Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1.
"MATERIAL TREATMENT APPARATUS"
This invention relates to material treatment apparatus,
more particularly an apparatus for the treatment of fluid,
granular or other materials of non solid form, in various
chemical and manufacturing and other processes, and washing
and cleaning of clothes, articles and objects of domestic or
industrial nature.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
U.S. Patent No. 1339818 discloses a washing machine and
more particularly refers to machines for washing clothes, the
machine having a casing supported on trunnions which are
slidable on vertical guides, springs acting between the
trunnions and the base of the machine. A drive mechanism
comprising a crank is connected to the bottom of the casing
so that in operation the casing will partake of an
oscillatory as well as a reciprocatory motion, the drive
mechanism comprising a crank and pitman which is connected to
the bottom of the casing.
US Patent No. 1397886 shows a washing machine of
a rectangular boxlike structure, this being supported Jo on springs so that by grasping the handles and rocking
the boxlike structure,clothes can be washed within the
machine.
US Patent No. 1459835 is also directed to a washing
machine having a swinging receptacle mounted on inclined
links so that by manually swinging the receptacle that
the washing action is given to the receptacle.
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2.
US Patent No. 1460400 illustrates a dishwashing machine
having a container within which is provided a basket
or the like to contain the dishes to be washed. A drive
mechanism provides a vertical plus part reciprocatory
motion to the basket within the container.
US Patent No. 1648530 is a washing machine tub having
a container supported by gimbal ring at the top, with
a crank mechanism at the bottom to provide a swinging
motion to the container.
US Patent No. 1855265 discloses a further washing
machine which is pivoted on an horizontal axis to provide
an oscillatory motion by a handle/ springs being provided
in order to stabilize the structure and return it to
its normal position during oscillation.
US Patent No. 3706210 shows a mobile washing machine
which can be carried on a house trailer, camper vehicle
or boat or the like so that as the motor vehicle moves
the motîon causes the wash water to slosh vigorously,
the unit comprising a container within which is mounted
a buoyant basket to float within the water in the container,
the clothes being contained within the basket.
US Patent No. 4096873 discloses an immersion washer
in which a rotary or oscillatory motion as well as a
vertical motion is applied to the basket or the like
containing the parts to be washed by action of a handle
onto a cam plate or the like.
US Patent No.3044089 discloses a golf ball washing
machine in which a reciprocatory and part rotary motion
is applied to the unit to facilitate the cleaning of
the golf ball.
3.
These patent specifications for material treatment
or washing apparatus are either operated manually, or
have mechanical gearing such as cams, screw threads or
the like9 or crank action mechanisms to apply the desired
motion to the washing or cleaning apparatus.
It is an object of this invention to provide a material
treatment apparatus in which a simple drive mechanism
is applied, and also which uses a minimum of power to
achieve the washing action.
BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION:
According to the present invention there is provided
an apparatus for material treatment, washing and the
like, the apparatus comprising a bowl or container, means
being provided to impart to the bowl or container an
oscillatory vertical motion, and resilient means suspending
bowl or container such that the oscillatory motion is
converted into a part rotary rnotion by the suspension
means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
In the drawings:
FIG.l discloses a perspective view of one form of the
invention which is suitable for washing small units, such as
a washing machine of toy form for washing dolls clothes.
FIG.2 shows an alternative form of washing machine in
schematic form,
FIG.3 shows a plan view of Figure 2, and
FIG.4 shows an alternative form of washing machine
having means for extraction of the water from the bowl of the
washing machine.
4.
DESCRIPTION Ox PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
As shown in Figure 1 the bowl 1 is supported by
resilient straps 2 supporting base 3, the straps being
for example three or four in number and positioned around
the bowl or container to extend downwardly and being
inclined to the vertical, and inclined across the axis
of the bowl in what may be termed the same direction
of rotation, so that as the bowl is given an oscillatory
vertical movement the bowl will also have an oscillatory
motion in a rot-ational sense so that the bowl partakes
of a combined vertical and rotational movement.
In order to cause the bowl 1 to have a vertical
component of motion, an electromagnet 4 (as shown in Figure
2) can be positioned at the bottom of the,bowl, the magnetic
coil 5 being attached for example to the supporting base
or the like, while the metallic core 6 is attached to
the bowl.
The action of the electro-magnet for smaller units
can be in one direction only, and this would be against
the action of the resilient straps so that when the electro-
magnet is disengaged the straps will return the bowl or the
like to its original position.
In larger installations the electromagnet can be
double acting to assist the resilient straps in returning
the bowl to its original position. Preferably the straps
are of a resilient plastîcs material, or alternatively
for larger units spring steel or stainless steel straps
can be used.
5.
As shown in Figure 1 the springs or straps 2 are
preferably attached to shaped brackets 7 attached to
the base, and at their upper ends are either attached
directly to the bowl, or to a support strap or ring 8
encircling the bowl 1.
While the bowl is preferably cylindrical, the base
3 eould also be circular or could be of rectangular shape
with suitable controls for the operation of the washing
machine. In Figure 1 the valves operating the electro-
ln magnet could be provided by battery or batteries incorporatedwithin the base, suitable controls and switching such
as IC switching units being incorporated in the base
3.
The angle of the inclination of the springs to the
base could be any desired angle, and ideally the strength
of the springs would be chosen such that when the bowl
is loaded with clothes and water, the springs would deflect
slightly but still give the required movement.
As shown in Figure 1, the straps are attached to
the ring encircling the bowl at or above the centre of
the bowl, it being desired that the ring and attachment
of the straps be positioned above the centre of gravity
of the bowl when the desired quantity of liquid and clothes
are inserted within the bowl.
As shown in Figure 2 the ring 8 is positioned at
the top of the bowl with the straps being extended in
length and extending around the bowl and then having
a straight portion extending downwardly to the base.
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6.
As shown in Figure 4 the unit is disclosed as a
washing machine also having means for removing the water
from the bowl, and also for partial drying of the clothes.
As shown in the drawings this can include an air
or vacuum pump 9, and in a simple form can comprise a
bellows or diaphragm type of pump. This can also be
operated by the same electromagnet 4, or by a separate
electromagnet and its control circuit can be provided.
In one form the moving iron core 6 of the electromagnet
4 can extend through the electromagnet 4 to actuate the
bellows or diaphragm pump 9 with the pump either continuously
operating, or by having a releasable catch mechanism
to connect the moving iron core to the actuator for the
pump. "
A flexible connection 10 can be provided by an opening
in the bottom of the bowl to the inlet of the pump, and
if desired depending upon the circumstances, a sieve
or screen or the like can be provided within the bowl
to prevent the goods or material from blocking the outlet
from the bowl.
Valve means can be provided in the connection between
the bowl and the pump to control the withdrawal of the
water, or other medium in the bowl as desired.
Thus the pump while being an air pump can also pump
and discharge the water or other liquid either to waste
or to be recycled if desired.
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A lid 11 can be provided for the bowl to seal the
bowl so that a reduced pressure would be created within
the bowl to assist the drying of the clothes or other
materials within the bowl, so that a certain amount of
moisture would be removed due to this lower pressure.
The lower the pressure obtained 9 the more moisture would be
transferred to the atmosphere within the bowl to be removed
from the clothes or other materials in the bowl.
If desired~also the lid can be removed for the drying
process so that air would flow through the clothes as
they are being tumbled and agitated in the bowl, or
alternatively the lid may have a small aperture to allow
the regulated passage of air into the bowl through the
clothes or other material and in a further,~alternative
heated air may be supplied by a heater incorporated within
the lid so that warm air would pass through the clothes
for the drying thereof. As shown in Figure 4, the straps 2
extend upwardly from the supporting ring 8 and are attached
to a further ring 9 attached to the supporting framework
10 of the washing machine, so that the bowl is suspended from
the further ring 9.
It will be realised that according to the invention
there is thus imparted to the bowl an oscillating and
agitating movement and while it has been particularly
described in relation to a clothes washing machine, the
unit can be used in various other processes such as
agitation,separation, screening and grading processes,
floating processes, cleaning and washing, suspending,
polishing, shaking and mixing, and also grinding and milling.
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8.
For this purpose the bowl or container can be provided
with suitable sieves or screens with appropriate inlet
and outlet connections being provided above and or below
the screens as desired.
Thus within the bowl or container it will be realised
that the bowl or container can be lined with any suitable
material for the particular processes envisaged, for
example stainless steel, ceramics or even rubber lined
when a unit is to be used for the polishing, 8rinding
and milling, for example by the use of abrasive grinding
balls or the like.
Also this invention can be applied to domestic cooking
apparatus, whereby the slow movement and oscillation
of a cooking pot can be achieved, the ingredients such
as soups and stews or the like can be kept in constant
movement to prevent burning on the bottom, particularly
when coming to the boiling stage.
In all the examples, it will be realised that the
frequency and the stroke of the electromagnet can be
varied as desired, this being easily achieved by suitable
control circuits.
While an electromagnet has been described as the
means for producing the vertical movement, it is to be
realised that other forms of driving units could be provided,
either pneumatic or hydraulic, or even mechanicalg whereby
the resilient springs or straps would create the turning
or oscillating movement for the bowl.
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Also the movement could be created by other means
such as if the unit were positioned in a moving vehicle
such as a caravan, mobile home, boat or the like, the rocking
and swaying movement of the vehicle would cause the bowl to
partake of the agitating movement so that clothes could
easily be washed while travelling to a destination and it is
merely necessary then to remove the clothes for rinsing and
drying.
