GB704643A - Improvements in and relating to clothes washing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

704,643. Hydraulic clutches. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd. Nov. 21, 1951 [Nov. 21, 1950], No. 27327/51. Class 69 (2). [Also in Groups VIII and XXIV] A clutch and fluid drive unit for a washing machine (see Group VIII) comprises a drive element 101, Fig. 2, extending into a housing 105, a rotatable clutch member mounted in the housing, means 127, 128 for selectively clutching the member 121 to the drive element 101, co-operating bladed structures 139, 140 carried respectively by the member 121 and the housing 105, a driving connection between the element 101 and the motor, and a further driving connection between the housing 105 and the tub of the washing machine. The drive element 101 carries an integrally pulley 103 and is journalled at 115, 116 in the housing 105. The means 127 comprises a plate rigid with the drive element 101 having a tapered clutch surface with which a corresponding surface 128 on the member 121 is engageable. A pin 123 rigid with the member 121 is journalled in a bearing 124 in a bore 122 of the drive element 101. The clutch is urged to the disengaged position by the action of a spring 126 in the bore 122. A pin 132 journalled by a ball bearing 129 in the housing 105, acts between an operating lever 135 and a head on the pin 123. The bearing 129 provides a seal to oil in the housing 105. The lever 135 is spring connected to a solenoid. In operation, the clutch 127, 128 is initally disengaged. On depressing the arm 135, the drive element 101 is clutched to the member 121, projections 141 of which outwardly deflect fluid between the drive and driven blades 139, 140. In the modified clutch and fluid drive unit shown in Fig. 3, the arm 135 is replaced by an arm 266 pivoted at 267 in a sheet metal frame 265 rigid with a tube 264 carried by the machine frame. A second arm 269 pivoted at 270 to the frame 265 has one end pivotally connected to lugs rigid with a disc 262. A brake shoe 263 on the disc 262 co-operates with a brake surface 260 on the top of the housing 105. The outer end of the arm 269 carries an adjustable screw 274 which is urged by a spring 273 into engagement with the arm 266. In operation, when the solenoid is not energized, the spring 273 urges the arm 269 in an anti-clockwise direction to engage the brake shoe 263 and surface 260. When the solenoid acts to depress the right-hand end of the arm 266, a pin 232 is depressed to engage the clutch 127, 128. The arm 266 acts through the screw 274 to move the arm 269 clockwise and release the brake 263 ... 260.