Patent GB-586423-A (GB)
Title: Improved clothes washing machine
IPC: D06F39/02
Filed: 1945-02-24
Abstract: 586,423. Washing-machines. CONSTANTINE, W. W. (General Motors Corporation). Feb. 24, 1945, No. 4671. [Class 138 (ii)] In a clothes washing-machine comprising a rotatable tub and an agitator, an ingredient dispenser on the agitator is openable in response to centrifugal force on rotation of the tub, for dispensing the ingredient into the tub. The machine shown in Fig. 1 comprises a rotatable doublewall tub 11, 14 the inner wall 11 of which is perforated, and a vertically-reciprocable agitator 12, liquid being extracted centrifugally from the clothes and discharged over the rim 15 of wall 14 when the tub is rotated. A flexible conical disc 51 at the lower end of the agitator 12 produces a toroidal movement of the clothes and liquid, and at least one smaller conical disc 52 fitted in a groove 53 at the normal liquid level 23 rises above and falls below the liquid during agitation to drive the scum to the outer rim of the tub. The driving mechanism 10 comprises an electric motor 16 which drives a part 17 connected through a sleeve 18 with the tub and a rotary, vertically-reciprocating transmission 19 which reciprocates the agitator shaft 20. The sequence of operations is controlled by an electric timer 21 which (a) energizes a combined solenoid'and pressure reducer 22 for a sufficient length of time to fill the tub to the level 23; (b) energizes the driving mechanism 10 to reciprocate the agitator for a sufficient length of time to wash the clothes; (c) energizes the driving mechanism to rotate the tub, 11, 14 with or without the agitator 12 to extract the liquid from the clothes; and (d) may again repeat the series of operations. Soap powder &c. may be added to the first washing liquid and a water-softener compound or other ingredient to the second liquid to reduce the scum formation. For this purpose, soap is introduced into the agitator chamber 30 by first removing the cover 34 and water-softening powder is placed in a container 35 carried by the cover 34 by removing a closure plate 36, after which the plate and cover are replaced. The plate 36 is slidable in grooves 37 at the bottom of the container and carries a weight 38 which, under centrifugal force, pulls the cover to the broken-line position in Fig. 2 when the tub structure with the agitator is rotated near the top speed. During reciprocation of the agitator, the soap powder is disseminated into the liquid in the tub by flow of liquid into and out of the agitator through a screen 32. On rotation of the parts, the major portion of the liquid is discharged over the rim 15 before the cover 36 opens centrifugally to allow the softening powder to fall into the lower part of the chamber 30, so that when liquid is again introduced into the tub, the softening powder is disseminated into this first rinse water during the next agitation period and prevents the formation of scum. In a modification, the closure plate 36 is pivotally mounted and is held closed by a spring carrying a weight which under centrifugal force releases the spring to allow the plate to fall about its pivot. A centrifugal counterbalance 50 prevents violent rocking of the tub during rotation.