Jan. 28, 1930. G. L. MARKEY . . .

1,745,177
WASHING MACHINE IMPELLER
Filed March 22, 1927

INVENTOR.
BY
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ATTORNEYS.
 Patented Jan. 28, 1930 - 1,745,177

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

GEORGE L. MARKLEY, OF CULVER, CITY, CALIFORNLA
WASHING-MACEINE IMPELER
Application filed March 22, 1927. Serial No. 177,310.
This invention relates to a washing ma better illustrate the impeller construction;
chine, especially adapted for textiles, fabrics Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a perspective
and like articles, although useful for other. view of one form of my impeller detached
purposes wherein it is desirable to have cur from the agitator; and Fig. 4 is a hood for 55
5 rents of water play over articles submerged the impeller.
therein. The present invention is especially I have shown herein my invention em
suitable for embodiment in domestic wash bodied in an attachment which may be
ing machines, although in no manner limited mounted upon a standard type of agitator.
to such use. It appertains to a Washing ma It will be understood however, that the in
10 chine comprising a container for the Washing vention is in no manner limited to the spe
liquid, such as water, and an agitator having cific construction shown. The specific details
blades operating upon the fluid to cause cur of the structure shown herein are for illus
rents therein which have components of move trative purposes only. Variations of the
ment outwardly and peripherally. Broadly, structure will be apparent to those skilled in
15 such washers are well known, as it is common the art as the description proceeds.
to provide an upright shaft within the con In Fig. 1, a container 10 is shown which
tainer and an agitator with blades. A chan may be of the cylindrical tub type. Upstand
nel for the articles to be washed is thereby ing through the center thereof is a shaft 11
provided between the shaft and the wall of upon which is mounted an agitator 12. In 70
20 the container. However, the currents pro the particular construction shown, this agi
duced by such agitators tend to move the tator comprises a disk like bottom plate with
articles toward and maintain them in posi ahaving stream line anticline toward the center and
radially extending wings 13 on one
tion at the shaft, thereby causing them to
become entangled about the shaft and with side. The shaft is preferably oscillated by 75
25 each other, subjecting them to possible injury motor mechanism not shown, water bein
and damage and militating against efficient placed within the container to about the leve
speedy washing. indicated by the dotted line. The water or
The primary object of this invention is to washing liquid is projected radially outward .
provide a washing machine having an impel by the wings 13, impinging upon the periph 80
30 ler arranged to create currents which lave eral wall of the container and then spread
the articles and tend to maintain them at a ing, most of it upwardly, back toward the
distance from the shaft. Another object of shaft and then downwardly. This would
this invention is to provide an impeller which tend to carry fabrics and the like articles
will entrain air in the liquid, whip the same upwardly and against the shaft. Various
35 and thereby distribute the soap or like mate types of agitators are made, some having 85
rials thoroughly throughout the liquid, and the disk portion above the wings. However,
in the case of soap quickly form suds. A still my invention is in no manner limited to any
further object of this invention is to provide particular agitator construction or even use
a combination of an impeller and a hood to therewith.
40 aid in producing suds and also to serye as Mounted over the shaft 11 is my improved 90
a protector for delicate fabrics and textiles impeller comprising a tubular portion 14
which it may be desired to wash. . which snugly fits over the shaft and is pro
These objects together with other objects vided with blades 15 of triangular form. In
and corresponding accomplishments are ob the present instance, the lower edges of the 95
45 tained by means of the embodiment of my blades are provided with channels as indi
invention illustrated in the accompanying cated by 16 for the purpose of straddling the
drawing, in which:. agitator wings and seating thereon. This
Fig. is an elevation of portions of the particular structure aids in holding the im
machine essential to the present invention, peller in position upon the shaft. In the
with a part of the container broken up to blades 15 are perforations 17, preferably dis-l'
 2 1,745,177
tributed over the face thereof. The size and shaft extending therein, impeller blades se
location of the perforations may be arranged cured to said shaft extending outwardly
as it is found expedient. An impeller so con therefrom and ending short of the peripheral
structed forms a detachable unit. wall of said container so as to provide a chan
With my improved impeller mounted on nel for the articles to be washed, said blades 70
the agitator, the operation is as follows: having perforations extending therethrough,
Oscillation or rotation of the shaft will and a shell having perforations detachably
cause currents of water or liquid to be started mounted over said impeller blades.
outwardly. However, due to the variation 2. In a washing machine, a container, an
O in radial extent of the blade from top to bot upright operating shaft therein, an agitator
tom, the current flow will be greatest at the having radially extending wings, and an im
bottom of the container and least at the top peller including perforate blades arranged
there being a gradual increase in current to be mounted over said shaft and seated on
strength from top to bottom of the blades. said wings.
15 This causes a vortex action, the liquid mov 3. In a washer, a container, an upright op 80
ing outwardly at the bottom, then toward the erating shaft therein, an agitator having ra
top and inwardly toward the shaft and then dially extending wings, an impeller including
down to the bottom plate being directed by perforate blades arranged to be mounted over
its streamline surface outwardly. The tend said shaft and seated on said wings, said
20 ency to move the article toward the shaft will blades being of triangular form with the 85
be well distributed over the outer edge of the bases thereof arranged to straddle said agi
impeller. There is also a current downward tator blades.
ly adjacent the shaft which tends to move the 4. In a washer, a container, an upright op
articles downwardly, and, if they are in con erating shaft therein, impeller blades secured
tact with the edges of the blades, they will to said shaft, and a perforate shell detachably 90
be moved outwardly due to the inclination of disposed over, housing and secured to said
the outer edges. The holes in the blades will blades so as to be rotatable by the latter.
tend to whip the liquid and thoroughly stir In witness that I claim the foregoing I have
the same. The agitation of the water is such hereunto subscribed my name this 16th day
80 that close to the impeller blades bubbles are of March, 1927. 95
formed which pass downwardly from the up GEORGE L. MARKLEY.
per surface, air being entrained and aiding
in the washing action. To further aid in
preventing articles from wrapping about the
impeller, rollers 18 are journalled at the edges 100
of the impellers thereby providing anti-fric
tion means for contacting with the articles
being washed.
In Fig. 4, a hood 19 is shown which may
40 be slipped over the impeller, encompassing
the same. This hood is formed by a shell o5
and has perforations 20 through which the
liquid may pass. Rollers 21 are journalled
on the shell and are placed to provide means
45 for the articles to roll over without friction. 0.
The construction is such that the hood may be
placed over the impeller, and any fabrics or
garments within the channel between theim
50
peller and the wall of the container will be
E. from contact with the blades.
urthermore, there is a somewhat violent agi
tation of the liquid at the blades and within
the hood. Soap or washing fluid which may
be added are thoroughly mixed and agitated,
especially within the hood. In the case of 20
soap, suds are quickly formed.
It will be obvious that the impeller may be
constructed as a unit to form a combined agi
tator and impeller or a single impeller. The
impeller as an attachment may be built for 25
mounting upon various standard types of
agitators, and its mechanical construction
will be varied accordingly.
What I claim is:
1. In a washer, a container, an operating 130