Improvements in and relating to Machines for Washing Dishes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Washing Dishes.
I, ALFRED INSINGER, a citizen of the United States of America, of
Nos. 20 to 30 East Canal Street, in the City and County of Philadelphia and
State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates, generally, to dish washing machines, and particularly to
that class of machines which are used in hotels, restaurants and the like places
where dishes are to be washed hurriedly and in large quantities, and it has for
its object to provide a machine by which the dishes may be expeditiously and
thoroughly washed and rinsed in large quantities without liability of chipping or
breaking the same during the operation, and it consists in the parts and com-
binations of parts hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine as set up for operation;
Figure 2 a plan view of the machine proper, with the top removed from the
washing tank;
Figure 3 a longitudinal horizontal sectional view on the line x-x, Figure 1;
Figure 4 a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the washing tank on the
line
y-y, Figure 2;
Figure 5 a transverse vertical sectional view of the same on the line 2-2,
Figure 2;
Figure 6 a detail perspective view of the basket platform of the washing tank
and the means for operating the same;
Figure 7 a detail plan view of the valve for the drain pipe; and Figure 8 a
longitudinal sectional view of the same.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A represents the washing tank and B the rinsing tank of my improved machine,
said tanks being arranged adjacent each other and connected by a removable
board a, Figure 1, which serves to protect the pipes and gearing arranged or
located between the adjacent ends of the tanks from the drippings from the
basket A containing the dishes during the transfer of the same from one tank to
the other. C is an inclined drip-board secured in any desired manner to the end of
the rinsing tank on which the basket A rests or is supported after the dishes have
been rinsed to permit of the water draining therefrom back into the rinsing tank,
before removing the dishes therefrom. The basket is formed, preferably, of
galvanized iron wire arranged so as to leave interstices of such size as to permit of
the water entering freely on all sides and the bottom, but any other suitable
foraminous or reticulated material may be used to form the basket if desired.
Within the basket a series of transverse upright partitions bare secured between
which the soiled dishes are set on edge in the basket, thereby preventing said
dishes, during the agitation of the basket while cleansing the same, from being
displaced or violently thrown or shaken about in the basket and against one
another, thus reducing the liability of breaking and chipping the same during the
operation of the machine. The baskets A are each provided with a bail c by
which they may be raised and lowered in the tanks and transferred from one to the
other by means of a chain d having a hook e at one end and a handle fat the other,
said chain passing over a grooved pulley g suspended by a hanger h from a hook i
pivotally secured to a grooved wheel ; supported on a semi-circular rail k and fitted
to a semi-circular guide rail arranged above said rail k. The rail is secured to
the ceiling of the room so that one half thereof extends over the tanks of the
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C
machine, or to a frame specially built therefor, and rail k is supported therefrom by
hangers m. From the above description it will be understood that the baskets are
first carried to the washing tank A, from the left hand side, Figure 1, and
deposited therein, and, when cleansed, are lifted thereout by the chains d and
moved over to the rinsing tank B and there immersed, and from this tank they are
raised and moved onto the drip-board C and the surplus water drained therefrom
I back into the rinsing tank, and when sufficiently drained the baskets are again
It will be
moved on the rail to a table and the dishes removed therefrom.
observed, therefore, that a large quantity of dishes may be cleansed in a short
space of time, as, while one basket of dishes is being washed in the tank A another
basket may be immersed in the rinsing tank and a third basket be resting on the
drip-board, thus rendering the operation of cleansing the dishes, practically,
continuous.
The tanks A and B are formed of an inner lining and bottom of sheet metal n
and an outside covering of wood o and a grid or grated frame p is arranged therein
near each end of the respective tanks which extends from one side wall thereof to
a vertical partition 9 arranged near the opposite side wall, said partition 2, as best
shown in Figure 2; being let into the end walls of the tanks, and, as shown in
Figure 4, being supported by an extension which rests on the bottom of the
tanks. The ends of the grid p are let into or fitted in grooves formed in the
partition q and the side walls of the frame, see Figure 3, and rest at their lower
ends on an offset, as at s, Figure 4, formed on the edge of the curved partition or
housing D, and are held in place by turn buttons t, Figure 5, pivotally secured to
a partition E extending across the upper part of the tanks from one side wall to
the partition q.
The housing D extends partly across the tanks and from the
partition E to the end walls of the tanks and form the chamber within which
the propellers, to be hereinafter described, operate. As shown in Figure 4,
the curved partition rests at one side on the bottom of the tank, the other
side of which terminating some distance above the bottom and against the
partition q, as, at v¹, and said housing is cut away, as at v, on both sides to
permit ready access of the water to the propellers. It will thus be seen that the
water on which the propellers operate is confined within a limited space so that the
propellers may force or throw the same in but one direction-outward, and through
the grid frame p and that the water returning to the propellers to be again
operated upon has ample space through which to find its way to the chambers at
.
each end of the tank.
At each side of the washing tank a bracket F is mounted through a slot in its
vertical arm on a headed pin G, said bracket being formed with two horizontal
arms u projecting at right angles on which the ends of the grated platform H rests
when in operative position.
At
A lever I is pivoted at one end to the side walls of the tank A and at its center
to a pin J projecting from and secured to the front face of the bracket, as best
shown in Figure 6. At each side of their central pivotal points the levers I are
formed with curved projection K, which extend vertically from the upper and
lower edges of said levers and, bearing against the side walls of the tank, act as
guides to retain the levers in their proper positions during their movement.
their free ends the levers I are somewhat enlarged and rest on the enlarged free
ends of levers L which are pivoted, at M to one end wall of the tank the other
ends of said levers L passing each other and in position to be struck by an
eccentric N mounted on a shaft O, whereby said levers may be rocked on their
pivots and the levers I swung thereby vertically, thus raising and lowering the
brackets and imparting a rapid vertical movement to the platform H supported by
said brackets. On the platform H of the washing tank the basket A² containing
the soiled dishes is supported during the operation of the machine and is carried up
and down with said platform, the pins G on which the brackets F move insuring
the direct vertical movement of the platform on a horizontal plane or level, so that
there is no liability of the platform or the basket wabbling or turning to either

page_text: side. This movement of the basket up and down in the water contained in the
tank creates cross currents having a vertical tendency which, in connection with
the horizontal currents created by the propellers, materially facilitates the cleansing
of the dishes.
The propellers P are mounted on shafts O, Q, and R, the two latter being stub
shafts having their bearings at the ends of the tanks A and B near one side, in
water-tight journal boxes consisting of a cylindrical box al having an enlarged end
formed with screw threads to receive a cap b¹ through which the shafts pass, the
interior diameter of said boxes being greater than the diameter of the shafts
permit of any suitable packing being arranged therein about the shafts, as shown
in Figure 3. A flange c¹ is cast with or secured to the boxes through which screws
or bolts may be passed to secure the boxes to the metal walls of the tanks. The
shaft O is arranged between the adjacent ends of the tanks and its ends project
into said tanks, the eccentric N being suitably secured to that end of the shaft
which extends into the washing tank. The rinsing tank B is provided with housings
and partitions and platform, in all respects similar to that of tank A, but as its
platform is not agitated during the operation of the machine it rests on or is
secured to pins d' projecting from the bottom of said tank.
To one side of the tanks a horizontal shaft S is journaled in suitable bearings,
said shaft projecting at each end beyond the ends of the tanks and having the
cranks e¹ and formed on or secured thereto at one end. To the crank e¹ the end.
of a piston rod g¹ of an engine T is attached, and to crank the stem /' of the
valve rod of said engine is connected, the engine, for convenience sake, being
mounted on the end of the rinsing tank and receiving its steam through a pipe
from any suitable steam generating apparatus. A pulley j' is mounted on shaft S
and is connected by a crossed belt to a similar pulley mounted on the end of
shaft and imparts motion thereto in a direction opposite to that of the main
shaft S, and similar pulleys m', n' are mounted on the main shaft and the shaft R
of the tank A, which are also connected by a crossed belt o' so that said shaft R is.
revolved in a direction opposite to that of shaft S. At about the center of the
shaft Sa sprocket wheel pl is mounted, which is connected with a sprocket wheel gl
mounted on the shaft O by a sprocket chain thereby imparting motion to said
shaft O in the same direction as shaft S. A balance wheel T is mounted centrally
of the shaft. The result of this arrangement of the driving or operating mechanism
is that the propellers, in each tank, are rotated in. opposite directions, and, as said
propellers are arranged diagonally opposite each other in their respective tanks,
currents of water are created which are forced across the tank diagonally, that is
from the ends across the centers of the tanks toward the side walls as indicated
by the arrows, Figure 3, said currents, owing to the positions of the propellers
relative to each other, not conflicting or interfering with each other to any
appreciable degree.
It will be observed that the currents being forced through the grid frame are
scattered somewhat and that they enter the basket through the interstices thereof
with sufficient force and volume to disintegrate and dislodge any adhering particles
of matter from the dishes.
The tanks are supplied with water through the pipes U which are connected to
the main cold water pipes U¹ and hot water pipes U2 by a T-coupling U³ connecting
said hot and cold water pipes, both of which are provided with valves to regulate
the supply of water led to any desired sources of supply. In order to maintain the
water in the tanks at the degree of heat necessary to the proper cleansing of the
dishes, I run a pipe A' from the exhaust pipe B' of the engine under the rinsing
tank B to a pipe C' from which pipes D' and E' lead into the tanks A and B, near
their bottoms, and extend around three sides of the same, and, emerging therefrom
at the sides opposite which they entered the same, are connected to an escape
pipe F. The pipes C¹ and F¹ are both provided with suitable valves so that the
steam may be regulated and directed into. either or both tanks and the escape of
steam regulated as desired. In the bottoms of both tanks I form elongated
.
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i

page_text: openings G¹ through which the water may be discharged. To the bottoms of each
of the tanks I secure a valve chest H' over said discharge opening (see Figures 7
and 8), in any desired manner, to which is connected one end of the discharge
pipes I and I for the rinsing tank and washing tank, respectively, and within the
chest I seat a valve J' having an arm Ki formed on the end of an upright stud L'
which extends downwardly through an opening in the bottom of the chest which
is rendered water tight by a plug M' and has a lever N' connected to its lower end,
said lever extending outwardly and into a position to be moved by the foot of the
attendant to open or close the discharge openings. The discharge pipe I³ of the
washing tank is connected with the discharge pipe I of the rinsing tank, and
the latter pipe may empty into another pipe to convey the water to a sewer trap
or other place of discharge. A vertical overflow pipe P¹ provided with a hinged
cover R is arranged at one side of each tank and is connected with the discharge
pipes I and I by pipes S', as best shown in Figures 4 and 5.
A cover T is arranged over the chambers in which the propellers_work to
prevent the water from being thrown out of said chambers, and a cover T³ having
an opening formed centrally therein through which the baskets are passed, is
provided for each tank.
From the above description it will be understood that a circulation of water is
created within the tanks, passing around the sides thereof and entering the
chambers containing the propellers at the ends thereof through openings v, and
that the curved or twisted blades of the propellers lift the water and forcibly eject
the same in continuous streams through the grid frame. Also it will be noticed
that I utilize the exhaust steam from the engine to maintain the heat of the water
in the tanks to the desired or necessary degree for thoroughly cleansing the
dishes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a washing tank, supports
movably secured to the side walls of the tank, a platform resting on said supports,
and means for imparting a vertical movement to said supports, substantially as
described.
2. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a washing tank, supports
movably secured to the side walls of the tank, a platform resting on said supports,
levers pivotally connected to said supports and to the walls of the tanks, and means
for rocking said levers, substantially as described.
3. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a washing tank, supports
movably secured to the side walls of said tank, a platform resting on said supports,
levers pivotally secured to said supports and to the side walls of the tank, and levers
centrally pivoted to one end wall of the tank and bearing at one end against the
free ends of the first named levers, and means for rocking said last named levers on
their pivots, substantially as described.
4. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a washing tauk, slotted
supports movably secured to the side walls of said tank, a platform carried by said
supports, levers pivotally connected to said supports and to the walls of the tank,
levers centrally pivoted to one end wall of the tank and having one end connected
to said first named levers, and an eccentric for depressing the last named levers at
one end, substantially as described.
5. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a washing tank, movably
angled supports having a slot formed therein, a pin for supporting and guiding said
supports, a platform carried by said supports, levers having guiding projections
formed thereon pivotally attached to said supports and to the walls of the tank,
levers centrally pivoted to one end wall of the tank and having one end bearing
against the free ends of said first named levers, and an eccentric for depressing the
other ends of the last named levers simultaneously, substantially as described.

page_text: 6. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a washing tank, vertically
movable supports secured to the side walls of said tank, a platform carried by said
supports, means for operating said supports, and means for forcing currents of
water diagonally across said tank, substantially as described.
7. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a washing tank, supports
secured to the side walls of said tank, levers connected to said supports, means for
rocking said levers to impart a vertical movement to said supports, and means for
creating currents of water diagonally across said tanks, substantially as described.
8. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a tank having chambers at
each end, propellers arranged in said chambers with their centers diagonally
opposite each other, and means for imparting motion to said propellers in opposite
directions, substantially as described.
9. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a washing tank, propellers
having their centers diagonally opposite each other in said tank, a platform
arranged between said propellers, means for imparting simultaneous movement in
opposite directions to said propellers and means for imparting directions to said
propellers and means for imparting a vertical movement to said platform, substan-
tially as described.
Dated this 11th 1
T1 1600
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.