US2055679A - Laundry or dry cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1936. v E. A. BOERNER 2,055,679

LAUNDRY OR DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l f r 6d IN VENTOR. Edward 4, 500mm" l I AORN.

Sept. 29, 1936. E. A. BOERNER LAUNDRY OR DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Edward A. five/Aer Sept. 29, 1936.

E. A. BOERNER LAUNDRY OR DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. id/mare? 4. fiber/WW 0609/ ATTORNEY.

fig 9 Patented Sept. 29, 1 936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in combination laundry and dry cleaning apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved dry cleaning and laundry machine which is particularly adapted for use by small laundries.

An important object of the invention is to combine a large rotary washer, a centrifugal exlO tractor, and a smaller washer into a single framework, and to provide means for driving all three units from a single power unit with means for selectively driving the individual units, whereby all of the units may be operated individually or together.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for a rotatable extractor which is so constructed that the operator may evenly distribute clothes within the rotating member, whereby the centipetal and centrifugal forces are balanced, which prevents creeping of the device across the floor when said member is rotating, at high speeds; this mounting also eliminates necessity of dynamically balancing said member, whereby simplicity and inexpensiveness of manufacture is increased.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved driving mechanism for the extractor which includes a pair of friction wheels, one

of which is movable with relation to the other and having a foot pedal connected thereto, whereby the operator may readily control the speed, of the extractor by merely depressing and releasing said pedal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means for driving the revolving drum in a rotary washing machine, which includes automatic means for intermittently reversing the rotation of said drum.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved laundry and dry cleaning machine which includes, a pair of washing units and a centrifugal extractor, whereby the complete operation for dry cleaning or wet cleaning, may be accomplished by the one machine,

thereby saving time and expense as well as making for convenience.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a combination laundry and dry cleaning machine, constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the interior of 5 the laundry washers,

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on line 5-4 of Fig. 3,

Figure 5 is a sectional detail of the drive mechanism for one of the rotary washers, 0

Figure 6 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the drive mechanism for one of the washers,

Figure 6a is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional View taken on line Ei6 of Fig. 6,

Figure '7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 showing the 15 control fork swung to the left to rotate the washer shaft in a clockwise direction,

Figure 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7 with the fork swung to the right to rotate the washer shaft in a counterclockwise direction, 20

Figure 9 is a detail of the sliding clutch memher which is slid by the swinging of the fork,

Figure 10 is a plan view of drive for the extractor,

Figure 11 is an enlarged transverse, sectional 25 view of the extractor basket mounting,

Figure 12 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line I2--|2 of Fig. 11,

Figure 13 is an enlarged elevation of the friction drive for the extractor, and 3 Figure 14 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line MI4 of Fig. 13.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a frame, preferably constructed of metal, or other suitable material. Within this frame, I mount a large rotary washer l l, a centrifugal extractor l2, .and a small rotary washer l3. These three units are all complete in themselves but are preferably secured to each other, whereby an integral structure is produced. It is preferable also to mount 40 the extractor between the two washers.

The washers H and iii are similarly constructed except for size and may be of any ordinary design. I have shown each washer as comprising an outer circular casing I4 having 45 the usual sliding door l5. Within the casing, a perforated drum I6 is mounted on a rotatable shaft Hi. In dry cleaning, the clothes are placed in the drum of one of the washers II, and the cleaning solvent entered into the casing. As the 50 drum rotates, the clothes become thoroughly saturated and are cleaned in the usual way. The cleaned clothes are then placed in the extractor and the solvent removed therefrom by centrifugal action, as will be hereinafter explained. 55

In some cases it has been found necessary and desirable to first wash the clothes before cleaning them with the solvent. For this purpose the washer i3 is employed. The clothes are placed in the rotating drum and the water and soap .suds entered into the casing. Rotation of the drum thoroughly washes the clothes, as is now the usual practice. The clothes are then placed in the extractor where the water is removed, after which said clothes go through the dry cleaning operation, as will be explained. It is pointed out that since the washers H and i3 are exactly the same, it would be possible to use either one for washing or for the dry cleaning solvent, depending on the work to be done. In other words, if the operator had a large amount of washing to be done the large washer ll could be employed for this purpose, while the small washer l3 could be used for the dry cleaning.

From the above, it is obvious that a most complete and inexpensive apparatus is provided for purposes of dry cleaning clothes. In small laundries, the expense of a dry cleaning unit has been too great and therefore most small laundries send any dry cleaning work to large cleaning establishments. With this unit, however, they can inexpensively and readily do this work. The provision of the three units combined in a single frame make for simple and less handling of the clothes being cleaned and it will be seen that the labor will be lessened and much time saved.

For driving the units, a main drive shaft l8 extends longitudinally of the frame it at the lower rear end thereof. This shaft is suitably supported in bearings i9 carried by the frame It and has a drive pulley 29 (Figs. 1 and 10) secured thereto near one end thereof. An endless belt 2i passes around this pulley and also around .a pulley 22 secured on the shaft of an electric motor 23, whereby the pulley 2e and drive shaft 58 are rotated by the motor. Both the washers H and I3 and the extractor 52 are driven from this main drive shaft, as will be explained.

For transmitting motion from the shaft IE to the washers l l and I3, said shaft is provided with a pulley 24 at each outer end. Since the driving mechanisms of the washers I E and iii are exactly alike, it is believed a description of one will suffice. Each pulley 24 has a driving connection through an endless belt 25, with a pulley 26 (Figs. 2 and 5) mounted on a stub shaft 2? of a reduction gearing 28. Thus, it is seen that motion from the motor 23 is transmitted through the pulleys 22, 21, 24, and 25 to the gearing 28.

A shaft 29 extends forwardly of the frame from the reduction gearing at .a right angle to the shaft 21 and the forward end of said shaft extends through a gear housing 39, shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 6a, which contains the main drive mechanism for the washer drum iii.

A pair of pinions 3| and 32 are loosely mounted on opposite ends of the shaft 29 within the housing 39 and these pinions are in constant mesh with an enlarged bevel gear 33 which is secured to the shaft ll of the washer drum E6. The pinions are provided with clutching members 3i and 32 made integral therewith and extending inwardly toward the center of the casing 353. It is obvious that the shaft 29 rotates through the pinions and their clutching members without transmitting motion thereto.

For driving the pinions, a sliding clutch collar 34 is keyed on the shaft 29 between the pinions and is provided with clutching teeth 35 on each end thereof. By observing Fig. 6a, it will be seen that by sliding the collar 34 either to the right or left, the teeth 35 will engage one of the clutching members 3! or 32 of the pinions 3| and 32. Since the collar is keyed on the shaft 29, motion will be transmitted from the shaft to one of the pinions, depending on which way the collar is slid. The collar is of such length that when positioned midway between the pinions its teeth will not engage either of the clutching members and the parts are in a neutral position.

For shifting the collar from one pinion to another, I provide a forked member 36 which engages between two flanges 34' on the collar 34. The lower end of the member is mounted on a pin 36 to the wall of the housing (Fig. 6), whereby the upper end of said fork may be swung. It is obvious that when said fork-ed member is swung the collar is slid on the shaft 2Q. Normally the parts are in a neutral position, with the forked member vertical in the housing. Theparts are held so by a pair of oppositely disposed coiled springs 3? which bear against opposite sides of a T-shaped crank 38 which is pivotally mounted in the housing above the forked member 36. The crank 38 has a slot 39 in the lower end of its depending leg and this slot engages a pin 49 on the upper end of the member 36. So long as the parts are in .a neutral position, the springs 3?, being of equal pressure, hold the same in such position. When the forked member is swung, however, the engagement of the pin 4t, in the slot 39 will swing the lower end of the T-shaped crank, whereby the springs are thrown off-center (Figs. '7 and 8) and the teeth 35 of the collar 34 will be engaged with the clutching member of one of the pinions.

For swinging the forked member from side to side, I provide a traveling collar 4| which is threaded on a rotatable screw 42. The collar extends through a slot 43 in the forked member near the lower end thereof and has lugs 44 extending upwardly therefrom. The collar is only slightly smaller than the opening 43, so that the lugs 44 cannot pass through said opening but will strike the member 35. Thus, when the screw 42 is rotated, the collar 4i will travel therealong. One of the lugs 44 strikes the member 36 and swings the same to one side, or the other, depending on the direction of rotation of the screw 42.

For driving the screw 42, I provide a gear 45 which is made integral with the pinion 3 I, whereby it is loosely mounted on the shaft 29. This gear is in constant mesh with a gear 46 secured to the shaft of the screw 42. Whenever the pinion Sl is rotated, the screw 42 is rotated to cause the traveling collar 4! to swing the member 36.

For locking the parts against operation, the member 35 has an opening 36 in its central portion. This opening registers with an opening 34 in the housing 30 and a lock bar 41 is entered into these two openings, whereby the forked member is held against movement.

Assuming that the parts are in a neutral locked position, the bar 4? is first removed and the shaft 29 is rotated. The forked member 35, in starting, is swung past center by a manually operated dog 48 which is pivoted on top of the housing above the crank. This dog has pins 49 depending through openings BE in the housing and the lower ends of the pins bear against the arms of the crank 38. Equalizer springs 51 surround the pins and serve to hold the dog in an upright, neutral position. In starting the dog 48 is swung and this swings crank 38 which in turn swings the forked member 36 to slide the collar 34. Assuming that the clutch is slid to the right (Figure '7) it will be seen that the pinion 32 is driven by the shaft 29, whereby the main bevel gear 33 and washer drum I6 is rotated in a clockwise direction.

The other pinion 3|, being loose on the shaft and in constant mesh with the main bevel gear is driven by said gear 33 in an opposite direction because it is on the opposite side thereof. Therefore, the pinion 3| drives the screw 42 through the gears 45 and 46, whereby the collar 4| is moved to the left on the screw (Figure 7). When the lug 44 engages the forked member 35, it will swing the member to the left. As soon as the member moves slightly off-center the springs 36 serve to snap it over so that the collar 34 engages the clutching member of the pinion 3|. It is pointed out that the lugs are a suflicient distance apart to permit the forked member to be swung in this way by the springs.

As soon as the pinion 3| is driven by the shaft 29 then the main bevel gear 38 is rotated in an opposite direction. The screw 42 is also rotated in an opposite direction, whereby the traveling collar 4| is moved to the right (Fig. 8). As soon as this collar swings the member 36 slightly offcenter, then the springs swing said member so that the clutching collar 34 engages the other pinion 32. It is obvious that the action is entirely automatic and so long as the shaft 29 is rotated, the alternate rotation of the drum I6 is continued. When it is desired to stop the mechanism the bar l'i is pushed through the opening 36 and as the forked member 36 swings from one position to another, said bar will engage in the opening 36' to stop the member in a neutral position.

It is again pointed out that the drive mechanism for both washers H and I3 is exactly alike and thus it will be seen that each washer is driven from the main drive shaft IS. The extractor I2 is positioned between the washers in the frame I and comprises a casing 55 (Fig. 4) in which a rotatable basket 56 for receiving the clothes is mounted. In operation, the wet clothes are placed in the basket and said basket is rotated at a high speed, whereby the centrifugal action will whirl the liquid from the clothes.

The particular mounting of the extractor basket is an important feature of the invention and is clearly shown in Fig. 11. A vertical operating shaft 51 extends upwardly through the central portion of the bottom of the extractor casing 55 and this shaft has its lower end journaled in a bearing box 58 (Fig. 13) secured to the frame Ill. The upper end of the shaft is squared and is received by a socket 59 provided in a shank 60 depending from a driving cone 6|, whereby rotation of the shaft will rotate the cone.

The cone 6| is provided with teeth or projections 62 radiating from its apex said apex being formed with a concaved seat 63 therein. The lower end of the cone is rounded to seat within a concaved seat 63 formed at the upper end of a vertically extending, cylindrical casting 64. The lower end of the casting encases or encircles the upper end of the shaft 51 and shank 6|. The shaft and shank are disposed axially within the casting and the diameter of the latter is such that an annular space is provided around said shank and shaft. This casting has its lower end secured to the bottom of the extractor basket.

The flanges 64 at the upper end of the casting are fastened to the outwardly extending flange 65 at the lower end of a second cone 65. This second cone has internal teeth or projections 66 which conform to the teeth 62 of the driving cone 6 I. The cone 65 is provided with an internal ball 61 at its upper end'and this ball rests in the concaved seat 63 at the upper end of the cone 6|. It is pointed out that there is a space between the teeth 62 and teeth 66, as shown in Fig. 12, whereby a wobbling or rocking of the cone 65 on the cone 6| is possible. Since the basket 56 is secured to the casting 64, which in turn is fastened to the cone 65, it is obvious that the basket is suspended from the apex of the cone 6| and may undergo a rocking movement with relation thereto. the basket 55 will be rotated through the medium of the cones 6| and 65. Since the basket is free to Wobble it is not necessary to dynamically balance the basket, as is the case when the basket is rigid with the drive shaft. By distributing the clothes evenly within the basket 56, the centipetal and centrifugal forces are balanced when the basket is rotated, and a smoother operation is had.

Further, the balance obtained by the suspen sion mounting prevents walking or creeping of the frame l5 over the floor, when the extractor is operating at high speeds.

For driving the shaft 5'! to drive the basket 56, I provide a reduction gearing 68 (Fig. 10) midway of the main drive shaft l8. This gearing has a driven shaft 69 extending forwardly of the frame H! from the shaft and this shaft has a friction disk l0 mounted on its forward end. This disk is provided with a sump ll at its central portion (Fig. 13) and is arranged to be engaged by a second driving disk I2 which is keyed to slide on the vertical shaft 51.

The disk i2 is provided with a reduced portion 73 at its lower end and a collar 14 is positioned around this portion. A foot lever 15 which is hinged at its rear end in ears 15 on the frame If), is pivoted to the collar, and it is obvious by observing Fig. 13, that by depressing the forward end of the foot lever the collar 14 and disk 12 are moved downwardly, whereby said disk is moved toward the outer periphery of the disk E6. The further out toward the periphery of the disk 10 that the disk 12 is moved, the faster the shaft 51 is rotated.

As the foot lever is released a fiat spring 15 will move the foot lever upwardly, whereby the collar and disk 12 move upwardly. When said disk 12 moves opposite the sump H in the disk 16, no motion is transmitted through the disks and the rotation of the shaft is stopped, thereby stopping rotation of the basket 51. For immediately stopping the rotation of the basket and preventing its momentum carrying it around after the disks have been disengaged, a brake disk 18 is provided on the lower end of the basket casing flange 55. This disk is engaged by a brake fabric or lining 19 at the upper end of the disk 12 (Fig. 13). The brake is so positioned that when the disks l2 and 10 are disengaged, the brake is applied to immediately stop the extractor basket 56.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that the speed of rotation of the basket is readily and easily controlled by the foot lever. The particular suspension mounting of the basket 56 provides for a smoother operation, while the entire unit, which is the combination of the two rotary washers with the extractor, not only makes for compactness, but also provides for a great saving When the shaft 51 is rotated;

of time when in use, as well as the necessary machines are incorporated in a single unit.

Since the washers II and I3 are exactly alike, it is obvious that the device could be operated with a single washer if desired, the other washer being entirely eliminated.

The description which has been given recites more or less detail of a particular embodiment of the invention, which is set forth as new and useful; however, I desire it understood that the invention is not limited to such exact details of construction, because it is manifest that changes and modifications may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention,

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A laundry apparatus comprising, a frame, an extractor container mounted in the frame, a rotatable basket mounted within the extractor on a vertical drive shaft, a conical toothed member at the upper end of the shaft, a second internally toothed conical member arranged to fit over the first member and connected to the basket, the teeth of the members fitting loosely, so that the basket may rock and undergo a limited lateral movement on its mounting, and means for rotating the basket at various speeds.

2. A laundry apparatus comprising, a frame,

an extractor container mounted in the frame, a drive shaft extending upwardly within the extractor,- a basket suspended from the upper end of the shaft and having an internally toothed conical member, a second conical toothed member arranged to fit in said first member, the teeth of the members fitting loosely, so that the basket is free to undergo a rocking movement thereon, drive means at the lower end of said shaft for rotating the same, and manually oper ated means for controlling the drive mechanism to vary the speed of rotation of the shaft.

3. A laundry apparatus comprising, a frame, an extractor container mounted in the frame, a drive shaft extending upwardly within the extractor, a conical toothed member at the upper end of the shaft and having a concaved seat at its upper end, a second internally toothed conical member arranged to fit over the first member and having a convex part interiorly thereof arranged to fit in the concaved seat of the first member, whereby motion is transmitted fom one member to the other, and a basket for receiving wet clothes connected to and suspended from the second member, the teeth of the members fitting loosely, so that the basket may undergo a limited lateral movement, and means for rotating the shaft to rotate the basket.

EDWARD A. BOERNER.

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