US2967670A - Pre-spotting machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 10, 1961 R. MCROBERTS PRE-SPOTTING MACHINE Filed oct.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.,

205009 MEaber/g ATTORNEYs Jan. 10, 1961 R. MCROBERTS PRESPOTTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Filed Oct. 3, 1958 INVENTOR- Mpfaberdi.

Poscos ATTORNEYS United States Patent 07 PRE-SPOTTING MACHINE Roscoe McRoberts, 2119 Pollack Ave., Evansville, Ind.

Filed Oct. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 765,109

5 Claims. (Cl. 239-353) This invention relates generally to apparatus used in commercial dry cleaning establishments. More particularly, the invention has reference to a pre-spotting machine, used for spotting clothes before they are dry cleaned, and for spotting re-runs after they have been cleaned.

By way of background, it may be noted that in dry cleaning establishments, it is common to use a spotting board such as, for example, that type of spotting board employed for touch-up work after the clothes have been cleaned. A spotting board of this type is shown, for example in Patent 2,670,621, issued to W. C. Glover, Jr.

The use of such a machine is Well known for touch-up Work, after the garments have been cleaned. However, such a machine is not designed to fili an existing need, with respect to spotting and spraying cleaning solvent on the garments either before they are cleaned, or in the event they need to be recleaned. In other words, a machine such as that shown in the specified patent has a particular, important purpose in dry cleaning establishments, but this purpose does not extend to the spotting of garments before dry cleaning, or the spotting of reruns after the garments have been cleaned, that is, garments that must be recleaned.

The present invention comprises a machine usable in the latter situations, it being understood that efficient and wholly satisfactory dry cleaning work can only be performed where a dry cleaning establishment has machines each designed for discharging a particular, important purpose. The use of any machine for a plurality of functions, that is, functions in excess of that for which the machine was specifically designed, of necessity results in poor work and resultant customer dissatisfaction.

With respect to machines having the same purpose as that of the present invention, the machine must be capable of spraying various mixtures, as for example, a mixture of steam and air; a mixture of water, gas solvent, and dry cleaning soap; or a mixture of gas solvent and dry cleaning soap alone, that is, without the Water.

Machines for this purpose are known, but none -of them has sufiicient control over the air, steam, water and gas, and dry cleaning soap. One important object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide a machine having maximum, easily and minutely regulated control over the admission of the respective ingredients of a selected mixture.

A more specific object is to provide a machine of the character described having a particularly effective control of the amount of water added to the cleaning solvent and soap, should water be desired. Of course, adding water to the gas solvent and soap is not new in and of itself, since almost all cleaning formuias in commercial use today use water. Gas alone will not carry water, but by "adding dry cleaning soap for that purpose the water is carried through the cleaning cycle, and as a result many spots are removed that are non-soluble in gas and soap alone. 7

working relationship.

Frame it also includes ahorizontally extending pedal support bar 23 extending from fitting 20 in perpendicular Patented Jan. 10,

So far as conventional machines are concerned, one machine is known that uses a single tank having a mixture of gas, soap, and water, said mixture being forced to a, Cissell gun or equivalent discharge device. The dis advantage of a machine having this characteristic is that if the machine is out of operation for a period of time, the water settles in the tank, going to the bottom there} of, as a result of which one does not spray an even mixture, but rather, sprays water alone.

Another practice is to use a board having the approximate shape of an ironing board, with the soap and solvent being dispensed to the garment from shaker bot tles, after which the garment is manually brushed. Ali: other arrangement uses a tank over which a boardiis disposed. In such an arrangement, an exposed mixture of the soap and solvent is provided, into which a brush is dipped, after which the brush is applied to' the ginment, with surplus soap and solvent draining into the tank.

Another important object is to provide an arrangement which will eliminate the makeshift structures described immediately above, and which will incorporate a vacuum for pulling the excess mixture out of the garment.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the type described, a single gun out of which one can spray a substantial variety of mixtures according to the demands of the particular situation, with the worker being permitted swift, easy, and wholly accurate control over the mixture, both with respect to selecting the ingredients of the mixture and with respect to selecting the relativ PR portion of said ingredients.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective View of the control valve assembly of the machine; and Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevationalview of the machine as seen from the right of Figure 1.

Referring to drawings in detail, my machine includes a support frame generally designated at 10, having a horizontal, transversely arranged base bar 11 connected at one end to a support fitting 12 to which is welded a floor-engaging flange 14. A flanged fitting 16 is secured to the other end of bar 11, and connected to the fitting 16 is an elongated, vertically extending standard or post 18, The fittings are apertured to receive bolts or the like, not shown, whereby the device may be anchored tothe floor. A connecting fitting 20 intermediate the ends of bar 11 is secured to the lower end of a vertical supporting standard 22. Thus, the frame 10 maybe formed from a plurality of lengths of pipe material, and from ,pip fittings, all of which are conventional in andof themselves. Frame 10 is disposed in a vertical plane, at one end or the device, and obviously, the particular shape Of the frame 14 could be varied, without departure from the spirit of the invention, as long as all thevarious working components of the device are properly supported ther on in their assigned positions and in their predeterminedj relation to the bar 11, though in a horizontal plane com mon to that of bar 11. Pedal support bar 23,- at the end thereof remote from fitting 20, ;has a collar integral or otherwise made rigid with a depending support lgz25 (see Figure 1), so that the frame 10 has a three-point engagement with the-supportingsurfacefi I a .Fixedly mounted upon the horizontal har 113 f the frame, between the posts 18, 22, are vertically disposed,

elongated tanks 24, 26 respectively of cylindrical formation; The outlets of the tanks are at the 'lower ends thereof, and have been designated at 28, 30 respectively, the outlet 28 being valved as shown to best advantage in Figure 3. The valve is manually operable, and is adapted to provide a regulated discharge of the contents of the tank 24.

The tank 24 contains water, while tank 26 contains a mixture of cleaning solvent and dry cleaning soap. These may be any of various well known commercial products, widely employed in the dry cleaning business, and constituting, per se, no part of the present invention.

Extending from the outlet fittings 28, 30 are supply lines 32, 34 respectively. Line 32 is connected to a connecting pipe 36, while line 34 is connected to a similar connecting pipe 38. Pipes 36, 38 have connections to check valves 40, 42 respectively which are designed to prevent the backflow of fluid through the lines, to the tanks 24, 26 respectively.

Lines 36, 38, downstream from the valves 40, 42, extend into confluence at a T 44, with the fluid thus passing into a line 46, connected at its outlet end in communication with one of a pair of side-by- side hoses 48, 50. Line 46, as shown in Figure 1, is connected to the hose 50, both hoses extending to a spray gun 52, which may be any of various well known guns, as for example, a Cissell gun. Other guns are commercially available, it being mainly important that the gun be of a type that will direct a finely controlled spray, and that will break up fluid entering the gun into droplets or into a vaporous substance, prior to discharge under pressure from the gun.

Designated at 56, 58 are steam and air supply lines, respectively, through which steam and air are supplied under pressure from suitable sources, not shown.

Lines 56, 58 are connected with quick-opening, selfclosing valves 60, 62 respectively. Connected to the outlet of valve 60 is a line 64 through which the steam passes, with a line 66 extending from the outlet of the valve 62. At the outlet of line 64, there is provided a check valve 68, preventing backfiow through line 64, and to the outlet of valve 68 there is connected a line 69 through which a choice of steam or air may be directed to the gun. A check valve 70 is provided in line 69, with line 66 extending to the inlet of the valve 70, the outlet of valve 70 being connected to the line 69 by a suitable fitting 71.

By reason of this arrangement, it will be seen that backflow through lines 64, 66 is prevented by the check valves 68, 70 respectively. Further, it will be noted that one can lziave a choice of steam or air by opening valve 60 or 6 Line 69 is connected at its outlet end to hose 48, as shown in Figure l.

A support bar 72 is provided for the valves and the steam and the air supply lines.

A horizontal pipe 74 is provided with a relief valve 76. Connected to the other end of the line 74 is a bleeder line 78 extending from the tanks 24, 26.

Mounted on the upper ends of the tanks are filler valves 80, 82 respectively.

As will be noted, the line 78 is connected to one end of a conecting line 83, to the other end of which is connected a line 84 extending upwardly into communication with one side of a valve 86, to the other side of which is connected a line 88 extending between valve 86 and line 58. Connecting line or tube 83 has communication, through depending branches 89, with the interiors of the respective tanks 24, 26. Line 84 comprises a high pressure line or tube, in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter.

A line 90 is connected between line 66 and a tube 91. A spotting top and pan assembly 92 is mounted upon post 22, and would have a foraminous top through which air would be drawn when vacuum is created in line 90, the perforated, hollow assembly 92 being in communication with a pipe or casing 93 within which suction line 91 is extended. In other words, on creation of a vacuum in line 90, suction line 91 creates a suction within the pipe 93, since line 91 would be in communication with the interior of the pipe 93. This will in turn create a suction within the hollow assembly 92, so that excess fluid sprayed onto a garment supported upon the assembly 92 will be pulled out through line 93. The excess fluid, of course, would be a relatively small quantity, and would comprise merely that fluid sprayed onto the garment that passes through the garment. This is a relatively inconsequential amount, since the spray permits accurate control and does not produce a situation in which one may spray an extensive amount of fluid upon the garment.

At 94 there has been designated a drain for the top pan assembly. This may be connected in communication with a suitable drain line or tube, not shown.

The reference numeral 96 has been applied to a generally conventional basket, formed as a wide, shallow, upwardly opening channel and having the usual flexible panel 97 of canvas or similar material, carried by arms 98 the ends of which are turned downwardly with said arms being secured to post 22 or any other suitable portion of the device, by reason of a transversely extending connecting portion 99 connected between the depending end portions of the arms 98. Connecting portion 99 may extend in back of post 22 and be fixedly connected thereto in any suitable manner. This, of course, represents a detail of construction which does not affect in any way the successful practicing of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Referring now to Figure 2, where the relationship and functional and structural characteristics of the several valves 76, 86, 60 and 62 is shown, it will be noted that valve 62 is opened and closed by a lever arm 102, pivoted upon a bracket carried by the valve casing. The lever arm 102, when rocked counterclockwise in Figures 2 and 3, opens the normally closed valve 62.

The lever arm 100 is rockably mounted upon the housing of the steam inlet valve 60, and when rocked similarly to lever arm 102, opens said valve 60.

A lever arm 104 is disposed below the housing of the relief valve 76, rocking upon a depending bracket arm 105 carried by said valve housing, as shown in Figure 2. The arm 104 extends substantially perpendicularly to the other valve operating arms, and as a means for opening the valve 86, there is provided a lever mm 106, rockably mounted upon the housing of valve 86 in the same man ner as the arms 100, 102.

The arm 106 is pivotally connected at 107 to a lateral extension provided upon the upper end of a vertically disposed, elongated, valve-operating rod 108. Rod 108, a short distance downwardly from its upper end, has a earn projection 110, provided by a U-shaped metal strap welded or otherwise fixedly secured to and projecting laterally from the rod 108, the arms or side portions of said U-shaped strap carrying a cross member 111 which is adapted to engage the distal end of the lever 104.

A second valve-operating rod 114 extends in parallel, closely spaced relation to the rod 108, and a short distance downwardly from its upper end has a projection 116 similar to the projection 110. Projection 116 underlies the distal end of the lever 100. A short distance downwardly from the projection 116, there is provided a trip lever pin 118, in the form of a nose-like, triangular head underlying the distal end of the lever 102 (see Figure 2). Head or pin 118 is integrally formed upon the upper end of an arm 119, vertically disposed in a slot formed in the rod. On the lower end of the rod 119 there is a forwardly projecting portion 120. Ann 119 is rockably mounted upon a pin 121 extending across the slot of the rod 114.

By reason of this arrangement, the device is readily controlled by operation of pedals extending from bar 23. Referring to Figure 3, pivotally connected to the lower ends of the rods 108, 114 are links or radial arms 11 2, 122 respectively. Pedals 124, 126 are adapted to rock the links for the purpose of imparting vertical movement in an upward direction to the rods 108, 114. Thus, pedal 124 will be secured to a sleeve or collar, sleeved upon the horizontal bar 23, and of course in a manner well known in the art, the sleeve is caused to rotate responsive to depression of the pedal 124, said sleeve being rigid with the link 112 so that on rotation of the sleeve, responsive to depression of pedal 124, rod 108 is shifted upwardly.

Rod 114 is required to have straight line, vertical movement by reason of its extension through suitable guides provided on the frame. The guides can of course be provided upon any rigid members extending adjacent the rods, as for example, the pipe 69, pipe 46, and base bar 11.

Further, the pivotal connection between the rod 108 and link 112 is sufiiciently loose to permit the vertical movement of the rod even though the outer end of the link or arm 112 is traveling in an arcuate path when the link swings upwardly.

Pedal 126 is secured to a second sleeve, which may extend within the sleeve to which pedal 124 is secured. Thus, pedal 124 is secured to a sleeve 128, while pedal 126 is secured to a sleeve 130, sleeve or collar 130 extending through sleeve 128 and in turn receiving and rotating upon the bar 23. Sleeve 130 would project beyond the sleeve 128, and is rigidly secured to the arm 122 so that depression of pedal 126 will cause upward swinging movement of arm 122, in turn producing vertical upward movement of rod 114.

Considering now the operational characteristics of the device, it is to be noted that in the discharge of the particular functions for which the machine is intended, 'one may find it necessary, for example, to spray a mixture of solvent, soap and water. In this event, one would depress pedal 124. Depression of this pedal causes upward movement of rod 108. Before the upward movement of rod 108, its projection 110 would have been in overlying relation to lever arm 104 of relief valve 76 as shown in Figure 3. Therefore, it holds relief valve operating arm 104 in valve opening position.

The upward movement of the rod 108 thus elevates projection 110, and permits the self-closing valve 76 to close, with lever arm 104 now turning, during the closing of the valve 76, in a counterclockwise direction, viewing the same as in Figure 3.

Simultaneously with this action, arm 106 is also rocked counterclockwise in Figure 3 by reason of its pivotal connection to the upper end to the rod 108. As the rod 108 moves upwardly, arm 106 rocks counterclockwise, opening valve 86. Air under pressure is thus permitted to flow through line 88 from line 58, said line 58 extending, as previously noted, from a source of said air under pressure.

The air under pressure flows through the now opened valve 86, into the small diameter, high pressure air line 84. The air passes through line 84 into connecting line 83, and then enters tanks 24 and 26 through the branches 89. Air is also forced through line 78 and thence into line 74. It travels, in line 74, to the new closed bleeder or relief valve 76.

The forcing of air under pressure into the tank 26 displaces the liquid, comprising a mixture of solvent and dry cleaning soap, within tank 26, forcing the same upwardly through line 34, line 38, valve 42, and into line 46. The forcing of air under pressure into tank '24 causes the displacement of water from tank 24 with the water being forced upwardly through lines 32, 36, and through check valve 40 into the line 46. The water is thus mixed with the solvent and soap, and the mixture is directed in liquid form through the hose 50 to the gun 52, where it is dispersed or broken up into a vaporous or misty form, and so sprayed onto the garment.

The dispensing of the spray is stopped by release of pedal As a result, rod 108 moves downwardly,

projection 110 as a result bears once again on the lever arm 104, rocking arm 104 clockwise in Figure 3 to a position causing relief valve 76 to open.

Assuming that one were to find a need of spraying steam or air, the pedal 126 is depressed halfway to its lowermost position. Of course, steam is used for re moving spots that take more moisture than can be given with a soap, gas, and water formula. The air is usedto dry the garment after the use of steam. The air is also used to blow soil out of garments when one is brushring out with the mentioned formula such spots as paint or heavy grease.

To dispense air or steam, as previously noted the pedal 126 is depressed halfway. Therefore, rod 114 is shifted upwardly, causing the nose-like projection 118 to bear upwardly against arm 102. This opens valve 62 permitting air under pressure to pass through line58 and valve 62 into the vacuum line 90. The air creates a vacuum in the pan assembly, as a result.

At the same time, air passes from valve 62 into line 66, traveling through check valve 70 into the line 69 and thence to the gun 52.

Depression of pedal 126 the remaining portion 'of its travel fully to the floor or supporting surface S is the next step, and this causes rod 114 to travel upwardly still further, the rod sliding in a guide 132 projecting from the connecting fitting 134 attached to valve 62. Red 114, now traveling upwardly through theremaining half of its upward movement, shifts projection 116 upwardly into engagement with lever arm '100. This rocks lever counterclockwise in Figure 3. Valve 60 therefore opens, and steam under pressure passes through line .56 into line 64. The steam travels through check valve 68 into line 69, to be discharged from the gun S2. The air valve is closed at this time. of course, the rod 114 drops to its normal, Figure 3 position, so that the valves 60, 62 automatically close with their arms disposed ready for rocking on the next elevation of the rod. The arm 119, as will be readily noted, is so formed Ithat'during the mentioned remaining half of the upward movement of the rod 114, the projection 118 slips Ipa'st the lever 102, which of course was previously fully rocke'd counterclockwise in Figure 3 to its valve-opening'po'sition.

Then, when rod 114 drops, the obliquely 'dispose'd"o'r sloped underside of the projection 118 is simply carnm'eii to the right in Figure 3 by the lever 102, with arm 1119 rocking to permit the projection to move downwardly into its normal position below the distal end of the arm 102. l

The construction provides for maximum control of a prespotting operation, that is, maximum control off'the operation of spotting clothes before they are dry cleaned or for spotting reruns after they have been cleaned. I

As will be seen, the machine permits spray of steamer air, or a mixture of solvent, soap, and water. Further, the machine will spray the mixture of solvent and soap alone, without the water, since one can close the "valve 128 completely whenever desired, the result of which will be that the subsequent depression of pedal 124' will permit displacement of liquid only from the tank 26.

A further important characteristic of the invention re"- sides in the fact that there is always complete control of the formula to be sprayed from the gun. 'Thisis'due 'to the arrangement wherein the water is not mixe'dwith the solvent and soap until these liquids are out fo'f the tanks and are enroute torthe gun. This is distinguished from previous arrangements in machines for the This bleeds the air under pressurev from the tanks 24, 26, preventing said tanks through On release of pedal 126,

general purpose, which previous arrangements have incorporated the water with the solvent and soap within the tank, the disadvantage being that water tends to settle to the bottom of the tank, rather than remain fully intermixed with the solvent and soap.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A pre-spotting machine comprising: a support frame; a pair of tanks mounted upon the frame, one of said tanks being adapted to hold water and the other tank being adapted to hold a mixture of solvent and soap;

a dispensing gun; means providing communication between the respective tanks and the dispensing gun; a line extending from a source of air under pressure into communication with the respective tanks; means for admitting air under pressure into the tanks through said air pressure line, to displace liquid from the tanks and force the same to the gun, the means providing communication be tween the tanks and gun comprising individual lines extending from the respective tanks, and a common line connected to the individual lines from the tanks, requiring mixture of the water with the solvent and soap exteriorly of the tanks, enroute to the gun following displacement of the tank contents responsive to the admission of air under pressure thereto; means for supplying steam under pressure to said gun, comprising a valve controlling flow through the steam supply means, and a pedal-operated assembly for opening the valve under the control of a worker, said pedal assembly including a pedal rockably mounted upon the frame, a vertically shiftable rod having a motion-translating connection to the pedal resulting in vertical movement of the rod responsive to depression of the pedal, a projection on the rod, and a valve operating arm biased by the project-ion to a valve opening position responsive to upward movement of the rod; and a second pedal assembly and valve for controlling the admission of air under pressure, the second valve assembly including a second pedal swingably mounted upon the frame, a second rod mounted upon the frame for vertical movement in closely spaced relation to the first rod, an air inlet valve including a valve operating arm, and a projection on the second rod engageable with the arm of the air inlet valve to rock the same to a valve opening position responsive to depression of the second pedal, the first pedal assembly being arranged to control the admission only of air under pressure to the tanks, the second pedal assembly including a plurality of projections on the second rod, one operating the steam inlet valve arm and the other operating a second air inlet valve arm, the last named projections engaging their respective arms in following order during successively following stages of the upward movements of the second rod with each projection engaging its arm while the other projection is disengaged from its arm, so as to cause the admission of air through the second air valve, and the admission of steam through the steam inlet valve, each independently of the other.

2. A pre-spotting machine comprising: a support frame; at least one cleaning liquid tank mounted thereon; a compressed air line extending to said tank from a source of air under pressure; a dispensing gun; a liquid discharge line extending from the tank to the gun, whereby liquid will be forced to the gun through the liquid discharge line responsive to the flow of air under pressure into the tank; an air discharge line by-passing the tank and extending to the gun from said source of air under pressure; a steam line extending from a steam-produm ing source to said gun; normally closed valves in the steam, compressed air, and air discharge lines respective: ly, each valve including a rockable arm for opening the same; first and second operating rods mounted on the frame for movement by a user in the direction of their lengths from rest to operating positions, the first rod, having a connection to the compressed air valve arm efiective to rock the same to valve-opening position on movement of the first rod from its rest to its operating position; and spaced projections on the second rod disposed adjacent and engageable with the air discharge and steam valve arms respectively on shifting of the second rod from its rest position, one of the projections engaging its adjacent valve arm to rock the same to valve-opening position responsive to an initial movement of the second rod from its rest position with the other projection free of engagement from its adjacent valve arm, said other projection engaging and rocking to a valve-open ing position the arm adjacent thereto with said one projection free of its adjacent arm, responsive to further movement of the second rod from its rest position.

3. A pie-spotting machine comprising: a support frame; at least one cleaning liquid tank mounted thereon; a compressed air line extending to said tank from a source of air under pressure; a dispensing gun; a liquid discharge line extending from the tank to the gun, whereby liquid will be forced to the gun through the liquid discharge line responsive to the flow of air under pressure into the tank; an air discharge line by-passing the tank and extending to the gun from said source of air under pressure; a steam line extending from a steam-producing source to said gun; normally closed valves in the steam, compressed air, and air discharge lines respectively, each valve including a rockable arm for opening the same; first and second operating rods mounted on the frame for movement by a user in the direction of their lengths from rest to operating positions, the first rod having a connection to the compressed air valve arm effective to rock the same to valve-opening position on movement of the first rod from its rest to its operating position; an air bleeder line extending from the tank to relieve the same of air under pressure; a normally open air relief valve mounted in said bleeder line and normally opening the same to atmosphere, said relief valve including a rockable operating arm; a projection on the first rod disposed to engage the relief valve arm in the rest position of the first rod and holding the same in valve-opening position, said projection disengaging from the relief valve arm on movement of the first rod from its rest position to permit closing of the relief valve when the compressed air valve is opened; and spaced projections on the second rod disposed adjacent and engageable with the air discharge and steam valve arms respectively on shifting of the second rod from its rest position, one of the projections of the second rod engaging its adjacent valve arm to rock the same to valve-opening position responsive to an initial movement of the second rod from its rest position with the other projection of the second rod free of engagement with its adjacent valve arm, said other projection of the second rod engaging and rocking to a valve-open ing position the arm adjacent thereto with said one projection of the second rod free of its adjacent arm, responsive to further movement of the second rod from its rest position.

4. A pre-spotting machine as in claim 3 wherein said one projection of the second rod is rockably supported thereon in position to disengage and move beyond the valve arm adjacent thereto during said further movement of the second rod, and thereafter be temporarily rocked by its adjacent valve arm out of the path of movement thereof during the return movement of the second rod to a rest position.

5. A pre-spotting machine comprising: a support frame; a water tank and a liquid solvent-and-soap tank mounted on said frame; a compressed air line extending from a source of air under pressure to both tanks; a dispensing gun; a first discharge line extending to said gun and having connections to both tanks, whereby liquid will be forced from both of said tanks, mixed in said first discharge line, and dispensed from the gun responsive to the direction of air under pressure to the tanks through the compressed air line; a second discharge line extending to the gun; connecting lines respectively extending from the air source and from a source of steam under pressure to the second discharge line, to provide steam and air conduits from said sources to the gun by-passing the tanks; normally closed compressed air, air discharge, and steam discharge valves mounted in the compressed air line, air source connecting line, and steam source connecting line, respectively, each valve including a rockable arm for opening the same; first and second operating rods mounted on the frame for movement by a user in the direction of their lengths from rest to operating positions, the first rod having a connection to the compressed air valve arm effective to rock the same to valve-opening position on movement of the first rod from its rest to its operating position; and spaced projections on the second rod dia- 10 posed adjacent the air discharge and steam discharge valve arms respectively, and engaging the same on shifting of the second rod from its rest position, one of the projections engaging its adjacent valve arm to rock the same to valve-opening position responsive to an initial movement of the second rod from its rest position, with the other projection free of engagement with its adjacent valve arm, said other projection engaging and rocking to a valve-opening position the arm adjacent thereto with said one projection free of its adjacent arm, responsive to further movement of the second rod from its rest position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 927,549 Kezer July 13, 1909 2,340,832 Damme Feb. 1, 1944 2,455,755 Glover Dec. 7, 1948 2,455,756 Glover Dec. 7, 1948 2,602,315 Shoop July 8, 1952 2,686,694 Freeman Aug. 17, 1954 2,707,874 Glover May 10, 1955 2,807,503 Buterbaugh Sept. 24, 1957

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