GB895827A - Clothes washer machine - Google Patents

Abstract

895,827. Washing-machines. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. June 13, 1960 [June 25, 1959], No. 20643/60. Class 138 (2). [Also in Groups XIII and XXIV] To obtain controlled slipping of a low-speed belt 94 in a two-speed drive used during both the spin drying and agitating operations performed by a washing machine, a drive unit comprising a two-speed reversible electric motor 44 having a drive shaft 62 carrying low and high-speed pulleys 78, 76 is pivoted about its centre of gravity at 152 and is biased to turn by springs 104 to tension both a belt 92 connecting the high-speed pulley to a driven pulley 48 and the low-speed belt 94 connecting the low-speed pulley to a driven pulley 50, the tension of the springs being adjustable. The driven pulleys 48, 50 rotate a casing 46 containing the mechanism (not further described) producing both the spin drying and the agitating motions. The high-speed belt 92 is a conventional V-belt and the low-speed belt 94 is neoprene coated. Change of ratio is effected by a solenoid 84 acting through a lever 82 pivoting at 83 to slide a clutch disc 80 rotating with the motor drive shaft 62 either upwards of Fig. 4 to engage a friction disc 86 thereon with the high-speed pulley 76 or downwards to engage dogs with corresponding dogs upon the low-speed pulley 78. Adjustment of the position of the ratio shift lever 82 is obtained by thumb-screws 168, 178 threaded upon the shaft 166 of the solenoid 84, and coacting with a surrounding spring 174 to connect the ratio shift lever resiliently to the actuating armature. The pivot bolts 152 mounting the motor are carried in arms 98, 100 of a support secured by bolts 120 to a resiliently mounted snubber frame 52 within the washing machine, slots 102 through which the bolts are passed to enter tapped holes in the mounting bracket 114 permitting lateral adjustment of the two arms for variable tensioning of the drive belts 92, 94. The springs 104, 106 are each secured at one end 108 to brackets on the electric motor 44, and at the other end are attached to one or other of a number of holes 130, 136 according to the tension required. The lateral position of the motor 44 is adjusted by means of the bolts 120 and the tension of the springs 104 is also adjusted, to obtain a tension of 30-35 pounds in the top belt 92, which is then found to give sufficient slipping in the lower belt 94 to prevent " hunting " of the starting device controlling the motor. The motor shaft 62 also drives a pump used to empty the washing- machine receptacle. In a modification, the springs 104 are replaced by a single strip spring engaging the motor casing, Fig. 7 (not shown). The cycle of washing operations is controlled automatically by means not further described.