US2948436A

US2948436A - Automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines

Info

Publication number: US2948436A
Application number: US749727A
Authority: US
Inventors: George J Federighi; Tore H Noren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-07-21
Filing date: 1958-07-21
Publication date: 1960-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-09

Description

Aug. 9, 1960 G. J. FEDERIGHI ET AL AUTOMATIC DRYING AGENT RINSE INJECTOR FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES Filed July 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AT 'rofl-:NEVE

Aug. 9, 1960 G. J. FEDERIGHI ETAT. 2,948,436

AUTOMATIC DRYING AGENT RTNsE INJECTOR FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES Filed July 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS GEORGE: J. FEDERIGHI Tone H .N'OREN EY Mvi' ,AT-VORNE AUTOMATIC DRYING AGENT RIVNSYE INJECTOR v FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES George J. Federighi and Tore H. Noren, both of 333 11th St., San Francisco, Calif.

Filed July 2'1, 1958, Ser. No. 749,727 6 Claims. (Cl. Z22-54) The present invention relates to improvements in an automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines. It consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and claimed. It has particular reference to improvements over the copending application of George J. Federighi (one of the applicants herein), entitled,` Drying Agent Dispenser for Use With a Dishwashing Machine, Serial No, 625,843, filed in the United States Patent Oice on December 3, 1956 (now Patent No. 2,895,646, dated July 2l, 1959).

As, pointed out in the above-identied copending application, rinse water is .discharged over dishes, glasses and silverware, after the washing cycle of the dishwashing machine, to rinse and sterilize them. However, this rinse Water has a tendency to cling to the Washed articles, which will leave spots or streaks when they dry. Accordingly, resort has been made to injecting a non-sudsing drying agent liquid into the rinse water so as to break up the surface tension of the latter, thus causing the rinse'water to drain from the washed articles. However, it has been found from actual practice that the dispenser shown in the copending case had a tendency to discharge the drying agent during cycles other than the final rinse cycle. This was caused by a syphoning action that was created, causing the drying agent liquid to continue to flow during subsequent cycles, such as the Washing cycle. This resulted in a waste of the drying agent liquid.

As the cardinal object of the present invention, we propose to provide an automatic drying agent rinse injector which may be regulated in such a manner that the drying agent liquid will be conserved and discharged only during the nal rinse cycle. More specically, we provide a bottle for holding the non-sudsing drying agentfliquid, and an adjustable bimetallic strip is arranged in the bottle so as to control the discharge of the liquid. The bottle is mounted in a position to be impinged by hotk rinse water sprays, and

thebimetallic strip will permit discharge of the liquidl primarily during the final rinse cycle of theadishwashing machine. f

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specication continues. The novel features will be set fort in the appended claims.

Drawings For a better understanding of our invention, reference should be had to Ilthe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational View of .our automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken along the plane II-II of Figure l, the-.bimetallic strip being arranged to allow only air to be discharged from the bottle; Y

. Figure 3 is a view sim'lar toV Figure 2,-butillustrating g of air from the upper part of the bottle A, as suggested.

the bimetallic strip flexed into a position to causethe nontates PatcntO o sudsing drying agent liquid to be sprayed from the bottle;

ICC Y Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, similar to Figure 2, but disclosing a modified form, the bimetallic strip being disposed in a position to prevent discharge of drying agent liquid from the bottle; and c Figure 5 is an elevational view of the modified form, portions being shown in section, and the bimetallic strip being arranged to permit discharge ofthe drying agent liquid from the bottle. f

While we have shown only the preferred forms of our` invention, it should be understood that various changes,

or modifications, may be made within the scope of the" annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof, Detailed description In carrying our invention into practice, We provide a bottle indicated generally at A which contains-a nonsudsing agent liquid B. This liquid may be a commercial product known as Rinse-Dry, which is composed of a non-ionic alkyl 'aryl sulfonate wetting agent and alcoholic solvent for blending. This bottle is adapted to be mounted in a combined washing and rinsing compartment of a dishwashing machine (not shown). The usual rack C is disposed in this compartment forholding dishes, glasses and silverware kfor washing andrinsing operations.

The circulatory systemsrfor the wash and rinse waters have not been shown, since they are well known inthe art. Generally speaking, detergent-carrying washl water of suitable temperature is directed over the dishes and the like for a predetermined length of time. After the washing cycle has been completed, this water is automatically discharged. .from the machine. Subsequently, a` fresh supply of hot rinse water, for example, of a tempera-ture of lO0-'l40 F, is admitted to the machine, and ,this

water is .sprayed over the dishes and the likeduringthe pre-rinse or first rinse cycle. Thereafter, thiswater is discharged, and Aanother supply of hot rinse water, for

example, -l80 F. is delivered to .the machine fora nal rinse cycle. Of course, we do not wish to be limited to any particular type of dishwashing machine or tem-v perature of water.

As suggested in Figure l., the bottle A-is mounted in \a dishwashing machinein a position to be impinged by sprays of water D, which includes sprays of the nal lrinse water. A cap VE is removablysecured to the neck 10 of the bottle A, and this ,cap is fashioned V.with an lannular groove 11 in its periphery, and a spring lbail 12 itsinto the groove and is provided with'a hook 13. The latter' is adapted to engage with the rack C for thus supporting the bottle A. Any other suitable means may be provided for supporting the bottle in .the wash-,rinse compartment of the dishwashing machine. "F or the purpose of removably securing the cap E .to the neck 10Yof the bottle, we have .provided threads 14 on the bottle neck which engage with corresponding grooves 15 formed'in the cap. Ai gasket 16 has been interposed between the top of the neck 10 and the interior of the cap E toaform a Vliquid-tightl seal therebetween.

It will be noted that a fitting F isA carried by the cap E, the former having a threaded shank 17 extending Adownwardly through the top of the latter. This tting is fashioned with a passageway 18 extending therethrough. With particular reference to Figure 2, it will be seen VthatV a tube G`-has anv upper ,threaded end 19 which Vis screwed into the bottom of theittingV F, so that its bore l 20 will communicate yat .its kupper end with the' passage.

way 18 of this litting. The tube G extends downwardly into the bottle `A and the liquid B-ytherein. '1 This tubehas a normally opened P Ort 21 in its wall, which is locatedA neary the 'top' of-the tube in a position-toY 'allow discharge Patented Aug. 9,

Y 3 by the arrow a, when the air is initially expanded by hot water sprays D striking the bottle.

In Figures 2 and 3, we show a bimetallic strip H, mounted in the bottle A, this strip being exible toward and away from the tube VG in response to changes inV temperature. For the purpose of supporting the bimetallic strip H, the latter has its lower end anchored to a block 22 that is fixed to the tube G. A rubber valve 23 is carriedby the free end of the strip H in a position to close the port 21 when the strip H is exed toward the tube G, and to uncover the port 21, when the strip is exed away from the tube.

The bimetallic strip H is made of such construction that its upper free end will flex toward the tube G as the temperature of the liquid B and the air in the bottle is raised. When this temperature reaches a predetermined point, the Valve 23 will close the port 21, as suggested in Figure 3. The particular temperature at which this valve will close the port may be regulated by an adjusting screw 24 mounted in the strip H between the block 22 and the Valve 23 to bear against the tube G.

` It will be apparent that when the valve 23 closes the port 21, Iand the liquid B and the air in the bottle are further expanded by hot rinse sprays D striking the bottle, the liquid B will be forced through the lower open end 25 of the tube G and will flow upwardly through the bore 20 and into the passageway 18 of the fitting F.

A plug I is threaded into the top of the fitting F and has an outlet orifice 26 communicating with the passageway 18 of the tting F for discharge of the drying agent liquid, as suggested by the sprays 27 in Figure 3, when the hot rinse water D striking the bottle A has created sucient expansion of the air and the liquid B in the bottle to force the liquid upwardly through the bore 20 ofthe tube G.

It will be observed that the plug I is provided with a gasket ring 28 at its lower end (see Figure 2). Moreover, a ball valve 29 is mounted in the passageway 18 of the fitting F in a position to seal against the gasket ring 28, when this ball valve is raised by the liquid B being forced upwardly through the tube, closing off further discharge of the liquid.

The upper end of the tube has an inclined surface 30 to prevent the ball valve 29 from fully seating thereagainst, when the ball valve drops. This will allow air to enter through the orifice 26 of the plug I, the passageway 18 of the fitting F, and the bore 20 of the tube G to recharge the bottle A with air.

The movement of the bimetallic strip H may be controlled by the adjusting screw 24 so that the drying agent liquid B will be discharged only during the iinal rinse cycle of therdishwashing machine, it being noted that the temperature of the final rinse water is the of all water used in the machine.

Referring now to the modified form shown in Figures 4 and 5, it will be noted that the modification pertains only to the tube G and the bimetallic strip H. Like reference characters have been applied to corresponding parts of the two forms of the invention. As clearly shown in Figure 4, the tube G' has a port 21 located near the lower end of the tube to allow flow of the drying agent liquid B from the bottle A to the bore 20 of the tube, when the port 21 is uncovered by the rubber Valve 23 on the strip H. The bottom of the tube is sealed, as at 31, whereby the liquid B will flow into the bore 20' only when the port 21' is uncovered.

It will be apparent that the bimetallic strip H in Figure 4 is inverted as compared with the bimetallic strip H in Figure 2, the block 22' and adjusting screw 24 being arranged near the top of the tube G. The construction of the strip H is such that the valve 23 will be moved away from the tube G so as to uncover the port 21 (see Figure 5), when the final rinse water sprays D strike the bottle A during the iinal rinse cycle of the dishwashing machine.

In both embodiments of our invention, the bottle A is preferably made of transparent plastic so that the amount of the liquid B remaining therein can be seen. After one bottle has been emptied, a new one containing a supply of the liquid B may be readily substituted.

We claim:

1. In an automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines; an injector bottle adapted to contain a non-sudsing drying agent liquid; the injector bottle being adapted to be mounted in a dishwashing machine in an upright position to be impinged by hot rinse water sprays; a cap removably secured to a neck of the bottle; a fitting carried by the cap and being fashioned with a passageway extending therethrough; a tube having a bore communicating at its upper end with the passageway of the tting; the tube extending downwardly into the bottle and the liquid therein; the tube being provided with a port in a side Wall thereof; a bimetallic strip mounted in the bottle to extend length-wise of the tube, and being adapted to be flexed toward and away from the tube in response to changes in temperature due to the impingement of the hot rinse water sprays on the injector bottle; a valve carried by the strip in a position to close the port when the strip is liexed toward the side of the tube, and to uncover the poit when the strip is exed raway from the tube; and a plug carried by the fitting and having an outlet orifice communicating with the passageway of the fitting for discharge of the drying agent liquid, when the hot rinse water striking the bottle has created suflicient expansion of air and liquid in the bottle to force the liquid upwardly through the tube.

2. An automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines, as set forth inA claim l; and in which the plug is provided with a gasket ring at its lower end; and a ball valve is mounted in the passageway of the tting in a position to seal against the gasket ring, when the ball valve is raised by the liquid being forced upwardly through the tube, closing olf further discharge of the liquid. Y

3. An automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines, as set forth in claim 2; and in which the upper end of the tube has an inclined surface to prevent the ball valve from fully seating thereagainst, when the ball valve drops, thus allowing air to enter through the orifice of the plug, the passageway of the fitting, and the bore of the tube to recharge the bottle with air. v 4. An automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines, as set forth in claim l; and in which a block is secured to the tube; one end of the bimetallic strip being anchored to this block; the valve carried by the strip being disposed adjacent to the opposite end of the strip; and an adjustment screw mounted in the strip between the block and the valveon the strip to bear against the tube; said screw being adjustable to ex the bimetallic strip away from the tube.

5. An automatic drying agent rinse injector for dish- Y washing machines, as set forth in claim l; and in which the port in the tube is normally opened and is located near the top of the tube in a position to allow discharge of air from the upper part of the bottle, when the air is initially expanded by the hot water striking the bottle; the lower end of the tube being open so as to receive the liquid, when the valve on the strip closes the port in the tube, and the air and liquid in the bottle are further expanded by the hot rinse water striking the bottle.

V6. An automatic drying agent rinse injector for dish- :washing machines, as set forth in claim 1; and in which the port in the tube is normally closed by the valve on the strip; the port being located near the lower end of the tube to allow flow of liquid from the bottle to the bore of the tube, when the port is uncovered by the valve on the strip; the bottom of the tube being sealed, whereby References Cited in the fue of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hurlbrink Feb. 25, 1919 Millis Oct. 15, '1935 6 Halsey et a1. Peb. 11, 1941 Lynn et al June 3, 1941 Scott Nov. 18, 1947 Etford July 10, 1951 -Fahnoe Dec. 28, 1954 Martiniak et al. Jan. 6, 1954