US3598130A — Vertically movable spray mechanism for washing ma…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 221 words

An improved utensil-washing machine comprising: a. a housing having means for inserting and removing the utensils to be washed; b. utensil support means stationarily mounted within said housing having pairs of spaced upstanding support members and a plurality of spaces between pairs of said spaced upstanding support means; c. a first spray means to direct a wash solution and a second spray means to direct rinse liquid against the utensils; d. elevator means movably mounted in said housing and carrying said spray means; e. drive means to move said elevator and said spray means along a linear path past the utensils; f. means to deliver the wash solution and rinse liquid to said spray means; and g. said first spray means being a pipe extending substantially horizontally and provided with a plurality of spaced jet nozzles so located that a predetermined number of said jets are aligned with each of said spaces between pairs of said upstanding support members and a predetermined number of other jets are aligned with the areas between adjacent pairs of upstanding support members, said second spray means for said rinse liquid being located adjacent to said first spray means and coupled thereto, said second spray means having a plurality of spaced nozzles directed downwardly for dispensing said rinse liquid therethrough towards said utensIls to be washed.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 221 words

An improved utensil-washing machine comprising: a. a housing having means for inserting and removing the utensils to be washed; b. utensil support means stationarily mounted within said housing having pairs of spaced upstanding support members and a plurality of spaces between pairs of said spaced upstanding support means; c. a first spray means to direct a wash solution and a second spray means to direct rinse liquid against the utensils; d. elevator means movably mounted in said housing and carrying said spray means; e. drive means to move said elevator and said spray means along a linear path past the utensils; f. means to deliver the wash solution and rinse liquid to said spray means; and g. said first spray means being a pipe extending substantially horizontally and provided with a plurality of spaced jet nozzles so located that a predetermined number of said jets are aligned with each of said spaces between pairs of said upstanding support members and a predetermined number of other jets are aligned with the areas between adjacent pairs of upstanding support members, said second spray means for said rinse liquid being located adjacent to said first spray means and coupled thereto, said second spray means having a plurality of spaced nozzles directed downwardly for dispensing said rinse liquid therethrough towards said utensIls to be washed.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said utensil support means includes means to drain the wash solution and rinse liquid therethrough and means to support the utensils on the edges thereof, said spray means during its linear movement passing between adjacent utensils.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said utensil support means includes means to drain the wash solution and rinse liquid therethrough there being further included rotary spray means positioned below said utensil support means to direct a wash solution and rinse liquid upwardly against the utensils.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 141 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said rotary spray means comprises: a. a fixed hub member having separate wash solution and rinse liquid inlet means; b. a fitting rotatably mounted in said hub member and in liquid communication with said wash solution inlet means; c. a first pair of hollow arms each having a plurality of spaced liquid discharge means thereon, said arms being secured to said fitting and extending in opposite directions therefrom for rotation with said fitting, said first arms being in liquid communication with said wash solution inlet means; and d. a second pair of hollow arms each having a plurality of spaced liquid discharge means thereon, said arms being mounted on said fitting for independent rotation with respect to said first arms, said second arms being in liquid communication with said rinse water inlet means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said liquid discharge means on said first arms are jet nozzles, at least two of which are directed in the horizontal plane and face in opposite directions.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said liquid discharge means on said second arms are jet nozzles, at least two of which are directed in the horizontal plane and face in opposite directions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first and second pair of arms are angularly out of phase with each other.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 71 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including tank means in liquid communication with the interior of said housing to receive the wash solution and rinse liquid drained therefrom, said means to deliver the wash solution comprising a pump having an inlet and outlet, said inlet being in liquid communication with said tank and conduit means in liquid communication with said pump outlet and at least said first spray means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 191 words

An improved utensil-washing machine comprising a housing having means for inserting and removing the utensils to be washed, a utensil support mounted in a fixed position within said housing, spray means to direct a wash solution and rinse liquid against said utensils, elevator means in said housing movably mounted in said housing and carrying said spray means, drive means to move said elevator and said spray means in a linear path past said utensils, said elevator means including a hollow tube rigidly mounted in said housing and in liquid communication at one end thereof with said means to deliver the wash solution to said spray means, the other end of said tube being sealed, there being an aperture in the wall of said tube above said sealed end, a hollow sleeve coaxially mounted about said hollow tube to define an annular space therebetween, said sleeve having at least one aperture therein to receive said spray means, said elevator means being coupled to said drive means to reciprocate said sleeve in two opposite directions along a linear path, and means to deliver the wash solution and rinse liquid to said spray means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 191 words

An improved utensil-washing machine comprising a housing having means for inserting and removing the utensils to be washed, a utensil support mounted in a fixed position within said housing, spray means to direct a wash solution and rinse liquid against said utensils, elevator means in said housing movably mounted in said housing and carrying said spray means, drive means to move said elevator and said spray means in a linear path past said utensils, said elevator means including a hollow tube rigidly mounted in said housing and in liquid communication at one end thereof with said means to deliver the wash solution to said spray means, the other end of said tube being sealed, there being an aperture in the wall of said tube above said sealed end, a hollow sleeve coaxially mounted about said hollow tube to define an annular space therebetween, said sleeve having at least one aperture therein to receive said spray means, said elevator means being coupled to said drive means to reciprocate said sleeve in two opposite directions along a linear path, and means to deliver the wash solution and rinse liquid to said spray means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 including bearing means disposed about said tube in the annular space.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 including first and second bearing means sealingly disposed about said tube in the annular space, said first bearing means being above the aperture in said tube, said second bearing means being below the aperture in Said tube.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first and second bearing means are formed of a low coefficient of friction material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 67 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said spray means are comprised of a plurality of headers secured to said sleeve in liquid communication with the annular space and the interior of said pipe, said headers extending in a direction over said support means and having a plurality of means to discharge the wash solution, said discharge means being spaced along the length of said headers.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said discharge means are jet nozzles.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said discharge means are jet nozzles alternately facing in substantially opposite directions.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 71 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said plurality of headers is comprised of a first set of headers extending outwardly from said sleeve in a direction substantially parallel to one dimension of the apparatus and a second set of headers secured in liquid communication with said first set and extending in a direction substantially parallel to another dimension of the apparatus and at right angles to the first dimension.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 67 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said spray means includes a plurality of rinse headers coupled to said sleeve for movement therewith, said rinse headers extending in a direction substantially parallel to the depth of the apparatus and having a plurality of fluid discharge means spaced along the length of said headers, said rinse headers being in liquid communication with a source of rinse liquid.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 including flexible conduit means providing communication between said rinse headers and the source of rinse liquid.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said discharge means are jet nozzles.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said jet nozzles alternately face in substantially opposite directions.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises: a. a motor; b. a crank arm having first and second ends, said first end being operatively connected to the output of said motor for rotation thereby; and c. means coupling said crank arm second end and said elevator.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 54 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said coupling means comprises a sprocket rotatably mounted on said crank arm second end and an elongated chain trained about said sprocket, one end of said chain being nonmovably anchored, the other end of said chain being secured to a movable portion of said elevator means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 21 including counterweight means acting on said crank arm second end.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 71 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including additional, rotary spray means positioned below said support means, said means to deliver the wash solution and rinse liquid being common to both said spray means, there being included first valve means controlling the flow of rinse liquid to both said spray means and second valve means selectively directing the flow of the wash solution to either one of said spray means.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 221 words

In a utensil washing machine having a housing, rack means to nonmovably support the utensils within the housing and means to deliver a wash solution and rinse liquid to the interior of the housing, improved means to dispense the wash solution and rinse liquid, said improvement comprising: a. elevator means arranged for vertical movement in said housing; b. spray means carried by said elevator means and in liquid communication with the wash solution and rinse liquid, said spray means having discharge means arranged to direct the wash solution and rinse liquid against the surface of the utensils to be washed; and c. means to move said elevator means up and down along a substantially linear path whereby said spray means travels past the utensils on the support rack; d. a hollow tube rigidly mounted in the housing and in communication at one end thereof with the means to deliver the wash solution, the other end of said tube being sealed, there being an aperture in the wall of said tube above said sealed end; e. a hollow sleeve coaxially mounted about said tube to define an annular space therebetween, said sleeve having at least one aperture therein to receive said spray means; and f. said elevator means being coupled to said drive means to reciprocate said sleeve in two opposite directions.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 221 words

In a utensil washing machine having a housing, rack means to nonmovably support the utensils within the housing and means to deliver a wash solution and rinse liquid to the interior of the housing, improved means to dispense the wash solution and rinse liquid, said improvement comprising: a. elevator means arranged for vertical movement in said housing; b. spray means carried by said elevator means and in liquid communication with the wash solution and rinse liquid, said spray means having discharge means arranged to direct the wash solution and rinse liquid against the surface of the utensils to be washed; and c. means to move said elevator means up and down along a substantially linear path whereby said spray means travels past the utensils on the support rack; d. a hollow tube rigidly mounted in the housing and in communication at one end thereof with the means to deliver the wash solution, the other end of said tube being sealed, there being an aperture in the wall of said tube above said sealed end; e. a hollow sleeve coaxially mounted about said tube to define an annular space therebetween, said sleeve having at least one aperture therein to receive said spray means; and f. said elevator means being coupled to said drive means to reciprocate said sleeve in two opposite directions.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 49 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 25 wherein said elevator means includes low coefficient of friction first and second bearing means sealing disposed in the annular space, said first bearing means being above the aperture in said tube, said second bearing means being below the aperture in said tube.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 56 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 25 wherein said spray means are comprised of a plurality of headers secured to said sleeve in liquid communication with the annular space and the interior of said pipe, said headers extending in a direction over the rack means, said discharge means being spaced along the length of said headers.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said discharge means are jet nozzles alternately facing in substantially opposite directions.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 71 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said plurality of headers is comprised of a first set of headers extending outwardly from said sleeve in a direction substantially parallel to one dimension of the apparatus and a second set of headers secured in liquid communication to said first set and extending in a direction substantially parallel to another dimension of the apparatus and at right angles to the first dimension.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 69 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 25 wherein said spray means includes a plurality of rinse headers coupled to said sleeve for movement therewith, said rinse headers extending in a direction over the rack means and having a plurality of liquid discharge means spaced along the length of said headers and alternately facing in opposite directions, said rinse headers being in liquid communication with a source of rinse liquid.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 30 wherein said discharge means are jet nozzles.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-08-09	1975-02-08	1975-08-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-08-09	1979-02-08	1979-08-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-08-09	1983-02-08	1983-08-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vertically movable spray mechanism for washing machine

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