Patent GB-608250-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in washing machines
IPC: D06F39/08
Filed: 1945-12-21
Abstract: 608,250. Washing-machines. KAHN, L. M. Dec. 21, 1945, No. 34809. Convention date, Dec. 23, 1944. [Class 138(ii)] [Also in Group II] A method of washing articles in a rotary drum consists in rotating the drum in order to wash the articles disposed therein in a washing fluid, draining the washing fluid, causing fluid-pressure jets to move the articles along the drum to thereby occupy a smaller space in the drum and effect a more uniform distribution of the articles about the axis of the drum, and rotating the drum at a higher speed for the extraction of moisture. The drum 30, Fig. 1, which is perforated and mounted within a tank 20, is carried at one end by a hollow driving shaft 29 mounted in a bearing 27 on one end of the tank. At the opposite end, the drum is provided with an opening 31 registering with an opening 20a in the tank which is closed by a hinged door 21. Longitudinal ribs are arranged inside the drum for tumbling the articles therein. The tank 20 is provided with a water-inlet valve 24, a soap reservoir 25, and drain valve 26. The, pressure jets, which may be air or water, for restricting the volume occupied by the articles are discharged into the drum through nozzles 33, 34 mounted on the door 21, and also through the hollow shaft 29 at the opposite end of the drum. The complete operation of the machine is effected automatically through the medium of a rotary timing-disc 39, Fig. 9, which is provided with a number of contact strips 50-55 adapted to be engaged by brushes so as to close, in proper sequence, electric circuits controlling the operation of the motor for driving the drum 30, the water valve 24, the discharge from the soap reservoir 25, the drain valve 26, the flow of fluid to the nozzles 33, 34 and hollow shaft 29, and the gear change device for altering the speed of rotation of the drum. If desired, the timing-disc may provide for a further supply of water for a rinsing operation after discharge of the wash water. The drum is caused to rotate at the higher speed just prior to the completion of the action of the pressure-fluid jets, and, at the end of the drying operation, it returns to the low speed for a period in order to tumble the articles. In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the perforated drum 65 has a narrow neck portion 66 which is supported rotatably in the similarly-reduced end portion 62 of the tank 60 and carries a hollow driving shaft 70. A plunger 71, which is mounted in the hollow shaft 70, carries at its inner end a disc 72 disposed within the neck 66 of the drum and at its other end a flanged collar 73 slidable on the shaft. The plunger 71 and disc 72 are prevented from moving to the right under the action of a spring by a lever 74 engaging a notch in the casing 78. The fluid discharged through the nozzles 33, 34 urges the articles to the narrow end of the drum where they are picked up by helical vanes 82 and concentrated therein. At this time, the speed of rotation of the drum is increased, and, as the drum reaches its maximum speed, the supply of fluid by the jets 33, 34 is cut off. After the drying operation, the drum again rotates at low speed, and a solenoid is energized so as to disengage the lever 74, whereby the plunger 71 is urged to the right by the spring and forces the articles into the body of the drum. In the machine shown in Figs. 11 and 14, the drum has a partition 115 which may be perforated and has a peripheral lining 115a of leather or heavy felt having recesses 117 engaging longitudinal ribs 114 on the inner face of the drum. In order to move the partition inwardly, fluid under pressure is projected from a nozzle 112 on to the central portion of the partition, and, if desired, fluid may also be supplied through the hollow shaft 38. The partition 115 is provided with doors 116 which permit access to the drum when the partition is at the outer end of the drum and the door 111 in the shell is open. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 describes the following features: (a) The oscillation, or both oscillation and rotation, of the drum, and (b) The movement of the articles for drying by a partition 97, Fig. 9 (Cancelled), by means of a plunger 99 which is connected at one end by a bearing 98 to the centre of the partition and forms at its other end the piston of an hydraulic cylinder 101 which is included in an hydraulic system controlled automatically by a timing device. The partition 97 moves along guides formed by channels provided by longitudinal ribs 95 on the inside of the drum, and rollers 102 on the partition facilitate the movement. The speed of the drum may be increased when the rinse water is discharged, and, at this time, the hydraulic device is actuated to move the partition 97 inwardly. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.