US1253024A - Gearing. - Google Patents

Description

W.- H. GEORGE.

(BEARING. v APPLICATiON FILED HAYS. 19H.

Patented Jan. 8,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- lp wmwn W. H. GEORGE.

vBEARING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1917.

L253U Qh Patented Jan. 8,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z- tlhll'l'ttll g l itldldl m PATEN in,

WILLIAM H. GEORGE, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEXTER COMPANY, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF'IOWA.

GEARING.

Application filed May 31, 1917.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM H; GEORGE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Fairfield, in the county of J eiferson and State of 10W, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Gearing; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had' to the accompanying drawings, andto the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in gearing particularly adapted for actuating the operating shafts of power-driven clothes washing machinesof the pounder type and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointedout in the appended claims. l

The gearing is illustrated herein as applied to whatis known to the trade as a bench washenandin the case of the particular machine shown, there are provided two washing machines arranged side by side, with a horizontally disposed power shaft located between the tubs of said washing machines. Said power shaft is operatively connected to a longitudinally extending, drive shaft journaled in the top of the washing machine tubs and arranged at a right angle to saidpower shaft, the drive shaft itself being operatively connected through suitable means to the operating shafts, one

of which is journaled in the lid of each tub.

The means betweenthe drive shaft and'the operating shafts are so arranged that when the tub lids are in their normally closed, horizontal position, they will be actuated from the drive shaft, andif either or both of said tub lids carrying; the. operating shafts, are raised to anopen, substantially upright position, the operative connection between the drive shaft and operating shaft or shafts will be automatically disengaged or broken.

The many advantages of my improved gearing will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l illustratesa top planview of. a

bench washer provided with my improved gearing.

Fig. Qillustrates aview in sideelevation of said bench washer, several of, the parts of the gearing beingillustrated in section to more clearly show the structure thereof.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. d, 191%.

Serial No. 171,823

Fig. 3 illustrates a partial transverse vertical section through one of the washing machine tubs, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4L illustrates, on an enlarged scale, a detail, transverse, vertical sectional view through the drive, shaft and associated parts,

the plane ofthe section being indicated by the line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a clutch actuating sleeve which will be more fully referred to later.

Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings :10 indicates a bench adapted to support two washing machine tubs, arranged side by side. At one sideof the benchis located a hinged platformll which may be raised or swung into the horizontal plane of the top of the bench, said platform having folding'legs 12 which are adapted to provide support therefor when in raised position.

13, 13 indicate the washing machine tubs which are of familiar construction. Each tub has a lid lat hinged to a longitudinally extending board15 which forms the stationary top of both tubs. Said stationary top and said tub lids l e-provide a main support and the supplemental supports respectively for the gearing. A transversely extending board or platform 16 is arranged between and is attached to both washing machine tubs '13,- in the plane of the board or sta tionary top or wall15 and the tub lids 1 t, said platform abutting at one end against said stationary top.

17 indicates a transversely extending power shaft which is journalcd in, suitable bearings 18, fixed to the stationary top wall 15 and the platform 16 respectively, in a plane between the tubs 13, 13. A pulley 19 is secured to that end of-the shaft which projects beyond the outer edge of said top wall andsaid pulley may be driven from any suitable source of'power.

20 indicates a longitudinally extending, horizontalshaft, arranged in a plane above saidtop wall and preferably nearer that edge to which the tub lids are hinged; Said shaft is journaled between its ends in upright arms 22, 23fiXed to the stationary top wall 15 and the tub lids 14C, 14-, respectively, adjacent the platform 16, said arms and shaft forming a part of the hinged connection between the tubs 13 as a whole iii) and their associated lids l4. Midway between the upright hinge arms 22, 23, there is fixed to the shaft 20 a comparatively large, spiral gear 21 which extends at its bottom part through a slot in the top wall or board to mesh with a smaller spiral gear 17 fixed on the power shaft 17. A gear casing 24 which has a flanged base secured to the board 15 and platform 16, respectively, incloses the gear 21 and protects both the gear against damages and the operator or other persons against injury.

The extreme ends of the shaft are journaled in bearing sleeves formed in the top ends of upright arms 27, 28, which are made integral with bracket plates 29, fixed to the top wall 15 and the tub lids 14 respectively. Associated with the bracket plates 29 and 30 are means operatively connecting the shaft 20 with the operating shaft of each tub and as such means are the same with respect to both tubs, with the exception of being rights and lefts, a description of the means associated with but one operating shaft will sufllce for both.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 20 near the arm 28 of the bracket plate 30 is a spiral gear 30 having a hub 31.. One end of said hub abuts against the arm 28 and the other end of said hub issomewhat elongated and has radial clutch teeth 32. This last mentioned hub end is journalecl in bearing sleeves formed in the top ends of upright arms 27, 28, also made integral with the bracket plates 29 and 30 respectively, said arms 27 28 being spaced from the before-men tioned arms 27, 28 of said bracket plates. The bracket plate 30 which is fixed to the tub lid 14, normally overlaps the stationary top wall 15, and is formed between its arms 28, 28 to provide a casing 33 inclosing the gear 30. Said casing together with a cap piece 34 provides bearing for one end of a comparatively short, horizontal shaft 35 arranged in a plane above and at a right angle to the shaft 20, the other end of said shaft being journaled in a sleeve formed on the top end of a standard 36 rising from said bracket plate near its inner end.

Fixed to that end of the shaft 35 within the casing 34 is a spiral gear 37 which meshes with the like gear 30" on the shaft 20. The other end of said shaft 35 terminates in a plane adjacent the vertical axis of the associated tub and there has fixed to it a crank arm 38. This crank arm has a socket in which is located a spherical member or ball 39 which has a diametrically extending hole through it.

A horizontally disposed radial arm 40 which is fixed to an upright operating shaft 41, extends through the hole in the ball 39. The operating shaft 41 depends through the tub lid 14 into the interior of the tub 13 and has a pounder head 41 at that end withinthe tub. Said shaft is capable of vertically reciprocatory, alternating rotary movement in vertically spaced bearing sleeves made integral with an upright hearing bracket 42 fixed to the tub lid 14 about the axis thereof.

On the shaft 20 adjacent and associated with the clutch. teeth 32 on the hub 31 of the gear 30 is an elongated clutch collar 45 which is rotatively fixed with respect to said shaft but which is capable of endwise movement there-on. To provide for this connection, said clutch collar has'longitudinal slots 46 into which the ends of a pin 47 carried by the shaft, extends. One end of the clutch collar has clutch teeth adapted to engage with and be disengaged from the like teeth 32 on the gear hub 31. The other end of the clutch collar has a radial flange or shoulder 48. A coiled expansion spring 49 surrounds the shaft 20 between the clutch collar 45 and a pin 50 on said shaft, said spring normally tending to hold said clutch collar in engagement with the clutch teeth 32. I

It is apparent from the foregoing description that when the driven shaft 20 is rotated, this rotative movement is transmitted through the clutch collar 45 to the gear 30 and from said gear to the gear 37 on the horizontal shaft 35, therotative movement of said last mentioned shaft being translated into a vertically reciprocating, alternating rotary movement of the operating shaft 41, through the crank arm 38 and radial arm 40.

A sleeve 5O (see Fig. 5) is loosely mount ed on the clutch collar 45 with one end abutting against the adjacent bearing sleeve on the bracket arm 27. The other end of said sleeve is formed to provide a radial shoulder 51 which engages the radial flange 48 on said clutch collar. As shown, the shoulder end of said sleeve has an annular flange which incloses the radial flange on said clutch collar 45. A spiral rib 52 is formed on said sleeve which is normally engaged by a laterally extending lug 53 formed on the adjacent upright arm 28 of the bracket 30 fixed to the tub lid. This rib terminates at the smaller end of the sleeve 50 in a shoulder 54 which is engaged by the lug 53 of the bracket 30 after the tub lid has been. swung into a substantially upright open position-and arrests the same in said open position. The sleeve 50" has a longitudinal rib 55 on its bottom side which engages in a groove 56 fixed with respect to the stationary top wall or board 15. As shown in this particular instance, said groove is provided for in a block 57 fixed t0 the stationary top wall or board vertically below the shaft 20. Thus when the lid 14 is raised or swung about the shaft 20 as its hinged axis, the lug 53 on the bracket 30 will, through its engagement with the spiral rib 53, push or move said sleeve longitudinally. outward, said sleeve being held, against rotative, but not endwise movement by reason of the engagement of its rib 55'With'the groove 56 in the block 57. As said sleeve moves longitudinally away from the bracket 29, it will carry with it, through the engagement between the radial shoulders 48and51, the clutch collar tdthus disengag ing said clutch collar, and incidentally the shaft 20, from the gear hub 31. The spiral rib 52 on the" sleeve 50 is so formed that as the tub lid is swunginto an open position,

the clutch collar isalmost instantaneously disengaged from the gearfhub clutch teeth 32, the gears 30? and 37 always rema ning n mesh. WVhe i the tub lid has beenswung into its full open; position, the laterallug 53 on the bracket 30 will engagethe' shoulder 54 on the sleeve fiO and hold or support the tub Iidinsaid open position, the gear 37 still remaining'in mesh withthe gear 8O which is now loose with respect tothe shaft 20! "Asthe tub'lid is again swung into its closed horizontal p osi'tion', the spring5i9will,

through the radialshoiilde'rs 48 and 51 be fore mentioned, returirthe sleeve 5O; to its initial, normal position and 'with it, of conrse,the clutch collar 45'into engagement withtheclutch teeth 32' on the gearhub 31.

The power shaft 17 is extended inwardly beneath the platform 16 toward the swinging platform 11, wheresuitable gearing is providedforactuating a Wringer GO mounted' upon the associated end of the platform 16, said wringer bei'ng'ca pable of a swinging movementin a horizontal plane" into any desired posit on to accommodate the needs of theoperator. Asthemechanism for driving the wrm'g'er forms no part of the present invention, detailed description thereof is thought -unnecessary.

My improved gearing possesses many advantages:lVhen eitherof the tub lids 14:

is swung into an open position, the operating shaft il thereof, is disconnected from the' driving influence of the driving shaft 20. The brackets 29 and '30 togetherwith the' sleeves 50*"inclosethelinoviiig parts in such manner as to guard theoperator against an possible in ui-y. The gear ng comprises but a few parts which may be inade light in weight, yet capable of w thstanding the supplemental support,

to beraised into a substantially upright position, a driven shaft journaledon said main support, a clutch member loosely mounted on said shaft, an operating shaft journaled in said supplemental support and operatively.

connected to said clutch member, a second clutch member keyed to said driven shaft and normally engaged with said first mentioned clutch member, and means on said supplemental support associated with one of said clutch'members adapted in the raising movement of said supplemental support to disengage the associated clutch member from the other clutch member.

Iii'a gearing of the kind described, in combination with a main support, :1 normally horizontal supplemental support, a' clutch member loosely mounted on 'saidshaft, an operating shaft journaled in said supplemental supportand operatively connected to said clutch member, a second clutchmember keyed tosaid driven shaft and normally engaged withsaid first mentioned clutch member, a shiftable, non-rotative sleeve engaged with the clutch member keyed to said drivenshaft, means on said supplemental support engaging said sleeve and adapted in the raising movement of said supplemental support to impart an endwise movement to" said sleeve and associated clutch member to disengage said associated clutch member from the, other clutch member, and means operating during the lowering movement of said supplemental support to operatively connect the clutch member keyed to the driven shaft to the clutch memberloose on said driven shaft.

In a gearing of the kind described, in combination with a main support, a normally horizontal supplemental support hinged to said main support and adapted to beraised nto, a substantially upright posi-,

tion, a drivenshaft journaled on said main su gp ort, a clutch member loosely mounted on said shaft, an operating shaft journaled in said supplementalsupport and operatively connected to said clutchimember, a second clutcli,,menil?61 keyed, to said driven shaft, a spring normallyholding said keyed clutch member in engagement with said loose clutch member, a sleeve mounted on said keyed clutch member, a spiral rib on said sleeve, and means on said supplemental support normallyengaged with the spiral rib, onsaid sleeve, said means being adapted iii-the raising movement of'said supplemental support to impart a shifting movement. to said sleeve 125 and associated clutch member on said shaft, to disengage said clutch member from the loose clutch member on said shaft, against the action of said spring, said spring returning said sleeve and clutch member to I support hinged to said main support and adapted 'tobe raised into a substantially upright position, a driven shaft journaled on said main their normal positions during the lowering movement of said supplemental support.

l. In a gearing of the kind described, in combination with a main support, a normally horizontal supplemental support hinged to said main support and adapted to be raised into a substantially upright position, coacting bracket plates on said main and on said supplemental supports, a driven shaft journaled in said brackets, said brackets and shaft forming the hinged connection between said main and said supplemental supports, a clutch member loosely mounted on said shaft, an operating shaft journaled in said supplemental support and operatively connect ed to said clutch member, a second clutch member keyed to said driven shaft and normally engaged with said loose clutch member, a sleeve mounted on said keyed clutch member, a spiral rib on said sleeve, a lug on the bracket on said supplemental support normally engaged with said sleeve rib and adapted in the raising movement of said supplemental support to shift said sleeve and associated clutch member longitudinally on said shaft to disengage said keyed clutch member from the other clutch member, and a coiled spring mounted 011 said shaft and adapted to shift said keyed clutch member into engagement with the loose clutch member when said supplemental support is again lowered into its horizontal position.

In a gearing of the kind described, in combination with a main support, a normally horizontal supplemental support hinged to said main support and adapted to be raised into a substantially upright position, enacting bracket plates on said main and on said supplemental supports, a driven shaft journaled in said brackets, said brackets and shaft forming the hinged connection between said main and said supplemental supports, a clutch member loosely mounted on said shaft, an operating shaft journaled in said supplemental support and operatively connected to said clutch member, a second clutch member keyed to said driven shaft and normally engaged with said lose clutch member, a sleeve loosely mounted on said keyed clutch member, a spiral rib and a longitudinal rib on said sleeve, a lug on said bracket on said supplemental support normally engaged with the said sleeve spiral rib and adapted in the raising movement of said supplemental support to shift said sleeve and associated clutch member longitudinally on said shaft to disengage the said keyed clutch member from the other clutch member, a

block on said main support having a groove adapted to receive the longitudinal rib on said sleeve and a colledsprmg on said shaft combination with a main support, two hori zontal supplemental supports hinged to said mainsupport to swing about horizontally alined axes into a substantially upright position, a longitudinally extending drivenshaft, co-acting upright hinge arms to said main support and to said supplemental supports and in which said driven shaft is journaled,co-acting brackets on said main support and on said supplemental supports having upright arms also providing bearing for said driven shaft, gear clutch members looselymounted on'said shaft between the upright arms of said brackets, an operating shaft journaled in each of said supplemental supports, means operatively connecting said operating shafts with the clutch gears on said driven shaft, clutch members keyed to said shaft and normally held in engagement with the gear clutch members on said shaft, a sleeve on each of said keyed clutch members, said sleeve having a spiral rib and a longitudinally extending rib, lugs on each bracket on said supplemental supports adapted to engage with the spiral rib on said sleeve, blocks having groovesfixed to said main support, said grooves being adapted to receive the longitudinal ribs on said sleeves and prevent rotative movement but permitting longitudinal movement of said sleeves, laterally extending lugs on said brackets on said supplemental support-s adapted to engage the spiral rib on said sleeves, said lugs on said supplemental supports being adapted to impart an endwise movement to said sleeves and to said clutch members when said supplemental supports are swung about said driven shaft as an axis into a substantially upright position, and springs mounted on said shaft and associated with each of said clutch members, said springs being adapted to move said clutch members into engagement with the gear clutch members when said supplemental supports are again swung into their normal horizontal positions.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I 'afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 24 day of April A. D. 1917.

WILLIAM H. GEORGE.

lVitnesses EDMUND vrHUNT, IRVING H. DUNN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissidner of Patentg Washington, D. C.

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