Patent GB-654843-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to clothes washing machines
IPC: D06F33/04
Filed: 1947-11-03
Abstract: 654,843. Washing and drying machines. APPLIANCE CORPORATION OF AMERICA. Nov. 3, 1947, No. 29324. Convention date, Nov. 16, 1946. [Class 138 (ii)] [Also in Group XXIX] A clothes-washing machine comprises an oscillatable tub having an upstanding perforated conical nozzle in the bottom, a flexible diaphragm being fixed to the bottom of the tub around the nozzle which has perforations in its upper surface to drain liquid squeezed from clothing when the side walls of the diaphragm are forced inwardly towards each other. General features.-A casing 10 which has a hinged top opening 17 is divided into two superposed compartments, the lower of which, 13, contains the driving motor 75 and the control mechanism and the upper of which, 11, contains a spherical tub 12. The tub is oscillated for washing by the motor 75 through reduction gearing and the motor also drives a control cam-shaft 88. The tub is formed of two hemispheres 13, 20 welded together and has a top opening which is closed by a domed perforated cover 26 which is internally fitted and is of larger diameter than the opening and is pivotally mounted on a spring-pressed bolt 27. A hinged handle 28 is provided. Both hemispheres have integral diametrically-arranged aligned ribs 21, 22 and a rubber diaphragm 42 covers the interior of the tub, being shaped to fit the ribs; it is folded over the top opening of the tub and is held between a bolted-in collar 23 and an internal annular ring 24. The bottom of the diaphragm is clamped between a support member 29 which is fixed to the tub bottom and a conical perforated hollow nozzle 39. The support member 28 is attached to a shaft 30 by which the tub is oscillated. Water supply and drain means.-The nozzle 39 is connected to hot and cold mains through a flexible connection 35, cam-controlled valves 50, 56 and a manually-controlled water-mixing valve 46. It is also connected through a camcontrolled valve 51 to a continuously-running drain pump 70. The cold water main is also connected through a cam-controlled valve 57, a high-pressure pump 64 and a flexible connection to the space between the back of the diaphragm and the tub wall; this space is also connected through a cam-controlled valve 68 to the drain pump 70. Vacuum-breaking valves 53, 59 (see Group XXIX) are connected in both supply lines to the tub. The compartment 11 of the casing is connected to the drain pump 70. Automatic control means.-The cam-shaft 88 carries five cams 92, 96, 103, 108, 115. Cam 92 controls the electric motor 75; cam 96 controls the supply of washing water to the tub through valve 50 and the draining of the tub through valve 51; cam 103 controls the rinse water supply valve 56; cam 108 controls the water supply for the squeeze-drying operation through valve 57 and cam 115 controls the drain valve 18 for releasing pressure on the squeezing diaphragm. The cam-shaft 88 is rotatable manually by a handle H for starting and to determine the length of the washing period. Operation.-The clothes are placed in the tub and water at the desired temperature admitted by manual operation of the mixing valve 46; valve 50 is open to permit this. The motor 75 is then started by operation of handle H and the cam-shaft carries out a cycle comprising (a) washing in the water previously admitted, the motor oscillating the tub during this and all subsequent operations; (b) squeeze-drying and draining by the change-over of valves 50, 51 by cam 96 and the opening of valve 57 by cam 108 ; (c) retraction of the diaphragm 42 to its original position by the closing of valve 57 and the opening by cam 115 of valve 68; (d) rinsing in cold water caused by the opening of valve 56 by cam 103; the valves.50, 51 are changed over simultaneously by cam 96 so closing the path from the tub to the drain pump. Water enters the tub through valve 50 and overflows continuously from the cover 26 into the compartment 11 from where it flows to the drain pump 70 through pipe 74; (e) squeeze-drying caused by the opening of valve 57 and the closing of valve 68 to allow water to collapse the diaphragm 42; the drain valve 51 is simultaneously opened and the valves 50, 56 closed; (f) retraction of the diaphragm to its original position by changeover of valves 57 and 68 at the end of which the motor switch 79 is opened by cam 92 to stop motor 75 to allow removal of the clothing. Specification 654,832 is referred to.