US3608338A

US3608338A - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: US3608338A
Application number: US14452A
Authority: US
Inventors: William C Lutzen
Original assignee: Ludell Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Ludell Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1970-02-26
Filing date: 1970-02-26
Publication date: 1971-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-28
Also published as: DE2041207A1; AU1912370A; GB1256840A

Abstract

DISCLOSED HEREIN IS A WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING AN OUTER SHELL TOGETHER WITH AN INNER LINER AND SKEW MEMBERS LOCATED BETWEEN THE LINER AND THE OUTER SHELL WHEREBY TO EFFECT BOTH AXIAL AND CIRCUMFERENTIAL CIRCULATION OF FLUIDS IN A LAUNDRY-FREE AREA AND ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE SHELL IN RESPONSE TO SHELL ROTATION.

Description

Sept. 28, 1971 w. c. I uTzEN 3,608,338

WASHING MACHINE Filed'Feb. 26, 1970 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTQ :zu v1.5

Sept. 28, 1971 w. c. LuTzEN WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1970 0% 0o o O O O O ooo ooo oooo/ o oo oooooow/J oooooooooo o/ oooooooo v//Q oooooo o/.//

o oo o o o ooooo v. ooo Oo ATTozNEY United States Patent "t 3,608,338 WASHING MACHINE William C. Lutzen, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Ludell Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Feb. 26, 1970, Ser. No. 14,452 Int. Cl. D061? 37/06, 37/08 U.S. Cl. 68-145 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed herein is a washing machine comprising an outer shell together with an inner liner and skew members located between the liner and the outer shell whereby to effect both axial and circumferential circulation of fluids in a laundry-free area and elsewhere within the shell in response to shell rotation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 'Ihe invention relates generally to laundry Washing machines and particularly to such machines as include an outer shell and an inner, at least partially, perforated liner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to arrangements for circulating fluids in a laundry washing machine so as to obtain uniform washing performance. In accordance with the invention, skew members extending in radial relation to the rotational axis of the washing drum and at an angle to such axis are located in a laundry-free area between the outer shell of the Washer and at least a partially perforated liner extending generally parallel to the inner wall surface of the shell. Use of such members causes, in response to drum rotation, axial and circumferential ow of the solutions present in the machine through an area unencumbered by laundry to permit free circulation of such solutions in the washer. The invention also involves formation of the liners with an imperforate zone extending from each side of the adjacent edge of each skew member so as to provide closed-wall U-shaped channels for more effectively causing circumferential and axial flow.

In addition to affording opposite circumferential and axial flow in response to opposite drum rotation, the invention also facilitates drainage by providing laundry-free open passages for fluid ow to the drain and by causing fluid ilow toward the drain upon rotation of the drum in the proper direction.

The invention also involves the use of radially extending dividers which separate the drum or shell into one or more pockets and which are axially open in the area between the liner and the outer shell to afford free fluid flow from pocket to pocket.

The invention also involves a construction in which the liner is substantially coextensive with the inner wall surface of the shell and in which supply and drain lifters are extended radially inwardly of the liner leaving the area radially outwardly of the lifters between the liner and the inner wall of the outer shell open for circumferential and axial circulation of fluid.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become known by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away and in section, of a washing machine embodying various of the features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, open ended perspective view,

3,608,338 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 partially in section, and taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. l, of the drum incorporated in the 'washing machine shown in FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified version of a washing drum constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating another modified version of a Washing drum coustructed in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION Shown in the drawings is a washing machine 11 which generally includes a cylindrical shell or drum 13 mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis 17 by a pair of trunnions 19 and 21 supported by a base or support 23. Except for openings permitting loading and unloading of laundry, the shell or drum 13 includes a generally cylindrical and otherwise continuously unbroken inner Wall surface 29, together with walls at each end, which walls are also generally unbroken except as otherwise described herein, only the wall 31 being illustrated.

The shell 13 is divided into two or more pockets or compartments 33 each having a loading and unloading opening 37 by one or more dividers 39 extending to the shell inner wall surface 29. The end wall 31 and the dividers 39 both include, in adjacently spaced relation to the shell inner wall surface 29, and radially inwardly of a liner still to be described, a circular zone 41 of apertures (see FIG. 4).

Means are provided for supplying washing solution and rinsing solution to the shell 13. In addition, means are provided for draining the washing and rinsing solutions. While various arrangements can be employed, in the disclosed construction, the shell 13 includes, along its inner surface, at least two longitudinally extending

lifters

47 and 49 which serve as supply channels and at least one, and preferably two, longitudinally extending lifters 51 which serve as drain channels. The lifters all extend for the full length of the shell and the drain channels or lifters 51 are perforated as shown at 52 (see FIG. 3) and communicate exteriorly of the shell through apertures 53 in the end Wall.

Washing and rinsing solutions-are supplied to the shell through an axial bore 59 extending through the trunnion 19 adjacent to the end wall 31 and are selectively supplied to the lifters or supply channels through suitable valve means 61 and conduit means 63 and 65 extending, at least in part, on the inner surface of the adjacent end wall (see FIGS. l and 4). More specifically, the lifter 47 has at least one aperture 69 for delivering washing solution to each pocket 33 and is communicable with the axial bore 59 through the conduit 63 on the end wall 31 and through the valve means 61 within the axial bore 59.

The rinse solution lifter 49 includes a series of apertures 7-1 for delivering rinse solution to the shell 13 at the end thereof remote from the end wall 31. 'Ihe rinse solution lifter 49 communicates with the axial bore 59 through the conduit 65 on the end Wall 31 and through the beforementioned valve means 61.

In order to drain the shell, the end wall 31 adjacent the trunnion 19 includes the outer peripheral zone of apertures 41 (see FIG. 2) and the end 'portion of the shell 13 is received in a portion of the bore 23 providing a housing 77 having wall means cooperating with the apertures to provide a sump 79 for receiving drainage from the lifters 51 and from the zone of apertures 41. A rotary seal 81 is located between the housing 77 and the shell 13 to prevent escape of solution from between the drum 13 and the housing 77, notwithstanding rotation of the drum Unwanted drainage from the sump is prevented by valve means 83 located at the bottom of the sump 79 and controlling ow to a suitable discharge conduit 87.

In accordance with the invention, the shell or drum 13 is provided with means for axially and circumferentially circulating the washing and rinsing solutions in response to rotation of the drum and without interference with the laundry being washed. In the disclosed construction, such means includes, in each pocket, a liner or liner segments 40 supported in generally parallel relation to the inner wall surface 29 and extending from end to end of each pocket 33 and between the

lifters

47, 49 and 51, together with a plurality of skew members 91 located between the liner 40 and the inner shell surface 29 and extending in radial relation to the horizontal axis and at an angle to such axis such that rotation of the drum in opposed directions will respectively cause fluid in the area between the liner 40 and the inner drum surface 29 to be oppositely axially and circumferentially displaced, whereby in each pocket 33 lthere is induced a flow circulation which assists in homogenizing the uid in the drum.

The liner 40 can be perforate throughout, however, in order to obtain greater axial movement of the liquids in response to rotation of the drum, it is preferred to form the liner 40 with an imperforate zone 93 extending in both arcuate directions from the inner edge of each of the skew members 91, whereby to provide at each skew member, and on each side thereof, a U-shaped lengthwise solid-walled channel formed by the inner wall surface 29, the skew member 91 and the liner imperforate zone 93. In practice, the imperforate zone 93 can extend between 3 inches and 6 inches on each side of the skew member and the diameter of the lshell 13 can be approximately four and one-half to ve feet. Between the imperforate zones 93 extending from -adjacent skew members 9-1, the liner 40 includes perforate Zones 95 affording liquid flow through the liner 40.

In addition to the pocket circulation above discussed, some circulation from pocket 33 to pocket 33 will result as a consequence of imparting axial movement to the solutions in the pockets 33. In order to increase circulation within the drum 13 as a whole and from one pocket 33 to another, and particularly in the area between the liner 40 and the inner wall surface 29, the dividers 39 are each preferably formed so that the major portion in the area between the liner 40 and the inner wall surface 29 is open to flow. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 4, each divider has, between adjacent skew members `91, a quarter moon shaped opening 97 affording relatively unrestricted flow from pocket 33 to pocket 33 between the liner 40 and the inner wall surface 29 of the shell 13. In addition and in order to facilitate drainage, the end wall 31 also has quarter moon shaped opening 97A affording relatively free flow to the sump 79 from the area between the liner 40 to the inner wall surface 29.

Provision of the liner 40 and of the skew members 91 also contributes to drainage of the shell. Specifically in this regard, during the drainage portion of the operating cycle, the drum 13 can be operated primarily in the rotative direction such as to axially drain liquids through the laundry free area between the liner 40 and the inner wall surface 29 toward the end wall 31. In addition, when the drum is stationary, the laundry free area between the liner 40 and the inner wall surface 29 also serves to afford more rapid drainage toward the end wall 31.

Shown in FIG. is a construction which is slightly modified from that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In particular, the liner 40 does not extend up to the sides of the

lifters

47, 49 and 51 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but terminates 4 with radially outwardly extending end portions 96 which join the inner wall surface 29 at 98 in adjacently spaced relation to the

lifters

47, 49 and 51. In other respects, the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

While the liners 40 extend in parallel relation to the shell between the

lifters

47, 49 and 51, it is also in accordance with the invention to construct the

lifters

47, 49 and 51 lso that they extend from the liner 40, as compared to the shell inner wall surface 29, and thereby permit increased peripheral or circular flow in the area between the liner 40 and the shell 13 outwardly of the outer ends of the

lifters

47, 49 and 51. This construction is shown in FIG. `6 and provides for greater circumferential circulation in the radial plane while also affording the beforementioned axial circulation.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising a generally cylindrical shell having an inner wall surface, means mounting said shell for rotation with the axis of said shell horizontally extending, a perforated liner extending interiorly of said shell in generally parallel relation to said inner wall surface, and means extending at an angle to the rotational axis of said shell between said inner wall surface and said perforated liner .for axially directing fluid between said inner wall surface and said liner in response to rotation of said cylinder.

2. -A washing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for axially directing fluid comprises a plurality of members located between said inner surface and said liner and extending generally radially with respect to said horizontal axis and at an angle to said horizontal axis.

3. A washing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said shell includes at least one divider extending radially of said axis and dividing said shell into two axially adjacent pockets and wherein said divider includes, in the area between said liner and said inner wall surface, an open area affording free flow between adjacent pockets.

4. A washing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said shell includes a plurality of lifters extending axially of said shell and from said inner wall surface and wherein said liner includes segments between said lifters.

5. A washing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said liner extends substantially co-extensively with said inner wall surface and including a plurality of lifters extending axially of said shell and radially inwardly from said liner.

6. A washing machine comprising a generally cylindrical shell having an inner wall surface, means mounting said shell for rotation with the axis of said shell extending horizontally, a member extending radially inwardly of said inner wall surface with respect to said horizontal axis and at -an angle to said horizontal axis and including a radially inner edge, and a liner extending interiorly of said shell in generally yparallel relation to said inner wall surface at said radially inner edge, said liner including, on each side of said inner edges, an imperforate zone and further including a perforate zone extending from each of said imperforate zones.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 90,309 5/18'69 Ross 6'8-142 WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner