GB929848A - Improvements in or relating to washing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

929,848. Washing-machines. JAMES ARMSTRONG & CO. Ltd. April 17, 1962 [March 16, 1961], No. 9626/61. Class 138 (2). A horizontal-axis rotary drum washing- machine has an access door 2, 3 in a fluid-tight casing 1 opposite each end of the perforated rotary drum, two vents 10, 11 connecting the drum to atmosphere and independently closable by valve means 14, 15, respectively, and two liquid drains 12, 13 for the drum, also independently closable by valve means 16, 17, respectively. The machine is described for cleaning and sterilizing infected linen, and is shown positioned through a wall 7, the door 3, vent 11 and drain 13 opening into a sterile chamber on one side of the wall 7, and the other door, vent and drain opening on the other side. The materials are loaded through door 2, given a preliminary wash after which the temperature is raised to sterilize the materials, then rinsed and removed through door 3. Before the sterilizing period drain 12 and vent 10 are used and after it drain 13 and vent 11, thereby avoiding re-contamination of the materials or the sterile chamber. The valves 14... 17 may be controlled manually or automatically. In the latter case, once the sterilizing period has been manually initiated, the vent 11 and drain 13 are closed, the vent 10 is opened, and the drain 12 can be opened by pressing a switch manually. When the temperature has increased sufficiently, a thermostat breaks a circuit to close vent 10 and drain 12, open vent 11 and allow drain 13 to be opened by pressing a switch manually. A safety switch closes all valves and stops the motor of the machine if either door 2, 3 is opened. A rinse outlet may be provided on each side of the wall 7, connected to the side of the casing 1 so that the drum is only partially emptied when an outlet is opened; each outlet being closable by a valve controlled in the same way as the drain valves.