US3620050A - Fluidic washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A MACHINE FOR WASHING OBJECTS, UTILIZING THE VIBRATORY AND OSCILLATORY EFFECTS OF FLUIDIC OSCILLATORS INCLUDING A CONTAINER FOR ARTICLES TO BE WASHED, A PLURALITY OF FLUID DISCHARGE OUTLETS DIRECTLY INWARDLY OF THE CONTAINER AND AT LEAST ONE FLUIDIC OSCILLATOR IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DISCHARGE OUTLETS TO PROVIDE PULSATION OF THE FLUID DISCHARGED INTO THE CONTAINER.

Description

Nov. 16, 1971 p, GLASGOW 3,6Z0,Q50

FLUIDIC WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 25, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 '7 r w 24 k I 18 C r I 1 if J l I l 40 1 v 1H] 1 L INVENTOR.

PAUL J- GLASGOW P- J. GLASGOW FLUIDIC WASHING MACHINE Nov. 16, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 25, 1969 INVENTOR. PAUL J. GLASGOW HTTDRNE Y5 Nov. 16, 1971 P.J. GLASGOW FLUIDIC WASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Feb. 25, 1969 INVENTOR. PAUL J. GLHS'GOW AT T 013MB Y5 United States Patent O1 ice 3,620,050 Patented Nov. 16, 1971 US. Cl. 68355 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for washing objects, utilizing the vibratory and oscillatory effects of fluidic oscillators including a container for articles to be washed, a plurality of fluid discharge outlets directly inwardly of the container and at least one fluidic oscillator in communication with the discharge outlets to provide pulsation of the fluid discharged into the container.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of applicants co-pending patent application Ser. No. 801,991, filed Feb. 25, 1969, under the title Washing Machine, said application having since become abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention Machines for washing small objects.

(2) Description of the prior art Washing machines of all kinds are known to the art and include machines which have electronic and mechanical vibratory mechanisms to enhance thhe cleansing action. An example which utilizes high frequency vibrations is an ultrasonic cleaner.

Also known to the art of fluidics are fluidic oscillators. Examples of United States patents showing such oscillators are the following:

Patent No. Date Name 3,001,539 9/26, 1961 Hurvitz 3,016,066 1/ 9,1962 Warren 3,030,979 4/24,1962 Reilly 3,098,504 7/23,1963 Joesting 3,111,931 11/26,,1963 Bodine 3,158,166 11/24, 1964 Warren 3,185,166 /25, 1965 Horton 3,320,966 5/23, 1967 Swartz SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes for the first time theunique advantages of fluidic oscillators for the purpose of washing small objects.

Prior hereto fluidic oscillators have been considered as pneumatic components in fluidic systems which substitute for electrical or sonic circuits. For electric analogies it may be noted that a fluidic oscillator is a negative feedback oscillator, and its usefulness outside the con-fines of a fluidic circuit has been completely disregarded.

The present invention provides a useful mechanical function which is entirely new and a practical use in connection with a common daily chore.

Briefly and not by way of limitation, the present invention provides a container into which the object to be cleaned is placed. Molded into the side walls of the container are a plurality of oscillators which are connected through hosing or piping to a faucet or other pressurized liquid supply. The outputs of the oscillators are in reality high frequency pulses of liquid (water, cleaning fluid,

etc.). These pulses which oscillate from nozzle to nozzle (pluralities of nozzles may be present) cause high frequency oscillation and agitation of the bath surrounding the objects to be washed as these impulses are directed inwardly of the container and the water issuing therefrom and impinging directly and indirectly upon the object cleans the object through a combination of mechanical vibration, agitation and the reaction of air bubbles on embedded dirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is -a top view of the washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the washing machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the washing machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a modified form of the invention, in which a compound oscillating system is shown.

FIG. 7 is a partial view of a modified embodiment of the present invention showing the use of venturis.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is another modified view showing in addition to the venturis separate inlet holes thereto.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 10- 10 of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11 to 14 are schematic representations of the operation of a fluidic oscillator.

FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view of a further modified version of the invention showing a single fluidic oscillator in a handle mount adapted for hand held oral cavity use.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION -Washing machine 10 of the present invention is comprised of a molded basin 12 having sloping side walls 14, back wall 16 with an overflow outlet 18, and a substantially planar rim 20. A fluid conduit 2 begins at a standard hose fitting 24 in the front portion of rim 20, branches into opposing side runs, and ends in basin 12 by way of a fluid oscillator 26 in each inclined side wall 14. Water entering the conduit follows the paths described, entering basin 12, impinging upon an object therein, and leaving through overflow 18'.

The operation of each fluidic oscillator begins with an examination of its detail. Branching off at equal angles to inlet 30 are two outlets 31 and 32 between which is an inclined surface 34, inclined toward and in favor of outlet 31 hereinafter referred to as the first outlet. Between inlet 30 and inclined plane 34 and extending sidewardly of each of the outlets is a feedback chamber 36, 37, which is a curved conduit returning to inlet 30.

Water or any other fluid entering via inlet 30 is deflected by inclined plane 34 toward and through first outlet 31. At the same time, however, water thus conducted is partially directed into feedback chamber 36, swirled around to inlet 30, and impinges on the water flow therethrough. Such impingement deflects the primary water flow from first outlet 31 to second outlet 32 and into feedback chamber 37, which in turn returns a portion of the flow to inlet 30, again deflecting that flow to first outlet 31. The resultant water flow is an oscillatory pulsation first from first outlet 31, then from second outlet 32, and back to first outlet 31 at a high frequency of oscillation. Outlets 3'1 and 32 end in orifices 40 directed inwardly of bowl 12 and toward any object 3 therein. The sequence of oscillation is shown schematically in FIGS. 11 through 14.

To increase the cleansing activity of the pulsating water, a plurality of fluidic oscillators may be used in whatever orientation is optimum. In FIG. 1 there are shown two opposed fluidic oscillators by way of example. In FIG. 6 the same two fluidic oscillators of FIGS. 1 are shown being fed by a third fluidic oscillator at the inlet hose fitting 24. The result is not only fluid oscillation by each of the two oscillators individually, but also oscillation between both oscillators opposed at bowl 12.

It has been found that relatively small objects such as finger rings, dentures, jewelry, electronic components, tools and the like are cleansed of years of grime without the addition of any soaps or detergents but merely through the action of the water itself. Any cleansing fluid may, of course, be used as desired to enhance and accelerate the cleansing action.

Other modifications may be had. For example, each discharge outlet leg may be a portion of a venturi such that the opening is a venturi orifice. The pulsating fluid stream is provided with higher flow velocity and the accompanying pressure drop due to fluid dynamics is useable as a feeder to inject a cleaning solution or air bubbles into the main stream.

Thus, in FIGS. 710 outlets 70 are shown to have venturi constrictions to provide the desired increase in flow velocity. FIGS. 9 and 10 additionally show opening 72 located at the venturi constriction which is at each discharge opening. In accordance with well-known theories, such as Bernoullis Theorem, there is a greatly reduced pressure at the venturi constriction which would tend to draw, into the constriction and the pulsating stream therein, any fluid which may be in, surrounding or conducted to opening 72. In a simple case, this may be air which is drawn into the pulsating stream and ejected through the venturi orifice to provide a stream of air bubbles which impinge upon the object to be cleaned.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an additional modification in which openings 72 extend from the bottom of a dish 74 to the venturi neck. Liquid detergents or any other desired fluid may be placed in the dish for absorption into the pulsating stream of the venturi. For convenience, dish 74 extends from one venturi to the other to permit a single filling of fluid to suflice for both openings.

Still another modification of the present invention, shown in FIG. 15, is the embodiment of the fluidic oscillator in a small portable head 80 connected to a water supply, such as a sink faucet, by a flexible tube 82. Portable head 80 may be small enough to place in a persons mouth for cleansing teeth. In this modification, the oscillator head, including all operating portions such as shown 4 schematically in any of FIGS. 11-14 could be no larger than a toothbrush. Hand held fluidic oscillators of this type may be used not only for oral cleansing but for general purpose cleansing as well, such as cleaning a sink or any other object. Beyond its small size and portability, the modification is characterized by the small distance between orifices 40 to localize the area of most efficient cleaning.

What is claimed is: 1. A washing machine, comprising: (a) a container for articles to be washed; (b) a plurality of fluid discharge outlets into said container; (0) said discharge outlets each defining a venturi orifice; and (d) at least one fluidic oscillator in communication with said discharge outlets to provide fluid discharge pulsation. 2. A washing machine in accordance with claim 1, 20 wherein:

each venturi orifice is provided with an inlet opening at the venturi constriction. 3. A washing machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

each inlet opening extends from its venturi constriction to a dish for selective input of a cleaning fluid.

4. A washing machine, comprising:

(a) a container for articles to be washed;

(b) said container being provided with opposed pairs of discharge outlets;

(c) each pair of discharge outlets being in fluid communication with a fluidic oscillator to provide pulsation of the discharged fluid; and

(d) a third fluidic oscillator in fluid communication with each two of said fluidic oscillators.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,358,478 12/1967 Heskestad 68184 3,513,866 5/1970 Boothe et al. 137-81.5 3,373,905 3/1968 Laufer 13781.5 3,444,710 5/1969 Gangler et al. 68-355 FOREIGN PATENTS 974,007 8/1960 Germany 68-184 1,178,332 12/1958 France 68-184 69,817 9/1958 France 68184 WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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