Patent GB-625813-A (GB)
IPC: D06F17/12
Abstract: 625,813. Washing-machines. RASMUSSEN, C. O. March 1, 1946, No. 6467. [Class 138 (ii)] [Also in Groups II and XXIII] Relates to a machine for washing and drying clothes comprising an outer casing 1, a removable cover 3 carrying a suspended electric motor 5 for driving a fan 7, a container 25 which is disposed in the casing as shown in Fig. 1 during the washing operation and then has air circulated around and upwardly through it, and a drum 19 which replaces the container 25 for the drying operation as shown in Fig. 2 and is mounted for rotation by an air current from the fan 7 impinging upon blades 23 on the drum. According to the invention, a plate 10, which is attached to the lower side of the cover, has a central truncated-conical perforated portion 9 adapted to co-operate with a truncated-conical member 13 which is movable vertically so as to direct the air current from the fan either between the cover and the plate during the washing operation or through the perforated portion 9 to the drum during the drying operation. The construction of the parts is such that the drum 19, together with its supporting tripod 16, may be stowed inside the container 25 within the casing 1, with the tripod resting upon the bottom of the casing and its periphery disposed below the lower edge of the container. The hinged cover 3 has a domed portion 4 from which the motor 5 and fan 7 are suspended in bearings. The portion 9 surrounds the fan 7 and depends from the plate 10 which is secured to the cover 3 by a ring 11. The openings 12 in the portion 9 are adapted to be closed by the cone 13 which is raised and lowered through lever mechanism 75, 80, 83, 84 by handles 71 pivoted on the cover 3; these handles also operate means for fastening the cover in position. The lower end of the cone 9 is fitted with a perforated deflector 15. For the washing operation, the container 25, Fig. 1, is supported above the base of the casing 1 by three legs 26 having projections 27 for mounting a removable bottom member 28 which is perforated and grooved. An air-tight packing ring 36 is disposed between the top of the container .and the plate 10 or a flange 37 thereon. In this operation, the cone 13 is lowered by the handles 71 so as to close the openings 12 in the cone 9, and air is then circulated by the fan 7 through and around the container in the direction of the arrows 39. Finger pockets 35 are provided in the container to facilitate its removal and insertion. For the drying operation, the container 25 is replaced by the drum 19 and tripod 16, Fig. 2. The drum is carried on a ball bearing 21 at the top of a column 18 mounted in a rubber sleeve 17 in the tripod, and, since the cone 13 has then been raised, the fan 7 directs an air stream through the openings 12 on to the blades 23 at the top of the drum so as to rotate the latter (see Group II). At the end of this operation, the handles 71 are raised so as to lower the cone 13, cause brake pads 72 to engage the drum, and then release the fastenings for the cover. The casing 1 is supported on a ring 47, Fig. 4, carried by three legs 44, 45, 46, the leg 46 of which is tubular and provides a pivotal mounting for a bifurcated arm 48 carrying the cover 3. The arm 48 is urged towards the open position of the cover by a spring 55 mounted on a rod 54 which is disposed inside the leg 46 and pivotally connected to the arm 48 by a link 53. To retain the cover in closed position, a spring-urged rod 60 disposed in a tube 59 carried by the legs engages an opening 64 in a tube 63 at the lower end of the rod 54. The spring 55 opens the cover when the rod 60 is disengaged from the tube 63 by pressure applied to a pivoted pedal 56. Instead of the spring 55, a counterweight may be provided. The cover is pivoted at 69 between the two limbs 49 of the arm 48 so that, when it is opened, it swings on the bearings 69 under the weight of the parts carried from the dome 4 and any accumulation of water in the cover drains off into the casing. The machine may also be used for washing dishes (see Group XXIII).