CA1045401A - Combined oscillating and unidirectional agitator for automatic washer - Google Patents
Combined oscillating and unidirectional agitator for automatic washerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1045401A CA1045401A CA213,500A CA213500A CA1045401A CA 1045401 A CA1045401 A CA 1045401A CA 213500 A CA213500 A CA 213500A CA 1045401 A CA1045401 A CA 1045401A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- agitator
- clothes
- shaft
- washing machine
- vane
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F13/00—Washing machines having receptacles, stationary for washing purposes, with agitators therein contacting the articles being washed
Abstract
"COMBINED OSCILLATING AND UNI-DIRECTIONAL AGITATOR FOR AUTOMATIC WASHER"
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Improved agitation means for use in an automatic clothes washing machine of the type in which an agitator is oscillated by means of a drive mechanism to secure agitation of the clothes. The present invention provides an upper agitator element coaxial with a lower agitator element, the upper agitator element being driven through a one-way clutch, from the same drive shaft which drives the lower agitator element, the upper agitator element being provided with vane means which urge clothes downwardly toward the lower agitator element and impart a highly efficient rollover motion to the clothes.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Improved agitation means for use in an automatic clothes washing machine of the type in which an agitator is oscillated by means of a drive mechanism to secure agitation of the clothes. The present invention provides an upper agitator element coaxial with a lower agitator element, the upper agitator element being driven through a one-way clutch, from the same drive shaft which drives the lower agitator element, the upper agitator element being provided with vane means which urge clothes downwardly toward the lower agitator element and impart a highly efficient rollover motion to the clothes.
Description
104S4~1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of automatic washing machines employing vertical axis agitators which oscillate to provide a tumbling motion to the clothes contained within the machine and provides an agitator construction which is par-ticularly useful with large or heavy clothes loads to improve the movement of the clothes within the machine and thereby the washing action.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
It has long been appreciated that the most efficient clothes movement pattern for washing clothes within an automatic washing machine having a vertical axis agitator is a pattern which provides a rollover of the clothes which involves moving the clothes down the agitator barrel, then radially outward from the oscillating agitator vanesj upward along the wall of the tub, and inward to the barrel. Conventional washing machines are reasonably proficient in achieving this type of rollover pattern when light loads are being washed, but not with heavy loads. When the washing basket is tightly packed with clothes, the load crowds the agitator and the basket area. A conventional oscillating agitator has difficulty in attaining any kind of a rollover to the clothes load under these conditions. The conventional-type agitator then scrubs merely the bottom portion of a tightly-packed heavy load, resulting in a very poor uneven cleaning action.
There are a few examples in prior patents of agitators which move in separate paths during a washing operation. For ex-ample, the Bryant Patent No. 1,834,936 suggests dual agitator mem~ers which are reciprocated in opposite directions within the tub, the object being to create a violent water action.
-1- ~' q~
1~145401 The Krolæick Paten~ No. 3,678,714 assigned to the same assignee as the present invention describes a washing machine assembly including a pair of agitators, the two agitators being coupled together for mutual oscillation, but having cam means or the like provided between the two agitators to effect a vertical reciprocation of one with respect to the other during such oscillation.
Prior art patents disclose agitators with spiral vane elements. For example, Dyer Patent No. 2,331,897 discloses a washing machine having an agitator provided with a spiral vane on an upper portion, the agitator rotating at motor speed during washing.
Krolzick Patent Des. 196,194 assigned to the same assignee as the present invention shows an agitator for a laundry machine wherein the ornamental design for the agitator includes a spiral vane arrangement.
Geldhof Patent No. 2,734,367, assigned to a predecessor of the assignee of the present invention, shows an agitator for a laundry machine wherein the agitator includes spiral vanes which extend in the form of radial vanes on their lower edges with radial projections or vanes extending intermediate the spiral vanes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a washing màchine having a driven oscillating shaft and two vertically aLigned agitators mounted on the shaft, wherein the lower agitator is provided with outwardly extending vertically oriented vanes and is mounted on a lower part of the shaft by means of a locked, non-rotating connection, and the upper agitator is provided with at least one outwardly extending inclined vane and is mounted on an upper part of the shaft by means of a one-way clutch so that
Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of automatic washing machines employing vertical axis agitators which oscillate to provide a tumbling motion to the clothes contained within the machine and provides an agitator construction which is par-ticularly useful with large or heavy clothes loads to improve the movement of the clothes within the machine and thereby the washing action.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
It has long been appreciated that the most efficient clothes movement pattern for washing clothes within an automatic washing machine having a vertical axis agitator is a pattern which provides a rollover of the clothes which involves moving the clothes down the agitator barrel, then radially outward from the oscillating agitator vanesj upward along the wall of the tub, and inward to the barrel. Conventional washing machines are reasonably proficient in achieving this type of rollover pattern when light loads are being washed, but not with heavy loads. When the washing basket is tightly packed with clothes, the load crowds the agitator and the basket area. A conventional oscillating agitator has difficulty in attaining any kind of a rollover to the clothes load under these conditions. The conventional-type agitator then scrubs merely the bottom portion of a tightly-packed heavy load, resulting in a very poor uneven cleaning action.
There are a few examples in prior patents of agitators which move in separate paths during a washing operation. For ex-ample, the Bryant Patent No. 1,834,936 suggests dual agitator mem~ers which are reciprocated in opposite directions within the tub, the object being to create a violent water action.
-1- ~' q~
1~145401 The Krolæick Paten~ No. 3,678,714 assigned to the same assignee as the present invention describes a washing machine assembly including a pair of agitators, the two agitators being coupled together for mutual oscillation, but having cam means or the like provided between the two agitators to effect a vertical reciprocation of one with respect to the other during such oscillation.
Prior art patents disclose agitators with spiral vane elements. For example, Dyer Patent No. 2,331,897 discloses a washing machine having an agitator provided with a spiral vane on an upper portion, the agitator rotating at motor speed during washing.
Krolzick Patent Des. 196,194 assigned to the same assignee as the present invention shows an agitator for a laundry machine wherein the ornamental design for the agitator includes a spiral vane arrangement.
Geldhof Patent No. 2,734,367, assigned to a predecessor of the assignee of the present invention, shows an agitator for a laundry machine wherein the agitator includes spiral vanes which extend in the form of radial vanes on their lower edges with radial projections or vanes extending intermediate the spiral vanes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a washing màchine having a driven oscillating shaft and two vertically aLigned agitators mounted on the shaft, wherein the lower agitator is provided with outwardly extending vertically oriented vanes and is mounted on a lower part of the shaft by means of a locked, non-rotating connection, and the upper agitator is provided with at least one outwardly extending inclined vane and is mounted on an upper part of the shaft by means of a one-way clutch so that
- 2 -1~45401 rotation of the shaft in one direction gives a positive drive to both agitators, and rotation of the shaft in the reverse direction gives a positive drive to the lower agitator only, said inclined vane being inclined upwardly with respect to said one direction o~ rotation of the shaft, and at least the lower parts of said vertically oriented vanes extending radially outwardly by a greater amount than said at least one incllned vane.
In effect, therefore, the upper agitator acts to con-tinuously feed clothes downwardly along the barrel of the agitator where they come under the influence of the osclllatlng vertically positioned vanes of the lower agitator which direct the clothes radlally outwardly toward the periphery of the basket, and eventually upwardly and back to the barrel of the upper agitator element, completing a repeating rollover cycle which is extremely efficient for securing a uniform scrubbing contact of the clothes with the wash liquid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DR WINGS
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure, and in which:
Figure 1 is a view partly broken away, of a conventional automatic washing machine assembly provided with an improved agitator means according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the improved agitator means of the present invention during a washing cycle showing the manner in which the clothes are rolled over to insure efficient contact with the wash liquid;
Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the upper agi-tator element shown in the assembly of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of upper agitator element which can be used for the purposes of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
.
In figure 1, reference numeral 10 indicates generally a washing machine of the automatic type including a frame 11 carrying vertical panels 12 forming the sides, front and back of the machine. A hinged lid 13 is provided in the usual manner to provide access to the interior of the washing machine.
The washing machine 10 has the usual console 14 including a timer dial 15 and a program selector 16.
Internally of the machine there is disclosed an imperforate tub 17 which is supported within the cabinet by means of a base support plate 18. A plurality of suspension 20 rods 19 having resilient spherical end portions 20 and 21 are positioned about the tub 17 in the usual manner to suspend the tub freely within the interior of the cabinet.
A perforate washing receptacle or basket 22 is positioned concentrically with the tub 17. Centrally of the perforate washing basket 22 is an improved agitator means which has been designated generally in the drawings at reference numeral 23.
Liquid is introduced into the washing machine by means of a solenoid controlled inlet valve 24 which directs the liquid through a conduit 25 and through an anti-siphon device 26 into the washing area. A filter 27 is positioned along a tub ring 28a disposed between the tub 17 and the basket 22. A
conduit 28b connects the outlet port of a pump 29 to the filter 27, and a second conduit 28c provides fluid communication between the inlet pcrt of pump 29 and the clothes washing area of the washing machine. During the agitate portion of the wash cycle wash water is circulated by the pump 29 through conduit 28b to filter 27, from the filter into the washing area, and from the washing area through a second conduit 28c back to the pump. A
filtering of the wash water is thus accomplished.
The pump as well as the other movable parts of the assembly are driven by means of a motor 30 which operates through a transmission 31. A clutch and brake assembly generally indicated at reference numeral 32 is provided for energizing the agitator means 23 during washing, and for disengaging the agitator and engaging a spin tube, subsequently to be described, for spinning the basket 22 during the liquid extracting portion of the washing phase. All of the drive elements and hydraulic units described thus far are conventional in vertical-axis automatic washing machines, and the improvements of the present invention are centered in the agitator means 23, which is described specifically below.
As seen in Figure 2, the agitator means 23 has a lower .~ or ~nc~nbcr "~ agitator elementl33 with a skirt portion 34 which carries a plurality of spaced, generally vertical agitator vanes 35. An agitator drive shaft 36 extends through the lower agitator element 33 and an upper 1~45401 agitator element or member 33a and is threadedly received within an agitator cap 37. The shaft 36 has a splined portion 38 which is rigidly connected to an agitator drive coupler 39 for oscil-lating the lower agitator element 33 in the usual manner.
A spin tube 40 surrounds the shaft 36 over a portion of its length and is received between spaced bearings 41 and 42.
A pulley 43 is provided about the spin tube 40 for mechanical connection to a drive motor and transmission in the usual manner.
The upper end of the spin tube 40 is received within a basket drive block 44 and its associated nut 45 to drive the basket 22 at high speed during the extraction cycle when wash liquid is removed from the clothes by centrifugal force.
The upper agitator element 33a is composed of a syn-thetic resin or the like and, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 is hollow and has a larger-diameter end portion 46a in the area adjacent to the lower agitator element 33, and a smaller-diameter upper portion 46b at the upper end thereof. As best illustrated in Figure 2, the lower end of the upper agitator element 33a is received in overlapping relationship with the upper portion of the lower agitator element 33. The agitator drive shaft 36 extends up through the upper agitator element 33a and is mechanically coupled thereto through a one-way drive mechanism such as a one-way clutch 47 (which may be for example, a Torrington positive grip one-way roller clutch model RCB-101416) located at the upper end of the shaft 36. The one-way clutch acts as means for interconnecting the upper and lower agitator elements but for allowing the upper element to be movable in one direction relative to the lower element. A sleeve bearing 48 provides for relative rotation between the lower agitator element 33 and the upper agitator element 33a.
The outer periphery of the upper agitator element 33a is provided with vane means 49 for urging clothes downwardly i.e. for imparting a downward motion to the clothes.
1~4S401 A continuous helical vane 4~ is shown extending outwardly from the conical wall of the upper agitator element 33a down the length of the upper agitator element 33a and terminating short of the vertical agitator vanes 35 for urging or deflecting clothes downwardly. With the arrangement shown, the upper agitator element 33a is positively driven through one-way clutch 47 only when the agitator drive shaft 36 is moved in a counterclockwise direction. Under very light loads the upper agitator element will tend to oscillate with the lower agitator element 33. However, under a full clothes load, when the agitator drive shaft 36 moves in a clockwise direction, the one-way clutch 47 allows the upper agitator element to remain relatively stationary due to the frictional drag placed thereon by the water and clothes~within the basket.
Thus there is substantially automatic sensing of the magnitude of the clothes!load to provide incremental rotation under clothes load conditions. This incremental or intermittent rotation of the upper agitator element 33a with a clothes load provides a double action agitator with interacting elements which cause the helical vane 49 to act as an auger and thus auger or urge the clothes!identified at reference numeral C downwardly along the upper agitator element into the oscillating vertical agitator vanes 35 which move the clothes out radially toward the periphery of the basket 22, thence upwardly and inwardly toward the upper agitator element 33a, all as indicated by the arrows shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.
This creates a highly desirable generally toroidal rollover movement or action which subjects the clothes to intimate contact with the washing liquid and to effect scrubbing action from the lower agitator element.
A modified form of upper agitator element 50 for use ~ -7-ln the present invention is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. This figure illustrates an upper agitator element 50 -7a-~45401 having two helical vanes 51 and 52 each having a pitch differing somewhat from the pitch of the helical vane 49 shown in detail in Figure 3 which advantageously may have one and one-quarter (1-1/4) turns over the length of upper agi-tator element 33a. The pitch of these helical vanes affects the rate at which clothes are moved down along the upper agi-tator element with a greater pitch increasing the rate.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides an agitator means having a lower agitator element mounted for oscillating motion about an axis and an upper agitator element mounted for unidirectional rotation about the same axis, the upper agitator element having means associated therewith for urging clothes adjacent the upper portion down to the lower portion of the agitator means. This type of double action or dual agitator especially improves the washing action of heavy loads of clothes because the unidirec-tional upper portion urges the clothes down to the oscillating lower portion for positive rollover and washing action. Thus the present invention provides improved means for effectively washing a relatively large clothes load with a given amount of washing liquid thereby permitting economies in water usage, detergent usage, and power usage for heating the washing liquid.
The agitator means provides good washing action for both light and heavy loads, with the oscillating lower ~ortion ~roviding most of the action on the light loads. In addition, the agi-tator means is simple and easy to construct and can be accom-modated on conventional drive shaft constructions. Further-more, the pitch of vanes associated with the agitator means can be varied to change the downward movement of the clothes during agitation, thereby making the agitator means more readily adapt-.
~1)4540~
able to various sizes and shapes of baskets.
It should be evident that various modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.
_g _
In effect, therefore, the upper agitator acts to con-tinuously feed clothes downwardly along the barrel of the agitator where they come under the influence of the osclllatlng vertically positioned vanes of the lower agitator which direct the clothes radlally outwardly toward the periphery of the basket, and eventually upwardly and back to the barrel of the upper agitator element, completing a repeating rollover cycle which is extremely efficient for securing a uniform scrubbing contact of the clothes with the wash liquid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DR WINGS
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure, and in which:
Figure 1 is a view partly broken away, of a conventional automatic washing machine assembly provided with an improved agitator means according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the improved agitator means of the present invention during a washing cycle showing the manner in which the clothes are rolled over to insure efficient contact with the wash liquid;
Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the upper agi-tator element shown in the assembly of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of upper agitator element which can be used for the purposes of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
.
In figure 1, reference numeral 10 indicates generally a washing machine of the automatic type including a frame 11 carrying vertical panels 12 forming the sides, front and back of the machine. A hinged lid 13 is provided in the usual manner to provide access to the interior of the washing machine.
The washing machine 10 has the usual console 14 including a timer dial 15 and a program selector 16.
Internally of the machine there is disclosed an imperforate tub 17 which is supported within the cabinet by means of a base support plate 18. A plurality of suspension 20 rods 19 having resilient spherical end portions 20 and 21 are positioned about the tub 17 in the usual manner to suspend the tub freely within the interior of the cabinet.
A perforate washing receptacle or basket 22 is positioned concentrically with the tub 17. Centrally of the perforate washing basket 22 is an improved agitator means which has been designated generally in the drawings at reference numeral 23.
Liquid is introduced into the washing machine by means of a solenoid controlled inlet valve 24 which directs the liquid through a conduit 25 and through an anti-siphon device 26 into the washing area. A filter 27 is positioned along a tub ring 28a disposed between the tub 17 and the basket 22. A
conduit 28b connects the outlet port of a pump 29 to the filter 27, and a second conduit 28c provides fluid communication between the inlet pcrt of pump 29 and the clothes washing area of the washing machine. During the agitate portion of the wash cycle wash water is circulated by the pump 29 through conduit 28b to filter 27, from the filter into the washing area, and from the washing area through a second conduit 28c back to the pump. A
filtering of the wash water is thus accomplished.
The pump as well as the other movable parts of the assembly are driven by means of a motor 30 which operates through a transmission 31. A clutch and brake assembly generally indicated at reference numeral 32 is provided for energizing the agitator means 23 during washing, and for disengaging the agitator and engaging a spin tube, subsequently to be described, for spinning the basket 22 during the liquid extracting portion of the washing phase. All of the drive elements and hydraulic units described thus far are conventional in vertical-axis automatic washing machines, and the improvements of the present invention are centered in the agitator means 23, which is described specifically below.
As seen in Figure 2, the agitator means 23 has a lower .~ or ~nc~nbcr "~ agitator elementl33 with a skirt portion 34 which carries a plurality of spaced, generally vertical agitator vanes 35. An agitator drive shaft 36 extends through the lower agitator element 33 and an upper 1~45401 agitator element or member 33a and is threadedly received within an agitator cap 37. The shaft 36 has a splined portion 38 which is rigidly connected to an agitator drive coupler 39 for oscil-lating the lower agitator element 33 in the usual manner.
A spin tube 40 surrounds the shaft 36 over a portion of its length and is received between spaced bearings 41 and 42.
A pulley 43 is provided about the spin tube 40 for mechanical connection to a drive motor and transmission in the usual manner.
The upper end of the spin tube 40 is received within a basket drive block 44 and its associated nut 45 to drive the basket 22 at high speed during the extraction cycle when wash liquid is removed from the clothes by centrifugal force.
The upper agitator element 33a is composed of a syn-thetic resin or the like and, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 is hollow and has a larger-diameter end portion 46a in the area adjacent to the lower agitator element 33, and a smaller-diameter upper portion 46b at the upper end thereof. As best illustrated in Figure 2, the lower end of the upper agitator element 33a is received in overlapping relationship with the upper portion of the lower agitator element 33. The agitator drive shaft 36 extends up through the upper agitator element 33a and is mechanically coupled thereto through a one-way drive mechanism such as a one-way clutch 47 (which may be for example, a Torrington positive grip one-way roller clutch model RCB-101416) located at the upper end of the shaft 36. The one-way clutch acts as means for interconnecting the upper and lower agitator elements but for allowing the upper element to be movable in one direction relative to the lower element. A sleeve bearing 48 provides for relative rotation between the lower agitator element 33 and the upper agitator element 33a.
The outer periphery of the upper agitator element 33a is provided with vane means 49 for urging clothes downwardly i.e. for imparting a downward motion to the clothes.
1~4S401 A continuous helical vane 4~ is shown extending outwardly from the conical wall of the upper agitator element 33a down the length of the upper agitator element 33a and terminating short of the vertical agitator vanes 35 for urging or deflecting clothes downwardly. With the arrangement shown, the upper agitator element 33a is positively driven through one-way clutch 47 only when the agitator drive shaft 36 is moved in a counterclockwise direction. Under very light loads the upper agitator element will tend to oscillate with the lower agitator element 33. However, under a full clothes load, when the agitator drive shaft 36 moves in a clockwise direction, the one-way clutch 47 allows the upper agitator element to remain relatively stationary due to the frictional drag placed thereon by the water and clothes~within the basket.
Thus there is substantially automatic sensing of the magnitude of the clothes!load to provide incremental rotation under clothes load conditions. This incremental or intermittent rotation of the upper agitator element 33a with a clothes load provides a double action agitator with interacting elements which cause the helical vane 49 to act as an auger and thus auger or urge the clothes!identified at reference numeral C downwardly along the upper agitator element into the oscillating vertical agitator vanes 35 which move the clothes out radially toward the periphery of the basket 22, thence upwardly and inwardly toward the upper agitator element 33a, all as indicated by the arrows shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.
This creates a highly desirable generally toroidal rollover movement or action which subjects the clothes to intimate contact with the washing liquid and to effect scrubbing action from the lower agitator element.
A modified form of upper agitator element 50 for use ~ -7-ln the present invention is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. This figure illustrates an upper agitator element 50 -7a-~45401 having two helical vanes 51 and 52 each having a pitch differing somewhat from the pitch of the helical vane 49 shown in detail in Figure 3 which advantageously may have one and one-quarter (1-1/4) turns over the length of upper agi-tator element 33a. The pitch of these helical vanes affects the rate at which clothes are moved down along the upper agi-tator element with a greater pitch increasing the rate.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides an agitator means having a lower agitator element mounted for oscillating motion about an axis and an upper agitator element mounted for unidirectional rotation about the same axis, the upper agitator element having means associated therewith for urging clothes adjacent the upper portion down to the lower portion of the agitator means. This type of double action or dual agitator especially improves the washing action of heavy loads of clothes because the unidirec-tional upper portion urges the clothes down to the oscillating lower portion for positive rollover and washing action. Thus the present invention provides improved means for effectively washing a relatively large clothes load with a given amount of washing liquid thereby permitting economies in water usage, detergent usage, and power usage for heating the washing liquid.
The agitator means provides good washing action for both light and heavy loads, with the oscillating lower ~ortion ~roviding most of the action on the light loads. In addition, the agi-tator means is simple and easy to construct and can be accom-modated on conventional drive shaft constructions. Further-more, the pitch of vanes associated with the agitator means can be varied to change the downward movement of the clothes during agitation, thereby making the agitator means more readily adapt-.
~1)4540~
able to various sizes and shapes of baskets.
It should be evident that various modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.
_g _
Claims (5)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A washing machine having a driven oscillating shaft and two vertically aligned agitators mounted on the shaft, wherein the lower agitator is provided with outwardly extending vertically oriented vanes and is mounted on a lower part of the shaft by means of a locked, non-rotating connection, and the upper agitator is provided with at least one outwardly extending inclined vane and is mounted on an upper part of the shaft by means of a one-way clutch so that rotation of the shaft in one direction gives a positive drive to both agitators, and rotation of the shaft in the reverse direction gives a positive drive to the lower agitator only, said inclined vane being inclined up-wardly with respect to said one direction of rotation of the shaft, and at least the lower parts of said vertically oriented vanes extending radially outwardly by a greater amount than said at least one inclined vane.
2. A washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said at least one outwardly extending inclined vane comprises a helical vane rigidly affixed to and extending radially outwardly from the perimeter of the upper agitator.
3. A washing machine according to claim 2 wherein the helical vane has about one and one quarter turns over the length of the upper agitator.
4. A washing machine according to claim 1 wherein the lower agitator includes a flared skirt at the lower end thereof.
5. A washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said at least one outwardly extending inclined vane comprises a pair of helical vanes rigidly affixed to and extending radially out-wardly from the perimeter of the upper agitator.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US41837873A | 1973-11-23 | 1973-11-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1045401A true CA1045401A (en) | 1979-01-02 |
Family
ID=23657880
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA213,500A Expired CA1045401A (en) | 1973-11-23 | 1974-11-12 | Combined oscillating and unidirectional agitator for automatic washer |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5436778B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7409821A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1045401A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1469330A (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1562543A (en) * | 1976-06-16 | 1980-03-12 | Whirlpool Co | Clothes washing machine agitator assembly |
| JPS54178484U (en) * | 1978-06-06 | 1979-12-17 | ||
| JPS5513541U (en) * | 1978-07-12 | 1980-01-28 | ||
| JPS5516080U (en) * | 1978-07-18 | 1980-02-01 | ||
| US4254641A (en) * | 1979-05-15 | 1981-03-10 | Whirlpool Corporation | Automatic washer basket brake mechanism |
| JPS5830553Y2 (en) * | 1980-11-26 | 1983-07-05 | ホワ−ルプ−ル・コ−ポレ−シヨン | Agitator device that combines forward/reverse alternating rotation and unidirectional rotation for automatic washing machines |
| CN114941221A (en) * | 2022-06-30 | 2022-08-26 | 湖北美的洗衣机有限公司 | Stirring device and clothes treatment equipment |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS49133218A (en) * | 1973-04-26 | 1974-12-20 |
-
1974
- 1974-11-12 CA CA213,500A patent/CA1045401A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-11-18 GB GB4981874A patent/GB1469330A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-11-21 JP JP13321774A patent/JPS5436778B2/ja not_active Expired
- 1974-11-22 BR BR982174A patent/BR7409821A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| BR7409821A (en) | 1976-05-25 |
| JPS5436778B2 (en) | 1979-11-10 |
| JPS5085156A (en) | 1975-07-09 |
| GB1469330A (en) | 1977-04-06 |
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