US2933912A - Dispensing device for a domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1960 C. K. BILLINGS DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l C. K. BILLINGS DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 19, 1957 April 26, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Cha/ /es K. Billings DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Charles K. Billings, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application August 19, 1957, Serial No. 678,978 4 Claims. (Cl. 68-17) This invention relates to a domestic appliance such as a clothes washing machine that is provided with a means for dispensing a clothes conditioning substance or the like into the tub of the machine at a predetermined time during operation thereof.

I am aware of the fact that others have provided for the placing of a soap or detergent material and a bleach in separate containers or cups Within the agitator of a clothes washing machine prior to operating the machine and for then dispensing the soap and bleach at specific times or intervals throughout operationrof the machine. Recently it has been found to be advantageous, for several reasons, to add to rinse water in a tub of a washing ma chine a clothes conditioning substance. Since present day washing machines carry out various cycles of clothes washing, rinsing and spin'drying operations automatically it is desired to place such clothes conditioning substance in the washing machine at the same time soap and bleach or other ingredients are placed therein before operating same. It is also desired to isolate this conditioning substance from clothes in the machine during the washing cycle and an earlier overflow rinsing cycle and to release the substance into a dispensing cup only prior to a second or final clothes rinsing cycle. This creates a peculiar problem to isolate the clothes conditioning substance from the tub of the washing machine during a washing cycle and an initial overflow rinsing cycleand to automatically cause the release of the clothes conditioning substance at a desired time so that washed and rinsed clothes can be treated before the final spin drying thereof.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a washing machine with a clothes conditioning substance Patented Apr. 26, 1960 enter a dispensing cup prior to the final rinse and cycle in the operation of the machine.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide for the dispensing into a tub of a washing machine of three different substances such as a clothes washing soap or detergent, a bleaching substan e and a clothes conditioning substance as distinguished from one another sequentially in that order respectively at predetermined intervals of time throughout a complete automatic clothes washing, rinsing and spin drying operation of the machine.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a washing machine embodying the feature of my invention with the cabinet or machine housing omitted;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the agitator shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the upper part of spinning the agitator showing a valved passage of a container or container that will dispense the substance therefrom into the tub or rinse water therein at a predetermined or correct time during clothes washing and rinsing operations or cycles of the machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container associated with the agitator of a washing machine which container is adapted to contain a quantity of clothes conditioning substance or the like to be retained therein isolated from water in the tub thereof during washing of clothes by the machine and to automatically dispense the substance into a dispensing cup from which it subsequently flows into the tub.

A further object of my invention is to provide a clothes conditioning substance container carried by the agitator in a tub of a washing machine which is normally closed and opened under the influence of centrifugal force of an initial rotation or spinning of the agitatorand tub, which is constructed in such a mannerthat the substance is trapped in the container when the same is opened for preventing flow therefrom during this initial spinning cycle of the agitator and tub and to release the trapped substance from the opened container in response to a reduction in the speed of the initial spin or to stopping the initial rotation of the agitator so that the substance will compartment in the cap on the agitator in open position. I

Referring now to Figure l of the drawings wherein there is disclosed a washing machine, of the type adapted to have the feature of my invention incorporated therein, I show a driving mechanism It drivingly connected to'a rotatable tub or centrifugal bucket 11 and an agitator 12 therein. Agitator 12 may be given to and fro motion relative to'tub 11, preferably a vertical reciprocation. The tub 11 preferably is provided with perfora tions 13 and is surrounded by an imperforate tub or casing 14 secured thereto. This permits the combined unit or tub, 11 and 14, to contain liquid with clothes to be washed in the machine during operation thereof and also permits the liquid to be centrifugally extracted from the clothes when the unit, tubs 11 and 14, is rotated. Upon rotation, the liquid is discharged over a rim 15 on the tub 14. The driving mechanism 10 is of any suitable character and is provided with an electric motor 16. Motor 16 is connected with a suitable transmission to provide a rotating part 17 which is connected, through the medium of a sleeve 18, with the tub unit or structure 11 and 14. The motor is also connected with a rotary vertically reciprocating transmission 19 to reciprocate the shaft 20 and agitator 12 to which it is attached relative to the tub. Part 17, transmission 19, driving mechanism 1t) and motor 16 together provide the washing machine with a power means and it will hereinafter be referred to as such. Details of the tub, agitator drive and agitator broadly are disclosed and fully described in the patent to Kendall Clark #2,366,236 dated January 2, 1945. Thearrangements are such that for wash an electrical timer 21-will energize a combined solenoid and pressure reducer 22 for a sufficient length of time to substantially fill the tub unit with water to approximately the levelindicated at 23 in Figure 1. Thereafter the timer 21 energizes the motor 16 to operate driving mechanism 10 for causing vertical reciprocation of shaft 20 and agitator 12 for a suflicient length of time to wash clothes in the tub unit 11 and 14. After an overflow rinse period, to be explained hereinafter, the timer 21 then energizes motor 16 of the power means to cause the driving mechanism ill to produce rotation of the tubs 11 and 14 with the agitator 12 centrifugally to extract the washing liquid from the clothes. For a conventional deep water rinse period or cycle the timer 21 thereafter and spin drying operation of a washing machine of this type includes a plurality of automatically controlled cycles wherein the agitator 12 is reciprocated during a clothes washing cycle and at least two or a plurality of clothes rinsing cycles and is rotated with the tub unit, Hand 14, after each of the rinsing cycles. In the overflow rinse cycle or period for example, at or near the end of an agitator reciprocating clothes washing cycle, fresh water is directed into the tub 11 of the machine to cause an overflow of washing liquid over the rim 15 to rid the tub of foreign matter such as lint, scum and a substantial amount of dirty water. As fresh water fills to the level of rim 15 the movement or pulsations of agitator 12 force this foreign matter through the perforations 13. Once in the space between the tub portions 11 and 14 the lint and scum rise to overflow the rim 15. The addition of the fresh water so dilutes the wash water that an initial rinsing action is effected. Thus when the valve 22 is deenergized and the motor 16 is energized to spin tub 11, the wash water which strains through the clothing as it is centrifuged through ports 13 will be relatively elem. This overflow or'wash water dilution operation is considered as an initial or overflow rinse cycle. The speed at which the tub is spun to remove the diluted wash water or overflow rinse water need not be excessively high since it is not necessary that the clothes be damp dried until the final spin drying cycle of the washing operation. After spinning off this overflow rinse water a second .fresh water filling and agitator clothes rinsing cycle then occurs after which the tub unit, 11 and id, is again spun at a higher speed of rotation, relative to the first or initial spinning cycle thereof, to eflect spin drying of washed clothes before operation of the machine is stopped. A washing machine of this character is usually provided with means for automatically introducing one or two ingredients or sub stances, either powdered or liquid, into the washing liquid for removing dirt from the clothes and thereafter into rinsing liquid for brightening or bleaching white washed clothes, table covers, bed sheets and the like. For example a soap or detergent substance has heretofore been added to the clothes washing water and a bleaching.

substance has then been added to the rinsing water.

In accordance with the present invention I propose the automatic and sequential introduction into liquids employed in washing and rinsing waters in a clothes washing machine of at least three different substances at spaced apart predetermined times or intervals throughout cycles of a complete operation of the machine to wash, rinse and spin dry a batch of clothes. I have found that it is highly desirable to introduce into the fluid or water in the washing machine tub, prior to a final spin drying of clothes therein, a clothes conditioning substance in addition to and as distinguished from substances heretofore added during a washing operation. This type of substance is obtainable on the market under various tradenames such, for example, as NuSoft and StaPuff which are liquids and Calgon and Climaline which are granulars. These substances are nonionic materials characterized by their ability to neutralize action of soaps or detergents for producing a more thorough rinsing of clothes, they soften fabrics to render washed articles, not required to be ironed, more fluffy and by the softening of fabrics they aid in ironing articles that require such after being washed and rinsed. The agitator 12 is of a substantially hollow open top cylindrical form-supported from the upper end of shaft '20 by means of a spider 31 on or secured to the agitator in any suitable fashion. A screen or foraminous member 32 is held between the spider and the seal holding device 33, the seal being a flexible bellows securedin liquid tight relationship with the tub '11 and shaft 20. Openings between webs of spider 31 and the screen 32 provide the hollow interior of agitator 12 with ports of restricted communication with tub unit '11 and 14.

.An upward extension or pedestal 34 formed on spider 31 serves to support a bleach dispensing cup 36 thereon providing a compartment 37 within agitator 12 which is movable therewith. Cup 36 has upwardly extending outwardly inclined side walls provided with apertures 38 spaced apart around the upper portion thereof establishing communication of compartment 37 with the interior of agitator 12 and tub 11 by way of the openings between webs of spider 31. The space intermediate the top of pedestal 37 andscreen 32 forms or provides a chamber or compartment 39 within the agitator adapted to receive a detergent soap or the like. The upper end of hollow agitator 12 is closed by a resilient rubber or the like removable top or cap member 40, see Figure 2 of the drawings. Peripheral edges of top or cap 4% are snapped over a beaded top rim on agitator 12 to hold it in place thereon so as to be movable therewith. An annular depending portion 41 on cap 40 engages an annular rim 42 on cup 36 to hold the cup 36 and consequently compartment 37 in place within the hollow agitator 12 against movement with respect thereto. A metal plate 43 inserted in grooves provided in side walls 44 of a cavity formed in cap member 40 provides a container or compartment 46 therein adapted r to contain the clothes conditioning substance in a man ner and for a purpose to be presently described. Plate 43 has a centrally located opening 47 therein providing the container or compartment 46 with 'a passage permitting communication thereof with theinterior of agitator 12 and tub 11 by way of the openings between webs of spider 31 and screen 32. A valve 48 pivotally mounted on an ear or cars 49 of a bracket secured to and depending from plate 43, as by a pin 51, carries a weight 52 offset laterally from the axis of rotation of circular cap 40 and cylindrical agitator 12. Valve 28 is provided with a tail-like projection 53 which engages an end portion of a light spring 54 secured to the plate. The valved passage 47 of container or compartment 46 is held closed by the valve 48 and spring 54 and is openable or opened under the influence of centrifugal force, against the tension of spring 54, upon high speed rotation of the agitator 12 and tub unit.

A centrifugal counter-balance 57 is provided to prevent the tub unit, 11 and 14, from rocking violently during a centrifugal cycle or period thereof. Details of this centrifugal counter-balance are shown and fully described in the Clark patent hereinbefore referred to. The agitator 12 is preferably made with the cylindrical upper main body having a downward flare provided with a relatively large resilient conical disk 58 at its lower portion. The disk 58 produces a toroidal motion or movement of the washing liquid and clothes therein during vertical reciprocation of the agitator 12. The connection of top or cap member 40 with the pulsating agitator 12 is preferably made substantially air tight to trap a quantity of air in the interior of the agitator as the tub is filled with water. This trapped air causes the water to pulsate into and out of the hollow agitator 12 through screen 32 and causes a thorough mixture of the detergent or soap contained in agitator 12 with the clothes washing water before the agitator is reciprocated. Timer 21 is connected by one or more wires 59 with the motor 16 so that it is properly energized to cause the power means to reciprocate the agitator and to rotate the agitator and tub at proper times as is more fully described in the aforesaid Clark patent.

Assume that it is now desired to wash and spin dry a batch of clothes placed in the tub of the presently disclosed washing machine. Cap member 40 is removed from agitator 12 to provide access to cup 36 which is also removed from within the agitator. A prescribed quantity of powdered or granulated soap or detergent'is then poured into the chamber 39 of agitator 12 through the opened top thereof. 'Cup36 is partially filled with a bleaching substance or compound and replaced into the agitator 12. Valve 48 of the passage 47 in container or compartment 46 of cap member 40 is opened, if it has not already been opened, and a predetermined quantity of clothes conditioning substance is poured into container or compartment 46 while the cap is held in an inverted position. The valved passage 47 leading to container or compartment 46 of the cap member 40 is then closed by valve 48 and the cap is rotated and replaced on the top of agitator 12 to close its open upper end. Thereafter the timer 21 is set so that, after clothes have been placed in the tub 11, hot water is introduced by the solenoid 22 to the level 23. Preferably cup 36 is not submerged in water when the tub is filled to the level 23. Thereafter the motor 16 is energized by timer 21 to cause the power means to reciprocate the agitator 12. While Water is being introduced into tub 11 the soap or detergent is disseminated into the water in the tub by the continuous passage of water into and out of the agitator through screen 32. Next the timer 21 energizes the motor 16 to reciprocate the agitator 12 in a clothes washing operation. During such agitation wash water is sloshed into and out of the agitator chamber 39 and bleach cup 36 while the is similarly shaken out of the ports 38. This interchanging action causes the bleach to gradually be diluted by and intermixed with the sloshing wash water. The bleach-charged wash water is carried to the clothes in tub 11 by the surging action of the agitator 12 Thus the clothes are subjected to the gradual whitening action of the diluted bleach. As the period of agitation or washing draws to a close the valve 22 is energized for the overflow rinse cycle as explained hereinbefore. Water rises in the tub 11 as the fresh water dilutes the wash water until it overflows rim 15, carrying with it the lint and scum. The first spin off cycle follows with mo tor 16 being energized to rotate tub 11; The wash water remaining in the tub from the overflow rinse cycle is thereby removed by a centrifuging process. This rotation or spinning takes place with a somewhat slow acceleration so that the major portion of the wash water is discharged over the rim 15 before rotation reaches top speed. Before or near the top speed of rotation anywater, which remains in the cup 36 after the bleaching substance in compartment 37 thereof has been dispensed by the reciprocationof agitator 12, is caused to rise along the inclined side walls of cup 36 and flown out of same by way of the apertures 38. The weight 52, valve projection 53 and spring 54 are so constructed and designed that the valve 48, by virtue of the mass of weight 52, overcomes spring 54 when the top speed of initial spin or rotation of the agitator 12 and the tub is reached and the valve 48 flips open to uncover the passage 47. However the clothes conditioning substance within container or compartment 46 has, during spining of agitator 12, been shifted over against side walls of compartment 46 beyond the opening or passage 47 (see Figure 3) and is trapped in this compartment during the initial spin cycle of the machine. At or near the end of this initial spin cycle or at a reduced rotation of agitator 12 the trapped clothes conditioning substance in compartment 46 will be released from sides thereof and will flow toward the axis of agitator 12 whereby it falls or flows into the compartment 37, provided by cup 36, prior to another or a subsequent clothes rinsing and spin drying cycle of the agitator and tub. After the clothes washing, water overflow and first water spin off cycles of the machine have been completed there is a predetermined pause period in the automatic operation of the machine, created by timer 21, at which time a given amount of fresh water is again directed into the tub. This fresh water constitutes the final rinse water. When the agitator 12 is thereafter again reciprocated, under control of timer 21, for a second or final rinse and spin dry cycle, water enters compartment 37 of cup 36 throughapertures 38 bleach in cup 36 and mixes with the clothes conditioning substance previously dumped therein to dissolve same. The concentrated clothes conditioning solution flows out of compartment 37 upon reciprocation of pulsator-agitator 12 during this second rinse cycle. Then timer 21 again energizes the power means to cause the second or final spin or rotation of the agitator and tub at a high rate of speed to spin dry the washed clothes. The fabrics of the clothes are, by virtue of the soap neutralizing property of the substance, thoroughly treated before the clothes are spin-dried, it being understood that the top speed of the final spin of the agitator and tub removes substantially all liquid from the clothes. As before stated this treatment of the washed clothes, before they are spin dried, softens the fabrics thereof and renders the clothes flutfier when removed from the washing machine. The spin dried articles removed from the ma chine and not required to be ironed may be folded in a fiutfed condition, stacked and placed in storage. The softening of fabrics of articles and the flufling thereof attained by conditioning or treating them as herein described and which require ironing greatly facilitates the ironing operation. A a

While the form ofembodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a washing machine having a tub, an agitator in said tub, said agitator being substantially hollow to provide a chamber therein having restricted communication with said tub, power means for reciprocating said agitator during a-clothes washing and a clothes rinsing cycle of operation of said machine and for rotating the agitator and said tub during each of a plurality of spinning cycles of operation of said machine, means for sequentially dispensing into said tub at least three different substances, said means comprising the chamber in said agitator adapted to contain a detergent soapor the like substance, an apertured compartment within and movable with said agitator chamber adapted to contain a clothes bleaching substance and a normally closed second compartment movable with said agitator and adapted to contain a clothes conditioning substance, said normally closed second compartment being provided With a valved passage, a portion of said agitatorvchamber being immersed in water upon substantially filling said tub therewith to cause the detergent soap to disseminate into the water, said apertures in said apertured compartment causing the bleaching substance to mix with water in said tub when said agitator is reciprocated, said valved passage of said closed second compartment being opened under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from an initial spinning cycle of rotation of said agitator and tub, said second compartment being so constructed and aranged as to trap the clothes conditioning substance therein against flow therefrom when said passage is opened during the initial spinning .cycle of said agitator and tub, and the trapped clothes conditioning substance in said second compartment being released therefrom through said opened passage in response to a reduction in the speed of rotation of said spinning agitator prior to a subsequent spinning cycle of the agitator and tub.

i 2. In combination, a washing machine having a tub, a hollow open upper end agitator in said tub having restricted communication therewith, power means for reciprocating said agitator during clothes washing and rinsing cycles of operation of said machine and for rotating the agitator and said tub during each of a plurality of spinning cycles of operation of said machine, a cup in said hollow agitator having perforations in an upper portion thereof, a removable cap member closing the upper end of said hollow agitator and movable therewith, said cap member having a normally closed compartment formed '7 therein adapted to contain a clothes conditioning sub stance, a passage in the bottom wall of said compartment for establishing communication between-same and the interior of said cup, a valve pivotally mounted on said cap member closing said passage, a weight on said valve and a spring for holding the valve in closed position, said weight being movable under the influence of centrifugal force in-response to an initial spinning cycle of said agitator and tub for overcoming said spring and opening said valve, said passage being at the axial center of said agitator and spaced from side walls of said compartment whereby the clothes conditioning substance therein moves laterally of the axis of rotation of said agitator and is trapped in the compartment against flow therefrom when said valve is opened duringthe said initial spinning cycle ofsaidagitator and tub, and the trapped clothes'conditioning substance in said compartment being released therefrom through said passage'to said cup in response'to a reduction in the speed of rotation of said spinning agitator prior'to a subsequent spinning cycle of the agitator and tub.

3. In combination, a washing machine having a tub, an agitator in said tub, said agitator being substantially hollow to provide a chamber therein having restricted communication with said tub, power means for reciprocating said agitator during a clothes washing and a clothes rinsing cycle of operation of said machine and for rotating the agitator and said tub during each of a plurality of spinning cycles of operation of said machine, means for sequentially dispensing into said tub at least three different substances, said means comprising the chamber in said agitator adapted to contain a detergent soap or the like substance, an apertured compartment within and movable with said agitator chamber adapted to contain a clothes bleaching substance and a normally closed second compartment movable with said agitator and adapted to contain a clothes conditioning substance,

said normally closed second compartment being provided with a passage in the bottom wall thereof establishing communication between same and the interior of said agitator, a pivotally mounted valve normally closing said passage, spring means for holding said valve'in closed position, a portion of said agitator chamber being immersed in water upon substantially filling said tub therewith to cause the detergent soap to disseminate into the water, said apertures in said apertured compartment causing the bleaching substance to mix with water in said tub when said agitator is reciprocated, means associated with said valve for overcoming said spring to cause the valve to open said passage in said second compartment under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from an initial spinning cycle of rotation of saidagitator and tub, the passage inthe bottom wall of said second compartment being spaced centrally of side walls thereof whereby the clothes conditioning gsubstancetherein shifts laterally of the axis of rotation of said agitator and is trapped in said second compartment duringthe said initial spinning cycle of said agitator and tub, and the trapped clothes conditioning substance in said second compartment being released therefrom through said opened passage in response to a reduction in the speed of rotation of said spinning agitator prior to a subsequent spinning cycle of the agitator and tub.

4. In combination, a washing machine having a tub, an agitator in said tub, said agitator being substantially hollow to provide a chamber therein having restricted communication with said tub, power means for reciprocating said agitator during a clothes washingand a clothes rinsing cycle of operation of said machine and for rotating the agitator and said tub during each of a plurality of spinning cycles of operation of said machine, means for sequentially dispensing into said tub at least'three different substances, said means comprising the chamber in said agitator adapted to contain a first substance, an apertured compartment Within and movable with said agitator chamber adapted to contain a second substance and a normally closed compartment movable with said agitator and adapted to contain a third substance, said normally closed compartment being provided with a valved pasage, a portion of said agitator chamber being immersed in water upon substantially filling said tub therewith to cause the first substance to disseminate into the water, said apertures in said apertured compartment causing the second substance to mix with water in said tub when said agitator is reciprocated, said valved passage of said normallyclosed compartment being opened under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from an initial spinning cycle of rotation of said agitator and tub, said normally closed compartment being so constructed and arranged as to trap the third substance therein against flow therefrom when said passage is opened during the initial spinning cycle of said agitator and tub, and the trapped third substance in said normally closed compartment being released therefrom through said opened passage in response to a reduction in the speed of rotation of said spinning agitator prior to a subsequent spinning cycle of the agitator and tub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,522,242 Wagner Sept. 12, 1950 2,653,618 Frank Sept. 29, 1953 2,792,701 Bochan May 21, 1957

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