Patent GB-562165-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to washing machines
IPC: D06F33/04
Filed: 1942-05-19
Abstract: 562,165. Washing machines. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd. May 19, 1942, No. 6801. Convention date, May 23, 1941. [Class 138 (ii)] A washing machine having automatic control means for a sequence of washing and drying operations is provided with means to render it unaffected by failure of power or liquid supply. As shown applied to a machine of the kind described in Specification 538,243 the set of cams includes cam 18, Fig. 2, for power, 19 for water, and 20 for pump control. The leads to the motor 5, which drives suitable mechanism 4 for selectively oscillating and rotating the agitator 3 and tub 2, include a switch 22 closed by the high part 29 of the cam 18 and opened by the low parts, the switch being mounted on an arm 23 pivoted to a bracket and positioned by a spring against a stop 27, the bracket being mounted on the water supply valve 31, the normally upwardly spring-closed plunger 33 of which is controlled by a lever 34 engaging the cam 19. The lever has a slot 36 engaging a pin 37 on a bracket 38 and is controlled by a spring 57 and has a tooth 41 engaged by a latch 39 pivoted on the bracket 38 and held in engagement with the tooth 41 by a spring 42. Thus when the lever 34 meets a height 43 on the cam 19 it pivots on the tooth 41 to depress the plunger 33 to supply water through a softener 49 and pipes 50, 51 to the tub 2 until the overflow through openings 8 into the casing 1 raises a float 52 to trip the latch 39 and allow the valve 31 to close. The depression of the lever 34 carries an arm 47 with set screw 46 to rock a lever 44 and open switch 22 thus stopping the cam-shaft 16. The rising of the lever 34 when the float 52 rises brings the switch 22 and the motor 5 into action to drive the cams again. The supplying of water is thus independent of the power supply. When the lever 34 reaches a dip in the cam, the tooth 41 is again latched. To supply a small amount of water for flushing soapy water away before rinsing a small height 59 on the cam is provided that does not lower the lever 34 sufficiently to cut out the drive, but leaves the cam-shaft running. A circulating pump 9 is driven when a lever 60 engages the high fields 63 of cam 20 and a drain pump 13 when the lever is on the depressions 64 and a deeper depression 66 allows reconditioning of the water softener 49 by applying a small amount of salt water from a box 68. The clutch 10 moves along its shaft, driven from the motor 5, against the pressure of a spring 67 to allow this action. A lever 81 pin-and-slot geared to the lever 60 and pivoted at 40 on the valve bracket 38 operates a valve 69 to send water through pipes 71 and 70 through the salt box 68 to the softener 49, and to prevent salt going through the wash tub, the regenerating salt flow efflux is directed through pipes 50, 74, valve 75 and pipe 76 to the pump 13 which is kept running when the lever 81 opens both valves 69 and 75. The plungers 79 and 80 of the valves are spring biassed to closed position, and are pressed in to open by a plate 78 with a stem 77 bearing on a lever 83 pivoted to the end of lever 81 and held by a latch 85 pivoted at 86. If the power supply fails during regeneration the salt efflux passes through the drain pipe 14 to the bottom of the casing 1 until it raises the float 52 to trip the latch 39 causing a pin 88 thereon to knock off the latch 85 and close the valves 68, 75. Thus flooding is prevented. The latch 85 is reset when the lever 60 again engages a height 63 on the cam, through the action of a spring 87, the lever 83 being held against a stop 90 by a spring 89. When the lever 60 engages heights 65 both pumps 9 and 13 are stopped. In a modification, the timing shaft drive is interrupted mechanically during automatic tub filling by a throw-off lever 93, Fig. 3, operated by the arm 47, the power switch 21 being mounted on a fixed bracket.