US2625029A - Pneumatic agitator washer - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1953 N. B. WALES PNEUMATIC AGITATOR WASHER Filed June l5, 1950 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 13, 1953 PNEUMATIC AGITATOR WASHER Nathaniel B. Wales, New York, N. Y., assgnor to Industrial Patent Corporation, New York, N. Y.

Application June 15, 1950, Serial No. 168,326

4 Claims.

Vduring its oscillation or rotation for Washing.

This invention uses a unitary element for the Washing or agitating means composed of a exible rubber material molded into a form which not` only provides means for its dilation when under iluid inflation to squeeze-dry the laundry but also to give an adequate degree of rigidity to agitate the wash and wash Water during the washing period when it is oscillated. Provision is also made to partially inflate the convoluted agitator during its oscillation to compensate for the weight of water in which it is substantially immersed.

An object of this invention is to devise an extensibly-formed unitary agitating or washing element which will serve both as a washing means and as a squeeze-dry means.

A further object is to utilize a low degree of fluid pressure Within the extensible agitating elelment to assist to maintain its water-displacing y factor when it is oscillated during a Washing period and a higher degree of fluid pressure within the element to completely inilate the agitating element to its normal maximum of displacement to squeeze-dry laundry in the washing machine.

A further object is to incorporate the inflation of the agitating element into the predetermined cycle of an automatic washer.

Other objects Will be apparent from the specic details of structure seen in the -accompanying speciiications and drawings in which similar numerals refer to similar parts,

Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly schematic of a Washing machine in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a section of the agitating element taken on lines 2 2 in Figure l.

In Figure 1, numeral l is a Wash tub which is shown in spherical form. Numeral 2 is a case in which tub I is enclosed. A laundry-access door 3 closes aperture 3a in tub I and the door 3 is shown suitably hinged at 2l to c-ase 2 and locked thereto by latch 22. A shaft 3 having orifice 8a therein is secured to base plate 'I, and shaft 8 passes into tub I through huid-sealing means IB secured to member 24 which member may serve as a support for tub I as Well as a spacer for the inner perforated liner 4 which acts as a pressuresqueezing anvil Within tub I. A iiexible fluidtight rubber Washing element or agitator 5 is suitably secured at its base to plate l. Conventional motor-driven means, not shown, actuate shaft 8 preferably in an oscillatory motion to thereby oscillate agitator 5. Agitator 5 is shown in its normal position during washing and rinsing and due to the thickness of the rubber molding of which it is formed and its convoluted form, its stability is suilicient to displace and agitate the w-ash water when it is in a state of oscillation.

To materially increase the stability of agitator 55 when immersed in vwash water, provision is made through orifice 8a in shaft 8, Which orifice communicates with the hollow interior volume 5a of yagitator 5, to maintain a predetermined fluid pressure therein from air compressor or pump 6 through pipes 26 and pipe 25 which is hermetically connected to orifice 8a in shaft 8 by the pressuresealing gland member Se for relative angular movement therebetween. A dual pressure control switch I2, the actuating diaphragm 35 of which is actuated by the fluid mean pressure existing in pipes 25, 26 and 2l as well as Within washing element 5, actuates the dual switch contactsv 36 and 3l, which in turnopen or close their respective control circuits 3I-32 and SI2-32 which are -in circuits, not shown, connected with 'master cyclic control clock I which is conventionally used in automatic washers to determine the operative automatic washing, rinsing and extracL tion cycle in terms of duration and degree as .manually pre-set by control knob 20 thereof.

In this manner, during the Washing period of the automatic cycle, the master cyclic control clock l0 dictates 'the operation of the pump 6 to inflate the Washing element 5 to neutralize the collapsing factor thereon of the weight of water now in tub l, rlfhis inflation continues until switch 35 is opened by a predetermined relatively low pressure existing in washing agitator 5 as reflected on diaphragm 35. This low pressure iniation neutralizes the collapsing elect and increases as well the rigidity of pneumatic washing element 5. The pressure switch 36 now breaks circuit 3i--32 leading to master cyclic control clock l! and the motor, not shown, ceases to ac,- tuate pump S. Again, during the water-extraction period of the automatic cycle, master cyclic control clock lll dictates the operation of pump t through circuit Eil- 32 connecting in switch 37 incorporated in pressure control I2 with control 3 clock i0. However, when the pump 6 has inflated pneumatic washing agitator 5 to a relatively high predetermined pressure sufficient to adequately extract water from the laundry in tub I by washing element 5 now dilated to a position indicated by numeral I'I, switch 3l opens to terminate a further increase of pressure. It is to be noted that switch 3'.' is so positioned in respect to switch actuator 38 that diaphragm 35 must be deflected against spring 45 to a greater degree to effect the opening of circuit 30-32 by switch 31 then is the case in opening switch 35. Like- Wise, magnetically-actuated valve I3, which connects tub I through tub port 9 through pipe 28 and 29 with the hot and cold water supply through the temperature mixer 4I as Well as drain Valve I4, may be actuated in any suitable timed cyclic action as dictated by cyclic control clock I to ll or drain tub I during the washing and rinsing period in the washers automatic cycle.

The yinflatable agitator due to its normally convoluted structure 5c has sufficient amplitude to vassume the position I'I, shown in broken lines in Figure 1, when the cyclic control clock I0 dictates through pressure control I2 to pump vI5 to raise the pressure within element 5 to fill its interior volume 5a to a pressure adequate to squeeze-dry the laundry in tub I, which is lshown at I5 pressed against perforated surface 4 therein.

The combined washing andI squeezing element 5 -may be formed to provide arms or blades II, shown in Figure 2, to effectively displace wash water in tub I and to give added rigidity to its normal contour. The washing element 5 is hermetically secured to ysupport plate I which is of a diameter to afford a stable support to element 5.

The operation of my invention as incorporated in lan automatic washer is as follows. When manual cyclic control dial II) is set to start the cycle, valve I4 is closed and valve I3 is opened and the water temperature mixer is set to give the desired wash water temperature. Watel` is admitted to the interior of tub I through pipes 28 and 29 and through tub port 9. 23 in cover 3 permits the escape of air therein due to the waters displacement thereof. When a. desired volume of wash water had been admitted into tub I, its level in tub I is controlled by a float control, not shown. The cyclic timer control I0 now dictates the closure of valve I3 and the oscillation of shaft 8 by motor actuation. Soap having -been added to the wash water, the laundry washing period starts. After a predetermined period as dictated by timer control I 9,

drain valve I4 is opened and the wash water emptied from tub I and as many rinsing operations follow by a repetition of the above procedure as timer control I0 may dictate.

At the termination of the last rinsing operation, timer control IIJ closes the vent valve I5 and starts the compressor 6, likewise stopping the motor-actuated oscillations of shaft 8 and washing element 5. The 4pressure in interior volume 5a of element 5 now rises to a predetermined degree as dictated 4by pressure control switch I2, thereby dilating the convolutions 5c in element 5 so that element 5 assumes an inflated position as is seen by numerals I'I, squeezing the laundry I5 against the perforated partition 4 in tub I to squeeze dry said laundry I6.

Advantage may be taken of the source of fluid pressure from compressor 6 to partially inflate element 5 during the washing and rinsing periods The air vent i as has been previously described by incorporating a dual critical pressure point in pressure-actuated switch I2, a lower one for ypartial inflation during the washing period to compensate for the hydraulic pressure existing on element 5 due to its submerged position and a higher pressure point which is attained for squeeze-drying, the cyclic timer control II) dictating the circuit in use in which particular pressure point is effective in respect to the washing or squeeze-drying periods.

To those skilled in the art, it is evident that the form of convolutions 5c together with the varying thicknesses thereof as determined in manufacture of element 5 can produce a waterdisplacing factor from the oscillation of element 5 without exceeding a fatigue point in the rubber material thereof over a conventional service period.

What I desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is encompassed in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A laundry washing machine comprising a substantially double-walled tub, a laundry-access opening in the top thereof, a closure therefor, a perforate laundry-squeezing surface formed by perforations in the innermost wall of said tub, said perforations extending about its vertical axis, means to lill said tub with washing fluid, means to drain said double-walled portion of said tub, a hollow washing element in the vertical axis of said tub, means to mechanically motivate said washing element, said washing element formed of a fluid-tight flexible material and incorporating therein normally compacted convoluted surfaces whereby to increase the rigidity of said flexible material in order to agitate said washing fluid by the mechanical agitation of said element, and means to inflate 'said washing element with fluid under pressure to squeeze-dry laundry in said tub against said perforate surface by the unfolding of said compacted convolutions.

2. A laundry washing machine comprising a tub, a laundry-access opening in the top thereof, a closure therefor, a perforate water-extracting surface formed by a perforated portion of the tub extending about its `vertical axis, means to collect on .theexterior of said perforated tub portion 'water thus extracted, means to fill said tub withwashing fluid, means to drain that exterior portion of the tub which is perforated, a hollow washing element in the vertical axis of said tub, means to mechanically motivate said washing element, said washing element formed of a fluidtight flexible-material and consisting of normally convoluted surfaces whereby to increase the rigity of said flexible material in order to agitate said washing fluid by the mechanical agitation of said element, and means to inflate said washing element by a pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of said washing element to squeeze-dry laundry in said tub against said perforate surface.

3. A laundry washing machine comprising a tub, a laundry-access opening in the top thereof. a closure therefor, a double-walled structure incorporated in a portion of said tub, the inner wall thereof being jperforate to form a perforate laundry-squeezing surface about the vertical axis of said tub, means to fill said tub with washing fluid and ,means to drain said double-walled portion, a hollow washing element inthe vertical axis of said tub, means to mechanically motivate said washing element, said washing element formed of a fluid-impervious flexible material and having normally compacted convoluted surfaces therein, means to partially inflate said element `with a fluid whereby to increase its rigidity and decrease its deformation during its mechanical actuation to agitate said washing fluid, and means to fully inate said washing element with fluid pressure to squeeze-dry laundry in said tub against said perforate surface.

4. A laundry washing machine comprising a symmetrical tub, a laundry-access opening in said tub, a elo-sure therefor, a double-walled structure incorporated in a portion of said tub, the inner wall thereof being perforate to form a perforate laundry-squeezing surface about the vertical axis of said tub, means to ll said tub with washing uid and means to drain said double-walled portion of said tub, a hollow Washing element in the vertical axis of said tub, means to mechanically motivate said washing element, said element formed of a fluid-tight flexible material and having hollow horizontal projections about its axis adapted to agitate said washing fluid when said washing element is mechanically motivated, and means to inflate said washing element by a fluid pressure differential between its exterior surface and its interior surface to squeeze-dry laundry in said tub against said perforate surface.

NATHANIEL B. WALES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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