US2942445A - Tub assembly - Google Patents

Description

June 28, 1960 c. w. BURKLAND TUB ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27, 1955 5 3 nw 5 :2v 41 w 7 @,l 4 mw Z Wu 9 8 ro co y 8 Il] 5 7 2J Z 5 |l 4 4 Z 5 o o o O 0 Mw o o o o o 6 5 a. o o o o 0 3 7 (8 o o o o o 8 l# .8 2 o o o o 7n 3 l I l f1 o o n/7 O o o o o o Mw Q o o o o 78 9 o o o o 88 2 u o o o o l .0 lHV 2 1 3 H 5 4 u l|`\l|\` 4 4 n l w E rwanlor @names 0W. uvmand 9m, A/

dwerg@ June 28, 1960 c. w. BURKLAND 2,942,445

TUB ASSEMBLY Filed June 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Tos Y ASSEMBLY mea June 27,19ss,ser.N0.s1s,163 Y s claims. (ci. ss-2s) This invention relates to an improved tub assembly foran automatic washing machine of the vertical axis type. In theThomas R. Smith Patent No. 2,645,108, entitled Combined Washing Machine and Centrifugal Fluid Extractor, and issued July 14, 1953, to thersame assignee as that of this application, there is disclosedone tub assembly for a `combination washing' machine and uidextractor: In that patent disclosure an outer imperforatetub and a cooperating perforate basket nested within the tub are both axed to a gear housing connected'tola spin tube mounted for nutational movements about its lower end. During periods of agitation, the tub and basket are restrained against rotation while an agitator drivenby a shaft journalled within the spin tube produces the necessary degree of agitation of the liuids and fabrics within the stationary tub assembly. During spin periods, the double tub assembly formed from the tub and basket i`s released for rotation and the outer tub, inner basket, agitator and gear housing are all spun in unison at centrifuging speeds to extract the uids from the fabrics within the tub assembly.

This prior type assembly produces excellent results for removing excess moisture from the fabrics during the spin-dry period by extracting the liquids outwardly through the perforate basket wall and against the vertical wall of the imperforate outer tub where the extracted fluids pass up and over the upper edge of the outer tub without passing through the fabrics and recontaminating them during this extraction period.

Though this type of double tub construction has produced better results than a single tub provided with fluid escape ports, it has two distinct disadvantages. One of these disadvantages is that this type tub assembly necessitates the use of an outer tub basin enclosing the tub assembly "to catch the extracted fluids once they have passed over the upper edge of the outer imperforate tub in order to pass these uids on to an external drain. The second disadvantage of this prior ,typel double tub assembly is that not all of theheavier particles of sand andV sedimentrseparated from the soiled fabrics andsettling between the basket and tub are always extracted from the tub during the Huid extraction process. Unlike the smaller particles of sediment flushed from the assembly, some'of the heavier particles remained within'thev tub assembly and vwere not flushed over the Supper edge of theouter tub because of the action of the centrifugal forcespressingthem outwardly `against -thevertical wall ofthe outer tub. Y

e This ,inventiontherefore has as one of its primeobjects'v'the elimination of ,the necessity for useof an .outer tub basin surrounding the tubA assembly.

The second. object` of this `invention is to produce a satisfactory. tub/assembly capablevof,efficiently extracting from fabrics during the spin-dryzperiod while per-l mittinglsand andY heavy sediment settling to they bottom on the tubj-assembly during the Vagitationperiods; tobe thoroughly removed from` the tub, assembly before the Patented June 28, 1960 ICC end of each spin cycle so as to prevent recontamination of fabrics in subsequent operating cycles. il'

Another object is to produce a tub assembly in which the power housing containing the motion converting mechanism which drives the agitator within the assembly may be affixed directly to the spin tube to utilize the mass of the power housing and its mechanism to stabilize the lateral deviations of the spinning assembly during the centrifuging operation.

An additional object of this invention is to produce-a tub assembly by supporting anV imperforate tub' entirely on a resiliently centered friction damper member to permit the tub to nutate about its vertical axis Without rotating with a perforate basket which is nested within the tub and connected to a rotatable spin shaft joumalled in the damper member. f

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will 'be more apparent when reference is madeto the following specification and drawings' in which:

Figure V1 is an elevation, partially in section, of awash ingmachine embodying my invention; v

Figure 2'is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view; partially broken away, showing the method of supporting the perforate basket on the vertical spin tube, and i Figure 3 is a viewl taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1 showi ing the resiliently centered umbrella' damper member journalling the spin -tube and those lower connections of the brace members supporting the non-rotatable imperforate tub on the umbrella member.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown Vavbase member 10- mounted on adjustable feet-11 and provided with a supporting dome 12 rising out of a centrally lo# cated depression 13 in the base frame 10. Dome 12 serves as a mounting for a drive assembly 14 such as that disclosed in the John D. Goodlaxson application -Serial No. 505,231, filed May 2, 1955, and assigned to the same assignee as that of Ithe instant application.

Base frame member 10 also supports the upended reversible motor and water pum-p 16 which, like drive assembly 114, is driven by motor 15 through -belt V17'on the underside of base frame 10. Numeral 19 designates the groove of pulley 18 which serves as the input mein-y ber for drive assembly 14.

Cabinet 21, attached to and enclosing base 10 together ears 29 forthree centering springs 31 which may be attached directly to base frame '10 or fastened to brackets 32 connectedV tothe base frame 10. This arrangement which centers support member 28 on dome 12 andrestrains it Vfrom rotation forms part of the subject matter disclosed and claimed in the co-pending application Serial No. S05-,251,-filed MayV 2, 1955, now- Patent'fNo. 2,854,297,11aming William F. Scottand ArthurW. Von'- derhaar as co-invento'rs and assigned to the same assignee as that of this-application.

Threaded into the umbrella support member 28 is member 34- ofsubstantially frusto-conical configuration which serves as a housing for drive assembly k114 of the previously identi'ed Goodlaxson application` SerialfNo. 505,23l. HousingmemberV 34 cooperates Withthe um# brella support member 28 by gripping the outer race of a thrust bearing-35 which isvprovided with a tapered inner race., Mating with and'seated inlthistaperedin ner race of bearing 35 is the spin tube or shaft 37 which journals a power shaft 38 also extending into the drive assembly 14. With this construction all weight placed on'the spin tube 37, housing 34 and on umbrella member 28 may be used to anadvantage to provide ample frictional force`between umbrella member 28 and the friction pads 26 for dampening nutational movements of the shafts 37 and 38 relative to dome 12 while permitting rotational movement' of spin tube 37 in thrust bearing 35.- --While the details ofthe Goodlaxson drive assembly forming the basis for the previously identified application Serial No. 505,231 are not essential to the construction of the instant invention, its operation can be briefly explained for environmental purposes. VUpon energization of motor in a direction to rotate pulley 18 in a counter-clockwise direction' as viewed from the bottom ofFigure l, power shaft 38 is rotated in this `same direction while spin shaft 37 is held against rotation by appropriate braking mechanism within housing 34. Upon the reversal of motor 15, spin shaft 37 is released for rotation to allow both of shafts 37 and 38 to be spun in unison in a clockwise direction.

With the drive and support construction set forth above, it can be seen that shafts 37 and 38 may be selectively rotated as determined by the direction ofV rotation imparted to pulley 18 while permitting their nutation about a vertical axis at all times. In the modification set forth in the accompanying drawings, shafts 37 and 38 nutate on a point determined by the intersection of the vertical axis of rotationwith the horizontal plane bisecting groove 19 of pulley 18.

Now with reference to the tub assembly forming the invention of the instant application, it can be seen from Figures 1 and 3 that umbrella support member 28 is provided with three upstanding lugs 41 of channel-like cross section spaced equally from each other and alternately around member 28 with respect to the ears 29. Fastened within the grooved lugs 41 by connectors 42 are the three tub brace members 43 which are, in this embodiment, also of channel-like cross section. Brace members 43 extend outwardly and upwardly from umbrella support member 28 to join the non-rotatable tub V44 through tub connectors 45. The tub 44 is provided with a bottom w'all 47 in which is formed a C-shaped gutter 48 having its lowermost portion converging into the drain outlet 49 which in turn communicates with water pump 16 through flexible drain hose 51. The imperforate cylinder sidewall 52 of tub 44 includes a slightly enlarged rirn 53 on its uppermost portion before terminating in an outwardly directed flange. Resting onv the anged upper edge of sidewall 52 is spherical segmental member 55 having a flanged periphery and a rolled inner edge. Member 55 forms a water-tight seal with wall 52 asthese members are gripped by the rubber sealing band 56 encompassing the peripheral flanges of wall 52 and the segmental member 55. Resting on the upper surface of member 55 and having its inner cylindrical portion fastened to the outer periphery of the depending flange 22 is the combined water and vapor seal 58 which prevents the escape of either steam or water from tub 44 during normal use of the machine utilizing this invention. This specific flexible vapor seal is described and claimed in the co-pending application of Thomas R. Smith and William F. Scott, Serial No. 518,286, now Patent No. 2,777,314, led of even date herewith and assigned to the same assignee as that of this application.

Since the described vapor seal forms no part of this invention, it naturally follows that other types of sealing arrangements may be provided for the upper portion of this tub assembly.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3 it can be seen that spin tube 37 extends upwardly from drive assembly 14 to connect with the lower extension of lower power housing cover 61. The upper power housing cover 62 to which is attached a counter-weight 63 cooperates with cover 61 to form a power housing enclosing a conventional type motion converting mechanism which is driven by power shaft 38 in order to convert the rotary movement of power shaft 38 into the oscillatory output movement now common in the washing machine art.

Now with reference to Figure 2 showing the enlarged sectional details of a tub assembly utilizing my invention, it will be noted that the upper power housing cover 62 carries an integral upper extension forming the stub shaft 65 which is coaxial with the rotational axis of shafts 37 and 38. The stub shaft 65 pierces the center of bottom wall 47 through a self-aligning radial bearing 66 which is formed from a split cylindrical sleeve provided with a Babbitt liner and fitted into the flanged opening in the bottom wall 47 by a squeeze lit with the tubular rubber member 67 bonded to the periphery of the cylindrical sleeve 66. If desired, wicking material may be provided at the opposite ends of bearing 66 for oil storage.

Since there is relative movement between the stationary non-rotating tub 44 and the stub shaft 65, tub 44 is provided with a bellows type seal 71 pressed against the bottom wall 47 by means of coil spring 72 within that seal. The uppermost portion of bellows type seal 71 is fitted with a carbon nose sealing ring 75 which is pressed upwardly by coil spring 72 against the lower side-of the tubular basket mounting stem 76 which is threaded onto the upper end of stub shaft 65.

Basket mounting stem 76 includes a frusto-conical shoulder 77 which supports the basket 78 having a bottom wall 79 and a side wall 81. Bottom wall 79 is perforate at its lowest elevation for passage of liquid and sediment into tub 44 and has `a slope conforming substantially to bottom wall 47 of that outer tub. Side wall 81 includes a main perforate cylindrical portion and an upper imperforate portion which slopes inwardly towards its axis of rotation to form a seat for balancing ring 82 within rim 53 before terminating in rolled edge 84 which defines the access opening into the tub assembly. f

While the weight of basket 78 is mainly supported on the mounting flange 77, basket 78 is prevented from tipping, tilting or turning on that flange by means of the large nut which is threaded on the upper part of basket mounting stem 76 in order to wedge the conical portion of wall 79 against flange 77. In addition to wedging basket 78 on flange 77, nut 80 forces the centrally located horizontal flange 83 against a small sealing gasket immediately below the latter flange to provide an airtight seal between basket wall 79 and basket mounting stern 76.

The necessary degree of agitation of the washing fluid within basket 78 is achieved by use of the conventional agitator 86 which is fitted on splines 87 of the rock shaft 88. Shaft 88, in this embodiment, is driven by the conventional motion mechanism enclosed between the power housing covers 61 and 62.

Agitator shaft 88 is journalled in the bearing 89 which in turn is seated in the upper end of stub shaft 65. Shaft 88 is prevented from any downward movement relative to bearing 89 by means of the collar 91 pressed onto shaft 88. O-ring seal 92 encompassing the junction of parts 89 and 91 provides one shaft seal used in this construction.

A second shaft seal takes the form of a hollow member of rubber or other resilient material having its lower end urged against collar 91 by the coil spring 95 within seal 94. The upper end of seal 94 is pressed against a washer 97 maintained in its position at the mouth of the basket mounting member 76 by means of an expansible C-ring 98 engaging a mating annular groove within the mouth of member 76. Drain port 99 communicating with the' space around seal 94 allows the escape of fluids which possibly may seep through that sealing member.

A machine incorporating this tub assembly may be easily serviced without the interference of any bulky framework which has been characteristic of some of the domestic washing machines placed on the market. When this tub assembly is placed in a cabinet having a removable ytotalagitator..86,'hasleftfia d1un may aube quickly withdrawn fromthetopof the cabinet by merely loosening thexvapor seal, drain hose, basketand tub connections. In'operatiomover typical` agitation and spin periods, the-fabrics toV be cleaned are insertedFintop Vbasket 78 through the access openings defined by depending ange ZZan'dthe rollededgel84`. A suitable detergent is added toithegwat'erplaced within the tub 44:'by a water supply systemznotzforming .as part of this' invention. 'Though a valve'lmay beJusedinuthe drain Vhose 51 to prevent the washing'tfluids from: draining from the tub 44, the water maybe retained. withintub 44"inf this illustrated embodimentv by'm'ewrely maintainingthe' external drain hose (not shown attached tofthe outletdof. pump 16 ata higher 'elevation than the elevation of the water contained in ."*Dringlthe tub. `iillingperiod when the liquid rising Within tleltub hasV coveredl the -perforatons in the sloping basket bottom wall 79, air will be trapped between thebottomwalls 79 "andf4`7 due to the sealing action of thebellows type 'seal 71'a`nd-the air-tight connection between basket`78 and thebasket mounting stem 76. This normally prevents fluids from contacting the bellows seal 7 1fforf thelarg'e nut 80 lioldingtbas'ket 78 in place. Likewise'fwhen-the liquid level rises' above the loweredge of agitator 86', air isj normally trapped beneath this agitator to. eve'ntliquids fromcontac'ting either seal 94 or`nut 80. ""Wlien the tub-'4,4 hasbeenV lled with a sufcient quan- `titly of washing fluid, the reversible motor 15 is energized through a control"'sy`s'tem (not shown) to rotatethe drive pulleyA 1f8'1in a counter-clockwise direction as viewedfrom thebottotn of yFigure "1.' Rotation of pulley 18 in this t directon'imparts the same direction of rotation to power motion converting unit enclosed by covers 61 and v62 to scill-a'terock sh-aft' 88 and its aixed agitator`86.

The oscillating action of agitator 86 forces the cleaning fluidthrughd'the fabricswithinbasket 78 and separates impurities held by them. The larger and heavier parti'clesfsuch as sand and sediment fall to ythe bottom of basket 78where'dthey pass through the holes in the bottom basIEt'waIl 79 in vthel lovvermost portion of thatwall. This-'agitation offfluils4 within tub 44 also causes these heavier particles to work their way'down the slopingA tub wallf47 andfinto the V'gutter 4Saround the periphery of thatlb'ottom: wall. @nce in this gutter, these particles continue to steek a lower."elevation in the agitated uid and eventually find their way into the deepest part of gutter 48 vihrehey pass intothedrain outlet 49 and then into the drain hose 51.

Upon completion-.crime agitation cycle and the initiation of the'-spinfor liquidfextraction period, motor 15 is reversed causing the Water pump 16 andthe drive assemblypulley 18 to .reverse their directions also.y When dfivenxin direction, Water pump'l is permitted to pump the Washing fluid together ywith-the accumulation of. said'. and sedimentfromatub. 44through its drain connections. VThis reversal. ofmotor 15 `also causes the braking mechanism Withindrive assembly 14 to lrelease tlie' spinitubei37. for Arotation' in :unison with power shaft Rotation of, the. spin tube 37; imparts a similar rotary movement to the power housing covers 61 and 62.

t and to the perforate basket 78` connected to these mem- 6 the 'drive assemblyY 14, are` stopped and immediately reversedl and driven together, 'as possible in this illustratadaembodiment,` some vwater Awill be present in the, tubCasse'mblw during the initial liquid extraction oper,- ation. Depehdingupon the torque input to the spin tube 37;, certain drag forces will beexerted by the Water Within the tuti 44 and the rotating basket v78 and may be utilized to prevent the basket 78` from immediately c oming up to speed until enough of the washing fluid has been emptied, fromv thetube 44 s olas to insure that-,no water' will: attempt topass out of the upper end oftub 4.4;"during the spin process. In lway all water extracted: from; thegatabrics within basket 78 passes through the sides and bottom 'of lbasket`78 and down into the drain hose 5.1"to 'flush all impurities down drain 49,

Thus; whileitposses'ses the extraction eciency of the centrifugal extractor. of Ythe aforesaid Smith Patent No.- 2,645,l08, this improvedtub assembly gains the advantage otrremoving through the bottom of the tub assembly those-heavier, particles which? were difficult to pass over the upper sides, ofV that prior type of tube assembly.

At the end of the spin-dry l,operation motor 15j-is stoppedzcausinglthedrive assembly 14E-,to 'quickly terminatefthe rotation of "both shaftsV 37 andr 38. Though theseperiods may begrepelatedmd rinse periods added, this terminates/the.spinperiodofmy illustrated operational. cycle.

While I have illustrated:,the` operationof my tub /assemblylini cooperation with a reversible drive assembly, other'types: otkl'rivei-assemblies may be used. Furthermore,: while this tubassembly incorporates'theuse of a conventionaltftype agitatorv which imparts oscillatory mofvementto elothesand fluidswithin the tub assembly adius'es the power housing as -a stabilizer, it. should be apparent that otherV typesof agitators may be used in conjunction 'the 'tube assembly disclosed herein. Thisfwould 'include' they elimination ofthe conventional oscillatingzztype ia'gitator'and the power housing necessary l to produce `such` an oscillatory movement and theV subi stitution therefore of. a single tube connected integrally withxthei basket mounting stem and provided with bear@ ings Vfor jounalling asingle power shaft for actuating ag'itators of the 'rotary or reciprocating type.

The advantages. of this construction setforth herein are several. .The use of this non-rotating imperforate tlrbeliminatesl the necessity of `an outer tub basin and retainsftheuadvantages of the elicient iiuid extractor set forth in the aforesaid Smith Patent No. 2,645,108. In addition tosupporting' the non-rotating imperforate tub on the 'umbrella damper member to utilize the weight of the tub and lits contents asanaid in dampening the nutational movements of the entire tube assembly, I have provided atlbtlassernfblyV which can be supported independently of -the lshaft structurer actuating either the basket or the agitator'withinthe basket. Furthermore, the connections'fbtweenthe non-rotating outer tub and the umbrella .dam-permember'prevent any tendency of that tub from` rotating with the` basket during the spinperiod whilexsinnlltaneously permitting the entire tub assembly tofnutate' fonthe base fra-me Vmember under unbalanced conditions Vallifwithou't placing any great stresses on the normally flexededra'in hose member connected to that tub.

Though only-onegembodiment of my invention has been shown in the accompanying drawings, it is understood that modications of this embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the lfollowing claims.

I claim:

l. In a washing machine, a base frame, a support member mounted for nutational movements on said base frame, a thrust bearing in said support member, means restraining said `support member from rotational movements relative to said base frame, brace members fastened to and extending upwardly .from said support mem- 7 ber, an imperforate tub fastened toand supported by said brace members, bearing means in said tub, rotatable shaft means journalled in said bearing means and supported in said' thrustbearing, an agitator shaft Within said rotatable-shaft means, anda perforatebasket nested within `said -tub `and connected to said rotatable shaft means for rotational movements relative to said tub. v

2. I n a washing machine, a base frame, a support member mounted forfnutational movements onsaidlbase frame, a thrust bearing in said support member, means restraining said support member from rotational movements Arelative to said base frame, brace members fastened to and extending upwardly from said support member, an imperforate tub fastened to and supported by said brace members, bearing means in said tub, rotatable 'shaft meansjournalled'in said bearing means and in said thrust bearing to support the thrust thereon independently of said tub, and a perforate basket nested in said tub and connected to said rotatable shaft means .for rotational movements relative to said tub, said rotatable shaft means journaling therein an agitator shaft extending into said perforate basket. I

3. In a washing machine provided with a base frame including mounting structure, a tubassembly comprising, asupport member supported by said mounting structure and centered thereon'v for nutational movements CIT relative to said base frame, brace members vfastened to v and extending upwardly from'said support member, an imperforate tub fastened to and supported by said brace members, a perforate basket nested within said tub, a radial bearing in said tub, a rotatable drive tube connectedto said basket and journalled. in said bearing for rotating said basket and nutating with said tub, an agitator within said basket, and an agitator shaft journalled in said tube and connected to said agitator.

4. In a washing machine provided with a base frame including mounting structure, a tub assembly comprising, a support member mating With said mounting structure and centered thereon for nutfational movements relative to said base frame, brace members [fastened to and extending upwardly from said support member, an imperforate tub fastened to and supported by said brace members, a perforate basket nested within said tub, a radial bearing in said tub, a thrust bearing in said support member, shaft means supported in said thrust bearing for rotation relative to said support member, said shaft means including Aa stub shaft journalled in said radial bearing and connected to said basket.

5. In a washing machine provided with a base frame including mounting structure, a tub assembly comprising, a support member mating with said mounting structure and centered thereon for nutational movements relative to said base frame, brace members fastened to and extending upwardly from said support member, an imperforate tub fastened ito and supported by said brace members, a perforate basket nested Within said tub, a radial bearing in said tub, a thru-st bearing in said support member, shaft means supported inl said thrust bearing for rotation relative to said support member, said shaft means including a stub shaft journalled in said radial bearing Iand connected to said (basket, an agitator within said basket, and an agitator shaft connected to said agitator and journalled in said stub shaft.

6. In a washing machine of the vertical axis type,

an upstanding non-rotatable tub adapted to receive uid, a base frame, friction damping means on said base frame, a support member engaging and supported on said damping meansv for movement relative thereto, a plurality of brace members fastened to and connected between said 'support member and said tubV to support the .Weight of said tub and its fluid contents on said sup: port member to produce a frictional force resisting rela= tive movement between said support member and said friction dampingv` means, said bracemembers forming a unitary structure with said tub 'and said support member, a Vrevoluble perforate basket nested .Within Vsaid tub, .a self-aligning bearing mounted inv said tub, shaft means connected to said basket and journalled in said self-aligning bearing, a thrust bearing in said support member supporting `said shaft means and the weight of said basket independently of said tub, and 'means for resiliently centering said unitary structure on said damping means for nutational movement relative to said base frame.

7. In a washing machine, a tub for receiving uid, a support member, brace members fastened to and connected between said tub and said support member to form a unitary structure, a base frame, a thrust bearing in said support member, a self-aligning bearing insaid tub, a clothes basket nested Within said tub, revoluble shaft' means connected to said basket and journalled in both of said bearings for rotating said basket and supporting its weight 4in said thrust bearing, friction damping means on said base frame, said friction damping means being located between said support member and said base frame and contacting said support member toresist movement of said unitary structure and said shaft means relative to said base frame, said support member supporting the weight of said tub and its Huid contents on said friction damping means, and means connected between said base Vframe and said unitary structure Vfor resiliently positioning said tub relative to said base frame.

8. In a washing machine, a tub for receiving washing fluid, -a clothes basket within said tub, a base frame, friction damping means on said base frame, a support member engaging and supported on said friction damping means for movement relative to said base frame, brace members connected between said tub and said support member to support the weight of said tub and its uid contents on said support member, la radial bearing in said tub, a thrust bearing in said support member, revoluble shaft means connected to basket and received in vboth of said bearings for rotating 'said basket and for supporting its Weight in said thrust bearing independently of said brace members, and means for resiliently maintaining said support member in a. centered relationship on said friction damping means.

References Cited in the le of this patent

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