GB836414A - Drive for automatic washer - Google Patents

Abstract

836,414. Clutches, ratchet and positive; operating clutches. EASY WASHING MACHINE CO. Ltd. June 20, 1956, No. 19176/56. Class 80 (2). [Also in Groups VIII and XIII] A washing machine (see Group VIII) comprises a clutch 154, 156 for transmitting oscillatory motion to an agitator shaft 52 when a reversible motor is rotating in one direction, and a clutch 234, 192 which transmits rotation to a tub shaft 74 when the motor is rotating in the opposite direction, the clutch member 154 being automatically operated to lock the shafts 52, 74 together for the second direction of rotation. The clutch member 234 carries rollers 230 which engage cam portions 220 of a cam ring 218 secured on a drive ring 210 driven by a belt 126. Each cam portion comprises a helical part rising from an abutment 222 toward an abutment 224 and terminating in a substantially horizontal part 228. The clutch member 234 has a flat annular surface 236 adapted to engage a friction facing 240 on the member 192. The member 192 is slidably keyed to the shaft 74 and biased downwardly by a spring 194 into braking engagement with spaced friction pads 198 on a flange 200 of a fixed housing member 202. With the motor rotating in one direction the rollers 230 will run up the inclined surfaces and lift clutch member 234 out of braking engagement with the flange 200 and into driving engagement with member 192. The clutch member 154 is slidably keyed to the shaft 52 and has an annular groove 168 engaged by a fork 170 pivoted at 172. The fork 170 has a finger 174 which engages a diagonal slot in the end of an arm 178 pivoted coaxially with a drive gear 134. A spring clip 180 bears on a friction plate (Fig. 8, not shown), engaging the lower peripheral portion of gear 134. According to the direction of rotation of gear 134 so will clutch member 154 be moved downwardly to engage an oscillating pinion 150 or upwardly to engage the shaft 74. The pinion 150 has tapered lugs 156, and the shaft 74 has lugs 160 which are substantially axial on one side and bevelled at 162 on the other side. The lugs 156, 160 are received in correspondingly shaped recesses in the clutch member 154.