The current vertical washing machines of clothes use agitators, either of the oscillating type or propeller type, to scrub the clothes and produce streams inside the washing tub which pass through the fabric and try to loose the particles adhered thereof; but these streams are not stronger and effective to go through the innermost fibers of the threads, therefore the time of washing can be more prolonged and to spend more energy of the necessary. These washing machines require mechanisms of machined transmission and speed reduction to produce the oscillating motion of the agitation impeller or in the case of propeller thrusters; these tend to entangle so much the clothes. In addition, during the wringing of the clothes by centrifugation, the tub rotates supported by a fixed central axis; this makes difficult the balance during the rotation.
This invention is an improvement to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,939 registered by the authors of this in the United States of America. The purpose of this invention is to improve the machines for washing, rinsing and wringing clothes; in addition to take advantage in some way the phenomenon of cavitation for a more efficient washing. The invention is referred to a machine for washing clothes by means of a recirculation pumping system, which uses a special eductor to produce cavitation inside the washing tub and, for the wringing it has a self-balanced rotation system which makes that the tub turns on the virtual axis which passes through the centre of gravity. With these improvements the purpose is to obtain a deeper and uniform washing, to circulate the clothes by the cavitation area inside the tub; besides to decrease the losses of pressure in the hydraulic circuit. Also, as variants, it is showed how to apply all these new ideas to a horizontal or front load washing machine and an industrial washing machine.
In this document are presented the basic ideas of the invention and their variants, with the purpose to combine in the most practical way the most ideal to get a washing and wringing machine which increases the efficiency and speed of washing, and saving time and energy during its operation.
In the following description and in the attached drawings the characteristics of the invention are detailed, indicating the portions of this one with the same reference signs as in the description as in figures; the portions with equal function on the different figures are marked with the same number in each of them.
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Support structures, controls, cabinet, etc., for simplicity are not showed in the figures.
Returning to
In the center of the bottom of the internal tub (14) it is lifted up a wide vertical tube (11) which terminates, at its upper, in the box of a planetary speed reducer (2) and, through the tub, it is extended downward into another tube (20) to drain the water from the tub. Under the lower end level of the tub, a vertical and axial turbine (26) is within a broadening, on casing shape of the vertical tube (11) so that the turbine shaft (32) impels to the planetary reducer and entering to this through a bearings box (33) with seal against leakage of the lubricant. On the other hand, centered shaft (34) of the reducer output (2) is welded, by above of this one, to the center of the upper lid (35) of a second wide tube or central hollow post (1) hereinafter called central post. This central hollow post is outer, concentric and freely adjusted to the wide tube width (11), also it is hermetically closed only in its upper portion with such lid (35); around this central post are fixed one or two helical plates (4) which to rotate the post they serve as screw, to be pushing the clothes downward. Also are fixed to the central post (1), at the bottom of the tub, radial blades (12), which when rotate through towards the periphery the clothes which are falling to the bottom of the tub. The central hollow post, the helical plate welded to it and the system which makes rotate to both to move the clothes inside the tub, form the rotary washing system, in this figure and following.
The washing and rinsing cycles are made by means of a closed circuit of pumping. The circuit consists of a pump (18) placed under the tubs and with its discharge connected, through the tube (8) and the control valve (13), to a nozzle (6) or a special eductor (not shown in the figure by simplification) which discharged in suitable direction a strong water jet inside the tubs. By the orifices (10), that both tubes, (11) and (1), have at the upper of their periphery, the water flow continuously gets out of the internal tub through central tube (11) and the tube of evacuation (20) to impel the rotation of the turbine (26). By means of the speed reducer (2), the rotating motion of the shaft (32) of the turbine is transmitted, with smaller speed and greater force, to the hollow central post (1) to move the clothes with the blades and the helical plates. The upper of both tubes lacks of orifices and is closed in order to when fill with water the tub a compressed air chamber (3) be formed within them which prevents that the water reaches to the system of the reducer. In order to facilitate more the movement of the clothes, the tubs have in their inner periphery other helical plates (5) which, with the circular motion of the water flow within the tub, cause that the clothes tend to ascend by the sides of the tubs.
The water which gets out of the turbine discharge continues flowing through the tube of evacuation (20) of the internal tub and, getting out of this one, it enters directly to the suction tube (19) of the pump (18) that returns the water flow to those to complete the closed circuit of pumping.
The wringing cycle is carried out through the centrifuging of the clothes. For this, it is started by evacuating the water of the tubs by means of some draining system, not indicated on
Floating the internal tub, this is rotated by means of a special turbine special and similar to a horizontal turbine Pelton-type. This turbine consists of a vertical box (25), of almost cylindrical shape, which is centrally joined at the bottom of the tub or to the vertical evacuation tube (20) and is crossed by this one; at the side of the box are introduced at the half a distributed series of simple cavity-radial buckets (24) slightly tilted downwards with similar form to a ladle curved almost 180°, which allow free way to the inner of the box only through their cavities. Moreover, as it is observed in the cutting AA′, the internal edges of the buckets (24) are directed and finish in a series of holes (21) which the evacuation tube (20) has in its side of that zone, thus the water of the jets that impel to the buckets is discharged by such holes within the tube. These water jets are thrown by a series of nozzles (17) on the cavities of the tangential-shape buckets; therefore the impulse applied on the buckets by the jets produces the rotation of the internal tub (14)
To make work the turbine described on the above paragraph, the control valve (16) of the nozzles (17) connected to discharge of the pump (18). The water flow which impels the turbine is drained by the evacuation tube (20) on the input of the suction tube (19) of the pump (18), so that this same flow being pumped again towards the nozzles (17), and be established the closed circuit of pumping, which keeps the rotation of the turbine. The water which wets the clothes and is centrifuged is evacuated of the internal tub by the holes (9) of the tub which are above of the flotation level. All the system which produces the rotary impulse of the tub is lodged in a cylindrical casing (23) or centrifuged chamber which is centrally joined to the bottom of the main tub (7), as a continuation of this one, and whose bottom is connected to the suction tube (19) of the pump.
Since the internal tub (14) does not rotate supported by a rigid shaft which supports this in its geometric center, this shall rotate, due to its flotation, on the virtual axis which passes through the center of gravity of the set of the tub and the clothes for being wringing. Although the internal tub (14) rotates in balanced form or without vibrations on this virtual axis, if the clothes are not symmetrically distributed inside the tub, the virtual axis displaces from the geometric axis, causing that the tub shakes and oscillates by not rotating on its geometric axis; therefore it may hit or rub with the main tub (7). This undesirable effect is diminished by means of the fluid and heavy material contained in the closed annular chamber (28) which forms the side of the tub (14), since when beginning to rotate the tub the liquid within this chamber is accumulated from the side opposed to the slipping of the virtual axis respect to the geometrical. When the weight of the accumulated fluid in a side of the chamber counteracts to the unbalanced weight of the clothes in the opposite side, the distance between the virtual rotary axis and the geometric center will decrease, although it will not be null and it will be in an intermediate point, since when approaching to these axes it is redistributed, until certain point, the fluid inside the balance chamber (28), but improves the oscillation and the shaking. Between the sides of the tubs are placed bearings with shock absorbers, not shown in the figure, to support frictions and small impacts between the tubs. Later on, some methods are indicated to avoid the redistribution of counterweight fluid.
So that the flotation of the internal tub inside the main tub be stable, is added a flouting counterweight (22) in the lower end of the evacuation tube (20); in this form the meta-center keeps fixed between the flouting centre and the center of gravity of all the system of the internal tub, including wet clothes.
In the upper portion of
Also in the upper portion of the figure it is seen that the special eductor is comprised, firstly of a conical tube or Venturi (39) fed by a tube (40), which increases the speed and lows the water pressure to a negative pressure. The outlet end (41) of the Venturi, of smaller diameter, is enclosed and surrounded by a small closed cylindrical box or suction chamber of the eductor (37) communicated, through a small suction tube (38), with the upper portion of a closed chamber (57) (
In the bottom of
Another version of the rotary coupling between the fixed tube (8) and the rotary tube (48) is illustrated in the drawing to the right of the previous version. In this case, the fixed feeding tube (8) ends in a cylinder (54), wide and hollow, which at its inner has screwed the external diameter of a large bushing (53), which serves as a sleeve bearing to the rotation of the rotary tube (48), for which the upper end of this tube is introduced within the bushing with a fine adjustment. This bushing (53) is smoothly fastened, in its inferior face, by a shoe of sliding (52) mounted on the rotary tube and, in its upper face, by another screwed bushing (55), as a nut, in the end of the same tube.
In the left inferior portion of
The distance and perpendicular direction with respect to the axis of the rotary tube (48), with which the water jet gets out by the end (40) of the same tube, according to their folds to 90°, it causes that this jet, by reaction, pushes the end of the tube backwards and impels the rotation of this. The transmission of the rotation of the rotary tube to the central post can be directly done, joining with arms (49) the post to the rotary plate (50) of the tube, or by means of a speed reducer to increase the torque and to reduce the speed of the central post, so that the helical plate (4) is moving the clothes towards the dragging zone.
The
The feeding tube (8) for the washing centrally gets into the inner of the tubs, (7) and (14), by above of these, and it is directly connected with the conical tube or Venturi (39) of the special eductor, in such a way that this together with its suction chamber (37), crosses and keep centrally lodged inside the steam chamber (57). The steam chamber is a cylindrical box, hermetically closed and lodged within the central post (1), wherein the water is heated by means of the electrical resistance (56) to generate steam to the low pressure of the eductor; this steam is suctioned by the suction chamber (37) of the eductor through the small tube (38) whose nozzle stays at the upper of the steam chamber to draw in only this. Below bottom of the steam chamber (57) protrudes, centrally, the output tube (36) of the eductor to coupling, by means of the support shoe of sliding (52) and the rotary plates (50) and (51) as in
Within the internal tub (14) another additional tub is placed (59), separated a little and with a series of holes (10) by which is leaving the water that the tube (40) discharges within the internal tub. Through the space (60) between the bottoms of the two tubs, the water goes out of these through a evacuation tube (20) which begins from the bottom center of the internal tub (14), and it extends downwards until ending very near, upon the input of the suction tube (19) of the pump (18), to complete the closed pumping circuit during the washing cycle.
In order to fix the flotation level (29) in
In the
The cylindrical closed steam chamber (57), which is fixed to be able to feed directly to the electrical resistance (56), is housed within the central post (1) and it is centrally crossed and supported by a passing wide tube (69) which is continuation of the feeding tube (8). The lower end of the wide tube (69) protrudes of the bottom of the steam chamber (57), the enough to be articulated with the rotary tube (48) by means of a rotary coupling with the shoe of sliding (52) linked by the rotary plates, lower (50) and upper (51), as it was described.
The connection between the fixed steam chamber and the suction of the eductor, which rotates with the system, consists of a thin vertical tube (68) which, with its upper end inside the chamber, sucks the generated steam and then it gets into the side of the passing tube (69), in such a way that its lower end stays concentric or coaxial with this tube, and connected to the borehole of a small vertical bushing (70) of thick wall, fixed by means of an arms (73) to the inner of the wall of the passing tube (69). Below the bushing (70) it is introduced in the borehole of this second thin and short tube (76) which can rotate inside the bushing, slightly adjusting its diameters as a sleeve bearing. This second short tube (76) is connected, through a small flexible hose section (72), with a equal third tube (38) which goes down centrally until being placed within the rotary tube (48), wherein it is fastened by a ring (74) fixed to the inner of the rotary tube by another arms (73); then, the third tube (38) goes out from the rotary tube (48) through the wall thereof and it is directly connected with the suction (37) of the eductor. The sealing of the connection between the fixed portion and the rotary portion of the duct of the steam is made with a mechanical or rotary seal comprising a disc (71) or ring that has its upper surface polished and is tightly mounted around the second thin tube (76), which is pressured against the lower face, also polished, of the bushing (70), pushed by a spring (75) which at the lower end is supported against the ring (74) which holds the third tube of steam conduction (38). The flexible hose section (72) serves so that the spring can push the sealing disc. In such a way, the steam sucked by the fixed tube (68) can flow by the tube (38), which turns with the eductor, towards the suction chamber (37) of this. The disposition of the other components of the rotary washing system is equal than in
As an option, the steam chamber (57) of
The
Below the rotary connection, the cylindrical steam chamber (57) is integrated to the rotary tube (48), thus, the tube centrally crosses the chamber. The rotation of the eductor and the steam chamber (57) together with the rotary tube (48), allows the continuity between the internal tube (68) of the steam chamber and the tube (38) which feeds from this to the suction chamber (37) of the eductor be made with out the necessity of use a rotary seal. The power supply to the resistance (56) that heats the water of the steam chamber is done indirectly, either through a sliding socket connection over the copper or brass rotary rings, as it is described below, or by means of an electric transformer, whose primary is fixed and the secondary, turning with the other components, it feeds to the electrical resistance. Other form to heat the water stored in the chamber is by heat conduction through the walls thereof, placing a heater close to the outside of these walls. These heating systems are not shown in the figure.
As in the
The
It can be seen that the mechanism firstly consists of a thick ring of rectangular section (87) or cam ring, concentric with the rotary tube (48) and fastened by a radial arms (49) to the inner wall of the central post (1). The upper surface of this annular plate (87) or cam ring is divided in any appropriate number of sections which comprise, each of them, a low surface portion or valley (89) followed by a slope which finishes in a top or flat crest (88), as cam path. In each section, four in this figure, a corresponding leg (86) with a rounded and slipped end that in whole supported and slipped over each of the paths, by above of a second heavy ring (85). This ring is mounted on the rotary tube (48) and lashed or locked to this by means of a longitudinal wedge (90) fixed to the own tube, in such a way that, with light adjustments, the ring (85) can slide along the tube but not rotate respect to this. The rotation of the second ring (85) and, therefore, from the rotary tube (48) is stopped when the upper face of this ring is pressed against a stopping plate (84) adhered to a no rotary third ring (83). The third ring (83) can be a little raised to separate the stopping surfaces and to release the rotation of a second ring (85) and, consequently, the rotation of the rotary tube (48), of the eductor (2) and the post (1). Thus, the third ring has at the upper an articulated handle to the end of a lever (91), which raises the ring to rotate in its other end over a pivot encrusted on a bar (92) which, passing through the free space of the reducer (2), it is fixed to the support (80) of the gear shafts; thus this disposition avoid, on the other hand, the rotation of the ring (83). To stop of release the rotation of the tube, allowing that the third ring presses over the second or separating to these, the lever moves vertically by a valve rod (93) articulated in the middle portion of the lever and acting by springs and any mechanic system or electromagnetic of control.
By means of the reducer and this mechanism, the paused rotary cycle of the rotary tube (48), coordinated with the rotation of the post (1) and its helical plate, is carried out by the driving frequency of the valve rod (93) and by the relative rotation between the rotary tube (48) and the cam ring (87) which rotates, together with the post, slower than the tube. During this relative rotation, the second ring (85) locate its legs (86) upon the high cam paths and it is pressed against the plate (84) of the third ring (83), stopping its rotation and the one of set. The stopping lasts until that the valve rod (93) raises to the third ring a time to releases again the rotation, which, when continuing, does that the legs of the second ring fall in the low cam path, avoiding the stopping until that the mentioned rotation puts back them into stopping position and the cyclic position of the output tube of the eductor respect to the dragging zone, must be such that allow the paused circulation of all the clothes through the tub, with out entangle so much.
The
A third tube or rotary tube (48), equivalent to the tube (48) of
The aforementioned tubes are introduced one into the other with a fine adjustment, as a sleeve bearing, to allow the free rotation between them and to form, together with the initial hose, the duct to feed the rotary washing system as continuation, with equal big diameter, of the feeding tube (8).
In the
In order to feed to the suction (37) of the eductor by the steam chamber (57), rotating both with the rotary washing system, this is placed inside the central post (1) in such a way that the same connection tube (38) of the steam is used to join the bottom center of the steam chamber with the dome center of the bell-shape chamber (97) to make rotate that. The upper end (68) of the connection tube (38) stays within the steam chamber in order to suction this and its lower end (104), welded to the dome, and continues its connection until the suction (37) of the eductor.
At the upper of the steam chamber (57) is welded a shaft (105) which moves the central gear (79) of a planetary speed reducer (2), which transmits the rotation of the chamber to the central post (1). In order to transmit the pair of the impelling shaft (105) it is necessary that the shafts of the others intermediate gears (96) be fixedly supported respect to the system; but, on the other hand, all the rotary washing system must be able to move in any lateral direction according the internal tub moves while centrifuging. Over the reducer (2), is placed a round plate (80) which supports such shafts, and it is joined by above, to other upper plate (95) fixed to the structure (94) of the washing machine by a flexible tube (106) which supports the twist, in order to allow, with out rotating, the lateral displacement of the support plate together with the rotating system. In addition, the plate (80) registers the rotating of the upper end of the impelling shaft (105) in a central bushing and, at its periphery, the rotation of the central post (1). The power supply which in this figure appears within the flexible tube (106), to the resistance (56) of the steam chamber is detailed in
The
Before continuing, it is taken advantage of
Over the box (108) of the support (80) of the shafts, it is centrally fixed a horizontal bushing (111) inside the one that freely slides a round bar (114), in whose ends are welded, perpendicularly to them and centered, other round bars (112). Each of these two bars freely moves in their turn within set bushings (113), one on each side of the bar, which are joined to a plate (95), fixed to the structure or lid (94) of the washing machine. In summary, the mechanism consists of fixing the box (108) of the support (80) to a first track to slide, which allows to move it along a shaft, and this first track to slide is fixed to another similar track to slide which moves in perpendicular sense to the first one, therefore the device, combining both perpendicular displacements, allows to the support moves in any lateral sense, but not rotate.
At the right bottom of
The
As in the
The conduction of the steam from the fixed steam chamber (57) to the suction chamber (37) of the eductor is made firstly by means of a thin tube (68), which connects the upper zone of the steam chamber with the inner of a closed box (108) within the central post (1). This box serves for the passing of the steam to a second vertical thin tube (38), whose upper end is introduced, with smooth adjustment, into the closed box across a central bushing below the same box, since having its lower end (104) welded to the centre of the dome of the bell-shaped chamber (97) the tube (38) must rotate over the bushing and at the entrance of the tube (38) a rotary seal is placed to avoid leaks. The connection of the steam is completed through another thin tube or hose connected between the lower end (104) of the second thin tube and the suction chamber (37) of the eductor. In the second tube (38) is mounted the input gear (79) of the planetary reducer (2) and the support (80) of the shafts thereof, integrated to the passing box (108), it is fixed to the lid (94) or the machine structure. In such a way the thin tube (38), in addition to carry the steam to the suction of the eductor, it serves as impelling shaft of the speed reducer and as shaft which support the upper of the rotary washing system, which rotates centered and does not require of the mechanisms described in
The
After the washing or rinsing cycles and keeping closed the valves (123) the draining pump (62) is started with the valves of the first connection, (121) and (125) opened in order to evacuate the water of the tubs until the level of the lower end of the main tub (7), transferring it to the closed container (126); in such a way that the excess of water which passes over the volume of the container is evacuated by the waste-pipe (63) to the general drainage and only remains, therefore, in the container (126) the necessary volume to fill again the space between the tubs at the flotation level. When the level of the extracted water becomes below of the bottom of the internal tub (14), the retainer valves (27) of the bottom of this open and allow the exit of the remaining water thereof. After emptying the tubs, the valves (121) and (125) of the initial connection are closed and are opened the two valves (123) of the second connection, so that the water flow is inverted between the container and the tub, in such a way that all the water stored in the container (126) is returned to the main tub, so that the water level between the tubs reaches the prefixed flotation level. When the water, which is returning to the main tub (7), reaches to the bottom level of the internal tub (14) the retainer valves of this one are close and avoid that the entrance of water to the inner thereof, thus, this tub stays floating to start the centrifuging. With the opened valve (127), the excess of water from the squeezed clothes, which comes out of the internal tub, is drained by output tube (64) at the side of the main tub towards the closed container (126), keeping the flotation level (29).
Each cell (133) of the first type is divided in two portions by means of a horizontal plate (130). The upper portion is separated of the rest of the chamber by the plate, forming a compartment (131) which has a series of holes (10) in its inner wall and another series of holes (132) by above of the flotation level (29), in order to not affect this one, in its outer wall; thus, the first type of cells serves to evacuate from the internal tub (14) the recirculation of water flow. The lower portion of these first cells (133) has the same function as the second type of cells. Within the compartments (131) can be placed filters.
The cells of the second type (134) lack of holes and they are directly communicated to the double bottom of the tub (129), which stores, when the tub is not rotating, the fluid and heavy material which serve as counterweight to balance. If the clothes are not distributed when the tub is rotating the virtual rotary axis, which passes through the center of gravity, it will move at certain distance of the geometrical axis of the tub towards the overweight is, in such a way that the cells diametrically opposed to the overweight keep with a greater rotation radio that the cells closed to the overweight, provoking the tendency by the centrifuging force, that the counterweight flow enters in greater amount into the opposed cells than the closed to the overweight. To is increase the balance of the tub by this distribution of the fluid and however that, for the same reason, the virtual axis moves to coincide with the geometrical axis, the flow trapped in each of the second cells (134) could not be redistributed in the whole annular chamber as in
The
If the weight of the clothes is asymmetrically distributed when the tub starts to rotate, the geometrical axis of the tub or the passing tube (100) and, therefore, the bar (135)) together with its central ring (138) will rotate around the virtual rotary axis which is displaced to certain distance from the geometrical axis; by the above, the centrifugal force applied to the counterweight (136) will cause that the bar rotated on its ring (138) until that the counterweight (136) stays diametrically opposed to the virtual axis or to the clothes counterweight, compressing the spring (137) to go towards the end of the bar. In this position the obstruction plate (139) covers the entrance of the balancing fluid to the cells of the second type (134) of the side where the overweight is, until the fluid which goes into the opposite cells compensates the weight undistributed. As the weight is balanced within the tub, the virtual rotary axis approaches to the geometrical axis and the centrifugal force on the counterweight (136) is annulled to coincide both axes; at the same time, the counterweight (136) stops to compress the spring (137) and it is passed, pushed by this, towards the center to its initial position; this movements provokes, by the conservation of the angular moment, that the counterweight (136) the bar (135) and the obstruction plate (139) tend to increase their rotary speed rotating faster than the tub, so that the position, with respect to the cells, of the bar (135) and the plate (139) is indifferent and the rest of the balancing fluid is uniformly distributed in them.
The
In this figure only is showed the zone of the lower portion of the tubs, main (7) and inner (14), and the new mechanism which supports to the internal tub. The first portion of the mechanism consisting of a platform (146), centered under the internal tub (14), which has a central hole which is loosely cross over, by a guiding tube (145), which is joined to the tub center, below its bottom. The rotation and the weight of the internal tub are supported by a circular tier or series, concentric with the tub, of vertical wheels (143) with shafts fixed to the platform and directed in a radial form to the center of the tub. Other series of horizontal wheels (144), with their vertical shafts also fixed to the platform, are distributed around the periphery of the platform hole, in such a way that the wheels, supporting their rotation on the surface of the guiding tubes (145), keep and guide the concentric rotation of the internal tub (14) respect to its geometrical axis and to the platform (146). The speed of any point of the tub due to this rotation, concentric to the geometric axis of the tub, constitutes the first component of the absolute speed of the same point.
The second portion of the mechanism allows that the platform moves freely in any lateral direction; for this a series of supports is placed under the platform to sustain it. Each support consists of a horizontal bushing (147) with a round bar (141) of certain length within it, over which the bushing slides freely as sliding track; the bushing can transversely rotate to its geometric axis on a vertical pivot (148) fixed to the platform below this one, at the same time that the bar (141) can move horizontally and angularly, rotating over one of its ends welded to another bushing articulated to a vertical pivot (142) anchored this on the bottom of the main tub (7). So that each of the bars (141) did not support in cantilever the weight of the tub which transmits to it its sliding bushing (147), at the other end of each bar, opposed to the rotation, it is mounted a vertical wheel (140) with its collinear shaft to the bar and from such diameter which rolls tracing a circle supported over the bottom of the main tub (7), when the bar moves angularly. The combination of the linear movement of the sliding bushing (147) on the bar (141) and the angular displacement of these over one of their ends, it gives freedom to the platform (146) to displace in its horizontal plane in any lateral direction, without rotating.
Another form to support the lateral displacement of the platform (146) consists holding this to a first sliding system which moves in certain horizontal direction, being this first system fastened in its turn to a second sliding system fixed to the main tub, which moves also horizontally, in a perpendicular direction to the first system.
The second portion of the mechanism described in the last two paragraphs, in any of its two versions, allows that the platform (146) supporting to the internal tub, and carried or driven by this same, moves horizontally, tracing a circle equal than the circle that trace the geometrical axis of the tub around any virtual axis on which rotates the tub. This movement of the platform provides to any point of the tub the second component of the total speed, with which such point moves respect to the virtual axis over which the tub rotate.
The
One of the pumps (149) directly feeds the jets of the nozzles (17) which impel the special turbine Pelton, whose box (25) is joined to the guiding tube (145) from the lower end of the tub. The feeding tube (8) connected without a valve to the discharge of another pump (18) is inserted directly, with smooth adjustment into the passing tube (100) of the tub over which rotates the tube (48) of the same rotary washing system from
The
The
During the washing or centrifuging, the internal drum (14) should be adapted to rotate within the main drum (7); for this, the main drum (7) has, in the back side and housed towards its inner, a first wide and short tube (174) joined by its rear end to the rear center of the drum, with free passing to the inner of this one; in such a way that this first wide tube remains, with a smooth adjustment, into a second wide tube (175) with its front end welded externally in the center of the rear part of the inner drum (14); thus the rotation of the internal drum (14) is supported on the rotation of the second wide tube (175), as a sleeve bearing, over the first wide tube (174), as a support shaft.
On the other hand, the rotation of the inner drum (14) at its front end is supported on a wheel (167), with conical periphery, which fits in the round opening (168) chamfered from the drum and rotates with this. The shaft (163) of the hub (165) of this wheel (167) rotates supported by a bearing box (164) sealed and joined to the center of the lid (162) of the main drum (7), so that this lid (162), pulls with oneself to the supporting wheel (167) to close or to open, for putting or to removing the clothes. To have an adjustment pressure of the linkage between the wheel (167) and the internal drum (14), the wheel hub (165) internally has a compression spring (166) which supported at the inner end of the shaft (163) pushes to the cube so that the wheel be pressed over the opening of the drum.
Also in
The washing is made, as in prior cases, by a special fixed eductor fed by a tube (8), with control valve (13), connected to the discharge of the pump (18) and with the suction of the eductor connected to a chamber (57) steam generator, also fixed. The back and central connector, from the water flow for the washing is made using a conical intermediate amplification (172), with a deflector nucleus (173) also conical in its center, to connect the feeding tube (8) with the back end of the first wide tube (174) of the main drum, in such a way that this tube introduces the flow inside the inner drum, passing through the wide tube (175) of this. The wide feeding tube (174) is connected and ends centrally, within the inner drum, on the basis of a cylindrical horizontal box (97) which serves to direct the flow towards the input of the eductor; in such a way that the big area of the section from these two components decreases the speed of the flow, and thus, the friction losses by the changes in its direction. So that the water flow acquires a rotary impulse to enter in the cylindrical box (97), it is placed within the first wide tube (174), along to this and until the back side of the cylindrical box, a duct or helical plate (160) which gives this movement to the flow. The flow which is entering to the cylindrical box with such movement is directed, through a volute (176) within the box, towards an output tangential tube (40) in the box periphery. The output tube (40) ends in the Venturi (39) of the eductor, which directs its exit downwards and the most tangentially possible over the blades (5) from the lower side of the inner drum, in such a way that the water jet and the bubbles, colliding against the blades, impulse the rotation of the inner drum to shoveling with the same blades to the clothes, in the bosom from which cavitate the bubbles. The connection between the steam chamber (57) and the suction chamber (37) of the eductor is made by a thin tube (38) which enters, by the wall of the first wide tube (174), towards the cylindrical box and the eductor within this.
In order to make the wringing by centrifuging, in the second wide tube (175) is mounted a common Pelton turbine (170), which is impelled by water jets which collides over the buckets (24) and they are launched by nozzles (17), with control valve (16), connected to the discharge of the pump (18) therefore, thus, the turbine drag in its rotation to the inner drum holding back the wet clothes for wringing. In the front face of the buckets is perforated a small hole (169) in which finish a radial thin duct (171) which is until the inner surface of the second wide tube (175), with the purpose that the rotation of this tube be lubricated with a small portion of the same water which launch the nozzles over the buckets.
The
In this case, the closed pumping circuits for the washing and for the wringing are separated, so that the hydraulic circuit which feeds the eductor is fed by a centrifuge pump (18) which operates with a sense of rotation opposite to the centrifugal pump (149) of the circuit of squeezed, both pumps being driven by the same motor with rotating interchangeable to activate one or another pump. This double pumping circuit has the purpose of to operate alternately each circuit, in such a way that to operate the wringing pump (149), this launch a water jet, through of its tube and the discharge nozzle (17), over the buckets (24) of the Pelton turbine (170) joined to the inner drum to rotate this a little bit and to make the shoveled of the clothes by means of the inner blades (5) of the drum. Then the rotation of the motor is changed to operate the pump (18) and activates the washing action of the eductor, repeating adequately of the two cycles slowly.
The
To avoid that the forces of the vertical movement of all the previous supports system of the drums be transmitted to the structure (94) of the washing machine in vibration form, this system in its turn is fastened to another system which consist on fixing respectively the two pivots (142) of the fore oscillating bars (141), and equally in the two pivots of the rear end, to each one of the ends of an horizontal bar (179) in whose middle part is raised a vertical rod (183) are articulated, in rotary form, an end of each of the other two bars (184) which are opposite, each one towards a side of the rod, and sloping downwards with certain angle, as normal position. The other end of each of these two sloping bars, also is articulated in same rotary form, to a corresponding second horizontal rounded pushing bar (182) which runs within a bushing (180) fixed to the structure (94) of the washing machine. The movement in opposite sense of these last two horizontal pushing bars (182) is limited by springs (181). Thus, the force of the motion vertical upwards and downwards of the horizontal bar (179) is projected by the two sloping bars (184) in two horizontal forces, equal and opposite to each other, over the bars (182) and the pushing springs (181) to both sides of the rod; moreover of the little vertical projection of this force just produces pairs o torsion efforts contrary in each fixed bushing (180), in such a way that the forces over the two springs and the torsion pairs over the two bushings are opposite to those from the other side, therefore, the reactions over the structure of the washing machine are equal and opposite, therefore, the vertical motion force is transformed in inner efforts over the structure, annulling as vibration producers.
To decrease the movement of the virtual axis of rotation respect to the geometrical axis of the drum, as in
The
The mechanism which during the centrifuging allows to the main tub to move in any lateral direction comprises in a series of supports which support to the tub below and around this, similar to the wheels which aligns automatically in the direction of the displacement towards any side. In this case each support comprises a flat horizontal bar (147) which in one of its ends is articulated a bearing of vertical shaft or pivot (148) fixed to the bottom of the tub, which allows that the bar oscillates in a horizontal plane over such end. The flat bar, following the movement of the tub, moves lineally in any of both senses supported over the upper periphery of a vertical wheel (186) whose mounting (141) can rotate horizontally over other bearing of vertical shaft (142), so that the wheel can align in any moment with the direction of the bar. Below of the box which support to this last bearing (142) is welded a guide vertical bar (188) which slides within a support bushing (187) fixed to the structure (94) of the washing machine. Between the bearing box (142) and this supporting bushing (187) is placed a spring (178) which works to compression, as a shock absorber to support the weight of the set in its displacement around of the virtual rotating axis. The vertical wheel (186) always must keep a minimal distance from the pivot or bearing (148) of the bar, with the purpose of that exist a pair which induces the aligning of the bar with the direction of the displacement of the tub in each moment.
On the other hand, the connection pipes, (8) (17) and (19), between the tubs and the pumps (18) (149), have, as in
The
The new system consists in a supporting series (189) which support to the main tub (7) distributed around its upper periphery. Basically each support consists in a horizontal crosshead of two bars or shaft (191) joined in its center to 90°, in such a way that one of the shafts rotates in its ends over the laterals of an upper inverted U-shape plate (190) welded to the upper portion (187) of the structure of the washing machine through the fixed bar (193). The other crossed shaft rotates also over the laterals of the other lower U-shape plate (192) from which hangs the upper end of a second bar (141) which passes loosely through a horizontal hole practiced in a lug or plate (177) welded to the side of the main tub (7), so that a spring to compression (178), fixed to the lower end of the bar, supports below of the hole of the lug to the weight of the tub. Thus, the combination of the free oscillation or angular rotation in a plane, over one of the shafts of the crosshead (191), of the lower “U” plate (192) together with the bar (141) and the oscillation or angular rotation of these over other shaft of the crosshead, in the other perpendicular plane to the first one, allows that the bar (141) can oscillate angularly in any direction respect to the supporting bar (193) of the crosshead, supporting to the tub in any lateral displacement limited of this. This system is similar, with a different use, to a universal transmission (“Cardan Joint”) of rotation between two shafts no aligned as are the bars (141) and (193).
The
In
The central post (19 fixed has two helical plates (4) separated 180° one from the another one and, in the other hand, the bottom (45) of the internal tub (14) is rounded from the center to the periphery, as a middle toroid surface, in such a way that the bottom center raises a conical elevation (198) close to the end of the rotary tube (48); in such a way that, dragging areas are formed between the surface (44) of the endings of the helical plates (4) and the curved surface (45) of the bottom of the internal tub (14). The output of the tube (48) stays tangential to the curvature of the peak of the elevation (198) and placed between this curvature and a small conical deflector (196) fastened around of the lower end of the central post (1). Thus, the water jet and the bubbles discharged by the rotary tube (48) drag the clothes which are in such dragging areas, directing towards the periphery of the tub wherein the current and the clothes, guided by the curvature of the tub bottom, raise by the side of the tubs until the upper portion of these, to later return towards the bottom by the center of the same tubs guided by the helical plates (4) again towards the dragging areas, to be impelled repeatedly by the jet which gets out of the eductor.
The lower part of the
The
To discharge the jet of the eductor within the internal tub, the rotary tube (48) is coupled, as it was described above, to the output tube (36) of the eductor, in such a way that the end of the rotary tube outstands a little of the bottom of the internal tub by the passing tube and it is curved the necessary to discharge radially the jet towards the periphery of the tub; thus, the jet impels the clothes that is in the dragging zone, comprised between the bottom (45) of the tub and the helical plate (44), towards the periphery and upwards of the tub. The length and the curved finish of the rotary tube (48) as small as possible to decrease the pressure losses thereof, therefore it is convenient that the eductor enters within the shaft or passing tube (100), the most as high as possible.
The rotary washing system is complete making to rotate in small pauses to the internal tub (14) together with the central post (1) and its helical plates (4), impelled by the turbine Pelton; for this, the lower end of the post is joined to the bottom of the tub through a thin legs (202) in order to allow the passing of the jet which launches the rotary tube (48). Within the central post (1) is a cylindrical box (80), fastened centrally to the structure (94) of the main tub (7), wherein is housed a motor with speed reducer (200) which, by its centered shaft (201) joined to the rotary tube (48), makes rotating slowly to this so that the jet which discharges radially goes running all the periphery of the tub. In such a way, during the washing cycle, can be alternated the performing of the washing pump (18) with that from the centrifuging pump (149) so that this activates the rotation of the Pelton turbine intermittently, in such a way that the slow rotation of the helical plates combine with the rotation of the rotary tube (48) to facilitate the circulation of the clothes.
The bottom of the
It is evident that the method of
The
In this
Each Venturi of the special eductor series is fed by the discharge tube (8) of a pumping system in closed circuit whose suction tube (19) of the pump (18) is connected to the canal bottom through a filter (203). Along the inner sides of the canal is placed a sloping-blades series (204) so that this provoke the shoveled of the clothes in order to be changing the relative position of this within the tub.
The
The
The washing by means of cavitation is produced, as it was mentioned, by means of a special eductors series whose suction is connected (38) to a steam generator (57), in order to be fed by a re-circulating pumping system of the water into the tub, connecting the discharge (8) of pump (18) to the special eductor and the suction of this (19) to the filter (203) in the bottom of the main tub (7). The eductors point their discharge jets (36) within the tubs in adequate direction and from the upper of these. The feeding tubes of the eductor have a flexible portion (217) in order to can change the direction of the eductor jet during the washing and in order to remove the eductor before removing the small basket described in the following paragraph.
Inside the internal tub is a basket (212) with the same profile or shape of the internal tub, except that it does not have the outer wall and it is fastened by a hollow and central conical body (213), which in dismountable form and of easy registration is coupled to an equal conical prolongation of the motor couple (215). The upper portion of the conical body (213) has an eyebolt (214) which serves to pull up with a crane the small basket and to remove the washed clothes.
The feeding of the rotary washing system consists of a first great diameter fixed tube (101) which enters centrally below the centrifuging casing (23) and it carries the flow which comes from the pump discharge, in similar form than in
The upper end of the rotary tube (48) is extended gradually in conical form (220) until finish off, centrally and by below, within a closed cylindrical chamber (97) of low height, great diameter and housed in the bottom of the internal tub (14), instead of the bell-shape chamber of the
The bottom enlarged portion (226) of the vertical portion of the steam conductor tube (38) is fixed centrally above the cylindrical chamber (97) so that the tube rotates with this and it serves as tube-shaft impeller of the reducers, as it was mentioned. On the other hand, the steam carrying towards the suction of the eductors (221) continues by other horizontal tubes (38) which radially are from the lower portion (226) of the vertical portion of the tube.
Since it is necessary for the operation of the planetary speed reducers (2) and (225) that the structure which supports the gears of these stays fixed, a bar (94) joined to the main tub (7) is welded to the steam transference box (108) and which is integrated to such structure.
As well as in
Below the box (108) is the planetary reducer (2) which comprises the central gear (79) mounted on the impeller tube (38) the intermediate gear (96) and the box (244) of the peripheral external gear which, to be joined to the upper portion (224) of the central post, makes rotating to this and its helical plate (4) in a single sense. The reducer rotates supported in the bushings (239) over a tubular rounded portion (227) of the structure (80).
The second reducer (225) which moves to the lower part (1) of the central post really is a double reducer with two systems, aligned one over the other one, of planetary gears (233) and (243); each of these systems has a central gear (235) mounted on a hollow shaft (241), so that these shafts are independent between them and they rotate over the aligned bushings (234). The upper end of the hollow shaft of the above gear and the lower end of the hollow shaft of the below gear, protruding from its bushings, have the radial bars (231). Inside the two hollow shafts or tubes (241) runs a ratchet tube (240) with other bars or vertical ratcheted bar (230) in each end in order they can be interlaced with the radial bars (231). The length of the ratchet tube (240) is such that, moving upwards or downwards, it interlaces by itself with only one of the two hollow shafts (241) of the central gears, keeping free the rotation of the other gear. Within the ratchet tube (240) is the impeller tube (38) which rotates in a single sense and drag in its rotation, by a wedge (237), to the ratchet tube (240), which in its turn impels the central gear to which is interlaced in this moment. The key slot (236 in which is loosely housed the wedge is larger than this, so that the ratchet tube (240) has enough freedom to displace upwards or downwards.
It is observed, in
The rotation of the internal tub (14) in the centrifuging, which is supported in a shoe of sliding over a bushing (185) in the center bottom of the main tub (7), is impelled by a motor (218) whose vertical shaft (245) penetrates axially within the vertical portion of the feeding tube (8) through a hole practiced in the lower portion of a bend to 90° of the same vertical portion of the tube, sealing the passing of the shaft by a mechanical seal (71). The upper end of this shaft is joined to the inner of the lower end enlarged of the rotary tube (48) by radial arms (246) which not avoid the flow passing, so that the motor (218), when operates, impels to tube (48) together with the internal tub (14). During the washing the motor can rotate in opposite sense to the flow circulation within the tub, so that the dragging zone displaces against this flow and improve the circulation of the clothes.
The upper end of the rotary tube (48) finishes to the inner of a widen bell-shape closed chamber (97) of double wall, in a same shape and with the same function that the similar chamber showed and described in
Additionally, to help the circulation of the clothes within the internal tub (14), in the bottom of this, are fixed the radial blades (12) which rotate with the tub when the pump (149) is activated which feeds (17) the jets which impel the Pelton turbine (25) of the internal tub at the centrifuging cycle, as it was described. This action is made in short periods during the washing, alternately with the performance of the pump (18) of the hydraulic circuit of the same washing; in such a way that in this short periods, the clothes which are in the tub bottom are impelled by the rotation of the blades (12) towards the periphery, pushing and provoking the movement of all the clothes within the currents produced by the eductors.
Finally, the steam feeding to the eductor is made in similar form to that described in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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MX/A/2008/016451 | Dec 2008 | MX | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/MX2009/000139 | 12/18/2009 | WO | 00 | 10/24/2011 |