GB1470997A - Spin-drier machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1470997 Machinery safety devices GENERAL MOTORS Ltd 22 May 1975 [6 June 1974] 25143/74 Heading F2J The lid 8 of a spin drier drum 4 in a centrifugal extraction, or washing, machine (not shown) cannot be fully opened until the drum 4 has stopped rotating, i.e. has been braked to a standstill, the lid 8 having a pair of oppositely spring biased latches 16, 18 the manual release of the first 16 of which, via a lever 32 and release plate 38, releases the lid 8 to a partially opened position to switch off the drive motor and apply a spring-engaged brake (not shown) to the rotating drum 4, by releasing a brake disengaging pushrod 62 from a tongue 30 on the lid 8, and simultaneously operates a clockwork timer delay mechanism 60 to retard release of the second latch 18 until the drum 4 is braked to rest after which the timer 60 permits spring release of the second latch 18 whereby the lid 8 may be fully opened, such opening being assisted by a spring- loaded plunger 10. Closing the lid 8 moves the push-rod 62 down against the spring applying loading of the brake to move the brake mechanism to its "brake-off" condition (i.e. in which the brake is released) and switches on the drum drive motor (not shown). Figs. 7 to 14 (not shown) illustrates a similar double-latch safety delay device which prevents full opening of the lid until the spin drier drum is braked to a standstill. Alternatively a single latch having two hook-like portions could replace the pair of latches in each of the above embodiments. In each embodiment, the latches may be of acetal resin. The timer 60 may be driven by means other than clockwork.