TUNNEL WASHING MACHINE

Abstract

The present invention discloses a tunnel washer apparatus. The apparatus provides a plurality of modules that include an intake module, a discharge module, and one or more modules in between the intake module and the discharge module. Multiple modules have a cylinder. Each cylinder has first and second cylinder ends. A scoop enables transfer of fabric articles to be washed from one cylinder to another cylinder. A first plate is connected to the scoop, wherein the first plate has a concave edge portion and a convex edge portion. The first plate preferably is welded to the first cylinder end with a first weld that extends along the convex edge portion. A second plate is connected to the scoop. The second plate has first and second convex edge portions. The second plate preferably is welded to the second cylinder end with a second weld that extends along one of the second plate convex edge portions. There is a first stress relieving gap in between the first cylinder end and the first weld. There is a second stress relieving gap in between the second cylinder end and the second weld. This arrangement enables the scoop and both plates to move together, thus providing a stress relieving annulus at scoop ends that reduces stress on or near one or more of the scoop to cylinder connections or welds below a threshold that otherwise results in fatigue/cracking.

Claims

1. A tunnel washer apparatus, comprising: a) a plurality of modules that include an intake module, a discharge module, and one or more modules in between said intake module and said discharge module; b) multiple of said modules having a cylinder with first and second cylinder ends; c) a scoop that enables transfer of fabric articles to be washed from one said cylinder to another said cylinder; d) a first plate connected to the scoop, said first plate having a concave edge portion and a convex edge portion, said first plate welded to the first cylinder end with a first weld that extends along said convex edge portion; e) a second plate connected to the scoop, said second plate having first and second convex edge portions, said second plate welded to the second cylinder end with a second weld that extends along one of said second plate convex edge portions; f) a first stress relieving gap in between the first cylinder end and the first plate; and g) a second stress relieving gap in between the second cylinder end and the second plate.

2. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first plate extends more than 180 degrees relative to said central longitudinal axis.

3. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than a joint between the first plate and the scoop.

4. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than a joint between the second plate and the scoop.

5. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second plate extends less than 180 degrees relative to said central longitudinal axis.

6. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are two cylinders joined with a connection that includes one or more annular plates, and wherein the first weld is farther from the cylinder central longitudinal axis than one of said annular plates.

7. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scoop connects to the first plate at a bend.

8. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second plate connects to the scoop at a bend.

9. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first plate and the second plate simultaneously flex when loaded with fabric articles and liquid during scoop rotation.

10. A tunnel washer apparatus, comprising: a) a plurality of modules that include an intake module, a discharge module, and one or more modules in between said intake module and said discharge module; b) two successive of said modules having two cylinders that are connected together with an annular connecting portion having a first diameter, each cylinder having a cylinder periphery with a cylinder outer diameter that is greater than said first diameter, each cylinder having upstream and downstream cylinder ends; c) a scoop that enables transfer of fabric articles to be washed from one said cylinder to another said cylinder; d) a first plate connected to the scoop, said first plate having a concave edge portion and a convex edge portion, said first plate welded to a first cylinder end with a first weld at said convex edge portion; e) a second plate connected to the scoop, said second plate having first and second convex edge portions, said second plate welded to a second cylinder end with a second weld at a said second plate convex edge portion; f) a first stress relieving gap in between the first cylinder end and the first plate; and g) a second stress relieving gap in between the second cylinder end and the second plate.

11. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first weld extends along a majority of the first plate convex edge.

12. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than the annular connecting portion first diameter.

13. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than the annular connecting portion first diameter.

14. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second plate extends less than 180 degrees relative to said central longitudinal axis.

15. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the annular connecting portion includes one or more annular plates, and wherein the first weld is farther from the central longitudinal axis than one of said annular plates.

16. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first plate connects to the scoop with a bend.

17. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second plate connects to the scoop with a bend.

18. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first plate and the second plate simultaneously flex during scoop rotation about said central longitudinal axis.

19. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 18 wherein the scoop flexes longitudinally along said central axis during scoop rotation and wherein both first and second plates move pivotally relative to the cylinder.

20. A method of relieving stress on a tunnel washer transfer scoop that is attached to a tunnel washer drum, said tunnel washer having multiple drums connected together with one or more annular rings, comprising the steps of: a) connecting the scoop to the tunnel washer drum with first and second plates and first and second welds, the first plate being an upstream plate, the second plate being a downstream plate; b) in step “a” the first weld connecting the first plate to a said drum at a drum upstream end; c) in step “a” the second weld connecting the second plate to a drum downstream end; d) positioning at least one of the welds in between a central longitudinal axis and drum periphery and outwardly of one of said annular rings; and e) allowing each of said first and second plates to pivot relative to a said first or second weld.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first plate has a convex edge portion and in step “b” includes welding the convex edge to the drum upstream end with a weld that extends along said convex edge.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the second plate has a convex edge portion and in step “c” includes welding the convex edge to the drum downstream end with a weld that extends along said convex edge.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising moving the scoop longitudinally with the pivoting plates of step “e”.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the first plate has a concave edge portion and connecting the concave edge portion to the scoop.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the second plate has a convex edge portion and connecting the convex edge portion to the scoop.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising connecting each said plate to the scoop with a bend and in step “e” pivoting each plate in between a said weld and a said bend.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the rings include an inner annular ring and an outer annular ring and further comprising positioning the weld in between the central longitudinal axis and the outer annular ring.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the first plate flexes in between the concave and convex portions.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the second plate flexes in between both convex portions.

30. The method of claim 20 wherein there are two (2) annular rings and the welds are positioned closer to the central longitudinal axis than one said ring and farther from the central longitudinal axis than the other said ring.

31. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first plate has first and second end portions, and wherein one end portion includes a notch.

32. The tunnel washer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second plate includes perforations.

33. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a tunnel washing machine that utilizes an improved scoop arrangement of the present invention;

[0067] FIGS. 2-6 are sequential views that illustrate transfer of linen or other fabric articles from one module to another;

[0068] FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0069] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 7;

[0070] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along lines B-B of FIG. 7;

[0071] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary close up view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention identified as C in FIG. 7;

[0072] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary close up view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention identified as D in FIG. 7;

[0073] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing two cylinders welded together;

[0074] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing two cylinders welded together;

[0075] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing two cylinders welded together;

[0076] FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing two cylinders welded together;

[0077] FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a second plate or “fish”;

[0078] FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a scoop;

[0079] FIG. 18 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a first plate or “moon”;

[0080] FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a scoop, a first plate and a second plate;

[0081] FIG. 20 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a scoop, a first plate and a second plate;

[0082] FIG. 21 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a scoop, a first plate and a second plate;

[0083] FIG. 22 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a scoop, a first plate and a second plate;

[0084] FIG. 23 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a scoop, a first plate and a second plate;

[0085] FIG. 24 is a fragmentary view of another preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a second plate or “fish”; and

[0086] FIG. 25 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a first plate or “moon”.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0087] FIGS. 1-25 show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral 10. Tunnel washer 10 preferably has an intake end portion 11, discharge end portion 12 and multiple modules 13-20 in between intake end portion 11 and discharge end portion 12. One or more of the modules 13-20 preferably has a scoop 34 that effects transfer of linens (or other fabric articles) from one module to another module. Each module 13-20 preferably has a cylinder or drum 21, 22. In FIG. 7, two modules are preferably welded together providing cylinders 21, 22 preferably joined with annular connecting portion 51 having inner most portion or inner surface 52.

[0088] FIGS. 2-6 illustrate transfer of linen or fabric articles 50 from one cylinder 21 to the next cylinder 22. In FIG. 2, the linen 50 is in a lower washing position where the drum 21 preferably rotates a partial distance clockwise, then counterclockwise such as between about four o'clock and eight o′clock positions. After a timed washing, the cylinders 21, 22 rotate 360 degrees. Edge 46 of scoop 34 preferably grabs the linen (or fabric articles) 50 (see FIG. 3) and lifts the linen or fabric articles 50 upwardly (see FIGS. 4-5). The scoop 34 preferably then dumps the linen 50 into the next sequential cylinder 22 (see FIG. 6). Such a tunnel washer arrangement as seen in FIGS. 2-6 is known, shown and described in one or more of the above listed patents. Such a tunnel washer arrangement generates stress on the scoop that can result in metal fatigue/failure/cracking.

[0089] In FIGS. 7-23, cylinders 21, 22 each can have upstream and downstream cylinder ends. Cylinders 21, 22 share a central longitudinal axis 48. Cylinder 21 has upstream end 23 and downstream end 24. Cylinder 22 has upstream end 25 and downstream end 26. In FIG. 7, the cylinders 21, 22 are joined together with annular connecting portion 51. Annular connecting portion 51 can include two (2) annular plates or rings 27, 28 (see FIGS. 7, 10 and 13-14).

[0090] Scoop 34 is preferably connected (e.g., at a bend 29 with angle 35) at scoop upstream end portion 53 to a first plate 33 (see FIGS. 7 and 10). Angle 35 is preferably no less than 28 degrees, and most preferably an obtuse angle. Plate 33 is preferably a crescent or moon shaped plate (see FIGS. 8, 18-23 and 25). Plate 33 is sometimes referred to herein as moon 33. Plate 33 preferably has concave edge 38 and convex edge 39. Plate 33 preferably includes a notch 58 at one end portion as seen in FIG. 25. Notch 58 can be a stress relieving portion of plate 33. Scoop 34 is preferably connected (e.g., at a bend 30 with angle 55) at a scoop downstream end portion 54 to a second plate 40 that preferably has two (2) convex edges 41, 42 (see FIGS. 9, 11, 16 and 19-23). Angle 55 is preferably no less than 28 degrees, and most preferably an obtuse angle. Plate 40 can be said to have a fish shape and is sometimes referred to herein as fish 40. Plate 33 is preferably connected to scoop 34 at bend 29 (see FIG. 10). Plate 40 is preferably connected to scoop 34 at bend 30 (see FIG. 11). In an alternate embodiment, plate 40 can include perforations or holes 57 as seen in FIG. 24 to allow liquid to flow through. Plate 33 and plate 40 can be made of 304L, 316 or Duplex Stainless Steel. Use of the plates 33, 40 in the tunnel washer 10 preferably results in about 6000 psi to achieve 10 million cycles, which is considered infinite life.

[0091] Plate 33 preferably connects to cylinder 22 (see FIGS. 7-8 and 10) with a weld 37 that joins edge 39 to cylinder 22 upstream end 25. Weld 37 can be positioned in between inner most portion/inner surface 52 of annular connecting portion 51 and cylinder periphery 49 as seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 10. A pivoting joint 32 is thus formed as indicated schematically by arrow 36 in FIG. 10 and by the deflected positions (dotted lines) of first plate or moon 33 relative to connecting portion 51. As seen in FIG. 7, scoop 34 also preferably moves into the deflected positions illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 10. A stress relieving aperture or gap 31 is preferably formed between first plate or moon 33 and cylinder end 25 (see FIG. 10). When such a two module sub-system is put under load (filled with linen 50 and fluid such as wash liquid/water), the scoop 34/moon 33/fish 40 areas are highly stressed. The present invention thus provides connections (see FIGS. 7-11) that preferably relieves stress at the scoop 34 and plate 33 (moon or crescent shaped plate) connection (see arrow 36). Similarly, with the connection at cylinder end 26, plate 40 (fish shaped) and scoop 34 preferably deflect as seen in dotted lines in FIG. 11 to relieve stress (see arrow 47).

[0092] The pivoting joint 56 of FIG. 11, plate 40 (fish shaped plate) preferably pivots about weld 43. Weld 43 preferably joins plate 40 to cylinder end 26, forming a stress relieving aperture or gap 44. In FIG. 11, plate 40 and scoop 34 preferably pivot about weld 43 (see arrow 47, FIG. 11).

[0093] The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:

TABLE-US-00002 PARTS LIST: Parts Number Description 10 tunnel washer apparatus 11 inlet end portion/intake end portion 12 discharge end portion 13 module 14 module 15 module 16 module 17 module 18 module 19 module 20 module 21 cylinder/drum 22 cylinder/drum 23 cylinder end/upstream end 24 cylinder end/downstream end 25 cylinder end/upstream end 26 cylinder end/downstream end 27 inner annular plate/ring 28 outer annular plate/ring 29 bend 30 bend 31 stress relieving aperture/gap 32 pivoting joint 33 crescent shaped plate/moon/first plate 34 scoop 35 angle 36 arrow 37 weld/moon weld/welded joint 38 concave edge 39 convex edge 40 plate/fish shaped member/fish/second plate 41 convex edge 42 convex edge 43 weld/welded joint/fish weld 44 stress relieving aperture/gap 46 scoop edge 47 arrow 48 central longitudinal axis 49 cylinder periphery 50 fabric articles/linen/clothing 51 annular connecting portion 52 inner most portion/inner surface 53 scoop upstream end portion 54 scoop downstream end portion 55 angle 56 pivoting joint 57 hole/perforation 58 notch

[0094] All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

[0095] The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.