Patent GB-652170-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to clothes washing machines
IPC: D06F39/08
Filed: 1948-02-23
Abstract: 652,170. Washing and drying machines. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd. Feb. 23, 1948, No. 5333. Convention date, Feb. 24, 1947. [Class 138 (ii)] A clothes washing machine having means 4 for circulating liquid continuously from a tub 1 and through a spinner basket 2 mounted in the tub, has an overflow passage 18 in an agitator 3 which is mounted for rotation in the basket, the passage 18 extending axially from the vicinity of the normal liquid level to the bottom of the basket ; an overflow passage is also provided between the basket and an outer casing 26 which surrounds it, the overflow from both passages discharging into a chamber 17 beneath the basket from where it is directed to liquid flow responsive means which controls the operation of the driving motor. The basket 2 has corrugated side walls and is spaced from the outer casing 26, which also acts as a balancing ring, by members 27. The overflow passage between the basket and the casing 26 leads through channels 28 in the base of the casing to a plurality of openings 24 through which water flows to the tub 1 of the machine through the water operated control device for the driving motor. The water is initially supplied and is returned by the pump 4 to the basket through a nozzle 7 and a filter 48 which is positioned below the normal water level as disclosed in Specification 652,169. The filter 48 is carried by an annular member which is attached to the corrugations of the basket and the outer wall 46 of this member is lower than the inner wall 45 so that any overflow from the filter is over wall 46 ; openings 52 in the top wall 50 of the filter ring direct most of the overflow into the basket, the remainder being directed by lip 53 into the tub 1. Overflow from the basket 2 passes between the walls 46, 49 of the filter ring to the space between the basket and the casing 26. The basket and casing are attached to a hollow shaft 20 by which they are held stationary during the washing operation and rotated for spin drying. The oscillating agitator 3 is attached to a shaft 37 within shaft 20 and the water discharge passage 18 in the agitator leads to the openings 24 in the base of the casing 26. Screened openings 23 lead from the basket to this passage 18. Water from the openings 24 flows to the chamber 17 which is formed on top of the motor casing and is directed through a spout 11 to a pivoted cup 9 having an opening 10 in its bottom. Such water moves cup 9 about its pivot against the action of a return spring 16 and closes a switch 8 in the circuit of the motor driving the agitator and spin basket. This motor can thus only run when there is sufficient overflow of water from the basket to operate switch 8 so that washing only takes place when there is sufficient water in the basket, the minimum level is determined by openings 31a in the side of the basket. Water is supplied to the tub 1 through warm and hot water pipes 60, 61 and is removed by a drain pump 56. The spin basket assembly is resiliently mounted on compression springs 34. Specifications 620,210 and 625,326 also are referred to.