US570190A - sunderland - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. SUNDERLAND.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 570,190. Patented Oct. 27, 1896 db nd en @MME UIMM (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. SUNDERLAND.

WASHING MACHINE.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. W. SUNDBRLAND.

WASHING MAHINE.

Patented oct. 27, 1896'.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.v J. W. SUNDERLAND.

WASHING MACHINE.

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JESSE IV. SUNDERLAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSICNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ANDREIV J. MCDUFFEE, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,190, dated October 27, 1,896.

Application filed April 6, 1896. Serial No. 586,291. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JESSE W. SUNDERLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Clothes-I/Vringers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a clothes-wringer intended more especially as an attachment to or part of a washing-machine.

In the practice of my invention the wringing operation is performed by squeezing the clothes between perforated plates or heads, great power being required vfor the purpose.

In applying my invention I prefer to provide it as an attachment to or integral part of a washing-machine of the type shown and described in Letters Patent No. 545,747, granted to me September 3, 1895, and which consists, broadly stated, in an outer stationary cylinder or casing provided with a door, an inner cylinder having a perforated circumferential wall provided with a door, and mounted upon trunnions to revolve alternately in opposite directions, and perforated heads or plates mounted upon the ends of plunger-bars inthe inner cylinder, the said heads or plates being caused to revolve with the cylinder and to reciprocate toward and away from each other to facilitate the washing operation. In the reciprocation of the heads or plates the clothes being washed are subjected intermit-tingly to a squeezing operation applied more or less gently for the purpose of discharging a part of the water that has been absorbed by the clothes, and thus by repeated action produce the desired cleansing.

My present object is to bring improved wringing mechanism into action after the washing operation has been performed, the said mechanism operating to force the heads or plates inthe direction of each other with great power to squeeze from the cloth'es or other articles that have been washed as much as possible of the water absorbed thereby, to render them comparatively dry before they are taken from the machine.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of a washing-machine provided with my improved wringer in the form of a hydraulic 'jackg Fig. 2, an enlarged broken section taken on line 2 of Fig. l and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a broken section taken on line 3 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4, a view in end elevation of the machine provided with the hydraulic-jack wringing device; Fig. 5, an enlarged section taken on line 5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6, a broken plan view, partly in section, the section being taken on the angular line 6 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a plan view of wringer mechanism involving a pushing-jack formed with toggle-levers and applied to the end of a washing-machine like that shown in Fig. l Fig. 8, a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, and Fig'. 9 a broken detail view of a shipping-lever forming a part of said mechanism'.

A is a stationary outer cylinder or casing mounted at opposite ends upon legs t and provided at one side with a sliding door t. Mounted in brackets t2 t3 i4 on one side of the casing are shaft-sections s s, abutting at their ends against each other. On the shaft s is a fast pulley s2, and on the shaft s/ is a fast pulley s3. Between the said pulleys is a loose pulley s".

In the casing A is a washing-cylinder B, (indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 1,) mounted at opposite ends to revolve upon hollow trunnions journaled in the ends ofthe casing. On one end of the cylinder B is a circumferential gear and at the opposite end of the said cylinder is a circumferential gear x. On the shaft-section s', adjacent to the bearing t4, is a pinion S5, meshing with an idlegear s6, which in turn meshes with the gear on the washing-cylinder. On the shaftsection s, adjacent to the bearing t2, is a pinion 37, meshing with an idle-pinion S8, which in turn meshes with a second idle-pinion 39, the latter meshing with the gear oo on the washing-cylinder. The shaft-section sl is formed with a worm o', and the shaft-section s is formed with a worm r. The cylinder B is provided in its circumferential wall with numerous perforations, and in the said cylinder are traveling perforated heads or plates O C', mounted upon the ends of shafts y, which extend through and rotate in hollow IOC sleeves or plunger-bars D and D'. The plunger-barsD D are each provided with a rack p.

As thus far described the machine is in every essential particular like the machine shown and described in my aforesaid Letters Patent, and more detailed illustration and description are thought, therefore, to be unnecessary.

At opposite ends of the casing are shafts E E', mounted at their free end portions in blocks a, arranged to slide vertically in brackets a, fastened to the casing. On the free ends of the shafts E E are worm-gears In.2. Each shaft .E E' is formed withareduced end portion m, provided at its outer end with a screw-thread m. Firmly secured upon each of said shafts, near its reduced portion m, is a cup in?. Fitting over the reduced end portion of each shaft-EEis asleevemg, provided at its inner end, adjacent to the cup m2, with a head or disk mi. Fitting against the end of the sleeve m3 is a sleeve extension or jamnut m5, provided with a handle m6 and an internal thread engaging the threaded end m of the shaft. In each cupm2, and interposed between the base thereof and the head mi, are one or more friction disks m7. The sleeves m3 revolve in bearings A on the ends of the casing, and keyed to the said sleeves, and revolving in housings formed by the bearings A', are pinions m8, meshing with the teeth of the racks p. On the side of the cas ing, below and parallel with the shaft-sections .s s', is a rock-shaft q, provided at each end with a cam q', upon which the vertically-sliding blocks n rest. At one end of the shaft q is a crank q2. Fnlcrumed between its ends upon the same end of the cylinder A .is a lever or handle q, pivotally connected at its lower end to one end of a rod Q4, which at its opposite end is pivotally connected to the free end of the crank q2. Turning of the lever qs in the direction to the left in Fig. 2 thrusts the rod Q4 and turns the crank qs and rockshaft q, whereby the cams q turn and raise the shafts E E eoincidently with the blocks n and cause the Worm-gears n2 to engage, respectively, with the worms 0 0". At the drive-pulleys is a belt-shifter W, operated by suitable automatic beltshipping worm-wheelandscrew mechanism W', which may be sub stantially like that shown in my aforesaid Letters Patent, to move the drivin g-belt across the loose pulley s" alternately to the fastpulleys S2 s3.

The general operation of the washing-machine is as described in my aforesaid Let-ters Patent, and is, briefly stated, as follows: The clothes to be washed are passed through the door t' and a door in the washing-cylinder B into the washing-cylinder, between the travcling heads C C', the latter being withdrawn toward the ends of the cylinder. The casing is filled with water' or a washing liquid to the desired level, the doors are closed, and the machine started to rotate the drive-shaft. Then the belt is shifted to the pulley 33, the

shaft-section s is rotated to rotate the pinions 35 s and rotate the cylinder in one direction. Then the belt-shiftin g mechanism shifts the belt to the pulley s2, the shaft-section s, through its pinion s and two intermediate pinions 3S s, rotates the Washing-cylinder in the opposite direction. Then it is desired to bring the traveling heads C C into operation, the handle or lever q is turned to move the wormgears into mesh with the worms 'r 7". It will be understood that when either the shaftesection s or s is rotated from its drivepulley it rotates the other shaft-section in the opposite direction, owing to the fact that they are geared, as described, to the opposite ends of the cylinder B. Then the worm-gears are caused to mesh with the worms /r r, as described, the shafts E E are rotated in opposite directions, and, through their pinions m, move the pl'ungers D D', and consequently the traveling heads C C, in opposite directions. Then one shaft-section is driven directly from the belt, the heads will travel toward each other, and when the power is applied to the other shaft-section the heads will travel away from each other. The belt-shipping mechanism is so adj usted that a reversal of motion will occur when the heads have traveled the desired distance in each direction. The rotation of the inner cylinder, with the clothes, alternately in opposite directions produces the first washing of the clothes, the iinal washing and rinsing being performed by the same rotations of the cylinder and reciprocations of the traveling heads.

ln the pushing-jack construction shown in Fig. l, beyond one end of the casing A, is a supplemental head F, and beyond the opposite end thereof is a supplemental head G, the said heads being tied together by means of the longitudinally-extending brace-rods z. The head G has a central opening I, through which the adjacent plunger D may pass freely in its reciprocation. On the inner face of the said head, at the opening Z, are pivotally mounted plates or stops Z', adapted to swing into and out of the path of the plunger D. The hydraulic jack atF consists of a cylinder portion 7c, closed at its outer end and having a slightly-reduced opening 71: at its inner end.

In the cylinder 7c, and working through the opening 7a', is a movable head or piston 7a2, the joint being rendered watertight by a preferably exible washer 71:3, as shown. The piston 7a2 is hollow or cup-shaped to permit the reciprocation into and out of it of the adjacent plunger D. On the forward end of the piston is a swinging stop or plate 7e", like the stops Z, and adapted to be swung into and out of the path of the plunger D. At one side of the cylinder 7e is a pair of pump-cylinders i fi, having inlet or water-supply pipes t" t2, provided with cheek-valves t, and outlet-valves i4, communicating with a pipe t5, which leads to the chamber or cylinder 7c at one side of the piston 702. As shown in Fig. 6, the chamber back of the opening 7e is IOC) pistons h5, working in the pump-cylinders t'.

On the outer end portion of the shaft-section s' is a loose sleeve g, adapted to slide upon the said shaft-section, and provided at its outer end with a pinion g, meshing with the gear-wheel 7L. rI he in'ner end of the sleeve g is serrated to form a clutch member and to slide into and out of engagement with a serrated clutch member g2, xed to 'the shaft-section s. A lever or handle g is fulcrumed between its ends upon a bracket g4, and at the y end of its short arm is provided with a pin which enters a circumferential groove in the sleeve g. By turning the handle g3 the sleeve g may be slid longitudinally upon the shaftsection s into and out of engagement with the clutch member g2, and when the clutch members engage, the sleeve g will be driven from the shaft-section st to rotate the shaft 7L and work the pump-pistons.

Then it is desired to wring clothes that have been washed, the plungers are stopped with the perforated heads at the inner limits of their traverse, as indicated in Fig. l, after which one or more of the stops Z are turned into the path of the plunger D and the stop 7a4 is turned into the path of the plunger D. The handle g5 is then turned to bring the pumps into operation, as described, causing them to draw water through the pipes t" t2 and valve t2 and discharge it through the valves t4 and pipe 'i5 into the chamber or cylinder 7c at the space 765, whereby the pressure of the water will be exerted against the rear end of the head or piston k2 and force the latter in the outward direction. The head C will be prevented from receding by the stop 7', and the pressure of the piston 7a2 at its stop 7a4 against the end of the plunger D will force the traveling head C in the direction of the head C. The great power which may thusbe brought to bear against the clothes or other articles will produce a thorough wringing operation. Said operation may be assisted by the centrifugal force effected by the continued rotation of the inner cylinder and disks. Then the wringing operation is completed, the water may be discharged from the cylinder by opening the cock 705.

In the operation of the machine care should be exercised by the operator not to cause the plungers to be actuated from the worms rr when the stops 7 7# extend across the paths of the plungers. The construction at the friction-disks m5 is provided to prevent injury to the parts in the event that the operator shall fail to move the stops 7 7a4 out of the way before throwing the worm-gears into mesh with the worms rr. By means of the handles m6 the sleeves m3 may be pressed at their heads m4 against the friction-disks m7 with desired force, and the adjustment should bc such that the frictional engagement produced will be sufficient to insure movement of the plunger-rods during the operation of washing and rinsing the clothes. In the event that the plungers should strike the stops 7/ 7a4, or a greater resistance than desired should be offered against the movement toward each other of the traveling heads C C', the friction plates or disks will turn upon each other or upon the surfaces afforded by the parts m4 m2, and thus preventsuch strain upon the driving parts as would cause injury.

In the pushing-jack construction shown in Figs. 7 and S a bed-plate II extends from the end of the casing A and carries two end bearing-blocks I-I H. The tie-bars z .e extend across the outer sides of the said bearingblocks and meet in a togglejoint bearinghead H2. Resting upon the plate I-I to slide thereon in the direction longitudinal of the machine is a head I, having an opening through it, 7", in line with the plunger D, and large enough to permit the plunger to move freely through it. On the head I, at the opening f, is apivotal stop f', capable of being swung into and out of the path of the plunger D.v At the iixed blocks H' II] are sliding plates or blocks I/ I', forming bearings for the opposite ends of a right and left hand screw-shaft I2. On oppositesides of the center of the shaft I2 are internally-threaded traveling blocks I3 I5. Pivotally connected at opposite ends, respectively, to the head I and blocks I3 are toggle-arms I4 I4, and pivotally connected at opposite ends, respectively, to the blocks I5and end bearing-block H2 are toggle-arms I5. Fixed to the center of the screw-shaft I2 is a ratchet-wheel I, and I7 is a bifurcated lever pivoted at the freeends of its forks upon the shaft I2 at opposite sides of the ratchet-wheel IGand provided wit-h a swinging pawl Is to engage the teethof the ratchet-wheel. f

Mounted in brackets on the end of the casing A is a shaft L, carrying at its end a beveled gear-wheel L. On the shaft-section s is a beveled gear-wheel L2. The shaft L is longitudinally movable in its bearings, and fulcrumed above the shaft is a shaft-shifting bell-crank lever L2, which at the end of its short arm projects between stops c e on the shaft L. Swinging of the lever L3 in the vertical plane causes the shaft L to be moved longitudinally to carry its gear-wheel Ll into and out of engagement with the gear-wheel L2. On the end of the shaft L is a disk L4, to which is eccentrically pivoted a plunger-rod L5. In the lever I7 is a slot c7, movable in whichv is a sliding block d', adjustable by means of a set-screw C72. The'rod L5 at its free end is bifurcated and pivotally connected to opposite sides of the block c7.

In operation, when it is desired to produce wringing of the clothes or other articles that have been washed, the heads C C are stopped in the position shown in Fig. l, the stop- IOO ITO

plate Z' on the head G is moved into the path of the plunger D', and the stop-plate f on the sliding head I is turned into the path of the plunger D. The lever L3 is then turned to move the gear-wheel L into mesh with the gear-wheel L2, when the turning of the shaft L and disk LY1 will reciprocate the rod L5 and oscillate the lever IT. The swinging pawl I8 is then turned to engage the ratchet-Wheel IG and turn the screw-shaft I2 to cause the sliding blocks I3 to move in the direction of each other. As the blocks I3 approach each other they extend the arms I'l I5, causing the blocks I3, screw, and blocks or plates I to be moved in the direction of the casin g Aand the head I to be slid along the plate H. The engagement of the head I With the plunger D forces the head C in the direction of the head C and accomplishes the Wrin gin g operation. IVhen the Wrin ging has been performed, the head I, blocks, and attendant parts may be moved to their initial position by reversing the pawl IS.

The pushing-jack mechanismin volvin g the screw and toggle-levers would be the preferred construction when applied to Washin gmachines of the smaller type, While the hydraulic pushing-jack mechanism would probably be more desirable for machines of the larger type. Either mechanism is capable of greatly multiplying the force over the driving power and affords very desirable means for moving the traveling heads to produce the wringing operation.

Although I prefer to construct my improvements as shown and described, they may be modiied in the matter of details of construction Without departing from the spirit of my invention, as delined by the clailns.

IVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a Washing machine provided With a Washing-cylinder, movable perforated heads in said cylinder, plungers carrying said heads, and reciprocating means for said plungers, of Wringer mechanism at the said machine comprising a movable plunger-engaging head, and pushing-jack mechanism at the said plunger engaging head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a Washing-machine provided With a Washin g-cylind er, driving mechanism, movable perforated heads in said cylinder, plungers carrying said heads,

and reciprocating means for said plungers actuated from the said driving mechanism, of Wringer mechanism at the said machine comprising a movable plunger-en ga gin g head, and pushing-jack mechanism at the said plunger-engaging head actuated from the said driving mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a' washing machine provided With a washing-cylinder, movable perforated heads in said cylinder, plungers carrying said heads, and reciprocating means for said plungers, of wringer mechanism at the said machine comprising a st-op movable into and out of the path of one of said plungers, a movable plungerengaging head at the other said plunger, and pushing-jack mechanism at the said plunger engaging head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with a Washing machine provided with a Washing-cylinder, movable perforated heads in said cylinder, plungers carrying said heads, and driving mechanism, of means for reciprocating said plungers comprising shafts rotated from the said driving mechanism and geared to the said plungers, the shafts being each formed of members in frictional engagement with each other, and means for regulating the frictional engagement, Wringer mechanism at the said machine comprising a movable plunger-engaging head, and pushing-jack mechanism at the said plunger-engaging head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination With a Washing -machine provided With a Washin g-cylinder, movable perforated heads in said cylinder, plungers carrying said heads, and reciprocating means for said plungers, of Wringer mechanism at the said machine comprising a movable head provided with an opening through it for the passage of one of said plunger-rods, a stop on the head at said opening movable into and out of the path of the plunger-rod, pushing-jack mechanism at the said movable head, and a stop movable into the path of the other said plunger, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JESSE IV. SUNDERLAND.

In presence of- M. J. FRosT, J. H. LEE.

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