US2702558A - Dishwashing machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 22, 1955 Filed June 11, 1949 F. w. BLANCHARD 2,702,558

DISK-{WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR 4 FR EDER ICK.W.BLANCHARD A TO R N EYS Feb. 22 1955 Filed June 11, 1949 F. w. BLANCHARD DISHWASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVE NTOR REDERlCKW-BLANCI-IAR D ATTOR NEYS United States Patent DISHWASHING MACIME Frederick W. Blanchard, Hampstead, Quebec, Canada Application June 11, 1949, Serial No. 98,513

3 Claims. (Cl. 134--138) This invention relates to improvements in so-called dish washing machines employed for washing plates, cups, tumblers, flatware and similar articles and has particular reference to machines of this type intended for household use.

The primary object of the invention is the PIOVlSlOIl of a cheap, simple and efficient washing machine of the motorless type including a spray tube through which cleaning fluid is sprayed against the articles to be cleaned while the latter are supported in a free-turning carrier which is revolved to repeatedly carry the articles to be cleaned to and from a position over the spray tube.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of improved article supporting means for rotating the articles to be cleaned to and from a position over the spray tube, said article supporting means being designed to ensure that the entire surface of each article supported thereby is effectively exposed to the cleaning action of the sprays delivered by the spray tube.

Other objects, characteristic features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved washing machine taken substantially along the section line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a half plan view of the washing machine as it appears with the cover and cup rack removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of approximately one-half of'the machine and shows the manner in which the articles to be cleaned are arranged in the basket and rack provided for this purpose.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a detergent dispenser forming part of a machine shown in the preceding figures. In Fig. 4 the distributing valve associated with the detergent dispenser is shown in a different position as compared 'with the showing of said valve in Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, my improved washing machine includes an-outer casing 5 comprising a pan 6 and a removable cover 7. The upper edge of the circular wall 8 of pan 6 is directed outwardly and then upwardly to provide a supporting ledge 9 for the lower edge of cover 7. r A vertical shaft 10 is centrally arranged in casing 5 and is held stationary by a casting 11 in which'the lower end of the shaft is fitted, said casting being rigidly secured to the bottom wall 12 of pan 6. A rack carrying tube 13 is rotatably supported on shaft 10 by fitting the lower portion of the tube over the shaft so that the upper end of the shaft is disposed in supporting engagement with an abutment plug 14 rigidly secured within an intermediate portion of the tube.

Tube 13 carries a basket 16 supported by the lower portion of the tube and a cup rack 17 supported by the upper portion of the tube.

The basket 16 includes spaced radially extending plate-surrounding members 18 and 19 having relatively long, upwardly directed outer end portions 20 joined together by connecting ring 21. The inner ends of members 18 are directed upwardly a short distance as indicated at 22 and rigidly secured to tube 13. The inner ends of members 19 are secured together by upper and 2,702,558 Pa t d eh- 22, 195.5

are formed with intermediate bends 30, whereby the'outer horizontal portions 31.0f said members are disposedain a higher plane than the inner horizontal portions 32. The radial members 19 are also formed with intermediate bends 34 whereby the outer'horizontal portions 35 of said members 19 are disposed in a higher plane than th'e inner horizontal portions 36. The outer horizontal portions 31 and 35 of plate-supporting members 18 and19 are joined together by a connecting ring 37 positioned close to the bends 30 and 34 of saidmembers.

A plate holding rack 39 is mounted on the outer horizontal portion 31 of each plate-supporting member 18. This rack is formed by 'a single length of wire bent into a plurality of reversely extending U-shaped loops to provide a series of risers 40 extendingupwardly from-member 18, with adjacent risers spaced apart to receive therebetween the lower portion of .a plate Pas shown to advantage in Fig. 3.

The outer horizontal portion 35 of-each plate-supporting member 19 is curved in an undulating manner as shown in Fig. 1 to provide a series of plate spacers35a.

In the present instance I have shown a washing machine designed to wash four sets of plates P. The plates of each set may vary in size-and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are supported partly by one of the plate-supporting members 18 and partly by an adjacent cooperating platesupporting member 19. The risers 40 of the rack 39 :mounted on the member 18 supporting the plates-of one downwardly. The spacers 35a of the cooperating platesupporting member 1 9-serves tomaintain the spacing of the engaging plates toensure clearance for the entrance of cleaningfluid therebetween.

It may be noted at this point that-each plate-supporting member 18 is set at an angle of from the next adjacent supporting member 18 and that-each plate-supporting member 19 is set at an angle of 90 from the next adjacent member '19. By virtueof this relative angular setting of the platesupporting members 18 and 19 each set of plates P is set at an angle of 90 fromthe adjacent set of plates, it being remembered that the plates of each set are supported by a different pairof cooperating plate-supporting members including-a member 18 and adjacent member 19 which are set at an angle of 45 from each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. i

The fiatwareholder26 is surrounded by a series of spaced tumbler holders 42 of inverted U-shape. As'here shown, each tumbler holder 42,is formed by, an upwardly directed loop of a wire 43 which rests upon and is'secured to the inner portions 32 and 36 of the plate supporting members 18 and 19. Tumblers T are arranged in inverted position on the tumbler holders 42. Flatware suc'h as forks, spoons, knives and the like are arrangedin the flatware holder 26 with their handles directed downwardly as represented by the fork F shown in Fig.3.

The cup rack 17 comprises a circular series of spaced V-spaced wires 4 5 radiallydisposed about the upper portion of tube 13. The outer limbs of wires 45 are connected together by three vertically spaced connecting rings 47 of gradually increasing diameter, the smallest ring being at the bottom and the largest ring at the top. The inner limbs 48 of wires 45 are formed with vertical extensions 49 rigidly secured to asleeve 50 which encircles and-is anchored to the upper end of tube 13 by a pin 51. This type of cup rack enables cupsC to be suppoii t ed gherein in the inclined and inverted position'shown II). 1g.

Pan 6 of casing 5 is provided with a side opening 52 through which a horizontal spray tube 53 extends radially into the pan beneath the basket 16. The inner end of tube 53 is closed by a plug 54 and is supported in a position close to shaft 19 by a casting 55 forming part of the shaft-supporting casting 11. Tube 53 is provided with spray openings 56 through which sprays of fluid supplied to the tube are directed upwardly against the articles contained in basket 16 and cup rack 17. In

Fig. 3 the openings 56 0f spray tube 53 are showrn/ M tending vertically through the upper wallof the tub it will be understoodthat these'openingsmayibe-inc holder 26.

.shaft so that all the articles to be cleaned will be repeatedly rotated to and from a position shown above the spray tube.

The outer end of tube 53 is fitted in the discharge passage 60 of a valve casing 61 forming part of a detergent dlspenser 62 includes a detergent container or reservoir 63 mounted on valve casing 61 and provided with a filling opening 64 closed by a removable cap 65. The discharge passage 60 of valve casing 61 is in open communication with the lower end of a tube 66 extending upwardly within the detergent container 63 to a point just below filling opening 64. Tube 66 provides a connecting passage or conduit through which the aqueous detergent solution or hot rinsing water flows from the upper end of detergent container 63 directly to outlet passage 60 of valve casing 61 and thence into the outer end of spray tube 53.

Valve casing 61 is also provided with an inlet passage 68 to which hot water is delivered by a flexible hose or conduit 69 (Fig. 2) from a hot water tap or other suitable source of hot water under pressure. Inlet passage 68 of valve casing 61 is connected to outlet passage 60 through a restricted port 70 and to the bottom of detergent container 63 through a restricted port 71. A sleeve type distributing valve 72 is arranged in the inlet passage 68 of valve casing 61 and is provided with ports 73 and 74, the port 74 being somewhat smaller than the port 73.

The machine described herein is preferably operated in the following manner: The plates and flatware to be cleaned are arranged in the basket 16 as illustrated in Fig. 3 and, as previously described, any tumblers to be cleaned are arranged in an inverted position on the tumbler holders 42 and the cups to be cleaned are arranged in the cup rack 17 as also shown in Fig. 3. A suitable amount of detergent, preferably in a dry form, is deposited in the detergent container 63 of detergent dispenser 62 through filling opening 64 which is then closed by cap 65. The conduit 69 is connected to a hot water tap or other suitable source of hot water under pressure and valve 72 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 3 by means of valve handle 76. In this position of valve 72 the port 71 leading to detergent container 63 is closed oif but the inlet passage 68 and outlet passage 60 of valve casing 61 are placed in communication with each other by reason of the fact that the valve port 73 is disposed in registration with the valve casing port 76. It will thus be seen that, in this position of valve 72, all the hot water supplied to valve casing 61 by supply conduit 69 is delivered directly to spray tube 53 and is sprayed upwardly through the spray openings 56 to heat the articles in the basket 16 and cup rack 17 and to remove coarse dirt therefrom. The hot water thus sprayed upwardly through the openings 56 of spray tube 53 impinges on the solid surfaces of the plates P, the inside surfaces of any inverted tumblers arranged on the tumbler holders 42 and on the flatware arranged in the flatware Owing to the inclination of the plates P the hot water glances off of these plates and into the inverted cups C arranged in the rack 17 to wash the inner surfaces of the cups. Other surfaces of the plates, tumblers and cups are washed by hot water deflected from the surfaces of plates P and from the inner, top and side surfaces of casing cover 7. After the dishes have been heated and cleaned of coarse dirt by this preliminary hot water treatment, the valve 72 is operated to the position shown in Fig. 4 by means of the valve handle 76. In this second position of valve 72 valve ports 73 is disposed in registration with the valve casing port 71 and valve port 74 is disposed in registration with valve casing port 70. By virtue of this positioning of valve 72 the water supplied to the inlet passage 68 of valve casing 61 by supply conduit 69 is divided into two separate streams. One stream flows directly from inlet passage 68 to outlet passage 60 of valve casing 61 through valve port 74. The second stream is delivered to detergent container 63 through valve port 73 and valve casing port 71 and is mixed with the detergent in said container to form an aqueous detergent solution which flows outwardly through tube 66 into the valve casing outlet passage 60 where it is mixed with the first stream of hot water as the latter enters the outer end of spray tube 56. In this case the spray tube is supplied with a hot detergent solution which is sprayed upwardly through the openings 56 to eifect a further cleaning of the plates and other articles arranged in the basket 16 and cup rack 17. The valve 72 is left in the position shown in Fig. 4 for a suitable period of time after the detergent in container 63 has been exhausted so that immediately following exhaustion of the detergent, clean hot rinsing water is supplied to the tube 53 both directly from the inlet passage 68 of valve casing 61 and by way of the detergent container 63. It will thus be seen that etfective rinsing of the articles to be cleaned with hot water following exhaustion of the detergent solution occurs automatically and without the necessity of manipulating the valve 72.

When the machine is in operation the rack carrying tube 13 together with the basket 16 and cup rack 17 are revolved so that all the articles to be cleaned are repeatedly rotated to and from a position over spray tube 53. This may be accomplished, as previously stated, by inclining the spray openings 56 of tube 53 so that the impact of the fluid to these openings against the plates P will have the effect of rotating basket 16, tube 13 and cup rack 17.

Having thus described what I now consider to be the preferred embodiment and mode of operation of my improved washing machine, it will be understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, in the case of a large machine two or more spray tubes may be provided and may be used independently or simultaneously depending on the number of plates or other articles placed in the machine. It is also possible to operate the machine satisfactorily without employing the valve 72 since this merely involves elimination of the preliminary hot water spraying which may not be essential in all cases. In the absence of valve 72 the choke effect of the valve casing passage 70 Will cause the hot water supplied to valve casing inlet passage 68 to be divided into separate streams in the same manner as previously described, one stream being routed directly from the valve casing 61 to spray pipe 53 and the other stream being routed from the valve casing to the spray pipe through the detergent chamber 63. In this latter instance the articles to be cleaned are initially sprayed with the hot detergent cleaning solution and then, upon exhaustion of the detergent, are automatically sprayed with clean hot rinsing water which is supplied to the spray tube from the valve casing 61 both directly and by way of the detergent container 63.

I claim:

1. In a dish washing machine of the character described, an outer casing, an article carrier rotatably mounted in said casing to rotate about a vertical axis, said article carrier including a central rotatable memher, a plurality of pairs of plate-supporting arms extending radially outwardly from said central member so that the plate-supporting members of each pair are adapted to'conjointly support a plurality of plates on edge, one member of each pair of plate-supporting arms being provided with risers extending upwardly therefrom and spaced apart to receive the plates therebetween, a flat:

ware holder comprising a tubular body portion encircling'q said central rotatable member and provided with a foraminous bottom, said flatware holder being supported by the inner portions of said plate-supporting members, and a plurality of tumbler supports spaced around the flatware holder and mounted on portions of the plate-supporting members located between the flatware holder and the plate supporting risers of said plate-supporting members.

2. A dish washing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which the tumbler supports are formed by upwardly directed loops of a single wire extending in circular fashion around the flatware holder.

3. A dish washing machine comprising a casing and an article carrier rotatably mounted in the casing to rotate about a vertical axis, said article carrier including a central rotatable member, a cup-supporting rack carried by the upper portion of said rotatable member for supporting a plurality of cups in an inverted position, said cup-supporting rack comprising a series of V- shaped wires radially disposed about the upper portion of said rotatable member, each of said wires presenting an inner limb inclining downwardly and outwardly from said rotatable member and an outer limb inclining upwardly and outwardly from the lower end of the inner limb, the outer limb of said V-shaped wires serving to support the cups in said inverted position with the central axes of the cups inclining downwardly and outwardly from said rotatable member and vertically spaced rings extending around and joined to the outer limbs of said V-shaped wires.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Zeiner Dec. 11, Hopkins Nov. 22, Bergstrom Jan. 6, Turman Sept. 8, Ellington et a1. May 22, Tafel May 5, Forsyth Dec. 1, Le Gore June 3, Abrams Aug. 26,

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