Patent GB-608751-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in washing machines
IPC: D06F17/02
Filed: 1946-10-08
Abstract: 608,751. Washing-machines. GOLD, R. L. Oct. 8, 1946, No. 29983. [Class 138(ii)] [Also in Group XXIII] A machine for washing clothes, comprises a tank 11 having a movable cover 12, means 14 for heating the water in the tank, a pump 10 working in one direction only, a distribution valve having two axially-spaced sets of ports in its casing 15, and pipe connections between the pump, distribution valve casing and tank; the distribution valve is so constructed as to provide in the various positions of the valve the necessary connections between the ports in its casing to (a) fill and empty the tank, and (b) blow air through the water in the tank during the washing operation. The tank 11, Fig. 1, is provided with a perforated partition plate 13 near its base and a heater 14 which may be of the immersion type. The outlet and inlet of the pump 10 are connected respectively, through pipes 39, 40 with the casing of the distribution valve. The valve, which is disposed on a central spindle 21, Fig. 2, rotatable within the casing 15, comprises a main web 31, Fig. 4, extending from end to end of the casing so as to divide the latter into two unequal parts. An arcuate extension 32, which extends from one edge of this web in engagement with the interior of the casing 15, is provided with end webs and an L-shaped pocket 35 formed in its curved surface. On the side of the web 31 opposite the extension 32 is provided a circumferential portion 37 which is supported from the web 31 by brackets 38 and also engages the interior of the casing 15. Three angularly-spaced ports 24, 26, Fig. 6, are arranged in the casing for co-operation with the web 31 and arcuate extension 32, and a further set of three angularly-spaced ports 27, 29, Fig. 4, spaced axially in the casing in relation to the ports 24, 26 is adapted to co-operate with the portion 37. By rotation of the spindle 21, the valve may be set into any of four positions in which different sets of ports in the casing are placed in communication, a spring-pressed ball 23 being provided for holding the valve in each of these positions. In use for filling the tank, the valve is turned to its first angular position in which the pump 10 draws in water from a container 43 through pipes 41, 40, as shown in Fig. 6, and pumps it back to the valve casing and thence by the pipe 44 to the bottom of the tank. When sufficient water is in the tank, the articles to be washed and soap are placed in the tank, the heater 14 is switched on and the valve turned to its second position. The pump 10 then draws air from the upper part of the tank through the pipe 46 and thence through the pipes 40, 39, 44 to the base of the tank whereby the water and clothes are agitated; should any steam develop in the tank, it is led away through a pipe 45 connected with the top of the tank, the L- shaped pocket 35 in.the extension 32 of the valve, and the pipe 41. When, at the end of this operation, the valve is turned to its third position, the pump 10 extracts water from the tank through the pipes 44, 40, 39 and discharges it through the pipe 41 to a drain. At this stage, the above operations may be repeated as often as may be required to provide a rinsing treatment. For drying, the articles are draped on a rack 49, Fig. 1, in the upper part of the tank, the valve is turned to its fourth position and the heater is switched on. With the valve in this position, a cock 48 in a .pipe 47 communicating with the pipe 44 is opened so that the pump causes air to pass upwardly through the tank and to be discharged therefrom through the pipes 46, 40, 39. 41; any steam withdrawn is condensed by the cold water in which the end of the pipe 41 is submerged. In the modification shown in Fig. 18, the tank is not filled and emptied by the direct action of the pump 49, but by the action of the pump in providing a decrease and increase of air pressure in the tank. The valve casing 50, in this case, has one set of three ports 55-57 co-operating with a vane 76 fixed on the valve spindle 74, and a second set of five ports 59-63 which are spaced axially in relation to the ports 55-57 and co-operate with a second vane 78 on the spindle 74; the two sets of ports are shown separately in Fig. 18 for the sake of clearness. A partition on the spindle 74 separates the two sets of ports, and the ports 55, 59 are open to the atmosphere. With this arrangement, the valve is first set so that the pump extracts air from the upper part of the tank through the pipes 56, 58 and discharges it through the pipe 64 and port 59 to atmosphere, water then pases from the container 72 through.the pipes 70, 66 to the tank. The second position of the valve causes air to be blown through the water from the pipe 66 and to be extracted from the upper part of the tank through the pipes 56, 58. Any steam generated in the tank is led away through the pipes 68, 70 to a drain. The tank is emptied by turning the valve to its third' position in which air from the atmosphere through the port 55 is pumped into the upper part of the tank through the pipe 68 so as to discharge the water through the pipes 66, 70. In the fourth positior. of the valve, air is pumped upwardly from the pipe 66 through the tank for drying the articles and is discharged from the tank through the pipes 68, 70. The end of the pipe 70 which is submerged in water in the container 72 has a conical neck 81 terminating in an enlarged hollow head 8 having a flat perforated discharge plate. The machine may also be applied to the washing of dishes (see Group XXIII). Specification 585,817 is referred to.