US4020659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tunnel-type commercial-duty washing machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-07-02
•
Granted: 1977-05-03
•
Expires: 1995-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A tunnel-type commercial-duty washing machine has a horizontally elongated housing subdivided by a succession of partitions into a succession of compartments each provided with a generally cylindrical foraminous drum. Each drum is provided with a respective foraminous scoop formed from a first generally cylindrical section having an edge attached to the outer wall and extending between the end walls of the drum and a second generally frustoconical section forming a continuation of the cylindrical section and having a side edge joined to one of the end walls over a major arc of the periphery of an aperture in one of the end walls. Thus the drums may be oscillated back and forth to agitate clothing, but when rotated through greater than a predetermined angle the scoop will pick up the articles of clothing in the drum and displace them axially out of the drum.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy Michel Bhavsar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:12
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F31/00; D06F31/005; D06F37/00; D06F37/30; D06F21/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
An apparatus for treating a textile article with a liquid, said apparatus comprising: at least one drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and provided with an outer wall defining a chamber and with a pair of axially spaced end walls flanking said chamber and each formed at said axis with a respective aperture; scoop means in said drum effective on rotation thereof through more than a predetermined angle for lifting from said outer wall and axially displacing said article out of said chamber through one of said apertures and ineffective on oscillation of said drum through less than said predetermined angle for lifting said article; drive means for oscillating and rotating said drum about said axis, said scoop means being at least partially foraminous and formed from a first generally cylindrical section having an edge attached to said outer wall and extending between said end walls and a second generally frustoconical section forming a continuation of said cylindrical section and having a side edge joined to one of said end walls over a major arc of the periphery of said one aperture, said edge of said cylindrical section lying generally in a plane including said axis and angularly bisecting said major arc where said frustoconical section joins said periphery; a housing means having an inlet end and provided between said ends individual housings forming a succession of upright partitions defining respective compartments and each formed with a throughgoing opening, each compartment being provided with one such drum, said drums being coaxial with said axis passing through said openings, each frustoconical section being joined to that end wall of the respective drum turned toward said outlet end; and means for introducing treatment fluids into said compartments, said drums being at least partially foraminous.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
292 words
An apparatus for treating a textile article with a liquid, said apparatus comprising: at least one drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and provided with an outer wall defining a chamber and with a pair of axially spaced end walls flanking said chamber and each formed at said axis with a respective aperture; scoop means in said drum effective on rotation thereof through more than a predetermined angle for lifting from said outer wall and axially displacing said article out of said chamber through one of said apertures and ineffective on oscillation of said drum through less than said predetermined angle for lifting said article; drive means for oscillating and rotating said drum about said axis, said scoop means being at least partially foraminous and formed from a first generally cylindrical section having an edge attached to said outer wall and extending between said end walls and a second generally frustoconical section forming a continuation of said cylindrical section and having a side edge joined to one of said end walls over a major arc of the periphery of said one aperture, said edge of said cylindrical section lying generally in a plane including said axis and angularly bisecting said major arc where said frustoconical section joins said periphery; a housing means having an inlet end and provided between said ends individual housings forming a succession of upright partitions defining respective compartments and each formed with a throughgoing opening, each compartment being provided with one such drum, said drums being coaxial with said axis passing through said openings, each frustoconical section being joined to that end wall of the respective drum turned toward said outlet end; and means for introducing treatment fluids into said compartments, said drums being at least partially foraminous.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined angle is substantially 360°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means for each drum comprises: a motor transmission carried on said housing and having an output side; a pinion operatively connected to said output side, and, a chain wrapped around the respective drum and in mesh with said pinion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said drive means for each drum further comprises means for radial displacement of said pinion relative to said axis, and spring means for urging said pinion radially inwardly against said chain.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein each output side has a splined shaft extending axially, said pinion being limitedly axially displaceable on said shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein each of said housings is formed from an upper half and a lower half joined at a generally horizontal axial plane, said drive means being provided on said upper half, said lower half being provided with means for rotatably supporting said drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said means for supporting each drum includes a plurality of rollers cradling said drum and rotatable about respective axes parallel to said axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein each of said drums is rotatable independently of the others, said drive means including respective drives each operatively connected to a respective one of said drums for rotating same.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
244 words
A washing machine comprising: housing means including a plurality of axially aligned axially open housings centered on a common axis and disposed adjacent one another to define a succession of axially separated compartments; a respective perforated drum in each of said compartments, said drums being rotatable about a substantially common axis and being axially open; scoop means in said drums effective on rotation thereof through more than a predetermined angle for lifting laundry from each drum and axially displacing same into a successive drum, said scoop means being ineffective on angular oscillation of said drums through less than said predetermined angle; means for introducing liquid into and removing it from said housings; and drive means for respectively rotating the drums and angularly oscillating same in the respective housing, said scoop means of each drum being formed from a first generally cylindrical section and a second frustoconical section, each of said drums having an axial aperture in an end wall through which laundry is deposited in the next drum, each of said cylindrical sections having an edge attached to a peripheral wall of the respective drum and each of said frustoconical sections having a side edge joined to the respective end wall over a major arc of the periphery of the aperture thereof, the said edge of each cylindrical section lying generally in a plane including said axis and angularly bisecting the respective major arc where the respective frustoconical section joins the respective aperture periphery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
244 words
A washing machine comprising: housing means including a plurality of axially aligned axially open housings centered on a common axis and disposed adjacent one another to define a succession of axially separated compartments; a respective perforated drum in each of said compartments, said drums being rotatable about a substantially common axis and being axially open; scoop means in said drums effective on rotation thereof through more than a predetermined angle for lifting laundry from each drum and axially displacing same into a successive drum, said scoop means being ineffective on angular oscillation of said drums through less than said predetermined angle; means for introducing liquid into and removing it from said housings; and drive means for respectively rotating the drums and angularly oscillating same in the respective housing, said scoop means of each drum being formed from a first generally cylindrical section and a second frustoconical section, each of said drums having an axial aperture in an end wall through which laundry is deposited in the next drum, each of said cylindrical sections having an edge attached to a peripheral wall of the respective drum and each of said frustoconical sections having a side edge joined to the respective end wall over a major arc of the periphery of the aperture thereof, the said edge of each cylindrical section lying generally in a plane including said axis and angularly bisecting the respective major arc where the respective frustoconical section joins the respective aperture periphery.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |