GB899258A - Compensation of unbalance in rotary machines - Google Patents

Abstract

899,258. Spin-driers. LEPPER, W. Oct. 6, 1958 [Oct. 19, 1957; Nov. 30, 1957], No. 31858/58. Class 34(2) Out-of-balance forces transmitted to the bearings of a rotating washing and spin-drying basket are at least partly compensated by opposing forces produced by a rotating counterweight which moves into an out-of-balance position in dependence upon that of the basket. The perforated basket 4, Fig. 1, is suspended within a tub 3 by the shorter arms of levers 8 pivoted to brackets 10 secured to the tub. The basket is held from the tub wall by resiliently yieldable elements 7 and counterweight annular ring masses 11 are pivotally suspended from the longer arms of the levers such that when out-of-balance occurs in the rotating basket causing it to move laterally against some of the elements 7 the levers 8 pivot to thrust the rotating masses 11 into an out-ofbalance compensating position in the opposite direction. In another embodiment a horizontal basket 20, Fig. 5, is suspended within a cage 19 by springs such as 34, Fig. 6, whilst the masses 11 at each end are operatively connected to the basket through levers 8, links 28, 30, and axially adjustable spring-loaded suspension members 22. In a further embodiment a basket 49, Fig. 9, is held within a drum 50 by levers 8 which are fulcrumed on drum flanges 10 and pivotally attached to counterweights 11 and elastically yielding rings 51. In the embodiments of Figs. 1, 5 and 6 the counterweights are ring-shaped plates at each end of the revolving basket whilst the doublearmed levers 8 are located around the peripheral edge of the basket. The same compensating effect may be achieved if only one such lever were pivotally attached to the centre of each end face of the basket and extended in the axial direction with its fulcrum located on the tub 3 or the cage 19 in the axis of revolution thereof, the free end of each lever carrying one counterweight. The provision of a single counterweight may be sufficient if the counterweight is in the form of a cylinder, the shorter and longer lever arms being pivotally attached to the ends of the basket and cylinder, respectively.