GB452402A - Improvements in and relating to washing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

452,402. Brakes. BRITISH THOMSONHOUSTON CO., Ltd., Crown House, Aldwych, London. April 2, 1936, No. 9799. Convention date, April 2, 1935. [Class 103 (i)] [See also Groups VIII and II] In a combined washing and drying machine, the washing is effected by the oscillation of an agitator 35 within a receptacle 22. After the washing operation the rack which oscillates the agitator is disconnected and a unidirectional high speed transmission is clutched to the receptacle-shaft. When the high speed train is declutched a brake is automatically applied to the shaft, the torque due to the friction between the brake shoe and the brake drum on the shaft increasing the braking effect whereby the shaft is rapidly stopped. As soon as the shaft stops, the brake is automatically released. Movement of the rack 87, Fig. 3, into and out of engagement with the pinion 88 fast on a shaft 69 connected to the shaft 20 of the agitator and receptacle through a universal joint 63, 65 is controlled by a cam 104 on a manually-operated shaft 105. Another cam 115 on the shaft 105 controls the movement of a clutch element 80 splined to the shaft 69 into and out of engagement with a gear-wheel 81 constantly driven at high speed from the shaft 78. The cam-shaft 105 is operated from an external handle 143, movement of which also controls the circuit to the motor 75. Another cam 133 on the shaft 105 is provided with a notch 137. This cam coacts with a stop 132, Fig. 10, on a lever 130 pivoted at 131 to a fixed point and engaging a boss 136 on another lever 118 pivoted to another fixed point 119. The brake shoe 120 is pivoted to a cap 125 on the end of a pre-stressed spring 123 housed within an aperture in the lever, and the shoe is maintained in the position shown by a spring 127. When the notch 137 of the cam 133 comes opposite the stop 132, the spring 127 rotates lever 118 clockwise and applies the brake which is increasingly wedged against the drum 66 on the shaft 69 by the frictional torque, the cap 125 tending to travel to the right and compress the spring 123 still further. When the frictional torque falls to zero, consequent on the shaft stopping, the force of spring 123 acting on the same side of the shaft 69 as the point 119 restores the arm 118 to the " brake-off " position.