US1610894A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 14 9 1926". 1,610,894

D. A. SMELSER WASHING MACHINE Filed April 10,, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,894

D. A. SMELSER WASHING MACHINE Filed April 10. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES DAVID A. SMELSER, OF BRISTOL, VIRGINIA.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed April 10. 1926. Serial No. 101,129.

This invention relates to certain improvements in washing machines and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind comprising a hollow rotor revolubly mounted within a casing or tub and wherein the rotor is provided with lnwardly disposed and reversely directed rubbmg members orribs operating during the rotation of the rotor to cause the articles therein to be moved or thrown from end to end of the rotor and thereby materially facilitate the cleansin operation.

Another ject of the invention is to provide a device of this kind comprising a rotating hollow rotor or drum provided with inwardly disposed and substantially reversely directed spiral working members or ribs and wherein each of said ribs has disposed therethrough a plurality of openings for the passage of the cleanlng fluid to further facilitate an effective cleansing of the articles Within the rotor or drum.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind comprising a rotating hollow rotor or drum provided adjacent its opposite ends with reversely directed spiral ribs or working members, the substantially opposed faces of said ribs or members being grooved or otherwise roughened to assure effective working surfaces.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and an rangement of the several parts of my 1mproved washing machine whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered slmpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advanta-' geous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom panying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in vertical section taken through a machine constructed in accord ance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a development of the hollow rotor'or drum showing the relative arrangegient of the internal ribs or working memers;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4. is a horizontal sectional View taken through the hollow rotor or drum as herein disclosed, the supporting trunnions therefor being shown in top plan;

Figure is a View in elevation of one of the supporting bearings for the hollow rotor or drum;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of one of the working members or ribs as herein employed.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings C denotesa casing or drum formed in any desired manner and of preferred configuration having 'its lower or bottom portion substantially semi-circular in cross section and having secured to the opposed faces of its end walls 1 the aligned bearings 2. Each of these bearings 2 comprises a barrel or having its upper portion open, as at 3), whereby a trunnion 3 carried by an end wall or head 4 of the hollow rotor or drum D may be readily received therein.

The peripheral wall 5 of the member or drum D is provided with the openings 6 so that the fluid within the casing or tub C may have ready access within the rotor or drum D. A portion of the peripheral wall 5 of the member or drum 1) is open, as at- 7, to permit clothing or kindred articles to be cleansed to be readily placed within the member or drum D, said opening 7 being adapted to be closed by the removable door or cover 8.

An end wall 1 of the casing or tub C is provided with an outstanding tubular hearing 9 the bore of whichaligning with a trunnion 3 Within the adjacent bearing 2, such trunnion having an axial recess 10 angular in cross section to substantially snugly receive an angular end portion 11 of an operatingmember 12, said operating member 12 being disposed through and rotatably held by the bearing 9. The adjacent end Wall 1 of the member or tub C is provided with an opening 14 through which the member 12 also extends. The outer end of the member 12- has operatively engaged therewith a crank 15 whereby the member or drum D may be readily rotated as desired. This crank 15 provides means for manually rotating the member or drum D but it is to be understood that other means may be employed in connection with the member 12 whereby said drum or member D can be power driven.

In addition to providing means for rotating the member or drum D, it is to be noted that the operating member 12 coacts with a trunnion 3 of'said member or drum to effectively hold or look the drum or member D in applied position within the casing or tub C. When it is desired to remove the member or drum D from within the casing or tub C, it is only necessary that the member-12 be pulled outwardly sufficient to free the angular portion 11 thereof from within the recess 10.

Carried by the peripheral wall of the member or drum D is a pair of inwardly disposed ribs or working members R, said members being spirally arranged around said peripheral wall in reversed directions, with one spiral at one end of the drum and the second spiral at the opposite end of the drum.

As diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that the inner end of one of the ribs R terminates at a point slightly inward of the outer end of the second rib but spaced therefrom and that the opposite ends of said ribs or members terminate at points immediately adjacent to the opening 7. The inner end of the second member or rib R terminates at a predetermined point spaced from a side wall 4 of the member or drum D.

Two adjacent faces of a rib R are provided thereacross with the grooves 16, each roove in one face of a rib being continued y a groove in the adjacent face and each of said grooves is gradually increased in width toward the meeting edge between such faces. These rooves provide effective rubbing surfaces whereby the cleansing operation of the machine is materially facilitated.

It is also to be noted that each of the ribs or members R has disposed laterally therethrough the openings 17 each in communication with a groove in an opposed face of the rib or member B, said opening being tapered with its larger end at the opposite face of the rib. Furthermore, as particularly illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, the adjacent openings 17 are in staggered relation. These openings 17 permit the cleaning fluid Within the member or drum D to readily flow through the ribs to further facilitate the action of the machine upon the articles being operated upon.

In practice, a suitable saponified liquid or its equivalent is placed within the casing or tub C and admitted within the member or drum D. After the articles to be cleaned have been properly placed within the member or drum D and the cover or lid 8 applied, said member or drum D is rotated and during this action the reverse relation of the working members or ribs R will cause said articles to be intermittently thrown first toward one end of the member or drum D and then toward theother with by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying, out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A washing machine comprising, a hollow rotor to receive the articles to be cleaned, and spiral ribs carried by the opposite end portions of the peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect to the ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially reversed with respect to the other, the inner end portion of one of said ribs extending inwardly of the outer end portion of the second rib and spaced therefrom.

2. A washing machine comprising, a hollow rotor to receive the articles to be cleaned, and spiral ribs carried by the opposite end portions of the peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect to the ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially reversed with respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of the ribs having grooves thereacross.

3. A washing machine comprising, a hollow rotor to receive the articles to be cleaned, and spiral ribs carried by the opposite end portions of the peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect to the ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially reversed with respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of the ribs having grooves thereacross, said grooves increasing in width toward the meeting edge between such faces.

4. A washing machine comprising, a hollow rotor to receive the articles to be cleaned.v and spiral ribs carried by the opposite end portions of the peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect to the ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially reversed with respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of the ribs having grooves thereacross, each of said ribs having openings disposed transversely therethrou h.

5, washing machine comprising, a hol low rotor to receive the articles to be cleaned, and spiral ribs carried by the opposite end portions of the peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect to the ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially reversed with respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of the ribs having grooves thereacross, each of said ribs having openings disposed transversely therethrough, each of said openings communieating with a groove in the rib.

6. A washing machine comprising, a 1101- low rotor to receive the articles to be cleaned, and spiral ribs carried by the opposite end portions of the peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect to the ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially'reversed with respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of the ribs having 20 grooves t-hereacross, each of-said ribs having openings disposed transversely therethrough, said openings being in staggered relation.

' 7. A washing machine comprising, a hollow rotor to receive the articles to be cleaned. and spiral ribs carried by the opposite en portions of the peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect to the ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially reversed with respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of the ribs having grooves thereacross, each of said ribs having openings disposed transversely therethrough, each of said openings being tapered outwardly with its larger end remote from 35 the face having the grooves.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

, DAVID A. SMELSEB.

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