US2382562A - Drain valve for washing machines and the like - Google Patents

Description

Aug.'14, 1945. L. M. HARVEY DRIAIN VALVE FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 16, 1941 M E (9, WW g w 5 M g Q Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE DRAIN VALVE FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Leo M. Harvey, La Canada, Calif. Application September 16, 1941, Serial No. 411,051

6 Qlaims. (Cl. 13721) This invention has reference to valves and has particular reference to drain valves for commercial washing machines and the like. A genera] object of this invention is to provide a simple, practical and very effective drain valve of this nature.

This application is a continuation in part of application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 352,582, filed August 14, 1940, now Patent No. 2,323,993, granted July 13, 1943.

In operating commercial Washing machines it is the general practice to change the washing fluids several times in washing each batch of the clothes or materials. A drain opening is provided in the bottom of the washing shell and this opening is controlled by a drain valve. The valve usually opens upwardly or inwardly and difliculty is often encountered in opening the valve against the weight of the liquid and the wet materials in the shell. Further, small articles such as buttons, pins, etc., often interfere with the complete closing of the drain valve with the result that the washin liquids leak out during the cyclic washing operations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a commercial washing machine embodying a positively operated remotely controlled dump valve. The valve of the present invention will readily open irrespective of the weight of the materials in the washing shell.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dump valve for commercial washing machines which is self-balancing and self-equalizing to make a perfect seal under practically all conditions of operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dump valve of the character referred to which is fluid pressure operated utilizing water pressure, or the like, for the operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dump valve of the character referred to embodying a novel cylinder and piston operating means which provides for or permits even seating of the valve closure under all condition of operation.

'A further object of this invention is to provide a drain valve. of the character mentioned embodying a simple, yet very effective and dependable remotely controlled electrically energized pilot valve or control valve for the fluid pressure employed in operating the dump valve.

The various objects and features of my invene tion will be readily understood from the following detailed description of. typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical detailed sectional view through the cylinder and shell elements of a commercial washing machine showing the dump valve of the present invention in the closed position and illustrating the dump valve pilot or control. Fig. 2 is an enlarged Vertical detailed sectional view of the dump valve in the closed position, being a view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of control valve that may be embodied in the invention.

While the valve of the present invention is adapted for numerous applications it is primarily intended for use on commercial washing machines. Accordingly, in the drawing I-have illustrated the valve mechanism associated with one form of commercial washing machines. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be construed as limited or restricted to the specific form or application of the invention herein described and illustrated but is to be taken as including any features or modifications that may fall within the scope of the claims.

The portion of the commercial washing machine illustrated includes a. pair of spaced generally horizontal frame members 20 forming parts of the washing machine supporting the frame. A stationary cylindrical shell H is supported on the washing machine frame and contains or houses a rotatable or oscillatable perforated cylinder [2. The cylinder I2 is supported for tuming on its longitudinal axis by end trunnions 51.

Perforations 14 are spaced throughout the side wall of the cylinder l2 to admit the water, washing mixtures, etc. The shell II has an opening normally closed by a sliding door and the cylinder l2 has a similar opening 82 adapted to register with the opening in the shell and normally closed by a door 83. The door 83 is controlled by a selected latch 9|. The clothes or goods to be washed are introduced and removed through the opening in the shell II and the opening 82 in the cylinder 12 when the doors 45 and 83 are open and the cylinder 12 is stopped; The cylinder I2 is rotated or oscillated by a. power means and drive, .not known, and tumbling rib or lifting ribs 16 are provided, on the interior of the cyltroduced into the shell II at selected intervals and these liquids are drained away at the end of each stage of the washing operation. The outlet opening or drain opening I48 is provided in the bottom or lower wall of the shell II.

The improved drain valve of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral I5 and may be said to comprise, generally, a support-' ing frame I46, a valve member I5I supported in the frame I46 to seal therein, and remotely controlled cylinder and piston means for operating the valve member I5I.

The supporting member or frame I46 is arranged below or at the under side of the shell I I at the opening I48. The upper portion of the frame I46 is shaped to conform to the shell II around the opening I46 and may be securedto the shell by bolts I49 as illustrated. The frame I46 may be bolted or otherwise fixed to the spaced members 20 of the washing machine frame. The upper wall of the supporting frame I46 has a central opening I41 which communicates with the opening I48 of the shell. The opening I41 may be somewhat smaller than the opening I48 and the under side of the frame I46 at the opening I41 is flat and horizontal to carry a seat ring I50. Screws I52 secure the seat ring I50 to the frame I46.

The valve member I5I is arranged within or below the frame I46 and is adapted to seal upwardly or move upwardly to close the opening I41 and thus close the bottom of the shell I I. The valve member I5I is a generally disc shaped member somewhat larger in diameter than the opening I41 and having a rounded or convex upper surface. Means is provided on the upper side of the valve member I5I for cooperating with the seat ring I50. An annular recess I53 is formed in the upper side of the valve member I5I adjacent its'periphery to carry a sealing ring I54. The sealing ring I54 may be formed of a yielding resilient sealing material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, rubber composition, or the like. Thesealing ring I54 is of substantial thickness and is proportioned and positioned to have extensive engagement with the seat ring I80.

The means for supporting the valve member I 5| for operation is a feature of the invention. In

accordance with the invention the valve member I8I is supported and operated so that it is selfequalizing and capable of making a tight seal with the frame I46 even though small articles,

such as buttons, pins, etc., may be trapped be-' tween the seat ring I50 and the sealing ring I54. The under side of the valve member I5I is equipped with a downwardly projecting centrally located boss or hub having a downwardly directed socket I55. The socket I55 is cylindrical and of substantial depth. The upper wall of the socket I55, is concave and partially spherical. The means fol-supporting and operating the valve member Il further includes a cylinder I56 which extends upwardly into the socketI55. The cylinder I56 is round or annular in transverse cross section and that portion of the cylinder which enters the socket I55 has an'upwardly tapered or convergent external surface. The parts are proportioned so that the lowermost wall part of the socket I55 may cooperate with or rather accurately engage about the tapering cylinder I56 while the remaining portions of the socket side walls are clear of the tapering cylinder I56.

A free working ball and socket engagement is provided between the valve member I5I and the supporting cylinder I56 to allow the valve member to rock, tilt or incline to a limited extent so aasasas that it may accurately conform to and engage its seat. The upper end surface I51 of the cylinder I56 is convex and partially spherical to seat or bear in the upper wall of the socket I which is of complementary configuration. The convex upper end I51 of the cylinder I58 cooperates with the concave end wall of the socket I55 to support the valve member I5I for limited rocking or universal tilting. This movement of the valve member I5I on the cylinder I58 is limited by the engagement of the walls of the socket I55 with the tapering surface of the cylinder I58, the initial clearance between'the socket wall and the cylinder surface being sufficient to permit the desired play and movement of the valve member I5I.

The dump valve I5 of the present invention is fluid pressure operated and remotely controlled. The means for operating the drain valve or dump valve I5 includes a transverse web I58 formed on or secured to the supporting frame I46 and extending transversely below. the cylinder I58. In the construction illustrated the web I58 is integral with the frame I46. A ram I59 is secured to the web I58 by screws I60, or the like, and projects upwardly to enter the cylinder I56. The upper portion of the ram I56 is reduced in diameter to present an upwardly facing annular shoulder against which bears an upwardly directed cup leather I6I. A piston element I62 surrounds the reduced upper portion of the ram I59 and clamps the cup leather I6I in position against its shoulder. A nut or ring I83 is threaded on a reduced stem part of the ram I58 to hold the piston element I62 in position. A central longitudinal port I64 extends through the ram I59 from the web I56 to the interior of the cylinder I56.

Electrically operated valve means is provided to control the delivery of fluid under pressure to the cylinder I56 to operate the dump valve l5. This electrically operated valve means may be positioned at any selected point remote from the valve I5 and in most instances would be sup- 2 ported on the washing machine frame, not shown. some distance away from the dump valve I5. The

. control means for the valve I5 includes a pipe I carrying fluid under pressure, say water under pressure, and a discharge pipe I68. The remote pilot valve or control valve governs the pipes I85 and I68 and includes a valve body I81 connected between the pipes to have communication therewith. A pressure line I88 extends from the valve body I61 to the web I58 where it communicates with the port I64. The-pipe I88 and the port I64 put the interior of the valve body I81 in communication with the interior of the cylinder I56. A spring urged valve I10 controls the delivery of fluid under pressure from the pipe I85 into the valve body I61. A similar but opposed spring urged valve I1I controls communication between the interior of the valve member I81 and the outlet pipe I66. The valves I10 and I 1| have opposing axially aligned stems I12.

The pilot valve or remote control valve further includes a lever I15 for operating the valves I10 and I". 'The lever I1! is pivoted in the valve 'body I81 and. engages between the ends of the opposing valve stems I12. The engagement of The lever I15 has two positions, one where it holds the valve I10 open as illustrated in Fig, 1, and one where it holds the valve "I open.

The control lever I18 may be operated in any selected manner, In the preferredlconstruction illustrated electromagnetic means is provided for operating the lever I13 between its two posi- I tions. The electromagnetic means includes an armature I15 plvotally and slackly connected with the lever I13 and a solenoid coil I14 for the armature. When the coil I14 is deenergized or in its normal condition the lever I13 assumes the position illustrated where it holds the valve I10 open. Under these conditions fluid under pressure from the line I65 is delivered to the cylinder I56 to hold the valve member I5I in itsclosed position. When the coil I14 is energized the lever I13 is pivoted so that the valve I10 closes and the valve In opens. This operation allows the fluid under pressure to bleed from the cylinder I56 and gravity aided by the weight of the mathe valve II downwardly to the open position so -that the liquid may drain from the cylinder.

It is believed that the operation of the improved drain valve or dump valve of the present invention will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description. When the cylinder I2 is in operation the solenoid I 14 remains deenergized so that the lever I13 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 holding the valve I open and allowing the valve I1I to remain closed. With the valve I10 open and the valve "I closed the interior of the cylinder I56 is inicommunication with the pressure pipe I65 and the fluid under pressure in the cylinder holds the valve member I5I in its closed position. The sealing ring I54 is held in tight sealing cooperation with the seat ring I50 by the action of the fluid pressure. When the shell I I is to be drained the circuit to the solenoid I54 is completed. In this connection it is to be understood that the circuit of the coil I14 may extend to any selected point or station for ready manual control or for control by an automatic timer means or both. Energization of the coil I14 results in closing of the valve I10 and opening of the valve I1I so that the pressure in the cylinder I56 is immediately relieved. This allows the valve member I5I to move to the open position and the liquid contents of the shell I I rapidly drain out through the opening 41.

To reclose the dump valve I5 the circuit to the solenoid I14 is opened 50 that the lever I13 returns to its normal position to open the valve I10 and to allow the valve I1I to close. This puts the interior of the cylinder I56 in communication with the pressure pipe I65 and the valve member I 5I is closed by the fluid pressure acting between .the ram I59 and the cylinder I56; In.

closing, the valve member I5I is free to equalize itself on the seat ring I50 and may tilt or tip to a limited extent as may be required, Accordingly, the valve I5I may assume a good sealing position even though a small object such as a button, or the like, may be trapped between the seat ring I50 and the sealing ring I53. The bearing of the valve member I5I on the partially spherical surface I51 permits this self balancing or seating action of the valve member I 5|. The yieldable sealing ring I54 yields to small objects, such as a button or the like, caught between it and the seat ring I50 and the presence of such a small object will not prevent the valve from making a good tight seal.

Fig. 3 of the drawing illustrates a manually operable pilot valve or remote control valve which may be embodied in the invention. The valve illustrated in Fig. 3 may be employed in place ofor in substitution for the electrically operated re.-

mote control valve describedvabove. The valve of Fig. 3 includes a body 200 having spaced ports 20| and 202 and the fluid pressure supply and discharge pipes I65 and I66 are respectively connected with these ports. The valve body 200 has suitable handle or lever 201 isprovided on anend of the core 205 to facilitate its operation or turning. The valve 200 is adapted to be arranged at a position where its operating handle or lever 205 is conveniently accessible to the operator of the washing machine. It will be apparent how the operator may turn the lever 201 to bring the core 205 to the position illustrated where its port 206 connects the pressure supply port 20I with the line I68 to close the valve member I5I and to hold the valve member closed. When the valve member I5I is to be opened the lever 201 is moved to the position where the port 206 connects the line I68 and port 203 with the discharge pipe I66. This allows the pressure to bleed out of the cylinder I56 and the valve I5I opens as above described.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself' any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A valve for the outlet opening of a container comprising a seat around the opening, a valve closure for moving into and out of cooperation with the seat, the closure having a central projection having an opening forming a socket with a concave end wall, a cylinder received in the socket and having a tapered exterior extending into said projection and having a convex end cooperating with said end wall, the cylinder forming the sole means to guide and operate the closure so that the closure may rock and tip to conform to the seat. a stationary piston received in the cylinder and forming a support therefor, and means for supplying fluid pressure to the cylinder to operate and control the closure.

2. A structure of the character described comprising, a valve seat, a closure adapted to seal upwardly against the seat, the under side of the closure having an longate vertical'socket, and a fluid pressure actuated mechanism for operating the closure includinga movable cylinder engaging in the socket to tiltably support and operate the closure, the side wall of the socket being engageable with the cylinder to limit tilting of the closure, a, stationary ram on which the cylinder operates, the ram extending to a point within said socket and having an opening communicating with the interior of the cylinder, and means for supplying fluid pressure to the op ning and cylinder. 3. Valve means for controlling a fluid opening including a seat around the opening, a closure for moving into and out of cooperation with the seat. the closure having an elongate socket provided with a concave end wall and a side wall, and

means for guiding and operating the closure comsaid socket to guide and operate the closure, the cylinder having a convex end face cooperatina with said end wall of the socket to support theclosure for tilting movement on the cylinder, the

side wall of the socket and the side surface of the cylinder diverging toward the closure to provide freedom of tilting movement of the closure on the cylinderso that the closure may correctly conform to the seat.

4. Valve means for controlling a fluid opening including a downwardly facing seat around the pe a support below the opening, anupstanding stationary piston on the support concentric with the sea-t, a cylinder movable verticaliy on the piston to be guided thereby, a closure for moving into and out of engagement with the seat, the under side of the closure having a central elongate projection with a socket which receives the cylinder, the top of the cylinder and the upper wall of the socket having spherically curved cooperating surfaces to provide for universal tilting movement of the closure so that the closure may readily conform to the seat, the side surface of the cylinder serving to guide the closure from the cylinder and being upwardly convergent to allow for said tilting movement of the closure, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder to operate the closure.

5; Valve means for controlling the fluid discharge opening of a container including a seat around the opening, a stationary support located below the seat, a closure for cooperating with the seat, a depending tubular wall on the closure. an upstanding stationary piston carried by the support and extending to a point within said wall, a movable cylinder telescoping down over the piston and telescoping upwardly into said wall, the under side of the closure and the upper end of the cylinder having cooperating spherically curved surfaces so that the closure is supported by the cylinder for free tilting movement, the external surface of the cylinder being upwardly convergent so that the closure may have limited universal tilting movement, and controllable means for supplying fluid under pressure to operate the closure.

6. In a valve of the character described; three telescoping elements, one a closure having a central cylindrical socket, one a fixed piston projecting into the socket with substantial clearance and the other a cylinder located between the other two elements so that it slidably fits the piston and had a guiding fit in the socket, and means for supplying fluid under pressure into the cylinder beyond the piston so the cylinder is moved to operate the closure.

LEO M. HARVEY.

Images