Drum type agitating and mixing machine

In a drum type agitating and mixing machine adapted for treating fabric in liquid and including a drum rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having at least one generally longitudinally extending hollow rib projecting radially inwardly of the interior of the drum, the improvement comprising:

• said rib defining an elongated hollow pumping chamber within the rib;
• an outlet aperture arrangement defining an outlet flow area on the rib providing communication between the pumping chamber and the interior of the drum;
• an inlet aperture arrangement defining an inlet flow area in the drum providing communication between the exterior of the drum and pumping chamber;
• said inlet aperture arrangement having a cross sectional area larger than the cross sectional area of said outlet aperture arrangement;
• drive means rotating said drum such that a side thereof is partially immersed in a body of liquid so that the rib initially with air inside is periodically submerged in and lifted above the liquid, causes liquid to periodically enter the pumping chamber via the inlet aperture arrangement upon submersion of the rib, air within the pumping chamber to be periodically pumped out through the outlet aperture arrangement by the force of liquid entering the liquid aperture arrangement while the rib undergoes submersion, and liquid to be drained from the pumping chamber through the outlet aperture arrangement when the rib moves out of the liquid and is inverted.