Patent GB-609352-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to laundry washing machines
IPC: D06F33/02
Filed: 1946-03-12
Abstract: 609,352. Washing-machines. PROSPERITY CO., Inc. March 12, 1946, No. 7648. Convention date, July 25, 1945. [Class 138(ii)] [Also in Group XVIII] Means for supplying washing fluid to a laundry washing machine 1 comprises a mixing tank 3, a turret or carrier 7 mounted for movement about a vertical axis, containers 10 mounted in the turret for holding ingredients adapted to be supplied to the tank. means for intermittently turning the turret so as to bring the containers consecutively into position for discharge into the tank, and means controlled by the turret-turning means for discharging the contents of a container into the tank and returning the container to its normal position on the turret. General arrangement. -The tank 3, Fig. 9, is disposed at one end of the washing-machine 1, and is provided at its front with a cabinet 4 for housing the control mechanism for the apparatus. The rotafable turret 7, Figs. 3 and 4, on the cabinet 4 is subdivided by radial partitions to provide compartments for the removable containers 10, and surrounded by a stationary casing 9 having openings 16 for access to the containers. The turret is arranged so as to be rotated intermittently about a vertical axis in order to bring each container in turn to a position in which its contents can be discharged through an opening 5, normally closed by a door 6, in the top of the tank 3. The containers are filled with materials, such as soap, blueing, bleach, etc., and are arranged in a predetermined position in the turret according to the order in which the materials are to be fed to the tank. The stepped rotation of the turret is provided by a pawl 24, Fig. 6, which engages ratchet teeth 25 on the axle of the turret and is carried by an arm 17 adapted to be actuated by a piston working in a pivoted cylinder 19 supplied with air or other medium. The containers 10 are mounted to pivot on hinge pins 14. Fig. 4, which are provided on the turret and engage hook-shaped members 13 on the front lower faces of the containers,. In emptying each container when it arrives at the discharge station, a rack 30, Figs. 3 and 4, on the rod of a piston working in a second cylinder 31 is arranged to rock a cranked shaft 26 so that rollers 28, 29 on the yoked portion 27 thereof co-joperate with the outer side of the container and a bracket 213 thereon in order to swing the container about its hinge. In addition to arranging for the delivery of the ingredients of the containers 10 into the tank. means are provided for opening and closing the door 6 at the correct times, opening and closing the drain valve 40, Fig. 9, of the washing-machine 1 supplying hot and cold water to the tank, and discharging the liquid from the tank into the machine 1 for the washing, rinsing, bleaching or other operations. The whole cycle of the apparatus is conducted automatically under the control of a timer 50, Fig. 9, in the form of a drum 54, which is rotated by a motor 51 and associated with contacts 52 adapted to close various control circuits when they make contact with the conducting surface of the drum at times set by slots in a programme sheet 53 wrapped around the drum. The circuits of these contacts include solenoids 61, 74, 94, 109, 122, 132, 139 which, when energized by the closure of the corresponding contacts, open normally-closed valves 62, 75, 95, 110, 123, 140 so as to permit a supply of air or other fluid from a manifold 67 for effecting the operation of the apparatus. Operation of turret and containers.-The intermittent rotation of the' turret 7 is effected when the corresponding contact 52 engages a series of slots in the sheet 53. Whenever this contact is closed, the energization of the solenoid 122 permits the valve 123 to supply air to the cylinder 19 for the rotation of the turret through one step. Towards the end of its travel in the cylinders 19, the piston thereof uncovers a port so that air passes from the cylinder 31 in order to rock the shaft 26; the contents of the container 10 which is then in the discharge station are thereby fed to the tank 3 through the opening 5, and the container is subsequently returned to normal position. Water supply and control means.-The closing of the contact corresponding to the cold-water supply energizes the solenoid 74 so as to open the valve 75 and thereby pass air to a device 82 for opening a cold-water supply valve 69. Cold water is then supplied to the tank through a pipe 83. At the same time, one of three contacts 52, which correspond to different temperatures of the water required in the tank, is switched into a circuit including the corresponding thermostat 89, 91, 92 in the base of the tank and a solenoid 87 in a switch 72a; this circuit is completed when the cold water, which is supplied from the valve 69, submerges the effective thermostat. The energization of the solenoid 87 operates a switch 72 to close a circuit including the solenoid 94 so that the valve 95 opens a hot-water valve 84 for the supply of hot water through the pipe 83. Should the water supplied not be up to the selected temperature, or subsequently fall below it, a switch arm 106 in the switch 72a, which is closed when the solenoid 87 is energized, closes a circuit including the solenoid 109; the valve 110 then causes a steam-supply valve 117 to be opened after a suitable delay provided by a unit 112 to permit the supply of steam to the tank through the pipe 118. As soon as the effective thermostat reaches the desired temperature, its circuit is broken and the solenoid 109 is de-energized. Two of the contacts 52 are set for permitting the water supply to be stopped when the tank is one-quarter .or one-half full according to the selected contact. The circuit of these contacts includes the solenoid 98 of a switch 78, a terminal 100 at the base of the tank, and terminals 101 at the stated water levels in the tank. When the water in the tank completes the set circuit, the solenoid 98 opens the switch 78 so as to break the circuit of the solenoids 74, 94 and shut off the water supply. The circuit of these solenoids is also broken, should the contacts 52 not be set for a particular water level when the tank is completely full; in this case, a circuit, including the terminal 100 and a terminal 103 in the top of the tank, is completed by the water filling The tank so as to open the switch 78. Discharging washing liquid from tank 3 into machine. - Operation of the corresponding contact 52 energizes the solenoid 132 so that the valve 133 supplies air to a diaphragm chamber 131 to close a switch 129 adapted to set into operation a blower 166 for forcing air into the top of the tank through a pipe 137; as a result, the liquid is discharged from the tank through a pipe 138 into the machine. The door 6 is closed while the blower is in operation by air supplied to the door-operating cylinder 36 when the valve 133 is opened; in order to ensure that the door 6 remains closed while the blower is in operation, even though the corresponding contact should not maintain contact with the drum, a branch pipe 147 from the blower 166 supplies air to a diaphragm chamber 146 for operating a holding switch 148 in a circuit in shunt with the contact. Operation of drain valve 40 of washer.- The drain valve 40 of the washing- machine is closed before the start of each washing operation and opened at the end thereof, being controlled by the contact 52 which is associated with the solenoid 61 and valve 62 for controlling the passage of air to cylinder 41; the piston of this cylinder is connected by a lever 43 to the valve 40. Operation of signal for indicating end of operation.-When the liquid has been transferred to the washing machine, a contact 52 closes a circuit so as to energize the solenoid 139 and thereby operate a valve 140 which actuates an audible signal 143; the opening of the valve 140 also operates a switch 145 to open the circuit of the timer motor 51. Additional operations.-In addition to carrying out the operations described above, the timer 50 may be arranged to control the starting stopping and reversal of the rotary washing drum in the washing machine 1.