US1705361A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1929.

A. GRAYDON WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1921 m 6%- of O Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a moon wto p- March 12, 1929. 'GRAYDQN- 1,705,361

WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Jlerazzder 652;.2201? Patented Mar. 12, 1929. 4 UNITED STATES ATENT oFFlc-E".

may. GRAYDON, or sex r'amcrsoo, cniroam wasrmre moms.

, Application fled October 18, 1821. Serial No. M598.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 1,437,514, granted December 5,1922- An object of the present invention is to mission of washing fluid into the tub and an overflow drain for the removal of suds and dirt by flushing the tub without opening the main drain line;

Other objects of the invention reside in the more specific and detailed features of construction which will later be described in connection with the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the machine, Fig. 2 is an elevation view, 7 i Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, 10 indicates, generally, the machine casing which is divided by an intermediate horizontal partition 11 into an upper compartment or tub 12 and a lower compartment 13 containing the operating mechanism.

That portion of the casing 10 which forms the compartment 13, is formed with perforations 10" which afl'ord proper ventilation for the operating mechanism and motor positioned within this compartment. The operating mechanism is located in a housing or casing 14 supported within the machine casing, as by screws 15 passing through the partition into the adjacent housing wall: The operating mechanism may der ve its power from any suitable source, such as an electric motor 16 supported on a platform 17 extending laterally from the housing, and the mechanism is preferably controlled by j a gear shifting switch or controlling lever 18 operable from the exterior of the machine casing. The construction and arrangement of the operating mechanism form no part of-the present invention. As will be observed, the operatin mechanism is entirely enclosed by the hous 14, and the latter is connected with the casing of the machine by means of screws 15; when the screws 15 are removed the operatin mechanism will drop.

Within ,the tub 12 is rotatably mounted a false tub 19, preferably provided with perforated walls to permit the admission of washing fluid thereinto. The false tub has extending upwardly therethroug h from the operating mechanism housing a reciprocable and rotatable shaft 20, adapted to be reciprocated and rotated by the mechanism within the housin 14. The shaft 20 extends through a bearing s eeve 21 having a bottom flange 21' through which pass securing screws 22 connecting the sleeve to the operating mechanism casing. The sleeve has, at its upper end,

a stufling box 23 closed by a cap 24 which serves to prevent the leakage of washing fluid into the operating mechanism housing; and the sleeve is inclosed by a second sleeve 25 bolted at its lower end by screws 26 to the false tub bottom and to a supportin collar 27 surrounding the sleeve 21. The col ar 27 is rotatably mounted upon bearings 28, preferably of the ball type, seated within a raceway 29 formed in the top of the operating mechanism housing, and is held against upward movement longitudinally of the sleeve 21 by means of a lock washer 30 surrounding the sleeve 21. The above described mounting for the false tub allows rotation of the tub with a minimum of friction, and at the same time facilitates removal of the tub from the casing 10, it bein necessary simply to remove the screws 26 an the outer sleeve 25 in order to withdraw the tub from the casing.

The construction above described serves to prevent washing fluid from seeping into the housing for the operating mechanism. However, should water leak into the housing the same will naturally gravitate to the bottom of the housing, from which it may be revalve controlled fitting 14" which is at the normal level of the lubricant in the housing.

By operating the valve 14" an water which has seeped into the housing an settled to the bottom may be removed, since the entrance of the water to the housing raises the lubricant level, and consequently the level of the lubricant being above the plane of the valve 14, water is forced out of the housing through the drain pipe simply by opening the valve. This feature insures a long life for the-gears of the operating mechanism, since all washing fluid which tends to thin the lubricant ma beremoved.

pon the shaft 20 is mounted a suction plunger 31 which is preferably of substantially the same diameter asv the false tub. The plunger is mounted upon a sleeve 31' slidable longitudinally of the shaft 20, and is held upon the sleeve by a lock washer 32. The sleeve is adjustable longitudinally of the shaft and is provided with a locking pin'33 adapted to pass through spaced openings 34 in the shaft with which the transverse opening 35 in the collar may be aligned, the desirable adjustment of the plunger along the shaft being dependent upon the amount of clothes within the tub. Manifestly, if the tub is substantially filled with clothes to be washed, it will be necessary to place the plunger at a higher point along the shaft in order to obtain the desired forcing and suction effects than if but a few articles of clothing are to be washed.

It is desirable to prevent relative rotation of the tub 19 and the suction plunger when the tub is rotated to dry the clothes, it having 1 been found that there is a tendency for the clothes to become wrapped around the plunger and shaft and to be torn when such relative rotation takes place. I have found that a preferable construction consists in placing a cover upon the false tub and rotatably securing the cover to the shaft so that the tub may be rotated from the shaft through such a cover. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the tub 19 is shown as provided with a cover 36 having a depending marginal flange 37 fitting within the tub and frictionally engaging the wall of the latter. The cover is secured to a collar 38 having a reduced portion 38' which rotatably fits within a sleeve 40 upon the machine casing cover 10. The collar 38 is held upon the machine cover by a lock nut 41 threaded upon its end and abutting the end of the sleeve 40.

The collar 38 has a key 42 fitting into a keyway 43 extendingalong the shaft 20. and, obviously, rotation of the shaft 20 by the operating mechanism will result in a rotation of the false tub 19 through its cover 36. In order to prevent the escape of the washing fluid and suds from the tub through the central opening in the cover 10 during the reciprocation of the shaft and plunger, a cap 44 may be threaded upon the sleeve 40 and such suds as work upwardly through the collar 38 lubricate the upper bearing of the shaft 20. As will be observed, the collar 38 and cap 44 serve to unite the false tub cover 36 and easing cover 10 so that the two covers may be removed as a unit.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for admitting the washing fluid into the tub 12 without splashing, and for this purpose the tub is provided, upon its exterior (Fig. 2), with a fitting 45 having external nipples 46, 47 to which hot and cold water supply lines may be connected. The admission of washing fluid is controlled by valves 48 which, when opened, permit the fluid to pass through an inlet passage 49 which, it will be observed, is curved in a lateral direction to direct the water in at an angle substantially tangential to the wall of the false tub 19.. The inflowing stream of fluid is thus directed around the tub and the force of the same does not strike directlyagainst .the wall of the tub. This arrangement permits the admission of washing fluid without splashing, and with every inconsiderable resistance to the inflowing stream.

A drain port 51 at the bottom of the tub permits the draining of the washing fluid from the tub after the washing when it is desired to dry. the clothes by rotation of the false tub '19, this port being controlled by a valve 52 which is normally'closed and must be opened when the tub is to be drained. However, it is desirable to rinse the clothes before entirely draining the tub in order that the suds and dirt may be thoroughly removed from the clothes and tub, and for this purpose I have provided an overflow device which will permit the opening of the inlet ports for either hot or cold water, or both, and the ad mission of washing fluid without openin the drain port valve, thereby permitting the ooding of the machine and the removal of all suds, grease and dirt before the drying operation. The valve fitting 52 has a by-pass 53 which communicates, upon the interior of the tub, with an upwardly extending drain passage 54 having an inlet 55 considerably above the bottom of the tub. When the clothes are to be rinsed, preferably before the operation of the plunger is stopped, 'it is simply necessary to flood the tub by opening the inlet valves 48, and when the water rises above the by-pass inlet 55 the overflow will drain through the passage 54 and by-pass 53. After the rinsing operation is completed the drain port controlling cock 52 may be opened in order to entirely drain the washing fluid from the tub before setting up rotation of the tub in order to dry the clothes. As will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 4 the drain port fitting may have a branch 58 in which is positioned a water gauge 57 extending upwardly through a guide eye 59 in the inlet valve fitting.

It is sometimes found necessary to heat the water within the tub to a higher temperature than the water admitted through the hot water inlet supply line, and for this purpose the drain valve fitting and the inlet fitting may each be provided with an additional port 60 normally closed by a plug 61. When the water Within the tub is to be heated a heating coil may be connected at one end to the drain valve fitting at the port, 60 and at the other end to the corresponding port in the inlet fittingthus making a thermo-siphon to heat the water.

The operation of this machine will be obvious from the above description and to q'ne skilled in the art, it being understood that the operating mechanism within the housing 14 is adjusted by the control arm 18, after the tub 12 has been filled with clothes and washing fluid, to reciprocate the shaft and its suc tion plunger 31. After this operation has been performed the clothes are thoroughly rinsed to remove the dirt and suds by opening the inlet valves 48 while at the same time maintaining the drain valve 52 closed. This floods the tub and washes the soap and dirt through the over-flow by-pass 54. S bsequent to the rinsing operatlon the rain valve is opened to remove the water fro m the false tub and thereupon the operating'mechanism is shifted to produce rotation of the shaft 20 and the false tub, which will thoroughly dry the clothes.

It should be understood that the above detailed disclosure is merely illustrative of the invention and in no sense restrictive thereof, numerous modifications being possible within the scope of mechanical skill and the following claims.

1. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub rotatably mounted in said tub, a rotatable shaft extending through said tub and-having a key-way therein, a re movable cover having an opening adapted to be fixedly secured upon said false tub to rotate the latter, the shaft extending through said opening in said cover, a collar on said cover at said opening through which the shaft extends, a key within said collar fitting into the keyway in said shaft, the shaft being reciprocable through said opening, agitating means on said shaft and operating mechanism positioned beneath the said tubs for said shaft.

2. In a washin machine, the combinationof a tub, a false tu rotatably mounted in said tub, a rotatable shaft extending through said tubs, a removable cover adapted to be fixedly secured upon said false tub to rotate the latter, the cover having an opening through which the shaft extends, means for establishing a connection between the shaft and cover for rotating the latter by the shaft, the shaft being reciprocable through said opening, agitating means on said shaft, operating mechanism positioned beneath the said tubs for said shaft, a cover for said first mentioned tub connected to said false tub cover, the latter cover being rotatable relative to the other cover, and the two covers being together removable as a unit.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub rotatably mounted in said tub; a cover for said first mentioned tub, a cover for said false tub rotatably connected to the first mentioned cover and removable therewith, a flange on said false tub cover adapted to frictionally engage the wall of said false tub to insure rotation of the latter with its cover, a reciprocable and rotatable shaft extending through said false tub and operatively connected with the cover thereof to rotate the cover, agitating means on said shaft, operating means for said shaft positioned below the tub, and means connecting said false tub cover with the shaft permitting reciprocation of the shaft independently of the cover.

4. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub rotatably mounted in said tub, a cover for said first mentioned tub,

a cover for said false tub, a flange on said false tub cover rotatably connecting the same with the tub to insure rotation of the tub with its cover, a reciprocable and rotatable shaft in said false tub, agitating means on said shaft, operating means for said shaft below the tub, and means for connecting the shaft to said false tub cover adapted to insure rotation of the cover through said shaft but permitting reciprocation of the shaft relatively to the cover and tub.

5. In a washing machine, the combination of a casing having a horizontal partition therein forming a tub thereabove and an operating mechanism compartment therebelow, operating mechanism in said compartment, a false tub rotatably mounted above said partition, a vertically reciprocable rotatable shaft extending upwardly through said partition and said false-tub, agitating means on said shaft, a removable cover for said false tub secured to the false tub to rotate the latter, said shaft extending through an opening in the cover, a collar on said cover having a key fitting into a keyway on said shaft, a cover for said casing mounted on said collar, the collar and false tub cover being rotatable relatively to said casing cover, and a stationary cap on said casing cover conceal'fig the collar and shaft.

In testimo y whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALEXANDER GRAYDON.

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