Patent GB-643359-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in, or relating to, washing machines
IPC: C14B1/00
Filed: 1947-10-07
Abstract: <PICT:0643359/IV (c)/1> A washing-machine for commercial purposes comprises a vat or like container in which the material is to be cleansed, rotatably mounted, above floor level, about a horizontal axis which is spaced from the vat axis and mechanism for rotating the paddle to agitate the vat contents during a cleansing operation and for rotating or tilting the vat, as and when the cleansing operation is completed, so as to discharge said contents towards the floor. As shown, the machine comprises a vat-like <PICT:0643359/IV (c)/2> container 1, the open end of which is normally disposed uppermost, consisting of a semi-cylindrical body 4 having two lateral disc-shaped ends 2 and 3 to each of which is secured an annular channel-section support 5 seated upon rollers 6, which are journalled in bearings 7 mounted on girders 8 carried upon the crown of pillars 9 rising from the floor 10.  A paddle 11 is journalled in the ends 2 and 3 about a horizontal axle 45 which is positioned above the level of the top of the vat body 4.  A toothed annulus 12 is secured to the outer face of the container end 2, while an axle 16 with pinion 13, fast belt-driven pulley 14 and loose pulley 15 is journalled in bearings 16a fixed on the outer face of the other container end 3.  A pinion 17 fixed to an axle 18 journalled in bearings 19 meshes continuously with the internally-toothed annulus 12.  A toothed-wheel 20 (Fig. 2) is keyed to the axle 18 intermediate the bearings 19 and is engaged by an endless chain 21, which also engages a toothed driving wheel 22 on the output shaft 23 of a combined clutch and speed reduction gearbox 24.  An electric motor 25 imparts drive to the mechanism within the box 24 through the belt-driven pulley 26 keyed to the shaft 27 and the belt-driven pulley 29 keyed to the input shaft 30 of the box 24.  The drive between the motor 25 and the pinion 17 can be made or broken by a suitable mechanism.  The belt-driven shaft 27 extends the length of the container 1 and has a second belt-driving pulley 38 secured at the end removed from the motor 25 and adjacent to the loose belt pulley 39.  A belt 40 passing around the pulleys 38 and 14 transmit drive from the motor 25 to the axle 16 and hence to the paddle 11 through the pinions 13, 41, 42 and 44, the latter being keyed to the paddle shaft 45.  The paddle drive is interrupted by displacing the belt 40 from the fast to the complementary loose pulleys 39 and 15.  Thus the arrangement is such that the motor is able to drive the paddle and rotate the container simultaneously or, as normally employed, separately.  As the container always rotates in the same direction a shoot 48, conforming to the external formation of the container body 4, is provided to guide the container contents into suitably positioned skips 46 which are perforated to allow wash liquor to drain from the solid being washed.  An overflow 49 (Fig. 4, not shown) is located in the container end 3 and a perforated screen 50 to prevent choking thereof is provided between the container ends 2 and 3.  The container is strengthened by a tie or ties 51. In operation wash liquor is run into the container to the level of the overflow 49 (Fig. 3, not shown), the leather or the other material washed with the paddles rotating, the paddles stopped and the container rotated to discharge the container contents into the skips.