US3106926A

US3106926A - Washing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3106926A
Application number: US175951A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zaromb Solomon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-02-27
Filing date: 1962-02-27
Publication date: 1963-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-15

Description

Oct. 15, 1963 s. ZARQMB WASHING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1962 samu- M m Z r M w -i,. M

United States Patent 3,166,925 WASl-EENG APPARATUS Solomon Ear-anal), Baltimore, Md. (376 Monroe St, Passaic, NJ.) Filed Feb. 27, 1952, Ser. No. 175,5351 l Claims. (Cl. 1534-56) This invention relates to washing apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus for washing fruits and vegetables and other articles of like size and shape.

A further object of the invention is to provide a home appliance adapted for use with conventionally available water supplies.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for converting continuous fluid flow into a discontinuous flow adapted for effecting a washing operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide for effectively applying a washing fluid to articles to be Washed.

Generally speaking, the invention, to achieve the above and other of its objectives, contemplates an app-aratus whereby a continuous supply of washing water is applied in discrete steps to articles which are to be washed, the quantities of fluid applied to said articles being successively drained along with the material washed from said articles. This treatment results in a cyclic flushing action by means of which an efllcient cleaning is effected.

As to the apparatus of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment means are provided for converting a continuous flow of washing fluid into a stepwise charge of a container in which washing is effected. Further, means are provided for draining said container upon an accumulation of a determinable amount of fluid therein.

The invention will be further clarified hereinunder with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the sole FIGURE diagrammatically illustrates apparatus for practicing the invention.

The apparatus in the drawing comprises generally a lower container it) and an upper container 12.

The lower container 1 may be of generally cylindrical form although other shapes are permissible within the purview of the invention.

The container includes a bottom 14 and a slide 16 wherein are provided openings 18, the purpose of which will become hereinafter apparent.

At the bottom of the container 16 is provided a screen or mesh 29 which is spaced from the bottom 14 of said container the mesh 20 defining with the bottom a space 22.

Internally of the casing it) is mounted a siphon tube 24 the bent portion 26 of which is located at a determinable height.

The container It is intended to accommodate a multitude of articles 27 which are to be subjected to a washing operation.

The upper container 12 is superposed on the lower container '10 and may be of generally inverted conical shape although other forms are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

Centrally located with respect to the upper container 12 is a column 28 which opens upwardly into ambient atmosphere and opens downwardly into the interior of the lower container 16. The column 28 is preferably located immediately above the siphon tube 24.

Container 12 is provided with a discharge opening 3% intended to be selectively closed by a closure mechanism 32.

Closure mechanism 32 includes a stopper 34, float 36 and weight 38. A guide 40 is operatively associated with this latter structure.

The apparatus of the invention may preferably be associated with a source 42 of washing fluid which under the control of a valve 44 provides a continuous flow of washing fluid such as water via a pipe or conduit .6 into said upper container 12.

According to the technique of the invention water is supplied from source 42 via conduit 46 into the upper container 12 wherein the water accumulates until the floatation of float 36 on the surface of the washing fluid causes stopper 3 4 to be withdrawn from discharge opening 30.

The arrangement of

elements

34, 36 and 38 is obviously diagrammatic and is intended simply to represent means for permitting the periodic accumulation of fluid in container 12.

Discharge opening Sil is sufficiently large that the washing fluid can escape into lower container 10 at a rate which is faster than that at which washing fluid is supplied to upper container 12 via conduit 46.

The washing fluid is charged into lower container 16 until the fluid reaches the height of bent portion 25 of siphon tube 24. At this time the washing fluid is siphoned from the lower container 10 to withdraw the fluid contents substantially in entirety from the lower container.

Column 28 provides for a cross-section which is substantially less than that of container it? so that an increase in the rate of accumulated hydraulic or fluid head is provided to assure the priming of the siphon and a rapid draining of the fluid contents of container it from the latter.

When fluid has drained from the container 12 to a predetermined extent which is suificient to assure that the fluid in container it exceeds the determinable height of bent portion 26 of siphon tube 24, weight 38 causes stopper 34 to close discharge opening 38 so that washing fluid can again be accumulated in upper container 12 to be discharged substantially instantaneously via discharge opening 3% into container 10. The connection 4% between float 36 and weight 33 may be made of an elastic or pleated material so as to permit adequate control of and a wider range in the liquid level between the closed and open positions of stopper 34.

Thus a cyclic operation is provided by means of which water is accumulated in container 12 to be disch-ar ed into container it) to flush the contents of the latter whereupon the fluid is removed from container it and the operation is repeated.

According to the preferred technique of the invention, the material washed from articles 27 is divided into three categories, to wit: the material capable of floating on the washing fluid, the material which is capable of sinking to the bottom of the washing fluid in container 10 and the material which is suspended in said washing fluid. In this text suspension is meant to include actual suspension as well as solutions and emulsions into which material leaving articles 27 may pass when subjected to the washing fluid provided by source 42.

The materials washed from articles 27 which floats on the surface of the washing fluid is discharged by overflow of the washing fluid via openings 18 in side 16 of lower container 1%.

The material sinking in the washing fluid passes through grate 20 into the space 22 defined between the grate 29 and the bottom 14 of lower container 10.

The remaining material which goes into suspension, solution or emulsion in the washing fluid is siphoned via siphon tube 24 and leaves the container 1% via the bottom of said siphon tube.

According to the invention container 12 is continuously supplied with washing fluid which is intermittently discharged via discharge opening 3% into container it). When the washing fluid reaches a determinable height in container it it is as was noted above discharged via tube 24 from said container.

According to a feature of the invention as noted above column 28 assures suflicient hydraulic pressure and fluid level due to the fact that it provides an area of reduced cross-section wherein the level of the washing fluid rises rapidly when fluid is being charged into the lower container it) from upper container 12 and exceeds the height of bent portion 26. This aspect of the invention assures that the washing fluid is rapidly siphoned from lower container rather than merely slowly passing therefrom in accordance with the rate at which fluid flows into container 10 via opening 3%.

It will be obvious that the invention has been illustrated diagrammatically and that more sophisticated versions of the discharge mechanism and control 32 may be provided utilizing electrical sensors or other suitable replacements for the rudimentary form of control which has been illustrated.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications and variations of the structure and technique set forth above. These modifications and variations will not depart from the scope of the invention it defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising means including first and second compartments, said first compartment being adapted to contain articles to be washed, means in said first compartment to discharge fluid from the same upon an attaining therein of a predetermined height of fluid, said second compartment being adapted to receive a continuous inflow of fluid and having an outlet opening for discharging said fluid into said first compartment, said second compartment constituting substantially the sole source of fluid for the first compartment, and means for accumulating a determinable quantity of fluid in said second compartment and, upon the attaining therein of a predetermined level of fluid, to discharge said quantity through said opening, said quantity being suflicient to exceed said predetermined height in the first compartment.

2. Washing apparatus comprising upper and lower containers, said lower container being adapted to contain articles to be washed, means in said lower container to discharge fluid from the same upon the attaining therein of a predetermined height or" fluid, said upper container being superposed on said lower container and including a column communicating freely with both ambient atmosphere and said lower container and opening into the latter at about said predetermined height, said column having a cross-section which is substantially smaller than that of said lower container whereby to speed the generation of a fluid head upon an exceeding of said height, sai upper container being adapted to receive a continuous inflow of fluid and having an outlet opening for discharging said fluid into said lower container, said upper container constituting the sole source of fluid for the lower container, and means for accumulating a determinable quantainer and including a column communicating freely with a both ambient atmosphere and said lower container and opening into the latter at about said predetermined height, said column' having a cross-section which is substantially smaller than that of said lower container where by to speed the generation of a fluid head upon an exceeding of said height, said upper container being adapted to receive a continuous inflow of fluid and having an outlet opening for discharging said fluid into said lower container, said upper container constituting the sole source of fluid for thelower container, and means for accumulating a determinable quantity of fluid in said upper container and, upon the attaining therein of a predetermined level of fluid, to discharge said quantity through said opening, said quantity being suflicient to exceed said predetermined height in the first compartment.

4. Washing apparatus comprising upper and lower containers, a grate in said lower container and constituting a bottom therein, said lower container being adapted to contain articles to be washed, 8. siphon in said lower container and adapted to discharge fluid from the same upon the attaining therein of a predetermined height of fluid, said upper container being superposed on said lower container and including atcolumn communicating freely with both ambient atmosphere and said lower container and opening into the latter at about said predetermined height, said column having a cross-section which is substantially smaller than that of said lower container whereby to speed the generation of a fluid head upon an exceeding of said height, said upper container being adapted to receive a continuous inflow of fluid and having an outlet opening for discharging said fluid into said lower container, said upper container constituting the sole source of fluid for the lower container, and means for accumulating a determinable quantity of fluid in said upper container and, upon the attaining therein of a predetermined level of fluid, to discharge said quantity through said opening, said quantity being suflicient to exceed said predetermined height, said lower container having a discharge opening above said predetermined height in the first compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent

Claims

1. APPARATUS COMPRISING MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND COMPARTMENTS, SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT BEING ADAPTED TO CONTAIN ARTICLES TO BE WASHED, MEANS IN SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT OF DISCHARGE FLUID FROM THE SAME UPON AN ATTAINING THEREIN OF A PREDETERMINED HEIGHT OF FLUID, SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVED A CONTINUOUS INFLOW OF FLUID AND HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING FOR DISCHARGING SAID FLUID INTO SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT, SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT CONSTITUTING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SOLE SOURCE OF FLUID FOR THE FIRST COMPARTMENT, AND MEANS FOR ACCUMULATING A DETERMINABLE QUANTITY OF FLUID IN SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT AND, UPON THE ATTAINING THEREIN OF A PREDETERMINED LEVEL OF FLUID, TO DISCHARGE SAID QUANTITY THROUGH SAID OPENING, SAID QUANTITY BEING SUFFICIENT TO EXCEED SAID PREDETERMINED HEIGHT IN THE FIRST COMPARTMENT.