GB2483723A

GB2483723A - Stationary laundry washing and drying apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2483723A
Application number: GB1015751.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Roland Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-20
Filing date: 2010-09-20
Publication date: 2012-03-21
Also published as: GB201015751D0

Abstract

The apparatus includes a container for processing laundry with a substantially hollow shell 100 having sides angled with respect to a vertical and a base smaller than the sides. The shell may have a V-shaped or parabolic cross-section. At least one fluid aperture (104, Figure 2) in the shell is for admitting a pressurized fluid jet therethrough from a pressurized fluid supply 128. At least one fluid drainage aperture is also located in the shell. In a preferred embodiment a machine for washing laundry includes the hollow shell and the pressurised fluid is water. An alternative embodiment of a machine for drying clothes includes the hollow shell and the pressurized fluid is air.

Description

Stationary Laundry Washing and Drying Apparatus

Background of_the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to stationary laundry washing and drying machines, that is, those not having a rotating drum.

[2] [iS 2009090138 to Wang discloses a washing machine having high pressure angled air lets that introduce air into the water in a stationary pressurized tub. A circular flow pattern and air pressure within the warm wash water agitates and cleans the clothes without the need for a mechanically rotated drum or detergent. Sediment from the laundry is removed from the water by drains both at the top and the bottom of the tub. At the end of the wash cycle, the high pressure air is used to drain and dehydrate the clean clothes.

[3] DE202005009445 to Frost discloses a washing machine for small articles having a compressor which circulates the articles in a small chamber by means of the air pressure. The container, which has a volume of 1-2 litres, is filled with hot water, detergent, and small clothing articles. A compressor delivers pressurised air through a non-return valve and hose to cause the articles to circulate. The container is readily emptied and filled with clean rinse water.

[4] DE 10064548to Boeduel discloses a washing machine. The machine has a washing container for accommodating laundry, a :1-drive device for rotating the laundry with at least three nozzle elements distributed within the container via which washing solution and/or air can be simultaneously fed into the container to rotate the laundry. The laundry is held at a distance from a lower rest position during operation of the machine without contacting the machine.

Brief Swnmaryof the Invention [5] It can be seen from the forgoing that a need has arisen to wash laundry without the disadvantages associated with a rotating drum: noise, weight, vibration, wear and tear, etc. [6] It would be advantageous to have an efficient clothing washing machine which washed clothing without a rotating drum. It would be further advantageous to have such a machine which further dried clothing thereafter.

[7] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a machine for washing clothing via water jets.

[8] It is a further object of the invention to provide such a machine which further dries clothing using air jets.

[9] To this end, a container for processing laundry is disclosed comprising: a substantially hollow shell having sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than said sides; at least one fluid aperture in the shell for admitting a pressurized fluid jet therethrough from a pressurized fluid supply; and at least one fluid drainage aperture in the shell.

[10] In a preferred embodiment, a washing and drying machine is disclosed wherein the container is disposed. The fluid is alternately water for washing and air for drying.

[11] An advantage of the present invention is that there is no rotating drum -reducing the noise and vibration associated with a regular washing machine, as well as eliminating the need for a concrete weight in the machine. Furthermore, since there are fewer moving parts, maintenance will be reduced and the machine will wear out more slowly. Yet further, there is less wear and tear to the clothing since it is moved not by solid moving parts but by water jets only.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing [12] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, in which: [13] Figure 1 shows an external view of the invention; [14] Figure 2 shows an internal view of the invention; and [15] Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[16] A container for processing laundry is disclosed comprising: a substantially hollow shell having sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than said sides; at least one fluid aperture in the shell for admitting a pressurized fluid jet therethrough from a pressurized fluid supply; and at least one fluid drainage aperture in the shell. It is envisaged that the container will be used in a washing machine for washing laundry, a drier for drying laundry, and/or a combined washing and drying machine for laundry. It is further envisaged that the fluid will be water, in the case of a washing machine, air, in the case of a drier, and both air and water in the case of a combined machine. Specific embodiments of machines using the container of the present invention are described below.

[17] In a first and preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a machine for washing clothes is disclosed comprising: a pressurized water supply; a substantially hollow shell 100 having sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than said sides; at least one water aperture 104 in the shell for admitting a pressurized water jet therethrough from said pressurized water supply; and at least one water drainage aperture 124 in the shell.

[18] The machine is preferably housed in a housing 116 having a rectangular outer shape similar to a conventional washing machine, for ease of fitting into existing spaces. The housing preferably comprises a door 118 to the front of the housing whereby the inside of the shell may be accessed for insertion and removal of laundry. The door may be to the top of the housing or elsewhere or any other aperture may be used to access the clothing. The machine housing preferably further comprises means for accessing other parts of the machine for maintenance as known in the art.

[19] The pressurized water supply preferably comprises a mains water supply 128, a high pressure water pump 120, a motor 122, and a water extractor 108. All of these components are known in the art and therefore not described in detail herein. A reservoir 130 may be contained in the housing for containing water. A water heater 112 as known in the art may heat the water prior to and/or during use. Extracted water may be redirected to the water pump for re-use or to a drain 126 for disposal.

[20] The water aperture or apertures may be any known in the art and preferably comprise nozzles designed to direct the water in pressurized jets into the middle area of the shell.

[21] The shell, as described above, is substantially hollow and has sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than its sides, that is, the area of the base is less than the area of any one side. In a case where the base is not well defined it may be assumed to be the lower third of the shell while the remainder is assumed to be the sides. The hollow area is to allow laundry to circulate therein. The shape -having sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than its sides -is to enable the water apertures to be concentrated at or near the small base, providing a simpler design which is cheaper and easier to construct. The angled sides redirect the laundry towards the base where the apertures are located, preventing stagnation of laundry in any one location such as a corner or the like where small laundry items may become stuck.

The angled sides further provide a gentler descent for laundry compared with vertical sides, to avoid unnecessarily damaging the laundry.

[22] Most preferably, the shell has a constant and parabolic cross section.

[23] An advantage of the parabolic cross section is that this shape naturally focuses incoming parallel waves to its fccus, thus clothing under the force of gravity will reach the focus of the parabola. The water jets can be directed towards this focus and will therefore be most effective at targeting the laundry and exerting a force on it, causing it to circulate around the shell without stagnating, and with minimal pressure and minimal number of jets required to achieve circulation.

[24] An advantage of the constant cross section is that the apertures can be arranged in straight lines at or near the base and furthermore that flow is more easily predictable. A yet further advantage is that the shell can have a larger internal volume to hold more laundry. A yet further advantage is that a user can view the laundry during cleaning.

[25] Alternatively the cross section may be non constant and the shell may be shaped as a three dimensional parabola.

Furthermore the shell may widen towards the front or back, or any other non-constant cross sectional shape.

[26] In an alternative version, the shell has a V-shaped cross section. This shape maintains the advantages of the sides directing the laundry towards the base, and is furthermore simpler to construct than a parabola, having flat sides. The V-shaped shell may or may not have a constant cross section.

[27] The arrangement of the apertures and therefore the water jets will now be discussed.

[28] In the preferred case of the constant cross section parabolic shell, the water aperture preferably comprises a multiplicity of apertures along the lowest part of the shell -that is, a straight line of apertures along the bottom of the parabola -as well as a multiplicity of apertures close to the bottom of the shell -that is, two further lines slightly higher up the base of the parabola, equally spaced to either side of the bottom line.

[29] Alternatively the machine may comprise a multiplicity of apertures at and close to the lowest part of the shell in any arrangement. Furthermore the apertures may only be at the lowest part of the shell, in a straight line or otherwise, or there may be only one aperture.

[30] In the preferred case of the constant cross section, the water apertures are arranged in substantially straight lines as described above, however alternatively whether the cross section is constant or non constant, any arrangement of apertures may be used.

[31] The drainage apertures are preferably arranged as shown in the figures although any arrangement may be used. The drainage apertures preferably lead to a reservoir from which water is redirected either to the water pump or a drain.

[32] Preferably the inside profile of the shell comprises a number of ridges 115 as shown in the figures. An advantage of the ridges is that as the laundry circulates, making contact with the ridges, the ridges help to loosen dirt from the laundry. The ridges are preferably arranged as shown in the figures for maximal effect although there may be more or fewer ridges which may be disposed in different locations. Alternatively there may be no ridges.

[33] In a most preferred version of the invention, the machine further comprises laundry drying means, that is: a pressurized air supply; at least one air aperture 106 in the shell for admitting pressurized air from said air supply; and at least one air removal aperture or vent 110. Preferably an air heater 114 is provided such that the pressurized air entering the shell is warm. All of the abovementioned components are widely known in the art and therefore not described herein in detail.

[34] Most preferably, and as known in the art for laundry driers, air is fed in through an air supply pipe 132 where it is fed to the air heater for heating. Warm air then travels from the heater to a high pressure air pump 134 which feeds jets of warm pressurized air to the shell cavity through the apertures. An condenser 136 as known in the art for laundry driers extracts moist air and sends it to a condenser as known in the art, which removes moisture from the air and redirects it back to the machine, via the heater and/or the pump. A motor 122 powers the pump as known in the art. This may be the same motor which powers the water pump and a clutch 138 may be arranged therebetween for alternating the connection to the motor between the air pump and the water pump.

[35] The air aperture or apertures are preferably interspersed with the water apertures and may be arranged in any of the locations and patterns that apply to the water apertures, that is, there may be a multiplicity of apertures along a lowest part of the shell, a multiplicity of apertures at and close to the lowest part of the shell, or lines of apertures at and close to the lowest part of the shell.

[36] Furthermore the air apertures may not be interspersed with the water apertures and may be arranged separately frcm them in separate lines or other arrangements.

[37] Advantages of the shell shape for drying clothes are the same as those described for washing clothes above, that is, the shape naturally focuses incoming parallel waves to its focus, thus clothing under the force of gravity will reach the focus of the parabola. The air jets can be directed towards this focus and will therefore be most effective at targeting the laundry and exerting a force on it, causing it to circulate around the shell without stagnating, and with minimal pressure and minimal number of jets required to achieve circulation.

[38] An advantage of the constant cross section is that the apertures can be arranged in straight lines at or near the base and furthermore that flow is more easily predictable. A yet further advantage is that the shell can have a larger internal volume to hold more laundry. A yet further advantage is that a user can view the laundry during cleaning.

[39] Preferably the machine further comprises a display panel and user controls as known in the art to enable a user to

B

operate the machine for various washing and/or drying cycles as desired.

[40] In a second embodiment of the invention, a drying machine for drying laundry is also disclosed. The dryer comprises: a pressurized air supply; a substantially hollow shell having sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than said sides; at least one air aperture in the shell for admitting pressurized air from said air supply; and at least one air removal aperture.

[41] The machine is preferably housed in a housing having a rectangular outer shape similar to a conventional washing machine, for ease of fitting into existing spaces. The housing preferably comprises a door to the front of the housing whereby the inside of the shell may be accessed for insertion and removal of laundry. The door may be to the top of the housing or elsewhere or any other aperture may be used to access the clothing. The machine housing preferably further comprises means for accessing other parts of the machine for maintenance as known in the art.

[42] Most preferably, and as known in the art for laundry driers, air is fed in through an air supply pipe where it is fed to the air heater for heating. Warm air then travels from the heater to a high pressure air pump which feeds jets of warm pressurized air to the shell cavity through the apertures. An extractor as known in the art for laundry driers extracts moist air and sends it to a condenser as known in the art, which removes moisture from the air and redirects it back to the machine, via the heater and/or the pump. A motor powers the pump as known in the art.

[43] The air aperture or apertures may be any known in the art and preferably comprise nozzles designed to direct the air in pressurized jets into the middle area of the shell.

[44] The shell, as described above, is substantially hollow and has sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than its sides, that is, the area of the base is less than the area of any one side. In a case where the base is not well defined it may be assumed to be the lower third of the shell while the remainder is assumed to be the sides. The hollow area is to allow laundry to circulate therein. The shape -having sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than its sides -is to enable the water apertures to be concentrated at or near the small base, providing a simpler design which is cheaper and easier to construct. The angled sides redirect the laundry towards the base where the apertures are located, preventing stagnation of laundry in any one location such as a corner or the like where small laundry items may become stuck.

[45] Most preferably, the shell has a constant and parabolic cross section.

[46] An advantage of the parabolic cross section is that this shape naturally focuses incoming parallel waves to its focus, thus clothing under the force of gravity will reach the focus of the parabola. The air jets can be directed towards this focus and will therefore be most effective at targeting the laundry and exerting a force on it, causing it to circulate around the shell without stagnating, and with minimal pressure and minimal number of jets required to achieve circulation.

[47) An advantage of the constant cross section is that the apertures can be arranged in straight lines at or near the base and furthermore that flow is more easily predictable. A yet further advantage is that the shell can have a larger internal volume to hold more laundry. A yet further advantage is that a user can view the laundry during drying.

[48) Alternatively the cross section may be non constant and the shell may be shaped as a three dimensional parabola.

[49] In an alternative embodiment the shell has a V-shaped cross section. This shape maintains the advantages of the sides directing the laundry towards the base, and is furthermore simpler to construct than a parabola, having flat sides. The V-shaped shell may or may not have a constant cross section.

[50) The arrangement of the apertures and therefore the air jets will now be discussed.

[51] In the preferred case of the constant cross section parabolic shell, the air aperture preferably comprises a multiplicity of apertures along the lowest part of the shell -that is, a straight line of apertures along the bottom of the parabola -as well as a multiplicity of apertures close to the bottom of the shell -that is, two further lines slightly higher up the base of the parabola, equally spaced to either side of the bottom line.

[52) Alternatively the machine may comprise a multiplicity of apertures at and close to the lowest part of the shell in any arrangement. Furthermore the apertures may only be at the lowest part of the shell, in a straight line or otherwise, or there may be only one aperture.

[53] In the preferred case of the constant cross section, the air apertures are arranged in substantially straight lines as described above, however alternatively whether the cross section is constant or non constant, any arrangement of apertures may be used.

[54] The air removal aperture is preferably a vent close to an extractor fan near the top of the machine although it may be any air removal aperture. Preferably air is removed therefrom to an extractor fan and condenser as described above although it may also be fed to the atmosphere.

[55] Preferably the machine further comprises a display panel and user controls as known in the art to enable a user to operate the machine for various washing and/or drying cycles as desired.

Claims

claims 1. A container for processing laundry comprising: a substantially hollow shell having sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than said sides; at least one fluid aperture in the shell for admitting a pressurized fluid jet therethrough from a pressurized fluid supply; and at least one fluid drainage aperture in the shell.
2. A machine for washing laundry comprising: a pressurized water supply; a substantially hollow shell having sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than said sides; at least one water aperture in the shell for admitting a pressurized water jet therethrough from said pressurized water supply; and at least one water drainage aperture in the shell.
3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said shell has a V-shaped cross section.
4. The machine of claim 1 wherein said shell has a parabolic cross section.
5. The machine of claim 1 wherein said shell has a constant cross section.
6. The machine of claim 1 wherein said at least one water aperture comprises a multiplicity of apertures along a lowest part of the shell.
7. The machine of claim 1 wherein said at least one water aperture comprises a multiplicity of apertures at and close to the base of the shell.
8. The machine of claim 4 wherein said at least one water aperture comprises lines of apertures at and close to the lowest part of the shell.
9. The machine of claim 1 wherein an inside profile of said shell comprises ridges whereby cleaning is assisted.
10. The machine of claim 1 further comprising: a pressurized air supply; at least one air aperture in the shell for admitting pressurized air from said air supply; and at least one air removal aperture.
11. The machine of claim 9 wherein said at least one air aperture comprises a multiplicity of apertures along a lowest part of the shell.
12. The machine of claim 1 wherein said at least one air aperture comprises a multiplicity of apertures at and close to the lowest part of the shell.
13. The machine of claim 4 wherein said at least one air aperture comprises lines of apertures at and close to the lowest part of the shell.
14. The machine of claim 1 further comprising a water heater.
15. The machine of claim 9 further comprising an air heater.
16. A machine for drying clothes comprising: a pressurized air supply; a substantially hollow shell having sides angled with respect to the vertical and a base smaller than said sides; at least one air aperture in the shell for admitting pressurized air from said air supply; and at least one air removal aperture.