Patent GB-616160-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to laundry machines
IPC: D06F21/06
Filed: 1945-11-06
Abstract: 616,160. Washing-machines. BEUCLER, M. Nov. 6, 1945, No. 29567. Convention date, Sept. 14, 1944. [Class 138(ii)] [Also in Group II] A machine for washing clothes comprises a rotatable vessel 1, a flexible and water-pervious bag 12 which is arranged with its lower end in contact with the base of the vessel and its upper end supported adjacent the top of the vessel, means for rotating the vessel 1 and bag 12 continuously in one direction, a water-inlet 12" in the bag, and means whereby water passing through the bag into the clothes-receiving space between the outside of the bag and the wall of the vessel under the action of centrifugal force is returned to the water inlet of the bag. The vessel 1, Fig. 1, which is in the form of a basket mounted on a vertical shaft within a cylindrical container 5, is rotated by an electric motor 3 adapted also to drive a pump 9 for circulating water to and from the vessel 1 through pipes 8, 10. The pipe 10 passes through a cover 4 of the vessel 1 and discharges into the inlet 12<11> of the bag 12. This bag is of conical form, being attached at its upper end to the top of a perforated tubular support 12' and carrying at its lower end a grid 13 for maintaining the lower end of the bag on the base of the vessel 1. A fine-meshed lining is provided on the inner wall of the basket 1 in order to prevent the clothes from engaging in the perforations of the basket. In operation, a valve 11 in the pipe 8 is first set to supply water to the receptacle, after which the motor 3 and pump 9 are started so as to rotate the basket and, by adjustment of the valve 11 permit the circulation of the water in a closed circuit including the pipes 8, 10, the bag 12, and basket 1. The variations in water pressure produced during rotation will provide a concertinalike motion of the bag 12. For rinsing, the wash water is drained from the container by opening a valve 7, supplying fresh water from the pipe 14, and rotating the vessel 1; if desired, the rinse water may be circulated in the closed circuit by the pump. For drying, the valve 7 is again opened, and the vessel 1 rotated, heated air being circulated, if desired, into the bag through the inlet 12". In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the goods to be washed are contained in a vessel 1 which is provided around its upper periphery with blades 17 disposed in an annular trough 16. With this arrangement, the blades 17 provide for circulation of the water when the vessel is rotated by the motor 3 and the pump may be dispensed with. Other modifications comprise (a) the independent operation of the motor and pump, (b) the mounting of the motor at one side of the machine, (c) the use of manual means, instead of the motor, for rotating the vessel, (d) the introduction of the water through the bottom of the pipe 12', Fig. 1, and (e) the heating of the water by a heater disposed in the circuit. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 describes also the agitation of the articles during washing by the use of compressed air or a vacuum. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.