US2936604A - Laundry machine with a built-in automatic lint filter - Google Patents

Description

y 1960 M. D. GLENDENING 2,936,604

LAUNDRY MACHINE WITH A BUILT-IN AUTOMATIC LINT FILTER Filed Jan. 15, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MAJOR DEAN GLENDEN ING A TORNEYS y 1960 M. D. GLENDENING 2,936,604

LAUNDRY MACHINE WITH A BUILT-IN AUTOMATIC LINT FILTER 49 u =a I I 24 77 7 LIP JIF H INVENTOR.

MAJOR DEAN GLENDENING TTO'RNEYS May 17, 1960 M. D. GLENDENING 2,935,604

LAUNDRY MACHINE WITH A BUILT-IN AUTOMATIC LINT FILTER Filed Jan. 15, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet a 7) INVENTOR. MAJOR DEAN GLENDEN ING AT TO RN EYS United States Patent LAUNDRY MACHINE WITH A BUILT-1N AUTOMATIC LINT FILTER TMajor Dean Glendening, St. Joseph, Mich, assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application January 15, 1957, Serial No. 634,247

11 Claims. (Ci. 68-18) This invention relates generally to a laundry machine with .a built-in automatic lint filter operable on partial loads as well as on full loads to circulate laundry liquid 'continuously through a filter screen throughout the wash- ?ing and rinsing cycles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry machine with a built in automatic lint filter which is completely out of the Way and which will not :interfere with loading and unloading the washer in a norrnal, convenient manner.

.Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic lint filter that will be operable on partial loads as well as on full wash loads. 1

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a filter construction for a laundry machine wherein the laundry liquid is continuously circulated through a filter screen during the washing and rinsing cycles of operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a removable filter assembly for a laundry machine that is quickly and conveniently cleaned by the operator of the machine with a minimum of effort.

those versed in the art upon making reference to the description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which 'a preferred structural embodiment of an automatic lint filter is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a laundry machine incorporating a built-in lint filter in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing how the lint filter screen of the present invention may be quickly and conveniently removed by the operator of the machine;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing how the lint filter screen of the present invention may be easily cleaned by the operator;

Figure 4 is a view similar to 'Figures'l and 2 showing the operator reassembling the lint filter screen in the improved washer of the present invention;

Figure 5 is an elevational view with parts broken away and with parts removed for the sake of clarity showing a laundry machine embodying the filtering arrangement ofthe present invention;

Figure 6 is an elevational viewof the lint filter screen of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally on the line VII-VII of Figure 8 and showing the lint filter screen assembled in place within the filter housing of the present invention;

. Figure 8 is a bottom plan fragmentary view with parts shown in section and with parts broken away to illustrate additional details ofconstruction of the filtering arrangement of the present inventiomand ice Figure 9 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 7.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring first of all to Figure 5, there is shown at 10 an automatic washing, rinsing and extracting machine having a cabinet 11 forming an enclosure for a tub 12 which is adapted to confine a pool of liquid such as water or laundry liquid, thereby restricting the pool of laundry liquid within the confines of a treatment zone.

A foraminous receptacle or container indicated at 14 is rotatably mounted within the tub 12, the rotatable container 14 sometimes being referred to as a spin basket or clothes basket.

Clothes to be laundered are actually confined within the basket 14 and since the basket 14 is foramiuous, it will be understood that any rinse water or laundry liquid confined within the tub 12 provides a pool in which the basket 14 is substantially immersed.

An independently operable washing member or agitator 16 is provided in the basket 14.

It will be understood that the washing machine 10 is provided with a sequential controller for automatic operation of the machine through a series of washing, rinsing and extraction periods. The sequential controller is particularly characterized by the utilization of presettable means to selectively and automatically actuate the driving means of the machine through a selected programming schedule. The actuating element or presettable means of the sequential controller is indicated in Figure 5 by the reference numeral 17. A water temperature selection means is indicated at 18. Hot and cold water from the usual domestic supply is furnished to the machine and the details of such mechanism do not appear to be necessary to an understanding of the present invention. The electrical components of the machine are energized from the usual domestic outlet indicated at 19 through a conductor wire indicated at 20.

The machine 10 is capable of operating with a partial load. In order to achieve such operation, the presettable control means 17 is suitably adjusted by the operator for an appropriate programming schedule whereby a reduced quantity of water will be collected in the form of a pool within the tub 12, for example, in laundering a small quantity of clothes.

The tub 12 is particularly characterized by the provision of an opening or outlet 21 which communicates with the bottom of the pool of liquid confined by the tub. Such provision is insured by locating the outlet 21 in the bottom wall 22 of the tub 12, which wall 22 extends substantially horizontally in reference to the orientation of the machine.

The driving means of the machine 10 comprises an electric motor 23 and one of the elements which is driven by the motor 23 is a pump indicated generally at 24 and which is incorporated in the hydraulic circuitry of the machine 10 to drive a stream of liquid through the conduits of the hydraulic circuits at increased pressure.

In order to interconnect the outlet 21 with the pump 24, there are provided conduits 49 and 77. The operation of the pump 24 is under the control of the sequential control means 17 and in this respect, suitable cam bar control means 26 are linked to the regulating components of the pump 24. Thus, by suitable preselection, the flow of liquid acted upon by the pump 24 may be directed through a conduit indicated at 27 and constituting a part of the hydraulic circuit in which the filter means of the present invention is located. Thus, the pump 24 drives a stream of liquid withdrawn from the bottom of the pool in the tub 12 at the outlet 21 through the conduit 27 leading up to a filter situated in an upper portion of the machine, as is more clearly shown in Figures 1-4 and in Figures 7-9. l

As shown in Figures 1 through 4, the machine has an inner shroud member 28 which prescribes a circular opening 29 for the top of the basket 14.

Overlying the shroud member 23 and the tub 12 is a cover member 36 forming a part of the casing 11. The cover member 36 includes a substantially horizontal wall 31 which has an opening 32 formed therein of a size the same as the opening 29. A substantially vertical wall portion 33 depends from the horizontal wall 31 of the cover member 30 thereby providing a flat annular surface.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the automatic lint filter is built in completely out of the way by positioning the structure under the horizontal wall 31 of the cover member 30 and in register with an opening 34 formed in the vertical wall portion 33. Thus, as more particularly shown in Figures 6-9, the filter construction more particularly includes a housing or casing 36 having an elongate recess 37 formed therein closed at one end as at 38 and open as at 39 at the opposite end.

In this particular embodiment, the casing 36 is of a generally rectangular configuration, although it will be understood as the description of the present invention proceeds that other configurations could be employed as well.

The casing 36 is particularly characterized by the provision of a boss 46 formed on an upper Wall surface indicated at 41 through which extends a passageway 42 communicating with the interior of the recess 37 at an inlet opening 43. The boss 48 extends beyond the main body portion of the casing 36, thereby to provide a nipple portion 44 for connection to the end of the conduit 27. The conduit 27, of course, may conveniently take the form of a rubber hose connected to the pump structure.

. The inlet opening 43 is located intermediate the end wall 38 and the end opening 39 so all fluid driven in the form of a stream through the conduit 27, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 7, will pass through the passage 42 and into the recess 37 through the inlet opening 43.

i In order to fixedly assemble the housing or casing 36 infirm assembly with the stationary components of the washing machine 10, the housing 36 is provided with a pair of wing lugs 46 and 47 (Figure 8) having elongated or slotted apertures 48 and 49, respectively. A bracket 50 carried by the casing 11 underlies the filter housing or casing 36 and is connected thereto by fastening means indicated at 51 cooperable with the slotted apertures 48 and 49, thereby to adjustably position the housing or casing 36 with the edges of the open end 33 flush with the vertical wall 33.

A removable filter which is inserted into the recess 37 of the casing 36 through the open end 39 is shown in elevation in Figure 6 and is shown positioned within the recess 37 in Figures 7 and 8.

First of all, there is provided a filter member 52 which advantageously takes the form of a comparatively rigid foraminous tube generally complementary in configuration to the shape of the recess 37 but of sufficient smaller size to leave an open area 53 between the filter member 52 and the Walls of the recess 37.

'The filter member 52 which may conveniently comprise a tube of screen or metal mesh may have one end bent back'upon itself to provide a flange 54, which flange 54 is telescoped over a filter support portion 56 or a filter handle indicated generally at 57. The filter support portion 56'may be provided with one or more threaded apertures 53 receiving suitable fastening means I 59 (Figure 8) for retaining the screen or filter member 52 in firm assembly with the handle portion 57.

The filter support portion 56 also receives a gasket or ripheral rib 61 for engaging against the adjoining side wall of therecess 37 in the housing or casing 36.

The sealing member snugly embraces the support portion 56 and also includes a longitudinally extending lip 62 which overlies the flange 54. There is thus provided an effective seal at the end of the filter member 52 between the handle portion 57 and the casing 36.

The handle portion 57 has a passageway 63 extending therethrough and extending through the support portion 56 for communication with the interior of the screen or filter member 52. The passage 63 terminates in an enlarged throat or mouth 64.

The handle portion 57 is provided with a shoulder 66 which is generally arcuate in configuration, being shaped complementary to the curvature of the vertical wall 33. Thus, the shoulder 66 abuts against the wall 33 at the edges of the opening 34 and also abuts against the open end of the casing 36, as indicated in Figure 7.

To retain the filter in assembly With'the casing 36, there is provided a spring latch 67 which includes a struck out centerportion 68 fastened in firm assembly to the handle portion 57 by means of a fastener 69 and further including a pair of side fingers 7t encased within a finger button '71.

At the other end of the spring latch 67, there is provided an angularly offset lug 78which engages behind a shoulther 72 formed on a bottom wall 73 of the housing or casing 36.

The closed end wall 38 of the housing or casing 36 has araised portion 74 and also a plurality of projecting pilot fingers 76 which develop the dual function of supporting the open endportion of the screen or filter member 52 and 'piloting'and aligning the screen or filter member 52 when his inserted into the housing to engage over the raised portion 74, thereby to close the end of the filter and insure passage of all of the fluid passing through the inlet opening 43 to the interior of the filter member 52 from whence the fluid is discharged through the passage 63.

'In operation, the filter is stationarily secured in the machine 10 and,'as shown in Figure 1, is completely 'out of the way and in non-obstructing relation relative to the openings affording access to the interior of the basket 14. Thus, there is no interference'with the unloading and loading of the washer 10 in a normal and convenient "manner.

Throughout the cycle of operation, the wash and rinse water" are circulated continuously through the filter screen ="52 where lint and other impurities are removed from the water or laundry'liquid. Because the filter assemblyis utilized in combination with a perforated basket 14, there is'a free draining of the restricted pool of laundry liquid orwater through the bottom of the pool. Thus, all impurities which tend to settle towards the bottom of the restricted'pool of liquid, through the influence of gravitational forces, are removed through the outlet opening 21 and will be filtered out of the system by the filter member 52. Lint removed from the clothes being washed will also be separated from the laundry liquid or water, there- 'by' assuring lint-free washing operation.

It should be particularly noted that the'present filter "arrangement is completely effective even though the op-. "erator adjusts the machine for partial loading. Because the basket is'perforated; even a partial load with a ref du c edfam'ount of water in the restricted pool will afford "free drainage tliro'ugh the outlet- 21 for continuous'recirculation during the washing -and-rinsing operations. Accordingly, a flow through the filter-is assured with partial loads aswell 'as full'loads.

As shown in Figure 1, the stream ofw'ater driven "the handle portion 57 towardsthe interior of the basket 14. When it is'desired to clean the filter, the operator proceeds as shown in Figure 2 by locating the spring latch 67 under'the handle portion 57 whereupon the filters assembly is pulled straight out.

* Lintand fuzz is removed from the surface of thefilter,

as shown in Figure 3, by brushing or merely .byplacing the filter member 52 under running wateravailable from the domestic supply. i

The cleaned filter is then readily replaced in the washer by the operator, as shown in Figure 4, and the spring latch 67 automatically snaps in place insuring thatthe filter is all the way in and is properly sealed so that all of the fluid discharged through the conduit 27 will pass through the filter member 52 before the filtered fiuid is discharged into the top of the restricted pool of laundry liquid or water.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention: I d

1. In a washing machine having a verticalaxis perforated basket forming a treatment zone for washing clothes and a tub surrounding said basket to contain laundry liquid in which said basket is immersed, the im-. provement of a cover member having a horizontal wall overlying said tub and having an inner peripheral vertical rim shaped to form an opening in register with the end of said basket, a filter housing under said horizontal wall and having an outletopening in a portion of said vertical rim, a filter member having a support and handle portion of a configuration complementary to said portion of said vertical rim and inserted into concealed position inside of said filter housing through said outlet opening with said support and handle portion positioned at said rim in nonobstructing relation to the end of the basket, and means forming a recirculating circuit'between the bottom of said tub and said filter housing to accept liquid free-drained from the bottom of saidtub and to discharge, filtered liquid out of said outlet opening in said vertical wall towards the center of said basket, said filter being selectively withdrawn from said filter housing for removing impurities therefrom.

2. In a laundry machine having a tub for confining a restricted pool of laundry liquid and a rotatable forarninous extractor basket rotatable about a vertical axis in said tub with an independently operable washing element in said basket, the improvement of a cover overlying said tub having a generally vertical inner annular wall forming an opening above said basket, a filter housing positioned on the underside of said horizontal wall and having an outlet opening in said vertical inner annular wall, a filter member inserted into said housing through said vertical inner annular wall at said outlet opening and positioned in non-obstructing relation to the opening above said basket, and recirculating means including a conduit connected to the bottom of said tub and to said filter housing through which laundry liquid is continuously driven to filter the liquid before discharge through said outlet and into said basket.

3. In a vertical axis type laundry machine having a tub for confining a restricted pool of laundry liquid and a rotatable foraminous extractor basket disposed in said tub for rotation on a vertical axis with an independently operable Washing element in said basket, the improvement of a cover overlying said tub having a generally vertical inner annular wall forming an opening above said basket, a filter housing positioned on the underside of said horizontal wall comprising a body portion having an elongated recess formed therein closed at one end and having an outlet opening formed at the other end extending through said vertical wall, said housing having an inlet opening connecting with the interior of said recess intermediate said ends, a removable filter comprising a rigid foraminous tubular member of a configuration generally complementary to said recess and inserted into said recess through said opening with one end of said tubular member abutting against said closed end of said housing, the

other end of said tubular member having a handle connected thereto, said handle having a sealing member thereon engageable with the side walls of said recess ad jacent said outlet opening, whereby all liquid discharged into said recess passes through said foraminous tubular member, means forming an outlet in said handle member communicating with the interior of said tubular member, and recirculating means including a conduit connected to the bottom of said tub and to said filter housing through which laundry liquid is continuously driven to filter the liquid before discharge through said outlet and into the basket.

4. In a vertical axis type laundry machine having a tub for confining a restricted pool of laundry liquid, a rotatable basket disposed in said tub for rotation on a vertical axis with an independently operable washing element in said basket, the improvement of a cover overlying said tub having a generally vertical inner annular wall forming an opening above said basket, a filter assembly comprising a handle having a generally rectangular support portion, a tubular filter screen mounted on said support portion at one end and extending away from said handle, said handle having an outlet opening formed therein in: communication with the interior of said filter screen, a gasket member telescopically surrounding said support.

portion and the adjoining portion of said. filter screen, a:

filter housing having a recess formed therein open at one: end and being mounted with said one open end in register with said opening in said inner annular wall to receive said filter screen, said handle having a shoulder abutting: against the end of said housing at the edges of said open end, said housing having a wall engaging against the opposite end of the filter screen, and means forming an inlet for said housing intermediate the ends of the filter screen, said handle being curved to conform to the annular shape of said vertical inner annular wall and means forfrer circulating laundry liquid from the pool through said filter assembly.

5. In a laundry machine as defined in claim 4, said handle having a spring latch lever and said'housing having a shoulder formed thereon engaged by said spring latch lever to lock said filter in assembly with said filter housing.

6. In a laundry machine of the type comprising means forming a treatment zone for confining a. restricted pool of laundry liquid and having a drain opening at the bottom of said pool, the improvement of means forming a casing for said machine having an access opening to said treatment zone, a filter assembly concealed in said casing and having an outlet positioned to discharged filtered liquid into the treatment zone without obstructing said access opening, said filter assembly comprising a casing having an elongated recess formed therein with a closed wall at one end and an opening at the other end located in said access opening, a tubular filter screen inserted into said recess through said opening and having a handle at one end formed with an outlet and having the opposite end of said tubular filter screen abutting against said closed wall, said casing having an inlet opening formed intermediate the ends thereof, and means for driving a stream of liquid from said drain opening through said inlet, through said filter screen and through said outlet, whereupon all impurities are collected on the exterior surface of said filter screen, said screen being selectively removable for cleansing of said filter screen.

7. In a laundry machine of the type comprising means forming a treatment zone for confining a restricted pool of laundry liquid and having a drain opening at the bottom of said pool through which laundry liquid and impurities are freely drained, the improvement of means forming a casing for said machine having an access opening to said treatment zone, a filter assembly concealed in said casing and having an outlet positioned in said access opening to discharge filtered liquid into the treatment zone without obstructing said access opening, said filter assembly com.

prising a casing having an elongated recess formed. therein and having an opening at the end of said recess, a filter screen removably inserted into said recess through said opening, said housing having an inlet opening positioned to discharge impure laundry liquid against one surface of the filter screen, and means for driving a stream of liquid drained from said outlet through said inlet of said. filter housing, through said filter screen and through said out; let, whereupon all impurities are collected on one surface ofsaid filter screen, said filter screen being temporarily removable from said filter housing to clean said screen.

8. In a washing machine having a tub adapted to col; lect a supply of fluid, means forming an hydraulic cireuit externally of said tub and providing for circulation of said fluid through said circuit, and a cabinet enclosing said tub, the combination comprising, a flange on said cabinet directed inwardly towards said tuband defining access means to said tub, said flange having an opening formed therein, a filter housing mounted in said hydraulic circuit adjacent said flange and having a discharge. open-. ing formed therein aligned with said opening in said flange, and filter means positioned within said filter housing for filtering fluid flowing into said tub through said aligned openings in said housing and said flange,

9. In a washing machine having a tub adapted to contain fluid, means forming an hydraulic circuit externally of said tub and providing for circulation of said fluid through said circuit, and a cabinet enclosing said tub, the combination comprising, a flange on said cabinet directed inwardly towards said tub and forming access means to said tub, said flange having an opening formed therein, a filter housing mounted in said hydraulic circuit adjacent said flange and having a discharge opening formed therein aligned with the opening in said flange, and filter means inserted Within said housing and selectively removable therefrom by movement transversely of said flange for filtering fluid flowing into said tub through said aligned openings in said housing and said flange for discharge into said tub.

10. In a washing machine having a tub adapted to contain fluid, means forming an hydraulic circuit externally of said tub, and providing for circulation of said fluid through said circuit, and a cabinet enclosing said tub, the combination comprising, a flange onsaid cabinet directed inwardly toward said tub and forming an access opening to said tub, said flange having a filter opening formed therein, a filter housing outside of said tub but inside-of said, cabinet, said housing being mounted flush with said flange, and having a discharge terminus aligned with said filter opening in said flange, and manually removable filter means inserted in and received'by said discharge terminus for filtering fluid passed through said filter housing and discharged into said tub.

11. In a washing machine having a tub adapted to con tain fluid, means forming an hydraulic circuit externally oi said tub and providing for circulation of said fluid through said circuit, and a cabinet enclosing said tub, the combination comprising, a flange on said cabinet directed towards said tub and forming an access opening to said tub, said flange having an opening formed therein, a filter housing rigidly secured to said cabinet in a flush relationship'with said flange at said opening in said flange and having a discharge terminus aligned with said opening in said flange, and removable filter means retained within said discharge terminus for filtering fluid passed through said filter housing and discharged into said tub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Moore Sept. 14, 1 943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,936,604 May 17, 1960 Major Dean Glendening It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 50, for "discharged" read discharge Signed and sealed this 25th day of October 1960.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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