Patent GB-424418-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to apparatus for delivering measured quantities of a liquid or liquids to a laundry washing drum or other vessel
IPC: D06F33/02
Filed: 1933-08-15
Abstract: 424,418. Electrically-actuated valves. NEWBERY, S., 258, Cromwell Road, Peterborough. Aug. 15, 1933, No. 22766. [Class 135] [See also Group VIII] Relates to time- and float-controlled mechanism for controlling the delivery of measured quantities of liquids to laundry or other machines. The opening of the valve 85, Fig. 1, in the water supply pipe 1 to the washing vessel 81 is effected by a motor 136 which is energized, by the closing of contacts 134, 135, at a predetermined time selected by the operator, through the action of a time-controlled element 86. The valve switches out the motor on reaching full open position. Closure of the valve is effected on re-energization of the motor circuit, by the closing of contacts 60, 61, under the action of a floatactuated mechanism which may be pre-set to act at different levels. The pre-sotting mechanism is associated with the time-element and is rendered operative thereby after manual selection. The time-element comprises the switch mechanism described in Specification 424,331, [Group XXXVII], and consists of a continuously rotating conductor arm 99 carrying contact blades 100, Fig. 4, which sweep the backs of a series of plug-in sockets 94-98. into the fronts of selected ones of which jacks are plugged, the other ends of the jacks being plugged into selected sockets of another series 102 ... 109. The sockets 102, for example, correspond to the valve 85 in the water supply pipe, three such sockets being provided for this valve whereby it may be closed at one of three levels of liquid in the washing vessel. If the jack is plugged, for example, into the socket 102<a>, when the arm 99 sweeps the socket 94 ... 98 into which the other end of the jack is plugged a circuit is established from line 122, Fig. 1, via line 123, arm 99, jack, socket 102<a>, line 125, coil 128, coil 131, and lines 132, 133. Energization of coil 131 closes contacts 134, 135 to start the motor 136 which is switched out as the valve 85 reaches full open position. Energization of coil 128 attracts an arm 23 so as to release a latch 16 which is rotated by a spring, not shown, from the latched position in which the latches 15 and 17 are shown into a horizontal position in which it lies in the path of an arm 13<a> pivoted on the head of the float 83 which works in a chamber 80 communicating with the vessel 81. The arm 13<a> constitutes a bridging member for two normally open contacts 13 carried by the head of the float ; when it contacts with the latch 16 these contacts are bridged and establish a circuit from line 122 via lines 123, 123<a>, contacts 13, line 36, coil 59 and lines 132, 133 ; energization of the coil 59 closes the contacts 60, 61 and operates the motor 136 to close the valve 85. On the next descent of the float member, a pawl 18 pivoted thereon engages the latch 16 and swings it against its spring into latching engagement with the arm 23 the pawl riding past the latch during the ascent of the float member. The latches 15, 17 correspond to the two other liquid levels. The discharge valve 87 is actuated similarly, the sockets 106 and the trip devices 142 ... 144 coacting with the discharge valve motor circuit and the latches of these trip devices being re-engaged with the arms of the corresponding electromagnets by the engagement of a pawl 18<a> therewith during the ascent of the float. Other sockets correspond to steam control, clutch control and controls for the supply of soap and soda solutions and of blueing liquid. The soap solution is admitted from a pipe 2a to a measuring chamber 91 and transferred therefrom to the vessel 81 through a pipe 2, a 3-way valve 88 being provided to connect the pipe 2<a> and chamber 91 or chamber 91 and pipe 2 and being actuated by a motor. The motor is actuated to put the pipe 2<a> and chamber 91 into communication by plugging a jack into one of the sockets 103 and one of the series 94-98 ; this closes the contacts 88<a> at the predetermined time. The contacts 88b are closed to energize the motor 80 so as to operate the valve 88 to put the chamber 91 and pipe 2 in communication when a predetermined quantity of solution has accumulated in the chamber 91 ; this occurs when the float in this chamber rises sufficiently to close the contacts 64<a>, which closing occurs when the arm 64 coacts with the latch 114<a> that has been projected into its path according to which of the sockets 103 has been plugged into. A valve 89 is actuated similarly for admitting soda solution to the chamber 91, and transferring it to the vessel 81, two sockets 104 being provided on the time controlled member. The latches 114, 115, 118 or 119 are relatched by pawls 64b, 65b during the descent of the float. A measuring chamber 92 is provided for the blueing liquid ; this may be filled by actuation of a manual valve 141 and a predetermined amount passed to the vessel 81 by pre-selection of one of the sockets 105 into which a jack from the contacts 94 ... 98 is plugged. Owing to the difficulty of opening and closing a large valve sufficiently quickly when only a small volume of liquid is to be passed and because of the desirability of having a large valve to deal with large volumes, two valves of different sizes may be arranged in parallel in any supply pipe, one being for " high dips " and the other for low, a separate motor appropriately energized, being provided for each. The sweeping arm 99 may be so connected to its driving mechanism that it may be rotated manually to any desired degree to accelerate the cycle or to adjust or complete it in case of breakdown, the manual element serving also as a pointer to indicate the stage reached in the cycle. Instead of rotary valves reciprocating valves may be used.