Patent of the Day

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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Thu 6/17/2021 -- Whirlpool, peek-a-boo function for Calypso (or other machines) which allows the user a short observation of nutation/wash action under specific conditions.  There's a mistake in the logic on Fig. 6.
 
 
Thu 07/01/2021 -- General Motors / Frigidaire dated 10/19/1943 for a direct-drive, reversing-motor washing machine mechanism with "thimble-shaped agitator" which rotates at motor speed with a helical vane on the centerpost that churns the water for washing and rinsing, and a brake-and-clutch which allows rotating the tub for extraction.
 
 
Fri 9/24/2021 --

Dated 3/6/1956, topload washer with a separate/integral water heating reservoir to preheat water for a rinse following the wash period, or for washing the next load, and a solid oscillating/spinning tub with integral ramped agitation hub.  Hot rinse is touted as necessary to handle removal of soil and detergent/soap scum from fabric fibers, which contract in cold water.  Solid spin tubs are touted as superior for sanitization by way of eliminating the space between an outer tub and inner basket or lining which is an inaccessible cavity where germs, bacteria, and fungi can breed.

So, yeah, it was known 65 years ago that washers can get gnasty.
 
This looks like a very cool washer! Too bad it was never made. From the patent text:

It is definitely known that hot water expands the fibers in clothes, cold water contracts the same, thereby the dirt and detergent cling to the meshes of the fibers, causing gray colored clothes when rinsing in cold water. This condition is evidenced by the fact that present day automatic washing machines are using several spray rinses in an attempt to clear the clothes of dirt and detergents. Furthermore, many of the automatic washing machines now on the market are provided with a perforated liner arranged in spaced relation from the main body of the tub, so as to provide a cavity between the wall of the tub and the liner for the circulation of the water. This has been found necessary with some constructions in order to obtain adequate water circulation, at the expense of sanitation, in that the cavity between the liner and the main body of the tub provides an inaccessible breeding place for germs, bacteria and fungi.

This is one of the reasons I love my solid-tub washers, there is no way for anything that is in the outer tub to contact the items being washed. The exception to this is the solid-tub GE Filter-Flo's, but the water level is only right at the bottom of the outer tub for recirculation so it's reach is less to a certain extent than perforated tub washers.
 
POTD Usage

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">The main issue I have with using it is I never seem to see the posts until the next day when its moved on to something else.  I understand they are random but I wonder if there is or has been any consideration to setting it up with some kind of history, so we could plug in a date and see what was listed on that date.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or is it an option to give us a button we could click in the message to fill in the URL to that day's POTD so if we're looking at it on a different day we could use the URL to get to the one that is referred to in the message.  Maybe something like click this button to fill in the URL to today's POTD?</span>
 
 
10/14/2021 -- Whirlpool, toploader with variable-speed direct-drive motor, dated 10/18/1966.  Apparently the first time I've seen this patent as I didn't have the file saved.
 
 
Thu 11/11/2021 -- Catherine R. Thomas, dated 01/28/1969.  A washer with ability to wet and fast-freezing a garment, which is then thawed and washed normally as a method of handling difficult stains.  The freezing and thawing process loosens stains that resist removal by conventional treatments.
 
very interesting

I never knew GM Frigidaire even considered jumping on the combo washer/dryer wagon back in the day. No window in the door -- did Maytag copy this for the Neptune? LOL
 
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