MULTIPLE AUTOMATIC WASHER SYSTEM

• US 3,841,116 A
• Filed: 12/08/1972
• Issued: 10/15/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence N. Klein, William R. Wallens
• Original Assignee: Lawrence N. Klein, William R. Wallens
• Inventors: Klein, Lawrence N., Wallens, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US05/313,598
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 68/12R,18R,18F,27 210/167,195,210
• US Class Current: 68/12.13
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 31/00 Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/20 Arrangements for water recovery

Abstract

A dual water supply and reclaiming system adapted to serve a series of automatic laundering machines. The wash water and rinse water from the several machines are circulated through separate systems for independently treating and reclaiming the same for reuse by the several laundering machines. Both systems include filtering arrangements and the wash water system additionally includes means for chemically treating the used wash water to sterilize and neutralize the same. Makeup water for the wash water system is supplied from the rinse water system, which is replenished with fresh water from a public water supply system.

Claims

1. In combination, a plurality of automatic washing machines, each of said machines having independent time control means for executing wash and rinse cycles each including introduction of water to the machine and discharge of water therefrom;

a wash water storage tank and a rinse water storage tank each serving the several machines in common;

a wash water sump and a rinse water sump;

an outlet in each machine having drain conduits leading to said sumps, respectively;

means in said outlet connected for operation by said time control means for directing wash water and rinse water through said conduits to the respective sumps;

conduit means including pump means for delivering water from said sumps to said storage tanks, respectively;

rinse water treating means in said conduit means including means for filtering and removing detergent from said rinse water prior to returning said rinse water to said rinse water storage tank; and

wash water treating means in communication with said wash water conduit means including means for chemically treating, precipitating solids and sludge and removing the precipitated solids and sludge from and filtering said wash water prior to returning the same to said wash water storage tank whereby said rinse and wash water are maintained separate from each other and suitable for total recirculation for separate use in wash and rinse cycles.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said wash water treating means includes a series of tanks through which at least a portion of said wash water is successively circulated enroute to said wash water storage tank;

and conduit means between each adjacent pair of said series of tanks.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said series of tanks includes a first tank;

means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said first tank for admixture with and treatment of said wash water portion; and

means in said first tank for mixing said chemical solution with said wash water portion.

4. The combination of claim 3 including means for admitting a precipitant into said first tank for admixture with said wash water portion to form a liquid suspension.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a second tank for receiving said chemically treated liquid suspension and means in said second tank for settling out the heavier masses of solids from said liquid suspension.

6. The combination of claim 5 including a third tank and means therein for separating moderate-sized masses of solids from said liquid suspension.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a fourth tank having a filter bed therein for removing the remaining particles from the liquid suspension.

8. The combination of claim 5 including a mixing apparatus included between said first and second tanks for completely intermixing said chemical solution and said precipitant with said wash water portion prior to the entry thereof into said second tank.

9. The combination of claim 2 including a sludge tank;

conduit means including valve means connecting the bottom ends of said series of tanks to said sludge tank for periodically discharging any sludge accumulated in said series of tanks to said sludge tank.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein an agitator pump is installed in said sludge tank whereby the sludge can be periodically stirred and allowed to settle into a layer of substantially clean water above settled sludge whereby said layer of substantially clean water can be decanted from above said settled sludge.

11. The combination of claim 1, wherein said Rinse water treating means includes means in selective communication with said rinse water conduit means for conveying at least a portion of said rinse water to said detergent removing means.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said detergent removing means comprises a cannister filled with activated charcoal granules and said portion of rinse water flowing upwardly therethrough.

13. The combination of claim 1 including means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said rinse water storage tank.

14. The combination of claim 1 including means for delivering makeup water from said rinse water storage tank to said wash water storage tank;

and means for adding fresh water to said rinse water storage tank.

15. In combination, a plurality of automatic washing machines, each of said machines having independent time control means for executing successive wash and rinse cycles each including introduction of water to the machine and exhaust of water therefrom;

a wash water storage tank and a rinse water storage tank each serving the several machines in common;

a wash water sump and a rinse water sump;

an outlet in each machine having drain conduits leading to said sumps, respectively;

means in said outlet connected for operation by said time control means for directing wash water and rinse water through said conduits to the respective sumps;

conduit means including pump means for delivering water from said sumps to said storage tanks, respectively;

means in said conduit means, respectively, for filtering said wash water and said rinse water prior to returning the same to said respective storage tanks, means in selective communication with said wash water conduit means for chemically treating said wash water prior to returning the same to said wash water storage tank;

said chemical treating means including a series of tanks through which at least a portion of said wash water is successively circulated enroute to said wash water storage tank;

conduit means between each adjacent pair of said series to tanks;

said series of tanks including a first tank;

means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said first tank for admixture with an treatment of said wash water portion;

means in said first tank for mixing said chemical solution with said wash water portion;

means for admitting a precipitant into said first tank for admixture with said wash water portion to form a liquid suspension;

a second tank for receiving said chemically treated liquid suspension;

means in said second tank for settling out the heavier masses of solids from said liquid suspension;

a mixing apparatus interposed between said first and second tanks for completely intermixing said chemical solution and said precipitant with said wash water portion prior to the entry thereof into said second tank;

said mixing apparatus comprising a container having a partition therein defining a pair of chambers;

passage means between said chambers;

an inlet in one of said chambers and an outlet in the other of said chambers and a series of baffle plates mounted in each member for directing said liquid suspension in a tortuous path through said chambers for slowly and completely intermixing said chemical solution and said precipitant therewith.

16. In combination, a plurality of automatic washing machines, each of said machines having independent time control means for executing successive wash and rinse cycles each including introduction of water to the machine and exhaust of water thereform;

a wash water storage tank and a rinse water storage tank each serving the several machines in common;

a wash water sump and a rinse water sump;

an outlet in each machine having drain conduits leading to said sumps, respectively;

means in said outlet connected for operation by said time control means for directing wash water and rinse water through said conduits to the respective sumps;

conduit means including pump means for delivering water from said sumps to said storage tanks, respectively;

means In said conduit means, respectively, for filtering said wash water and said rinse water prior to returning the same to said respective storage tanks;

means in selective communication with said wash water conduit means for chemically treating said wash water prior to returning the same to said wash water storage tank;

said chemical treating means including a series of tanks through which at least a portion of said wash water is successively circulated enroute to said wash water storage tank;

conduit means between each adjacent pair of said series of tanks;

said series of tanks including a first tank;

means for admitting a disinfecting chemical solution into said first tank for admixture with and treatment of said wash water portion;

means in said first tank for mixing said chemical solution with said wash water portion;

means for admitting a precipitant into said first tank for admixture with said wash water portion to form a liquid suspension;

a second tank for receiving said chemically treated liquid suspension;

means in said second tank for settling out the heavier masses of solids from said liquid suspension;

a third tank and means therein for separating moderate-sized masses of solids from said liquid suspension;

said separating means comprising a receptacle having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end thereof; and

an inclined bottom wall rising upwardly from said inlet end to said outlet end for collecting solids thereon from said liquid suspension.

17. The combination of claim 1, wherein a recirculating pump is installed in said wash water storage sump, which continuously agitates and aerates the wash water to help destroy bacteria and minimize odors.

18. The combination of claim 1, wherein a recirculating pump is installed in said rinse water storage tank which continuously agitates and aerates the rinse water to help destroy bacteria and minimize odors.

19. The combination of claim 1 wherein bypass means is connected around said wash water treating means whereby the used wash water may be directed around said treating means during peak periods and treated during periods of lesser usage of said automatic washing machine.

20. The combination of claim 1 wherein said wash water treating means includes sludge collecting, settling and decanting means for reclaiming reusable wash water from said sludge and directing it to said wash water storage tank whereby said wash water is conserved.

21. The combination of claim 1 whereby said rinse water treating means includes chlorinating means for adding chlorine and maintaining the pH of said rinse water at about from 6.5 to 7.5 and for leaving a residual chlorine content for disinfecting and sterilizing the rinse water.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said chlorinating means is constructed and arranged to leave a residual chlorine content from about 0.8 to 1.0 p.p.m.