US2957330A - Combination washer and drier - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 25, 1960 K. R. CLlNE COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 26, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

Kermit R. Cline gooooo ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1960 K. R. CLINE COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER 5 Sheets-sheaf 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1954 Fig. 3

INVENTOR. Kermif Cline ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1960 Y K. R. CLiNE COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 26, 1954 oooooooo OOOOOOO INVEMTOR. Kerm/f R. Cline Fig. 6

Fig. 8

ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1960 K. R. CLINE COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 26, 1954 Fig. 11

Fig. 14

INVENTOR Kermit R. Cline ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1960 K. R. CLINE comsmmxon WASHER AND DRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 26, 1954 CNN INVENTOR Kermit R. Cline ATTORNEY United States COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER Kermit R. Cline, 1312 E. 44th St., Richmond, Va.

Filed Feb. 26, 1954, Ser. No. 412,723

6 Claims. (Cl. 68-20) The present invention relates to laudry equipment and particularly to that used in homes in which a single piece of equipment serves to wash and dry clothes without any intermediate handling.

Heretofore it has been customary to have two separate items of equipment, one for the washing and another for drying the clothes, requiring handling of the clothes between the washing and drying operations.

The conventional washing machine has been supplied with a /3 horsepower motor and the drier has been supplied with a /6 horsepower motor. Consequently when one machine is idle there remains some unused power. If both pieces of equipment are used simultaneously, extra heavy wiring is required. Although some models of combined machines for washing and drying have appeared, the motor power of a washing machine was much greater than necessary for the drier and the full advantage of the power has not been satisfactorily employed in the drying operation.

An object of the invention is to provide a combined Washer and drier structure in which a single unit overcomes the disadvantage of prior structures and serves both functions of washing and drying by taking full advantage of the total power of the driving motor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a single unit which will be attractive in appearance and will house the necessary parts to completely wash and dry clothes without intermediate handling permitting the housewife to place the clothes in the combination machine and then attend to other duties merely returning to remove the dry clothes at any time after the cycle of operation is completed.

Another object of the invention is to increase the thermal efliciency of washing and drying apparatus.

A further object is to provide equipment which may be readily installed in a basement, kitchen, or bathroom for direct use without requiring complicated water and electrical connections.

Briefly stated, the present invention relates to a combination clothes Washer and drier including a housing in which a horizontally disposed drum having an opening in one end is fixedly mounted and a foraminous drumshaped basket is located within the drum and mounted for rotation so that clothes placed therein may be agitated. A suitable water supply and discharge means is provided for the stationary drum with the conventional automatic controls for temperature and quantity of the water therein. The rotating basket is driven by a conventional source of power such as an electric motor through a gear reduction unit for rotating the basket at relatively slow speed for the washing and drying operations, and at a relatively high speed for centrifuging the water from the clothes. The washing structure is somewhat conventional but the same housing, stationary drum, rotating basket, driving motor, etc. are used in the drying operation. The air for the drying passes over the driving motor and reduction gearing as well as the exterior of the stationary drum absorbing as much 2,9513% Patented Oct. 25, 1950 ice heat as possible and then such air passes through a heating unit to a restricted nozzle directing the heated air into the rotating basket counter to the direction of rotation thereof. The air is caused to flow through the nozzle into the basket by a suction blower which tends to evacuate the washing chamber within the stationary tub or drum and such blower may be driven by the same source of power which rotates the drum through suitable driving connection such a a solenoid operated clutch, or a separate source of power may be provided for the suction blower.

A first lint trap in the form of a chamber having an inlet in communication with the tub and an outlet in communication with the tub and an outlet in communication with the suction blower is provided with a removable screen for separating the line from the air discharged from the tub.

A second lint removing device which may be called a dehumidifier and lint trap is provided at the point of discharge of the air from the apparatus. Such second lint trap includes a chamber having a plurality of watercooled wet baflles provided in the path of the exhaust air from the apparatus removing the lint from the air and reducing the humidity whereby the air discharged from the apparatus has a relatively low humidity with a minimum of lint and such exhaust air may pass directly into the room without unduly heating or increasing the humidity thereof. It is also contemplated that the exhaust air may be passed into the atmosphere outside of the room thereby avoiding the necessity for the lint traps and the means for reducing the humidity.

Control means are also provided whereby the washing cycle is automatically performed and thereafter the drying cycle is automatically initiated or the machine may be used solely as a washer or solely as a drier by the proper adjustment of the controls. The drying may be controlled by the length of drying time desired, the temperature of the clothes in the apparatus, or the degree of dryness thereof or combinations of these methods.

Other and futher objects will be apparent as the description proceeds with reference to the drawings where- Fig. 1 is a front elevation with parts broken away of one embodiment of the combination washer and drier;

Fig. 2, a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a perspective of the washer-drier combination with parts broken away showing the drive, lint traps, and part of the control structure;

Fig. 4, a schematic rear elevational view with the back panel removed of a modification similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and having a separate motor for operating the suction blower;

Fig. 5, a side view with the side panel omitted of the modification of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a rear view with the back panel omitted of a modification showing a heat exchanger in the exhaust air outlet and an auxiliary source of air entering from the top heated by contact with the tub;

Fig. 7, a side elevation of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, a rear View of another modification showing separate parallel paths for the supply of drying air;

Fig. 9, a side elevation of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10, a partial plan view with parts broken away of the modification of Figs. 8 and 9 showing how air from two sources merges into the air heater;

Fig. 11, a rear view of a further modification showing parallel paths for the air and recirculation of some air with a blower operated from the driving motor;

Fig. 12, a side View of the modification of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13, a rear View of another modification in which the air passes around the top and through a heat exchanger to a heater with some recirculation of the air With the blower driven by the main motor;

Fig. 14, a side view of the modification according to Fig. 13; r

Fig. 15, a rear view of a further modification in which some air is recirculated and some air comes through the top of the housing and other air through a heat exchanger;

Fig. 16, a side view with parts omitted of the modification shown in Fig; 15; i

Fig. 17, a wiring diagram showing the electrical control for the drying operation and the interconnection between the washing and drying controls;

Fig. 18, a transverse section of the wet type lintftrap and dehumidifier taken substantially on the line 1818 of Fig. 3; and i Fig. 19, a section taken substantially on line 19l9 of Fig. 18.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, upon a base 50 is mounted a housing 51 which may be made in sections or panels for assembly and servicing of the equipment. A bearing support 51A projects upwardly from the base and rotatably supports a drum-shaped horizontally disposed basket 52 having a shaft 53 rotatably supported in a bearing 54 at the upper end of bearing support pedestal 51A. Surrounding the basket is a stationary drum-shaped'tub 55 fixedly supported within the housing 1 and sealing the interior ofthe tub 55 frorn the interior of the housing 51.' Upon shaft 53, a driven pulley 56 is fixedly mounted and is driven by means of a-belt 57 from a'pulley 58 on a shaft of a variable speed 7 reduction unit 59 supported on the base 50. 7 An electric motor 60 provides the power for the speed reduction unit. The basket 52 may be driven at different speeds through the variable gear reduction unit 59 having gearing therein which is controlled by a solenoid 61 for changing the speed of rotation of basket 52 so that a slow speed may be used for the washing and drying operations and a high speed may be used for the centrifuging operation to remove water from the clothes after the washing and prior to the drying. 7 7

Suitable water pumps andsolenoid control valves are provided with means to limit the amount of temperature of water but these are not shown in detail to avoid complexity and such means are well known.

The structure in addition to that required for an automatic washer provides for the drying operation and includes asuction blower 62 which is selectively driven by a conventional clutch controlled by a solenoid for engaging a clutch element 63 on the blower shaft with a clutch element 63' on a high speed shaft ofthe variable speed reduction unit 59 whereby the suction blower may be selectively operated. It will be apparent that the blower may be operated by a 'clutch connection-to the motor shaft if desired. Air is supplied to the interior of the housing 51 through openings 65 in a toe recess in the front of the housing and through other openings 65 in the rear and such air Will pass over the motor wand gear reduction unit 59 absorbing heat therefrom and then pass around the tub 55 and into the inlet end 66 of a heating chamber 67. An electrically heated unit 68in heating chamber 67 heats the air which then passes through a conduit 69 to a restricted nozzle 70 which is shown as extending to the left in Fig. 1 and to the rear in Fig. 2, which nozzle is pointed in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the basket 52 whereby the air will impinge upon the clothes and additionally agitate the same during the drying operation.

It will be evident that the jet of air being emitted from the nozzle 70 produces movement on the entire mass of air within the drum in a direction counter'to the direction of the rotation of the drum whereby the air wipes over the damp clothes in suflicient quantity and at a' 4 air in the drying operation. Further, the air will necessarily contact greater areas of the clothes and any particular increment of air will be caused to follow a generally circular path in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the drum. This effect increases the overall eificiency of the dryer resulting in more rapid drying of the clothes because of the great turbulence in the air mass Within the drum and because each increment of air can come into contact with the damp clothes and the air will pick up more moisture similar to the manner wind picks up a greater amount of moisture. The jet action is similar to the action which can be observed when a jet of water passes out of a nozzle of a hose and is directed tangentially to a mass of Water in a cylindrical tub. Each increment of water or air that is introduced in this manner will necessarily make a relatively large number of circumferential passes within the drum or tub before being discharged and, consequently, the drying efiect produced by such increments of air will be greatlyincreased by the use of the present invention.

A conduit 71 in communication with the interior of tub 55 extends into a first lint trap 72 including a boxlike housing 73 having a removable cover 74 from which a screen 75 is suspended and substantially fills the space between the top, bottom and side walls thereof so that air withdrawn from tub 55 through conduit 71 must pass through the screen filtering the lint from such air. A handle 76 provides means for removing the cover with the screen from the lint trap so that the screen may be cleaned. The cover 74 rests in rabbet grooves77 which maintain a seal preventing the air from passing from bettween the cover and the trap. Communicating with lint trap 72 is a conduit 78 extending from the upper end of such lint trap to the inlet of suction blower 62 and an outlet conduit 79 from such suction blower may direct the air outwardly from the housing 51 thereby providing a complete circuit for the drying air. However, the air may pass to a second lint trap 165 from outlet conduit 79 as hereinafter described.

The conventional washing machine motor 69 has an excess of power for that usually required in a drier and therefore it is contemplated that the nozzle 79 of this drier will be constricted to an appreciable extent resulting in a partial vacuum in the drying chamber and the extent of such vacuum can be controlled by effective size of the nozzle 70. This partial vacuum in the drying chamber also will assist in evaporation of moisture.

The suction blower 62 is designed to provide the proper flow of air which is approximately cubic feet per minute and such blower is designed to operate at a selected speed and with the impellers of a size to take advantage of the excess power in the motor 69. Preferably the impellers of the centrifugal blower 62 are backwardly curved to obtain the most desirable operating characteristics including self-cleaning of the blades. The nozzle 70 is constricted to produce a jet of air to increase the turbulence in the drying chamber as well as to cause impingement of the air on the clothes. With the backward curved centrifugal fan or blower, static pressure is maintained relatively high thereby producing a partial vacuum in the drying chamber within the efficient operation of the centrifugal fan or blower 62 It will be evident that the fan or blower will be designed to take advantage of the excess power in the conventional washing machine motor over the power requirements for a conventional drier. The increased load on the motor 60 results in additional heating of the motor thereby preheating the air for the drying operation in addition to the production of the partial vacuum in the drying chamber which facilitates evaporation of moisture. As a result the maximum powerof the motor can be utilized so that the maximum efficiency in the drying operation is obtained.

Instead of having the blower 62 driven by the same source of power as the rotating basket, an auxiliary source of power may be provided therefor and the blower could be positioned more closely adjacent the lint trap, but the details of this construction are omitted since it would appear obvious to one skilled in the art. The difierence in the control being that the separate motor or source of power 64A is provided for a suction blower 87 (Figs. 4 to inclusive) in lieu of the solenoid 64 and the clutch 63 for operating the suction blower 62.

Although the heater 68 for the drying air is shown above the stationary tub 55, it is contemplated that such heater could be placed beneath the tub so that the same heater may serve to maintain the washing water in the tub at a selected desired temperature and suitable thermostatic control means may be provided whereby the washing or the drying cycle cannot commence until the temperature of the tub has reached the desired efiicient washing or drying temperature.

It will be evident that the washing chamber of tub 55 is maintained out of communication with the interior of housing 51 except for the nozzle 70. A door for closing the open end of the tub provides a suitable seal by means of gaskets or the like to prevent atmospheric air from entering the washing and drying chamber whereby the suction blower 62 will draw the drying air from nozzle 70 producing a partial vacuum in the drying chamber and thereby increasing the rate of evaporation of clothes therein.

Referring to the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, air is admitted into a housing 81 through openings 81A in the toe recess and the lower portion of the rear panel to pass over the motor (not shown) and on both sides of the stationary tub 82 into the heating chamber 83 where it is heated by a conventional heater. From heating chamber 83 the air passes through nozzle 84 into the washing and drying chamber of tub 82 and through a suitable passage 85 from the tub to a lint trap 86 from which the air is removed by suction blower 87 and forced through a conduit 88 to the exterior of the cabinet.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a housing 89 is provided with air inlet openings 90 in the top thereof and such air passes around both sides of the tub down to the lower part of the housing where it may contact the drive motor and absorb the heat therefrom; then such air passes up wardly into the external chambers 90, 90", of a heat exchanger 91 and thence to a heating chamber 92 where the air is additionally heated by a conventional electric heater 68. The heated air then passes through a nozzle into the tub chamber where such heated air impinges against the clothes. The air is exhausted from the interior of the tub 94 through an outlet conduit 95 into a lint tray 96 from which the air is removed by a suction blower 97, such air passing as shown by the doubleheaded arrows from the suction blower through an internal chamber 98 within the heat exchanger 91 and to the exterior of the housing through outlet 99, whereby a large amount of the heat is removed from the outgoing air and by the heat exchanger 91. It will be noted that the heat exchanger 91 may have an interior wall 91A and the rear exterior wall 913 of the housing may serve as one wall of the heat exchanger, if desired, or the heat exchanger may have a separate outside wall.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive, the incoming air may be supplied to the housing 100 having a toe recess through openings 101 in the toe recess and other outside air may be supplied to a heat exchanger 102 through openings 103 and 104 into passages 103A and 104A of the heat exchanger, the course of such air being shown by the single headed arrows. From the heat exchanger 102 a restricted nozzle-like portion 105 directs air into a heater chamber 106. Some air passes through the openings 101 and around both sides of the tub 107 and between the nozzle-like portion 105 and the inlet end of the heater chamber into the chamber 106 and from the heater the air passes through nozzle 108 into the tub 107. From the tub an outlet 109 provides communication with a lint trap 110, the air being moved by the suction blower 111 from the lint trap and then outwardly through central passageway 112 in the heat exchanger to the exterior as shown by the double-headed arrows.

In Figs. 11 and 12, a blower 113 driven by the usual washing machine motor is mounted within a housing 114 and produces a suction on a conduit 115 extending from a lint trap 117 through which air is drawn through a connection 118 from the interior of a tub 119 and air is caused to flow into the tub through openings 120 in the toe recess and other openings 121 in the rear wall, which air is warmed by the driving motor (not shown) and the outside of the tub 19. Such air is drawn into inlet end 122 of the heating chamber 123, where such air is additionally heated by an electrical heating element 124 and from the heating chamber the air passes through nozzle 125 into the tub 119 and into the lint trap through conduit 118. The air exhausted from lint trap 117 through outlet condut 115 to the blower 113, is forced from the blower through an outlet conduit 126 to the exterior of the housing 114. Part of the air from the blower 113 may pass through another conduit 127 to the inlet end 122 of the heating chamber 123 whereby some air is recirculated as desired. A damper 128 may be used to control the amount of air to be recirculated and such damper may be manually or automatically controlled in accordance with temperature and/or humidity conditions of the air.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, within a housing 129, a heater exchanger 130 is mounted adjacent the back wall and is provided with a center passage 131 for exhausting air to the outside of the housing and is provided with passages 132 and 133 separated from the center passages by suitable walls for the transfer of heat from air in the center or outlet passage 131 to air passing through the passages 132 and 133. Air is drawn into the housing 129 through openings 134 at the toe recess and such air passes around the drive motor and the tub and into the upper ends of passages 132 and 133 of the heat exchanger 130 and such air is drawn from the passages 132 and 133 through a conduit 135 to the heating chamber 136 in which the air contacts a heating element 137 and the air is then directed through nozzle 138 into the interior of the tub and such air is drawn from the tub through a conduit 139 into a lint trap 140 and from the lint trap the air is drawn through conduit 141 into a suction blower 142 and from the suction blower part of the air is forced through a conduit 143 to the center or outlet passage 131 of the heat exchanger and to the outside. Part of the air from the blower 142 may be recirculated by means of a tubular connection 144 to the conduit 135 and, if desired, a damper 145 may be provided in tubular connection 144 to control the amount of recirculation, and such control may be manual or automatic.

Referring to Figs. 15 and 16, another modification may include a housing 146 in which a heat exchanger 147 having a central or outlet passage 148 is mounted adjacent the back wall and has inlet passages 149 and 150 on opposite sides of passages 148 for transfer of heat from the outlet air to the incoming air. Air is drawn into the tub 151 through a nozzle 152 from a heating chamber 153 in which a heating element 154 is located and air is supplied to the heating chamber 153 through openings 155 in the top wall through which air is drawn into the housing 146 passing to the bottom and then into the lower flaring end of a conduit 156 having communication with the inlet or left end of the heating chamber 153 and other air passes through inlet passages 149 and 150 of the heat exchanger and through a nozzle-like tube 157 having its discharge into the lower funnel shaped end of the conduit 156, the inlet pasages 149 and 150 joining into a common passage within the heat exchanger and thence into the nozzle-like tube 157. It will be evident that some of the air is thereby drawn through the heat exchanger and other air comes directly fromthe outside over the tub absorbing heat from the tub and also absorbing heat from the driving mechanism.

A suction blower 158 is driven by any suitable source of power and preferably from the main motor producing a suction in a conduit 159 drawing air through a lint trap 160 which, in turn, draws air through a short conduit 161 from the tub 151 and part of the discharge air from the blower 158 may pass through a tubular connection 162 in communication with the center passage 148 of the heat exchanger to the outside of the housing 146 and part of the discharge air from the blower 158 may pass through conduit 163 which joins with tubular nozzle 157 so that the air passing through tubular conduit 163 may be recirculated. lf desired, a damper 164 may be provided in the conduit 163 to limit the amount of recirculation and such damper may be controlled manually or automatically. 7 i

l Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 18, and 19, a combination lint trap and dehumidifier 165 of generally rectangular shape includes a bottom wall 166, side walls 167, 168, a front wall 169, and a rear wall 170. Upstanding hollow baflles 171, 172 extend from the rear wall and from the front wall respectively and are arranged in spaced and staggered relation. Such baflles are supplied with cold water from a suitable supply 173 having a solenoid valve 174 controlling the passage of water to suitable conduits 175 and 176, to the interior of hollow 7' bafiies 172 and 171 respectively, the water filling the hollow baffles and then running out through openings 1'77 and 178 resp ectively. Such openings may bea series of small openings or an elongated slot so that the water keeps the left surfaces of the baffles wet. The lint trap 165 is provided with an inlet duct 179 on the left side which is an extension of duct 79 from the blower 62 and the air passing therethrough impinges against the wet surfaces of the bafiles 171 and 17 2 and around the forward and rear ends of such baflles as shown in Fig. 19 to an outlet elbow or duct 180, which outlet duct may discharge into the room. The lint being retained on the wet batfles is washed downwardly therefrom by the water and such lint with the water is discharged through a drain 181.

Under present plumbing codes it is necessary to provide means to prevent contaminating the water supply by impure water being siphoned into the water mains in the event of low pressure in such water mains. This purpose may be accomplished by different means including .check valves to prevent reverse flow or by means of a valve which prevents liquid under pressure within the pipes from escaping but as soon as the pressure within the pipe drops, such a valve opens and permits air to enter the pipe preventing contaminated water from entering the water supply mains. V

One way of supplying the water to the baflies without any danger of contaminaton is to provide a downwardly extending pipe 174A terminatingabove a flaring funnel like end 174B of a pipe 174C which supplies the water to conduits 175 and 176 to the bottom of the baflles 171 and 172 so that the water rises in the baffles and then passes outwardly through the openings 177 and 178. With this arrangement it will be obvious that the water will be fed by gravity from the flaring end 174B to the bafiles and in the event of a reduction in pressure in the water line, there is no danger of siphoning contaminated water from the lint trap. If desired an overflow may be provided to prevent water from overflo wing the top of the flaring end 174B. 7

The wet lint trap performs an additional function of removing humidity from the air. The cold water supplied to the balfles maintains the bafile temperature low causing the moisture in the air from the drier to be condensed on such cold baffles as well as being condensed in the cold Water running over the baffles. Such cold water reduces the temperature of the air from the drier and lowers the temperature of such air from such drier below its dew point causing the moisture to. condense. This action prevents increasing the temperature in the room in which the drier is used and the exhaust air from the drier may be returned into the room without increasing the relative humidity orthe temperature inthe room.

It will be understood that the discharge duct 79 may be provided with an outlet directly tothe exterior of the housing '51 as shown at 182 and a damper of conventional design 183 may be provided permitting the operator to selectively use the lint trap or not, as desired, and a suitable hand valve 184 may be provided in the. water supply conduit 173 for shuttingofl the water thereto in the event that the wet lint trap is, not used. Such valve 184 and the damper 183 may be interconnected for simultaneous operation and, if desired, another connection can be made to a switch for breaking the circuit to solenoid .valve 174 so that such solenoid valve will not be energized when the wet lint. trap is not used. Suitable electrical circuits maybe provided .to control the solenoid valve 174 and damper 183 so that the lint trap may be rendered inoperative by a single control. For removing the water from the drain 181, a pump 185 driven by a friction wheel 186 selectively contacts the shaft 187 of the drive motor by a solenoid 188 actuating a lever 189 pivoted intermediate its ends to a pedestal 198 and having its other end supporting the pump 185. Pump 185 serves to remove the water through an outlet duct 191 for discharging the water at an elevation above the water level of the tub such as to the top of a laundry tub. The same pump 185 also serves to drain the tub 55 through a conduit 192 which is also connected to the pump 185,. the conduits 181, 192, and 191 are shown as being flexible to permit the operative movements of the pump 185 so that friction disk 186 may be engaged or disengaged withthe shaft 187 for controlling the operation of the pump.

Referring to Fig. 17, a three-wire electric supply system includes supply lines A, B, for 230 volts and a ground line C for 115 volts between such ground line C and each of the supply lines A and B. The driving motor 60 is shown with one lead 193 thereof connected toline C and the other lead 194 thereof provided with a switch 195 for completing the circuit to line A for operation of the motor. Such switch 195 is normally used in the washing cycle for operation of the motor 60 and is controlled by the washing control knob 196, the control knob 196 being mounted on a shaft 197 driven by a conven tional timer motor 198 in the well known manner for controlling the washing cycle.

The washing control knob 196 is shown in its 011 position and line switches 199 and 199A of the drying control are shown in closed position so that the drying operation may take place. Line switches 199 and 199A are normally maintained in open position by cams 200, 203A during the washing cycle; such cams are provided with recesses in their periphery for receiving lifter tabs 291, 201A, of the spring biased switch leaves 199 and 199A respectively so that the contact on such spring leaves make contact with fixed contact points 2112, 2512A respectively only when the washing control is in its inoperative position. It will thus be seen that the drier control can have no effect during the washing cycle and the drying controls can only become effective when the washing cycle has been completed or when the washing control knob 196 is in its off position shown in the diagram.

Normally, the driving motor 60, during the washing cycle, is controlled by switch 195, actuated by a cam 203 to cause the driving motor to operate at the desired time and for the selected period. It will be evident that other control cams and switches for operating the various mechanisms are also provided for controlling the filling and emptying of the tub, controlling the speed of rotation of the rotatable basket, etc., but this structure is not included to avoid unnecessary complications since the Washing cycle is conventional. It will be evident that the temperature of the water used in the washing will be controlled by suitable mechanism (not shown).

Drier control switches 234, 204A, in series with line switches 199, 199A are provided, and such switches are similar to switches 199, 199A, but they are controlled by cams 205, 205A, fixed upon a control shaft 206 having a control knob 207 for manual control thereof and such shaft is rotated by a timer motor 208 through a friction clutch for adjustment and such timer motor is driven from supply line B by a lead 209 extending from the fixed terminal of switch 204 and by another lead 21a; which is connected to ground line C. The timer motor 208 is only operated when switches 199 and 204 are closed, since the supply of current to timer motor 288 will be broken by either switch. The opening of switches 204, 204A will terminate the drying cycle and such openings is controlled by projecting tabs, lugs, or cam surfaces 211, 211A on cams 205, 205A respectively with the spring tab 212, 212A respectively on switch leaves 204, 204A.

Assuming that switches 199, 199A, 204, and 204A are closed as shown in the diagram, the drying control timer motor 208 will be energized for the predetermined length of time as set by the operator. No other circuit is energized until thermostatic reset type switches 213, 213A are closed. These switches are adjustable in accordance with the temperature desired for drying the fabrics and such temperature may be accurately controlled within wide limits to make the drier adaptable for fine synthetic fabrics as Well as coarse heavy materials by merely adjusting the reset type thermostats 213, 213A to the selected temperature. It will be evident that a single thermostat may be of the double pole type for simultaneously closing or opening the circuits to supply lines B and A and a single adjustment knob 213B may control the temperature. Since this structure is well known, it is not shown in detail. Normally thermostatic switches 213 and 213A will be closed at temperatures below 140.

A safety thermostat 214 is connected in series with the heating element 68 through a lead 214' and such safety thermostat is normally closed, but is set to open in the event of overheating to prevent danger of tire. Such thermostat is preferably of the type which opens the circuit and maintains the circuit open but can be reset manually after the cause of the trouble is determined, such thermostat also can control the drying operation.

The heating element 68 in the heating chamber 67 is brought up to temperature for heating the air passing into the tub through the air conduit 69 and nozzle 70. Another normally open thermostat 215 having a fixed contact 217A is connected to terminal 216A of the switch 204 by means of a lead 217, the thermostat 215 being connected through a lead 218 to another lead 219 which extends to the solenoid 64 which controls the blower 62 and from the solenoid through lead 219A to the ground line C. The thermostat 215 is closed when the drier reaches a predetermined temperature and causes the driving motor and blower to operate until the drier cools below such predetermined temperature to make use of the residual heat.

From a lead 220 extending from the temperature control thermostat 213, another lead 221 extends to a solenoid 222 and from the solenoid to the ground line C and such solenoid 222 will draw the normally open switch 223 to a closed position thereby energizing lead 219 from lead 216 through an intermediate lead 224 completing the circuit through solenoid 64, lead 219A and line C causing the solenoid 64 to move its armature and cause clutch element 63 to engage clutch element 63 connecting the blower 62 in driving relation with the motor through the gear reduction unit 59. A bridging contact 225 on the armature of solenoid 64 serves to bridge contact 226 on lead 219 with a contact 227 on a lead 228 to the motor 60, the lead 193 connected with ground line C 1G completing the circuit to the motor 60 for operation thereof.

An ozone-producing lamp 229 located adjacent to the entrance of heater chamber 67 or other convenient location is arranged between lead 219 and ground line C and is simultaneously energized for sterilizing the air and the clothes by the production of ozone upon closing of switches 223 or thermostatic switch 215.

The armature of solenoid 64 also carries another bridging contact 229A for a circuit from a lead 230 between line B and one fixed contact 230A and a lead 231 to the other fixed contact 231A which lead 231 has a branch 231B extending to solenoid controlled valve 174 and another branch 231C extending to solenoid 188 and from the solenoid controlled valve 174 and from the solenoid 188 the circuit is completed through branch lead 232 and 232A respectively to a switch 233 and to the line C. By this arrangement the pump 185 is energized to remove water from the wet lint trap. The water is supplied to the lint trap by solenoid controlled valve 174. The manual switch 233 which may be provided between the leads 232 and 232A and the ground line C provide a manual control to prevent operation of the wet lint trap. Also, if desired, another solenoid, not shown, may be provided for controlling the damper 183 in the outlet conduit 79 for simultaneous operation with solenoid controlled valve 174 and pump control solenoid 188.

In the wiring diagram, it will be observed that switches 199, 199A, switches 204, 204A, switches 213, 213A are provided in lines B and A respectively. But in some instances, a switch in only one line will perform the necessary control function, but some electrical codes require switches in both lines and therefore the duplication of switches has been shown. It will be evident that the unit may be supplied from a volt line by merely connecting lineC to line A instead of having line A connected to a separate source of power.

Although the description of the present invention has brought out that the washer-drier combination can perform both the washing and drying functions, the apparatus may be used solely for washing, if desired. This is accomplished by adjusting the drying control knob 207 to the off position so that the drier cannot operate and then operating the washing cycle with the washing con trol knob 196 in the more or less conventional manner. With such an adjustment of the control knobs 196 and 207, the washing cycle will be completed but the drying operation will not occur.

From the above description it will be evident that the invention provides a combination washing machine and drier wherein the clothes may be placed in the tub and the washing control knob 196 set for the desired washing cycle and the drier control knob 207 set for the desired length of time for the drying operation. The control knob 213B will be adjusted to the selected temperature for the drying operation to prevent the drier from becoming overheated, thus making the drier safe for fine synthetic fabrics as well as heavy fabrics. The operator may then leave the machine which will automatically cause the washing, rinsing, and centrifuging cycle to be completed and thereafter cause the drying cycle to take place. The drying operation will be automatically controlled for the time set by the drier control knob 207 through the timer motor 208.

In the event that the temperature is increased beyond the adjustment set by control knob 213B, the thermostat 213 and 213A will open, thus interrupting the flow of current to heating element 68, and such thermostat 213 will break the circuit to solenoid 222 thereby permitting spring biased switch 223 to be opened. However, the driving motor 60, ozone lamp 229, the blower 62, the solenoid control valve 174, and the pump 185 will remain in operation as temperature control thermostat switch 215 will remain closed until the temperature of thermostatic switch 215 drops to open the circuit between leads 217 and 218, the drying operation with heater 68 de-energized continuing until the thermostat 215 is cooled to the desired temperature,

The thermostatic switches 21 3 and 213A are preferably of the conventional automatic reset type in which the circuit isbroken when the temperature exceeds the temperature setting of such thermostatic switches. The setting of such switches is controlled by control knob 21313 and in the. event that the temperature of the apparatus, exceeds the temperature setting of the thermostatic switches 213 and 213A, the current will be cut to the heating element 68 and such heating element will remain inoperative until the temperature drops below the setting of thermostatic switches 213 and 213A.

In some situations where the timing apparatus for the drying cycle is omitted, the thermostatic switches 213 and 213A maybe of the type requiring manual resetting in theevent that the temperature of the apparatus exceeds the setting of the thermostatic switches 213 and 213A. Ordinarily the evaporation of moisture from wet clothes would maintain the manually resettable type thermostat sufiiciently cool, and the drying operation would continue until the clothes become sufiiciently dry resulting in a higher temperature since the rate of evaporation would be reduced as the clothes become more dry. When manually resettable type thermostatic switches are used, a button 213C shown in Figure 1 in the center of the thermostatic control knob 213B may serve for the resetting function. However, the safety switch 214- is intended to perform the function of the manualiy resettable type thermostatic switches and will break the circuit to the heating element 68 when the temperature exceeds that for which the safety switch 214 is set. Thermostatic switch 214 may be adjustable for different characteristics of the apparatus.

In some situations, the timer control motor 208 may be omitted and the control may be accomplished entirely by adjustable manually resettable thermostatic switches 213 and 213A and such thermostats will be set for the proper temperature for the desired degree of drying. After the drying operation begins it continues while moisture is present in the clothes. As long as the clothes have excessive moisture, the temperature does not rise suificiently high to open thermostatic switches 213 and 213A, but as soon as the moisture content in the clothes becomes so small that the temperature of the clothes and the air rises above the, present temperature, the thermostats 213 and 213A will automatically open. The blower will then continue but the heating element 68 will not produce any more heat and the blower will continue only 7 so long as the thermostatic'switch 21'5 remains closed,

such thermostatic switch 215 opening when the drier cools; down below a predetermined temperature.

From an inspection of the wiring diagram, it will be evident that the electrical energy cannot reach the drying control during the washing operation since the control cams 200 and 200A maintain the switches 199 and 199A open during that time and the drier can operate only when the washer control is in its off position. Also, when the drier is in operation the. circuit is so arranged that the controls for the washing cycle are rendered inoperative and there is no danger of them being inadvertently energized.

With reference to Figs. 4 to 16 inclusive, various paths of circulations of the air are shown with separate blower motors shown in Figs. 4 to 10 inclusive while the blowers shown in Figs. 11 to 16 are driven by the same motor which rotates the basket for agitating the clothes. It will be understood that in the wiring diagram of Fig. 17, the blower motor would be energized by the solenoid 64 by closing contacts to such blower motor control instead of operating the clutch element 63.

t will also be evident that separate blowers and motors shown in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive could be replaced by a blower driven. from the main motor. Also, in the modifications shown in Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive, the blower could be operated by a separate motor instead or being driven by the main motor.

The dampers 128, 144, and 164, shown in Figs. 11, 13, and 15, may be controlled by a humidistat arrangement responsive to the humidity of the air coming from the lint trap for obtaining the maximum efficiency. Also, it is contemplated that the drying operation may be controlled by hurnidistats when the air leaving the drying chamber comes to a predetermined value for its relative humidity.

It will be evident that the thermostatic controls 215, 213 and 213A will be located to bereadily responsive to the temperature of the air in the drying chamber and such thermostats may be located'in the outlet 71 from the tub, in the linttrap or other suitable-location. The safety thermostat 214 should be located adjacent the heating element 66, such as in the conduit 69. It will be evident that such thermostats may be covered for protection from the lint.

It will be. evident that the wet type lint trap may be used with the modifications of the. inventions shown in Figs. 4 to 16 inclusive by merely locating such wet type lint trap at the outlet of the'air from the housing.

Although some parts of the structure may be omitted while still obtaining many of the advantages of the present invention, the entire combination results in an unusually efiicient washer and .drier combination with a minimum of attention by the housewife or other operator of the same.

From the above description, it will be apparent that applicant has provided a washing and drying machine which will completely perform the washing and drying operations without attention after the clothes are placed in the basket agitator and the controls are set and therefore the housewife may do the laundry in small quantitles by merely setting the machine to operate and go about any other chores until the clothes are dry for ironing or storage or use.

It will be obvious to thoseski'lled in the art, that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore, the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic washer and dryer comprising a tub, a drum mountedfor rotation about an axis having a horizontal. component, said drum'being within said tub for producing turbulence in the liquid and agitating the clothes, a motor for operating said drum, a blower, a nozzle for directing rying fluid into said drum and into direct unobstructed contact with. the clothes therein, communicating means. between said blower and said nozzle, said blower causing said drying fluid to pass through said nozzle, means to selectively drive said blower from said motor, said nozzle being constricted a suflicient amount to increase the load on said motor whereby said motor may operate at substantially full capacityat all times.

2. The invention according to claim 1 with sa d tub being sealed, inlet means to the tub and exhaust means from the tub to the atmosphere,. said blower being located in said exhaust means to effect a partial vacuum in saidtub. 7 7 V 3. The invention according to claim 2 with means to heat the drying fluidpassing'into said tub through said inlet 'means, a housing surrounding said tub and drum and providing a heat exchange chamber between said tub and said housing.

4. The invention according to claim 3 with the inlet means in heat exchange relation to the exhaust means for preheating .air passing through said nozzle.

5.,Ari automatic. dryercomprising a housing, a generally cylindrical drum rotatably mounted in said housing for rotation about an axis having a horizontal component, said drum being provided with an opening in an end thereof, means to rotate said drum about said axis, a restricted nozzle having its opening otfset from said axis of said drum and directed into said drum through said opening in said drum and toward the periphery thereof in a direction generally parallel to a tangent to the periphery of said drum, means to cause drying air to pass through the opening in said nozzle forming a jet of air whereby said jet of air will cause continuous movement of the air within said drum about the axis of the drum to assure a wiping contact of the air against the clothes in the drum thereby assuring eifective drying at all times, and means to retain clothes in the drum.

6. The invention according to claim 5 in which the nozzle and the jet of air are directed in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,786,191 Carroll Dec. 23, 1930 14 Bowdoin et al Dec. 27, 1938 Hetzer July 18, 1939 Basset-t Dec. 17, 1940 Evans Jan. 20, 1942 White Mar. 23, 1943 Breckenridge Oct. 31, 1943 Pokras Aug. 24, 1949 Morris Oct. 25, 1949 Morrison Jan. 20, 1950 Chamberlin May 29, 1951 Constantine Aug. 19, 1952 Milby et a1. Sept. 8, 1953 Morrison Dec. 15, 1953 Woodward et a1. May 4, 1954 Thompson May 25, 1954 Knipmeyer Mar. 13, 1956 McCormick Apr. 24, 1956 Dodge Jan. 15, 1957 Stilwell Mar. 19, 1957 Hanley Mar. 25, 1958 Geldhof May 13, 1958

Images