US3024637A - Automatic washing machine withlid switch control - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1962 P. G HUGHES ETAL 3,024,637

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH LID SWITCH CONTROL Filed March 22, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ INVENTORS PHILIP e. HUGHES &DERF K a LAWRENCE THEN ATTORNEY March 13, 1962 Filed March 22, 1961 P. G. HUGHES ETAL 3,024,637

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH LID SWITCH CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F l G 3 START PAUSi A PAUTE a PAPSE c mysa o WASH i -SP\NI L-musz-l |-sP\N-| D J L? T INVENTORS PHlLlP 6. HUGHES G; DEREK P. LAWRENCE THE! R ATTORNEY March 13, 1962 P. G. HUGHES ETAL 3,024,637

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH LID SWITCH CONTROL Filed March 22, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m 88 3 nos we START PAUSE A PAUSE B PAUSE OFF L Bl i I Cl n J E I l D\ L] LI LT L.

INVENTORS Pl-HLJP G. HUGHES F I G. 5 8 DEREK Pv LAWRENCE THE\ R AT-ro R NEY Unite States Patent 3,024,637 AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH LID SWITCH CONTROL Philip G. Hughes, Anchorage, and Derek P. Lawrence,

Louisville, Ky-., assignors to General Electric Company,

a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,625 3 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to clothes washing machines, and more particularly to such machines wherein a centrifugal liquid extraction operation is automatically stopped in response to the opening of an access lid or cover to the machine.

It is an object of our invention to provide, in a washing machine of the type utilizing a reversing single-phase induction motor for providing alternatively clothes agitation or liquid extraction, a lid switch arrangement for stopping the operation of the machine; by utilizing part of the motor control structure, the lid switch causes operation of the machine to be stopped when the lid is opened during spinning, but not during washing, at minimum expense.

In one aspect thereof, our invention provides a washing machine wherein the clothes receptacle is rotatably mounted within a cabinet which has an opening formed so as to provide access to the receptacle. A closure member, such as a lid, is arranged to be movable between opened and closed positions for uncovering or covering the access opening. Within the receptacle, means are provided for Washing clothes, and transmission means are arranged to drive the receptacle and the washing means in order to elfect the desired operations. The transmission means includes an input member which is mounted for reversible rotation and the transmission is formed so that in one direction of rotation a washing operation is provided within the receptacle and in the other direction of rotation the receptacle rotates at high speed.

In order to effect the reversible rotation of the transmission input member, we provide a conventional reversible induction-type electric motor which has main and start windings connected in parallel, with speed responsive means for disconnecting the start winding when the motor comes up to speed. The motor is reversed by reversing the connection of the main Winding relative to the start winding. The control circuit for achieving this includes first and second supply conductors and a twopole double-throw switch with first and second ganged contact arms respectively connected on opposite sides of the main winding. The contact arms of the switch are movable to first and second positions: in their first position, they respectively engage the first of two contacts connected to the first supply conductor and contact means connected to the second supply conductor; in their second position, the first and second arms respectively engage the contact means and the second of the contacts con nected to the second supply conductor. In this manner, the connection of the main winding across the supply conductors may be reversed, thus reversing its connection relative to the start winding. The first position of the two-pole double-throw switch causes rotation of the motor and the input member in the one rotational direction to cause washing, and the second position causes motor rotation in the direction to cause spinning of the receptacle.

In combination with the foregoing structure, we provide a normally open switch which is positioned adjacent the access opening so as to be closed when the closure member is in its closed position; that is, as soon as the closure member is moved away from its closed position the switch opens. This normally open switch 3,024,637 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 is electrically connected between the second contact and the second supply conductor. By so positioning it, it forms a part of the motor energizing circuit when the second contact is engaged by the two-pole double-throw switch, but does not form a part of the circuit at other times, that is, during agitation operations. In this manner, the normally open lid switch is made effective only during spin and this is achieved without the need for any bypass switches or the like, such as have generally been provided in the past where useful operation of the switch was desired during one type of operation but not during another in a washing machine.

The subject matter which we regard as our invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a clothes washing machine which may advantageously incorporate our invention, the view being partially broken away and partially in section to illustrate details;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of an electrical control circuit incorporating our invention, which circuit forms a part of the machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view of a development of the surfaces of the cams shown in FIGURE 2, thereby indicating the operation of switches by the cams;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of a second electrical control circuit incorporating our invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of a development of the surfaces of the cams shown in FIGURE 4 thereby indicating the operation of switches by the cams.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, we have shown therein an agitator type vertical axis clothes washing machine 1 having a conventional basket or clothes receptacle 2 perforated over its side and bottom walls with perforations 3, and positioned within an outer imperforate tub or liquid receptacle 4 so that when liquid is retained within tub 4 it will, through perforations 3, also rise to the same level in basket 2 as in tub 4. Basket 2 may also be provided with a suitable clothes retaining member 5 for preventing clothes from being floated over the top of the basket, and with a balance ring 6 to help steady the basket when it is rotated at high speed. Tub 4 is rigidly mounted within an appearance cabinet 7 which includes a cover or lid 8 hingedly mounted in the top portion 9 of the cabinet for providing access through an opening it) to the basket 2. A switch member 11 having an outwardly biased button member 12 is secured adjacent the opening 10 so that when lid 8 is in its closed position it pushes in the movable member 12 of the switch, and at all other times, that is, wheneverit is moved away from its closed position, it releases member 12 of switch 11 so that it may move out. As will be explained herebelow, the switch 11 forms an important part of my invention, being utilized for the purpose of preventing harm to an operator of the machine which might otherwise be incurred through carelessness of the operator.

As shown, a gasket 13 may be provided so as to form a seal between the top of tub 4 and portion 9 of the cabinet thereby to prevent escape of the moisture and moist air into the cabinet around the tub. The mounting of tub 4 Within the cabinet 7 may be effected by any suitable means. As a typical example of one such means I have provided strap members 14 each of which is secured at one end to an inturned flange 15 of the cabinet and at its other end to the outside of tub 4. Conventional washing means are provided: in machine 1, this takes the form of a vertical axis agitator 16 positioned at the center of basket 2. Agitator 16 includes a center post 17 and a plurality of curved water circulating vanes 18 joined at their lower ends by an outwardly flared skirt 19.

Both the clothes basket 2 and the agitator 16 are rotably mounted. The basket is mounted on a flange 20 of a rotatable hub 21, and the agitator 16 is mounted on a shaft (not shown) which extends upwardly through the hub 21 and through the center post 17 and is secured to the agitator so as to drive it. During the cycle of operation of the machine 1, water is introduced into the tub 4 and basket 2, and the agitator 16 is then oscillated back and forth on its axis, that is, in a horizontal plane within the basket to wash the clothes therein. Then, after a predetermined period of this washing action, hasket 2 is rotated at high speed to extract centrifugally the washing liquid from the clothes and discharge it to drain. Following this extraction operation, a supply of clean liquid is introduced into the basket for rinsing the clothes and the agitator is again oscillated. Finally, the basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinse water. There are many variations on this relatively basic sequence which may be provided, such as, for instance, additional rinses, or a pause during the first spin (sometimes provided to help prevent suds locking of the machine). However, the sequence described is a typical one for such machines.

The basket 2 and agitator 16 may be driven through any suitable transmission means from a reversing induction-type single-phase electric motor 22. By way of example, I have shown them as driven from the motor 22 through a drive including a clutch 23 mounted on the motor shaft. The clutch allows the motor to start without load and then accept the load as it comes up to speed. A suitable belt 24 transmits power to a transmission assembly 25 through an input pulley member 26. Thus, depending upon the direction of motor rotation, pulley 26 of transmission 25 is driven in opposite directions.

The transmission 25 is so arranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft and the basket mounting hub 21. When motor 22 is rotated in one direction the transmission causes agitator 16 to oscillate in a substantially horizontal plane within the basket 2. Con versely, when motor 22 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission rotates wash basket 2 and agitator 16 together at high speed for centrifugal liquid extraction. While the internal structure of the drive mechanism forms no part of the invention, reference is made to Patent 2,844,225 issued to James R. Hubbard et al. on July 22, 1958, and owned by the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of a transmission assembly suitable for use in the illustrated machine.

In addition to operating the transmission 25 as described, motor 22 also provides a direct drive through a flexible coupling 27 to a pump structure indicated generally by the numeral 28 which may include two separate pumping units 29 and 30 both operated simultaneously in the same direction by motor 22. Pump 29 is a drain pump with an inlet 31 connected by a conduit 32 to an opening 33 formed at the lowermost point of tub 4. Drain pump 29 also has an outlet which is connected by a conduit 34 to a suitable drain (not shown). The pump 30 has an inlet connected by a conduit 35 to the interior of tub 4 and an outlet connected by a conduit 36 to a nozzle 37. The pumps are formed so that, in the spin direction of rotation of motor 22, drain pump 29 draws in liquid from opening 33 through conduit 32 and then discharges it through conduit 34 to drain; in the other direction of rotation, pump 30 draws in liquid through conduit 35 and discharges it through conduit 36 and nozzle 37, each of the pumps being substantially inoperative in the direction of rotation in which it is not used.

Nozzle 37 is positioned to discharge into a filter pan 38 secured on the top portion 39 of agitator 16 so as to be movable therewith. With this structure, then, when the motor 22 is rotating so as to rotate pulley 26 in the direction to provide agitation, pump 30 draws liquid through conduit 35 from tub 4 and discharges it through conduit 36 so that the liquid passes from nozzle 37 into filter pan 38 and then down through a number of small openings 40 provided in the bottom of the filter pan and back into the basket 2. In this manner, the filter pan 38, with its small openings 40 and its upstanding side wall 41, causes lint which is separated from the clothes during the washing operation to be filtered out of the clothes and thus prevents it from being redeposited on the clothes. This type of structure is more fully described and claimed in Patent 2,481,979 issued to Russell H. Colley on September 13, 1949 and assigned to General Electric Company, owner of the present invention.

The motor 22, clutch 23, transmission 25, basket 2 and agitator 16 form a suspended washing and centrifuging system which is supported by the cabinet 7 so as to permit isolation of vibrations from the stationary structure which includes the cabinet and the tub 4. It will be understood that such vibrations occur primarily as a result of high speed spinning of basket 2 with a load of clothes therein. While any suitable suspension structure may be used, I prefer to use a suspension structure which includes a bracket member 42 having transmission 25 mounted on top thereof and motor 22 mounted to the underside thereof, the bracket member being in turn secured to rigid upwardly extending members 43. Each upwardly extending member 43 is connected to a cable 44 which extends upwardly so as to be supported on a pulley member 45 rotatably secured at the top of cabinet 7. While only a portion of this suspension structure is shown in the drawing, in order not to obscure unduly the various features of the machine, such a vibration isolating system is fully described and claimed in application Serial No. 843,611 for Vibration Isolating System filed on September 21, 1959, by John Bochan and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. Such a suspension system provides for flexible support of the motor, transmission, agitator and basket from the cabinet of the machine so as to isolate to a substantial extent the vibrations in the suspension system from the cabinet.

In order to accommodate the relative movement which occurs between basket 2 and tub 4 without any danger of leakage of liquid between them, the stationary tub 4 is joined to the upper part of transmission 25 by a suitable flexible boot member 46. Boot 46 may be of any suitable configuration, many of which are known in the art, to permit relative motion of the parts to which it is joined without leakage therebetween.

Completing now the description of the physical appearance of machine 1 as shown in FIGURE 1 for illustrative purposes, hot and cold water may be supplied to the machine through conduits 47 and 48 which are adapted to be connected respectively to sources of hot and cold water (not shown). Conduits 47 and 48 extend into a conventional mixing valve structure 49 having solenoids 5t) and 51 so that energization of solenoid 5t) permits passage of hot water through the valve to hose 52, energization of solenoid 51 permits passage of cold water through the valve, and energization of both solenoids permits mixing of the hot and cold water in the valve and passage of warm water into hose 52. Hose 52 communicates with a nozzle 53 positioned to discharge into basket 2 so that when one or both of the solenoids 50 and 51 are energized water enters into the basket 2 and tub 4.

The level to which the water rises in the basket and tub may be controlled by any suitable means. One typical means of doing this is to provide an opening 54 in the Side of the tub 4 adjacent the bottom thereof, the opening 54- being connected through a conduit 55 and a tube 56 to a conventional pressure sensitive mechanism (not shown) which may be positioned within the backsplasher 57 of the machine. In the conventional manner, as the water rises in basket 2 and tub 4, it exerts increasing pressure on a column of air trapped in tube 56, and at a pre-determined pressure level the column of air then trips the pressure sensitive mechanism to shut off whichever of solenoids 50 and 51 may be energized. The backsplasher 57 may have suitable manual controls such as that shown at 58 extending therefrom so that the particular type of cycle including water temperatures, water level within the tub 4 and basket 2, etc., may be controlled to effect the washing of different types of fabrics.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, there is shown a control circuit for the machine of FIGURE 1 which incorporates my inventive structure. In connection with the circuit of FIGURE 2, it will be understood that the present-day washers often include various improvements such as control panel lights, bleach dispenser controls, multi-speed controls, etc., which do not relate in any way to the present invention, and that to some extent these have been omitted for the sake of simplicity and ease of understanding. In order to control the sequence of operation of the electrically operated components of the machine 1, the circuit includes appropriate sequence control means in the form of a timer motor 59 which drives a plurality of cams A, B, C, and D. These cams, during their rotation by the timer motor, actuate various switches (as will be described) causing the machine to pass through an appropriate cycle of operations, first introducing water and washing the clothes, next extracting water from them and passing the water to drain, then introducing clean water and rinsing the clothes in that clean water, and finally extracting the rinse water from the clothes and passing it to drain.

The electrical circuit as a whole is energized from a single-phase alternating current power supply (not shown) through a pair of conductors 60 and 61. Cam A controls a switch 62 which includes contacts 63, 64, and 65. When the cam has assumed the position where all three contacts are separated, the various electrically operated elements of the machine 1 have been disconnected from the power source and are inoperative. When operation of machine 1 is initiated, as will be explained below, switch 62 is controlled by cam A so that contacts 63 and 64 are engaged. A main power switch 66 may be closed by any suitable means such as, for instance, by axial motion of the control member 58 shown in FIG- URE 1; when switch 66 is closed, it permits an operating circuit to be completed for machine 1.

An energizing circuit for one or both of: the solenoids i) and 51 is completed by virtue of the closing of switch 62 once the cams A, B, C, and D have been manually turned to the starting position in FIGURE 3, this being accomplished, for instance, by manual rotation of the member 58. From conductor 61 the circuit passes through contacts 63 and 64 and a conductor 66a to the solenoids 50 and 51. From solenoid 50 parallel paths extend, one of them through a manually operable switch 67 to a conductor 68, and the other through contacts 69 and 70 of a timer operated switch 71, and then also to conductor 68. Similarly, from solenoid 51 there are two parallel paths, one through a manually operable switch 72 to conductor 68. and the other through contacts 73 and 79 of switch 71 to the conductor 68.

Thus, when switch 71 is in the position shown at the start of wash, it will be seen that a circuit is completed to conductor 68 through contacts 69 and 70 regardless of whether the switch 67 is closed. When the contact 70 is in its down position, in engagement with contact 73 (during rinse, as shown in FIGURE 3), the circuit from conductor 66a to conductor 68 passes through the solenoid 51 regardless of whether switch 72 is closed. When either of the switches 67 and 72 is closed, the solenoid 6 associated therewith may be closed regardless of the position of contact 70 of switch 71.

From the solenoids, then, the circuit extends to conductor 68, and from there through timer motor 59 back to conductor 68 through switch 66. In addition, parallel circuits may be completed from conductor 68 to con ductor 60 through the main winding 74 and the start winding 75 of induction motor 22. It will be understood that the induction motor 22 of the conventional single phase type used in domestic appliances wherein a main winding and a start winding are provided displaced in space and phase and connected in parallel so as to provide a starting torque when they are both energized. The start winding circuit of the motor extends from conductor 68 through the switch 76 of a relay 77, the start winding 75 itself, and then through a conventional motor protector 78, a switch 79 controlled by cam D, and through switch 66 back to conductor 60.

The main winding 74 of the motor is connected in series with the coil 80 of relay 77, and at each end of the main winding 74 and coil 85), in series therewith, are provided the two ganged movable switch arms 81 and 82 of a two-pole double-throw switch generally indicated by the numeral 83. The switch 83 includes a first stationary contact 84 connected to the conductor 68, a second contact 85 which is connected to the conductor 68 through switch 11, and suitable contact means 86 connected by a conductor 87 to conductor 60. In the present case, the contact means takes the form of a single contact.

With switch 83 in the position shown, a circuit from conductor 68 is completed from contact 84 through contact arm 81, relay coil 88, main winding 74, switch arm 82, contact 86, and conductor 87 back through the protector 78 and switch 79 to conductor 66. When the switch 83 has its position reversed so that arm 81 engages contact 86 and arm 82 engages contact 85, the main winding circuit from conductor 68 passes through switch 11 to contact 85, then through arm 82, the main winding 74, relay coil 8%, arm 81, contact 86 and conductor 87.

It can thus readily be seen that the connection of the main winding between the conductors 68 and 60 is reversed for the two different positions of switch 83. Since a single connection for the start winding 75 is provided across the two conductors, the connection (and therefore the polarity) of the main winding 74 relative to the start winding 75 is thus reversed. When both windings are connected in the circuit, this reversal is effective to reverse the rotation of the motor 22, the motor rotating in the direction to provide a washing operation when switch 83 is in the position shown and to provide a spin operation when the switch 83 is moved down to its second position. The relay coil is designed to close contact 76 when the relatively high current demanded by the motor when the motor is rotating below the predetermined speed is passing through it. At other times, when there is no current passing through the relay coil 80 or the current is below the required energizing level (which is true in the running speed range of the motor), the contact 76 is open. Thus, during running, only winding 74 of the motor is energized, winding 75 being disconnected by the opening of switch 76.

It will be noted, as a most important feature of our invention, that the lid switch 11 is positioned between contact 84 and conductor 68. In this position it affirmatively controls the ene-rgization of the main winding 74 when the switch 83 has its arms 81 and 82 down in their spin position, but is entirely removed from the circuit when the switch 83 is in the position shown, that is, arranged to provide a wash operation.

When the main winding 74 of motor 22 is in series with valve solenoids 50 and 51 as a result of being conneeted across conductors 68 and 60, a much lower impedance is presented in the circuit by the motor 22 than is presented by the valve solenoids. As a result, the

greater portion of the supply voltage is taken up across the solenoids and relatively little across the motor. This causes whichever of the solenoids is connected in the circuit to be energized sufficiently to open its associated water valve. As a result, water at a suitable temperature is admitted to the machine through nozzle 53, motors 22 and 59 remaining inactive. When water enters the basket 2 and tub 4, it rises in both at substantially the same rate because of the perforations 3, and as the head of water acting on the column of air trapped in tube 56 increases, the air pressure increases until it actuates the pressure sensitive switch provided within backsplasher 57; this switch is schematically shown at 88 in FIGURE 2. When switch 88 closes, it then provides a short circuit across the solenoids directly from conductor 66 to conductor 63 so that, with the solenoids thus excluded from the effective circuit, they become de-energizcd and a high potential drop is provided across winding 74 of the motor 22. This causes the relay coil 80 to close contact 76 so that the windings 75 and 74 are energized in parallel with each other and motor 22 starts rotation, While at the same time timing motor 59 starts so as to initiate a sequence of operations.

Completing the description of the circuit of FIGURE -2, it is to be observed that the switch 79 is in series with the main motor 22 but is not in series with the timing motor 59. Thus, by the opening of this switch 79, the operation of motor 22 is stopped, but the timer motor 59 nonetheless continues to operate. This is a result of the fact that the timer motor is deliberately provided with an impedance much greater than that of the valve solenoids so that it takes up most of the supplied voltage yet continues in operation, leaving so little voltage across the solenoids that they do not operate their respective valves when switch 79 is open.

In order to energize the motor 22 independently of the water level in the tub 4 when spin is to be provided, cam A is formed, as mentioned, so as to be effective to close all three contacts 63, 64, and 65 of switch 62 during the extraction or spin step. This causes the power to be supplied directly through contact 65 to conductor 68 and the motors, rather than through the water level switch or the valve solenoids.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 in conjunction with FIG- URE 2, a suitable sequence of operation with the components and circuitry described will be briefly set forth. Initially, the manual member 58 is set to a position wherein the cams A, B, C, and D are in start position to initiate a washing cycle; then the member 53 is moved axially so as to close switch 66. In the position in which the cams are arranged manually by this operation of the member 58, contacts 63 and 64 of switch 62 are closed by cam A, and contact 70 of switch 71 engages contact 69. The other timer switches are also in the position shown in FIGURE 3. This causes the valve solenoids to operate, as previously mentioned, with the timer motor and the main motor remaining inactive until the Water level switch 83 is closed. At that time, the valve solenoids stop the introduction of water, the timer motor 59 starts to toll the sequence, and the main motor 22 starts rotating in the direction to cause operation of agitator 25 and recirculation of water by pump 30 through filter pan 38. This agitator operation and recirculation operation will be observed to be entirely independent of switch 11 inasmuch as the switch 11 is in the circuit only when the main winding circuit is being completed through contact 85 which is not the case at this point.

This continues for an appropriate washing period (shown as wash in FIGURE 3), after which the switch 79 is opened by cam D to de-energize motor 22 and provide pause A, the motor 59 continuing to operate as described. The continued operation of motor 59 causes the switch 83 to reverse the position of arms 81 and 82 so that they engage contacts 86 and 85 respectively. Also, cam A closes contacts 63 and 64 with contact 65.

As a result, when switch 79 is reclosed, the motor 22 starts operation, independently of the water switch 88, in the reverse direction from its previous direction of operation. In this reverse direction of rotation, the basket is spun at high speed to effect a centrifugal extraction operation, with the drain pump 29 being rotated in the direction which make it effective to pull water from the tub 4 and pass it out to the drain.

It will be noted that with the switch 83 arranged so that arm 82 engages contact 85 the main winding energization is entirely dependent upon the closure of switch 11, and as previously described the closure of switch 11 is entirely dependent upon the lid member 8 being in its completely closed position. Thus, energization of motor 22 to provide this high speed centrifuging of basket 2 cannot be provided unless the lid is closed. This particular arrangement is provided in order to afford protection to operators who, through carelessness, would wish to reach into the basket 2 while it is rotating rapidly, an act which may have undesirable consequences. It will further be observed that this selective operation of switch 11 to control the operation of the machine is effected by combining it with the conventionally provided reversible induction motor in such a way that no additional components such as a. bypass switch, commonly considered necessary in the past for such a result to be achieved, are needed.

Transmission 25 is, preferably, provided with brake means responsive to motor de-energization to stop basket rotation. A suitable brake for this purpose is, for instance, fully described and claimed in Patent 2,946,409 issued July 26, 1960, to G. N. Jennings and assigned to the assignee of the present application. It is to be assumed, for purposes of illustration, that transmission 25 incorporates the brake of the Jennings patent.

The extraction operation continues for an appropriate period (marked spin), and then the switch 79 is reopened to stop the motor again and to provide pause B. The timer motor moves switches 62 and 83 back to their original positions, as shown in FIGURE 2, and also moves contact 70 of switch 71 down into engagement with contact 73. As a result, when the switch '79 is closed once again, the solenoid 51 is energized to provide cold water unless switch 67 is closed, in which case warm water is provided. When an appropriate level is reached, switch 88 closes to cause motor 22 and motor 59 to start up again to provide a timed period of agitation and recirculation for a rinse operation independently of the lid switch 11. At the end of this, in the same manner as before, the motor 22 is stopped to provide pause C, the switch 83 is reversed, and then the switch 79 is reclosed to provide a final spin. At the end of the final spin, switch 79 reopens to provide a brief pause D during which switch 62 is fully opened to end the cycle.

Thus, it can be seen that a fully automatic sequence of operations is provided by the machine 1 in response to the setting of the member 58 in order to wash and then damp dry clothes by centrifuging the vitiated liquid out of them. It will further be noted that the lid switch 11 is made effective to operate in spin to stop the machine but not in wash or rinse, this being a highly desirable feature inasmuch as the risk of injury (which is present as a possible result of operator carelessness during spin) is not present during wash and rinse, and in fact the operator may wish to insert clothes in the machine during washing operations without stopping the operation of the machine. Our structure permits this result to be achieved without the need of any additional components by a novel interrelationship of components already required for such a machine.

The circuitry of FIGURES 2 and 3 describes our invention wherein, when the operation is stopped during spin as a result of opening of the lid 8, the timer motor 59 continues to operate to toll out a cycle. While this represents one desirable means of providing our invention, it will be recognized that our invention may also be provided in a washing machine circuit wherein the timer motor is made subject to the action of the lid-switch during spin but not during agitation. Such a circuit is now described, referring to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings. It will be understood that parts identical to those of FIGURE 1 are indicated by the same numerals, all parts which are different or additional being indicated by difierent numerals.

To start the cycle, cams A B C C D and B are manually rotated to the start position. In the start position cam A closes a switch 90 to complete a circuit from conductor 61 to the valves 50 and 51. These vales, as before, are under the control of timer operated switch 71 and manually operated switches 67 and 72, so that either hot or warm water is provided during wash depending upon whether switch 67 is closed, and either cold or warm water is provided during rinse depending upon whether the switch 72 is closed.

From the valve solenoids 50 and 51, and one or more of their three switches, the circuit from conductor 91 is completed to a conductor 92, which in turn connects with the timer motor 59 and, through a switch 93 controlled by a cam D with the coil 94 of a relay 95 and the main winding '74 of motor 22. The main winding 74 and timer motor 59 are then connected in parallel with each other to the switch arm 96 of a double-throw double-pole switch 97. Switch 97, in addition to movable contact arm 96 engageable alternatively with a contact 98 or a contact 99, has a second arm 100 ganged to arm 96 which is engageable alternatively with a contact 101 or the contact 98 when arm 96 engages contact 98 or contact 99. The two contact arms 96 and 100 are secured together through an insulating member 102 which engages a toggle spring 103 pivoted on the fulcrum 104 of a rigid support 105. Because of the action of toggle spring 103, when cam C disengages arms 96 and 100 from contacts 98 and 101 respectively, the arms snap over all the way to engagement with contacts 99 and 98 respectively without need for further guidance by cam C By the same token, when cam C engages the structure to cause movement of arms 96 and 100 away from contacts 99 and 98 respectively, the two arms snap over into engagement with arms 98 and 101. This structure is provided so as to be able to accommodate a temporary interruption to the operation of motor 59 while at the same time insuring that the contact arms 96 and 100 will be in one of their two operative positions, and will not remain in an inbetween position.

Returning to the circuit, it will be recalled that it has been traced from conductor 61 through to contact arm 96. From contact arm 96 the circuit proceeds through contact 98 and a conductor 196 to the other supply conductor 60 to complete the circuit. It will be understood that, for the same reasons as before, the valve solenoids are energized when this circuit prevails because the volt age drop across the motor is insuilicient to cause energization thereof. When the correct level is reached within the tub 4, the switch 88 closes. This permits an energizing circuit to be completed to the motor winding 74 from conductor 61 through a conductor 107, contact 101, contact arm 100, the switch 88, and the timer switch 93 which is closed at this time. As a result of this, the solenoids are shorted out as before and main winding 74 is energized.

As before, the high degree of energization causes contact 108 of the motor relay to close so that the start winding 75 of motor 22 is energized across conductors 61 and 60 in parallel with winding 74 to start the motor rotating in the direction to cause agitation. At the same time, the timer motor 59 is energized in parallel with winding 74. Thus, when switch 88 closes, the solenoids are de-energized and the washing operation proceeds in substantially the same manner as described previously in connection with FIGURES 2 and 3. After washing has continued for the selected period, cam D opens switch 93 to de-energize the main motor, with timer motor 59 continuing to be energized through the water level switch 88.

At this time, during the ensuing pause, cam C causes the switch 97 to snap over to its other position wherein contact arms 100 and 96 engage respectively contacts 98 and 99. Also, switch is closed by cam E so as to short across water level responsive switch 88. This provides energization of timer motor 59 through a circuit which, from conductor 61, passes through conductor 107, lid switch 11, contact 99, contact arm 96, conductor 109, the timer motor 59, switch 110, switch arm 100, contact 98, and conductor 106 to conductor 60. Thus, the timer motor continues to be energized, the difference being that this time the lid switch 11 is included in the circuit required for energization of the timer motor. At the end of pause A switch 93 closes to cause energization of coil 94 and winding 74 in parallel with timer motor 59. The energization of coil 94 causes the switch 108 to be closed to energize the start winding 75. At this point it will be observed that the relationship of main winding 74 to start winding 75 has been reversed by the reversal of the switch 97, so that rotation starts in the opposite direction which, as previously described, causes a spin operation to be performed. It will be observed that the lid switch 11 is in the circuit of both the main winding 74 of motor 22 and of the timer motor 59 so that if lid 8 should be raised, all operation, including both the timer motor and the main motor, ceases. In other words, the spin operation of the machine is entirely subject, including the timing thereof, to the lid switch 11 while the agitation operation is entirely independent of the lid switch 11.

At the end of the spin operation, cam D opens switch 93 which again stops operation of the main motor 22. During the ensuing pause the switch 97 is returned to its original position, the switch 71 is moved to its rinse position as previously described, and the switch 110 is opened. The opening of switch 110 stops the timer motor and again puts the solenoids 50 and 51 into the circuit in series with main winding 74 of the motor so that rinse water enters until switch 88 closes at which time a rinse operation is provided in the same manner that the wash operation is provided. This is then followed by a pause and a spin, with the same switch movements occurring as occurred between the wash and spin operations. At the end of the second spin there is a final pause during which the switch 90 is opened by cam A to terminate the operation.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the circuit shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 again incorporates the advantage that the lid switch 11 is so related to the motor reversing switch 97 that the two cooperate to provide effectiveness of the lid switch during spin but not during agitation without need for additional bypass switches and the like.

It will be understood that, while in accordance with the Patent Statutes we have described what at present are considered to be the preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without department from our invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a clothes receptacle rotatably mounted within said cabinet, said cabinet having an opening formed therein to provide access to said receptacle; a closure member for said cabinet opening movable between open and closed positions; means for washing clothes in said receptacle; transmission means arranged in driving relation to said receptacle and said washing means, said transmission means having an input member mounted for reversible rotation, said transmission means causing said washing means to 1 1 provide a washing operation within said receptacle in one direction of rotation of said input member and causing high speed rotation of said receptacle in the other direction of rotation of said input member; a reversible induction-type single-phase electric motor connected to said input member in driving relation therewith, said motor including a main winding and a start winding in parallel with said main winding, speed responsive means for disconnecting said start winding as said motor comes up to speed, and means for reversing said motor including a circuit for energizing said motor, said circuit including first and second conductors, a two-pole double-throw switch including first and second ganged contact arms respectively connected on opposite sides of said main winding in series therewith and movable to first and second positions, contact means connected to said first conductor, and first and second contacts connected to said second conductor, said first and second arms respectively engaging said first contact and said contact means in their first position, said first and second arms respectively engaging said contact means and said second contact in their second position, thereby providing reverse connection of said main winding relative to said start winding in said first and second position; said first position causing rotation of said motor and said input member in said one rotational direction, said second position causing rotation of said motor and said input member in said other rotational direction; and a normally open switch positioned adjacent said opening and connected between said second contact and said second conductor, said closure member being arranged to close said normally open switch only when said closure member is in its closed position.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said washing machine includes a timer motor, and means operated by said timer motor controlling said two-pole doublethrow switch, said timer motor being connected across said first and second conductors in parallel with said reversible motor.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said washing machine includes a timer motor, and means operated by said timer motor controlling said two-pole doublethrow switch, said timer motor being connected in series between said first and second contact arms in parallel with said main winding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,161,604 Watts June 6, 1939 2,549,025 Sisson Apr. 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 774,939 Great Britain May 15, 1957

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