US2973636A - Laundry-aid dispensing device for washing machine - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1961 J, 1 DEVERY ETAL 2,973,636

LAUNDRY-AID DISPENSING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS JAMES J: DEI/Ry Jaffe-,0H Pa EMM/)f March 7, 1961 J. J. DEVERY ETAL 2,973,636

LAUNDRY-AID DIsPENsING DEVICE FoE WASHING MACHINE Filed March 5. 1958 v 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 INVENToRs .7H/V55 .Z @EVERY JmL-'PH PELE/VJKY BY ,1/// l/ United States Paten-1:"

LAUNDRY-AID DISPENSING DEVICE. EUR'. WASHING. MACHINE James J. Devery, Ambler, and Joseph Pelenskyg. Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to-` Philco: Gorporation; Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania t Filed Mar.. 5, 1958, Ser. No. 719,263.

Thepresent invention relates to clothes' washingmachin'esl of the automatic type in whiclrclothes are washed andJ rinsed in water ,bye movementl ofrv an agitatorcwithin'.

a basket, and" in which wateris extracted from' ther clothes by--rotation ofl the basket at; high` speed'.

A clothes washing'rmachine off' the above mentioned variety-usually functions first tov wash clothes; in water contained inthe washing basket', then toi extract theI wash' water fromV the clothes and basket; thereafter to rinse'the clothesiin' water freshly supplied: to the basket;

and nallyto extract the rinse water froml the" clothes andb'asket. Ini theseL machines;` satisfactory"washing;of` clothes requiresL the addition-off a' washing-aid* material; (soap oridetergen-tl tott-he'washn water, and betterfrinsf ing ot* thel clothes isobtainedfwhenl a rinsing-agent; (for-r example a water soften-ing"- solu-tion) isY addedto` theV isV filldf with wash; water, and thereafter to dispensen the rinsing-agentv automaticallywheny the wash water has been extracted and the basket is filled with rinsen water:

Itffrequently't occurs-that soaprorr detergent; when wet# ted; forms* lumpsfwhich adhere to the clothes even` after repeatedrinsing. lt-'isiftherefore a-furtlier olijectof'thisY inventionj to provide a device adapted ,toL4 containand dispensesoap or2 detergent, the dev-ice` bengeconstructedj to insure mixing of water with the 'soa-p or detergentiandr tolrprevent undissolfved soapor'det'ergentV from passing i into--`r the washing basket;

In washing and rinsing clothes in amachine` 4of the above. mentioned-'1 varietyA thereis producedl lint which remains suspendedin the water andattaches itself tothe clothes as a result of the spinningactionv to extract" dissolved washing aid into the washing basket; also serves-.to effect removal oflint from the wa-shfwater and from the rinse water.

Another characteristic feature of the invention' residesv in. the .provision of a: dispensingalteringdevice which ist capableof` contributingv to th'e washing and rinsing actions t of' the. machine byassisting-fin` turning the clothes` over in water contained Within thebasket wherein the clothes` are washed and rinsed.

.In' accordance with a preferred embodiment, the device ofv this invention is adaptedtQ dispense powderedi washing-aid and liquid rinsing-agent, and has two separateY sections, one for the washing-aid andthe other for theV rinsing-agent. The device is adapted for mounting on. and movement with the agitator of an automatic washing machine and is so constructed and' arranged.

that the washing-aid mixes with water which enters. and.` passes through the device. Also, the device is construct4 ed and arranged' in such a manner that during rotationv of the device with spinning of the agitator, theV liquid4 rinsing-agent is ejected into a compartment'within said. device to be thereafter mixed with the rinse. water.. The device moreover is supported in such a manner. as. to be partially submerged in the Water within they basket4 and embodies means which, during agitation causesthe.

wash water, and also the rinse water, to circulate, through..

the device and to pass through a filter portion incorpo.- rated therein.

The full nature of the invention andthe mannen in; which its objects and advantages are: achieved, will. be. fully understood fromthe. following. description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1: is a side view, partly in elevation and. partly in section, illustrating a portion of. a clothes washing machine with which is associated atdispenserflilter device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an. enlarged top plan view of. thedispenserfilter device illustratedin Figure 1`;..

Figure 3` is a cross-sectional'View` takenon; line 3-.3{ of' Figure 2;.

Figure` 4 is a bottom plan View oftheY deviceshown in yFigures 2 and 3, with parts broken. away to illustrate certain structural features;

Figure 5 isa view similar to Figure 4 but with certa-inV parts removed;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of one of. the. parts` illustrated' in Figure 5'; and

Figure 7 is an exploded view inperspective illustrating. cooperative elements of therinsing-agent c ontalner'. ill-.-

honse a fixed tub 11 which is-providedwitha drain outlet.

12and` which encircles a rotatable washing basket.13,. The cabinet haslan open` top` portionll which is provided with ahinged cover 15 to give access to .said basket.

In machines of' this type, clothes are placed in the,

basket 13 and are washed, rinsed andspun-dried therein.

' The clothes are washed by action of a bladed agitator 16 which is driven to oscillate` back and forth within the basket while the latter is held stationary, and water i`s extracted from theclothes by accelerated rotation. of the. basket and agitator in one direction. The basket is vimperforate except for overflow ports or aperturesA 17` which determine the normal level' of water in the-basket and provide for escape of the waterl duringV spinning of the basket. Water4 is introduced within they basket through an inlet nozz1e'18 controlled by means of aV suitable. conventional? solenoid operated. mixing valve?v 19- which is. connected with conduitsv 2tvand- 2l for supi-1 A timer-operated control' 22 having a. setting knob 23, is provided. to eiectoperaf tion of said valve 19 as well as to govern, the/.automatici plying hot and Coldwater.

function of the machine through a. schedule of washing;y rinsing and water extracting, operations.

.The solenoid valve and the timer-operated.,control.ares commercial. items which are. well. known in-.the'vartiand, totkwhichno claimv of invention` is made herein..

Patented Maur.` 71961...

17, the agitator 16 is oscillated with respect to the basket to effect washing of the clothes; at the conclusion of the washing cycle, the basket and agitator are rotated in unison at high speed for the purpose of centrifugally extracting the wash water from the clothes and expelling the Water from the basket through the apertures 17; after this extraction, high speed rotation of the basket and agitator ceases, the basket is filled with a fresh supply of water, and the agitator is again oscillated in the basket to effect rinsing of the clothes; finally, following the rinsing cycle, the basket and agitator are once more rotated at high speed for a period of time sutliciently long to extract the rinse water and spin-dry the clothes. Y

As illustrated, the washing machine is provided with a dispenser-filter device indicated generally at 24. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, this device comprises a bottom or base member 25, a top or cap member 26 and a filter member 27.

The base member 25 and cap member 26 are cemented together at abutting portions such as those shown at 28 and 29 (Figure 3), and the filter member 27 is affixed to the base member as by means of fastening elements 30 (Figures 3 and 4). The base member 25 is in the form of a shallow pan and has a centrally disposed upstanding tubular post 31 which is in alignment with a hollow cylindrical projection 32 extending from the top surface 33 of the cap member 26. The aligned post 31 and projection 32 cooperate to constitute a continuous internal bore for receiving the upper end portion of the agitator. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, an annular gasket 35 of rubber or similar resilient material is fitted Within the extension 32 to provide frictional engagement between said agitator and the device 24. The base member 25 is also provided with pockets 36 adapted to accommodate agitator blade portions which seat themselves within said pockets. In this manner the entire dispenser device 24 is supportedrso as to be partly submerged in water which fills the washing basket, and is securely locked to the agitator to be positively driven thereby.

The filter member 27 is in the form of a dish in which the pan-like base member 25 and cap member 26 are nested. A bottom portion of the dished filter member- 27 has enlarged perforations 37 through which water can pass into the dispenser device and thence out through fine perforations 38 in the side wall of said filter member. The passage of water into and out of the dispenser device is effected by means of radial fins 39 which depend from the bottom of the base member 25 and which, during oscillatory motion of said device with the agitator, act as pump fins or blades.

The cap member 26 has a trough-like or container section 40 for powdered washing-aid (soap or detergent) and a receptacle section 42 for liquid rinsing-agent. The trough-like or container section 40, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3, opens through the top surface 33 of the cap member and discharges into a portion 43 of the panlike base member 25, said portion being defined and separated from the remaining portion 43a of said panlike member by means of upstanding ribs 44 which extend radially across said member. Radially extending scoops or vanes 45 and slots 46 are formed in the bottom of the pan-like member 25 said vanes serving to lift Water and pass it through said slots and into said portion 43 wherein mixing of water with soap or detergent takes place.

The receptacle section 42 is provided with an opening 47 which confronts and discharges into an annular compartment 48 (Figure 3) defined by the inner walls of the cap member 26 and by a ring 50 which is cemented or otherwise affixed to said cap member. The opening 47 is located in an upper portion of the receptacle 42 so that liquid rinsing-agent poured in a measured amount into said receptacle will not normally run out through said opening. Pouring of the rinsing-agent into the receptacle 42 is facilitated by providing the latter with a cover 51 which is made in the form of a funnel.

In use, the device 24 is snuggly seated over the upper part of the agitator center post. Before or during filling of the washing basket 13 with water, a measured quantity of washing-aid is placed in the troughlike or container section 40, and a measured quantity of liquid rinsingagent is poured into the receptacle 42. The basket is filled to a level where, at the start of the washing operation, water fiows into the pan-like member 25 of the device and mixes with the washing-aid in the portion 43, the mixture then passing into the basket. Back and forth oscillation of the device with the agitator causes the vanes 45 to pick up and discharge Water into the portion 43. In this manner water is effectively pumped into said portion 43 to dissolve the washing-aid.

During washing operation, the rinsing-agent is retained in the receptacle 42 but, following the washing operation, high speed rotation of the device with spinning of the basket and agitator to extract the washing water, causes the rinsing-agent to be ejected from said receptacle through the opening 47, and into the compartment 48. When high speed rotation ceases, the rinsing-agent flows into and remains within the portion 43a of the pan-like base member 25.

tor oscillates back and forth for rinsing the clothes in said tub.

Because of the enlarged perforations 37 in the bottomI of the member 27, water is constantly present within said member so that the fins 39 during oscillatory motion of the device, act as pump blades causing the water to circulate through the finer perforations 38. In this man' ner the device filters lint and other foreign matter from the circulating water.

After each use, the device can be thoroughly cleaned by removing it from the agitator and flushing it with clear water. Also, thorough cleaning of the removable container 42 is easily done because as seen in Figure 7, the cover 51 can be removed to give access to the interior of said container.

It will be noted that the cover 51 is provided with a depending lip 54 having a portion which is formed with av series of ridges 55 adapted to extend within the container 42 and to project transversely over the slot 47 in said container. This arrangement prevents liquid rinsingagent within the receptacle 42 from passing outwardly thereof as the device oscillates back and forth with the agitator. However the ridges provide a series of restricted passageways which allow the rinsing-agent to be ejected by centrifuge action during spinning of the device with the agitator and basket.

It should be noted that, as represented in Figure 3, the plane P-P of the outer wall of the receptacle 42 is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation A-A of the device and, as seen in Figure 2, said outer wall is In order to ensure that the rinsingagent will not run into the slotted portion 43 of said constructed on.. a; radius R, smallen than, the,A distance. between saidaxis, andsaid.' plane. InV this mannen during spinningl of the device, the: liquid rinsingagent within they receptacle: 42. is. forced.. by. centrifugal act-iontoward the point L on said outer wall where the slot 41is. located4 thereby insuring that virtually all of the liquid Within said receptaclewillibe;eiectedltherefrom;l

From the foregoing description, itwill be appreciated that the present invention provides an inexpensive and simplified arrangement whioh-` utilizes` the motions of a Washing machineagit-atorto-effct automatic addition offsoap: ordetergent to` wash- Water-in the washing basket, to'eifect.l automatic addition of'4 rinsing agent tothe rinse water filling said-y basket, andl to elf'ectf removal off lint from the water in the machine d'uring its washingfand rinsing operations'. Alsobecauserthe device of this invention incorporates means which during, agitation operates; to effect circulation of` water' from' the'. basket through said device and back to the basket, there' isproa duced a churning acti-on which cooperates with the agitator action to enhance the turning of the clothes in the water, thereby intensifying the washing andrinsing functions of the machine.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it is tobe understood that the invention embraces such changes and modifications as may come within the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

l. For use With a clothes washing machine provided with a washing basket adapted to contain water and a member movable to agitate the clothes within said basket; a device adapted for mounting on said member to move therewith and supported thereon in a position to be partly submerged in water within the basket, said device comprising a container section for washing-aid, a pan member having a portion disposed below said section to receive the washing-aid therefrom and to impede passage of said washing-aid into the washing basket, and means for forcing water from said basket into said portion during such movement of said device whereby to effect mixture of washing-aid with water and passage of the mixture into the basket, said means including scooping elements leading into said portion and extending downwardly from said pan member to project into the water which surrounds the submerged part of said device.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, in which a dished member encompasses the mentioned pan member, said dished member having a perforated bottom wall and a perforated side wall, and fins extending radially across said perforated bottom wall to pump water from the washing basket into said dished member through its said bottom wall and out of said dished member through its said side wall in response to the mentioned movement of said device.

3. For use with a clothes washing machine which provides for successive operations including a Washing operation, an extraction operation and a rinsing operation, and which is provided with a washing basket adapted to contain water and a member movable with respect to said basket to agitate clothes therein during said washing and rinsing operations and to rotate with said basket during said extraction operation; a device adapted for mounting on said member in a position to be partly submerged in water within the washing basket, said device comprising a container section for washing-aid, a receptacle for retaining liquid rinsing-agent during said washing operation and having a wall constructed for ejecting said rinsing-agent during said extraction operation, a compartment enclosing said receptacle and having an interior surface confronting said wall, said surface and wall being spaced laterally from and cooperating with each other to define a chamber for receiving and holding the ejected liquid rinsing-agent and for discharging it upon cessation of said extraction operation, a pan member having two portions separated fro-m each other,

6 onetoft sadf-portions.` being disposed belowy said-:container section. to. receive the washing-aid therefrom and. to pede: passage of Y said washing-aid into-'the washing;- basket,- means for forcinggwater from'. said basket into-saidV one of said portions4 during movement of said device with respect to.A said` basket-wherebyy to provide for` mixture of Water with.- washingf-aid-,in saidzoneof saidportions and for passageof the mixture into, saidbasket during-the Washing operation,y sa'vi'di means. including scoopingf elements leadinginto.` saidone' of said portions and' extend'- ingV downwardly from` said panmember to project into.

the Water. whiehf surrounds the` submerged part of said device, and the; other of` saideportionsy being disposedbelow said receptaclerand compartment to receive theliquid rinsing-agent, dischargedffrom said chamber andil water contained insaid w-ashing basket whereby to provide for. mixture. offwater with said. rinsingfagent. in. said, other of;saidportions,v andffbr discharge off'th'emixture theref from i'nto said` basket duringl the rinsing operation.

4. In a clothes washing machine, a washing basket adapted to be lled with water to a predetermined level,

Van agitator mounted in and movable with respect to said basket for washing and rinsing operations and to rotate therewith for water extraction operation, and a device mounted on said agitator to move therewith and consisting of a base member, a cap member and a filter member: said cap member having a container section for powdered washing-aid to be added to the water in the basket during washing operation and a receptacle for liquid rinsing-agent to be added to the water in said basket during rinsing operation, said receptacle having a vertically extending outer Wall provided with an opening at an upper part thereof for centrifugally ejecting said rinsing-agent in response to rotation of said device during extraction operation, said cap member further having a compartment enclosing said receptacle and having an interior surface confronting said wall, said surface and wall being spaced laterally from and cooperating with each other to define a chamber for receiving and holding liquid rinsing-agent centrifugally ejected from said receptacle during extraction operation; said base member having downwardly extended radial tins and upwardly projecting ribs, said ribs defining two distinct portions separated from each other, one of said portions being disposed beneath said container section ,to receive the powdered washing-aid therefrom and having means for passing Water from said basket t-o be mixed with said washing-aid and then discharged into the basket during washing operation, the other of said portions being disposed beneath said compartment to receive the liquid rinsing-agent from said compartment upon cessation of extraction operation to be mixed with water from the basket and then discharged into the basket during rinsing opera-tion; said filter member having a perforated bottom wall and a perforated side wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said walls cooperating with said fins of the base member to provide for circulation of water to and from the basket and through said lter member.

5. In a clothes washing machine, the combination set forth in claim 4, in which the mentioned outer wall of the mentioned receptacle has an inner surface which lies in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of vrotation of the'device and is constructed on a radius smaller than the distance between said axis and said plane.

6. For use with a clothes washing machine which provides for successive operations including a washing operation, an extraction operation and a rinsing operation, and which is provided with a washing basket adapted to contain water and an agitator mounted for oscillating movement with respect to said basket during said washing and rinsing operations and for rotating movement with the basket during said extraction operation; a device adapted for mounting on said agitator to move therewith and supported thereon in a position to be 7 partly submerged in Water within the washing basket, said device comprising a receptacle for retaining liquid rinsing-agent during said washing operation and having a Wall constructed for ejecting the liquid rinsing agent during the extraction operation, a compartment enclosing said receptacle and having a surface confronting said wall, said surface and wall being spaced laterally from and cooperating with each other to define a chamber for receiving and holding the ejected liquid rinsing-agent and for discharging it upon cessation of said extraction operation, a pan member having a portion disposed below said receptacle and compartment to receive the liquid rinsing-agent discharged from said chamberand water contained in the washing basket to provide for mixture of said rinsing-agent with said water during the rinsing operation, a dished member surrounding said pan member, said dished member having a perforated bottom wall and a perforated side wall, and ns extending radially 8 across said bottom wall to pump Water from the washing basket into said dished member through its perforated bottom wall and out of said dished member through its said perforated side wall in response to oscillating motion lof said device.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,406,198 Clark Aug. 20, 1946 2,498,894 McCormick Feb. 28, 1950 2,568,185 Clark Sept. 18, 1951 2,642,733 McCormick June 23, 1953 2,792,701 Bochan May 21, 1957 2,868,006 Tingley Jan. 13, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Y Norge advertisement in Life, issue of Oct. 28, 1957, sheet 1.

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