Dish Washers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
Dish Washers.
We, ALFRED BEERS, of 142 W. 5th Avenue, Denver, Arapahoe County State of
Colorado, Mining Broker and JOHN MARSHALL MCCLELLAND, of corner Harrison
Avenue and 4th Street, Leadville, Lake County, State of Colorado, Express
Messenger, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in dish washers and consists of the
features hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood
by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment
thereof.
In this drawing
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device, the inner pan being raised and supported
in position to allow the dishes to drain after they are washed.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the complete apparatus, the two pans
being shown in position for use.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, the screen and the device for separating the
plates being removed.
Fig. 4 shows the removable sereen in detail.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view in detail of the device for separating the plates, one
of which is shown in place.
Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts in these views, let the
In the center
numeral 5 designate the outer pan, which may be of any desired size.
of the pan is a conical projection 5 forming a pivot which engages a narrow
depression or socket formed in the bottom of the pan 6 which fits within the outer
pan as closely as is consistent with perfect freedom of rotation of one pan within
the other.
The bottom of the inner pan is composed entirely of sector-shaped inclined blades,
formed by cutting radial slits in a circular piece of sheet metal, and bending the
blades to the desired inclination. The inner extremities of the blades are left fast
to the central portion 6 of the bottom. The outer extremities of the blades
are fastened by soldering or otherwise suitably fastening them to the outer wall of
the pan which is provided with notches 6. The lines A bounding these notches
on one side (see Fig. 1), indicate the inclination of the blades, while the lines B
bounding the notches on the other side indicate the depth of the spaces between the
blades.
The wall of the inner pan is provided with openings C located near the top
thereof. The inner pan is also provided with two handles 7 attached thereto and
projecting above its upper edge. The handles are located at diametrically opposite
points. The outer pan is provided with a wire 8 attached to the inner surface of
This wire
its wall near its upper edge and extending entirely around the same.
acts as a guide to the inner pan and also prevents any tendency on the part of the
water to pass upward over the edge of the outer pan. The wire also forms a
circular groove on the inner surface of the pan, the holder for securing the wire
being applied to the upper surface thereof only. This groove is well adapted to
stay the progress of the water as it moves upward. The openings of the inner
pan are so located as to allow the water, whose upward progress is checked by the
wire, to pass thence into the inner pan. This wire also forms a support for the inner
pan when raised and tilted, as shown in Fig. 1.

page_text: When washing small articles like cups, knives, forks, spoons, etc., which might project
through the openings between the blades 6ª and interfere, to some extent, with the
working of the device, I employ a flat, coarse screen 12 placed in the bottom of the
inner pan and lying on the blade 6". When washing larger articles, this screen is
⚫ not needed and may be removed since it. is detachable at will.
When washing plates, I use a separating device 13, adapted to hold the plates
apart when placed one above the other, to allow the water to circulate freely between
them. This device is preferably formed from a narrow integral strip of sheet
metal, bent to form a series of horizontal or approximately horizontal separating
folds 13ª, whose inner extremities 13 project underneath the plates beyond the
circular rims formed on their lower surfaces. The extremities 13° are bent upward
slightly to engage the said rims of the plates and whereby the latter are held in the
proper position during the washing operation. The folding parts of this device are
pressed quite closely together at their inner extremities, while their opposite
extremities are rounded and more separated, thus giving a certain degree of
elasticity or spring to the folds whereby the device is so constructed as to adapt
itself to fit the plates when they are piled together one upon another. This peculiar
construction of the device permits of some lateral movement on the part of the folds
which facilitates the work of cleansing the dishes without danger of breakage as
might be the case if the device were perfectly rigid. This device occupies a position
adjacent the vertical wall of the inner pan (see Fig. 2), the plates being placed
between the folds, in which position they are maintained during the operation of
washing, since they can not move far enough in any direction to slip out of place.
This device allows the plates to move one upon the other, which movement assists in
the washing process. Without a device of this character it is difficult to wash
heavy plates, since they lie so close together that the water can not well reach their
engaging surfaces. This device I have found very effective, indeed, all that could be
desired in over-coming the difficulty mentioned.
In using the device, the proper quantity of water is first placed in the outer pan,
the dishes to be washed are placed in the inner pan, which is then set into the outer
pan. The user then grasps the handles 7 and gives the inner pan a series of partial
rotary movements in reverse directions. As the pan is turned in one direction, the
water is sucked or drawn downward and forced outward between the two pans, while
as the pan is moved in the opposite direction, the water is given a counter or opposite
movement. Hence, the water is rapidly forced between the dishes in opposite
directions, whereby they are quickly and thoroughly cleansed.
After the
It is evident that the sector-shaped inclined blades of the inner pan are an
important feature in carrying out the function of the device. These blades produce
the agitation of the water, or its alternate movement in opposite directions between
the dishes, but as they are located at the bottom of the device and with a considerable
body of water above them, the tendency of the water to slop over, as a result of
the agitation, is entirely overcome. Hence, the device needs no cover.
dishes have been washed, the inner pan is raised and tilted to the position shown in
Fig. 1 of the drawing. This allows the dishes to drain and gives an opportunity
for rinsing or scalding them, if desired, previous to wiping. It will thus be observed
that in using this construction, it is under no circumstances, necessary for the user
to put his hands in the water. Hence, boiling hot water may be used, as well as
any washing compound or composition. I have found the compound known as "gold
dust" very effective for using with this device. These washing compounds, while
very useful in washing dishes, are not generally used for the reason that they are
very injurious to the hands. This difficulty, however, is entirely eliminated by using
'my device.
When the inner pan is raised and tilted to the position shown in Fig. 1, it is
locked in said position by its engagement with the wire 8 of the outer pan. If it
were not for this wire, the inner pan would have to be tilted to such an inclination
to be supported on the outer pan that its lower portion would dip into the water.
Moreover, it is not desirable to tilt the inner pan any more than is absolutely

page_text: necessary, since if it is quite full of dishes, they would be liable to slip out. Hence,
the wire 8 performs an important function in supporting the inner pan in the tilted
position.
I further desire to call attention to the fact that the same operation which
washes the dishes also cleanses the washer itself. After the dishes are washed and
wiped, it is only necessary to drop the inner pan to the operative position within the
outer pan, and give it a few partial rotations in opposite directions, when both pans
will be cleansed. The inner pan is then lifted out and wiped, after which the water is
poured from the outer pan and the latter wiped. Both pans are thus left perfectly
clean. The special use of the screen 12 and the plate separating device 13 has already
been explained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performel, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a dish-washer, the combination with the outer pan, of an inner pan
rotatably supported in the outer pan and having an integral bottom consisting of
sector-shaped inclined blades, formed by cutting radial slits in a circular piece of
sheet metal and bending the blades to a suitable inclination, their inner extremities
being left fast to the central portion of the bottom, and their outer extremities being
secured to the vertical wall of the pan, substantially as described.
2. In a dish washer, the combination with the outer pan having a central pivot
in its bottom and a wire attached to its inner wall near the top thereof,
and the inner pan having an integral bottom, comprising a central portion 6º,
the bottom of the pan around this central portion being formed into sector-
shaped blades, whose inner extremities are fast to said central portion, said
blades being bent to a suitable inclination, their outer extremities being secured to
the vertical wall of the pan, the central portion of the inner pan's bottom having a
socket which the pivot of the outer pan engages, substantially as described.
3. In a dish-washer, the combination with an outer pan, of an inner pan
rotatably mounted and having an integral bottom composed of a central portion and
radial inclined blades, whose outer extremities are secured to the vertical wall of
the pan, and a device adapted to hold the plates apart while washing, substantially
as described.
4. In a dish washer, the combination with an outer pan, of an inner pan
rotatably mounted and having an integral bottom, comprising a central portion and
radial inclined blades whose outer extremities are secured to the vertical wall of the
pan, and a detachable screen engaging the bottom of the inner pan, as and for the
purpose set forth.
5. The plate separating device herein described comprising a series of horizontal or
approximately horizontal connected folds, one located above another and adapted
to separate a number of plates placed one above and upon another, substantially as
described.
6. The combination with a dish washer, of a device for separating plates, said
device being formed from a strip of sheet metal and comprising a series of horizontal
or approximately horizontal connected spring folds located one above another and
having their inner extremities pressed quite closely together and turned slightly
upward to engage the rims on the bottom of the plates, the said device being
adapted to separate a number of plates placed one above and upon another, substantially
as described.
Dated thin onth N-1004