Patent GB-679618-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to laundry apparatus
IPC: D06F23/02
Filed: 1948-11-17
Abstract: 679,618. Centrifugal machines. STEVENS, A. H., (Easy Washing Machine Corporation). Nov. 17, 1948, No. 29914/48. Class 23 [Also in Groups VIII and XXXII] A laundering machine comprises a substantially imperforate drum 72 rotatable within a tub 44 and having end walls 78, 116 and a substantially cylindrical intermediate connecting wall 76, the intermediate wall having means for centrifugally moving liquid in the drum axially thereof to an annular region 146 thereof, and a substantially arcuate conduit 123 having ports at each end located at approximately the same radius from the centre, one connected with the annular region and the other discharging into the tub. In the example, two conduits 123 are provided in the end wall 116, Fig. 5, each conduit opening into the region 146 at one end 122 and being closed at the other end, but provided with an outlet 126 to the tub at that end. Thus when the drum is rotated anticlockwise as viewed in Fig. 5 the washing liquid is scooped up by the openings 122 in the conduits 123, but when the drum is rotated in the reverse direction, as for washing, the liquid remains in the drum. The region 146 referred to is located between the end plate 116 and a partition 112 and communication between it and the laundering compartment 144 is provided by a plurality of grooves 148 spaced around the circumference of the drum and increasing in depth towards the partition 112. The wall of the drum is slightly tapered and is annularly offset at 110 to receive a flange on the partition 112, the partition being notched around the edge to correspond with the grooves 148. A sump 162 is arranged at the bottom of the tub 44 and is constantly drained by means of a pump 32. An opening 138 in the' end plate 116 affords a positive drain for liquid within the region 146, as soon as the level of liquid approaches the opening 138. The drum 72 may be rotated by means of an electric motor acting through a two-speed transmission, a belt, and a pulley 74. A laundry receiving aperture 80 in the drum 72 is closed by a 'circular transparent doer 102 rotatably supported on a ball bearing 100. This bearing 100 is mounted on the exterior of a stud 96 carried by a transverse door support bar which is hinged to the front wall of the stationary tub 44 at one side 88 of an aperture 86 therein and latched thereto at the other side 90. The stud 96 has an inwardly extending soap dispensing passageway 98 therethrough, closed by a hinged door 106. The door 102 has a chamfered edge 104 which forms a sealing engagement with a resilient gasket 84 affixed to an outwardly flared flange 82 on the aperture 80. Limited vertical and lateral movement of the rotary drum 72 and tub 44 is permitted by resilient supporting means comprising four pairs of pivoted links 172, 174, the links 172 being pivoted to ears 164, 168, &c. at the corners. of the tub 44. The links 174 are pivoted to the upper ends of supporting legs 18, 20 and maintained horizontal by coil springs 190. The fore and aft links 174 are tied together by channel members 176 the stiffness of which enforces substantially like angular movement of the links. Vertical movement of the springs is damped by friction dampers (see Group XXXII).