Patent GB-609531-A (GB)
Title: Washing machine
IPC: D06F21/02
Filed: 1946-03-12
Abstract: 609,531. Washing-machines. ELLIS, H. C. March 12, 1946, No. 7716. [Class 138(ii)] A washing-machine comprises an outer shell 16, a rotatable drum 17 disposed therein, and a supporting structure in the form of a pair of laterally -spaced U- shaped standards 21, 22 on which the shell and drum are movable from operative washing position to a discharge position, the outer shell being pivotally connected to the front arms 25 of the standards for swinging movement to and from operating position, and means being provided between the rear portion of the shell and the rear arms 26 of the standards for supporting the outer shell in operative position. General arrangement. - The outer shell 16 is provided at each end with a collar 42 which surrounds a shaft 28 extending between the front arms 25 of the two supports so that the shell may be swung about this shaft between its operative and discharge positions. In its operative position, pins 43 on the arms 26 engage hooks 44 on the shell. Each end of the shell is provided with a bearing 33, Fig. 6, which is disposed within a housing 34 en the end wall of the shell. The inner shell 17, Figs. 5 and 6, which is disposed concentrically within the outer shell 16, consists of a perforated outer wall 45 and end walls 46, the end walls being provided with trunnions 48 which are journalled in, and extend through, the bearing 33 of the outer shell. Lifters for tumbling the clothes in the drum 17 are provided in the form of longitudinal ribs 49 on the wall 45 of the shell. The cylindrical walls 30, 45 of the shells 16. 17 are both provided with rectangular openings 39, 50 normally closed by dnors 40, 51 which are slidable in guides en the said walls in order to expose the openings for use when the goods are to be loaded into. or discharged from, the machine. Driving mechanism for inner drum 17.- A gear 59, Fig. 6, carried in one of the trunnions 48 enables the drum 17 to be rotated through gearing 56, 58 from a reversible electric motor 53 which is mounted on the adjacent housing 34. The motor 53, Fig. 2, which is associated with a solenoid brake 54, is arranged to drive the shell 17 for a predetermined number of revolutions first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. Mechanism for swinging the outer shell. -For swinging the outer shell 16, together with the inner drum 17 and drive mechanism therefor, between the operative and discharge positions, a hydraulic system is provided comprising a pair of pistons and cylinders at each end of the machine. Each cylinder 64, Fig. 6, is pivoted at its lower end to a bracket 66 on the adjacent support, and the upper end of the piston rod 72 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 73 on the central portion of the end housing 34. Fluid, e.g. oil, is supplied from a gear pump 76, Fig. 10, mounted on the base portion 21c of the support 21 to either the upper or lower end of the cylinders 64 according to the desired direction of swing of the shell 16, the path of flow of the fluid being controlled by a valve 77 mounted on one of the arms 25. The valve casing 91 has four ports 95-98 which are connected by piping between the pump 76, cylinders 64 and oil reservoir 114 in the base of the support. A grooved member 92 is rotatable in the bore of the casing 91 under the action of a lever so as (a) to shut off the flow of fluid to the cylinders 64 or (b) to permit oil from the pump 76 to flow to either the upper or lower ends of the cylinders 64, the opposite ends of the cylinders then being connected direct to the reservoir 114. A switch (Fig. 11, not shown), provided in the circuit of the motor driving the gear pump, is adapted to be opened by a cam associated with the lever 100 when the flow of fluid to the cylinders 64 is shut off, and to be closed for driving the pump when the lever is swung to permit fluid to pass to the cylinders. Water supply means.-Cold and hot water, each under the control of a separate valve, are supplied by pipes 122, 124, Fig. 2, to the opposite sides of a T-fitting 117 mounted on a bar 29 extending between the forked arms 26 of the supports 21, 22. The central part of the shell 17 is fitted with a projecting pipe 118 having a downwardly inclined end which is adapted, when the shell is in normal position, to seat against a gasket provided in an annular groove in the inclined end of the outlet branch of the T-fitting 117. Operation of machine.-Goods to be washed are loaded into the inner shell 17 through the registered openings 39, 50 in this shell and the outer shell 16, the latter shell then being disposed so that the opening 39 is in its upper forward position. The inner shell 17 is oscillated by the motor 53 after the doors 40, 51 have been moved to close the openings. After washing, the motor 53 is stopped, a dump valve in the lower part of the shell 16 is opened to discharge the water from the shell, the doors 40, 51 are opened, and the valve 77 actuated so as to cause operation of the gear pump 76 and upward movement of the piston rods 72, whereby the shell 17 is swung upwardly about the shaft 28 so as to bring the openings 39, 50 into the lower position for the automatic discharge of the clothes.