Abstract: An automatic washing machine having an automatic liquid level control system including an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving arrangement. The automatic washer includes a vertical axis tub disposed within a cabinet and further having a rotatable perforate wash basket disposed within the tub for receiving a load of clothes and a quantity of washing liquid. The cabinet includes an openable lid disposed above the tub and the wash basket. A transducer is provided, mounted in the cabinet lid, for operating in a first mode as a transmitter for transmitting a sonic pulse into the wash basket. The transducer operates in a second mode as a receiver for generating an electronic signal responsive to receipt of a sonic echo pulse from the surface of the load of clothes disposed within the wash basket. The height of the load of clothes may then be determined in accordance with the elapsed time between transmission of the sonic pulse and reception of the corresponding sonic echo pulse.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine for washing clothes in boiling water comprises a tub enclosing a wash tank. The tub has an upstanding wall with a rim. A cover for the tub includes inner and outer downwardly projecting flanges forming a groove extending continuously around the periphery of the cover to prevent the escape of steam. The rim of the tub is tightly received in the groove. A water infeed line for the tub includes an enlarged chamber for relieving the pressure of incoming water to provide a smooth inflow of water.

Abstract: A fully automatic clothes washing machine is provided with a heating apparatus arranged in a water container, on the upper portion of which an inner cover apparatus is installed to prevent the upward emanation of steam vapors therefrom. The water container includes a supporting member attached to the outer peripheral portion on the top portion of the water container to form an opening portion; and an inner cover apparatus attached at the edge to the supporting member and having means for forcing the other end to open or tightly close the opening portion.

Abstract: A combination of a washing machine and a sink has a basin-shaped lid member connected to the opening portion formed above the rotary basket, by means of a link mechanism. The link mechanism is composed of, for example, an arm, a first shaft connecting one end of the arm to the lid member, and a second shaft connecting the other end of the arm to a groove provided at the opening portion and being slidable in the groove. Therefore, the lid member can be turned over without coming into contact with the rotary basket or the clothes therein, in order to use the lid member as a sink.

Abstract: A combination appliance is provided having a washing machine and a separately operable dryer disposed above the washing machine. The washing machine and dryer are separately supported in a generally mating relationship providing the characteristics of a unitary appliance. There is a horizontally disposed top cover associated with the washing machine which defines an access opening to within the washing machine. The top cover also includes guideways at the sides of the access opening with an access door being cooperable with the guideways for sliding movement to close the access opening in a first forward posture and to uncover the access opening in a second rearward posture. The top cover further includes structure for effectively retaining the access door in the guideways in the first forward posture and providing a housing for the access door in the second rearward posture.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a high capacity machine for washing industrial mats or rugs and the like comprises a generally rectangular tank divided by internal partitions into two wash sections and two rinse sections. An endless belt conveyor system attached to the top of the tank serves to move the mats over the tank sections with the nap of the mats facing down. Transverse header pipes in the tank sections are provided with rows of nozzles that form high velocity sprays of liquid which impinge against the nap to effect the scrubbing and rinsing action. The nozzles are directed at angles of 35.degree. forward and rearward with respect to the plane of the mat, with the nozzles which provide the detergent sprays having orifices that form flat or knife-like sprays to effect a deep cleaning of the nap, while the nozzles which provide the rinse sprays have orifices that effect diverging sprays to flush the detergent and particulate matter out of the nap.

Abstract: A machine for dyeing and drying stocking articles and like garments comprises a vessel for containing the stocking articles to be processed, a plurality of horizontally extending perforated diaphragms within the vessel on which stocking article cakes are stacked in superimposed layers, a tubular element penetrating centrally the perforated diaphragms and extending in the vessel in an axial direction up the mouth thereof, a driven propeller within the tubular vessel, a closing cover fixed detachably to the vessel, an inlet and outlet for a processing bath, heaters for heating the bath and an inlet and outlet for drying air. The perforated diaphragms have tiltable portions for allowing loading and unloading operations.

Abstract: The disclosure is of apparatus and its use to treat textiles with fluids such as dyes, resist chemicals and like agents. The apparatus is particularly useful for space-dyeing textiles such as skeins of textile yarn. The apparatus comprises an enclosure having an opening and defining a treatment chamber, a closure, means for introducing predetermined measures of the treating agent and means for compressing the textile within the treatment chamber. By the method of the invention, textiles are disposed in the treatment chamber and compressed. While compressed, the fluid agent is uniformly dispersed under pressure in portions of the interior of the body of the compressed yarn and in a proportion just sufficient to effect the desired treatment. The apparatus and method of the invention are more efficient than prior art methods and apparatus, reduce water requirements and reduce the potentially undesirable impact of a textile treating process on the environment.

Abstract: A unit for automatically cleaning items such as laundry or the like comprises a plurality of reciprocating plungers mounted to engage the items within a tank containing the items and a cleaning liquid. Each plunger comprises a piston mounted within a canister. The piston is mounted within the canister in an arrangement which permits a limited relative movement between the piston and canister, thus developing a bi-directional pumping action. With each stroke of the plunger, the piston forces liquid through the items to be cleaned, first in one direction and then the other, by virtue of the limited movement of the piston relative to the canister, the latter serving to assist in holding the items to be cleaned in a position for encountering the liquid being driven by the piston. The combined rotary reciprocating action of the plungers not only serves to clean the items in the tank but also to slowly propel them from the inlet to the outlet end of the tank so that a continuous cleaning process is performed.