Automatically controlled washing apparatus

Nov. 20, 1951 _E. _K. _CLARK 2,575,704

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WASHING APPARATUS

Filed Oct. 18, 1946 - 4 Sheets-Sheet 1

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ATTORNEY

Nov. 20, 1951 E. K. CLARK 2,575,704

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WASHING APPARATUS

Filed Oct. 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2

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Fig.3.

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ATTORNEY

Nov. 20, 1951

E. K. CLARK

2,575,704

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WASHING APPARATUS

Filed Oct. 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US2575704A_D0004.tif" />

ATTORNEY

Nov. 20, 1951 _E. _K. _CLARK 2,575,704

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WASHING APPARATUS

Filed Oct. 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4

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Fig.II.

WITNESSES:

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Ft a. IO.

INVENTOR

Earl X. Clark

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ATTORNEY

Patented Nov. 20, 1951

2,575,704

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,575.704

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WASHING APPARATUS

Earl K. Clark, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania

Application October 18,

Claims. (

My invention relates to washing apparatus, more particularly to apparatus for washing tableware and has for an object to provide improved apparatus of this kind.

A further object of the invention is to prevent f access to the washing chamber of an automatically-cycled dishwasher during operation of the . washing means and to automatically open the door of the washing chamber at the conclusion of a washing cycle. 1

A still further object of the invention is to terminate operation of the washing means and water-admitting means of a dishwasher of the type set forth, incidental to the unlatching of the door thereof during a cycle of operation when 1 access to the washing chamber is desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved latching and spring-biased hinging means for the door of a dishwasher.

These and other objects are effected by my 2 invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an automatically-cycled 2 dishwasher having my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the timing mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken through the timer along the line IH—III of Fig. 2; j

Fig. 4 is a side view of the control handle structure, as viewed from the plane IV—IV in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the rear portion of the door and vat and showing ; the spring-biased hinge structure for the door;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the door actuated latching mechanism, as viewed from the plane VI—VI of Fig. 1;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to Hg. 6 4 and showing the latching mechanism in different positions assumed during a door closing and door opening operation;

Fig. 10 is a view of the door latching mechanism, as viewed from the plane X—X in Hg. 4 6; and

Fig. 11 is a diagram of the electrical connections between the various electrical translating devices associated with the dishwasher.

Reference will now be had to the drawings i and particularly to Hgure 1 thereof wherein I have elected to disclose my invention applied to a domestic dishwasher of the type having a motor-driven impeller. The dishwasher Includes a vat structure 10 including a front wall it, a rear .

1946, Serial No. 704,061

Cl. 134—58) wall 12 and a bottom wall 13, the walls of the vat 10 defining a washing chamber 14 therebetween. The top of the vat 10 is provided with a relatively large opening 15 through which access to the washing chamber 14 is obtained, which opening IS is provided with a door or cover 18 which is hinged to the vat structure 10, as described hereinafter. The vat 10 is suspended from a resilient gasket IT, the latter being supported by a band 18 which encompasses the upper margin of the vat 10. The band 18 may be supported in any well-understood maimer, such as for example, by the work surface of a conventional sink structure (not shown).

As shown, the bottom wall 13 slopes downwardly and inwardly to define a sump 19 at the center of the bottom wall for containing a body of washing fluid. An impeller 21 of any well-understood construction is arranged within the sump 19 for projecting the fluid therein upwardly within the washing chamber 14, which impeller 21 is driven by a vertical motor 22. The latter is supported by means of a suitable bracket structure 23 carried by the bottom wall 13.

Hot water from a suitable source is conveyed to the washing chamber 14 through a conduit 24 which terminates in a nozzle structure 25 disposed in the upper portion of the chamber 14. A valve 26 is connected in the conduit 24 and is opened and closed by a solenoid 27 when energized and deenergized, respectively. Vitiated fluid is discharged from the washing chamber 14 through a discharge valve, generally indicated at 28 and of any well-understood construction. The latter is opened and plosed by a solenoid 29 when deenergized and energized, respectively.

Ref erring now to Hgures 1 and 5, the door 16 is hinged, as shown at 31, to the rear wall 12 of the vat structure, the hinge 31 being secured to the inner face of the rear wall 12 in any wellunderstood manner. As described hereinafter, the door 16 is latched when closed, and is automatically moved to an open position when the latch mechanism is manually or automatically released. The door 16 is biased to its open position, as best shown in Figure 5, by a torsional spring 32 suitably secured to the rear wall 12 and including a movable arm 33 which is biased upwardly or clockwise at all times. A roller 34 engageable with the inner face of the cover 16 is rotatably supported at the end of the arm 31. The torsional spring 32 is stressed to provide sufficient bias to actuate the door II from the solid-line position shown in Figure 5, to the in2,676,704 termediate position of the door shown in dotted lines. As described hereinafter, this movement of the door is effected at the end of an automatic cycle in order to permit the discharge of steam and vapor from the washing chamber 14. The door 16 is manually actuated to its full open position, shown in dot-and-dash lines shown in Figure 5, in order for the operator to gain access to the washing chamber 14.

In order to retain the door 16 in its full open position, a projecting shoulder 35 is formed on the interior face of the door 16 over which the roller 34 rides as the door is moved from its intermediate to its full open position. It will be apparent that the roller moves inwardly with respect to the door 16 toward the hinge 31 during an opening movement of the door since the center about which the roller 34 and the arm 33 move is offset with respect to the axis of the hinge 31. The shoulder 35 is provided with a surface 36 which is engaged by the roller 34 in the full open position of the door, as clearly shown in Figure 5. The surface 36 is so shaped that when a downward force is imparted to the door 16 manually, the roller 34 will ride out of engagement with the surface 36 to permit the closing of the door. However, in the open position of the door, the turning moment due to the weight of the door is insufficient to move the roller 34 along the surface 36 against the bias of the spring 32.

The latching mechanism for the door (6 will now be described and reference is made particularly to Figures 1 and 6 to 10, inclusive. As shown, a resilient strip or catch 37 is secured to the inner surface of the door 16 adjacent the front edge thereof and projects downwardly within the washing chamber 14 contiguous the front wall 11. The catch 37 is provided at its lower end with a horizontally-extending lip 38 which is engageable with the head 39 of a bolt

41. The latter projects through an elongated slot

42, preferably formed in a plate 43 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the front wall 11 of the vat. The bolt 4 ί is movable upwardly and downwardly in the slot 42 during the latching and unlatching operation and in order to prevent the escape of water through the slot 42, a resilient sealing diaphragm 44, preferably formed of rubber, is provided. The diaphragm 44 is secured adjacent its periphery between the plate 43 and the front wall 11 and at a central portion thereof to the movable bolt 41 in any wellunderstood manner. The slot 42 is extended downward sufficiently, as shown at 45, to insure complete drainage of any water which may accumulate in the space intermediate the diaphragm 44 and the plate 43.

Exteriorly of the front wall 11, the bolt 4 ί is pivotally connected to a clevis 46 threaded on the upper end of a latching rod 47, the latter extending downwardly in front of the wall I i, as best shown in Figure 1. The bottom portion of the rod 47 extends through an opening 48 formed in a latching plate 49 and is slotted, as shown, to define a latching surface 51 engageable with the latching plate 49. The latching rod 47 is biased upwardly and to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, at all times by a tension spring 50.

The members of the latching mechanism just referred to are positioned, as shown in Fig. 6, when the door ί 6 is in its unlatched position. It will be apparent that the latching surface 5i of the rod 47 is out of latching engagement with the plate 49 and that the spring 50 has biased the rod 47 upwardly in the opening 40. Accordingly, the bolt 4 i extends through the uppermost region of the slot 42. Movement of the door 16 about its hinge towards its closed position first brings the lip 38 into engagement witn the top side of the bolt head 30, as shown in Figure 6. Continued downward movement of the door 16 forces the bolt 41 and latching rod 47 to the position shown in Figure 7 wherein the latching surface Si is below the plate 40 and in such position that slight upward movement of the rod 47 will engage the latching surface Si and the latching plate 49, as shown in Figure 1. As clearly shown in Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, the plate 43 is provided with a pair of projections S2 disposed on opposite sides of the slot 42 and aligned with the lip 38. These projections 52 each include upper and lower camming surfaces 53 and 54, respectively, which effect flexing of the resilient catch 37 as the door 16 is moved between the positions shown in Figures 6 and 8.

As the door is moved from the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown in Figure 7, as described heretofore, the surfaces 53 cam the resilient catch 37 inwardly and disengage the lip 38 from the bolt head 39 after the latching surface 51 of the rod 47 has been moved below the plate 49. This releasing of the lip 38 and the bolt head 39 permits the spring 50 to move the latching rod 47 upwardly a small amount to engage the latching surface 51 and the plate 49. The operations just described are effected during a first stage in the closing range of movement-of the door i6 and, during a second stage, the door 16 is engaged with the gasket 17 and . the lip 38 passes beneath and engages the under surface of the bolt head 39, as shown in Figure 8. This is the latched position of the door i 6. During the latching operation just described, it will be apparent that the flexible diaphragm 44 is flexed downwardly and upwardly as the bolt 4! moves within the slot 42.

Unlatching of the door f 6 is effected by moving the latching rod 47 to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, sufficiently to disengage the latching surface 51 and the latching plate 49. The means for moving the rod 47 to its unlatched position will be described hereinafter. Upon disengagement of the latching surface 5i and the plate 49, the spring 50 moves the latching rod 47 and the bolt 41 upwardly. During the first stage of the opening range of movement, these members move from the latched position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 9. The door 16, the resilient catch 37 and the lip 38 move upwardly in engagement with the bolt head 39 until the camming surface 54 has cammed the lip 38 out of engagement with the head 39, as shown in Figure 9. Disengagement of the lip 38 and bolt head 39 uncouples the door 16 from the latching mechanism and permits the door-actuating spring 32 to move the door 16 to its intermediate position shown in Figure 5 and described heretofore.

The means for manually unlatching the rod 47 and latching plate 49 includes a handle 55 normally disposed in the position shown in Fig. 1 and movable to “Start” and “Stop” positions for· respectively initiating and terminating operation of the dishwasher, as described hereinafter. The handle 55 is also employed to unlatch the door 16 of the dishwasher at all times regardless of whether the dishwasher is operating or inactive. An arm 56, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is fixed to and movable with the handle 55. The handle £,876,704

S3 is movably supported on a stud 57 secured to a plate 58, the latter being fixed to the front wall 11 of the vat 10 In any well-understood manner. The handle 55 is biased to its intermediate position, as shown, by a pair of fingers SO' biased together by a tension spring 61. The fingers 69 are movably carried by the stud 57 and are provided with respective slots 62 which encompass stop pins 63 carried by the plate 58. As the ends of the fingers 59 engage the arm 56, it will be apparent that, as the handle 55 is moved counterclockwise to the Stop” position, the upper finger 89 will be restrained by its stop pin 63 while the lower finger 59 will move downwardly with the arm 56. When the handle 55 is released, the spring 61 returns the lower finger 59 and the arm 56 to the position shown. As the handle 65 Is swung clockwise, the lower finger 59 is restrained by its stop pin 63, while the upper finger 59 moves upwardly with the arm 56.

Movement of the arm 56 is imparted to a rod 6* which extends downwardly in front of the front wall II and which is provided with a shoulder 65. When the handle 55 is moved to its “Stop” position, the shoulder 65 engages a pivoted trigger 66 and moves the latter counterclockwise about its pivot 67. The trigger 66, through a push rod 68, moves the latching rod 47 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, for unlatching the rod 47 from the latching plate 49. When the handle 55 is released, the shoulder 65 returns to the position as shown in the drawing. Latching of the cover is effected by manually depressing the cover to its closed position, as described heretofore.

As described hereinafter, the rod 47 is unlatched automatically from the latching plate 49 at the conclusion of a washing cycle. During a washing cycle, a solenoid.71 is energized for maintaining its armature 72 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, against the bias of a flat spring 73. At the conclusion of the washing cycle, the solenoid 71 is deenergized and the spring 73 rapidly moves the armature 72 to the right. The spring 73 is effective only to Initiate movement of the armature 72 and the inertia of the latter carries it into engagement with the rod 47. This blow disengages the rod 47 from the latching plate 49.

As shown in Fig. 1, a frame or housing 74 extends beneath the latching plate 49 for enclosing the solenoid 71 and a line switch 75, to be referred to hereinafter in connection with the operation of the timer. As shown, the switch 75 is engaged by the rod 47 and maintained in its closed position during periods when the rod 47 is latched to the plate 49. The Switch 75 is spring biased to its open position at all times so that, when the rod 47 is moved upwardly to the unlatched position, the switch 75 opens. The frame 74 is carried by a pair of lugs 76 which are secured, in any well-understood manner, to the front wall i I.

Energization of the various electrical translating devices referred to heretofore is controlled by a timer, generally indicated at 77, and carried, as shown, by a bracket 78 secured to the motor 22. The timer 77 is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3 and includes a housing structure 78 within which a rotatable cam shaft 79 is disposed. A plurality of cams 8t to 84, inclusive, are fixed to the shaft 79 and actuate respective switches 85 to 88, inclusive, the latter being carried by an insulating end wall 89 of the housing 78. It will be understood that the switches 85 to 88, inclusive, are biased to their open positions and are closed when engaged by the lobes of their respective cams.

Rotation of the cam shaft 79 is effected by a motor 91 of the type commonly employed for driving clocks. The motor drives at relatively low speed a pinion 92 which meshes with a gear

93, the latter running freely upon the cam shaft 79 and clutched thereto in any suitable manner, such as, for example, by a suitable spring clutch

94. As described hereinafter, operation of the timer is initiated by moving the cams angularly in counterclockwise direction an amount sufficient to close the switch 85, the clutch 94 permitting movement of the shaft 79 relative the gear 93. The means for effecting this counterclockwise starting movement includes a disc 95 fixed to the cam shaft and provided with a ratchet tooth 96. A spring-pressed pawl 97 is pivotally carried, as shown at 98, to a movable arm 99, the latter being movably carried by the cam shaft 79. As shown in Fig. 3, the arm 99 is pivoted at 101 to the lower end of the rod 64.

The diagram of the electrical connections controlled by the timer 77 is shown in Fig. 11, to which reference will now be had. The source of power for the apparatus is designated by line conductors Li and L2, which may, for example, extend to an attachment plug (not shown) and which is connectible to a residential lighting circuit. As clearly shown in Fig. 11, one terminal each of the timer motor 91, the door latch solenoid 71, the water valve solenoid 27, the drain valve solenoid 29 and the main motor 22 are directly connected to the line conductor L2. The opposite terminals of the timer motor 91 and the door latch solenoid 71 are connected by a conductor 102 which connects with the load side of the switch 85. The load sides of the switches 86 and 87 are connected respectively to the opposite terminals of the water valve solenoid 27 and the drain valve solenoid 29, and the load side of the switch 88 is directly connected to the other terminal of the main motor 22. A conductor 103 electrically connects the line sides of the switches 85, 86 and 88 and this conductor 103 is connected to the line conductor Li through the switch 75. The line side of the switch 87 is directly connected to the line conductor Li by a conductor t04.

In initiating operation of the dishwasher, the tableware is disposed in upper and lower racks of any well-understood construction and indicated at 105 and 106 in Fig. 1. The cover 16 is then latched shut manually, as described heretofore, and the control handle 55 adjusted to its “Start” position. This movement of the control handle raises the rod 64 and actuates the arm 99 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, to advance the cams sufficiently from the position shown in Fig. 11 to close the switches 85, 86 and 88. From Fig. 11, it will be seen that the lobe of the cam 81 closes switch 85 for energizing the timer motor 91 and the door latch solenoid 7 i continuously throughout the cycle or during a 360-degree movement of the cam shaft 79. The lobe 82a of the cam 82 closes the switch 86 for energizing the solenoid 27 of the inlet valve. The lobe of the cam 84 closes the switch 88 for energizing the main motor 22, which continues operation for a substantial portion of the total length of the cycle. Accordingly, water is admitted to the washing chamber 14 for flushing loose soils from the tableware and for clearing the piping between the dishwasher and the hot water tank of all cold water. At this time, it

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Will be understood that the drain valve 29 Is deenergized and, therefore, open. After a predetermined period of flush rinsing, the lobe 82a is disengaged from the switch 87, whereupon the latter opens to deenergize the solenoid 29 and to close the water valve 26. At this time all water within the vat 10 Is passed to the drain. After a period of draining of sufficient duration to drain all flushing water from the vat 10, the lobe 82b closes the switch 86 so that the water valve is again opened for a period of time sufficient to admit the proper amount of hot water to the vat. At the time the lobe 82b closes the switch 86 or just prior to this operation, the lobe 83a closes the switch 87 for closing the drain valve 28. Water accumulates in the sump i9 until the lobe 82b effects deenergization of the water inlet valve solenoid 27. The rapidly rotating impeller 21 projects the collected water throughout the washing chamber 14 for a predetermined period of time during which the dishes are cleaned, as is well understood.

The washing operation is terminated when the lobe 83a effects the opening of the switch 87, whereupon the drain valve solenoid 29 is deenergized and the drain valve is opened. Vitiated washing water is discharged from the vat. While the drain valve is open, a lobe 82 c effects the closing of switch 86 and the energization of the water valve solenoid 27. Accordingly, the water valve is opened and the flushing water admitted to the vat passes directly to drain until the drain valve is again closed. The latter operation is effected when a lobe 83b closes the switch 87. A body of rinsing water is now collected, the admission of which is terminated when the lobe 82a effects the opening of the switch 86. The rinse water is projected over the dishes for rinsing the same for a period of time, or until the lobe 83b effects the opening of switch and the opening of the drain valve.

A second rinsing operation, similar to the one just described, is effected by cam lobes 83c and 82d. This rinsing operation is similar to the first rinsing operation except that operation of the impeller is terminated just prior to the opening of the drain valve. It has been found that this second rinsing operation will be more effective if the final draining of the rinse water is carried out while the body of water in the vat is in a quiescent state. In other words, if the impeller is operated with progressively reducing quantities of water, there is a greater tendency for minute food particles which may remain in the vat to cling to the dishes. Accordingly, the lobe of the cam 84 is so formed that the switch is opened to terminate operation of motor 22 and impeller 21 just prior to the opening of the switch 87 by the lobe 83c. The sequential operation of the impeller and drain valve just described is disclosed and claimed in the copending application of James Gale Idle, Serial No. 710,972, filed November 20, 1946, now abandoned. The complete cycle is terminated, of course, when the cam 81 effects the opening of the switch 85. The cams 81 to 84, inclusive, and the ratchet disc 95 are now in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 11. The opening of switch 85 terminates operation of the timer motor and deenergizes the door latch solenoid 71, whereupon the door 16 of the dishwasher is swung to its intermediate position shown in Fig. 5, as described heretofore.

If at any time during a cycle of operation, the operator desires access to the vat, the handle 55 is moved to its “Stop” position for unlatching the door 16 and for opening the line switch 75. From Fig. 11, it will be apparent that when the line switch 75 is opened, the common conductor 908 is deenergized so that all apparatus except the drain valve solenoid 29 is deenergized. By maintaining the drain valve solenoid 29 energized, the drain valve 28 is maintained closed for retaining the body of washing or rinsing fluid in the vat. The cycle is again started from the point at which it was interrupted by latching the door 16 closed, whereupon the switch 75 closes, as described, for energizing conductor iOS and thie apparatus served thereby.

Reference is made to my copending application, Serial No. 662,852, filed April 17, 1946, now abandoned, disclosing and claiming a dishwasher controlled by a timer having a line switch movable to an “Off” position for terminating the cycle without deenergizing and opening the drain valve.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided an improved automatically-controlled washing apparatus wherein improved door-latching means is interlocked with the timing means to prevent operation of the washing means when the door is open and wherein the door is opened automatically at the conclusion of the washing cycle. The arrangement is such that the door may be opened at the will of the operator by operating a handle which is common to the latching mechanism and the timer mechanism. In the event the door is opened during a washing cycle, operation of the apparatus is terminated without discharging the washing solution in the vat and, upon closing the door, the cycle of events is again started from the point at which it was interrupted. The door opening means effects partial opening of the door when automatically operated at the end of a cycle for the escape of vapor from the vat, said means including a stop for retaining the door in its full open position after actuation thereof manually to such position.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.