US2637189A - Laundry machine - Google Patents

Description

P. w. DOUGLAS LAUNDRY MACHINE May 5, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 20, 1947 l 4 I wldm JNVENTUR PEYTU'N W DuuGLAB ATTORNEY y 5, 1953 P. w. DOUGLAS 2,637,189

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet a INVENTUR Psy'rnnw. DOUGLAS H4 BY ATTDRNEY P. W. DOUGLAS LAUNDRY MACHINE May 5, 1953 5 Sheets-Shget 4 Filed Sept. 20, 1947 'INVENTDR PEYTIJNW DOUGLAS ATTORNEY P. W. DOUGLAS LAUNDRY MACHINE I82 I98 I90 200 I as May 5, 1953 Filed Sept. 20, 1947 IIIIIIIII Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE- LAUNDRY MACHINE Peyton W. Douglas, Syracuse, N. Y1, assignor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 20, 1947, Serial No. 775,237

(Club's- 24) 20 Claims. 1

This invention relates to laundry apparatus and more particularly to apparatus wherein washing, rinsing and damp drying maybe accomplished in a common container without intermediate handling of the laundry.

In laundry apparatus of the classification indicated, there is generally provided a rotatable perforate drum enclosed within a stationary washing fluid container or tub. The dimculty of removing Washing liquid from a rotating imperforate drum has inlgeneral dictated the use of. such a combination, wherein washing fluid passes, through the-perforations of the drum into the stationary tub whence it may be drained throughan ordinar drain. valve. In such machines, the quantity' of washing fluid required is increased by the difference between the volume of the perforate drum and the volume of the sur-- rounding stationary tub. The difference in volume is considerable because of the required clearances between the laundry drum andthe tub, especially where centrifuging is resorted to to provide against what is known as suds-lock and resultant resistance to high speed spinning and to provide adequateclearance due to relative vibration between drum and tub during high speed spinning. In such arrangements,.there is inherent danger of flooding resulting from failure of the drain valveto operate. Such failure re,-

sults from the accumulationv of lint and other deposits, building up in the course of time and tending to cause moving parts to stick.

Where perforate drums are employed for Washing and centrifuging, the perforation size must be a compromise, since if too small, ingress and egress of wash Water is interfered with and a reduction in turbulence and washing eificiency results, and if too large, the clothes under centrifugal force become dimpled in the perforatiOI S, with consequent fibre stretching, and

of the exposed outer tub responsible for such deposits, but an important factor appears to-lie in the partial isolation of the layer of wash water between the tub and cylinder andconsequent reduced agitation, resulting from the screening effect of the perforate wash cylinder. Finally, the i ble deposits, by cleaning'without dismantling the apparatus. Where agitation is thus reduced, sud'sing" action is correspondingly reduced, requiring more soap, with consequent increasein the soap stearates, etc., present and available to form the deleterious deposits,

The present invention overcomes or minimizes the difiiculties described through the use of a rotary drum having an 'im'perfo'rate. substantially cylindrical shell in which provision is made for removing washing liquid therefrom without the use of-any valves or mechanical means whatsoever;

The invention further provides an arrangement'whereby the draining of a rotary washing drum is accomplished solely by selection of the direction of rotation of such drum. Additionally, such control is effected without moving parts upon, thedrum, without any expensive construction, and without incurring any of the difiiculties heretofore mentioned.

.The, .invention additionally permits the surrounding, stationary tub to .be left open to drain continuously, so, that flooding, sticking drain valves, etc., ,are eliminated. The-construction is thus .such, thata layer of dead air space is in effect providedtofinsulate thehwashing cylinder against loss of heat.

Other fea turesor objectsof the invention are to provide a washing .ai'Jparatus .of. the type described-inwhich the -washing fluid is confined to. the rotary washing drum, therebycaffording operation withaminimum of washing fluid and a maximum of agitation, with high washing efficiency; Because of the confinement of the fiuid to the drum alone, the washing load may be reduced with a corresponding-reduction in the amount of :washing fluid required and a resultant saving. in handling partial loads. Also, the agitation is such ,that sudsingtaction is enhanced, minimizing and saving, in soap requirements; a

,A' further :object of, the invention is to provide -alaundering apparatus [of the type described,

. floon-iresultingfrom unbalanced loads during spin drying. Further, the invention has to do with providing a resilient support so constructed and arranged as to minimize resonant phenomena, and which may be provided with suitable damping means to absorb and dissipate a fraction of the energy resulting from the motion created by such unbalanced forces.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a laundry machine with a portion of the forward cabinet wall broken away;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the drum portion of the washing machine, its surrounding tub and cabinet, taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inside drum construction;

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a composite fragmentary figure illustrating in perspective the annular passageway construction;

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1, showing the resilient frictional support mechanism; and

Figure 8 is a section taken substantially on the -line 88 of Figure '7.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a base frame composed of longitudinal forward and rear channel members I t and I2 connected by side members I4 and I6, and provided with corner posts I8 and 20 with adjustable feet 22. By a resilient frictional suspension, to be described more in detail hereinafter, there is supported by the frame, a tub construction 24, the same being preferably housed within a cabinet 26, which may be secured to the frame members I4 and I6 by suitable fastening means such as screws at 28. Suitable timing and control devices 21 and 29 may be provided to regulate the quantity of Water and to initiate automatic operation of the apparatus. Secured to the bottom side of the tub construction is a reversible electric motor 30, a drain pump 32 operative for either direction of rotation, and a two-speed transmission 34, the 'units being connected by a common belt drive 36 wrapped upon motor pulley 33, pump pulley 40, and transmission pulley 42.

As shown in Figure 2, the tub construction comprises a relatively stationary cylindrical drum 44 having an integral front end 46 and dished spaced rear bearing support plates 48 and 58 joined together by suitable flanges 52 and 54, which may be spot welded or riveted or otherwise secured as may be desired. The bearing support plates, as an assembly, are secured to the rear edge of the cylinder 44 by suitable outward extending flanges 56 and 58 on the cylinder 44 and the plate 50, respectively, a pair of V semi-circular clamping strips 60 and 52 being rovided for this purpose. The plates 48 and 50 support a tubular bearing-receiving sleeve 64 containing spaced bearings 66 and 68, that in turn journal a trunnion 10, carrying at its forward end a washing cylinder I2, and at its rearward end a drive pulley 14. The drive pulley I4 is provided with a belt 15, extending to the transmission 34.

The washing cylinder I2 is formed from an open-ended drum-like member having a slightly tapered circular wall 16 and an integral front wall '18. The front wall is provided with a laundry-receiving aperture bounded by an acute angle outwardly flared flange 32, to which is afiixed an annular U-section gasket 84 of rubber-like yielding material. The gasket also is provided with an integral slinger ring 8!, which may, if desired, lightly touch the inside of wall 46.

The front wall 46 of the stationary drum is provided with an aperture 86 corresponding with the aperture 80 of the revolving drum, on opposite sides of which are a hinge member and latch plate 88 and 90, respectively. Pivotally carried by the hinge member 88 is a transverse door support bar 92 adapted to carry a latch 94 for cooperation with the latch plate Q0 when manually latched in the position shown in Figure 1. The bar 92 at its center point is enlarged in width and provided with an inwardly extending stud 9B of ample diameter to permit of an inclined soap dispensing passage 98 therethrough. The stud is also provided on its exterior with a ball bearing I00 upon which is rotatably supported a circular transparent disk or door member I02, having a chamfered edge I04 suitably shaped to form a sealing engagement with the resilient gasket 84. The soap dispensing channel 38 is provided with a hinged door I06, hinged at its lower end as at I08, so as to normally maintain the soap dispensing passage closed except when utilized for the purpose indicated.

Th slightly tapered circular wall 13 of the laundry-receiving drum is annularly offset at I I!) to receive a flanged partition I I2 located a, short distance inwardly from the end of the drum. The marginal edge of the drum is again offset or bell-mounted at IM to receive the flanged edge IE5 of an end plate H6. The end plate I It has stamped therein two arcuate channels llll, the channels being diametrically disposed and adjacent the edge of the end plate I I 5. Each channel is closed at one end as at I22 the closure wall being formed or drawn from the metal of the end plate. The opposite end of the channel is slit as at I22 from the plate to provide a suitable opening into the channel from the forward side of the plate. An annular ring I24 may be employed to provide a wall for the channels in order to form closed conduits I23 therefrom, the annular wall I24 being provided with two apertures I2 5 so disposed as to provide a port at the end of each of the conduits opposite from the openings I22 previously described.

As shown in Figure 5, and also Figure 2, the radial and longitudinal dimensions of the conduits preferably increase toward the open end I22, so that liquid within the space between partition H2 and the end plate IIB will be scooped upon rotation of the drum in the spin direction, without substantial interference of the smaller cross section of the adjacent end of the other channel.

The partition H2 and the end plate IIG are provided with a hub block $28 to which the trunnion I0 is secured as by a set screw I3 The block is provided with a circular end flange I32 adapted to form a shoulder to be received in a corresponding aperture in the partition I I2. Integral vanes I34 extend beyond the flange I32 and are provided with bolt-receiving apertures so that the partition H2 and end wall IIS may be clamped to the vanes as by bolts I35. The end wall I It, having an aperture I38 too small in diameter to receive the vanes, is notched as at I452 so that the vanes may be passed through the plate to the space between the partition and plate and thereafter rotated 45 for suitable positioning to receive the bolts !3E., The construction thus described ailords a positive drain for liquid within the space between the partition and end wall, as soon as such level approaches the opening I38. r

To provide communication between dering compartment IM and the space I48 between the partition H2 and endcwall plurality of elemental grooves I48 are formed preferably uniformly spaced around the circumference of the drum it, the grooves increasing in depth toward the partition M2, the radial depth closely approaching the radial offset IIil and. so that the grooves may blend and drain, centrifugally, into the chest. (See Figure e.) The partition H2 is suitably notched as at I42 to correspond with the grooves E lis and thereby permit fluid to how from the compartment HM to the compartment lit. Battles Hi3,- for-example, three or such number as may be desired, be spacedly arranged withinthe drum It to provide a degree of-agitationto improve the washing action as a result. The shape and form of the may be varied to suit conditioner Water is fed to the drum It through the hollow trunnion. it by means of a non-rotating pipe its having a. rosette spray I52 immediately inside the flange I32. Any suitable packing can be provided. between the trunnion and pipe to prevent leakage, if desired, as at I532. The pipe 556 may be coupled to hot and cold water supply lines we and IE6 provided with valves I58 and Ifiil magnetically and thermostatically or otherwise controlled to cause water of proper temperature to enter the drum It in a desired amount. A sump N22 for the drum id is arranged at the bottom of the drum "It, the same being ecu pled to the pump 32, which, in the arrangement shown, is continuously driven to assure drainage of any liquid entering into the drum M, from whatever source. The tub assembly 24, because subjected to vibratory forces resulting from the rotation of U1).- balanced loads within the drum-IE, is suspended ina manner to permit a degree of constrained and damped movement. Such suspension forms the subject matter of a divisional application Serial No. 175,828, filed Juiy'25, 1950. For this purpose, the drum portion tit is provided with ears Itt, its, Itt, and Ill: at opposite corners which are suspended from short links I72, which in turn hang from substantially horizontally extending links ti t, the latter being pivoted at one end to the upper ends of the legs It. The fore and aft links E'E l at either side of the apparatus are tied together by channel members lit, the stiffness of which is so chosen as to enforce sub: stantially like angular movement of both the fore and aft links on either side of the machine. In addition, the channel members I'It are provided, intermediate the links I'I i, with arms I18 extending a short distance inwardly, at which point they are pivoted to yokes Ills having integral compression spring receiving cup-like members I82. The transverse members It and It are flanged as at lil iand I85 to provide a spring base. beneath the springcups I82, the flanges the laun:

I84 and I85 being stiffened by angular members I88 and I89 extending between the longitudinal frame members I0 and [2.

In order to locate the coil springs I90 held in compression between the flanges I84 and I86 and cups I82 upon the bases so formed, flanged cups I92 secured to the bases I84 and I86 are provided. Each of the cups has a radial section I94 struck therefromand extendingaxially of the spring to form an arm, the arms so formed having friction lining I95 molded thereabout. Each of the yokes I88 has aflixed to the under side thereof and within their respective coil springs Hill, a re1a tively stiff spring clip I98 having friction arms ills] adapted to frictionally engage the friction-lining iiltjwith sufiicient pressure to provi de any desired damping effect to vertical movement resulting from force transmitted to the springs 1st. The ears I64 may be integral extensions of a saddle --meniber generally indicated as at 2t2 secured to the bottom of the drum. The drain sump I52 may be integrally formed from such saddlemember; the drum M being" provided with an opening 264 in alignment with the sump I52. 1

In operation, the transparent door I $12 is swung open,-ancl a suitable load of laundry inserted into the drum iii. The door is then closed, and a proper amount of water of the proper temperature is delivered to the drum from the spray rosette I52. A proper quantity of washing agent I or other substance such aswater softener and the like, is delivered to the drum through the soap dispensing channel 98. Rotation-of the drum in a clockwise direction as viewed from the front, may be commenced prior to, during, or after completion of the filling operation. Ehe washing operation may be permitted to continue for a suitable period of time, and it is to be noted that the Wash water, although filling the compartment Hit as well as the washing com-v partment I44, cannot escape from the drum by reason of the direction of rotation and the arrangement of the arcuate conduits I23. It will be appreciated that, because of the relatively small volumetric dimensions of the compartment Hit, a part of which volume is displaced by the conduits I23, Washing is carried on with a minimum amount of water and soap as compared with machines in which the drum is perforate and rotates in a wash-water-containing outer stationary drum. Upon completion of the washing operation, the rotation of the drum may be reversed under which circumstances the conduits I23 are effective to drain the Wash water from the drum It into the outer casing id whence it is drained by the continuously operating pump or by gravity, as the case may be.

After draining off the wash water, rinse water may during such reverse operation be sprayed into the drum for a spray rinse, or the drum may be rotated clockwise and the drum partially filled with rinse water to thereby provide an agitated or deep water rinse. In the latter case, after a suitable rinsing period, the soapy rinse water may be again drained from the drum It by reversingthe rotation to counterclockwise. Any-number of rinse cycles as described may be performed to complete the rinsing operation, or a combination of agitated and spray rinsing may be resorted to; utilizing the proper rotation direction accordingly.

During the last cycle of rinse operation, when the 1drum, is lfQl'rfi tfid ip. @j C0llIlIJelf1QOkWi$e dimotion; to; drain-lithe h t thereireiel the drum rotation may be increased as the draining oif of the rinse water is completed, the two-speed transmission being provided for this purpose. At such time, the laundry within the tub tends to arrange itself in as nearly a balanced condition as is possible, while the speed of the drum increases to that sufficient to extract the water therefrom by centrifugal force. The water so extracted passes out of the drum 16 along the grooves Hi8, into the compartment I46, from whence it is eliminated by the bailing action of the conduits I23, rotation being in a proper direction (counterclockwise) for drainage. After a sufficient period of time has elapsed for extraction of a substantial portion of the water to produce laundry damp-dried, the spinning is discontinued and thereafter the damp-dried laundry may be removed from the machine.

It will be observed that during the spinning operation, the clothes may not arrange themselves within the drum in perfect balance, so that upon rotation of the drum at a high speed in the neighborhood of 600 R. P. M., considerable vibration of the drum may result. The drum '16 will transmit the vibratory forces to the outer drum 4d, both through the rear bearings 68 and (56, as well as the front bearing formed by the door Hi2 rotating on its journal me. Through the suspension shown and described, it will be observed that the stationary drum l l being suspended upon links [l2 may move sideways, and being resiliently supported by the coil springs 193, through the supporting links 174 arranged in substantially horizontal position, the drum may move vertically. The rocking action of the drum from side to side produces up and down movement, assuming that the links I'M be held rigid, because of the pendulum or arcuate movement of the short links I72. The up and down forces so created by the transverse movement of the drum F8 are thereby in turn transmitted in the form of vertical movements to the free end of the links H4 which through the channel members Ilia and lever arms I13 rock and transmit such motion to the coil springs I98. At the same time, the vertical movement of the coil springs is damped by the friction existing between the wear-resisting friction lining i955 and the friction arms I98. It will be seen that the length of the links H2 determines to a large extent the amount of movement which will be permitted as result of such unbalanced load within the drum is and determines the clearance required by the outer casing 26. If it be assumed that the links l'i2 were to swing to a 45 angle with the 1 vertical, it will be observed that the lateral force transferred to it would under such circumstances be converted to a vertical force of substantially the same magnitude, which vertical force would then be absorbed by the coil spring and the friction device. The further the links H2 swing, the greater is the ratio between the vertical movement and the lateral movement, causing such vertical movement. The action of links H2 alone is in effect toggle-like. The action of links il is merely to constrain the upper ends of links i '52 against lateral movement and to transmit the vertical components to the yielding spring support. Thus, the more violent the vibration due to unbalance, the greater is the effectiveness of the springs I95 to cope with such unbalance. The arrangement thus combines in a single vertically active resilient and frictional support, an arrangement for absorbing not only the vertical movements of a revolving drum but the transverse movements as well, together with an apparatus inherently able to variably resist the variable unbalanced loads likely to be presented.

The toggle-like action provides a variable ratio transmission for the forces created by the revolving mass to the resilient support, so that under no practical circumstances can the suspension respond in resonance, since the transmission continuously varies the force ratio with each increment of vibratory movement.

It will thus be seen that an apparatus has been provided which lends itself to automatic operation through the use of well-known timing apparatus. For example, after placing a load within the drum and applying a suitable quantity of soap, timing and control devices may be employed, first, to control by valves the amount of water and the temperature thereof admitted to the drum; second, to rotate the drum in one direction for washing; third, to subsequently reverse the rotation of the drum to drain the washing iiuid; fourth, to admit rinsing water in a sufficient quantity while rotating the drum in the original direction; and thereafter, reversing the drum to drain off the rinsing water. Subsequently, the drum may be rotated for a short space of time at the washing speed, for example, to facilitate the arrangement of the drained clothes therein, whereupon the timing device may actuate the transmission to increase the speed of rotation for centrifuging; and following a prescribed period, the power may be shut oif and the drum allowed to return to rest.

It will be seen that the interior of the drum is readily accessible to cleaning or flushing if desired, and that during the actual washing stage, the entire drum, including the end chamber, is subjected to the wash water and therefore maintained at a substantially uniform temperature, due to the insulating effect of the dead air space surrounding the drum and within the drain tub. Because of the imperforate washing drum, severe agitation of the washing fluid results with the laundry being repeatedly lifted and dropped with gentle but substantial force to effectively wash fragile fabrics in a minimum length of time.

While the embodiment of the invention has been described in some detail and in connection with a reversible electric motor, it will be understood that the transmission. may have incorporated therein a reverse drive, so that a unidirectional motor can be employed. In such an arrangement, the pump need not be of the reversible type, that is, effective regardless of rotation direction.

Although a single practical embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in construction, selection and arrangement of the parts may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A washing machine drum comprising a member having a front wall and a substantially cylindrical wall, said substantially cylindrical wall having an annular outward offset inwardly spaced from the rear edge thereof, a transverse partition seated. on said offset, said cylindrical portion having one or more longitudinal grooves of increasing depth from said front wall to said offset, the amount of said offset being at least 9 as great as the maximum depth of said rooves, ports in said partition aligned with said grooves, a rear wall secured to the marginal edge of said cylindrical wall, an arcuate conduit positioned adjacent the periphery of said rear wall and being approximately semicircular in length, and having a port at one end connecting with the chamberior ned by the rear wall and partition and a drain portsubstantiallydiametrically disposed from said other port, and a trunnion extending rearwardly of said drum and secured to said partition and rear wall.

2. A washing machine -.-,dii,um,' QQmp'risinga member having a front wall and a substantially,

. cylindrical wall, said substantially, cylindrical wall having an annular outward offset'i'n'wardly spaced from the rear edge;.,thereof .a transverse partition having a flange seated on said o fiset, said cylindrical portion having one or more longitudinal grooves of increasing depth from saidifront'wall to said .oifs'et', the amount of said offset being at leastas great as'tl'i depth of said grooves," ports in said partition aligned with said grooves, a rear wall secured to the .marginal edge of said cylindrical wall, an

"'arcuate conduit'forzned between said wall and partition of approximate semicircular length,

,Jandhaving' a' port at one end connecting with ,thechamber formed by the rear wall and parxtitio'n; and a'port leading through said rear wall at a point substantially diametrically disposed from said other port. g

3. A washing machine drumcomprising a inembe'rhaving a front wall and asubstantially cylindrical wall, saidfront wall having a central loading" aperture, and said substantially cylindrical wall having an annular outward offset inwardly spaced from the rear edge thereof, a transverse partition having a flange seated on said offset, said cylindricalportion having one or more longitudinally extending grooves of increasing depth from said. front'wall to said offset, the amount of said offset being at least as greatasthe maximum depth of said grooves, ports in said. partition'aligned with said grooves, a rear wall secured to the marginal edge of said cylindrical wall, said rear wall having an arcuate channel formed therein adjacent it periphery, said arcuate channel being approximately semi circular in length, and having a port at one end connecting with the chamber formed by the rear wall and partition, and a cover plate for said channel to form an arcuate conduit thereof, said cover plate having a port leading into said channel at a point approximately diametricallydisposed from said other port.

4. In a laundering machine, a ,tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls,,one having an access opening, and the-other atrunn'ion extending therefrom, said drum having a substantially cylindrical wall joining said endwalls, said cylindrical wall having grooves of gradually increasing depth extending'from frontito back, and ports in said other end wall connecting with said grooves, an annular chamber adjoining said other end wall and connecting with'said ports, and a semi-annular conduit l substantially coax-- iallyarranged with "respect to said chamber and having openings at itsopposite ends, one opening leading into said tub and the other into said annular chamber, and means for rotatin said drum'inopposite directions and in one diet i if iw e fee sp ed s done directionbeiiig'inthe direction from said tub port said other end wall and connecting with said 10 to said chamber port along said semi-annular conduit.

5. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls, one having an access opening, and the other a trunnion extending therefrom, said drum having a substantially cylindrical wall joining said end walls, said cylindrical wall having grooves of gradually in creasing depth extending from front to back, andports in said other end wall connecting with said grooves, an annular chamber adjoining ports, and a semi annuIar channel substantially 'c'oaxially arranged in said chamber and having openings at its opposite ends, one opening leading irito 'said tub and the other into said annular chamber, andmeans for rotating said drum in opposite diret'iohs to retain wash water within said drum or to drain said drum.

6. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls, one having an access 'ope'ning',-andthe other a trunnion extending therefrom, a door for said opening, and a tub-supported journal for said door, said drum having'a substantially cylindrical wall joining said end walls, said cylindrical wall having grooves of gradually increasing depth extending from front to back, and ports in said other end wall connecting with-said grooves, an annular ch-amberadjoining said other end wall and connecting with said ports, and a semi-annular channel substantially coaxially arranged with respect-to said chamber and having openings at its opposite ends, one opening leading into said tub -=and the other into said annular chamber, and means for rotating said drum in opposite directions to retain wash water within said drum or to drain said drum.

"7. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls, a substantiallycylindrical wall joining said end walls, said cylindrical wall having means for moving liquid contained therein from one end to the other in response 'to centrifugal force, and ports in one end wall to permit passage of such liquid therebeyond, an annular chamber adjoining said ported end wall and connecting with said ports to receive centrifugaiiy moved liquid, and a semi-circular conduitsubstantially coaxially arranged with respect to said chamber and having openings at itsopposite ends, one opening leading into said tub and the other into said annular chamber, and means for rotating said drum in opposite directions forretaining liquid within or draining'liquid from said drum.

' 8. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls, a substantially circular wall joining said end walls, said circular wall having at least portions thereof tapering outwardly from one end to the other, and per'iph'eraI ports in the end wall adjacent the other end, an annular chamber adjoining said ported end wall' 'and connecting with said ports, and a semi-circular channel substantially coaxially arranged with respect to said chamher and having openings at its opposite ends, one opening leading into saidtu'b and the other into said'a'nnular chamber, means supported upon thetub for rotating said drum in opposite directions for retaining liquid within or drainingliquid from said drum,'-and a constantly open drain'fo'r said tub."

Infialaundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls, a substantially circular wall joinings-aid end walls, said circular wall having portions thereof tapering outwardly from one end to the other, and peripheral ports in the end wall adjacent the other end, an annular chamber adjoining said ported end wall and connecting with said ports, and a semi-circular channel substantially coaxially arranged with respect to said chamber and having openings at its opposite ends, one opening leading into said tub and the other into said annular chamber, means supported upon the tub for rotating said drum in opposite directions for retaining liquid within or draining liquid from said drum.

10. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having front and rear walls, the front wall having a revolving access door journaled on said tub, and the rear Wall having a trunnion extending therefrom, said drum having a substantially circular wall joining said front and rear walls, said circular wall having at least portions thereof of gradually increasing radial dimensions extending from front to back, and peripheral ports in said rear wall, an annular chamber adjoining said rear wall and connecting with said ports, and a semi-circular conduit substantially coaxially arranged with respect to said chamber and having openings at its opposite ends, one opening leading into said tub and the other into said annular chamber, means suspended from said tub for rotating said drum in opposite directions and in one direction at two different speeds, said one direction being in the direction from said tub port to said chamber port along said semi-circular conduit, and central means associated with said trunnion for admitting liquid to said drum.

11. In a laundering machine. a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls, a substantially cylindrical wall joining said end walls, said cylindrical wall having grooves of gradually increasing depth extending from one end to the other and ports in one end wall, connecting with the enlarged end of said grooves, an annular chamber adjoining said ported end wall and connecting with said ports, and a semi-annular condu t substantially concentrically arranged in said chamher and having openings at its opposite ends, one opening leading into said tub and the other into said annular chamber, and means for rotating said drum in opposite directions for retaining wash water within said drum or draining said drum.

12. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls, a substantially circular imperforate wall joining said end walls, said circular wall having at least one groove of gradually increasing depth extending from one end to the other, a peripheral port in the end wall adjacent the increased depth end of said groove, and a semi-circular channel means substantially coaxially arranged with respect to said circular wall and adjacent said last-mentioned wall, and having openings at its opposite ends, one opening leading into said tub and the other communicating with said port.

13. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls, a substantially circular wall joining said end walls and having portions of the circular wall of gradually increasradial diameter extending from one end to the other, peripheral ports in the end wall adjacent the increased radial diameter portions, a semi-circular conduit means substantially coaxially arranged with respect to said circular wall and adjacent said last-named end wall and hav- 12 ing openings at its opposite ends, one opening leading into said tub and the other having communication with said peripheral ports.

14. In a cylinder type washing machine, a drum having a substantially imperforate cylindrical wall, and end members for holding a quantity of washing liquid in said drum, means for mounting said drum for rotation on an axis at least in part horizontally extending, means for rotating said drum at will in either direction, and substantially imperforate conduit means mounted for rotation with said drum and having at one end an opening connecting within said cylinder peripherally thereof, and extending in an arcuate direction substantially concentric With the axis of and around said drum a substantial length from said opening and terminating in an exhaust port directed outwardly from said drum at the periphery thereof, whereby washing liquid within said drum may be drained therefrom through said conduit by rotation in the arcuate direction of said conduit toward said opening, and retained Within said drum by opposite rotation.

15. In a cylinder type washing machine, a drum having a substantially imperforate cylindrical wall and end members for holding a quantity of Washing liquid in said drum, means for mounting said drum for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis, means for rotating said drum in either direction, and substantially closed conduit means mounted for rotation about the drum axis and having a, peripheral opening within said drum in a region spaced from one end member in an arcuate direction around said drum a substantial arcuate length substantially concentric of the drum and terminating in an exhaust port on the periphery of said drum, whereby washing liquid within said drum may be drained therefrom through said conduit by rotation of the arcuate length toward said opening, and retained within said drum by opposite rotation, said substantially cylindrical wall having fluid diverting channels leading from said one end member to the region adjacent said opening, said channels being so shaped as to render liquid within such channels responsive to centrifugal force and cause the flow thereof to said opening.

16. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls and a circular intermediate connecting wall, said circular wall having means for centrifugally moving liquid contained therein to an annular region thereof, an annular chamber associated with said drum in juxtaposition to said region and having ports connecting with said region, said chamber being adapted to receive liouid centrifuged through said ports, and a substantially semi-circular substantially concentric conduit rotatable with said drum and having ports at each end, one connected with said chamber and the other discharging into said tub.

17. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls and a circular intermediate connecting wall, said circular wall having means for centrifugally moving liouid contained therein to an annular region thereof an annular chamber associated with said druin in uxtaposition to said region and having ports connecting with said region, said chamber being adapted to receive liquid centrifuged throu h sa d ports, and an arcuate substantially concern tric conduit rotatable with said drum havin one end connected to said chamber by an opening and the other discharging into said t b d means for rotating said drum in eithe di ct 18. In a laundering machine, a tub, drum aearmse rotatable therein having end walls and a circular intermediate connecting wall, said circular wall having means for centrifugally moving liquid contained therein axially thereof to an annular region thereof, and a substantially unobstructed curved conduit carried by the drum having ports at each end, one communicating with said region and the other opening into said tub, said ports and said conduit along the entire length thereof being substantially equally distanced radially from the drum axis, and said ports being disposed more than 120 apart from one another around the drum. 1

19. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls and a circular intermediate connecting wall, said circular wall having means for centrifugally moving liquid contained therein axially thereof to an annular region thereof, an arcuate unobstructed conduit having a length in excess of 120 carried by said drum and substantially coaxial therewith having one end connected to said region, and the other discharging into said tub, and means for rotating said drum in either direction.

20. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having end walls and a circular intermediate connecting wall, said circular wall having means for centrifugally moving liquid 14 contained therein axially thereof to an annular region thereof, and a substantially unobstructed curved conduit carried by the drum having ports at each end, one communicating with said region and the other opening into said tub, the latter port and said conduit along the entire length thereof being distanced radially from the drum axis by an amount at least as great as the radial distance of the port communicating with said region, and said ports being disposed more than 120 apart from one another around the drum.

PEYTON W. DOUGLAS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,089,748 Clark Mar. 10, 1914 1,792,931 Cook Feb. 19, 1929 1,912,451 Hibbard June 6, 1933 2,230,345 Bradbury Feb. 4, 1941 2,272,284 Zimarik Feb. 10, 1942 2,284,243 Zimarik May 26, 1942 2,357,909 Ridge Sept. 12, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 578,637 Great Britain July 5, 1946

Images