US2887864A - Clothes washing machines having independent centrifuge - Google Patents

Description

G. E. TEGERDINE May 26, 1959 CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES HAVING INDEPENDENT CENTRIFUGE FiJ ed June "7. 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet l In venlor CEO 05 0 WIN TEGERDINE. EMWQ LEW ttorneys- G. E. TEGERDINE 2,887,864

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES HAVING INDEPENDENT CENTRIFUGE- May 26, 1959 Filed Jline 7.-1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 I HlI-H- A ttorn e y:

GfEvIEGERDlNE 2,887,864 CLOTHES WASHING MACHINESV'HAVING INDEPENDENT CENTRIFUGE Filqd June 7, 1955 8 Sheets$heet 3 GEO/as: flaw/N Essen/ E.

ltornein May26, 1959 e. E. TEGE R.D|NE 7,

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES HAVING INDEPENDENT CENTRIFUGE a Shee ts-Sheet 4 Filed June 7. 1955 v 1 Inventor GEORGE Cow/1v Essen/NE.

May 26, 1959 G. E. TEGERDINE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES HAVING INDEPENDENT CENTRIFUGE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June '7. 1955 I llllllll i. l J w Inventor GEORGE Ea wuv TEGEED/NE'. W522 ltorm "1:3

May 26, 1959.

G. E. TEG-ERDIINEI CLO'IHES WASHING MACHINES HAVING INDEPENDENT CENTRIFUGE Filed June 7. 1955 Q um 5 mm MD mm G E w W E J G g. m

Attorneys.

May 26, 1959 G. E. TEGERDINE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES HAVING INDEPENDENT CENTRIFUGE Filed June 7. 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 7 Inventor GEORGE [0 WIN EGE/ED/NE.

' Homes:

B We";

2,887,864 CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES HAVING INDEPENDENT CENTRIFUGE' Filed June '7. 1955 May 26, 1959 e. E. TEGERDINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Inventor GEORGE fow/lv 7Z-cE/E0/NE. v

.M m W States Patent Ofitice Claims priority, application Great Britain June9,1954

:1 Claims. (CI. 68-46) [This invention concerns improvements in or relating to machines for washing clothes, towels, bed-linen, curtains and like fabric articles, all hereinafter referred to inclusively as clothes, and the invention particularly relates to domestic clothes washing machines: of the kind in which the washing and/or rinsing (hereinafter generally referreduto as washing) of the clothes is effected by placing the latter in a perforated drum or basket (hereinafter called the washing basket) enclosed in a wash ing chamber and which basket is rotated about a horizontal or substantially horizontal axis whilst partially immersed in a bath of water within said chamber, and it is an object of the invention to provide, in a machine of this kind, facilities for adequately extracting water from, or drying, the Washed clothes. v

In some of the known washing machines of the kind above referred to, the rotary washing basket is first used for the washing operation and subsequently used as a centrifuge for a spin-drying or centrifuging operation to extract water from the clothes by centrifugal force. However, it has been found that, although the washing basket can be satisfactorily rotated at the relatively low rate, 'e.g. i

less than 70 revolutions per minute, required for washing purposes, the basket cannot satisfactorily be spunquickly enough, e.g. at 1300 to 1800 revolutions per minute, to obtain such an extraction of water. from the clothes that the latter can be regarded as reasonably or satisfactorily pre-dried or water free, i.e., as having reached the stage herein referred to as dried. r

.It is, therefore, a particular object of this invention to provide a generally improved machine, particularly one of the kind referred to, wherein not only can the clothes axis which is forwardly directed and substantially horizontal; means for rotating said washing basket about said axis at a speed slow enough to causetumbling of clothes placed therein; a common loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing chamber and on said axis of rotation of the washing basket; a common loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing basket and registering with the opening in the front of said washing chamber; a drying chamber positioned in the lower part of said cabinet mainly forwardly and mainly below the washing chamber; a centrifuging basket mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis in the said drying chamber; a common loading and unloading opening in the upper end of said drying chamber, a common loading and unloadingopening in the upper end of said centrifuging basket and regisings in the washing basket and washing chamber; means for rotating said centrifuging basket at a much higher rate than that at which the washing basket is rotated and guide "means for leading clothes withdrawn from the washing basket to the centrifuging basket. In the known machines of the kind referred to,a loading and unloading opening is provided centrally in-the front of the washing basket and the washing chamber is required to be provided in front of the said opening with a door closing in a water-tight manner so as to prevent the washing water from flowing from the machine through the door opening. Therefore once water has been admitted to the washing chamber for washing or rinsing purposes, it is necessary to stop the rotation of the washing-basket and/or to empty the water from the washing chamber before the said door is opened; thus clothescan not'be added to, or removed from, the washing basket at any desired time. Thus a further object of this inventionisto provide an improved washing machine, and particularly one of the kind referredto, which permits clothes to be added to, or removed from, the machine while it contains water and/or is in operation.

Therefore, according to a further aspect of'this invention; there is provided a clothes washing machine comprising a washing chamber; a well for washing water formed by thelower part of said chamber; a cylindrical washing basket positioned with its lower part in said well and rotatable about a horizontal axis in said washing chamber; means for rotating said washing basket abount said axis at a speed slow enough to cause-tumbling of clothes placed therein; a common loading and unload-. ing opening positioned in the front of said washing cham-' ber and on said axis of rotation of the washing baske't; a common loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing basket and registering with the opening in the front of said washing chamber; and a conimon loading and unloading chute loading upwardly from thexsaid opening in the frontof the washing chamber to a position above the average water level in thesaidwashingzchamber, whereby clothes may readily be added to and withdrawn from the washing basket without necessarily interrupting the operation' of the .washing basket and draining waterfrom the washingchamber; 1

1t isa still further object of this invention to provide an improved niachinewherein the clothes may be washed -'and subsequently dried and wherein clothes may be added to, or removed from, the machine while it contains water and/ or .is in operation.

. Thus, according to a further aspect of this invention,

there islprovided a clothes washing machine comprising:

a cabinet; a washing chamber; a well for Washing. water a common loading and unloading opening positioned in ii the front'of said washing chamber; a common loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing basket and registering with the opening in the front of the washing chamber; a drying chamber positioned mainly forwardly and below the washing chamber; a centrifuging basket rotatable about a vertical axis in said dryingchamber; a'common loading and unloading opening positioned ;in the upper end of said drying chamber; a common loading and unloading opening positioned in the upper end! .Of

the:'centrifugingbasket and registering with thecopening Patented May 26, 19 59 in the upper end of the drying chamber; means for rotating the centrifuging basket at a much higher rate than that at which the washing basket is rotated; guide means for leading clothes into, and from, said openings in the washing chamber and washing basket and guide means for leading clothes into, and from, said openings in the drying chamber and centiifuging basket, said two guide means adjoining one another at a position above the average level of the washing water in the washing chamber, in front of said washing basket, and above the centrifuging basket. H

By using a centrifuging basket rotating about a sub stantiallyvertical axis it is possible to effect a much more satisfactory extraction of water from the clothes than would be the case if the centrifuging were attempted in a basket rotating about ahorizontal axis, it not being easily and economically possible to arrange to rotate a centrifuging basket around a horizontal axis at a sufficiently high speed to attain the high degree of water extraction aimed at by a machine according to this invention. Moreover, by employing inthe machine a washing basket rotating upon a horizontal or substantially horizontal axis, the well known advantages of such a washing arrangement is combined with the aforementioned advantages of a vertical centrifuging basket and a machine having a high overall efiiciency is provided. 7 Without wishing to be rigidly restricted to these rates, it is desirable to indicate what is considered to be satisfactory rates of revolution for the washing and centrifuging baskets respectively of the machine according to this invention, and in this connection it may be mentioned that it is usually convenient not to rotate the Washing basket at more than the low rate of about 70 revolutions per minute or less, whilst to effect drying to the desired high degree ,it is considered advantageous to rotate the centrifuging basket at many times the rate of the Washing basket, e.-g. at about or more times the latter rate, and conveniently this centrifuging is efiected at about 1300 to 1800 revolutions per minute. .Preferably the centrifuging basket will be wholly in front of the washing chamber and washing basket and the axes of rotation of the washing and centrifuging baskets will be arranged in a common vertical plane extending fromfront to rear, and preferably centrally, of the cabinet of the machine.

According to a further feature of the invention a common loading and unloading chute is provided for the washing basket, this chute leading upwardly and forwardly from an opening in the front wall of the washing chamber which registers with the loading and unloading opening in the front wall of the washing basket, said chute having the lowest part of its mouth above the axis of rotation of the-washing basket and the highest water level of the washing chamber, whereby clothes may be added to, or Withdrawn from, the washing basket without necessarily interrupting the rotation of this basket, or draining the water from the washing chamber.

According to a still further feature of the invention, the :said guide means for leading clothes into said centrifuging basket may also comprise a chute, this chute being directed upwardly from an opening provided in the upper wall of the drying' chamber and registering with the loading and unloading opening in the centrifuging basket, said chute having its mouth adjoining, and preferably below, the mouth of the chute leading to the Washing basket, whereby the transfer of clothes from the washing basket to the centrifuging basket may be effected by merely drawing them up the latter guide means or chute and permitting them to slide down the centrifuging basket chute.

Preferably door means are provided for closing the mouths of the said washing basket and centrifuging basket "chutes.

Desirably the washing and drying chambers will be formed entirely separately of one another and mounted independently but co-operatingly within the said cabinet, each chamber having its own chute and the upper or outer ends of these chutes being respectively registered with and sealed around one or the other of two adjacent openings provided in an upper front part of the wall of the cabinet to facilitate ready transference of clothes from one chute to the other. Conveniently the said openings are formed in an oblique downwardly and forwardly inclined part or panel of said cabinet.

According to a further feature of the invention means, preferably individual separately controlled electric motors, are provided for driving the said washing and centrifuging baskets independently of one another, the washing basket at the said relatively low speed and the centrifuging basket at the said relatively high speed.

Preferably means may also be provided for withdrawing from the said drying chamber water collecting therein from theclothes being centrifuged, and for discharging such water, said pump means conveniently comprising a rotary, cg. a sliding vane, pump of which one of the two co ope'ra ting pumping parts, e.g. the rotor, is fixed to, and rotates with, the centrifuging basket and relatively to the other of such c'o-operating parts. Advantageously means, such as, for example, a snifting valve, may be provided for compensating for air locks which may arise in the pump due to the complete emptying by the pump of water from the washing chamber.

The said centrifuging basket, pump and driving means, e.g electric motor, for rotating the basket are preferably resiliently carried by a resilient diaphragm mounted in a litiuid tight manner in an opening in the bottom of the said drying chamber, the basket, pump and motor being coaxially arranged one above the other.

Desirably the centrifuging basket is of substantially truncated conical or churn-shape for reasons subsequently explained, and it is preferably furnished, at its upper end,

- with annula'rly arranged inertia or weight means which act in the manner of a fly wheel.

De's'ir'ably the drying chamber has a portion of substantially cylindrical form surrounding the centrifuging basket but communicating with a further portion partially divided on from the said cylindrical portion of the chamber forthe reception of the water extracted from the clothes being centrifuged and from which this water is withdrawn by the aforementioned pump.

Preferably the washing chamber is substantially 'of egg-shape in front and rear elevation and is supported by straps suspended in the frame of the cabinet and retained on these straps by further straps passing over the top of the chamber, the latter being removable bodily with it's contents from the cabinet.

Conveniently the rear wall of the washing chamber carrice the bearings for a rearwardly projecting cantilever type of driving shaft for the washing basket which is supported entirely by this shaft without further hearings or guides. I

Preferably the rear wall of the washing basket is reinforced by being made of double skin construction. Moreover, the bearings for the said driving shaft are preferably carricd by the rear wall of the washing chamber and, in addition, the rear wall of the washing basket together with the said bearings and washing basket are preferably bo'dily removable from the washing chamber, detachablc'mean's being provided for securing said rear wall of the washing chamber to the peripheral wall of the latter in a liquid-tight manner.

The washing chamber preferably has a discharge out lot at the lower part communicating with the pump for withdrawing water from the chamber and desirably the outlet of said pump is connected to a multi-way valve which is controllable manually to determine whether the water withdrawn from the washing chamber shall be dis charged 'frdm the "machine or recirculated to the washing chamber, a filter, preferably removable, being irlteriidsed between the outlet from the washing chamber and the said pump. g

Preferably the washing basket is furnished internally with the annularly spaced paddles extending across such wall, these paddles desirably being of hollow form and, having transversely recessed or concave front leadmg' perforated walls, these hollow paddles serving alternately to receive and discharge waterand air as the washing basket rotates, all for the purpose of improving the washing operation.

Preferably means are provided for arresting the rotation of the centrifuging basket at the end of a centrifuging operation and such means may comprise a suitable form of braking device.

If desired, means, such as a grille, may be provided in the door leading to the centrifuging basket chute to provide for a free flow of air therethrough.

In order that the invention may be more rapidly understood one embodiment of the same will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a washing machine constructed according to this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the machine shown in Figure l but showing the loading and unloading door open;

Figure 3 is a part vertical section taken on line III III, Figure Figure 4 is an elevation of the machine shown with one half of the cabinet panels removed to expose the interior of the cabinet;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the machine with the back panel removed;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view correspond ing to a part of Figure 3, but on a larger scale, and showing the method of producing a water-tight seal between the door and the top panel of the machine;

Figure 7 is a part front elevation and part sectional front elevation of the washing chamber and the washing basket therein;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to a part of Figure 3, but on a larger scale, and showing the mounting of the washing basket driving shaft;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to a part of Figure 3, but on a larger scale, and showing the attachment-of the rear wall of the washing chamber;

Figure 10 is a vertical fragmentary section through the lower part of the drying chamber, centrifuging basket and parts connected therewith, the section being taken on line XX Figure 11;

Figure 11 is a sectional plan of the apparatus shown in Figure 10, the section being taken on the line XI--XI of the latter figure;

' Figure 12 is a water flow diagram for the machine;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary radial enlarged sectional view showing the snifting valve; and

Figure 14 is a horizontal section on line XIV-XIV, Figure 13.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the machine there illustrated comprises a single cabinet generally indicated by the reference 1 of generally rectangulai" shape in plan and preferably mounted on castors 2. The cabinet. 1 is formed of sheet metal panels built about a metal frame generally indicated by the reference "3 (Figures 3, 4 and 5) constructed for a large part from profiled angle section bar.

The front wall 4 of the cabinet is stepped forwardly at 5 to provide accommodation internally of the cabinet for the front part of the drying assembly subsequently to be described, whilst the upper front part of the cabinet slopes obliquely rearwardly and upwardly and forms part of a top panel 6 of the cabinet and which has an oblique front part 7 and a flat top part 8. As shown clearly in Figure 2, in the oblique front part 7 of the top panel 6 is formed a large rectangular door opening an inwardly convergent or bevelled flange 10 in whichlseats, in a water-tight manner, a rectangular door 11 hinged at 12 in the door opening 9 and furnished. with two'windows 13 and 14 one above the other, both these panels being formed of glass, transparent plastic-or other able material mounted in the door with the aid of rubber or plastic sealing strips 15 which also/serve to bear against the bevelled or oblique flanges 10 of the door opening when the door is closed thereby to make a watertight seal between the door andthis flange, as shown clearly by Figure 6. The window 1 4 may bewholly or partially replaced by a grille for allowing a free circulation of air through the centrifuging basket hereinafter to be described.

The cabinet is closed on all sides except the base, whilst the rear has a removable panel section 16 provided with louvres 17.

Within the cabinet 1 are mounted a washing assembly and a centrifuging or spin-drying assembly, both of which are subsequently described in detail.

Washing assembly The washing assembly comprises a washing chamber, generally indicated by the reference 18, which is of approximately egg-shape in front and rear elevation, (see particularly Figures 3, 4, 5 and 7), the upper part of the chamber being substantially cylindrical and having 'a washing basket 19 of substantially cylindrical form mounted concentrically in this upper part with its horizontal and located in a vertical medial plane parallel to the two vertical sides of the cabinet 1.

The upper part of the washing chamber 18 is of such dimensions as to leave an annular clearance 20 around the washing basket, whilst the lower part of the washing chamber extends downwardly somewhat from the under part of the washing basket and constitutes a water bath or well 21 which, due to the convergent'form of the lower part ofthe washing chamber, is of relatively small dimensions and does not require too much water in order to fill it to a level suffi cient to ensure that the lower part of the washing basket 19 will, at all times during a washing operation, remain immersed in the water. i H

The front and rear walls 22 and 23 of thelwashing chamber are vertical and consequentlyparallel 'tojone another and the rear wall 23 is provided centrally of its substantially circular upper part with a hole coaxial with which is mounted a bearing 24 (see Figures. 3 and 8) for the support, and the rearward passage out of the washing chamber 18, of a horizontal driving shaft25 of the washing basket 19.

This bearing 24 ,may be of any suitable form, e.g. a ball or roller race, but is preferably an oil impregnated sintered metal bearing and in front of this bearing is located an annular gland or seal 26 to avoid leakage of water from the washing chamber around the washing basket shaft 25. i At a position spaced rearwardly from the rear WalljZS of the washing chamber 18, the washing basket T'shaft 25 is supported in a further or rear bearing 27 which is mounted in a carrier bracket 28 spaced rearwardly from the rear wall23 of the washing chamber and having forwardly cranked ends 29 welded or fixed by rearwardly extending studs carried by the said rear wall. In addition, such carrier bracket reinforces the rear wall of the washing chamber. If desired, the rear wall of the washing chamber may be further reinforced, for example,.by radially fluting this rear wall, 'or by welding radial ribs thereon, or in any other suitable manner. In order that the washing basket 19 may be withdrawable bodily from the washing chamber, the rear wall 23 of this chamber is separable from the peripheral wall 30 of the chamber, but means are provided for making a fluid-tight seal between the said peripheral and rear chamber walls.

quiteiiidependently of the front and peripheral walls 22 and 30 of the chamber, which are conveniently formed or jointed integrally with one another, and to provide for the water-tight attachment of the rear wall 23 to theperipheral wall 30, the latter is furnished, as shown in detail by Figure 9, around its rear perimeter with an (Sift-turned flange 31 against which the marginal edge of the rear Wall 23 is adapted to be sealed. This seal is effected by a sealing gasket 32 made of rubber or other suitable resilient material and of approximately arrowshaped cross-section and which is fitted over the perimeters of the said rear wall 23 and flange 31 with its central web interposed between these two parts and by applying a peripherally contractable clamping ring 33 of approximately V-shaped cross-section around the exterior of the said sealing gasket so as to embrace the latter and press the sides thereof against the rear wall 23 of the washing chamber and the flange 31, whilst trapping the web of the gasket between these parts. Thus the wall 23 ma be detachably clamped in a liquid-tight manner to the peripheral wall of the chamber, ready means, however, being afforded for disassembling the washing chamber and permitting the rear wall of the latter to be withdrawn from the washing chamber complete with the washing basket, its driving shaft and bearings.

The front wall of the washing chamber is furnished with a large circular opening 34 which is so located as to register with a central loading and unloading circular opening 35 provided in the front wall of the washing basket 19, both openings serving the common purpose of permitting clothes to be loaded into, or unloaded from, this basket. From the said openings 34 in the front wall of the washing chamber a loading and unloading chute 36 leads obliquely upwardly and forwardly, this chute being of somewhat upwardly divergent form and changing from a circular cross-sectional form at its lower or rear end to rectangular form at its upper end where it registers with the upper half of the door opening 9 in the oblique part 7 of the top panel 6 of the cabinet, this door opening 9 being divided into upper and lower portions (coinciding with the glazed panels 13 and 14) by means of a cross bar 37. The chute 36 serves to guide clothes into and from the washing basket 19 and, as shown in detail in Figure 6, the upper end of the chute 36 is sealed with the inside of the flange of the door opening by means of a sealing strip 38 seated in an inverted co-operating V-section sealing rim 39 welded around the outside of the flange 10 which, of course, is also carried along upper and lower sides of the cross bar 37.

The lowest part of the upper end of the chute 36 is located at a position above the average level of the washing water in the washing chamber 18 when the machine is in use so that clothes may be introduced into, or removed from, the washing chamber via the chute or transferred from the washing basket to the centrifuging basket Without necessarily interrupting the operation of the washirig basket or draining away the water in the washing chamber.

The chute 36 is rigidly braced to the front wall 22 of the washing chamber 18 by pressed metal flanged triangular gusset plates 40, one of which is seen clearly in Figure 7, and which are welded respectively to the chute and to the front wall of the chamber.

The washing chamber 18 is detachably mounted within the cabinet of the machine by being supported upon a pair of strip metal straps 41, 41 which are longitudinally contractable by a bolt 42 and which are secured at their upper ends to side members of the frame 3 of the machine as is clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. The washing chamber is secured in position on the straps 41 by a pair of retaining straps 43, 43 which pass over the upper part of the chamber and are peripherally contractable thereabout by bolts 44 as seen clearly from Figures 4 and '5. Thus it will be seen that by removing the bolts 44 the chamber 18 can be released from the frame 3 of the machine and bodily removed therefrom if and when desired.

The washing chamber hasa draining outlet 45 positioned centrally at the lowermost part thereof and leading into a filter chamber 46 of approximately flanged U- shaped cross-sectional form and the longitudinal axis of which extends parallel to the front wall 22 of the chamber. In this filter chamber are arranged horizontal guides 47 upon which a perforated filter 48, also of U-shaped crosssectional form, is supported in an endwise withdrawable manner, a door 49 being provided in a side wall of the cabinet 1 to give access to the filter for withdrawing and replacing it in the filter chamber 46, a quick release device preferably being provided to afford quick securement and quick release of the filter in, or from, its operative position in the chamber 46, an appropriate sealing means being provided to seal the aperture to the chamber through which the filter is passed on placing it in, or withdrawing it from, the chamber.

At the base of the filter chamber 46 is provided an outlet pipe 50 to which is connected one end of a hose or pipe 51 (see Figure 5) having its other end attached to the inlet or suction side 52 of a rotary or centrifugal pump 53 the rotor of which is mounted on and driven by an electric motor 54 serving also to drive the washing basket 19 of the machine as hereinafter described. This electric motor is carried in a U-shaped bracket 55 fixed to the base of the frame 3 and supports ends of the motor in nlbber or resilient mountings generally indicated by the reference 56.

The filter 48 serves to extract threads and other fibrous and lumpy material from the washing water as it is drained from the washing chamber 19 at the end of a washing operation.

The washing basket 19 itself is in the form of a pcripherally cylindrical drum arranged with its axis horizontal as previously stated and furnished, in its front wall, with the large central circular opening 35 through which clothes may be loaded or unloaded, this opening having a returned or beaded edge registering with the rear end of the chute 36.

The rear wall of the washing basket is made of a double skin form in order to provide the necessary rigidity enabling the basket to be fixed upon the front end of its coaxial driving shaft 25. Thus the rear wall of the basket comprises an inner skin 58, the central part 59 of which is forwardly coned around a central shaft-receiving hole and onto the rear of this inner skin 58 is peripherally Welded a centrally apertured flat disc 60, the central aperture in this disc being coaxial with the central hole in the central part 59 of the inner skin 58. If desired the disc 60 and the inner skin 58 of the rear wall of the washing chamber may be radially or otherwise fluted to obtain additional rigidity.

The annular marginal portions 61 and 62 (see Figure 8) of the inner and outer skins 58 and 60 of the rear wall and surrounding the shaft-receiving holes therein are coned towards one another and have located therebetween an annular distance piece 63 comprising a ring of truncated triangular cross-sectional form.

The front end of the driving shaft 25 is furnished with a frusto-conical head 64 seating in the coned annular marginal portion 61 of the inner skin 58 of the washing basket and adjoins a screw threaded enlarged shank portion 65 provided on the said shaft to receive a frustoconical lock nut 66 adapted to engage the coned annular marginal portion 62 of the outer skin or disc 60 of the rear wall of the washing basket, the arrangement being such that, when the nut 66 is tightened on the shank portion 65, the annular marginal portions 61 and 62 are compressed tightly respectively between the head 64 of the shaft 25 and the annular distance piece 63, and the nut 66 and the said distance piece so that the basket 19 is fixed firmly upon the front end of the shaft 25. Con- "Qniently a spacing washer 67 isprovided on said shaft between the locking nut '66 and the rear wall 23 of the washing chamben r 'In order to prevent the driving shaft rotating relatively to the washing basket, a plate 68 is screwed or otherwise suitably fixed, e.g. by welding, riveting or the like, to' the front side of the central, part 59 ofthe'. inner skin 58. of the washing basket and has a pair of. diamettically spaced pins 69 (or other suitable keying means) engaging in. thejfront end of the head 64 of the. driving shaft25 (seeparticularly Figures 7 and 8). I 1 The peripheral wall 70 only of the washing basket is perforated and conveniently these perforations are consituted by outwardly plunged holes rather similar to those provided in the centrifuging basket subsequently described and shown in Figure 10.

Internally the washing basket 19 is provided with a plurality of equi-angularly spaced hollow agitating or tumbling paddles or aerators, generally indicated by the reference 71, and each of which has aperforated sub}: stantially radial front or leading wall 72 and a rear wall 73 diverging outwardly from, the front or leading 72 from the inner end of the. paddle oraerator which has a rounded or bull nose inner forward edge 74; Each paddle or aerator extends the full axial length of the basket v19 from the front to therear wall thereof and the rear wall 73 of the paddle or aerator is imper'forate as that portion of the peripheral wall 70 of the basket lying between the front and rear walls of each paddle or aerator. Thus as each paddle descends intothe water in the lower part of the washing chamber 18 with the wall 72 lead-' ing, water enters the paddle or aerator through the perforations in the front wall 72 and traps in the paddle the air contained in the latter. I

After each paddle or aerator has passed through the water in the chamber 18 it ascends through the washing chamber 18 and eventually is inverted, when gravity, as siisted by thepressure of the compressed air in the paddle or aerator, forces the water from the latter through the perforated wall 72 so that the water flows in streams over the clothes being washed in the washingbasket.

Thus besides tumbling the clothes and agitating the Water within the washing basket the paddles oraerators 71 also project streams of water through the clothesbeing washed, whilst some of the air that has been retained by the paddles or aerators escapes as the paddles or aerators descend and as water enters them and so causes bubbles of air to flow upwardly through the'water in the lower part of. the washing basket thus aerating the same and still further .improving the agitation and washing of the clothes. If desired, the washing basket may externally be provided with scoops (not shown), one opposite each paddle or aerator so as alternately to scoop into the paddles or aerators air and water as the basket rotates, thus producing an aeration above described in a manner similar to that referred to. v

It will be appreciated that, by making the longitudinal inner edges 74 of the paddlesor aerators of the rotationally forwardly projecting bull nose form above-dc scribed, the front or leading walls 72 of the aerators or paddles are of a concave or recessed cross-sectional form so that they themselves act as scoops to assist in the scooping up of water as the paddles or'aeratorSfenter the latter in the lower part of the washing chamber-.1.

, It will be appreciated from the above description that the washing chamber and washing basket form a complete assembly which is removable bodily from the cabinet 1 if desired on making a few simple disconnections.

The washing basket shaft 25 is'drivenfrom theelectric motor 54 in the base of the cabinet 1, the. drive being effected through suitable speed reduction means. Thus the motor is conveniently one of A or horse power and has fixed on its driving shaft a V-pul1ey -75 which drives, through a V-belt 76, a much largenpulley 7 7; freely rotatable upon a short horizontally and forwardly;

projecting intermediate spindle 78, fixed, cantilevf fashion, upon'a slide 79 (Figure adjustable in guides 80 along theu'pper and lower edges of a cross rail 81 fixed in the back of the frame 3 of the machine, this cross rail being sli ghtly inclined upwardly from one end to the theintermediate spindle 78 forwardly projects.

The large pulley 77 has coaxially fixed thereto a smaller pulley 83 over which passes a further V-belt 84 extending around a larger \l-pull'ey 85 fixed upon the rear part of the washingbasket driving shaft at a-position between the two bearings 24 and 27 of this shaft.

Drying assembly The centrifuging or spin-drying assembly is mounted within the cabinet 1 in front of the washing assembly already described and comprises a drying chamber 86 which is rigidly supported upon a horizontal platform 87 arranged in the lower part of the cabinet 1 parallel to,

but spaced .above, the base of the cabinet.

The chamber 86 is of a snail-shaped horizontal crosssectional form as is clearly seen from Figure 11, but is for the main part almost cylindrical to receive a centrifuging basket 88 and to permit the same to rotate freely therein about a vertical axis. At the top the drying chamber is provided with an upwardly convergent cover 89 (which may be removable) having a circular loading andimloading opening'90 registering with the corresponding open upper end of the centrifuging basket 88 to enable clothes to be loaded into, and unloaded from, this basket,

" guide means in the form of a chute 91 being provided on said cover 89 and extending upwardly and forwardly from the said opening. The chute 91 is circular at its lower end but, like the washing basket chute 36, diverges upwardly and gradually changes its form so that its upper end is of rectangular shape, as clearly seen from Figure 4. The

upper end of the chute 91 is, like the upper end of the washing basket chute 36, sealed by a sealing strip 38 (see Figures 3 and 6) in an inverted V-section sealing rim 39 welded around the outside of the flanges 10 of the panel 6 and the cross bar 37 defining the opening to the upper end of the chute.

' The opening90 in the top of the drying chamber 86 to which the chute 91 leads is below the level of the axis ofrotation of the washing basket 19 and is, of course,

well'in front of this basket and the upper end of the chute 91 is located forwardly of and below the upper end of the chute 36 leading to the washing basket so that whenthe door 11 is open it is a very simple matter to draw clothes up the chute 36 and allow them to fall down the chute 91 into the centrifuging basket 88 and to facilitate this operation the front face of the cross bar 37 of the door frame is inset with respect to the face of the oblique part7 of the'panel 6, as is clearly seen from Figures 2 and 3.

The drying chamber 86 has a large circular opening 92 infthe bottom thereof and is very clearly seen from Figure 10 and between the underside of the portion of thel bottom of the drying chamber 86 surrounding the opening 92 and; a clamping ring 93 is trapped the outwardly-directed flange 94 of an inverted dish-shaped resilient diaphragm 95 formed of rubber, oil resilient rubber or other suitable resilient material arranged centrally in the opening 92 so as to seal the latter and project upwardly into the lower part of the drying chamber 86.

Screws96pass upwardly through the clamping ring 93, the bottom of the drying chamber 86 and screw into an upper'clamping ring 97 provided on the inside of the bottom of the drying chamber so as water-tightly to clamp the flange 94 of the diaphragm 95 to the bottom of the washing chamber. This assembly is detachably fixed to the" platform 87 by a plurality, e.g. four, of screws 98, similar .to the screws 96, passing upwardly through lugs 99 (see Figiurell) on the platform 87, through the clamping and for a pump generally indicated by the reference 101 and interposed between the basket 88 and the motor 100 as will be more fully explained.

The pump 101 is intended for withdrawing Water collecting in the bottom of the drying chamber 86 from this chamber and, although it may be of any other convenient form, it is preferably a rotary pump of the sliding vane type and comprises an outer case 102 provided with a peripheral flange 104 which is secured by screws 105 in a central hole 106 in the upper part of the diaphragm 95, metal or other suitable protective and stiffener plates 107 and 108 being provided upon the upper and lower surfaces of the said upper part of the diaphragm.

Within the case 102 is housed a rotor 109 rigidly fixed to the upper part of the vertical shaft 110 of the electric motor 100 which is rigidly suspended from the underside of the case 102 of the pump 101. The rotor .109 is furnished with a plurality of sliding vanes 111 which operate in an eccentric pumping chamber 112 Within the case 102 of the pump and which is furnished with an inlet or suction port 113 and an outlet port 114 in the lower wall of the case on the suction and discharge sides of the pump respectively.

The suction port 113 communicates, via an elbow 115 (see particularly Figures and 11) formed in the bottom of the drying chamber 86 and in the non-cylindrical corner 119 remote from the pump, the sump 118 serving to collect water from the bottom of the drying chamber ready for withdrawal from the latter by the pump and for discharge by the latter through its discharge port 114, an elbow 120 and a hose 121 for discharge from the machine, the hose 121 being carried up through the cabinet 1 and discharging from the back upper part of the latter as seen clearly from Figure 1. This water flow will also be made clear from Figure 12.

Upon the upper part of the shaft 110 of the electric motor 100 is coaxially detachably fixed a peripherally flanged mounting bush 122 to which is fixed a centrally apertured carrier plate 123 of upwardly dished form and coaxi'ally carrying the centrifuging basket 88 which is screwed to this mounting plate. The bush 122 is splined or otherwise fixed to the rotor 109 of the pump 101 and by this means the rotor is also indirectly fixed to the motor shaft 110, and in order to make a liquid-tight seal between the bush 122 and the pump case 102 and the shaft 110 and the pump case 102, oil resisting 01" other suitable annular seals 124 and 125 are respectively provided at these positions.

The sliding vanes 111 of the pump rotor 109 are forced outwardly by centrifugal force when the pump rotor rotates, but may, if desired, also be outwardly spring pressed and an annular channel 126, see Figures 10, 11 and 13, is provided in the top of the rotor, and

such channel interconnects the inward ends of the slots 127 in the rotor in which the vanes slide, this arrangement providing a breathing channel enabling any water trapped behind the vanes 11 to escape so as not to prevent the inward movement of these vanes.

It will be appreciated that periodically it may happen that the pump 101 completely empties the sump 118 and drying chamber 86 of water and that it consequently draws air into the pumping chamber. This would ordinarily have a tendency to produce an air' lock which might result in the pump failing to withdraw water from the drying chamber when water again collects in this chamber and to provide against such a possibility the pump is provided upon the top of the pump case 102 with a snifting valve 128 comprising, as shown in the 12 detail Figures 13 and 14, a top-hat-shaped housing 129 communicating with the pump chamber 102 and provided at the top thereof with a port 130 which is open to the atmosphere but which is controlled by a peripherally notched disc valve 131 carried by a pin 132 and mounted for guided axial sliding movement up and down the housing 129 and adapted, when in its upper position, so seal the port 130 but when in its depressed position to open the pump chamber 112 to the atmosphere. When the pump chamber is full of water the pressure therein maintains the disc valve 131 in its upper position, but, when the pump chamber contains air, the pressure therein is not suflicient to maintain the disc valve in this upper position.

During the periods when the centrifuging basket is speeding up or slowing down, there is a tendency for the upper end of the basket to oscillate and therefore, in order that the horizontal cross-sectional dimensions of the drying chamber should be reduced as much as possible, the basket 80 is, as shown clearly in Figures 3, 4 and 10, made of truncated conical or churn-shape so that whilst its capacity for receiving clothes at its lower part is considerable its dimensions at its upper part are relatively small and the cross-sectional dimensions of the drying chamber are kept quite small also. At its upper end, the basket is provided with a heavy peripheral weight 133 acting as a fly wheel and, conveniently, this weight is included within an out-turned rim or bead at the upper end of the basket which lies immediately below and a hose 116 with the outlet 117 of a sump or well 118' the opening 90 at the bottom of the chute 91.

, At its lower part the peripheral wall of the centrifugin basket is perforated, the perforations conveniently being formed by outwardly punching a series of holes at uniform intervals over the wall.

It will be appreciated that the electric motor 100, the pump 101, and the centrifuging basket 88 are all unitarily mounted on the said diaphragm so as to be resiliently supported with respect to the drying chamber so that these parts may vibrate up and down or oscillate in vertical planes to some extent without causing the whole cabinet of the machine to vibrate, and by removing the screws 98 this complete assembly can be removed from the cabinet 1 for servicing.

As will be seen from the drawings the vertical axis of the centrifuging basket 88 lies in the same vertical plane as the axis of'the washing basket 19 in front of which the centrifuging basket is arranged as previously explained. I

A bafile 134 is provided within the drying chamber 86 so as partially to divide the sump containing part 119 of this chamber from the mainly cylindrical part of the latter so that, as the centrifuging basket 88 rotates in the direction of the arrow in Figure 11 and water is flung into the sump corner of the chamber, this water can build up in the compartment formed by the said partition or bafile remote from the washing basket instead of being dragged round with the basket and thereby impeding the operation of the latter.

T 0 introduce water into the washing chamber 18 there is provided a filler pipe 135 (Figures 1, 7 and 12) which leads into the back of the cabinet 1 and into the top of the washing chamber so that a hose can be connected to the filler pipe and to a domestic tap or the like for introducing an adequate quantity of water into the washing chamber. Alternatively, the washing chamber may be filled by pouring water from a vessel, such as, for example, a bucket, down the washing basket chute 36.

The water introduced into the chamber is, during a washing operation, circulated in the machine, being drawn off from the bottom of the chamber by the pump 53 which discharges it through its outlet 136 to a hose 137 to a two-way valve 138 (see Figs. 4, 12) mounted behind the front of the cabinet upon a bracket 139 and to one side of the centrifuging assembly, this valve 138 having an operating knob 140 exposed at the front of the. cabinet. The two-way valve 138 has one outlet 141 whichleadfsto a flexiblehose 142 passing'faround thechutes 91 andjss ahd having a nozzle"143'atits free ndjwhich penetrates the wall of the chute 36 and is directed'obliquely downwardly inside this chute so as todis charge waterp'umped through the hose 142 into thewashing basket 19 when the valve 138 is appropriately set; The second outlet 144 of the valve 138 is connecte'cl to a'second drain pipe-or hose 145 which dis-I charges from the back of the cabinet adjacent the discharge pipe .121 so that by appropriately positioning the movable part of the valve 138 water can either be circulatedfcontinuously through the washing basket or withdrawnfrom the latter and the washing chamber and discharged from the machine, this water being filtered by means of "the filter 48 as the water circulates. Water extracted from washed clothes by means of the ,centrifuging basket is collected in the bottom of the drying chamber as previously explained and that water is withdrawn by the sliding vane pump at the base of the centrifuging basket and is discharged through pipe 121. i The electric motors 54 and 100 are independently. controlled, therebeing a start switch 146 and a stop switch 147 on the front panel 4 of the cabinet 1 for the motor 54 and asimilar pair of start and stop switches 148 and 149 on the same panel for controlling the electricmotor 100 driving the centrifuging basket. H v i If desired, a vent pipe (not shown) may be provided for admitting air to the washing chamber during the draining of water therefi'om.

- k A brake is preferably provided for arresting the rotation of the centrifuging basket at the end of a centrifuging operation and after the motor 100 has been cut out, and, as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 12, the said brake conveniently comprises a friction shoe or band 150 operating upon a brake drum (not shown) fixed to the lower end of the shaft 110 of the centrifuging basket motor 100, the friction shoe or band 150 being operated tofapply the brake from a foot pedal 151 projecting forwardly from the cabinet and operating the brake shoe or band 150 through a Bowden cable 152, a suitable spring 153 being provided for releasing the brake when the foot pedal 151 is freed. Alternatively the braking could be achieved electrically, eg, by electro-magneticmeans or even by reversing the current flow to the motor 100 ifthis motor is of an appropriate type. r

-. .The operation of the machine is as follows:

. First of all the two-Way control valve 138 is adjusted sowas to close. the discharge port 144 of the valve and open the recirculating port 141. Ihe chamber 18 is lthemfilled with warm or hot water through the filler pipe 135 and a suitable soap or detergent is added to the water, the level of the latter in the washing chamber being at a position somewhere above the bottom of the loading and unloading opening 35 in the front of the washing basket and preferably at the same level as the axis of this basket and being such that the lower part of the washing basket is continuously immersed in the water which, of course, enters the basket through the perforations therein.

- The clothes to be washed are now introduced into the .washing basket 19 via the chute 36, the door 11 being .opened to permit this operation and then closed as soon as the washing basket has been appropriately loaded. .The starting switch 146 is now operated. to start the ;.electric motor 54 which causes the washing basket to rotate and to tumble the clothes therein, this tumbling .operation being assisted by the paddles or aerators 71 which also create air and water currents in and through the water and clothes in the basket.

, Starting the motor 54 also brings the pump 53 into operation and causes the water or Water and detergent .or. soap in the washing chamber 18 to be withdrawn from .the bottom of this chamber through the filter 48 and to be pumped through the hose 137, valve 138, hose 142 washing basket, after which the valve 138 may be moved back to its original position and the washing chamber partially filled again with fresh water for rinsing purposes. The control valve fiiay be readjusted more tharl once for draining off and refilling the chamber for additional rinsing, but when adequate rinsing has been carried out, the washing Water may again be discharged from the machine and the Washingbasket motor 54 switched off to stop the motor and the rotation of the washing basket. The clothes may now be withdrawn from the washing basket up the chute 36 (the door 11 having been opened of course) and pulled forwardly and allowed to fall down the chute into the centrifuging basket 88 around; the bottom of which the clothes should pref erably be roughly packed to give a reasonably uniform distributionof weight in this basket. When this has been 'done the'door 11 may be closed and the starting switch 148 for the electricmot-or 100 operated to start the rotation of the centrifuging basket and the operation ofthe sliding vane pump 101.

The speed of the centrifuging basket should preferably be between 1300 and 1800 revolutions per minute and should be maintained for a sufficient. period to elfect the required extraction of moisturefrom the washed clothes whereafter the switch 149 will be operated to cut out the motor 100 and the brake 151 being actuated simultaneously or subsequently to stop the rotation of the basket 88.

During the rotation of the centrifuging basket 88 Water is flung outwardly from the basket into the drying chamber 86 and tends to swirl to the narrower end of this chamber behind the baffle 134 where the water tends to build up, this water being withdrawn, however, through the outlet 117 by the sliding vane pump 101 and discharged by this pump through the hose or pipe 121 out of the machine. I I I Although an operator of the machine may frequently organize the washing to be done so that the latter can all go in the washing basket at once andthe washing completed in one operation of the washing basket, the washing then being withdrawn from the washing basket and centrifuged in one operationinthe centrifuging basket 88,- it will frequently happen that it will be desiredto add additional clothes to thewashing basket during a washing operation and whilst the' basket contains washing water and is rotating and with a machine constructed as above described this is quite possible, it onlybeing necessary to open the door 11 and to insert. the washing to be washed into the chute 36 and to pass it down the latter into the washing basket. Moreover, the machine enables washing to be withdrawn from the washing basket and transferred to the centrifuging: basket without draining oif the water. from the washing chamber 18 and, if desired, even while the washing basket is rotating, although usuallyfthe rotation of the basket will be stopped during this transfer of clothes;

Although the washingand centrifuging baskets have been described as being driven each by a separate independently controlled motor, since this is the preferred way of driving these elements, it would be possible to drive the two baskets from-a singlemotor with the aid of appropriate gearing to give the required different speeds to the baskets and by providing means for selectively operating the baskets. 3' It will ,be understood, that. the arrangement vof. having 15 a chute which leads to a common loading and unloading opening in the washing basket and the mouth of which is above the level of water in the Washing basket may be used in a washing machine not provided with a drying assembly such as is herein described.

I claim:

1. Clothes washing and drying apparatus comprising in combination: a unitary cabinet; first and second clothes chutes therein having access openings substantially at an inclined plate extending from an intermediate level at the front of said cabinet upwardly and rearwardly to the top of the cabinet, said openings being in close proximity and one above the other, there being ridge-like means formed therebetween and whereby clothes may be drawn from the first chute having the upper of said openings, over said ridge-like means and deposited in the second chute having the lower of said openings; a well for washing water formed within the back portion of said cabinet; a washing basket rotatable about a generally horizontal axis and positioned with its lower part in said well, the well being adapted normally to retain water up to a level at least close to said axis, the first of said chutes having its access opening above such normal water level and aifording access to the basket to permit introduction and withdrawal of clothes therefrom while same is in operation and with such normal water level; a drying chamber mounted in the forward portion of said cabinet in fixed position beneath said inclined plane and at least partially forwardly of said well; a centrifuging basket in such drying chamber and having its upper end accessible through said second chute to permit clothes withdrawn from the first chute to be readily dropped over said ridge means into the centrifuging basket or to be Withdrawn therefrom through such second chute.

2. A clothes washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a washing chamber in said cabinet; a well for Washing water formed by the lower part of said chamber; a cylindrical washing basket positioned with its lower part in said well and rotatable about a horizontal axis in said washing chamber, the chamber being adapted normally to retain water up to a level at least close to said axis; means for rotating said washing basket about said axis at a speed slow enough to cause tumbling of clothes placed therein; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing chamber and on said axis of rotation of the washing basket; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing basket and substantially registering with the opening in the front of said washing chamber; an inclined chute lead ing upwardly and outwardly from the said opening in the front of the washing chamber and having an access end above the said normal water level in the washing chamber, whereby clothes may readily be added to and withdrawn from the washing basket without interrupting the operation of the washing basket and draining water from the washing chamber; a drying chamber fixedly positioned in a lower portion of said cabinet and mainly forwardly and mainly below the washing chamber; a centrifuging basket mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis in the said drying chamber; means for ro tating said centrifuging basket at a much higher rate than that at which the washing basket is rotated; a loading and unloading opening in the upper end of said drying chamber; and a loading and unloading opening in the upper end of said centrifuging basket and readily accessible from and located below the opening in the upper end of the drying chamber, which latter opening in turn is located just forwardly of and underneath the access end of the said chute, whereby clothes drawn up said chute may readily be transferred therefrom to the centrifuging basket.

3. A clothes washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a washing chamber; a well for washing water formed by the lower part of said washing chamber; a cylindrical washing basket positioned with its lower part in said well and rotatable about its own axis which is forwardly diltd rected and substantially horizontal; means for rotating said washing basket about said axis at a speed slow enough to cause tumbling of clothes placed therein; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing chamber, the chamber being adapted normally to retain water up to a level at least close to said axis; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing basket and generally registering with the opening in the front of the washing'chamber; a drying chamber mounted in fixed position and with its upper portions occupying the region in front of the washing chamber and shortly below said axis; a centrifuging basket rotatable about a vertical axis in said drying chamber; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the upper end of said drying chamber; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the upper end of the centrifuging basket and generally registering with the opening in the upper end ofthe drying chamber; means for rotating the centrifuging basket at a much higher rate than that at which the washing basket is rotated; a guide chute for leading clothes into, and from, said openings. in the washing chamber andwashing basket; and a guide chute for leading clothes into, and from, said openings in the drying chamber and centrifuging basket, said two guide chutes extending to positions closely adjoining one another in front of said washing basket and above the centrifuging basket, and at positions such that the access openings to said chutes are above the said normal water level in the washing chamber.

4. Aclothes washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a washing chamber; a well for Washing water formed by the lower part of said washing chamber; a washing basket positioned with its lower part in said well and rotatable about a horizontal axis in said washing chamber; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing basket and generally registering with an opening in the front of the washing chamber; a chute leading upwardly from the said opening in the front of the washing chamber to an access end thereof above the normal water level in said chamber; a drying chamber of a substantially snail shape in plan positioned mainly forwardly and below the washing chamber; a vertical baifle in said drying chamber and partially dividing the latter into two parts one of which parts is substantially cylindrical; a centrifuging basket rotatable about a vertical axis in said substantially cylindrical part of said drying chamber; a loading and'unloading opening positioned in the upper end of said drying chamber and beneath the access end of said chute; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the upper end of the centrifuging basket and generally registering with the opening in the upper end of the drying chamber; guide means for leading clothes received from said chute into, and from, said openings in the drying chamber and centrifuging basket; means for rotating said washing basket about said horizontal axis at a speed slow enough to cause tumbling of clothes placed therein and for rotating said centrifuging basket about said vertical axis at a much higher speed.

5. A clothes washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a washing chamber; a well for washing water formed by the lower part of said washing chamber; a washing basket positioned with its lower part in said well and rotatable about a horizontal axis in said washing chamber; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing chamber; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing basket and registering with the opening in the front of the washing'chamber; a loading and unloading chute leading upwardly and forwardly from the said opening in the front of the washing chamber to an access end above the normal water level in said washing chamber; a drying chamber positioned in the lower part of said cabinet mainly forwardly and below the washing chamber; a centrifuging basket rotatable about a vertical axis in said drying chamber; aloading and unloading opening positioned in the upper end of the centrifuging basket and registering with an opening in the upper end of the drying chamber; guide means beneath the access end of said chute for leading clothes into, and from, said opening in the drying chamber and centrifuging basket; an opening in the bottom of said drying chamber; a first electric motor mounted resiliently in said cabinet beneath said well for rotating the washing basket at a speed slow enough to cause tumbling of clothes placed therein; a second electric motor for rotating the centrifuging basket at a much higher speed than that at which the washing basket rotates; and aresilient diaphragm mounted to form a liquid tight closure for said opening in the bottom of the drying chamber and carrying the centrifuging basket and said second electric motor.

6. A clothes washing machine comprising: a washing chamber; a well for washing water formed by the lower part of said washing chamber; a cylindrical washing basket positioned with its lower part in said well and rotatable about its own axis which is forwardly directed and substantially horizontal; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing chamber; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing basket and registering with the opening in the front of the washing chamber; a loading and unloading chute leading upwardly from the said opening in the front of the washing chamber to a position above the normal water level in said washing chamber; a drying chamber positioned mainly forwardly and below the washing chamber; a centrifuging basket rotatable about a vertical axis in said drying chamber; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the upper end of said drying chamber; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the upper end of the centrifuging basket and registering with the opening in the upper end of the drying chamber; guide means located beneath the access opening of said chute for leading clothes into, and from, said openings in the drying chamber and centrifuging basket; a first electric motor for driving said washing basket at a relatively low rate; a second electric motor for driving said centrifuging basket at a much higher rate; a pump having a portion mounted for rotation with said centrifuging basket; and a co-operating pump portion mounted fixedly relative to said drying chamber, said co-operating pump portions acting together to withdraw from the drying chamber water collecting therein.

7. A clothes washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a washing chamber; a well for washing water formed by the lower part of said washing chamber; a cylindrical washing basket positioned with its lower part in said well and rotatable about its own axis which is forwardly directed and substantially horizontal; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing chamber; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the front of said washing basket and registering with the opening in the front of the washing chamber; a loading and unloading chute leading upwardly from the said opening in the front of the washing chamber to a position above the normal Water level in the said washing chamber; a drying chamber positioned in the lower part of said cabinet mainly forwardly and below the washing chamber; a centrifuging basket of truncated conical shape rotatable about a substantially vertical axis in said drying chamber; weight means arranged annularly around the upper part of said centrifuging basket; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the upper end of said drying chamber; a loading and unloading opening positioned in the upper end of the centrifuging basket and registering with the opening in the upper end of the drying chamber; a loading and unloading chute leading upwardly from the said opening in the upper end of the centrifuging basket to a position adjacent said chute leading upwardly from the washing chamber; a first electric motor for driving said washing basket at a relatively low rate; a second electric motor for driving said centrifuging basket at a much higher rate; a rotary pump driven by said second electric motor for withdrawing from the said drying chamber water collecting therein and for discharging such water; an opening in the bottom of said drying chamber; and a resilient diaphragm mounted in a liquid tight manner in said opening in the bottom of the drying chamber and carrying the centrifuging basket and said second motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent Australia Sept. 3, 1951

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