concentrically of said shaft and opening, a hub member mounting the outer end portion of said shaft therein, an air inflated tire of substantial diameter mounted on said hub member and seated in said frame of channel form for the cushioned mounting of the tub, means for driving said shaft for rotation of the tub, a plurality of vibration damping means for the tub comprising arms fixed rigidly to said hub member at spaced intervals thereabout and extended radially therefrom, and air cushioned cylinders with ends pivotally fixed to said arms and their other end pivotally fixed to said housing.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the driving means for the tub driving shaft includes an electric motor, an electric circuit for said motor, a control switch for said circuit; and wherein one of said air cushioned cylinders a" housing providing-achamber for a quantity of cleansing liquid, a perforated tub disposed in said chamber and having a driving and supporting shaft extended therefrom, means rotatably mounting the shaft and supporting the tub from said housing, two hydraulic motors connected with said shaft for driving said tub, a hydraulic system for the motors comprising a source of supply of hydraulic medium, a pair of pumps connected with said source of supply of hydraulic medium, a motor for driving said pumps, discharge lines leading from said pumps to said hydraulic motors, and control valves in said discharge lines operable to cause delivery of the hydraulic medium to be directed to both hydraulic motors for the turning of the tub at a washing speed and for its delivery to one motor only for driving the tub at a relatively high speed for extraction of liquid from the contained articles.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein the hydraulic motors are connected in tandem through the mediacy of an over running clutch, and one motor has direct connection with the tub, and wherein the delivery of the hydraulic medium for extraction is directed to that motor.

'5. The machine of claim 4 wherein the hydraulic motors have return connections leading to the source of supply and flow control calves are disposed in said connections for regulation of drum speeds.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l,542,650 Adams June 16, 1925 1,685,347 Zelenka Sept. 25, 1928 1,800,228 Pierce Apr. 14, 1931 2,154,559 Bilde Apr. 18, 1939 2,166,294 Hetzer July 18, 1939 2,230,345 Bradbury Feb. 4, 1941 2,574,585 Nielsen Nov. 13, 1951 2,642,996 Oeler et a1. June 23, 1953 2,745,253 Towler et a1. May 15, 1956 2,750,871 Landgraber et a1 June 19, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 82,519 Holland Aug. 15, 1956

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