US2677389A - Pumping system for washing machines - Google Patents

Description

May 4, 1954 F. JISHA EIAL PUMPING SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 7, 1950 FRED L.3'\5HA W.E Ll LIESTRAND H.B.YOUNG- INVENTORS, $501. 6. aw 09M A TTOR/VEYS May 4, 1954 F. L. JlSHA ETAL PUMPING SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1950 8 FRED LD'IsHA WEuurEsTRAuD HBXouma.

1N VEN TORS.

/\ T TOR/VEKS F. L. JlSHA ETAL 2,677,389

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 \N w W MN an. A M m lmiitllvl w 3 n V L m m D n F W PUMPING SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES May 4, 1954 Filed Feb. '7, 1950 INVENTOR5 BY @8112 r3 QM ATTORNEKS May 4, 1954 JISHA ET 2,677,389

PUMPING SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Feb. 7, 1950 SSbeets-Sheet 4 ul lnnlnnm FREDLCHSHA W.ELu aEsTRAn0 H.B.You-e IN V EN T0R4S By fin/trim A T TORNEYS May 4, 1954 F. JlSHA ETAL 2,677,339

PUMPING SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Feb. 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FRED L.J'\5HA WE.LIL3'E5TRAND Q) H.B.YOUNG IN VEN TORS.

A T TOR/VEYS.

Patented May 4, i954 UNITED STATES PUMPING SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES poration of Texas RATENT OFFICE Application February 7, 1950, Serial No. 142,824

1 Claim. 1

The invention relates to a pumping system which is to be utilized specifically in connection with a flexible tub extractor type washing machine where the washing fluids are extracted by a suction so that atmospheric pressure on the exterior of the flexible tub will cause the collapse thereof and the partial drying of the clothes which are in the tub.

Generally such type of washing machine is disclosed in the patent to Rand, No. 2,472,682, issued June 7, 1949.

Generally the invention relates to a pumping system for washing machines whereby a very substantial vacuum may be obtained by the circulation of the liquid through the pumping system in combination with a jet or Venturi type of nozzle, and whereby the flow of water in the system may be reversed to charge the tub with washing or rinsing water.

It is one of the objects ofthe invention to provide a pumping system where the pump discharge is directed through a jet type nozzle to create a suction upon a source of fluid and the inlet of the pump is connected to the nozzle discharge so that the system is maintained full of liquid and any excess fluids entering the system may be discharged therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid circulating system where the pump discharge causes a suction on the inlet to the systern and the pump inlet maintains the system filled with liquid so that any excess fluids may discharge from the system.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gaseous fluid and liquid separator in a pumping system wherein a centrifugal pump outlet causes a suction upon liquids entering the system and the inlet maintains the system filled with liquids and permits discharge of excess fluids entering the system.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pumping system to create a suction and wherein a gas liquid separator serves to increase the suction created by the system due to the discharging of gaseous fluids from the centrifugal pump inlet.

Another object of the invention is to utilize a single pump a washing machine circulating system so as to either fill or discharge the tub.

It is also an object to direct a pump discharge into a washing machine to charge the machine with wash Water and to thereafter direct such discharge to create a suction to discharge the used washing liquid from the machine to permit 2 atmospheric pressure to squeeze water from the washed contents of the machine.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a pump and circulatory system for washing machines whereby a single automatic valve determines both the inlet and outlet of the washing liquids.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism of the pumping system.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View looking down on the pumping system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but illustrates the introduction of a gaseous fluid and liquid separator into the system.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view looking down on the pumping system of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view looking down on a modified arrangement of the structure of Figs. 1 and 2 where a control valve adjacent the Venturi nozzle closes the system so that the pump discharge will be directed through the pipe connected to the tub to charge the tub with washing liquid, so that a single pump may be used to either charge or discharge the washing machine.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 5.

Fig. 'l is a top plan view looking down on the structure of Fig. 3, as modified to include the control valve to accomplish charging of the washing machine.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 7.

In Fig. 1 a receptacle 2 has been illustrated which is arranged to contain a mixture of gaseous fluids and liquid which may be introduced through the pipe 3 controlled by the valve 4. A pipe 5 leads to and from the receptacle 2 and is connected to the housing 6 of a jet or Venturi type nozzle I. Such nozzles are well known and include the tapered inlet portion 8 of a nozzle! so that liquid forced into the connection 9 will discharge at a relatively high rate or speed from the jet portion H] of the nozzle. Such discharge into the tapered portion l i of the nozzle creates a suction in the housing 8 in the area 12 about the jet so that such a suction will be available in the pipe 6 and will be exerted inside of the container 2. The liquid will be forced into the connection 9 by any suitable type of pump 20 such as a centrifugal pump having an impeller 2| disposed in the housing 22 thereof. The impeller will be mounted on a shaft 23 which will be arranged: in suitable bearings and driven by a source of power 25 such as an electric motor, best seen in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that the outlet pipe 3 is at the outer periphery of the path of the impeller while the inlet connection 30 to the pump housing 22 is arranged in co-axial alignment with the shaft 23 as also seen in Fig. 2.

The discharge from the portion I i of the nozzle will move into the gradually enlarged pipe 31 and flow into a branch pipe 32. The pump inlet 30 is connected onto this branch pipe 30 and a dgain 33 is also connected to this branch pipe 3 It seems obvious from the structure thus far described that any liquid flowing from the container 2 by gravity will maintain the pumping system filled with liquid at all times.

When the pump 20 is started the liquid in the system will be circulated by being forced into the connection 9 and through the nozzle 7 into the nozzle discharge pipes II and 3|. The suction of the pump simultaneously takes up the discharge from the pipe 3! so that the capacity of the system will constitute a specific volume of circulating liquid.

As the liquid in the system circulates the suction created in the chamber l2 inside of the jet housing will be efifective in the pipe 5 so that any additional fluid, be it gaseous or liquid, drawn into the system will be co-mingled with the liquid discharging from the pump and, through the nozzle.

Inasmuch as the volume of liquid discharged from the pump must equal the liquid passing through the inlet 30 to the pump it seems obvious that the pumping system, including the pump housing connection 9, the nozzle 1, the discharge pipe 3!, and the inlet pipe 30 will remain filled with liquid at all times.

Thus any additional volume of liquid which enters the system from the pipe 5 will be in excess of the capacity of the system and will therefore pass upwardly through the branch 32 and into the drain 33.

As seen in Figure 1 the system will remain filled with liquid by gravity.

The container or receptacle 2 may be of any construction whatever so long as a suction is to be exerted thereon and material withdrawn therefrom. The pump has a particular application however to the flexible extractor type of tub shown in the Rand patent heretofore noted.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the same arrangement as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 but modified slightly in that a gaseous fluid and liquid separator drum 40 has been shown as having been connected to the nozzle outlet 3| to the pump inlet 30 and to the branch pipe 32. This drum is arranged so that the liquid and gaseous fluids will separate by centrifugal force. This is encouraged by the tangential arrangement of the nozzle jet outlet as best seen in Fig. 4. Due to any efiect of gravity under the normal and intended operation there will be no gaseous fluid drawn into the pump inlet 30 or circulated by the pump.

It has been found in actual practice that introduction of such a gas and liquid separator into the pumping system results in an especially rapid discharge of gaseous fluids such as suds and air being withdrawn from the washing extractor tub. This speeds up the extracting action and results in a very efficient vacuum and suction being applied on the extractor tub to squeeze the clothes, and the reduction in the time or operation of the pumping system, because only liquid is circulated by the pump.

In connection with adapting the system to a flexible tub extractor type washing machine it has been found in actual practice that approximately 28 inches of vacuum may be obtained with the pumping arrangement as described in Figs. 1 and 2, but as indicated above the operation is speeded considerably by the incorporation of the separator unit into the system where the drain is at a level such that the system is filled with liquid at all times, and the gaseous fluids escape through the drain so that the pump is more effective due to the fact that the system disposes of the gaseous fluids from the tub as they are drawn into the system and pump circulates only liquid.

Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8 show another arrangement of the pumping system which is seen in a top plan view in Fig. 5. The pump 29, discharge pipe 9, the tub pipe 5, the nozzle jet housing 6 and H, and the discharge pipe 3|, are all the same as described in a previous drawing.

The apparatus between the pipe I i and the enlarged pipe 3! has been rearranged so as to receive a control valve whereby the circulating system may be closed just beyond the nozzle jet 1.

This valve 50 is shown as being of a suitable type wherein the valve stem 5! has a lateral arm 52 thereon to which a coil spring 53 Figs. '7 and 8 has been connected- The other end of the spring 53 is connected to a pin 54 of an electric control solenoid 55, which is mounted on a bracket 56 supported on the pipe. A coil spring 58 on the valve stem 5| serves to hold the valve in either open or closed position, as may be desired. Fig. 5 shows the wiring 59 for the solenoid in a schematic arrangement.

The purpose of this valve is to close the circulatory system when it is desired to charge the washing machine and the flexible tub with washing liquid.

The pipe 3 shown in Fig. l, by which liquid is introduced into the tub has been connected at 6| to the pump inlet 30, and the valve 4 thereon has not been shown.

It seems obvious that with this arrangement, when it is desired to charge the tub with washing liquid, that the pipe 3 will be open, and fresh washing liquid will be drawn into the pump 20, and discharged through the pipe 9 and nozzle 1 into the outlet ll of the jet nozzle as the valve 50 is closed; however the flow of this water, or washing liquid, will be instantly reversed so that it will pass back into the space i2 around the jet nozzle, and into the tub pipe 5 to fill the flexible tub.

The pump may be turned on and off as desired by suitable electrical controls, which are well known in the art. When the washing operation has progressed to such a stage that washing liquid is to be withdrawn from the flexible tub the valve 50 will open so that a suction can be set up in the tub pipe 5 to withdraw the washing liquid from the machine. The valve on the fresh water pipe 3 will, of course, be closed at this time. It is to be understood that the separator 40 may, or may not, be incorporated in the system.

In order to insure that the system will remain filled with liquid a suitable stand pipe 6| may be connected to the upper end of the separator 40, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8.

The pump may run continuously if desired because if no liquid is drawn in by the pump the liquid in the housing will be substantially discharged and the impeller will turn in air. This will be true regardless of whether water is admitted or not. Thus if the automatic controls shut off the water the system may continue to function. The stand pipe (not shown) connected on the pipe 6| may have a check valve therein so as to permit only a small flow of water into the system and may also have a Water source connected thereto. In reality there may be as many as three valves to control the flow but the valve 59 determines the inlet and outlet of the Washing liquid.

The invention broadly contemplates the arrangement of either Figure 1, Figure 3, or Figure 5, as may be desired, and the various parts of either Figures 1, 3, or 5 may be interchanged and arranged in different combinations of each, or all three of the forms in a single arrangement.

What is claimed is:

A pumping system comprising, a fluid pump, a horizontal discharge pipe extending from said pump, a return bend pipe connected to said discharge pipe, a horizontally extending venturi connected to said return bend pipe and disposed above said pump, a vertically positioned branch pipe connected to said venturi and having one end thereof extending downwardly and communicating with said pump for supplying fluid thereto, the other end of said branch pipe extending upwardly above said venturi to provide a fluid drain for an excess of fluid above the level of said venturi, a jet nozzle in said horizontally extending venturi at the end remote from said branch pipe, said nozzle being adapted to discharge fluid from said pump into said venturi at a high velocity, a tank disposed above said venturi, a fluid supply line connected from said tank to said venturi, said line entering said venturi adjacent said jet nozzle whereby fluid can be drawn from said tank by the action of the jet nozzle in said venturi, a separation tank located in said branch pipe between said horizontally extending venturi and said pump with said venturi connected to the top of the tank at a tangent thereto to effect a separation of gas present in the liquid by a spiralling of said liquid to the bottom of said separation tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 905,818 Langford Dec. 1, 1908 1,081,181 Willis Dec. 9, 1913 1,418,921 Handley June 6, 1922 1,672,309 Dunham June 5, 1928 2,007,138 Becker July 2, 1935 2,112,290 Holland Mar. 29, 1938 2,208,682 Clark July 23, 1940 2,374,516 Wendell Apr. 24, 1945 2,417,998 Wales Mar. 25, 1947 2,425,957 Samelson Aug. 19, 1947 2,445,246 Shallenberg July 13, 1948 2,472,682 Rand June '7, 1949 2,525,256 Byram Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 105,017 Germany 1899 388,597 Germany 1924

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