US2219680A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct 29. 1940.

K. P. CALDWELL WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24. 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .00. aoooooooooooooo OODO Q0 y ooooooooooooo a9 eooooooouooeboo 95 oooeo n.00 llblll oedaow. ...E ooe oeoa.ooooooooo Az'e Oct. 29, -1940- v K. P. CALDWELL WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wezzr:

Oct. 29, 1940.` L

K. P. CALDWELL WASHING MACHINE n Filed Feb. 24. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Illlllllllllllll//r/rl Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,219,63'0 WASHING MACHINE Koi-ene Pendleton Galdwell, Bryn Athyn, Pa. Application February 24.1937, Serial N04 127,450

This invention relates generally to a machine for washing clothes, and is characterized by the provision in duplicate of operable units which may be selectively used for the washing of clothes, rinsing and the subsequent damp-drying of them in the same container, and of means for transferring the washing fluid from one unit to the other.

In Washing machines having a separate compartment for washing and for drying of clothes, it is necessary to transfer the wet clothes from' the washing compartment to the drying compartment and from rinsing water in a stationary tub lto the drying compartment. In my invention the same compartment is used for washing, rinsing and'damp-drying and a means is provided for removing the washing fluid from the compartment instead of removing the clothes. I provide the compartments in duplicate in order that the washing fluid may be transferred from one to the other as desired, with the result that while one compartment is being used for rinsing and drying, the other may be used for washing. This also reduces the loss of washing fluid and the loss of heat from the uid in that the transfer is effected directly between the two compartments.

This invention has for its principal objects the provision of an improved form of washing machine adapted to wash, rinse and dry clothes in the same compartment without removing the clothes therefrom; the provision of a plurality of such compartments for washing, rinsing and drying clothes so that the washing fluid may be transferred from one to the other, allowing the simultaneous rinsing and drying of clothes in one such compartment and washing of clothes in another'compartment; the provision of a plurality of such compartments and an improved means of transferring the washing fluid from one to the othe the provision of means Within a compartment for Washing clothes whereby the clothes are selectively subjected to oscillatory agitation in the presence of a washing uid or to rotation after the removal of the Washing fluid. This invention has for its further objects;v the provision of an improved construction for operatively mounting a rotatable drying compartment within the was g compartment; the

provision of an improved construction for operatively mountingan agitator in a washing machinewhich may selectively be given oscillatory or rotative movement; and the provision of an improved mechanism for imparting said rotative movement to said drying compartment and selectively said rotative or oscillatory movement to said agitator.

The foregoing and such other objects or advantages as may appear orbe pointed out as this description proceeds are attained in a structural embodiment of thel invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a structure incorporating the improvements of my invention taken along the line I-I as indicated in Figs. 2- and 5. o Fig. 2 is a lhoriaontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a washing compartment showing the detail of the 0perative elements and the means of supporting the same.

Fig. 4 isa detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional plan view taken onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing in plan the detail of the mechanical means used to operate this invention.

Fig. 6 an enlarged vertical sectional view of ihedvalves used to control the movement of the Fig. '7 a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially to Figs. l, 2` and 3, I provide a supporting structure comprising a flanged steel plate l for generally supporting the operating machinery and a similar flanged steel plate 2 for supporting the washing compartments. These plates are conveniently made in the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and are spaced apart and supported by four legs 3 as shown in Fig. 1.

The upper. anged plate 2 carries the two compartments generally indicated as A, A1 which are in all respects duplicates of each other. Therefore only one will be vdescribed and the same index number is used to indicate the same part in each. f

I provide a cylindrical outer container 4 made of sheet metal sides and bottom. The bottom corner is reinforced by an angle hoop 5 welded to the container. The top or open end is also provided with a anged hoop 6 also welded to the sides of the container and providing an annular shoulder 1 which supports a removable cover 8. The two outer containers 4, 4 are joined together in spaced relation by the arcuate side 'the base plate I and portions 9, 9, which are permanently fastened, as by Welding tothe containers 4, 4 as best shown in Figure l2. The top of the space enclo'sed by the containers 4, 4, and the arcuate side portions 9, 9 is closed by a cover plate Il as best shown in Figure 1. This construction affoi-ds a housing for the control levers to be later described, and an exterior of pleasing appearance which is easy to keep clean. It also adds structural strength to the entire assembly.

Within each of the outer containers 4, I provide a cylindrical extractor unit II conveniently formed of a bottom I2 and cylindrical side wall I3 and provided with a removable cover I4. The bottom I2 is conveniently formed of a pressed or cast circular metal plate having a relatively thick center boss portion I 2a whereby the extractor is mounted within the outer container as will later be described; and a circumferential flange I6 to which the cylindrical wall I3 is fastened. This bottom plate is also provided with a plurality of ing fluid to pass readily into or out of the extractor. In order to reduce the amount of metal in the plate I2 it is conveniently tapered in thickness from the center to the circumference. The cylindrical wall I3 is of sheet metal and is fastened at the bottom within the flange I6 of the bottom I2 by any of the well-known means such as soldering or welding as may -be convenient. 'Ihe upper end is reinforced by the metal hoop I8 which also affords an annular seat for the cover I4. A plurality of holes are provided in the wall I3 to allow washing fluid to readily pass through it.

Inside of the cylindrical extractor unit II I have provided an agitator generally indicated as I9 and mounted as will later be described so as to be oscillated within the extractor unit. 'Ihis agitator is conveniently made of a single casting of some light metal such as aluminum and comprises a hollow center shaft 20, and a plurality of radial agitating vanes 2| spaced.apart and supported by the shaft and a circular base portion 22. The agitating vanes generally indicated as 2I are formed with major surfaces 23 at the bottom and relatively smaller agitating surfaces 24 adjacent to the top and just below the level of the washing fluid in the container 4. By providing these secondary agitating surfaces 24 ne ar the upper level of the washing fluid I secure a more efficient cleansing action.

e structure by which the extractor unit I I and the agitator unit I9 are mounted within the outer container 4; and the means -by which either continuous rotation may be imparted to the extractor and agitator or oscillatory rotation may be imparted to the agitator alone, from a common driving shaft, comprise important features of my invention and will now be described in detail. Since the operating means for each of the two units is identical, but one will be described and the same index number given to the parts.

Referring nowparticularly to Figs. l, 3 and 5, I provide the electric motor 25 mounted upon driving the shaft 26, carried by suitable bearings 21, also mounted on the base I. Fixedly mounted upon the shaft 26 are the worms 23, 23a and 29, which drives the various as hereafter described.

As a means for imparting the desired movement to the agitators I9 and the extractors II, I provide vertical shafts 3|, 3Ia, the lower ends of which are mounted in bearings SIb, 3Ic, fasholes I1 to permit the washtened to the supporting plate I, and which extend upwardly through the bottoms of containers 4, 4, and within the hollow center shafts 20 of the agitator I9.

To form a rigid support and bearing for shafts 3|, 3Ia, agitators I9 and extractors II, I provide supporting members 32 extending diametrically between the flanges of the plate 2, to which they are rigidly fastened. The plate 2 is cut away so that this fastening is positioned immediately below the bottom of the container 4 to This supporting member may conveniently be a casting provided with a thickened center portion in which is a circular aperture 33 allowing the shaft 3I to pass through. The upper part of the aperture is enlarged as at 34 to form the annular seat 35, and the enlarged portion 34 is internally threaded. A tubular metal sleeve 36 encases the shaft 3I and is threaded at its lower end toscrew into the hole 34, -and these threads extend for a length sufficient to accommodate a circular bearing plate 31. An aperture is provided in the bottom of the container 4 large enough to allow the sleeve 36 to go through. Thus the bottom of the container is between the member 32 and the plate 31 and when the sleeve is screwed into position and the plate 31 screwed down tight after applying a coat of white lead or the like between the bottom of the plate 31 and the bottom of the container 4'a water tight Joint is secured and the sleeve 36 is rigidly supported by the member 32.

'I'he internal diameter of the sleeve 36 the major portion of its length is greater than the diameter of the shaft-3|. However at the upper and lower ends the thickness of the walls is increased and the internal surface machined to provide bearings at 33 and 39 for the' shaft 3I. Similarly on the exterior surface of the sleeve 36 the portions 46 and 4I, adjacent to the upper and lower ends and having an external diameter greater than that of the major portion of the sleeve, are provided and machined to form bearings for a second cylindrical sleeve member 42.

Reverting now to the bottom I2 of the extractor II, as shown in Figure 3 the thickened center boss I2a is provided with a circular hole 43 slightly larger than the outside diameter of the sleeve 36 and threaded at its upper portion to receive the complementally threaded lower end of the sleeve 42. Also the upper face of the plate 31 and the lower surface of the boss I2a are machined so that the plate 31 forms a bearing 44, for the rotation of the extractor II Since, as will be later described, rotation is imparted to the extractor II through the sleeve 42 it is necessary that the direction of the threaded connection between 42 and I2a be the same s the direction of rotation of the container. s threaded connection is merely a convenient construction as obviously pins, set screws or other means could be used to make this connection.

At the upper end'of the sleeve 36 is provided a bearing member 45, fitted closely upon the sleeve 36 and removably xed thereto by the pins 46. 'Ihis bearing member is so formed as to provide an annular bearing surface 41 concentric with the shaft 3I.

'I'he upper end `o1' the shaft 3| is fitted lwith a metal cap member 48 which may conveniently be a machined casting, and is removably secured to the shaft 3| by one or more set screws 49. This cap is provided with an annular bearing surface III, complemen al to the bearing surface 41 shaft 3| causes the lugs Atween adjacent lugs 62.

surfaces is provided a set of The annular wall 52 of the surrounding and spaced from 53 of thecap 48 provides for the bearings and yet from getting out of and between these roller bearings 5|. bearing member 42 the annular portion ample space for grease prevents any such grease the bearing.

The cap 48 is further formed with an annular flange 54 which -is ysecurely fastened to a complemental annular wall 55, formed at the top of the agitator I9, by a plurality of stud bolts 56, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

It will thus be seen that the agitator I9 is flxedly mounted upon the shaft 3| and the assembly of these elements is rotatably mounted upon the sleeve 36 which carries the load of this assembly to the supporting member 32. Also, it will be seen that the extractor unit II is mounted upon the bearing 44 for rotation about the sleeve 36 by means of the sleeve 42 and that this assembly is also carried by the supporting meinber 32. The agitator member is flxedly connected to the shaft 3| and rotates with this shaft; the extractor unit II is rotatable aboutthe sleeve 36 which acts as a support for the agitator.

In order to provide an operative connection between the extractor II and the shaft 3| whereby continuous rotation may be imparted tothe extractor when desired, I provide, as best shown in Figure 4, a ring 51 fixedly mounted on the inside of the annular wall 55 of the agitator I9 by bolts 58. This ring is provided with a plurality of lugs 59 extending inwardly. A complemental ring 60 is flxedly mounted upon the sleeve 42 by means of keys 6I, and is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending lugs 62 spaced complementally to the lugs 59 for engagement with the same.

As will be readily seen,.this arrangement permits of oscillatory rotation of the shaft 3| and the agitator |9, through an arc limited by the space between the lugs 59 without any movement being imparted to the sleeve 42 and the extractor II. However, when it is desired to operate the extractor, a continuous rotation imparted to the 59 to contact the lugs 62, and the agitator I9 and extractor II are rotated continuously together. When the agitator alone is being given oscillatory movement, the extractor I I should be maintained in a stationary position by some locking means conveniently as shown in Figure l by a removable pin 63 passing through complementary holes 64 and 65 in the container 4 and the extractor II, respectively. This locking means is so placed with relation to the rings 51 and 60 that when the containers 4 and are fastened together and the shaft 3| is oscillated, the lugs 59 move only in the arc be- When the pin 63 is re moved, the extractor I I is free to rotate continuously when such movement is given to the shaft 3 I.

For purposes of illustration the lugs 59 and 62 are shown at the third points of the circumference of the rings 51 and 60; it will be understood that thespacing and number of lugs employed may be varied as desired to permit satisfactory oscillatory movement of the agitator.

Figs. 1 and 5 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a convenient type of operating mechanism for selectively rotating and oscillating shafts 3|, 3Ia. Otherapparatus within the concept of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For clearness of understanding the suffix a is added to the reference characters to indicate mechanism actuating compartment A1. Gear Wheel 30 mounted on` shaft 26 is in mesh with a spur gear 68 mounted on pump shaft 61 adapted to drive continuously a centrifugal water pump 68. Meshing with worms 28 and 28a carried on shaft 26, as previously described', are spur gears 69 and 69a, respectively iournaled on cylindrical sleeves 'I0 and 10a, carried on shafts 3| and 3Ia and supported by annular members 1I, 1Ia. Gears 69, 69a are provided with toothed engaging faces 12, 12a. Slidably mounted in bearings 14 and 14a, mounted on base plate I, is a horizontally extending rack 15 connected by a crank 16 to a spur gear 11, journalled in a bearing 18, and gear 11 is in mesh withvworm 29- on shaft 26. Shafts 3|, 3|a are provided with enlarged splined sections 13, 13a. Rack 15 is in mesh with spur gears 19, 19a, journaled on sleeves 80, a on shafts 3|, 3Ia above gears 89, 69a. Gears 19, 19a are provided with toothed faces 0|, 8Ia adapted to engage complementary faces 82, 82a of the double faced clutches 83, 83a carried on the splined sections 13, 13a of shafts 3|, 3Ia, and movable axially thereon. The lower faces 84 and 84a of the clutches are likewise provided with portions .adapted to engage faces 12, 12a of the gears 69, 69a when the clutches are in their lowermost positions. The clutches are provided with peripheral grooves 85, 85a adapted to receive roller pins 86, 86a carried vby yokes 81, 81a of the clutch levers 88, 88a, permitting rotary movement of said clutches within the roller pins. The clutch levers 88, 88a are pivotally supported on standards 89, 89a and are pivotally connected to control arms 90, 90a extending upwardly along the sides of compartments A and A1 and equipped with handles (not shown). adapted to raise and lower the control arms.

A pair of valves 9| and 92 are adapted, by means of pump 68, towithdraw Washing or rinsing fluid from compartment A and transfer it to compartment A1 orthe sewer and likewise to withdraw washing or rinsing fluid from compartment A1 and transfer it to compartment A or the sewer. The valves are provided with collars 93, 94 machined to house rods 95, 96 controlling valve plugs 91, 98 rotatable within the valve casings. Control rods 95 and 96 extend upwardly between compartments A and A1 through the cover plate I0 and are provided with handles 99 to rotate the control rods. A fluid conduit |00 connects valves 9| and 92. The inlet of pump 68 is connected to valve 9| by conduit IOI, and conduit |02 connects the outlet of the pump 88 to valve sz. Drains los, |04 are tapped into the bottoms of containers 4, 4 of compartments A and A1 and lead to valve 9|. Valve 92 is provided with an outlet |05 to the sewer. Valve plug 91 is provided with a plurality of ports; port |06 adapted to connect conduits |0| and |03; port |01 connecting conduits |00 and |03, port |08 connecting conduits |00 and |04, and port |09 connecting conduits IOI and |04. In the position shown in Figs. 6 and '1, ports |06 and |08 are in operative position; by rotating plug 91 approximately 90 in a clockwise direction, ports |06 and |08 are disconnected, and ports |01 and |09 are brought into register with their respective conduits.

Valve plug 98 is provided with a pair of ports ||0 and III. As shown in Fig. '7, port IIO connects conduits |00 and |02. By rotating plug 98 approximately port I I I may be brought into operative relationship connecting conduits |02 and |05.

uid from compartment A to compartment A1 the uid is withdrawn through conduit |03, port |08, pump inlet IM. the pump 68, the outlet |82, port lllLvconduit |00, port |88 and conduit |84 into compartment Ai. To direct the washing uid or rinsing water from compartment A to the sewer, plug 98 is rotated 180, and the water passes from the pump 88 through the pump out t |82, port to the drain outlet |05.

port |09, |02, |03 to compartment A. To pass washing fluid or rinsing water from compartment A1 to the sewer, valve plug 98 is rotated 180, and the water 'will pass from the pump outlet |02 through port to the drain outlet |05.

From the foregoing detailed description it is apparent that the partment may be operated at the same time as the dryer mechanism of the other compartment.

in Fig. 1, thereby raising the clutch member 83 bringing the clutch face 82 Vinto engagement with the complementary face 8| of the spur gear 'I9 imparting oscillatory movement to shaft 3| and agitator 2| through rack been sufciently washed, the washing fluid may be transferred to compartment A1, as previously described, and the w mechanism of compartment A1 actuated by lowering control arm 90a and imparting oscillatory movement to the shaft 3|a and the agitator 2| through the mechanism similar to that just described in connection with the washing mechanism of compartment A. 'I'he material in compartment A may then be rinsed and the rinsing water disposed of to the drain through outlet "I3, valves 9|, 92 and the drain outlet |85. The material in compartment A is dried by ra control arm 98, thereby bringing the face 84 of clutch 83 into engagement with the complementary face '|2 of spur gear 68 imparting rotary movement to shaft 3|, agitator 2| and drier After Ithe material in compartment A has been suiciently dried'it may be manually removed and a second batch of soiled material inserted in drum 'I'he washing uid in compartment A1 may then be transferred to compartment A in vating control arm 98a, thereby lowering the engaging -face 84a of clutch 83a into engagement with the engaging face 12a of spur gear 69a imparting rotary motion to shaft 3|a, agitator 2| and the dryer It is to be understood that character described, a huid, a perforated drum motor-driven shaft censald second mentioned sleeve and drum.

2. In a device of the character described, a container for a washing fluid, a perforated drum within said container, a motor-driven shaft censaid container and drum, an

ing said agitator and 3. In a washing machine, a washing compartment, washing mechanism within said compartment, drying mechanism within said compartment, a vertical driven shaft extending into and

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