US3841116A

US3841116A - Multiple automatic washer system

Info

Publication number: US3841116A
Application number: US00313598A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Klein; W Wallens
Original assignee: CENTURY NIAGARA CORP
Current assignee: CENTURY NIAGARA CORP
Priority date: 1972-12-08
Filing date: 1972-12-08
Publication date: 1974-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-15

Abstract

A dual water supply and reclaiming system adapted to serve a series of automatic laundering machines. The wash water and rinse water from the several machines are circulated through separate systems for independently treating and reclaiming the same for reuse by the several laundering machines. Both systems include filtering arrangements and the wash water system additionally includes means for chemically treating the used wash water to sterilize and neutralize the same. Makeup water for the wash water system is supplied from the rinse water system, which is replenished with fresh water from a public water supply system.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Klein et al.

14 1 Oct. 15, 1974 i 1 MULTIPLE AUTOMATIC WASHER SYSTEM [75] Inventors: Lawrence N. Klein, Angola, N.Y.;

William R. Wallens, Pembroke Pine, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Century-Niagara Corporation, 0 Raleigh, N.C.

[22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 313,598

[52] US. Cl. 68/12 1R, 68/18 F, 68/27, 210/167, 210/195, 210/210 [51] Int. Cl D06f 31/00, D06f 39/10 [58] Field of Search 68/12 R, 18 R, 18 F, 27; 210/167,195, 210

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,382,490 8/1945 Lawlor 210/202 X 2,630,694 3/1953 Creswick.. 68/18 F 2,979,375 4/1961 Kircher et a1........ 68/18 R X Bready et al. 68/18 F X 3.291.562 12/]966 AllLiLl'SOll 68/18 F ux FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant ExaminerPhilip R. Coe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Connolly and Hutz [5 7 ABSTRACT A dual water supply and reclaiming system adapted to serve a series of automatic laundering machines. The wash water and rinse water from the several machines are circulated through separate systems for independently treating and reclaiming the same for reuse by the several laundering machines. Both systems include filtering arrangements and the wash water system additionally includes means for chemically treating the used wash water to sterilize and neutralize the same. Makeup water for the wash water system is supplied from the rinse water system, which is replenished with fresh water from a public water supply system.

22, Claims, 4 Drawing Figures MULTIPLE AUTOMATIC WASHER SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to automatic laundering machines such as are used in self-service laundry establishments and, more particularly, to a dual water supply and reclaiming system adapted to serve a battery of independently operable laundering machines of this general type.

In the operation of self-service laundries in which a number of automatic washing machines are made available for use and operation by patrons, usually by coin operation, problems have frequently been encountered in connection with water supply and disposal. For example, in some communities, local ordinances prohibit the dumping of large quantities of waste water, such as are normal and customary in this type of business. In others, no adequate municipal or public water drainage or disposal facilities may be available. Where suitable drainage facilities are available, the dumping of large quantities of laundry waste .waters therein, which ultimately find their way to streams and other natural bodies of water, present pollution problems because of the presence of detergents and other laundry additives which often contains phosphates, enzymes and other harmful constituents. Also, the actual cost of water may be a substantial cost factor when the water utilized in the washing machines for the wash and rinse cycles is used only once and then passed on to sewage or other disposal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, as hereinafter described, provides a solution to the above problems by providing separate wash water and rinse water systems particularly adapted to serve a number of independently operable automatic washing machines. The various wash and rinse waters from such'machines are received in separate systems for independently treating and reclaiming the same and returning the reclaimed wash and rinse waters to the several washing machines for recycling as the individual operations of the machines require the same. In filtering and cleaning the wash and rinse waters and returning the same for reuse, the problem of sewage or drainage disposal, together with the problem of pollution, is eliminated. v

In addition to disposing of the drainage and pollution problems, the present system offers substantial economies in the matter of heating the wash water and in the amounts of detergent employed in the washing operations. The temperature of the wash water after filtering and treating will ordinarily contain residual heat and be much higher than the normalpublic water supply temperature and thus require much less heat" to bring the same to the desired wash water temperature.

Furthermore, the filtration and chemical treatment of the used wash water does not substantially reduce the detergent content of the wash water so that in the normal course of events in those commercial operations wherein the addition of detergents to the wash water is controlled by an attendant, it is only necessary to add detergent in proportion to the amounts of'water left in the washed fabrics after the washing operation and the spin drying operation which follows the same prior to rinsing.

Generally, the only quantity of water lost in the present system is the wash water remaining in the damp-dry fabrics after washing. The water content of the clothes before and after the rinsing operation remains approximately constant. In the present system of this invention, water from the rinse system is employed'to replenish lost wash water and then the rinse water system is replenished from the public water supply or other source. Thus, the heat and detergent which pass to the rinse water from the wash water during the rinse cycle tend to be returned to the wash cycle, at least, to the extent of water replenishment which the wash cycle requires. Also, the addition of fresh water to the rinse water tends to dilute the residual detergents therein and maintains the rinse water as clean as possible for efficient launderingpurposes.

Generally speaking, the present invention provides two separate systems for .automatically directing wash water and rinse water from the washing machines back to the respective wash water and rinse water supply systems. The wash water recycling system includes a filtering operation to remove particulates from the used wash water and achemic'altreating operation to remove insolubles from such wash water and to disinfect the same. The rinse water recycling system includes a filtering operation to remove particulates and an activated charcoal filtering process to remove detergents and insolubles such as oils, dyes and the like. All of the make up'water required by the system is received in the rinse water system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. la and lb constitute a composite schematic or diagrammatic view showing a plurality of washer units and a dual wash water and rinse water supply and reclaiming system therefor arranged in accordance with one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a mixing apparatus incorporated'in the system of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, on an enlarged'scale, of aseparator used in the system of this invention; and

F IG. 4 is a chart showing the conditions of the several electrical contacts of the special automatic washer timer of each washer unit during thesuccessive phases of a complete wash cycle of an individual machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE J EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. lb a series of automatic washing machines 10 of --the type generally employed in coinoperated laundry establishments and individually operated by patrons of the establishment. However, these washing machines 10 may be of the type used in com mercial laundries operated by employees of the facility whereby the amount and type. of detergents and other laundering additives used are controlled- In either event, while three such washing machines 10 are shown in the illustrative embodiment depicted in FIGS, 1a and lb, it should be understood that a battery of any given number of washers maybe employed, the operation of each individual washer being selective and entirelyindependent'of the operation of other washers of the series, each being equipped with the special timer which governs the successive phases of a complete wash and rinse cycle of operation. g

A pair of similar storage tanks 11 and 12 are provided for receiving and dispensing reclaimed wash water and rinse water, respectively. A common wash water supply conduit 13 connects tank 11 to the several washing machines and a pump 15 contained therein delivers the wash water under pressure to machines 10. The wash water from tank 11 passes through a very fine mesh filter 16, on the order of 2-3 microns, for example, for filtering out any minute particles remaining in the wash water after the filtering and chemical treating operation, as will hereinafter be more fully described. A normally idle booster pump 17 also is incorporated in supply conduit 13 and is energized by a pressure switch (not shown) to assist pump 15 in delivering the large quantity of wash water required when a large number of washing machines 10 are simultaneously in use.

in a similar arrangement, a common rinse water supply conduit 18 connects tank 12 to the several washing machines 10 and a pump 20 contained therein con stantly delivers the rinse water under pressure toward machines 10. This rinse water is conveyed through a fine mesh filter 21 to remove any particulates remaining in the rinse water after the filtering operation, hereinafter more fully described. A normally idle booster pump 22 also is incorporated in conduit 18 to deliver an adequate volume of rinse water to the washing machines 10 during peak loading thereof as when a large number of such machines 10 are being operated simultaneously.

The dual water supply and reclamation system of the present invention is adaptable to various building arrangements. For example, the wash water and rinse water tanks 11 and 12 may be located in rooms separate from the washing machines 10 and may be located above the latter so that the water supply thereto may be conveyed entirely by gravity, if desired. However, the system of the present invention is adapted for use under conditions where it is desirable or necessary for tanks 11 and 12 to be at substantially the same level as the series of washing machines 10 with the various sump tanks, hereinafter described, disposed in a suitable basement area below the level of the tanks 11' and 12 and the washing machines 10.

Each washing machine 10 includes an electrical solenoid operated two-way valve 23 which is controlled by the individual timer 24 of the washing machine 10 to admit wash water or rinse water or shut off the supply of either to the washer unit. Each washer 10 has a common drain provided with an electrical solenoid operated two-way valve 25 which is activated by the individual timer 24 associated therewith to close the drain or open the latter for draining the wash water orrinse water through

conduits

26 or 27, respectively, leading to a common wash water drain conduit 28 and a common rinse water drain conduit 30, respectively. .The

, timer 24 incorporated in each machine 10 is-operative. to coordinate the actuation of valves 23 and 25in a timed relationship with the washing and rinsing operations so that the drain is closed when eithenwash or rinse water is supplied through valve 23 and opened to discharge eitherthe wash water or rinse water after the washing and rinsing operations are completed.

The contaminated wash water and rinse water are drained from each washing machine 10 by gravity via

conduits

28 and 30, respectively, to a wash water sump tank 31 and a rinse water sump tank 32, both located below the level of the tanks 11 and 12 and the several washers 10. The used wash water is discharged from the outlet of drain conduit 28 and through a lint removing filter 33 into sump tank 31. A probe 35 is suspended in sump tank 31 above filter 33 to generate a signal when the lint accumulates to a certain level, indieating to the attendant that the filter must be cleaned. A pump 36, provided with outlet return manifold 37, is mounted in sump tank 31 for continuously stirring the accumulated wash water therein to aerate such accumulated wash water for destroying at least some of the bacteria therein and minimizing the odors resulting therefrom.

A float control switch 38 is suspended in wash water sump tank 31 and when the wash water reaches a predetermined level, switch 38 actuates the operation of a pump 40 to convey the wash water from sump tank 31 through a supply conduit 41, a filter 42, a manually operated control valve 43, and a branch conduit 44 into a chemical mixing tank 45. As shown in FIG. 1a, inlet and

outlet pipes

46 and 47 are tapped into conduit 41 for directing the wash water under pressure through filter 42, which preferably comprises three different grades of sand grit and filter media. However, an on-off control valve 48 is provided in conduit 41 between filter inlet 46 and outlet 47 to bypass filter 42, if desired or necessary. Also, the manual valve 43 provided in conduit 41 at the juncture of branch conduit 44 can be actuated to completely bypass the chemical treatment operation, hereinafter described, and deliver the wash water directly to storage tank 11 under peak load conditions when all or substantially all the washing machines 10 are in operation. Also, control valve 43 may be utilized to divert only a portion of the wash water into branch conduit 44 for chemical treatment, dependent on the extent of wash water contamination and the degree of cleanliness desired for subsequent reuse.

'The float control switch 38 also is effective to initiate the operation of a pump 50 for feeding a chlorine solution at a controlled rate from a supply reservoir 51 to the mixing tank 45 via conduit 52. Simultaneously, switch 38 effects operation of a feeder 53 for delivering the proper amounts of a suitable flocculant or chemical, such as lime, for example, from a storage bin 55 into the mixing tank 45. The lime and the chlorine or chemical solution is continually blended with the wash water by a mixer 56 mounted on the lower end of a vertically extending, rotatable shaft 57 driven by a motor 58 through a suitable pulley and belt drive assembly 60. The lime serves as a flocculant or precipitant in collecting the unwanted 'insolublesin the form of aggregates or precipitants to form a liquid suspension. While not limited thereto, the specific chlorine solution employed in the illustrative embodiment is tri chloro cyanurate. The floatcontrol switch 38 also activates a pump 61 contained in the mixing tank outlet conduit 62 for delivering the admixture or liquid suspension from tank 45 into a mixer 63 for slowly and completely mixing the lime and chlorine solution with the wash water prior to the introduction thereof into a settling tank 65.

As shown in FIG. 2, a simplified type of mixer 63 comprises a generally rectangularly shaped, box like container having a pair of side walls 66 and 67, a pair of end walls 68and 70, and a bottom wall 71. An intermediate partition wall 72 extends parallel to the side walls 66 and 67 and divides the housing into two chambers 73 and 75, which are in communication with each other through a passage 76. A series of axially spaced baffle plates 77 in chamber 73 extend inwardly from walls 66 and 72 and are oriented at angles extending rearwardly or away from end wall 68. Likewise, a series of axially spaced baffle plates 78 in chamber 75 extend inwardly from

walls

72 and 67 and are oriented at angles extending forwardly toward end wall 68. An inlet 80, in communication with conduit 62, is provided in end wall 68 for admitting the wash water admixture into chamber 73 and an outlet 81 is provided in the bottom wall 71 of chamber 75 for discharging the wash water through a conduit 82 into settling tank 65. The ends of

baffle plates

77, 78 are spaced from their respective adjacent baffle plates to form passages therebetween causing the wash water admixture to flow in a slow, tortuous path in the direction of the arrow through chamber 73, passage 76 and compartment 75, assuring a thorough and complete blending of the chlorine solution and lime or chemicals with the wash water.

Conduit 82 empties into an inner receptacle 83 mounted in settling tank' 65 for separating out the larger masses of aggregates suspended in the wash water. The chlorinated and lime-treated wash water flows downwardly through a manifold 85 and then outwardly through outlets 86 into the settling tank 65. The heavier aggregates remaining in the wash water tend to flow to the bottom of tank 65 and settle thereas sludge. The treated wash water, together with a certain amount of fine, suspended particles therein, rises upwardly in tank 65 and flows outwardly therefrom through conduit 87 and into a separator tank 88 mounted on top of a tank 90 housing a mediae filter bed.

As shown in FIG. 3, separator 88 comprises a generally rectangularly shaped container having opposed sidewalls 91 and 92, opposed

end walls

93 and 95, and a bottom wall 96 inclined upwardly from the inlet 97 toward the outlet 98. lnlet 97 is in communication with conduit 87 for receiving the wash water discharged from settling tank 65. As the wash water flows from the deep end of separator 88 adjacent inlet 97 to the shallow end thereof adjacent outlet 98, the generally moderate sized particulates remaining in the wash water will settle out and be collected along the inclined bottom wall 96 while the relatively clean wash water will flow outwardly through the outlet 98' adjacent the top of separator 88. A sludge outlet 100 is provided'in sidewall 92 adjacent the deep end of separator 88 to periodically drain off the sludge accumulated therein. The wash water discharged through outlet 98 then passes downwardly through the filter bed in tank 90 to remove any fine particles remaining in the treated wash waterand is then admitted as clean and sterilized wash water into an intermediate collecting tank l02'via conduit 101. When the reconditioned wash water'in tank 102 reachesa predetermined level, a pump 103 in outlet conduit 105 becomes energized to deliver such re-. claimed wash water to storage tank 11. Thus, the dirty wash water drained from washing machines intosump tank 31 is routed through a water filtering and cleaning operation, as described above, and returned to storage tank 11 as' reconditioned or reclaimed clean water for recycling through washing machines 10. Generally speaking, it is necessary to chemically treat only a portion of the wash water returned to tank 11 for efficient laundering purposes, the proportion of wash water so treated depending on the degree of contamination thereof and the desired cleanliness required for effective cleansing action; When peak loads are encountered during the simultaneous operation of a large number of washing machines 10, the wash water can bypass the chemical treatment system temporarily by means of control valve 43 and be subsequently completely treated during slow periods of washer usage.

The rinse water, which is less contaminated than the wash water, is routed through a simpler reconditioning or treating system. Similar to the wash water system, the used rinse water drained by gravity through conduit 30 passes through a lint removingfilter 107 into sump tank 32. A probe 108 is suspended in sump tank 32 above filter 107 to generate a signal when the lint accumulates to a predetermined level, indicating that the filter must be cleaned. A pump 110 is mounted in sump tank 32 for continually stirring the accumulated rinse water in a manner aerating the accumulated rinse water therein.

A float control valve 111 is suspended in rinse water sump tank 32 and is operative, when the rinse water reachesa predetermined level in tank 32, to initiate the operation of a suction pump "112 to convey the rinse water under pressure from sump tank 32 through a conduit 113 and a triple mediae filter 114, and then into storage tank 12. The filter 114 preferably includes a layer of sand grit, a layer of electromedia, and a layer of carbon. As shown in FIG. 1, a'normally closed, manually operated control valve 115 is provided in conduit 113 between the filter inlet 116 and outlet 117 and may be opened to bypass filter'114, if desired, or if filter 114 should become clogged or inoperative.

A portion of the filtered rinse water is bled from filter outlet 117 through a branch conduit 118 into the lower end of a detergent absorbing cannister 119, the proportion of rinse water directed through cannister 119 being determined by the amount of detergent contained therein and the amount tolerable in the rinse water supply for effective rinsing. The cannister 119 is filled with activated charcoal granules for completely removing any detergents, cleaning additives, oils, dyes and the like contained in the rinse water flowing upwardly therethrough. The purified rinse water is 'discharged from the upper end of cannister 119 through an outlet 120 into the rinse water storage tank 12.

- The float control valve 111 also is effective to initiate the operation of a pump 121 for feeding a chlorine solution, such asa tri cloro'cyanurate solution, for example, at a controlled rate from a supply tank 122 to rinse water storage tank 12 viaiconduit 123. The amount of the chlorine solution added should be sufficient 1 to maintain the appropriate pH valueywh'ich preferably ranges from about 6.5 to 7.5,and to maintaina residual chlorine content of from about 0.8.to 1.0 ppm. for disinfec'tingpurposes. 1

" 1n the separate water reclamation systems described above, it will be observed that none of the water is discharged intoany exterior sewage drainage and that the only water lost is that which remains in the clothes after the wash waterextraction. The makeeup water for the wash water system issupplied to wash water tank 11 to dilute any detergents remaining in the rinse water therein.

A sludge sump tank 127, located in a suitable basement area, is provided for receiving sludge from the various tanks and for receiving the water used in back washing filters 42 and 114. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower ends of mixing tank 45, settling tank 65, intermediate tank 102, wash water tank 11 and rinse water tank 12 are connected to a common drain conduit 128 for draining off any sludge collected along the bottoms thereof, the conduit 128 leading to sludge tank 127. Tanks ll, 12 and 102 are only occasionally drained by opening normally closed manually operated valves 130, 131 and 132, respectively, until the water flows clear. On the other hand, chemical mixing tank 45 and settling tank 65 should be drained daily by opening normally closed manually operated

valves

133 and 135 until clean water flows outwardly therefrom.

A chemical solution, such as calcium hyperchlorite, may be periodically introduced into sludge tank 127 for facilitating the settling of solids therein and to preclude the growth of bacteria in the solids. At the end of each business day, the sludge in tank 127 can be thoroughly stirred by agitator pump 136 for approximately minutes and allowed to settle overnight. The clean water can be decanted the following morning through conduit 137 by pump 138 and delivered to wash water supply conduit 41 for reuse. The collected sludge in tank 127 can be periodically removed and constitutes the only wastes that must be disposed of exteriorly of the system of the present invention.

Means also are provided for back washing filters 42 and 114 and such back washing is accomplished, referring to the wash water system by way of example, by closing normally open valves 140 and 141 in

conduits

46 and 47 and opening normally closed valve 142 in bypass conduit 143. A hose or the like delivering either fresh water from an external source or wash water from storage tank 11 under pressure is applied to a back wash adaptor 145 and conveyed through filter 42 in a reverse direction and discharged through bypass conduit 143 into sludge tank 127.'Likewise, filter 114 may be backwashed by closing normally open valves 146 and 147 in conduits 116 and 117 and openingnormally closed valve 148 in bypass conduit 150 leading to the sludge tank 127. A hose or the. like delivering fresh water from an external source or rinse water from storage tank 12 under pressure is applied to a back wash adaptor 151 and conveyed through filter 114 in a reverse direction and discharged through bypass conduit 150 into the sludge tank 127.

The washing machines 10 of the illustrative embodiment may be any of the various types customarily employed in. coin-operated laundry establishments. As is well known in the art, each such washing machine is provided with a coin control mechanism for initiating a cycle of operation and each machine 10 includes a timer or clock type mechanism 24 with multiple cams for establishing and controlling the execution of the several steps ina cycle of operation by opening and closing appropriate electrical contacts operatively connected to the solenoid operated

valves

23 and 25; Various adjustments may be made by servicemen to regulate the durations of the several'steps of a cycle of operation and the inclusion or exlusion of various stepso periods of operation.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart which illustrates one specific time sequence of operations for one washing machine, the specific sequence of operations being illustrated by way of example only, it being understood that various departures therefrom may be made without departing from the principles of this invention. A diagram similar to FIG. 4 is all that is required for the setting up of a commercial coin controlled automatic washer by an ordinarily competent Serviceman.

The conventional automatic washer timing mechanism, identified at 24 in FIG. 1b, incudes a timer motor and cams which are moved thereby to close and open switches at proper intervals for performing the various functions of the machine. In FIG. 4, the letter X indicates that a particular pair of timer contacts is closed during the indicated period and the letter 0 indicates that such contacts are open during the period so marked. It is believed that no further amplification or detailed explanation of FIG. 4 is necessary for the purposes of the present application. It will be understood that the wash water and rinse water fill and drain solenoid valves referred to in FIG. 4 comprise the normally closed

valves

23 and 25 of FIG. 1 which are openable to either of the

supply conduits

13 or 18 or to either of the

outlet conduits

26 or 27 by energization of the respective solenoid windings conventionally incorporated in each valve.

The present invention thus provides a dual water supply and reclaiming system comprised of separate wash water and rinse water systems adapted to serve a plurality of independently operable laundering machines. Thus, two systems are provided for separately receiving the various wash and rinse waters, respectively, from the washing machines, treating and reclaiming the same, and then returning the respective waters to the several machines as the individual operations of the machines require the same. While the means for initiating operation'of the two systems are dependent upon the level of waste wash and rinse waters in sump tanks 31 and 32, it should be understood that such means may be associated with and responsive to float control valves or the like mounted in storage tanks 11 and 12 for sensing the levels of the wash water and rinse water therein as the same is depleted on demand from the several washing machines. Also, the intermediate tank 102 can be eliminated, if desired, with separator 88 and filter tank mounted directly above wash water storage tank ll. Also, it should be understood that automatic washing machines of various types may be present slightly variant washing and rinsing cycles and procedures and may also present various types of automatic'valving-arrangementsfor controlling the several water supply requirements. The general system present herein will be adaptable to such varying wash cycles and procedures bythose skilled in the automatic washing machine art. I

A preferred form of this invention having been herein described and illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that modifications thereof maybe made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim: I

1. In combination, a plurality of automatic washing machines, each of said machines-having independent time control means for executing wash andrinse cycles each including introduction of water to the machine and discharge of water therefrom; a wash water storage tank and a rinse water storage tank each serving the several machines in common; a wash water sump and a rinse water sump; an outlet in each machine having drain conduits leading to said sumps, respectively; means in said outlet connected for operation by said time control means for directing wash water and rinse water through said conduits to the respective sumps; conduit means including pump means for delivering water from said sumps to said storage tanks, respectively; rinse water treating means in said conduit means including means for filtering and removing detergent from said rinse water prior to returning said rinse water to said rinse water storage tank; and wash water treating means in communication with said wash water conduit means including means for chemically treating, precipitating solids andsludge and removing the precipitated solids and sludge from and filtering said wash water prior to returning the same to said wash water storage tank whereby said rinse and wash water are maintained separate from each other and suitable for total recirculation for separate use in wash and rinse cycles.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said wash water treating means includes a series of tanks through which at least a portion of said wash water is successively circulated enroute to said wash water storage tank; and conduit means between each adjacent pair of said series of tanks.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said series of tanks includes a first tank; means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said first tank for admixture with and treatment of said wash water portion; and means in said first tank for'mixing said chemical solution with said wash water portion.

4. The combination of claim 3 including means for admitting a precipitant into said first tank for admixture with said wash water portion to form a liquid suspension.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a second tank for receiving said chemically treated liquid suspension and means in said second tank for settling out the heavier masses of solids from said liquid suspension.

6. The combination of claim 5 including a third tank and means therein for separating moderate-sized masses of solids from said liquid suspension.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a fourth tank having a filter bed therein for removing the remaining particles from the liquid suspension.

8. The combination of claim 5 including a mixing apparatus included between said first and second tanks for completely intermixing said chemical solution and said precipitant with said wash water. portion prior to the entry thereof into said second tank. l

9. The combination of claim 2including a sludg tank; conduit means including valve means connecting the bottom ends of said series of tanks to said sludge tank for periodically discharging any sludge accumulated in said series of tanks to said sludge tank.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein an agitator pump is installed in said sludge tank whereby the sludge can be periodically stirred and allowed to settle into a layer of substantially clean water above settled sludge whereby said layer of substantially clean watercan be decanted from above said settled sludge.

11. The combination of claim 1, wherein said rinse water treating means includes means in selective communication with said rinse water conduit means for conveying at least a portion of said rinse water to said detergent removing means.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said detergent removing means comprises a cannister filled with activated charcoal granules and said portion of rinse water flowing upwardly therethrough.

13. The combination of claim 1 including means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said rinse water storage tank.

14. The combination of claim 1 including means for delivering makeup water from said rinse water storage tank to said wash water storage tank; and means for adding fresh water to said rinse water storage tank.

15. In combination, a plurality of automatic washing machines, each of said machines having independent time control means for executing successive wash and rinse cycles each including introduction of water to the machine and exhaust of water therefrom; a wash water storage tank and a rinse water storage tank each serving the several machines in common; a wash water sump and a rinse water sump; an outlet in each machine having drain'conduits leading to said sumps, respectively; means in said outlet connected for operation by said time" control means for directing wash water and rinse water through said conduitsato the respective sumps; conduit means including pump means for delivering water from said sumps to said storage tanks, respectively; means in said conduit means, respectively, for filtering said wash water and said rinse water prior to returning the same to said respective storage tanks, means in selective communication with said wash water conduit means for chemically treating said wash water prior to returning the same to said wash water storage tank; said chemical treating means including a series of tanks through which at'least a portion'of said wash water is successively circulated enroute to said wash water storage tank; conduit means between each adjacent pair of saidseries to tanks; said series of tanks including a first tank; means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said first tank for admixture with an treatment of said wash water portion; means in said first tank for mixing said chemical solution with said wash water portion;- means for admitting a precipitant into said first tank for admixture with said wash water portion to form a liquid suspension; a second tank for receiving said chemically treated liquid suspension; means in said second tank for settling out the heavier-masses of solids from said liquid suspension; a mixing apparatus" interposed between said first and second tanks for completely intermixing said chemical solution and said precipitant with said wash water portion prior to the entry thereof into said sec ond tank; said mixing apparatus comprising a container having a'partitio n therein defining a pair of chambers; passage means between said chambers; an inlet inzone of said chambers and an outlet in the other'of said chambers and a series of baffle plates mounted in each member for directing said liquid suspension ina tortuous path through said chambers for slowly and completely intermixing said chemical solution and said precipitant therewith.

16. In combination, a plurality of automatic washing machines, each of said machines having independent time control means for executing successivewash and rinse cycles each including introduction of water to the machine and exhaust of water thereform; a wash water storage tank and a rinse water storage tank each serving the several machines in common; a wash water sump and a rinse water sump; an outlet in each machine having drain conduits leading to said sumps, respectively; means in said outlet connected for operation by said time control means for directing wash water and rinse water through said conduits to the respective sumps; conduit means including pump means for delivering water from said sumps to said storage tanks, respectively; means in said conduit means, respectively, for filtering said wash water and said rinse water prior to returning the same to said respective storage tanks; means in selective communication with said wash water conduit means for chemically treating said wash water prior to returning the same to said wash water storage tank; said chemical treating means including a series of tanks through which at least a portion of said wash water is successively circulated enroute to said wash water storage tank; conduit means between each adjacent pair of said series of tanks; said series of tanks including a first tank; means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said first tank for admixture with and treatment of said wash water portion; means in said first tank for mixing said chemical solution with said wash water portion; means for admitting a precipitant into said first tank for admixture with said wash water portion to form a liquid suspension; a second tank for receiving said chemically treated liquid suspension; means in said second tank for settling out the heavier masses of solids from said liquid suspension; a third tank and means therein for separating moderate-sized masses of solids from saidliquid suspension; said separating means comprising a receptacle having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end thereof; and an inclined bottom wall rising upwardly from said inlet end to said outlet end for collecting solids thereon from said liquid suspension.

17.- The combination of claim 1, wherein a recirculating pump is installed in said wash water storage sump, which continuously agitates and aerates the wash water to help destroy bacteria and minimize odors.

18. The combination of claim 1, wherein a recirculating pump is installed in said rinse water storage tank which continuously agitates and aerates the rinse water to help destroy bacteria and minimize odors.

19. The combination of claim 1 wherein bypass means is connected around said wash water treating means whereby the used wash water may be directed around said treating means during peak periods and treated during periods of lesser usage of said automatic washing machine.

20. The combination of claim 1 wherein said wash water treating means includes sludge collecting, settling and decanting means for reclaiming reusable wash water from said sludge and directing it to said wash water storage tank whereby said wash wateris conserved.

21. The combination of claim 1 whereby said rinse water treating means includes chlorinating means for adding chlorine and maintaining the pH of said rinse water at about from 6.5 to 7.5 and for leaving a residual chlorine content for disinfecting and sterilizing the rinse water.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said chlorinating means is constructed and arranged to leave a residual chlorine content from about 0.8 tov 1.0 p.p.m.

Claims

1. In combination, a plurality of automatic washing machines, each of said machines having independent time control means for executing wash and rinse cycles each including introduction of water to the machine and discharge of water therefrom; a wash water storage tank and a rinse water storage tank each serving the several machines in common; a wash water sump and a rinse water sump; an outlet in each machine having drain conduits leading to said sumps, respectively; means in said outlet connected for operation by said time control means for directing wash water and rinse water through said conduits to the respective sumps; conduit means including pump means for delivering water from said sumps to said storage tanks, respectively; rinse water treating means in said conduit means including means for filtering and removing detergent from said rinse water prior to returning said rinse water to said rinse water storage tank; and wash water treating means in communication with said wash water conduit means including means for chemically treating, precipitating solids and sludge and removing the precipitated solids and sludge from and filtering said wash water prior to returning the same to said wash water storage tank whereby said rinse and wash water are maintained separate from each other and suitable for total recirculation for separate use in wash and rinse cycles.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said series of tanks includes a first tank; means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said first tank for admixture with and treatment of said wash water portion; and means in said first tank for mixing said chemical solution with said wash water portion.

8. The combination of claim 5 including a mixing apparatus included between said first and second tanks for completely intermixing said chemical solution and said precipitant with said wash water portion prior to the entry thereof into said second tank.

9. The combination of claim 2 including a sludge tank; conduit means including valve means connecting the bottom ends of said series of tanks to said sludge tank for periodically discharging any sludge accumulated in said series of tanks to said sludge tank.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein an agitator pump is installed in said sludge tank whereby the sludge can be periodically stirred and allowed to settle into a layer of substantially clean water above settled sludge whereby said layer of substantially clean water can be decanted from above said settled sludge.

15. In combination, a plurality of automatic washing machines, each of said machines having independent time control means for executing successive wash and rinse cycles each including introduction of water to the machine and exhaust of water therefrom; a wash water storage tank and a rinse water storage tank each serving the several machines in common; a wash water sump and a rinse water sump; an outlet in each machine having drain conduits leading to said sumps, respectively; means in said outlet connected for operation by said time control means for directing wash water and rinse water through said conduits to the respective sumps; conduit means including pump means for delivering water from said sumps to said storage tanks, respectively; means in said conduit means, respectively, for filtering said wash water and said rinse water prior to returning the same to said respective storage tanks, means in selective communication with said wash water conduit means for chemically treating said wash water prior to returning the same to said wash water storage tank; said chemical treating means including a series of tanks through which at least a portion of said wash water is successively circulated enroute to said wash water storage tank; conduit means between each adjacent pair of said series to tanks; said series of tanks including a first tank; means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said first tank for admixture with an treatment of said wash water portion; means in said first tank for mixing said chemical solution with said wash water portion; means for admitting a precipitant into said first tank for admixture with said wash water portion to form a liquid suspension; a second tank for receiving said chemically treated liquid suspension; means in said second tank for settling out the heavier masses of solids from said liquid suspension; a mixing apparatus interposed between said first and second tanks for completely intermixing said chemical solution and said precipitant with said wash water portion prior to the entry thereof into said second tank; said mixing apparatus comprising a container having a partition therein defining a pair of chambers; passage means between said chambers; an inlet in one of said chambers and an outlet in the other of said chambers and a series of baffle plates mounted in each member for directing said liquid suspension in a tortuous path through said chambers for slowly and completely intermixing said chemical solution and said precipitant therewith.

16. In combination, a plurality of automatic washing machines, each of said machines having independent time control means for executing successive wash and rinse cycles each including introduction of water to the machine and exhaust of water thereform; a wash water storage tank and a rinse water storage tank each serving the several machines in common; a wash water sump and a rinse water sump; an outlet in each machine having drain conduits leading to said sumps, respectively; means in said outlet connected for operation by said time control means for directing wash water and rinse water through said conduits to the respective sumps; conduit means including pump means for delivering water from said sumps to said storage tanks, respectively; means In said conduit means, respectively, for filtering said wash water and said rinse water prior to returning the same to said respective storage tanks; means in selective communication with said wash water conduit means for chemically treating said wash water prior to returning the same to said wash water storage tank; said chemical treating means including a series of tanks through which at least a portion of said wash water is successively circulated enroute to said wash water storage tank; conduit means between each adjacent pair of said series of tanks; said series of tanks including a first tank; means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said first tank for admixture with and treatment of said wash water portion; means in said first tank for mixing said chemical solution with said wash water portion; means for admitting a precipitant into said first tank for admixture with said wash water portion to form a liquid suspension; a second tank for receiving said chemically treated liquid suspension; means in said second tank for settling out the heavier masses of solids from said liquid suspension; a third tank and means therein for separating moderate-sized masses of solids from said liquid suspension; said separating means comprising a receptacle having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end thereof; and an inclined bottom wall rising upwardly from said inlet end to said outlet end for collecting solids thereon from said liquid suspension.

17. The combination of claim 1, wherein a recirculating pump is installed in said wash water storage sump, which continuously agitates and aerates the wash water to help destroy bacteria and minimize odors.

20. The combination of claim 1 wherein said wash water treating means includes sludge collecting, settling and decanting means for reclaiming reusable wash water from said sludge and directing it to said wash water storage tank whereby said wash water is conserved.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said chlorinating means is constructed and arranged to leave a residual chlorine content from about 0.8 to 1.0 p.p.m.