Abstract: A tumbler-style washing machine having a tubular elongated drum adapted to be rotatable about its horizontal axis is provided with bearing-support structure for suspending and driving the drum, including a plurality of pulley-driven endless chain loops which suspend the drum from overhead rocker beam members. The rocker beam members are adapted to rock a limited distance in a vertical plane, to compensate for variations encountered during operation of the machine, such as load change, chain stretch and drum level fluctuation, etc., and a plurality of piston-cylinder units serve as buffering means for the rocker beam members. The piston-cylinder units are preferably supplied with internal fluid pressure and may be variously interconnected with each other and with specific control means to achieve an automatic support-adjusting action during operation of the washing machine.

Abstract: A method is provided, along with apparatus for practice of the method, wherein laundry, such as linen or the like, is treated, following a washing operation applied thereto, by applying centrifugal force to extract rinsing liquid from a saturated laundry batch and then applying to the exterior of the laundry batch a pressurized fluid flow as a further treatment step, which is withdrawn from the laundry work batch from a point generally within the batch whereby rinsing liquid is withdrawn in a direction countercurrent to the preceding centrifugal extraction step. A suction may be applied at a point within the batch to either establish or enhance the liquid extraction operation.The apparatus of the invention includes a perforated spin-drying drum within a housing such that a circumjacent space is defined between the drum and the housing, and a remotely located blower in conduit communication with the housing generates a pressurized flow to the circumjacent space.