US2900812A - Sediment removal device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 25, 1959- T. R. SMITH 2,900,812

SEDIMENT REMOVAL DEVICE Filed May 28, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mum-or Thomae Qsmil'h g il U/Ifl/AIIIIIIIIIIII lm Aug. 25, 1959 Filed May 2a, 1956 T. R. SMITH SEDIMENT REMOVAL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5m rw Aug. 25, 1959 T. R. SMITH SEDIMENT REMOVAL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 28, 1956 United States Patent SEDIMENT REMOVAL DEVICE Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1956, Serial No. 587,718

6 Claims. (Cl. 68-23) This invention relates to an automatic washing machine of the vertical axis type in which an upstanding perforate clothes receptacle or tub is rotated relative to a nonrotatable outer tub closely encompassing that clothes receptacle. In this type of washing machine sand or heavy sediment shaken loose from clothing within the clothes receptacle during the first agitation period of the washing cycle passes through the inner perforate clothes receptacle and settles at the bottom of the outer imperforate tub prior to being flushed from that outer tub during the centrifugal extraction operation following the agitation period.

In the operation of such a machine it has been found that the sand and heavy sediment shaken loose from the clothing within the clothes receptacle is normally deposited rather uniformly on the inside surface of the bottom wall of the outer tub during the agitation period. However, during the subsequent centrifugal extraction period when the washing fluid is pumped from the machine to flush away the sand and sediment, not all of the sand and sediment has always been flushed thoroughly from the machine during that operation. This insuificient flushing action has been attributed to the spiral fluid currents circulating between the bottom walls of the clothes receptacle and-the outer tub during the centrifuging operation when the clothes receptacle is rotated relative to the outer tub. These fluid currents reverse their direction near the axis of rotation of the clothes receptacle and near the periphery of that receptacle caus ing the heavier particles in these fluid currents to settle out at these two reversal points. Since the inside periphery of the outer tub is more vigorously flushed by movement of the rotating fluid than is the central area, that peripheral gutter area is flushed more thoroughly than the central area which receives a ringlike deposit around the axis of the revoluble clothes receptacle drive shaft.

It is therefore a purpose of this invention to prevent sand or heavy sediment from being deposited in this central zone or other areas of the outer tub of the type washing machine described. This is accomplished in this invention by placing a baffle plate between the perforate clothes receptacle and the outer imperforate tub with that bafl'le plate covering the drain port leading from the tub; The outer periphery of the baflie plate is sealed and fastened to the inner side wall of the outer tub While the radial edges of that baflle plate are so shaped to cooperate with the bottom Wall of the outer tub to form an eflluent channel communicating with the tub drain at one end and provided with a throat at its opposite end in the region of the axis of rotation of the clothes receptacle. With this construction the sand settles in much the same manner during the agitation period as it does without the benefit of the baffle plate but once the receptacle is rotated, a major portion of the water and sand is removed from the tub through this channel'so that the central area is quite vigorously flushed to scour the sand and sediment away from the central zone and eliminate the problem of sediment deposits in that area. The depending side flanges of the baflle plate are provided with openings over the peripheral gutter area of the outer tub so that a smaller portion of the water and sand circulating around the inner periphery of the outer tub is permitted to pass through these openings and scour the inner periphery of that tub member prior to passing through the tub drain port.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away, showing a washing machine of the vertical axis type incorporating my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the positioning of the baffle plate at the lower portion of the outer tub;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the baffle plate which is placed between the inner clothes receptacle and the outer imperforate tub;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the central portion of the tub structure of the washing machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a tub assembly without a baffle plate and showing the normal sediment deposit pattern produced during the agitation period of the operational cycle;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view similar to that of Figure 6 showing the sediment deposit pattern formed during the centrifugal extraction operation and indicating generally the fluid current paths causing such sediment deposits; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the construction shown in Figure 3 and illustrating the various paths taken by the fluid in its exit from the outer tub resulting in the desired scouring action of the improved tub assembly.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown a base frame 10 mounted on adjustable feet 11 and provided with a supporting dome 12 rising out of a centrally located depression 13 inbase frame 10. Dome 12 serves as a mounting for a drive assembly 14 such as that disclosed in the John D. Goodlaxson application, Serial No. 505,231, filed May 2, 1955, and assigned to the same assignee as that of the instant application.

Base frame member 10 also supports the up-ended reversible motor 15 and the water pump 16 which, like drive assembly 14, is driven by motor 15 through belt 17 on the under side of base frame 10. Numeral l9 designates the groove of pulley 18 which serves as the input member for the drive assembly 14.

Cabinet 21, attached to and enclosing base frame 10 together with the drive and tub assemblies supported thereby, is provided at its upper end with a depending annular flange 22 defining an access opening into the washing machine apparatus which is normally covered by access door 24.

In Figure 1 it can be seen that dome 12 in base frame 16 is provided with friction pads 26 at its periphery adjacent the opening 27 in its uppermost portion. An umbrella-like support member 28 rests on these friction pads 26 and is provided with three equally spaced ears 2? for three centering springs 31 which are fastened to brackets 32 connected to base frame 10. This arrangement centers support member 28 on dome 12 and restrains it from rotation relative to base frame 16.

Threaded into the umbrella support member 28 is a member 34 of substantially frusto-conical configuration which serves as a housing for drive assembly 14 of the previously identified Goodlaxson application Serial No. 505,231. Housing member 34 cooperates with umbrella support member 28 by gripping the outer race of a thrust bearing 35 which is provided with a tapered inner race. Mating with and seated in this tapered inner raceof bear -41: ...c c. 3.. ing35'is' the spin tube or shaft 37 whichjour'iial's' a pbw'er shaft 38 also extending intothe dn've assembly 14. With this construction all weight placed on the spin tube 37, housing 34-and'on umbrella'member 'ls maybe "ii'sd"to an advantage to provide ample frictional forces'btween umbrella member 28'a'nd the frietionpads26 fdr dampeningnutational move'ments'of the shafts 37am ssreiativeto dorne 12-while'permittin'g rotational movement of spiir=tube-'37 in'thrust bearing 35.

While the-details of the Goodlaxson assembly -foi'ining the basis of the previously identifiedapplication' Serial No;'*505;23 l are not'essential to the constfuctidiibfthe instant invention,its operation can' be briefly explained for environmental purposes. Upon energization' ofrn'otor -15 -ina direction'to'i'otate pulley 18in a counterclock- -wise direction as viewed from' the botto'r'iibf Figured, power shaft 38 is rotated in this"same"direction While spin shaft 37 is held against rotation by appropriatebraking mechanism within housing 34. Upon the reversal of motor-15, spin shaft 37 is released for-rotation to'allow shafts 37 and-38 to be spun in unison in a clockwise direction.

- With the drive and support constructions set forth above, it can be seen that shafts 37 and 38 may be selectively rotated as determined by the direction 'of'rotation imparted to pulley 18 while permitting theirnutation about a vertical axis at all times. "'In the w'ashingmachine illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, shafts '37 and 38 nutate on a point determined by the'inte'rse'ction of th'e'vertical axis of rotation with a horizontal plane bisecting groove-19 of pulley 18. Now with reference'to the tub assembly, it'will be noted that umbrella support member 28 'is provided'with three recessed upstanding lugs 41 spaced equally from each other and alternately around member 28 with respect to'the three ears29.. "While not entirely obvious fromFigure 1, it willbe apparent from this description that there are three lugs 41' spaced 120 from each other each of which is 60 removed from an adjacent car 29. we Fastened within-the recessed lugs '41fby'connectors 42 are'three tub brace members 43 which are, in'this e'mbodirncnt, of channel-like cross. section. Braceme'mbers 43 extend outwardly and upwardly from umbrella support member 28 to join thenon rotatableimperforate outer tub 44 through tub connectors 45 toform' an 'inverted tripod support for tub'44. The tub'44 is provided with a bottom wall 47 in which is formeda C-shaped gutter'48 having its lowermost portionconverging into the drain outlet 49wl1ich in turn communicates with the water pump 16through the flexible drain hose 51.

The non-rotatable outer tub 44 is provided'with" a removable crown 52 which permits removal of the rotat able inner clothes receptacle or tub '53 nested within tub 44. Clothes receptacle 53 has a perforate bottom wall 54 and aperforate cylindrical side wall 55 which carries a concrete inertia ring 56 at its' uppermostend. A conventional oscillating type agitator 57'is mounted within the inner tub or basket 53 to provide the propenagitation of fabrics placed within the tub assembly thus formed. 6 1 In order to drive agitator 57 during the agitation cycle and receptacle 53 during the fluid extraction cycle, the following-connections to the drive assembly 14 are provided. Spin tube 37, extending into .drive assembly- 14, carries at its upper end the lower gear case cover 58 which in turn is'bolted to the'upper gear casecover carrying counterweight 61 which balancesthe conventional motion converting unit housed by covers 58 and and driven by power shaft 38'. a

In Figure 5 the upper gear case cover 59 is shown provided with a mounting stem 64 extending upwardly in a coaxial relationship to spin shaft37 withwhich it forms a unitary extension. (The structure not shown to the left of the centerlineof agitator shaft 87 in Figure 5 is-sym hangars)"Mannin ster n 64 carries a bearing spacer -tion of rubber sleeve 69"defines an oilres'ervoir 70'which carries wicking 71 in contact with the sintered bushing 67 to provide the latter member-with lubricant at alltiines. Rubber sleeve 69 fits into a centrally located opening formed by the upstanding flange 72 in the bottom'tub wall 47 to allow the bearing structure, just described to align itself with the mounting stem 64.

Flange 72 in wall 47 is encircled by a boot seal 73 which has its lower end clamped around flange 72 and its upper end 'p'rovide'dwith acarbon nose seal ring 74. "'Spring 75 within the boot seal 73 urges nose ring '74 upwardly 'againsta smooth sealing surface provided 'by the annulus 76depending from theflanged tubcarrier' membef 77 whichis threaded onto mountingstern 64 in abutting relationship to the upper end of spacer sleeve 65.' This sealing engagement between ringjt a nd annulus 76 provides a water tight sealfor the mounting stem 64 while permitting relative movements to place between the inner tub 53 and the outertub However, if fluids do seep betweensealing ring 74 and annulus 76, they will flow downwardly througlr the vertical drain ports formed between upstanding flangeJZ and' the rubbersleei e' "69 bylneans of the grooves 78 located about the upper portion ofthe lattermember as indicated generally in Figure 5. V e V N Referring no to the means for connectirlgthe inner tub or receptacle 53 to themounting stem 64, it will be notedthat the flange 79 of tub carrier 77 is substantially of frusto-conical cross section with a slight radius being fornied'in its peripheral portion to form a non-linear taper and to provi de a supporting seat for the inner tup 53'. 'Tub'53' in turn is formed with an apertured re entrant portion 81locat e diin the central portion of its basement 54 and formed with substantially the same configuration the ttibmounting flange 72. i This reentrant portion 81 i s provided withcent lly located inwardly directed horizontal flange 82 wh1ch strengthens the circularopening through which carrier 77 prdtrudesf Since, in actual construction of this tub assembly, inner tub 5 3 is porcelain enamelled while carrier 77 is formed of aluminum, a cork gasket 8 3 js cemented on'the'periphery of flange 7 9 to prqyide a water-tighf seal and to assure a more uniform unit load; ing between these parts. Gasket 83 a lso providesj a better frictional engagement between carrier 77 and tub 53 to prevent relative movement between these parts during the operation of the machine incorporating, this construction." j .y A v Clothes receptacle '53 is wedged against flange 7,9 as shown generally in Figures l and 5. These figures show clamp washer 84'as havinga flanged central apertured portion with a body tapered to produce a contour similar to that of reentrant portion 81. The periphery of washer 8 4 defines arolled edge which facilitates removal bf washer 84 from-tub 53 and prevents its gouging the'sur face'of tub-member'once the'tub mounting is assembledf *The large nut '85 threadedon the upper portion'of carrier 77 is tightened onto the latter member so ast'd transmit forces produced by such "a tightening action through the'centrally located horizontal flanged portion of washer 84 and then into reentrant portion'81 through the tapered body portion of .the washer'84. with mit' 85 I tightened against clamp washer 84 receptacle "'53" becomes a unitary assembly with mounting stem 64 and spinshaft 37. g i -:Now withreference to the drive' te agitator" 57} that agitator member is splined to the upper end of agitator shaft 87 which receives its rocking movements from the conventional motion converting unit housed between the gear housing covers 58 and 59 and driven by the proper shaft 38. Agitator shaft 87 is journalled in hearing 88 which is seated in the recessed upper end of mounting stem 64. Collar 89, pinned to shaft 87, prevents downward movement of shaft 87 in an axial direction.

Upon rotation of drive assembly pulley 18 by motor in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the bottom of Figure 1, spin shaft '37 will be braked by mechanism within assembly 14 while power shaft 38 will cause agitator shaft 87 to oscillate agitator 57 within tub 53 in a conventional manner during the agitation periods. Upon reversal of motor 15 during the centrifugal extraction periods, pulley 18 will drive shafts 37 and'38 in unison to extract fluids from damp fabrics within the revoluble receptacle 53 by means of the connection existing between tub 53 and spin shaft 37. While mounting stem 64 may move slightly in the selfaligning bearing structure within flange 72 to produce relative movement between tub 53 and carrier 77 during the centrifugal extraction period, the flexible boot seal 73 will maintain a fluid tight seal with annulus 76 at all times.

During the agitation periods the conventional oscillatory movement of agitator 57 effects the desired separation of impurities from soiled garments agitated in the washing fluid within the clothes receptacle 53. Some of these impurities go into solution or into suspension with the washing fluid while other heavier types of impurities, such as sand, gravitate into tub 44 through the perforate bottom wall 54 and perforate side wall 55 of inner tub 53. Once these heavier particles enter tub 44, it is desirable that they remain in that outer tub during the remainder of the agitation period and then be completely flushed from that outer tub at the beginning of the following spin or centrifugal extraction period when receptacle 53 is rotated.

In practice, without the benefit of the sand baffle plate structure forming the crux of this invention, some of these sand particles have not always been completely flushed from tub 44 during the centrifugal extraction period as desired. Instead, these residual sand particles have passed through the perforate bottom wall 54 of clothes receptacle 53 and have been deposited rather uniformly over the sloping tub bottom wall 47 while accumulating to a somewhat greater degreen in gutter 48 during the agitation period as shown at A in the diagrammatic sectional view of Figure 6 which represents a tub assembly not equipped with a sand baffle plate structure. During the centrifugal extraction period following the agitation period the rotation of the clothes receptacle 53 relative to tub 44 caused the water currents to spiral around tub 44 beneath the perforate bottom wall 54 to trace the paths generally shown in the diagrammatic view of Figure 7. As apparent from Figure 7 these spiraling currents traced a path beneath the receptacle bottom wall 54 toward the rotational axis of receptacle 53 at B before reversing toward the peripheral gutter area at C where flow again was reversed. While other current flows were produced, these spiral currents produced the greatest sand deposit problems since the current flow indicated beneath receptacle 53 in Figure 7 caused the sand to settle out at the reversal points B and C. While rotational and centrifugal forces acted on sand particles at point C to reduce possibilities of sedimentation at this point, the flushing action at point B was much less than at point C and was insuflicient to achieve a complete scouring of that central area. This resulted in the formation of a ring around the boot seal 73 even after the complete washing operation had been completed. This sediment ring, while being difiicult to remove during the centrifugal extraction periods, sometimes recirculated within the receptacle 53 to contaminate subsequent loads of fabrics. In addition, the accumulation of these abrasive particles could harm seal 73 over a period of time.

To prevent such sand and sediment deposits within the tub assembly shown in the accompanying figures, a quadrantal baffle plate is positioned between the tub walls 54 and 47 and is generally centered over the drain outlet 49. Its segmental periphery is bolted or otherwise fixed to the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall of tub 44 and is sealed to that side wall by means of gasket 91. Bafile plate 90 is provided with downturned leading and trailing edges 92 and 93, respectively, with reference to the water flow past plate 90 during the centrifugal extraction periods. While the trailing edge 93 is downturned from its periphery to the centrally located upturned edge 95 terminating a short distance from boot seal 73, the leading edge 92 is cut away at 96 over gutter 48 to permit the circulating washing fluid to sweep that gutter area clean. The downturned edges 92 and 93 conform to the contour of tub bottom 47 except over the gutter area and beneath the centrally located upturned edge 95.

In operation, during the agitation periods, when movement of agitator 57 separates the impurities from fabrics contained within receptacle 53 the sediment can settle in substantially the same uniform pattern as that shown in Figure 6 since the entire tub bottom is thoroughly scoured during the subsequent spin periods. Once the clothes receptacle 53 begins to rotate in the centrifugal extraction operation, its counterclockwise rotation, as viewed in Figures 3 and 8, rotates the entire body of water within the tub assembly in a similar fashion. The rotating body of water then has two major paths of escape from tub 44 as it is pumped from that tub by pump 16. The first of these is defined by the throat formed by upturned edge 95 with a tub wall 47 and the leading and trailing edges 92 and 93 while the second is defined by the gutter 48 and the cut out portion 96. These paths are designated by the arrows of Figure 8. While there may not be a fluid tight seal between the downturned edge 93 and gutter 48, the rotational forces of water reduce the amount of fluid passing into drain 49 in that direction. I

Due to the size of the opening beneath edge 95 in comparison to the opening formed by the cut-away portion 96, the suction produced by pump 16 beneath plate 90 draws most of the fluid past the central portion under edge 95 to purge this central area of any sand accumulated in that region while the rotation of the receptacle 53 sweeps the remaining portion of the bottom wall 47 free of any other sediment and allows it to pass along gutter 48 past the cut-away portion 96 and into drain 49. The purging action taking place above and below plate 90 and over the tub bottom wall 47 as shown by the curved arrows of Figure 8 flushes the area between receptacle 53 and tub 44 to eliminate the sediment problem illustrated by the diagrammatic drawing of Figure 7.

Since the theory of operation of this construction depends upon the positioning of the mouth of the fluid channel connected to the tub assembly drain, it will be appreciated that while the illustrated construction represents the preferred embodiment of this invention, it need not be limited to the use of a quadrantal baflle plate and does not represent the only satisfactory construction which may e made within the spirit of this invention to achieve the desired'purging flow pattern for flushing the tub assembly free from any sand or heavy sediment.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to receive fluid and having a bottom wall provided with a drain outlet near the periphery thereof, a revoluble clothes receptacle nested within said tub and having a perforate bottom wall spaced from said tub bottom wall to separate sediment particles from fabrics placed within said receptacle, a baflle plate afiixed to said tub and extending from a position over said drain outlet toward the center area of said tub, said baffle plate cooperating with said tub bottom c. r a

a, 1 {,L m, 7 ,.;-v-, V .7 ii/@1115 ei f ent' sh ped r l eii t lbpp ni ai entra r and ex end n rom. idp en rca to "s r in ut e nd P m m a ommun c tin rwi said drainoutlet for generating a suction Within said chan- 1151 to scour said central area free of sedirnentpar ticles P itd0fi$ d i 2m l -v r r A -1 f 'e mac i ubad tedto eqe vefl i the periphery thereof, a perforate clothes receptacle nested within said tub and spaced therefrom to separate sediment particles from clothes placed saidrecept a cle, a baflie plate positioned between s'aid tub and said en j v na a bQ Ql l pr v d w a d inoutle receptacle, said baffle platehaving a segmentalportion bla' dz v the r n i fl a d Sea 9 aidh b an hir s Walls s nt e ai tub and fiiqpfir in therewith to define an effluent passageway haying one end thereof leading to said drain outlet and a n op posite open jis f p d inwa am. the Per he y o a dtu r nd means for creating a suction within said passageway for flushing accumulated sediment particles from within said tub by way of said passageway. p

'.'3. 'In a'wasl'ng mach'ne, a tub adapted torecieiyejfluid having a bottom wall provided witha'drain outlet iiea r the periphery thereof, a revoluble clothes receptacle nestedwithin said tub and having a perforate bottom wall spaced from said tub bottom wall to separate sediment particles from fabrics placed within receptacle, a bafiieplate positioned between said bottom wal ls and covering, said drain outlet, saidbaflfle plate having a segmental portion fixed and sealed to said tub and having downturned sides contacting Saidtub bottom wall and cooperating therewith to define an efliuentpassageway for fluid and sediment flushed throughsaid drain outlet, saidba'ffie plate further including an upturned flange defining an intake to said passageway adjacent therotatipnal axis, of said receptacle, and means for creating asuction within said'passageway for flushing fluid and accumulated sediment particles from said tub through saidpassage- 4 In, a washing machine, a tubhaying a bottom wall, a drain outlet in said tub, a perforate clothes receptacle nested within and spaced from said tub to separate sedimerit particles from clothes placediwithin said clothes receptacle, revoluble shaft means, connected to said ,rec epta'cleand extending through said tub bottornwall for rotation of said receptacle within said tub, amernber positioned between said tub and said receptacle, said member being connected to said tubadjacent said drain outlet and extending from a positionover saiddrain outlet inwardly toward said shaft means to cooperate with said tub in forming an efiluent passageway having an inlet opening adjacent said shaft means for removal of fluids from said tub during the rotation of said clothes receptacle by said shaft means, and means for applying a suction to said drain outlet for scouring said tub free of sediment particles accumulated on said tub bottom wall adjacent said shaft means.

5.,,In, a,;washing machine a tub adapted to..contain washingifluidandhaving a cylindrical sidewallanda bottom .Wall joinedto said sidewall, a drain outlet-in said tub adjacent the junction of said tub.walls, aclothes receptacle nested within said tub..and.having.a perforate bottom wall spaced from said tub bottom wall to separate sediment particles from'fabrics placedrwithin-saidclothes receptacle, revoluble. ,shaft means connected to said clothes receptacle andiextending through said bottom wall for rotation of said receptacle within said tub, a fluid deflector member connected to said tub and positioned over said ,drainoutlet between said tub and said receptacle, said deflectorhaving marginal portions depending toward said tub bottom wall to form withsaid tub a waterpassageway havingoneend opening toward said shaft means and an opposite, end abutting said side wall over said drain outlet, and pump means .for creating assuction in said drain. outlet for channeling fluid through said passageway and out said drain outlet during the rotation of said basket by; said shaft means to scour said tub: bottom wallfree of accumulated sediment particlesw a 6.,In a washing machine,-.a tubt'adapted to contain washing fluid and having a cylindrical side wall and'a bottom wall joined .to' said side wall, :a drainoutlet in said tub adjacent the'junction of said tub walls, alclothes receptacle nested .within said tubv and having aperforate bottom wall spaced from: said tub bottom wall to separate particles from fabrics placed within said clothes receptacle, revoluble shaftmeans connected to' said clothesreceptacle and extending through said tub bottom wall'for rotation of said receptacle within said tub, a fluid deflectonrnem- 'ber connected to saidtubr and positioned over said drain outlet between said tub and said receptacle, said deflector having marginal portions dependingtoward said tub bottom wall to form a water passageway having one end opening toward said shaft means and an opposite 'end abutting said side wall over said tub.outlet, said-Jone end providing the primary fluid intake into said passageway, an auxiliary fluid intake opening intone of said marginal portionsproviding a secondary flow? path into saidpassageway, and pump means for creatingfa suction in said drain outlet for channeling fluid. through said passageway and out said drain outletduring rotation of said basket by said shaft means to scour said tub bottom wall free of accumulated sediment particles.

References Cited in the file of patent UNITED srAras PATENTS:

Thomas Aug. 1 3, 1929

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