Patent GB-669366-A (GB)
Title: An improved automatic crockery and cutlery washer and dryer
IPC: A47L15/16
Filed: 1949-06-14
Abstract: 669,366. Washing crockery. GWILLIAM, V. C. E. MARTEN-. Sept. 6, 1950 [June 14, 1949], No. 15743/49. Class 138 (i). A crockery and cutlery washing machine comprises a closable metal cabinet with supports for the various articles to be washed, stationary spraying tubes with fixed or rotating nozzles interposed between the article supports, a compartment having a water heater, means for forcing the heated water under pressure through the nozzles, and a waste pipe emerging from the back of the cabinet and designed to pass through a wall against which the machine is placed. In the machine described, there are several sets of spraying nozzles each set being controlled from a separate stop-cock, the number operated depending on the amount of crockery to be washed; the quantity of water heated up and the steam pressure generated before the water is released, in order to force the water through the nozzles, are both adjusted automatically according tc the number of such stopcocks actuated. Figs. 3 anc 4 show the machine in front elevation with the doors open, and in cross section. On the right hand side is a water con tainer 32 with immersior heater and thermostat, a draw-off tap 82, and four stop-cocks 36 each connected by a flexible hose 33 to one of the gallery pipes 31 which run across the back of the machine and which supply the spraying nozzles. The top pipe 31 supplies a row of horizontal nozzles 5 to spray plates 2 held between vertically adjustable spring-clips 3. As shown.in Fig. 7 each nozzle comprises a perforated inner tube 25 rotatably mounted within a perforated outer tube ; the inner tube may be rotated'by means of a knurled knob 26 to vary the effective size and number of the jets. Access to the plates 2 is, through a bottom-hinged door 13. Beneath the plates are perforated receptacles, 7-9, for mis-, cellaneous small articles. The second, pipe 31 supplies a row of horizontal knife-cleaning nozzles 14, see also Fig. 6. The knife blade is received in an inner perforated tube whilst the handle rests on pins 28. The third pipe31 feeds , a row. of horizontal adjustable nozzles 20 similar to those described above, for cleaning larger plates 1 held between vertically adjustable spring clips 19. The bottom, pipe 31 feeds pipes 21 whose ends are bent up and terminate in fixed or rotating nozzles 27 protected by rubber rings. Cups or the like may be inverted over these nozzles, or dishes may be inverted over a group of nozzles as shown. Access to the lower part of the cabinet is through bottom-hinged door 12. A drain trough 23 leads to drain pipe 24 at the rear. The control mechanism, which is attached to the bottom of the water heater 32 and. com-. prises the four stop-cocks 36, a centrally arranged vertical steam cylinder 53 and a torsional cross-shaft 59 is shown in cross-section in Fig. 8. In Fig. 8, water entering at 44 passes to a pipe 43 which traverses all four stop-cocks 36. When a stop-cock is opened a venturi tube 41 therein connects the supply pipe 43 with pipe 42, which communicates through a main water-admission valve (not shown) with the water inlet 70 at the top of the heater, the, water passing down the central tube and through float valve 71 into,the heater. The float 72 is guided on the central water inlet pipe. According to the number of venturi tubes 41 admitting water,and hence the pressure exerted by the incoming water, so the float valve 71 is closed when the water reaches a corresponding level. Thus the quantity of water admitted is proportional to the number of stopcocks. operated, these being pre-set before the washing operation. Pre-setting a stop-cock also rotates a cam 45 thereon to lift a -tappet rod 46, which compresses a spring in a telescopic strut 62. Each of the four telescopic struts 62 is pivoted to a lever 61 fast on the torsional cross shaft 59, so that the torsional loading on shaft 59 is proportional to the number of stop-cocks preset. Operations are coinmenced by pulling up the starting lever 68 fast with torsional shaft 59. This rotates shaft 59 to (a) open the main wateradmission valve (not shown), (b) switch on the immersion heater, and (c)depress valve stem 52 and keep outlet valve 40 on its seat. Water enters the heater 32 to the appropriate level as described above and eventually attains a steam pressure which is communicated by steam dome 79 and steam outlet pipe 78 by a connection (not shown) to the steam cylinder 53 beneath the piston 54, which can move freely over the valve stem 52. When the steam pressure is sufficiently high it raises piston 54 and rotates shaft 59 against the loading exerted by the springs in telescopic struts 62 until the latter pass through their dead centre position. This rotation of shaft 59 switches off, the immersion heater and raises valve 40 off;.its seat whereby the water is blown by steam pressure through port 49, chamber 38, through whichever stop-cocks 36 have been opened, to the corresponding :distribution pipes 31 and nozzles. Any condensed steam may be drained off from the steam cylinder 53 by a needle valve 81.