US3022656A

US3022656A - Dispenser for laundry machines

Info

Publication number: US3022656A
Application number: US836661A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard P Bergeson; Charles T Bergman
Original assignee: Maytag Corp
Current assignee: Maytag Corp
Priority date: 1959-08-28
Filing date: 1959-08-28
Publication date: 1962-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1979-02-27

Description

Feb. 2

Filed Aug. 28, 1959 R. P. BERGESON ETAL DISPENSER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,Anvenol Qchcnd Q ggeson f. Charles T.' @er man felgen? Feb. 27, 1962 R. P. BERGESON ETAL 3,022,653

DISPENSER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1959 gggeson i ermcm igen? m 1r n emp MQTQA 5 Amb.. am .kwh Re Feb. 27, 1962 R. E. BERGESON ETAL 3,022,556

DISPENSER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Aug. 28, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 BLEACH STATIC FULL LEVEL 50 FULL- RUNNING /B I United States Patent O 3,022,656 DISPENSER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Richard P. Eergeson and Charles T. Bergman, Newton, Iowa, assignors to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 836,661 4 Claims. (Cl. 68--207) This invention relates, as indicated, to an automatic dispenser for laundry machines, and more particularly, to dispensing mechanisms which automatically delay the injection of additives, for example bleach, into a clothes washing machine. It also pertains to the discharge of additives in a controlled and gradually diffused manner into the washing fluid contained in a washer.

In the washing of fabrics, it is often desirable to introduce additives into the washing fluids in addition to the detergents. lt is generally accepted that chlorine types of bleaches, for example, not only bleach the fabrics with which they come into contact, but also increase the effective action of the synthetic detergents in the washing fluids. Therefore, it is often desirable to add bleach to the washing fluids in order to obtain increased detergency, as weil as the benefits of the bleaching action.

However, detergents in many instances contain uorescent dyes which, under certain conditions, may be nullilied by the bleach. On the other hand, if the fabrics are agitated in the washing uids in contact with the detergents and the dyes for a period of time prior to the introduction of the bleach, even though for only a short time, the fluorescent dyes will come in contact with the fabrics first, and afx themselves thereto, so as to be unaffected by the bleaching additives subsequently added.

if the bleaching solution is dumped by the operator directly into the clothes basket in contact with the fabrics, there is a possibility of damage due to the local high concentrations of the added bleach solution. The safest method for introducing the bleach into the washing solution is to dilute the bleach solution first and then add it to the washing fluids slowly over a period of time while the clothes are agitated,

lt is, therefore, an obiect of the invention to provide a mechanism for automatically dispensing additives into the washing machine after a delayed period, so that the detergents can first come in contact with the fabrics to be cleaned. It is a further object of the invention to dilute and diduse additives into a quantity of washing fluids and then introduce the thus diluted additives into a clothes washer so as to prevent damage to the clothes. lt is a still further object of the invention to gradually diffuse a dispensed solution into the washing fluids of a laundry machine. 1t is another object of the invention to provide an automatic dispenser for laundry machines that is simple in structure and inexpensively manufactured. Further objects and advantages of this invention will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

ln the drawings:

FiGURE 1 is a front elevational View of a combination washer-drier unit with the cabinet partly broken away to illustrate the automatic dispensing device of the invention;

FEGURE 2 is a side view in elevation of the unit shown in FIGURE l with the cabinet, tub, and clothes drum partly broken away to illustrate the interiors thereof;

FGURE'B is an enlarged perspective view of the ICC tank and filling mouth in the automatic dispensing device of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view in transverse vertical section of a laundry machine, illustrating the operation of the dispensing device of the invention upon addition of the bleach prior -to filling of the tub with washing iiuid;

FGURE 5 is a View similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating the yaction of the bleach in the dispensing mechanism upon filling of the tub with washing fluids;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating the action of the washing fluids and the bleach upon rotation of the clothes drum in the tub.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, it will be seen that the combination washer-drier unit shown in these drawings includes a substantially flat surface base frame 1l) mounted on legs 11. Mounted upon the base frame 10 are a pair of channel members 12 that are welded, or securely fastened in some suitable manner, to base frame lll to form the two major supports for the tub, clothes drum, and associated mechanisms. lt Ywill be seen that the channel members are generally triangular in coniguration andeach receives a single pivot pin 13 about which the machine is free to pivot in'arcuate movements. The tub 15 is maintained in an upright position on pins 13 by centering springs 16 connected` between the tub and the base 1li through spring anchor brackets 17 fastened to the base.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 2, tub 15 includes in a generally cylindrical side wall 19, a front wall 20, and a rear wall 21. Mounted for rotation within the tub 15 about a substantially horizontal axis is a clothes basket, or drum 22. The clothes drum is aixed to and rotated by a drum drive shaft 23. Rigidly connected to the drum drive shaft is a large pulley 24.

Drum 22 has a perforate cylindrical side wall 25, a rear wall (not shown), and a short front wall 26. Clothes varies 27 are mounted on the interior surface of the perforate cylindrical side wall 25.

A recessed portion formed on the bottom area of the tub 15 forms a sump 28. Sump 2S communicates with the drain pump 29 through a drain line for discharging washing uids from the tub upon operation of a suitable valve in the drain line (not shown).

Tub 15 also includes a circular loading opening 31 which is encircled by a bellows seal 32 having its opposite end fastened to a similar opening in .the cabinet 35 enclosing the combination washeradrier unit. The sealing member 32 has a number of convolutions permitting arcuate movement of the tub 15 relative to tne cabinet 35.

A rectangular door 34 hinged on the cabinet 35 carries a transparent glass window 35 having a cylindrical portion extended rearwardly through the bellows seal 32 and engageable therewith. This seals the unit while enabling the operator of the machine to observe the operations within the drum during the washing and drying processes.

The power necessary to'r'otate the drum 22 through large pulley 24 is supplied by a single speed motor 37 mounted on a bracket which lis secured on the lower portion of tub 15. rThe output shaft 33 of the motor 37 is driveably connected to a two-speed transmission 3S". The transmission 39 drives a pulley il connected to the large drum shaft pulley 2li through a belt 41. The transmission 39 is adapted to provide selectively through a solenoid operated clutch mechanism (not shown) a wash and tumble speed land la higher extraction speed to said drum 22.

The foregoing description of a combination washerdrier unit is for the purposes of illustrating a device in which the dispenser mechanism of the invention may be spaanse associated and used. It isclear that many different Washing machines, as well as a'variety of combination washerdriers, may be employed with the dispenser device of the intention.

The dispensing unit includes a receptacle 5i) for couktaining additives until they are introduced into the washing fluids of tub 15. The receptacle may be-in the form of a hose 51 which is maintained below the tub and of a Volume at least as large as the volume of the additives Yto be added. The receptacle 50 is located below the bottom portion of the tub 15Vso that the tadditives are not'introduced into the washing iluids priorto thewashing cycle. The receptacle, although illustrated as Vahose 5l, may assume many different shapes, configurations, and may be in the form of containers of various 'descriptions-.i I

The outlet end 53 of the receptacle is connected to one -side of the tub sump 2S, so that there is free communication between the tub Vand receptacle 50. The opposite end of the hose 51 Aisconnected at 54 to a tank of). Tank 6b has enlarged cross sectional dimensions compared to the-hose 51 so as to increase the volumetric capacity at that point for several advantageous reasons Vas will be described hereinafter. i

Located at the upper end of thetankeu is ka filling mouth 61. As lshown in FIGURES l and 2, the filling Vmouth'is mounted at the bottom portion of the Vdoor frame for ldoor 3.4, Vso that when the door is shut the illingmouth :is covered. On the inner side of the tilli'ng mouth .61 is Vau upstanding splash panel 62. The ,splash panel has ,a hanged edge which is formed to the contourof the inside face of the door when shut. Acrossethe filling mouth 61 Y may bemounted a grating 63 to prevent introduction into Y the outlet 53 of the receptacle 5th Filling mouth 61 for the receptacle 56 is located above the bottom of the tub, and preferably above the washing liuidV level in the tub during the washing operation, so as tofprevent the drainage or leakage of Vwashing iiuids.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, the Vstatic s urfacelevel of the washing uids is indicated by a solid line.` However, fupon rotation of theV clothes drum V2, the dynamic, or operating, fluid level Within the tub varies at different points as indicated by the dotted line. Thus, at various locations at the bottom ofthe tub, differing pressure heads are found.

In order to produce circulation ofthe washing uids through the receptacle 56 in the direction of the arrows indicated in FlGURE 6, `inlet hose 7i) is fastened to and communicates With the tub 15 at fa point having a higherV dynamic uid pressure while thedrumv is rotating, than at the outlet connection 530i the receptacle 5t) to tub 15. The differing dynamic fluid pressures in receptacle associated with inlet 70 and outlet 53;Y produce a iow, or circulation, of Washing iiuids as indicated by ,the arrows of FIGURE 6. The circulation is from tub `15, through inlet hose 70, tank 69, receptacle 50, and thence returns to tub 15 via outlet 5,3. l

From the foregoing, itis believed that operation of the dispensing device of the invention is apparent. As indicated in FIGURE 4, the operator induces bleach into the tank 60 through the iilling mouth 6,1. `The tank, being of an enlarged volumetric capacity permits the bleach to be contained therein without overowing. From the tankthe bleach is funneled into the hose 51. VHose 51 is of a size large enough to contain all of the bleach to be added, thereby preventing lbleach from entering tub 15. Next, thefllng operation is started with therwashing iiuids introduced into the tub l5 through the water line 46. As shown in FEGURE 5, the Water introduced through line 46 intotub 15 V,enters the hose 51 via sump 23 and forces the bleach, now admixed with the water, into the tank 6i). Tank d@ being of enlarged volumetric capacity Idilutes the bleach by amounts ofV the water proportional Atoits size. Y

Upon rotation of the drum 22, dilterential pressures are produced inthe Vreceptacle V5i) through inlet 7G and outlet 53 which cause ow ofthe washing uids in the direction of the arrows shown in FGURE 6. lt is clear that the lrate of flow of washing juids is determined by the pressure dierential in .the receptacle associated with inlet 70 and outlet 53. The desired flow rate can be obtained by location of inlet`7 and outlet 53 at the proper points.

In the dispensing device .heretofore described, the additives are sufficiently delayed before injection into the Washing iiuids to permit the iiuorescent dyes of the detergent to be `affixed to the fabrics. The additives are also diluted and diffused gradually into the washing iiuids.

Inthe drawings and specification there yhas been set forth a preferred embodiment of the inventiongand although specific Vterms are employed, these aroused in a generic and descriptive senseV only, and not for purposes of limitation. vChanges Yin form .and the proportion of parts, aswell as the substitution of equivalents are conten.- plated, as circumstances may Vsuggest or render expedient, without departiugfrorn the vspirit orscope of this invention as further defined in the followingclaims.v

-We claim: Y

1. Ina laundry machine operable through washing and fluid extraction operations, a tubldeiined by wall members forming a single compartment for containing washing uids, means for supplying washing uids to said tub, drurn means for rotation about a non-vertical axis in said single compartment of saidftub and said wall members openly facing saidfdrum, receptacle means for containing additives to be dispensed into said compartment, a filling opening communicating with said receptacle .means for introducing additives, inletvmeans in one of said Wall members of said compartment communicating with said receptaclemeans, outlet means in said compartment com-- municating with said receptacle means, means for rotating said ydrum to create differing dynamic duid pressures in said compartment, said inlet and outlet meansconnected to said tub at points of said diifering ldynamic fluid pressures While saiddrum is rotating for circulating the Washing iiuids directlyfrorn and into said single compartment through said receptacle means. Y i

2. In a laundry machine operable through washing and fluidextraction operations, -a tub defined-by wall members formingfa Vsingle'compartment for containing washinguids, means for supplying washing liuids to said tub, VK drum means 1for rotationin `said tub about a non-vertical Vaxis'and said wall members being inopen confronting relationship to said drum, receptacle means outside of said tub forcontainingadditives to be v`dispensed into said tub, a filling opening communicating with Said, receptacle meansforintroducing additives, inletmeans in said tub communicating with said receptacle means, outlet means insaid tub communicating with said receptacle means, means for rotating said drum to create dilfering dynamic uid pressures in said compartment, said inlet and outlet means connected to said Vtub at points in said wall members openly facing said drum and spaced traversely of said tub along the rotary path of said drum for circulating the washing V-tluids through said receptacle means directly additives to be dispensed into said single compartment, a iilling opening communicating with said receptacle means for introducing additives, inlet means through one of said wail members in said tub communicating with said receptacle means, outlet means in said tub communicating with said receptacle means, means for rotating said drum to create diering dynamic uid pressures in said compartment, said inlet and outlet means connected to said tub in direct communication with said single compartment at points in said wail members of said differing dynamic iluid pressure heads While said drum is rotating for circulating the Washing uids directly from and into said single compartment through said receptacle means.

4. In a laundry machine operable through a Washing operation, a tub deiined by wall members forming a single compartment for containing washing uids, means for supplying washing uids to said tub, drum means for rotation about a non-vertical axis in said compartment and said Wall members including a peripheral side-Wall member in open-facing relationship to said drum means, receptacle means located outside said compartment for containing additives to be dispensed into said compartment, -a filling opening communicating with said receptacie means for introducing additives, a sump at the bottorn portion of said tub, inlet means communicating with said compartment and receptacle means, outlet means communicating with said receptacle means and said tub sump, means for rotating said drum to create differing dynamic fluid pressures in said compartment, said inlet means connected to said compartment at a point in said peripheral side-Wall member having a higher dynamic fluid pressure head while said drum is rotating thm the point at which said outlet means is connected to said tub sump for circulating the Washing iluids from and into said lcompartment.' through said receptacle means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Weldon Nov. 20, 1894 Stelter June 22, 1926