Patent GB-608246-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in washing machines for laundering or dry-cleaning articles
IPC: D06F15/00
Filed: 1945-12-04
Abstract: <PICT:0608246/III/1> <PICT:0608246/III/2> <PICT:0608246/III/3> <PICT:0608246/III/4> <PICT:0608246/III/5> <PICT:0608246/III/6> <PICT:0608246/III/7> A dry-cleaning machine comprises a shell 12 for containing the washing medium, a cylinder 14 for carrying the articles to be treated, means for rotating the cylinder at a low speed for the washing operation and at a higher speed for the moisture-extracting operation, and means for reducing the interior volume of the cylinder for the second operation.  The cylinder 14, which is perforated and disposed inside the shell 12 in a housing 10 as shown in Fig. 1, is carried at one end on a driving shaft 22 rotated through belt and pulley mechanism 40, 42 from a motor 20. The shell 12 is provided above the drum 14 with a perforated water supply pipe 16 fitted with a valve 18, and its lower end has a drain valve 52 which is normally urged to open position by a spring 53.  A fan 72, which may be associated with a heater 76, is provided in the upper end of the housing 10 for circulating air through the shell 12 during the final drying operation.  The member 60 for reducing the working volume of the drum 14 may be of flat, concave or convex form and is carried by a rod 64 which has a ball-and-socket connection 148, 150 with the member 60.  The opposite end of the rod 64 works as a piston in a cylinder 134, which is disposed in a cross-piece 149 on the end of the housing 10; if desired, the cross-piece 149 may carry a bearing for the outer end of the drum 14.  The machine is loaded with the articles to be washed through doors 92, 94 which are mounted on the end of the housing 10 and doors 100 hinged in the member 60. In the modification shown in Fig. 11, the member 189 for altering the volume of the drum is normally pulled towards the outer end of the drum 193 against the action of springs 190 by a cable 198, which winds over a drum 208 adapted to be released automatically at the prescribed time by an air-operated valve 210.  The drum 193 is formed with spaced longitudinal ribs on its inner face, and the periphery of the member 189 is recessed to correspond.  If desired, two movable members may be provided in a single drum, being arranged to move towards and away from each other with the articles disposed between them.  Alternatively, the drum may consist of two telescopic members 212, 218, Fig. 13, the member 212 being carried by the driving shaft 214, and the member 218 being mounted on a piston-rod 220 whereby it may be reciprocated relatively to the member 212.  Operation.-In the automatic operation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the starting of the motor 20 causes the drum 14 to rotate at low speed for the washing operation.  At the same time, the motor 20 sets into operation, through a clutch 46, a cam drum 84, Fig. 9, which carries a number of cams 106, 124, 128, 136, 142, 144, 152, each of which co-operates with a valve in a compressed air circuit for controlling the operation of the various elements automatically and in sequence. The cam 106 operates a cam follower 112, Fig. 10, which opens a normally-closed valve 118 so as to permit air to pass to a cylinder 123, Fig. 3, and thereby cause the piston 125 therein to move against springs 127 and open the water valve 18.  Just prior to the opening of this valve, the drain valve 52, which is normally held open by the spring 53, is closed by the action of a piston 139, Fig. 4, working in a cylinder 137 when air is passed to the latter by the opening of a valve by the cam 124.  At the end of the washing cycle, the cam 124 permits the drain valve 52 to open, and the cam 128 then opens the water valve 18 to provide a supply of water for rinsing the articles. After the rinsing operation, the member 60 is moved towards the wall 66 by the action of the cam 136 which opens a valve so as to admit air to the cylinder 134.  At this time, the cam 142 operates a lever controlling the gear-change 34 so that, for a period determined by the cam, the drum 14 is rotated at maximum speed for drying.  When the drum returns to its low speed, the cams 136, 144 operate to return the member 60 to its outer position, and the cam 152 disconnects the drive to the cam drum 84 and transfers it to a cam drum 156.  As this drum rotates, the cam 160 thereon closes the circuits of the fan 72 and heater 76 so as to give the articles a final drying while the cylinder is rotated at normal speed; a second cam 164 on the drum 156 then again causes the rotation of the cam drum 84 until it reaches its original position and the motor 20 is stopped.  If desired, the machine may be set so that, prior to the final drying operation, the entire washing, rinsing and main drying cycle is automatically repeated; or, just prior to the movement of the member to decrease the volume of the drum, the drum may be rotated at a speed intermediate between the high and low speeds referred to above for the purpose of tumbling the articles.  The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 describes also the drum as being oscillated instead of rotated.  This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.