Patent GB-742264-A (GB)
Title: Method of and machine for washing, drying or dry cleaning fabrics
Inventor: TANN DAVID
IPC: F26B11/18
Filed: 1953-02-09
Abstract: A machine for washing, dry cleaning or drying fabrics comprises a receptacle in which the fabrics are agitated, means contacting a peripheral wall of the receptacle for withdrawing liquid from the fabrics, and means for removing the liquid from the withdrawing means.  The invention is described as applied to a washing machine. First embodiment (Figs. 4, 5, 7)  General arrangement.  A washing drum 44 having a permeable wall 46 is rotated by means of a continuous belt 48 which is made of absorbent material and encircles the drum, and also passes between a pair of wringer rolls 50, 52, one of which (50) is driven by a motor 54 through a belt 156 and pulley 154.  The drum is rotated at the same speed for washing and for removing water from the clothes, the water being absorbed by the material of the belt 48 and removed therefrom by the wringer rolls 50, 52.  The drum 44 rotates in a tub 42 provided with an opening 136 through which the belt 48 passes into and out of a sump 138 housing the rolls 50, 52.  The belt is guided by rolls 178, 180, the roll 180 being mounted in bearing blocks which are slidable in channels 184 under the influence of springs 186 whose loading can be adjusted to vary the tension in the belt 48.  The pressure between the rolls 50, 52 can be adjusted by means of screws 174, 176 (Fig. 5), acting on springs 168, 170 housed in castings 140, 142 and pressing against bearing blocks 164, 166 of the lower roll 52. The belt 48 may be made of any suitable fabric of organic or inorganic material.  Tub and drum construction.  The tub 42 is generally cylindrical and has a central opening 66 at its front end normally closed by a door 68 provided with a sealing gasket 70.  The door 68 preferably has a glass panel 72 in which is mounted <PICT:0742264/III/1> <PICT:0742264/III/2> <PICT:0742264/III/3> <PICT:0742264/III/4> <PICT:0742264/III/5> <PICT:0742264/III/6> <PICT:0742264/III/7> <PICT:0742264/III/8> <PICT:0742264/III/9> <PICT:0742264/III/100> 74 and chute 76 through which soap is supplied to the tub 42.  A tubular shaft 92 extends rearwardly from the rear wall 88 of the drum 44 and is supported by reinforcing ribs 94.  The shaft 92 is journalled in a shaft 96 projecting inwardly from the rear wall 78 of the tub 42 and provided with reinforcing ribs 98.  The front end of the drum is provided with a cylindrical flange 102 which is supported on a pair of rollers 104 carried at opposite ends of a rocker arm 106 which is pivoted at 108 on the tub 42.  The rollers 104 are spaced at opposite sides of the centre of the drum (Fig. 1, not shown), and rotatably support the drum at its front end. The wall 46 of the drum may be of any suitable water permeable material, e.g. perforated or expanded metal, fabric, sponge, or sponge rubber.  In the example shown a fabric wall 46 is supported intermediate baffles 120 by a plurality of spaced flexible rods 124 having reduced end portions which project through apertures in the end plates 86, 88 of the drum.  Fig. 15 (not shown), illustrates a modified drum wall comprising two layers of fabric, one passing radially inside and the other outside the rods 124, and both stitched together intermediate the rods.  In a further modification (Fig. 16, not shown), a single layer of fabric passes on the radially outer sides of the rods 124, the inner sides being covered by strips of fabric sewed to the fabric wall at opposite sides of the rods.  Water supply and discharge means Water is supplied to the drum 44 through apertures in the inner end of a supply line 112 extending through the shaft 92 of the drum.  An annular seal 116 is provided between the line 112 and the shaft 92. An overflow line 118 prevents overfilling of the tub 42.  Hot water is supplied to the line 112 under the control of a valve 244 (Fig. 7), actuated by a rocker arm 238 operated by cams 234 and 294. Similarly, cold water is supplied to the line 112 through a valve 246 actuated by a rocker arm 240 operated by cams 236 and 296.  The temperature and quantity of the initial filling is controlled by a control knob (not shown), connected by a chain 224 (Fig. 4), and sprockets 222, 226 to a shaft 228 carrying the cams 234, 236. These cams are so shaped that, as the control knob is rotated from its off position the temperature of the water supplied to the line 112 is gradually increased.  The control knob is manually rotated to the desired temperature setting, and, when the water in the tub reaches the desired level, is returned to its off position. Water of the required temperature for rinsing is supplied at the appropriate time by means of a timer 55 which actuates the cams 294, 296.  The sump 138 is connected through a strainer 190 and drain valve 194 to a pump 197 driven by the motor 54.  The strainer 190 comprises a cylindrical lintcollecting cartridge 196 which can be removed for cleaning.  The overflow line 118 is connected to the drain line between the valve 194 and pump 197.  Control mechanism.  A second control knob (not shown) is connected by a chain 208 (Fig. 4), and sprockets 206, 210 to a shaft 212 carrying the cams 294, 296.  The shaft 212 also carries a cam 252 adapted upon initial rotation of the second control knob to actuate a micro switch 254 and start the motor 54.  The pulley 154 driven by the motor 54, is carried on a shaft 150 (Fig. 5) which also carries a timer pulley 158 connected by a belt 260 to a pulley 262 on an idler shaft 264.  The shaft 264 is connected through speed reducing mechanism (Fig. 11, not shown), to a short shaft 270 having a socket 274 in one end receiving the cam shaft 212.  A one way clutch (Fig. 13, not shown), comprising a ball disposed in a spiral recess in the shaft 270 provides a one-way driving connection between the shafts 270, 212 and permits manual advance of the cycle of operations, if desired, by rotating the second control knob.  The speed reducing means comprises a single toothed gear (not shown), on the shaft 264 which is adapted to engage a gear wheel 284 on a second idler shaft 286.  The shaft 286 also carries a single toothed gear 288 adapted to engage a gear wheel 292 on the shaft 270.  When the motor 54 is started by turning the second control knob so as to rotate the cam shaft 212, rotation of this cam shaft in the same direction is continued through the one-way clutch, shaft 270 speed reducing means, timer pulley 158 and motor 54.  The speed reducing mechanism may be eliminated by mounting the timer pulley for rotation with the drum 44 instead of on the shaft 150, and by properly proportioning the sizes of the pulley wheels.  The cam shaft 212 carries a further cam 298 adapted to engage one end of a push-rod 300 (Fig. 4), whose other end actuates the drain valve, 194 against spring action.  The control mechanism provides the following automatic cycle: washing for any desired period up to 15 minutes; draining period of 6 minutes; warm water rinsing for 2 minutes; cold water rinsing for 5 minutes; and damp drying for 10 minutes.  The drum 44 rotates continuously throughout the cycle at a speed causing the clothes to be lifted by the baffles 120 to a position in the upper left hand quadrant of the tub, from which they fall more or less diametrically across the drum to a position in the lower right hand corner.  The drain valve 194 is open during draining, cold water rinsing and damp drying periods.  Modifications  In Fig. 19 (not shown), the wall of the drum 44 is formed of a metal screen instead of fabric material, and the wringer rolls are disposed at the upper right hand quadrant of the drum instead of in the sump 138.  A sloping trough disposed below the wringer rolls prevents the water from running back on to the belt 48.  In Fig. 20 (not shown), a spring-urged takeup roller is disposed in the upper right hand quadrant and the wringer rolls are between this roller and the drum. In Fig. 21 (not shown), and Fig. 43 a belt 324 of similar material to the belt 48 fits closely over the pervious wall 312 of the drum and the water is removed from this belt by suction.  A perforated cylindrical sleeve 313 is rotated on a fixed cylinder 317 by means of a pulley 321, belt and motor (not shown), which also drives a pump. The pump applies suction through the apertures in the rotating sleeve 313 and an axially extending slot 327 in the cylinder 317.  A plurality of space suction rolls may be employed, or an idler roller may be used on the opposite side of the drum to the single suction roll  In Fig. 22 (not shown), the water permeable wall of the drum is in rolling engagement with a pair of rollers, each having an outer layer of absorbent material.  These rollers are disposed at the lower right and left hand quadrants of the drum and are driven by further rollers which also extract the water from the absorbent coverings. In Fig. 24 a substantially imperforate cylindrical drum 366 has an internal lining 372 of water absorbent material secured to the drum as by a suitable adhesive or wire or fabric stitching.  The drum has a single baffle 370 and is oscillated through about 270 degrees by means of a link and pulleys (Fig. 26, not shown), driven by a motor 54.  Water is squeezed from the lining 372 by means of a roller 380 mounted on a shaft 382 fixed in an arm 384 on a tubular shaft 386. The arm 384 also supports an inclined trough 392 which discharges the water through an opening 390 in the front wall of the drum. Apertures are provided in the end walls of the drum 366, in the baffles 370, and in the cylindrical wall 368 at the baffle 370 only, to permit the flow of water between the drum 366 and a surrounding tub, part of which is shown at 365.  In Fig. 27 a belt 410 of rubber or like resilient material formed with a plurality of suction cavities 412 in its inner surface, is pressed by a pair of idler rolls 418, 420 into contact with the outer surface of a perforated drum 405.  The belt 410 also passes round a