Apparatus for washing articles

Aug. 28, 1962

3,051,184

G. M. GIBSON

APPARATUS FOR WASHING ARTICLES

Filed Oct. 4, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR.

George H

BY _ _

Aug. 28, 1962

3,051,184

G. M. GIBSON

APPARATUS FOR WASHING ARTICLES

Filed Oct.

4, 1957 /Z

Sheets-Sheet 2 // £ //.

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6/ &amp;S

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INVENTOR:

e M. Glb-soro

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Aug. 28, 1962

3,051,184

G. M. GIBSON

APPARATUS FOR WASHING ARTICLES

Filed Oct. 4, 1957

Sheets-Sheet 3

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<img file="US3051184A_D0008.tif" />

Aug. 28, 1962

G. M. GIBSON

APPARATUS FOR WASHING ARTICLES

3,051,184

Filed Oct. 4, 1957

Sheets-Sheet 4

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INVENTOR:

George 2d. Gjdsorr

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Aug. 28, 1962

3,051,184

G. M. GIBSON

APPARATUS FOR WASHING ARTICLES

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Filed Oct. 4, 1957

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United States Patent Office

Patented Aug. 28, 1962

051 184 APPARATUS FOR WASHING ARTICLES George M. Gibson, % G. M. Gibson Corporation, Bellevue, Iowa

Filed Oct. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 690,176 27 Claims. (Cl. 134—183)

This invention relates to an apparatus for washing articles and is particularly directed to an improved construction of a dishwashing machine of the character disclosed and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 572,730, filed on March 20, 1956, that was issued March 22, 1960, as Patent No. 2,929,565.

More specifically the invention is directed to a new improved apparatus devised for the efficient and effective distribution of the washing fluid in a dishwashing apparatus.

One of the major problems encountered in dishwashing machines and similar devices is to obtain proper and ef_t fective washing fluid distribution in such units for optimum effectiveness in the cleaning operation of the dishes.

It is one of the objects of this invention to overcome this difficulty by providing means to transpose the washing fluid from a continuous given supply source to a given remote point in the form of a predetermined stream and to break up and to direct such a stream at such a point into a 360 degree radial dishwashing discharge to cleanse all the dishes surrounding the area of that remote point.

It is another object of this invention to provide a power driven means to impel a fluid stream from a supply source and to continuously recirculate a given quantity of such fluid in a controlled main stream toward a remote distribution means disposed in the path of said stream and to there redirect said stream of fluid in the form of multiple streams into the area surrounding said remote means, the fluid automatically returning to the power driven means for such recirculation.

Another object is to provide a distribution means of the character above noted that is made in the form of a revolving vane which is driven by the impact force of the main stream of fluid as it is directed toward said means by the power driven impelling means.

It is another object of this invention to arrange a plurality of dishes in a cabinet, to provide a fluid source at the lower portion of the cabinet with fluid impelling means to expel a continuous stream of the fluid upwardly in -a given path between certain of said dishes, and to provide a fluid impact structure at a remote location among said dishes to receive and to redirect said contin&gt; uous fluid stream in the form of multiple sprays in the direction of all of said dishes in the cabinet.

Another object is to provide a dishwashing cabinet with a bottom fluid receiving drain area to direct such fluid to a fluid pump occupying only a small part of the entire cabinet bottom and which pump is equipped with a wide ejection nozzle fluid dispersion means to impel the fluid in a predetermined continuous solid stream upwardly between the dishes and in a fan-like fashion to spread the stream from wall to wail over the entire length of the dish carrying trays and across the entire dish carrying cabinet space.

Another object is to dispose a revolvable twisted vane in the path of the discharged fan-like solid fluid stream and within a clearance space between the dishes so as to break up the original solid stream and to redirect the fluid thereof in a 360 degree radial surrounding the vane against and between the dishes for effective washing action.

A still further object is to locate the fluid distribution twisted vane in a clearance space from wall to wall of the cabinet, preferably fore and aft, and to mount the vane upon one of the dish carrying trays or structures that is shiftably mounted for movement into and out of the cabinet to carry the dishes during the washing cycle.

Other objects and advantages relating to the features 5 presented in the dishwashing machine of the present invention shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred construction thereof and forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view of the dishwashing machine with other portions thereof broken away and in section to illustrate some of the salient features embodied into the design shown;

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view of the dishwashing machine substantially as it appears along plane of the line 2—2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fore and aft vertical cross sectional view of the same machine substantially as it appears along 20 the plane of the line 3—3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken transversely through a modified construction of an article or dishwashing machine, illustrating generally a variation in the trays and the article carrying rack equipment and 25 a concept wherein the fluid deflecting means is mounted upon the lower tray;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the fluid deflecting means employing in the FIG. 4 dishwashing machine, with the fluid pump having a water fanning discharge action as 30 shown in FIG. 3 of the first form of the machine;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary portion of another dishwashing apparatus viewed in a like plane as are the devices in FIGS. 2 and 4, the FIG. 6 construction providing a fluid pressure pump having a discharge nozzle that is 35 circular in cross section at its mouth to impel a concentrated fluid stream toward fluid deflecting means centrally located within the cabinet of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 illustrates a further modified construction of the unit shown in FIG. 6, the variation being principal40 ly concerned with the mounting of the fluid deflecting means upon the lower tray in FIG. 7 while such means is carried upon the upper tray in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the dishwashing machine partially broken away and diagrammatically showing the _r location of the fluid deflecting means shown in FIG. 6; ⁰ and

FIG. 9 illustrates another modified arrangement of the pressurized fluid handling mechanism system and the fluid deflecting or dispersion means that may be em_g0 ployed in a machine of this general character.

In general, a great many of the structural features of the present dishwashing machine are more completely disclosed and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 572,730 that was filed on March 20, 1956 now -.- Patent No. 2,929,565. For purposes of better understanding the invention, a brief description of the machine will be beneficial.

As shown in the drawings, an article or dish carrying and confining cabinet 1 is mounted upon a hollow θθ base structure 2, the cabinet per se being closed on three sides and the top, but being open downwardly and forwardly with an outwardly and downwardly swingable door 3 closing the forward cabinet opening 4. Door 3 and the adjacent cabinet edges are provided with a labyrinth steam and water seal 5 and the door includes a central vapor and heat venting arrangement 6.

Upper and lower dish carrying trays or racks 7 and are shiftably supported within the cabinet 1 and when loaded with dishes or other -articles these items fill the cabinet space provided for the washing area. Rack 7 has supporting wheels 9 riding on cabinet rails 1® with rear stabilizing wheels 11 engaging the cabinet top 12.

Rack 8 is provided with wheels 13 to ride upon, cabinet rails 14 and to engage wheel guide means 15 on the door 3 when the latter is opened into extended position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 3.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the racks 7 and 8 are composite wire and metal strap units shaped and formed to respectively carry such dishes as the cups 16, 17 and glasses 18, and the variably sized plates 19 and 20 as all best illustrated in FIG. 2. A certain part of one of the racks, such as the space 21 in the lower rack 8, may be provided for a silverware tray or basket 8a and the like.

The foregoing generally describes the main structural details of an article or dishwashing apparatus that may well embody and incorporate the various cooperative units of the present invention in an efficient and effective arrangement for carrying out the washing and cleansing cycle of the machine. Continuing with the description, it should be noted that a drain pan -reservoir or division diaphragm 22 is interposed between the cabinet 1 and the base structure 2 to provide a fluid catching area adjacent the open bottom of the cabinet. This drain pan 22 has inwardly and downwardly sloping walls 23 that terminate in a co-planar flange 24 that connects with the upper and lower peripheral flanges 25 and 26 of the separable housing sections or casings 27 and 28 of a fluid pump 29 suspended and supported by the drain pan flange 24 within the clearance space of the base structure 2. The sandwiched arrangement of the flanges 24, 25 and 26 provides a sealed joint, and although not shown, suitable gasket means may be employed if desirable.

Pump 29 is provided with laterally positioned troughs or sumps 3® and 31 that communicate with side inlet ports 32 and 33 in the pump casing walls providing fluid access to the impeller chamber 34 of the pump. A perforated plate or screen member 35 seats in a suitable recessed portion 36 in the top pump casing flange 25 and surrounds the pump proper for covering the fluid inlet areas to the pump.

A multiple vane or bladed impeller 37 is mounted upon the pump drive shaft 38 carried in leak proof bearings such as 39 and 40 in the pump structure 29, the impeller being confined to the chamber 34 of the pump. Pump 29 further includes the fluid discharge nozzle 41 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this nozzle being formed with divergent wide angled lateral edge walls 42 and as seen in FIG. 3, and with converging side walls and 45 as seen in FIG. 2 to provide a directional power fluid discharge nozzle that produces a solid controlled water curtain of fan-like shape that is -aimed along a predetermined path into and through the cabinet 1.

As seen in FIG. 2, the pump 29 has a bottom drain cavity 46 that communicates with the lower end of a fixture 47 through a valved port 48. The fixture 47 has a standpipe 49 presenting -an inlet mouth 5® disposed at a level that determines the normal full fluid level of the washing system of the dishwasher and which level is in this case substantially coincident with the upper surface level of the drain pan reservoir 22. Fixture 47 has an outlet opening 51 at its bottom end through which overflow fluid may be suitably drained -away, said same opening 51 also providing the means to empty the drain pan reservoir portion of the machine through selected operation of a valve 52 by a stem 53 that is actuated by a solenoid 54.

The pump is power operated by means of a motor 55 that may be conveniently mounted by suspending it from the underside of the drain pan 22. The motor shaft 56 connects the motor 55 through a coupling 57 to the adjacent end of the pump shaft 38 in -the manner best illustrated in FIG. 3.

A suitable heat source is provided in the form of an electrical heating coil 58 connected in peripheral contact with the pump casing to encircle portions of the inlet

3,051,184 troughs 31 and 32 and the casing portions proper of the pump. Suitable wiring is used to supply the heating coil 58 and the motor 55 with current. A master switch 59 is placed into the electrical supply circuit to be regulated 5 or controlled by an arm 6® rigidly connected with the door 3. Thus washer operation is interrupted or rendered impossible while the door is opened to thereby provide a safety means as well as a cycle interruption arrangement to cut off all water action at the instant that the door is 10 being opened. The machine also incorporates a timer and control unit 61 shown in FIG. 2 which functions along the general scheme of operation more fully described in my co-pending application hereinbefore identified.

Water supply to the drain pan and pump reservoir is 15 provided through a suitable valving unit 62 that is connected by means of a threaded inlet pipe 63 with an external water source and which discharges supply water through the nozzle 64 of an inverted end pipe 65. This valving unit may include various automatic control mech20 anisms if required such as a solenoid controlled inlet valve and/or thermostatic control means for water temperature regulation if that should be desired for certain conditions of operation.

The washing machine mechanism is completed by the 25 use of a fluid dispersion means in the form of a twisted vane 66 having multiple convolutions or turns 67 with this entire unit positioned in a given relation in the path of the fluid discharged from the impulsion nozzle comprising an integral part of the power driven pump. As best seen in 30 FIGS. 2 and 3, the vane 66 has end bosses or sleeve units 68 and 69 that carry stub shafts or pintles 7© and 71 which are journalled in bearing strips or plates 72 and 73 suitably secured to the fore and aft end wires 74 and 75 of the upper dish carrying rack 7. It should be noted that 35 the wire structure of rack 7 provides a V-clearance area as shown in FIG. 2 that accommodates the vane 66 in a position fore and aft of the cabinet. Also, by the shapes of the integral parts of the racks 7 and 8, and by the arrangement of the various dishes, cups and glasses, a very 40 appropriate location is established for the vane 66 in a clearance area between the dish groupings and remote from the fluid discharge nozzle 41 of the pump 29. Thus, the fluid dispersion or distributing means is located at a point high in the cabinet to be struck or engaged by a predeter45 mined solid stream of fluid that is directed through an uninterrupted clearance area provided between the dishes so as to contact the fluid dispersion means that functions to break up the fluid stream and redirects it toward the dishes surrounding the location of the distribution mech50 anism.

By its very shape, the vane 66 provides for a 360 degree radial fluid spray driving in all directions depending upon the points of impact of the solid water stream along the length of the twisted vane whereby the reaction causes 55 fluid rebound normal to the multiple curved surface areas on said vane. As a further attribute to obtain an optimum fluid action, the vane is rotatably mounted to turn upon its own long axis upon its bearing supports. Rotation is guaranteed by providing a location for the vane that is 60 offset to a certain degree from the median path of the main stream that is impelled in fan fashion upwardly from the pump out of the nozzle thereof. Vane 66 or any similar comparable twisted vane is, therefore, provided with blade portions having or adapted to present certain con65 nected angular and broadside areas to operatively intercept the path of the solid concentrated jet stream to break up and to redirect such a stream into multiple and radiated individual sprays rebounding from the angular and/or broadside areas of the vane.

Thus an efficient 360 degree dispersion of the washing fluid results at a location remote from the power stream discharge source to do the most good in an area surrounded by the articles being washed. The vane constantly changes the rebound deflection of the washing fluid streams by its very shape and by its rotation under

3,051,184 the action of the very stream of fluid that it disintegrates so to speak. The spray travels transversely and in a fore and aft direction within the cabinet with portions thereof assuming diagonal paths throughout the cabinet.

The vane is carried in fore and aft relation upon the 5 rack 7 and can therefore be removed bodily from the cabinet with the rack for cleaning or servicing in any fashion whatsoever. Furthermore, the vane extends the full length of the cabinet while the initial fluid stream supply mechanism need only occupy a relatively small central iq area at the bottom portion of the machine cabinet and in an area below the confines or limits of the cabinet per se. Actually, the machine is capable of carrying out the washing operation with a comparatively small quantity of washing fluid. 15

Then through the proper sequence of operation as brought about with a suitable circuit as controlled by the timer control 61 shown in FIG. 2, a stage by stage washing cycle can be carried out much along the lines as suggested in my co-pending application. Briefly, a filling 20 stage is used, a washing stage, one or more rinse stages, a drain stage and a drying stage wherein the pump blows heated air against the deflection or distribution vane to thoroughly dry the articles confined within the cabinet.

The supply water is preferably brought into the reser- 25 voir area cold or at some selected low temperature to prewet the articles during pump and vane operation. All the other stages are subjected to the selected timed operations of the solenoids 54 and 62 to actuate their attached valving units in a sequence that may be readily understood. 30

The foregoing description has been directed to an article washing machine using multiple trays and having the fluid deflecting means mounted and carried by an upper tray. In the form of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fluid deflecting means is mounted upon a lower 35 tray.

The machine or apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 briefly comprises a drain pan 76 contiguously arranged with the walls of a cabinet 77, a fluip pump means 78, a fluid deflecting means 79, upper and lower trays 80 and 40 81, with wheel and track means 82—83 for the upper tray 80 and wheel and track means 84—85 for the lower tray 81. The upper tray 80 is made to carry all of the mixed articles or dishes in this instance so as to present the mouths of dishes 86—87 or the open portions of other 45 similar articles in radial relation to the source of the spray or fluid distribution area. A cutlery tray or basket 88 is carried at one side of tray 80 and extends from front to back in the cabinet 77. The dishes 89—90 or other articles are carried to occupy positions that are in general 50 transverse relation with the cabinet 77 to receive the spray or fluid streams thereagainst and therebetween from the fluid deflection or distribution area.

In the FIG. 4 and 5 construction, the fluid deflecting means 79 comprises a spiral vane 91 that occupies a posi- 55 tion fore and aft of the cabinet. The vane 91 has pintles 92 and 93 pivotally supported in bearing brackets 94 and 95 that are suitably secured to structural parts such as 96 and 97 of the lower tray 81.

With this arrangement, the dispersion or spray distribu- 60 tion deflecting means 79 is carried in an upright position over and above tray 81. Thus, when the tray is removed from the machine for loading or unloading, it can be readily placed upon any suitable surface without injury or damage to the vane structure per se. 65

This form of the invention utilizes a fluid pump means 78 that generally follows the design of pump 29 shown and described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein a fanning and coplanar fluid stream is developed to service the length of the spiral vane 91. 70

In the forms of the invention further illustrated in FIGS.

to 9, the fluid dispersion or deflecting means is provided in a central spot area of the cabinet and a concentrated solid cylindrical stream of fluid is developed by pump means to engage the deflecting means for radial distribu- 75 tion of the main stream into a plurality of pressurized finely divided streams radiating in all directions from such a central cabinet area and fanning out throughout such article holding cabinet.

FIG. 6 portrays such a washing apparatus that generally follows the other constructions hereinbefore disclosed. FIG. 6 shows upper and lower trays 98 and 99 with a pinwheel fluid deflector 100 rotatably mounted with a sleeve 108a upon a depending pin or shaft 101 suspended from a structural part 102 of the upper tray 98. A fluid pump 103 expels fluid under pressure through a cylindrically shaped nozzle 104 that directs a solid cylindrical fluid stream toward the central deflecting area or zone of the cabinet wherein the fluid stream is disintegrated by the pinwheel deflector 100. The vanes or blades 105 of the pinwheel are formed in contiguous multiple curvatures to induce upward as well as reentrant spread of the broken up portions of the fluid stream, plus radially outwardly deflection to produce a pressurized shower head servicing the entire cabinet interior and washing the articles supported within the cabinet. Trays 98 and 99 are movably supported within the cabinet as in the other constructions described.

FIG. 8 serves to illustrate the location of the deflection unit 100 in horizontal relation to the cabinet area. The position of the deflection unit 100 taken vertically of the cabinet is also about midway of the height of the article carrying area of the cabinet.

FIG. 7 provides an arrangement wherein a fluid pump 106 delivers a solid cylindrical fluid stream to a long stemmed pinwheel 107 that is pivotally mounted upon a pin or shaft 108 mounted upon a structural part 109 of the lower tray 99a. The individual blades 110 of the pinwheel 107 operate in an area centrally of the cabinet and immediately below the upper tray 98 a. The shapes of the blades 110 are such as to promote complete fluid dispersion throughout the cabinet area.

One other arrangement of washing apparatus appears in FIG. 9, wherein a fluid guiding or conducting tube 111 is supported upon the lower tray 99b to receive fluid from the nozzle 112 of the fluid pump 113 and to direct such fluid against fluid deflecting and distributing mechanism such as shown at 114. While various kinds of deflecting means may be employed at 114, the one illustrated comprises a pair of pinwheels 115 and 116 that are both rotatably carried upon a pin 117 mounted upon the tube 111 and outwardly from the upper end thereof. The individual blades 118 and 119 of the pinwheels are curved predominantly to produce opposite rotation to the pinwheels to create a multiple fluid dispersion shower head to produce and carry on the article washing operation.

While the foregoing description has been directed to several related constructions of dishwashing machines, incorporating the principles and features of the present invention, certain further variations in the constructions of the various elements or in the combinations thereof are contemplated. Such modifications shall, however, be governed by the breadth and scope of the language contained in the individual appended claims defining the concept of the invention of the dishwashing machine herein disclosed.