Patent GB-654254-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to clothes washing machines
IPC: D06F47/06
Filed: 1947-08-27
Abstract: 654,254. Washing and drying machines. GRAHAM, G. C., GRAHAM, D. B., and BARKER, G. H., (trading as GRAHAM & BARKER). Aug. 27, 1947, No. 23680. Convention date, Dec. 6, 1941. [Class 138 (ii)] A clothes washing machine comprises a stationary tub 12 having an oscillating agitator 33, a drain opening in the upper part of the tub, a flexible diaphragm 17 secured to the top and bottom of the tub and means for moving the diaphragm radially inwards to press against clothes in the tub. A spherical tub 12, Fig. 1, has a top opening which is surrounded by an upstanding collar 13 and which is closed by a cover having an arched perforated bottom 45 and an upstanding side wall 47 which fits inside the collar 13 leaving a small annular gap 50. The side wall 47 of the cover has a series of perforations 49 near its top and another series 48 near its bottom. The cover is secured to the tub by an annular channel-shaped expansible ring 53, the ends of which are held together by a releasable clamp. The ring engages flanges 51, 52 on the collar and cover, and is loosely supported by a number of channel-shaped holders 55. The tub interior is lined by a rubber diaphragm 17 which is held in position at the top by a ring 18, Fig. 5, over which the diaphragm is folded and which snaps into a bead 16 in the collar 13 with the free end of the diaphragm between the body of the diaphragm and the tub wall. The ring 18 positions the diaphragm so that the cover bears on the fold to seal the annular space 50. At the bottom the diaphragm is engaged by a ring 21 which is positioned by a retaining-plate 28 which in turn is held in place by the locking-nut 32 of a stuffing-box through which a shaft 26 enters the tub. On this shaft, within the tub, is mounted an agitator 33 which has two blades 37 and a perforated bottom disc 34. Surrounding the collar 13 and secured to the tub wall is a circular trough 61 which has a drain outlet 66 at one side. A pan 67, Fig. 5, is mounted in the trough adjacent the drain opening and this pan is connected to the collar 13 by a conduit 69 so that it communicates with the space 50 between the collar and the cover wall. The pan end of the conduit is closed by a valve 76 which is opened when the level of water in the pans 67 is sufficient by a float 75. A small opening 77 near the pan bottom allows it to drain slowly. Water is supplied to the tub through a pipe 42 which enters the tub through the retaining- plate 28 between the nut 32 and the ring 21. A water reservoir 84 is connected to the pipe 42, a restriction 86 in the pipe permitting-the reservoir to fill before the tub can fill. A pipe 41 entering the tub in a similar way is connected to a hook-shaped pipe 82 positioned over and clipped to the trough 61. Water to expand the diaphragm 17 enters through a pipe 43 which has a flap valve 43B and this water is drained through a pipe 44. A ring of wire 89 across the opening of pipe 44 prevents the diaphragm sealing the pipe. Operation.-This may be controlled automatically as described in Specification 643,486, and after the clothes and soap are placed in the tub the sequence is as follows: (a) the tub is filled with water through pipe 42 until the arched bottom of the cover is completely covered, the level being determined by pipe 82 and the restriction in the water supply pipe causing the reservoir 84 to fill to ensure that after the water supply is turned off the water level is maintained despite the release by agitation of any air which may have been trapped in the clothes; (b) the agitator is set into oscillation and during this washing operation any scum formed floats through the cover perforations and accumulates above it; (c) the agitator is stopped and water is admitted through pipe 43 to expand the diaphragm 17 to expel water from the tub and the clothes which flows over the sides of the collar 13 into the trough 61. At the same time water is forced through the perforations and around the edges of the agitator into the pipe 41 and thence into the trough through pipe 82 so clearing the bottom of the tub. The first overflow of water into the trough fills the pan 67 and by raising the float 75 opens the conduit 69 and so allows water to flow through holes 48 and 68 to drain all water from the cover and the space 50. The holes 49 prevent an air lock and the small aperture 77 in the pan keeps the float valve 76 open until the draining is finished by restricting the outflow of water from the pan; (d) when the drying operation is finished the water supply through pipe 43 is shut off and the water behind the diaphragm is drained through pipe 44 so returning the diaphragm to its original position; (e) the sequence (a)-(d) above may then be repeated one or more times to rinse the clothes.