US3259373A - Fruit and vegetable washing device with vertical circulative flow and direct faucet engagement - Google Patents

Description

July 5, 1966 c. w. RANSON 3,259,373

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE WASHING DEVICE WITH VERTICAL CIRCULATIVE FLOW AND DIRECT FAUCET ENGAGEMENT Filed Feb. 4, 1963 United States Patent O 3,259,373 FRUIT AND VEGETABLE WASHING DEVICE WITH VERTICAL CIRCULATIVE FLOW AND DIRECT FAUCET ENGAGEMENT Charles W. Ranson, 7906 Agnew Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Feb. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 256,061 Claims. (Cl. 259--4) The present invention relates to a washing device for fruits, vegetables, and other solid food units. The device provides for imparting to contained liquid a two dimensional circulative flow in a vertical plane. Provision is included for the circulative liquid flow to receive sufficient kinetic energy from tangential inlet liquid flow to effect continuous vertical circulative motion of the fruits or vegetables.

Objects of the invention are to provide for the thorough cleaning of all surface areas of fruits and vegetables in minimum time and without bruises or damage.

Other objects are to provide a simple cleaning device having no moving mechanical par-ts, and which can be used conveniently in household kitchen sinks, and which can utilize kinetic energy available from conventional household faucet water.

Another object is to provide reduced kinetic energy losses by introducing faucet water flow directly into circulative washing water there-by tall-owing easier starting of circulative flow of a static food pile, larger load washing at low faucet water pressure, and larger load washing for a given size of Washing device.

An object is to eliminate the difficulty of providing an extension conduit having leak resistant end adapters for the faucet and washing device.

Another object is to eliminate the inconvenience of installing and disconnecting an extension conduit at each use of the device.

An object is to provide for preventing the intake of air at openings in faucet aerators during food unit washing and thereby preventing a corresponding loss of inlet liquid momentum and kinetic energy.

Another object is to provide for supporting the washing device at a relatively high elevation with the faucet nozzle submerged in the device and in a manner to accommodate all types, shapes and sizes of sink and faucet combinations conveniently.

Other objects are to provide for support of the washing device from faucets of various diameters and having various faucet nozzle angles of inclination to horizontal.

A number of other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

One form of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the views.

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the fruit and vegetable washing device properly positioned beneath an open water faucet. The arrows indicate the how path of the circulative liquid flow. The hatched lateral base line represents the side wall of a household kitchen sink having a fixed relationship with an overhead faucet 5.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE 1 showing the comparatively narrow width of the washing device.

FIGURE 3 is a section view of FIGURE 1 along line 3-3 showing a hook tension attachment to a facet.

FIGURE 4 is a view along line 44 of FIGURE 1 showing .a yoke compression attachment to a faucet.

The washing of fruits and vegetables in the kitchen has heretofore been accomplished by the use of a colander, a conventional kitchen pan, or by hand rubbing under an open faucet.

The colander is a bowl shaped sieve with a base. For food washing purposes, the colander is held under an 3,259,373 Patented July 5, 1966 ice open faucet while containing a pile of food units. The bulk of the water follows the path of least resistance and flows around rather than through the pile of food units. The velocity of the water seeping between the food units is low due to resistance so that liquid scouring and dissolving action is relatively inefficient and slow. Also the food units lie static so that areas of mutual contact and areas of con-tact with the container receive no washing.

The conventional kitchen pan is generally used for Washing by filling the bottom of the pan with food units and most of the remainder with 'water. The pan is then shaken by hand to simulate the action of a tumbling barrel. The cleaning action is highly erratic and inconsistent. Rinsing is only partial as the liquid is poured out. Bruises and surface damage can be done to berries and delicate skin fruits by the shifting Weight of the total load.

The prior art has also provided a washing device of the present type. This device is described in my copending application of Serial No. 445,857, effective filing date November 29, 1962. The prior device while providing distinct improvements and advantages is subject to further improvement as disclosed herein. The present invention provides for the elimination -of the flexible conduit extending from the faucet to the inlet of the referenced device while retaining the maximum washing load capacity and the ability to operate at low available water pressures. The present device also provides additional advantages as set forth herein.

Referring to the several figures, Washing device 1 includes side walls 2 and 3 extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart in relative proximity. A lateral wall 4 extends between side walls 2 and 3 to provide a bottom wall 411 and two opposite end walls 4b and 4c. The bottom wall 4a and end wall 4b are faired together by radius R to provide a curved inner surface as shown.

The inner surface of end wall 4b extends vertically above point A, which is the point of tangency with radius R Point B indicates the lower point of tange-ncy wit-h radius R The opposite portion of lateral wall 4 is curved and faired as indicated by radius R The internal surface of lateral wall 4 provides a smooth, curved perimeter flow path for contained liquid.

Washing device -1 is supported to faucet 5 by a tension hook 6 threaded for engagement with cantilever support arm 7 of device l1. The thread fit is sufficiently loose to allow turning of the book by hand to fit various diameter sizes of faucets. The hook 6 loops over faucet 5, as in FIGURE 3, to provide self locking from the weight of device 11. The outer end of support arm 7 is provided with threaded compression yoke 8. The thread fit is sufficiently loose to allow turning of the yoke by hand to accommodate various slopes of faucet piping. This allows leveling of device 1 so that upper perimeter 9 can be positioned horizontally for proper operation of the device. Yoke 8 straddles faucet 5 as in FIGURE 4 to provide self locking under the weight of device 1.

Device 1 is positioned on faucet 5 so that faucet liquid is ejected adjacent to end wall 4b thereby providing liquid inlet tangential to radius R with a smooth transition to a curved flow path below point of tangency, A.

For operation, the device is partially filled with fruits or vegetables or other food units and hung from proper position on faucet 5 as shown in FIGURE 1. The exit port of faucet -5 is positioned below the level of perimeter 9 which is the normal water level during operation. This is done by adjusting book 6. Thus the inlet flow into device 1 from faucet 5 is submerged. This provides improved liquid fiow efficiency with reduced eddy losses. The inlet liquid from \faucet 5 is directed into a circulative path by radii R and R The established flow path is in accordance with the arrows shown in FIGURE 1. The water major exhaust occurs over the edge of upper perimeter 9 or through openings in an optional lid, not shown. Sand and other non soluble solids are exhausted with small liquid jets at auxiliary exhaust ports 10. Aerator openings a of faucet 5 are submerged to avoid entraining" air in the inlet liquid flow which would reduce the liquid mass flo'w rate and reduce the available kinetic energy.

Washing device 1 contains liquid vertically within a width, W of relatively narrow proportions as shown in FIGURE 2. This lateral confinement provides for two dimensional liquid flow in a vertical plane. The circulative flow pattern is induced by the tangential inlet jet and the curved inner surfaces of the lateral wall, FIGURE 1.

.Two dimensional confinement contributes greatly to liquid flo-w control and reduces dissipation of kinetic energy from lateral flow and turbulence.

As stated above, the side walls 2 and 3 are in the state of being mutually near. This side wall proximity endows the washing device with'a width less than the length or height or each. The device has been found to be operable using conventional household faucets and a reasonable container volume when width W is about one half or less of the length or height of the device. As the width of the device is decreased with respect to the length or height, the efliciency and load capacity increase. When the width of the device is relatively large with respect to the length or height the circulative two dimensional flow pattern is not obtained but localized random liquid agitation occurs at the region of faucet water energy. This results in erratic and negligible washing action. The specific side wall proximity required for satistactory performance of any given installation depends upon a number of variables including the liquid mass flow rate, the height and length of the device, the internal contours of the device, the densities and dimensions of the food units to be cleaned and the size of the wash load.

The kinetic energy of the inlet jet is conserved by the relatively large proportions of radii R and R and by the substantially two dimensional liquid flow pattern. The' overflow liquid is of low velocity and low kinetic energy loss. Viscosity functions to maintain the entire liquid body in a state .of circulative flow.

The two dimensional circulative liquid flow in a vertical plane imparts similar circulative motion to contained food units. The submerged food units are buoyed by forces equal to the weights of the displaced liquid. Consequently, only a relatively small amount of liquid drag force is required to lift a given food unit vertically against the gravity force. The drag force of a solid body in non-laminar liquid flow is proportional to the relative velocity squared. 'Hence, :by constructing washing device 1 as described to conserve kinetic energy and to maintain high liquid rotative velocity, the food units are forced to rise and circulate with the liquid. Food unit circulative washing has been achieved using the water jet from conventional household faucets. It was found that the food units experience local tumbling as they move in general circulative flow. This tumbling action adds to the liquid scouring effect and to the cleaning by mutual attrition between food units.

During operation of the washing device, insecticides, fungicides, and other chemicals and soil particles are progressively removed from food units by a continuously diluting liquid flow. The impurities are carried away in the bulk liquid overflow at upper perimeter 9. Heavy non-soluble impurities are discharged through auxiliary exhaust ports in bottom lateral wall 4a by small exhausting water jets as the impurities are swept along wall 4 by circulative liquid flow. When faucet 5 is closed, drainage occurs automatically through ports 10 permitting food units conveniently to be poured from spout 11 without liquid.

For many types of faucet installations washing device 1 can be conveniently supported by hook 6 in combination with cantilever support arm 7 and compression yoke 8. However there are some faucet installations where support arm 7 may have interference with a near wall or near vertical piping. In this event support arm 7 is removed .from washing device 11 by turning support arm 7 to disengage threaded stud 12 from a corresponding threaded hole in device 1. Stable support of device 1 is then obtained by hook 6 in combination with lateral support rods 13 and 14 which butt against the side of a sink, indicated by the vertical hatched line of FIGURE 1. Lateral support rods 13 and 14 are threaded for adjustalble engagement with threaded holes in lugs 15 and .16 extending from skirt portion 17. Rods .13 and i14 are provided with flattened ends for finger turning. Lock nuts 18 are grooved rfor finger turning.

For faucet installations where neither cantilever support arm 7 nor lateral support rods 13 and 14 fit the faucet and sink configuration for support, vertical support rod 19 with large base plate 21 is used in combination with hook 6 for stable support. A suitable box or other improvised support element approximately of the required height, not shown, is placed on the floor of the sink. Vertical support rod 119, which is threaded for engagement with a threaded hole in lug 20, is extended, with upper perimeter 9 level, until base plate 21 contacts the top of the improvised supportelement. Thus the device, as shown, has universal adaptation to practically all types, sizes, and shapes of sink and faucet combinations.

Deflector screen 22, FIGURE 2 is held by frame 23 and functions to deflect food units and prevent them from becoming wedged between the submerged portion of faucet 5 and side walls 2 and 3 during operation. Frame 23 is bonded to the side walls and is provided with a port 24 to admit faucet 5. Thus, contained liquid is free to flow around the submerged nozzle of faucet 5 and to be swept along for inlet jet augmentation purposes in relatively continuous fluid streamlines with minimum eddy losses and improved liquid flow efliciency.

' While one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated it is to be understood that what is defined by Letters 'P-atents is specified by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A washing device including two side longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, a lateral wall extending between said side walls to provide a bottom wall and two opposite end walls and connecting with said side walls in unitary relation to provide a container cavity, and the inner surface of said bottom wall and the inner surface of at least one of said end Walls substantially faired to provide a substantially curved inner surface at the region of juncture, and said walls terminating upwardly generally to provide an upper horizontally disposed overflow port, and said side walls and end walls substantially non-apertured to provide liquid overflow at said upper overflow port in normal operation, and a support portion adapted for support engagement with a horizontally disposed overhead faucet, and means for associating said support portion with said washing device, and an outwardly extending support structure, and said outwardly extending structure adapted to engage against sink assembly structure, and said outwardly extending structure and said support portion for faucet engagement cooperating in normal use to stabilize said washing device in a (fixed attitude.

2. A washing device as in claim 1, and said portion of hook-like character.

3. A washing device as in claim 1, and a deflector, and at least one inlet opening in said deflector, and said deflector positioned above said substantially curved surface, and means for supporting said deflector with respect to said device.

4. A washing device as in claim '1, and a deflector, and said deflector including screen-like deflector material, and

walls extending support said deflector positioned above said substantially curved sunface, and means for supporting said deflector with respect to said device.

5. A washing device including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, a lateral Wall extending between said side Walls to provide a bottom wall and two opposite end Walls and connecting with said side Walls in unitary relation to provide a container cavity, and the inner surface of said bottom wall and the inner surface of at least one of said end Walls substantially faired to provide a substantially curved inner surface at the region of juncture, and overflow means disposed upwardly to determine the operating liquid level in normal operation, and a wall upper edge provided at a faucet access location, said edge to underlie a horizontally disposed faucet in normal operation, and said overflow means and said wall upper edge at said faucet access location of substantially the same horizontal elevation to provide for a submerged faucet discharge end generally in normal operation, and a support portion adapted for support engagement with a horizontally disposed overhead ifaucet, and means for associating said support portion with said washing device, and an outwardly extending support structure, and said outwardly extending structure adapted to engage against sink assembly structure, and said outwardly extending structure and said support portion for faucet engagement cooperating in normal use to stabilize said Washing device in a fixed attitude.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,025,206 5/1912 Rounds.

1,053,223 2/1913 Robertson -97 1,245,768 11/1917 Randall 25936 1,262,962 4/1918 Lewis.

1,531,274 3/1925 Cowden 220--86 1,650,009 11/1927 Charleston.

1,748,296 2/1930 Lombard 68-23 2,254,003 8/1941 De Marco 68--196 2,508,963 5/1950 Mote 220-18 3,140,647 7/1964 Miller 95-97 X FOREIGN PATENTS 587,859 1/1959 Italy.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE NORTH, Examiner.

ROBERT L. BLEU IGE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A WASHING DEVICE INCLUDING TWO SIDE WALLS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND VERTICALLY AND SPACED APART, A LATERAL WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS TO PROVIDE A BOTTOM WALL AND TWO OPPOSITE END WALLS AND CONNECTING WITH SAID SIDE WALLS IN UNITARY RELATION TO PROVIDE A CONTAINER CAVITY, AND THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID BOTTOM WALL AND THE INNER SURFACE OF AT LEAST ONE OFSAID END WALLS SUBSTANTIALLY FAIRED TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY CURVED INNER SURFACE AT THE REGION OF JUNCTURE, AND SAID WALLS TERMINATING UPWARDLY GENERALLY TO PROVIDE AN UPPER HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED OVERFLOW PORT, AND SAID SIDE WALLS AND END WALLS SUBSTANTIALLY NON-APERTURED TO PROVIDE LIQUID OVERFLOW AT SAID UPPER OVERFLOW PORT IN NORMAL OPERATION, AND A SUPPORT PORTION ADAPTED FOR SUPPORT ENGAGEMENT WITH A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED OVERHEAD FAUCET, AND MEANS FOR ASSOCIATING SAID SUPPORT PORTION WITH SAID WASHING DEVICE, AND AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING SUPPORT STRUCTURE, AND SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AGAINST SINK ASSEMBLY STRUCTURE, AND SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING STRUCTURE AND SAID SUPPORT PORTION FOR FAUCET ENGAGEMENT COOPERATING IN NORMAL USE TO STABILIZE SAID WASHING DEVICE IN A FIXED ATTITUDE.

Images