Patent GB-725991-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to washing machines
IPC: D06F23/06
Filed: 1953-04-02
Abstract: 725,991. Washing and drying machines. SOC. ANON. DES USINES J. GALLAY. April 2, 1953 [April 4, 1952], No. 9150/53. Class 138 (2). A rotary drum washing machine has two stationary ducts 15, 16 passing through the central part of the bottom of the drum 2 and opening inside the latter at a distance from its axis of rotation, the axis of the opening of each duct being tangential to the circular motion of the water in its vicinity, and the openings 20, 21 being turned in opposite directions in relation to the motion of the drum and water, one of the ducts 16 forming part of a working circuit, and the other 15 being connected to a circuit for evacuating the drum, and means are provided to rotate the drum at will in one direction for washing and in the opposite direction for evacuating the drum, each of the circuits carrying a flow of water from the drum for one direction of rotation thereof, under the influence of the dynamic pressure established in the opening which, for that direction of rotation, is turned in the direction opposed to that of the movement of the water. The ducts 15, 16 are arranged coaxially and provided with radial extensions 17, 18 respectively, located below a perforated false bottom 13. The open end of the drum is closed by a disc 9 which is connected by a ball race 10 and compression spring 12 to a lid 7 pivoted at 8. During washing, the drum 2 is rotated in the direction causing water to be forced through the opening 21, ducts 18, 16 and then through a circuit comprising a tube 33, a chamber 31 containing a heating element 32, a tube 30, a chamber 27 containing an adjustable thermostat 28 controlling the element 32, a tube 26, and back to the drum 2 through the ducts 15, 17 and opening 20. The water also enters a tube 23 through a connection 22 but the dynamic pressure at 21 is not sufficient to force the water to rise to the level of the outlet 24 of the tube 23. For extracting the water from the drum and clothes therein, the drum 2 is rotated in the opposite direction at an increased speed sufficient to force the water through the opening 20, ducts 17, 15, connection 22, tube 23 and opening 24 to drain. The machine is filled through the tube 23 by means of hot and cold water taps 34, 35 connected to a nozzle 37. Instead of driving the drum at an increased speed for drying, the driving motor (not shown) may be run at the same speed in both directions but in this case the opening 21 is preferably located nearer the axis of rotation of the drum 2 than the opening 20 to ensure that water is not discharged through the tube 23 during washing. The drum 2 may also be rotated at the same speed in both directions if it be ensured that the hydraulic resistance of the circulation circuit upstream from the connection 22 be made such that the water does not rise in the tube 23 to the level of the opening 24 during washing. In a modification (Fig. 3, not shown) the circulation and evacuation circuits are separate, instead of being connected at 22. The water is returned to the drum through a pipe which discharges into the top of the drum. Fig. 4 (not shown) illustrates a further modification, similar to the arrangement of Fig. 1, but in which the water is returned to the drum through a separate pipe arranged concentrically with the ducts 15, 16. In place of the element 32 a gas heating device may be used to heat the lower end of the drum 2.