Patent GB-1244467-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic laundry machines
IPC: D06F35/00
Filed: 1970-04-17
Abstract: 1,244,467. Washing machines. BEGES A.G. 17 April, 1970 [18 April, 1969; 28 Aug., 1969], No. 18528/70. Heading D1A. [Also in Division F4] In an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine controlled by a programme selector laundry is suspended in a chamber 101 from support rods 130, which are arranged on a carriage which may be drawn out of the machine, is washed and rinsed by intermittently pumped liquid sprays at the top and bottom of the chamber 101 and is dried by air which is passed downwardly through the chamber 101. Laundry is movable to facilitate treatment by parallel rods 132' and 133' movable laterally by reciprocating members 132, 133. The support rods 130 are pivotable to a vertical position (Figs. 7, 13 not shown), may be provided in two rows so that delicate fabrics on the lower row 202" are protected from direct sprays by the upper row 202' (Fig. 14) and may be provided with perforated spacers (Figs. 5 and 6, not shown) to permit the hanging of separated articles (32, 33) on each support rod (2). A pump 109 draws liquid heated by an element 112 from a reservoir 115/122 and supplies it through tubes 147 and 140 to spray bars 141, 142 with flattened spray holes to emerge as fanshaped sprays. As shown in Fig. 11 the spray bars oscillate about a horizontal axis through the centre of the tube 140. Alternatively (Fig. 14) a horizontal spray bar 204 which rotates about a central vertical axis may be provided at the bottom of the chamber and horizontal spray bars 205 which oscillate about their axes may be provided at the top. Oscillatable spray bars may also be provided at the bottom. Drying air is directed by a tangential flow fan 208 or 125 past an oscillating baffle plate 215 or fixed baffles 127 and past the laundry and is drawn through a shaft 118, (Fig. 11), which is cooled by water from a spray 119 running down a fabric or mesh element 120 to condense moisture, before being heated by an. element 124. A channel 121 prevents liquid from the side of the chamber 101 falling into the air flow. In Fig. 14 suck-back into the water supply 228 is prevented by the provision of a chamber 227 before the cooling spray 225 with an overflow 230 of greater capacity than the spray 225. Foam loss through a vent 238 in the machine door is prevented by a labyrinth passage 237 (Fig. 16) or a block of cellular material (247) (Fig. 15, not shown) within the door, a valve 245 permitting liquid condensed or collected in the door to return to the chamber 101. Controls. Two water heating elements (207') and (207") (Fig. 21, not shown) are provided, one of which has substantially the same power loading as, and is operated alternately with, the motor for the pump 109, the heater being arranged to be in circuit for longer periods than the motor. In addition the pump circuit (Fig. 19, not shown), includes two pressure sensitive switches in parallel which stop the pump when the fluid level in the reservoir drops too low or when the fluid includes too much foam. To prevent laundry from becoming damp again after drying due to moisture left in the chamber 101 after completion of the normal programme the blower and air heater are periodically energised to circulate hot air by a timing device or a humidity sensitive switch the circuit being opened when a second humidity value of a particular temperature is reached. Alternatively the door or a ventilator may be opened at completion of the programme.